Possumblog

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!

Possumblog Sports Center opens its doors once again to bring you the finest in Auburn Tiger football coverage!*

As shouts of “War Eagle!” roll across the Plains, the Tigers--refreshed from a 40-14 scrap with some team from out West--will travel to the barren desolation of Starkville this weekend to contest with the ugly slobbering Bulldogs of Mississippi State.

No, it’s not enough that the handsome and sleek Tigers must play the OTHER Bulldogs from over in Athens, Georgia, we’re also forced to deal with this bunch as well.

Well, fine then.

At least they ARE an SEC school--even the worst SEC team is still a powerhouse compared to just about any other team in the country.**

Auburn’s performance this past weekend against Washington State does give one pause, however, in that although the score seems lopsided, it must be remembered that WSU managed to score two touchdowns against Auburn, and further, Auburn had to kick FOUR field goals.

WashState’s lack of depth eventually caught up with them, but if Auburn’s offensive line is not able to help punch home scores within the 20, and the defense is not able to adequately stop even a weak offense from out-juking it, Saturday’s contest with Miss. St. is going to turn out to be a very long one indeed. Bright spots abounded, however--especially when considering the Tigers still seem to be quite sack-hungry this year, witnessed by downing Wash. State’s QB four times.

Although the ‘Dogs lost to Steve Spurrier’s*** Gamecocks this past weekend, the score was a very tight 15-0, due in large part to a heavily-seniored and experienced defensive line. Auburn will have to open things up and start flinging the ball some, if nothing else than to keep the Bulldog secondary loose enough for speedy-legged Kenny Irons to get involved. Although Auburn’s run game is solid, Mississippi State has the ability to shut it down tighter than hoop cheese if it concentrates on Irons. Offensively, the Bulldogs do have one terrible detriment in that they have lost their starting quarterback for the season, which is going to make it very difficult for them to get anywhere against the Tigers--if said Tigers bring their best game with them.

Special teams play by the Tigers was a bit spotty last week, although big congrats to John Vaughn’s work in toeing home 12 points, including a personal best 52 yarder.

Keep that leg warm, son.

“BUT, But what about…well, you know?”

Well friends and fellow Plainsmen, I must confess that in the one area most important to the success or failure of a football program, the Maroon and White folks have us beat hands down.

Separate pages for each of the cheer squads--varsity, junior varsity, and the abdominally-gifted pom squad--and to top THAT off, each group actually has individual pictures of everyone! And there's a photo album that doesn’t require Flash! AND ACTUALLY HAS NEW PICTURES IN IT!

Why can’t Auburn have a setup like this? Why did we have to force ourselves into the crappy CSTV.com template so many other schools use?

It’s just embarrassing is what it is.

LUCKILY, embarrassment can create a hunger and a drive for vindication and respect, so possibly this upstaging of us by Coach Croom’s upstarts will cause the Tigers to inflict all sorts of hard knocks and touchdowns upon their foes.

WHICH LEADS US INEVITABLY to the second-most anticipated feature each week, The Prediction of Final Score! In the past, as you know, we have employed a wide variety of methods to insure that you have the most accurate score predictions possible, including electronic computing devices; attractive, yet fiery-tempered, redheaded sports statisticians; celebrity prognosticators; trained poultry; Chet the E-Mail Boy; badgers; the Online Magic 8-Ball; and a variety of voices in my head. We strive to continue to bring you this exciting feature, and hope that it continues to improve in accuracy and…and…oh, whatever.

My prediction for the final score….




AUBURN 30 -- MISSISSIPPI STATE 6

The contest will be conducted at Davis Wade Stadium, with the kickoff on Scott Field scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Central Time. Live television coverage provided by the craptacular Lincoln Financial Sports Network†.

(*When compared to Auburn Tiger football coverage in Pravda.)
(**Unless the SEC team has the initials of MSU.)
(***Satan)
(† Successor to the equally craptacular Jefferson Pilot Sports Network, Birmingham affiliate WTTO 21.)

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

That’s right, it’s time to take our eyes off of the grinding viciousness of football and celebrate once again the accomplishments of the POSSUMBLOG STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK!

This week’s lucky PSAotW honoree is none other than a member of the 2006 NCAA National Championship Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, criminology and business major Adrienne Binder.

A 21-year-old native of Santa Barbara, California, this 6’-0” tall senior competes in distance freestyle events and is a Ten-Time All-American, an SEC Record Holder in the 1650m Freestyle, a 2003 World University Games Silver Medalist, a 2001 Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist in the 800m Freestyle, a CSCAA Academic All-American, and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. In addition to those honors, Miss Binder was named the SEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week in January, and was named the United States Sports Academy's Alabama Athlete of the Month for July.

A little-known fact is that she is on the swim team in order to stay near water, because she’s so incredibly hot she could catch on fire.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at September 8, 2006 08:00 AM