Possumblog

And now we turn to the greatest of all questions…

Why does Ole Miss spell “Old” as “Ole,” which to me looks like the Spanish word ¡olé!, instead of spelling it “Ol’ ” the way it should be spelled?

IT IS A MYSTERY, and one you’re guaranteed NOT to see solved on this, the World’s Most Wildly Inaccurate Sports Show on the Internet, Possumblog Sports Center!

This week our wonderful Auburn Tigers (6-1, 4-1 SEC) head way over to the home of the mint julep swilling Rebels of the University of Missisisspiee (2-6, 1-4 SEC) after winning a workmanlike (some would say “yeomanlike,” while others would content themselves with “competent,” or possible “proficient”) victory over the Tulanesters last weekend.

Although Coach Tuberville is rather much despised in Oxford and any SEC team is a pretty good challenge during the year, about the only way Auburn can travel to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and not come back victorious is to just quit and let Ole Miss win. Missisislpiiieippe does have an SEC-leading running back, and an SEC-leading linebacker, and they have indeed gotten better as they year has worn on, but they just don’t have the depth necessary to bring home a win this time. Unless Auburn plays dead--which can happen.

Probably won’t, though. The team is still beaten up some, but according to Coach Tuberville. they’re more well physically than they’ve been since the first of the season, with Cox finally feeling like his old self and injured center Joe Cope moving back up to backup status after a long lay-off.

As usual, the key to stopping Auburn will be either pressuring Cox with aggressive pass rush, or shutting down the long running game. Teams have managed to slow Auburn down by hitting the line hard, and if they can contain Kenny Irons, they do well enough. If he gets past the line, however, all bets are off. He’s an open-field threat, and now that there are some younger players in the backfield who are proving their talent, the running attack is going to be much more productive. Unless it’s not--which could happen.

Defensively, the Tigers just have to play ball. Ole Miss doesn’t run much complication, but they can do what they do well enough to cause trouble. The Tigers have shown some occasional slack in the middle on running games and have gotten beaten some on the long passes, but again they should be able to have a good game, and I think will have some defensive points scoring as they did in the second half against Florida. Overall it seems to be a matter of having everyone playing at the same time and toward the same end, and this late in the year is a bit too late for everyone to be unsure of where they should be or whom they should cover.

“BUT,” you interject, “what of that one truest test of football abilities!?”

A good question, but not that easily answered. Oh, sure, there’s some nice photos of the cheerleaders and the Rabblettes, and a nice feature where you can make the photos REALLY big, but I am less than impressed with the number of photos. As is also usual, though, I’m not too impressed with Auburn’s website either. Call it a toss up. Or a herky. Or something.

ANYWHO, it is now that time of the show when we venture forth into the unknown and unknowable, when we edge out onto the ledge, when we peer into the abyss, when we offer forth THIS WEEK’S PREDICTION OF FINAL OUTCOME!!

If you’re as nervous as I am, you should take something. I’ll wait.

Okay, better?

GOOD!

MY PREDICTION IS:






AUBURN 34 -- MISSISSIPPI 10

Kickoff will be another early one at 11:30 a.m. Central, with coverage provided by the wretched Lincoln Sports Network, and by your Auburn Radio Network.

BUT WAIT, THAT’S NOT ALL!!

Yes, it’s time to make certain that we name our next Possumblog Student Athlete of the Week, so that we can ensure our smart and brainy and thoughty athletes get as much recognition as they deserve. This week we take a look at an athlete who plays the OTHER football (which I hesitate to dignify with that name since it creates confusion as to the REAL football) but nevertheless, it is a somewhat clever way to introduce you to sophomore forward Kara Kasten.

A native of Roswell, Georgia, Kara is a Top Tiger in the classrooms on the Plains, and comes to Auburn from Blessed Trinity Catholic where she graduated summa cum laude. An undeclared liberal arts major, Kara enters her second of what will surely be another highly productive year on the soccer pitch. In her first year, the robust 5ft-5in blonde was one of only two freshman to play in all 21 games, and she started in 10 of them. Of all her stellar qualities, possibly the finest one is her unashamed admission that she eats chocolate donuts and three slices of bacon every morning. Now that’s my type of scholar-athlete!

So we congratulate Kara Kasten as our newest PSAotW!

Posted by Terry Oglesby at October 27, 2006 08:17 AM