Karle's Korner

Is The Auburn-Arkansas Game Gene Chizik's Biggest Ever?

     Don't look now, but Saturday morning's game between Auburn and Arkansas may be a pivotal game in both the Auburn football program and Gene Chizik's career. Now before you start ranting, let me state that I do not believe that Gene Chizik's job is in jeopardy- you don't fire a good man and fine coach who won a national championship just over 18 months ago.  But five years from now, Auburn fans may look back at Saturday's game and remember it was the turning point (for better or worse) for the program and for Chizik.

     Here's the rub: The Arkansas Razorbacks come a callin' Saturday to face a 1-3 Auburn team that picked up it's only win in overtime against La-Monroe. If you have watched the Razorbacks this season, I say you have more guts than many. In two SEC games this season, Arkansas has been outscored 110-10. It's been so bad I'm thinking Mike Slive might consider replacing Arkansas in the SEC's western division with La-Monroe.  John L. Smith's team has looked so bad you have to wonder if the Razorback nation would be willing to hire back Bobby Petrino and present him with a new motorcycle driven by Jessica Dorrell.

   My point? The Auburn Tigers need to beat this hapless Arkansas team this weekend. If they don't? The Tigers will drop to 1-4, and with possible losses to LSU and Alabama in their future, the best Chizik can hope for is a 6-6 season. Would a 1-4 record bring out more of Chizik's critics? Certainly- but a win could be a first step in the Auburn nation gaining confidence and getting the ship sailing in the right direction.

     If Chizik is looking for any more motivation to slap the Hogs, I ask you to recall John L. Smith's comments to the Little Rock Touchdown Club several days ago: Asked if he thought Bobby Petrino would ever coach again, Smith said "yes",  and he mentioned that perhaps Petrino may wind up at... you've got it- Auburn!  While none of us need JetGate to rear it's ugly head, Gene Chizik can perhaps prevent an ugly future by slamming the Razorbacks on Saturday.

    Now for some thoughts swimming through my mind as I finish up my coffee:   Asked about coaches Saban and Chizik, former Auburn coach Pat Dye told the Montgomery Touchdown club, "Nick Saban is the best coach in the country, but there aint a better man than Gene Chizik.  I wouldn't trade one Gene Chizik for ten Nick Sabans".  Was that shot at Saban? My co-hort Paul Finebaum thinks Dye should swear off the media forever- what's your take?...How about those video game offensive numbers put up on Saturday by numerous teams and athletes? Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel striking for 557 total yards against Arkansas.  Georgia and Tennessee rolling up combined yards of over 1,000.  West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith passing for 656 yards and 8 TD's.  While I absolutey love it, you and I know that defense wins championships- and while top-ranked Alabama had a less-than impressive win over Ole Miss, remember that the Rebels gained all of 218 yards against the Tide... Kudos to Bama quarterback AJ McCarron, who has now thrown 216 consecutive passes without a pick- that's an all-time school record... Said Nick Saban of the nice effort by Ole Miss against his team? "I told you they were talented, but nobody listens to me"....So UAB drops to 0-4 after a 49-42 loss to Tulsa- the reason? The Blazers gained a net total of one rushing yard on 35 carries...  Attendance at the UAB game was listed as just over 13,000: If there were 13,000 people at Legion Field Saturday, I'm Bob Costas...The more I listen to Hoover coach Josh Niblett, the more he sounds like Nick Saban. His team is pretty good, too as the Bucs thrashed a very tough Vestavia Hills team 35-15 Friday night... Congrats to Gardendale's Jordan Howard, as he rushed for 198 yards Friday in a 31-30 win over Briarwood Christian, and QB Nick Mullens of Spain Park? How about 250 passing yards and 5 TD's in a 42-16 win over Lee-Montgomery... You heard it here first: Jimmie Johnson wins next weekend's Chase race at Talladega...  If a NASCAR pit crew can change four tires in less than fifteen seconds, why am I waiting 3 hours in a tire wharehouse for my tires to be changed?... I don't want to ruin Chipper's party, but as good as that Atlanta Braves team looks, why do I get a nagging feeling the team will lose their wild card playoff series and go "one and done"?...  Why does it happen every time I walk ino Subway sandwich shop? The person in front of me has that list out and he's ordering for the entire office... I tweeted NBC's Michelle Beadle to ask her what she thinks of the new judges on "American Idol"- she tweeted back "I still won't watch." Rememer, she works for NBC... finally, don't get too offended whenever you hear Charles Barkley say that there are too many fat people in Alabama. He admits he has long been one of them. He tells me he's proud of the 60 pounds he has lost on the Weight Watchers diet, and he's simply trying to motivate those who are a bit plump to scale back a bit.

     Thanks for stopping by- feel free to leave a comment, or join me at Twitter.com@RickKarle or Facebook/RickKarle.

Nick Saban: Remembering How Tim Tebow's Speech Changed Two Teams

     I was asked jokingly on the radio today if Alabama fans will get to watch a close football game this fall- you know the Crimson Tide being so good that all of these games have turned into boring blowouts. Don't you dare mention something like that to Nick Saban, as he has been helping his players avoid a big upset thanks to a familiar name:  Tim Tebow.

    This week, Saban's Crimson Tide players have been watching video of Tim Tebow's famous 2008 speech to his Florida Gators- and they are watching for a reason: This weekend's game conjures up just too many similiarities to what the Gators experienced four years ago.

    As you read this paragraph, feel free to insert the words "Alabama Crimson Tide" every time you see the words "Florida Gators".  It was September of 2008- the Florida Gators had just come off a national championship, winning 20-something straight games (sound familiar?). An overconfident Florida Gators bunch hosted the underdog Ole Miss Rebels. Final score? Ole Miss 31, Florida 20. 

     After that shocking loss, Tim Tebow stood at the podium and made his fanous "This will never happen again speech."  For a while it didn't. A rejuvinated Gators team went onto beat, yes, Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship, and UF went into win another national championship.  Nick Saban warns Alabama fans that the similarities betwen this weekend's game and the Gators-Rebels game in 2008 are just too many.

    Says Nick Saban, "I saw a tape a few weeks ago when we played somebody about Tim Tebow giving his famous speech after they were undefeated for a year and just won the national championship- they were unbeaten the next year, had won something like twenty straight games. Guess what? Guess who? Guess when? Somebody beat them!"

     Saban was adamant in getting his message across that he doen't want to have to see AJ McCarron or another member of his team make the same speech after losing to a 31 point underdog Ole Miss team. That's why this week his players have been watching Tim Tebow as often as Tim Hightower or Tim Jennings.

     Why is Saban so bent on the Tim Tebow speech? This week's circumstances play perfectly into that scenario, but perhaps there is another reason: Following that speech, Tim Tebow's Gators beat Saban's Crimson Tide in the SEC title game with a fourth quarter comeback that sent UF, not UA to the national championship game. Saban has been coaching a long time, and while I certainly cannot read his mind, I would think the loss to the Gators in that SEC Championship game (not to mention the 2010 Iron Bowl vs Auburn) leaves a twinge in his stomach every time he recalls it.

     Nothing motivates a coach like Nick Saban more than a game he lost that he thinks he should have won. That Alabama-Florida game has to be in Saban's "Infamous Top Five." While a loss to Ole Miss in 2008 turned a Florida team into a unified squad that did great things after a loss, Nick Saban would rather not experience that roller coaster ride this weekend.  He's thinking if his team takes care of business against Ole Miss, the only motivational speeches the Crimson Tide will hear will come from him, not one of his players.

For The Tide And The Tigers, The "D's" The Thing!

     Now that you're back from the game and back into your daily grind, it's time for a little Monday Morning quarterbacking!  How will fans judge the weekend's Alabama and Auburn games? If you are Nick Saban or Gene Chizik, you have seen more judges than Lindsey Lohan- and after the games we just saw, I came away  judging two very good defenses.

   First the Auburn Tigers: Before you tell me how Brian VanGorder makes Ted Roof look like the Secretary Of Defense, take a look at how far this Auburn defense has come in a mere one game against #2 LSU. Let's face it- over the Tiger's first three games the Auburn defenders tackled less like Reggie White and more like Betty White.  But take a look at the numbers from Saturday night.

     The LSU Tigers went into the game owning the SEC's top-ranked rushing offense, chalking up an average of 270 yards a game. With the AU defensive lineman finally playing like VanGorder and Chizik wanted them to play, they held LSU to 182 rushing yards on 44 carries. The Mettenberger kid averages a 72% completion rate- Saturday he completed just over 50% of his passes.

    I've been telling you for months that the Auburn defensive line features grown men:  Jeffrey Whitaker, Dee Ford, Nosa Eguae, Corey Lemonier and friends are beasts.  Saturday they finally played like beasts, allowing only three points over the last three quarters of the game.

     Now to Alabama's defense: To a casual fan like you and me, we think the defense is so strong we can only drool. But Nick Saban wants his pass defense shored up, his linebackers to improve, and the execution to rise.  A guy like ESPN"s Mel Kiper may tell you this Bama team is overrated for a few reasons: They beat what looks to be an average Michigan team, beat up on Western Kentucky and FAU, and slammed an Arkansas team that has lost to La-Monroe and Rutgers, for crying out loud.  But a look inside the numbers of the FAU game shows you just how dominating this defense is, even though their opponent was, well, FAU.

    On Saturday, Alabama's defense allowed 110 total yards... total!  FAU chalked up 4 yards in the first quarter, 35 yards 11 minutes into the four quarter. The gripe Saban will have? The SEC leader in takeaways had none against FAU, and a defense that allowed zero points between late in the Michigan game to late in the FAU game (UA outscored opponents 134-0) finally gave up a touchdown. 

    Bottom line? I'd hate to be a defensive player on the Alabama football team. Those poor souls- they actually gave up a touchown: Monday's practice is going to be brutal.

    So while we all love to watch great offenses, remember the saying that's been around since Joan Rivers first tried on make-up: Defense wins championships:  The Auburn Tigers are finally starting to get it, while the Alabama Crimson Tide are ready to make another run to the promised land.

Arkansas Coach John L. Smith: College Football's Newest Sideshow

     His grin spanned from ear to ear.  Arkansas football coach John L. Smith met the media earlier this week after suffering a 52-0 beatdown at the hands of #1-ranked Alabama. Smith's advice to the gathered reporers? "Smile.... smile.... dang you guys, smile or I'm not going to talk!".  If you are a football fan, you have no doubt seen the video- and like me, your first thought was, "What the heck is this guy doing?" Many Razorback fans are wondering the same thing.

     John L. Smith is a 63-year old who played and coached at Weber State. If ever the UA braintrust wanted to hire an anti-Bobby Petrino, Smith was it.  Today, however, you have to wonder if the suits at the university did any backround checks on this man.  While the Arkansas folks were in a bind following the Petrino mess, what they hired on an interim basis was a man who went 5-7, 5-6 and 4-8 in his last three seasons as Michigan State coach... a man who is 1-6 all-time in bowl games... a man who is over $25 million in debt (his net worth is $1.2 million).

     No doubt Smith has had a tough month, saying of his bankruptcy filing, "I made some poor decisions, but I'm a football coach not a businessman."  I'm not so sure he's either. While Petrino was and is unfaithul (in many ways) aloof, introverted and selfish, Smith is outgoing, faithful and giving. The catch? Petrino went 21-5 the last two seasons in Fayetteville while Smith's 1-2 Razorbacks team faces 3-0 Rutgers this weekend.

     John L. Smith is a cowboy boot-wearing, tell-it-like-it-is coach who has little clue about game management. Of his news conference shenanigans earlier this week, Smith defended his behavior by saying, "Why would I walk into a press conference and say, 'Nick Saban just ripped my heart out?'  Even though you felt that, you're never going to say that."

     John L. Williams is certainly an original, and for my money a better man than the person who walked before him in that job.  But you know it's time for the Arkansas folks to make a change ASAP when a man like Nick Saban must be quietly snickering about an opposing coach who seems better suited for the Comedy Club than the Lettermans Club.

 

Alabama Football: This Just Isn't Fair

     Now that I've read the morning newspaper (or should I say tablet?), it's time to check out some NFL football.  Looks like the noon game on Fox6 has the New Orleans Saints playing the Alabama Crimson Tide. I'm really starting to wonder if the Tide should join the NFC South, as there appears to be only a few college teams in America that could give Saban's team a run.

     The 52-0 beatdown in Fayetteville just wasn't fair- and while Tyler Wilson can point fingers all he wants, the Arkansas quarterback would have been back in the training room Saturday evening being treated for more injuries if he had played.

     A look inside the numbers of the Alabama-Arkansas game tells you just how dominating this Alabama team has become. The Tide took 6 trips inside the red zone and scored touchdowns every time... three different backs ran for at least 55 yards... 9 different players caught passes from AJ McCarron.... The Bama quarterback has thrown 151 consecutive passes without a pick... The Tide outrushed the Hogs 225-58... the 52-0 score was the biggest margin of win for the Tide over an SEC opponent since 1948.... Alabama has now won 20 consecutive SEC openers.... Sunday's AP Top-25 poll has Alaama #1, with 58 of the 60 voters taking part in the poll picking the Tide #1 (the other 2 had LSU #1)... shall I go on?

     Of course with a win comes some negatives. Um- well? Allright:  Jesse Williams, acting as "Refrigerator" Perry, ran the wrong way at the goal line (wouldn't you know the Tide still scored), and the bad weather at Reynolds Razorback stadium messed up Nick Saban's hair. The head coach promises to address both problems this week.

    When I was a kid,  I used to toss around my little sister pretty good (all in fun of course).  There was something embarrassingly pleasurable about a 15 year old teenager beating a 10 year old girl in arm wrestling, noogies, and rock-paper-scissors.  That's where the Alabama football program is right now:  Saban has a team that dominates the competition like a father dunking a basketball on his 8 year old on the front yard blue and orange plastic goal.

     I close with a final suggestion: How about we follow through on this Bama-to-the-NFL thought? The Crimson Tide becomes a member of the NFC (Saban could get another shot at Cam Newton), the SEC replaces Alabama with La-Monroe (they're beating up on SEC teams already), and I can round out my NFL fantasy football team with Eddie Lacy. Afterall, you can never have too many back-up running backs in fantasy football.

Why Can't Gene Chizik Get A Break?

     Here are just a few days from the third games of the college football season, and already Auburn fans have a bad taste in their collective mouths. That bad taste involves the Tigers poor play on the field (see my previous blog), and now, something else.  Once again, Auburn fans are hearing those four letters that make up that dirty word: NCAA.

     Over the past several days, you may have heard the buzz on the internet, on message boards, and in chat rooms (do they still have chat rooms?). The NCAA has been snooping around the city of Memphis, and Miss State along with Auburn were about to get slammed. A scathing investigative story was about to come out- was it going to be written by Charles Robinson of Yahoo? Joe Schad of ESPN?  If you listened to some fans of other SEC teams, that Gene Chizik character and his cast of underhanded assistants certainly must have once again done something dubious. The result? An article from Pat Forde of Yahoo!Sports that fingered the Miss State Bulldogs, and the Bulldogs alone.

     In case you missed it, here is the rub: Former UAB football player Byron De'Vinner, a 7-on-7 coach in Tennessee, maintains that a Miss State assistant coach along with an MSU booster teamed up to give recruit Will Redmond cash and other perks. The only mention of Auburn in the Forde article was a brief passage mentioning former AU tailback Jovon Robinson. As reported by numerous media outlets some time ago (Fox6 included), the NCAA questioned Auburn officials about a Robinson grade change back in Memphis. A high school counselor admitted to changing the grade, and Auburn was cleared of any wrongdoing.

    So why all the whispers about Gene Chizik and his merry band of assistant coaches? Chizik went through this ad nauseum in 2010 with Cam Newton, only to be cleared by the NCAA after months of ridicule, finger-pointing and negative press.  Can Gene Chizik not catch a break?

     While fans of other teams may believe that "where there's smoke there's fire", Gene Chizik has shown guts leading his team to a national championship through a season of turmoil, and now faces the task of turning around a struggling team in the face of more rumor.  If you root for a team other than Auburn, and you believe some shady dealings are taking place on the Plain, just remember that this is the USA, where even a big-time coaching staff is innocent until proven guilty.

       So enjoy another weekend of college football- and until you have something concrete on the AU coaches, give Gene Chizik a break.

Auburn ? We Have A Problem!

     Seems like just yesterday that Gene Chizik and his Auburn Tigers were sitting on top of the college football world. The kick was good, and I along wth other media types, players and coaches, were flooding the field in Glendale as the Tigers were officially celebrating a national championship. How quickly the vultures circle, as many Tiger fans are this week suffering from head scratching and doubt.

     Saturday's 28-10 loss at Miss State was certainly one of the ugliest losses in school history- not because of the Tigers losing, but how the Tigers looked in losing. Gene Chizik called it a "dismal performance". Give the head coach an A+ for honesty- now he needs to improve his grade on the teaching scale.

     How bad was the game in Starkville? Quarterback Kiehl Frazier completed three passes in the first half against Miss State- two of those completions were to the Bulldogs. Said Chizik after the game, "We couldn't get passes off, and when we did they were to the other team."  Frazier's numbers did improve, as through three quarters, he was 3 of 10 passing for 18 yards. Frazier's five turnovers were one shy of a baker's half dozen. Auburn amassed a total of 65 yards in the first half as the "O" went AWOL.  And the telling stat? Through two games this season, the Tigers have had 20 snaps inside the red zone- their yards gained? One.

     Now to the defense, where new DC Brian VanGorder has a task wider than  his mustache. Missed tackles are his main concern, a concern echoed by former Auburn assistant Paul Rhoads. A few years back when Rhoads took the Iowa State job to replace Chizik, one report had the new Cyclones coach saying he had to take his Iowa State players back to "tackling 101", as under Chizik, his players could not tackle.   

      Now come the whispers- "Is Chizik the right man for this job?"   Chizik's record at Auburn without Cam Newton is 16-12.  Keep in mind however, that the Auburn coach did a tremendous job keeping that 2010 Auburn team intact in the midst of  NCAA problems, the Cam Newton saga and one heckuva schedule. The Tigers also handed Nick Saban one of his worst losses ever, a disheartening setback that must still keep Saban awake at night.

   The schedule for the Tigers does not get any easier: This weekend comes La Monroe, a team that just knocked off 8th-ranked Arkansas. Then comes Arkansas and LSU. 

     During their run to the BCS championship, the team's theme some was "Lean On Me"- their motto was "All In"- their crede was and is "Auburn Is Family."  All three are now being tested. It's time for Gene Chizik, the Auburn players and the Auburn family to live by all three.

Let's All Relax- It's just Saban being Saban!

    Nothing like a little Nick Saban rant to spice up a lousy week of football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. While most people think Saban went off on the media Wednesday night, my take is a bit different: He simply used the media as a conduit to reach the Alabama fan base!

     Moments after the impressive win over Michigan, thousands of Bama fans were thinking to themselves, "Maybe I should check out hotel rooms in Miami" (site of the national championship game). TV talking heads (myself and Finebaum included) yucked it up, saying that this Alabama team could have the makings of a team that could win another championship.  Saban had heard the glowing reviews for four days, and Wednesday night he wanted to send his message loud and clear: "Back off Bama fans, we have lots of football yet to be played."

     A few other things may have set off Saban: A lousy Wednesday practice, an entitled attitude by his players, and more than a few phone calls from national media types telling him how great his team looks. Do the Crimson Tide players really need to stay hungry to beat Western Kentucky? Uh- no- this is a mismatch, sort of like the prettiest girl in town picking between George Clooney and PeeWee Herman (you know the outcome). Still, Saban wants his players to know there is plenty of competition to come, and joining the lovefest can only hurt in the long run.

    Am I bothered by Saban consistently blaming and berating the media for that is wrong with the Tide nation? Not a bit, as it's a tried and tired old trick: When sending a strong messsage, blame the media- politicians do it all the time. I will say this: Nick Saban should thank his lucky stars he's not in Boston or New York, as after a rant like that, he'd be eaten alive by media types that are far less forgiving than the fine, well-behaved folks in our state.

     The lesson learned in the Saban tirade? He had a lousy day and he's worried Alabama fans are getting a bit too cocky. I for one am glad the coach had a chance to use his good buddies in the media to get his  word out to those fans. Remember- in many ways, the media (TV exposure = money = $5 million salary) can be credited for helping Nick Saban reside in a higher tax bracket than you and me. I just hope that when he's relaxing at Lake Burton watching the sunset, that he remembers how his good media friends helped him carve out a great life.  Your welcome, Nick.

    Enjoy Nick Saban's comments by clicking on the link below.

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/19471816/nick-saban-not-happy-with-national-champion-predictions

 

 

Faith and Football: How Both Are Intertwined The Week

     You hear just about everywhere you go:  College football in the south is a religion! This week, we are once again reminded how faith touches the sport through triumph and tragedy.

     Early Monday morning came word that the mother of Auburn fullback Jay Prosch had been lost to cancer. Prosch had been granted a transfer from Illinois to Auburn to be closer to his ailing mother in Mobile- and while he supported her dearly, Iris Prosch would at last lose the battle.  This week, Prosch's Tiger teammates are playing the part of supporter, consoler, uplifter.  Ever the tough, dedicated young man, Prosch has decided to return to his team on Tuesday and Wednesday, be back in Mobile Thursday for the funeral, and back on the field Saturday in Starkville.  Gene Chizik has always boasted that Auburn is indeed "family",  and he now finds himself and his players drawing upon their faith to help a teammate through tragedy.

     As the Tigers look for ways to improve after losing to Clemson, they may feel blessed not having to face receiver DeAndre Hopkins this weekend.  The Clemson receiver caught 13 passes at the Georgia Dome, including the game-winner as Clemson beat Auburn 26-19. Two days before the big game, Hopkins underwent a religious rebirth, being baptized at practice- he sat in a Rubbermaid tub full of water and ice as his teammates looked on.  Did Hopkin's reconnection with The Lord give him a new frame of mind as he went into battle with Auburn? Perhaps, as the receiver said that the football game was fun, but the baptism was the "hilight of my week." A triumphant weekend it was for the rec0rd-setting receiver.

     As you are well aware, our faith is tested each and every day.  This week, faith and football have taken center stage again, in triumph and in tragedy.  It's how a man copes with both that defines him. Today, Jay Prosch and DeAndre Hopkins are better men for it.

Lessons Learned After Week One Of College Football

     Did the opening weekend of college football go about as expected? My answer would be a resounding "Yes".  But before Alabama fans book their reservations to Miami, and before Auburn fans slit their wrists, let us all remember that we have seen but one game from the Tide and the Tigers.

    On the Alabama front, a warning to Crimson Tide opponents everywhere: You might wanna take an Advil before your game against Alabama. As seen Saturday night, Nick Saban has a smash-mouth football team that is deep in every way, as the team beat 8th-ranked Michigan 41-14.  Six different players ran the ball against the Wolverines, the most impressive being a freshman (TJ Yeldon w/ 111 rushing yards), 8 different players caught at least one pass, and the UA offensive line had Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wondering if it's on loan to help protect Tony Romo. Until Michigan finally scored a touchdown, Alabama had outscored opponents 70-0 dating back to last November. That tells you as much about the UA defense as it does the offense- and I need not tell you how impressive the defense has been (at one point in the third quarter, Bama had outgained the Wolverines 234 yards to 34).

     Still,  The Alabama nation must remember that it's a long season, and the Crimson Tide has a brutal SEC schedule. An off day here or there, an injury to a key player, a fluke play, a fumble- Saban's team can be looking at a loss when you least expect it. The catch? If the Tide continue to buy into the process, I'm not expecting it.

     Now to the Auburn Tigers, where there is good news in the midst of 26-19 loss to Clemson. Gene Chizik's gang went toe to toe with the 14th-ranked team in America, taking a slugfest to the very last round before losing via a decision.  Tre Mason turned some heads, rushing for 106 yards (so much for critics saying the kid could not run between the tackles)... Emory Blake and Philip Lutzenkirchen were, as usual, strong, and Kiehl Frazier showed signs of confidence in his first start at AU. What I wanted to see more of from the Auburn Tigers? Kiehl Frazier using his feet, and better tackling from the defense.  Frazier is a superb athlete who has been described as having some of the traits of Cam Newton. On Saturday night, OC Scot Loeffler needed to unleash Frazier as Cam Newton looked on.  And the tackling? These guys had more whifs than a Joe Biden speech. Clemson's Andre Ellington ran for 231 yards against AU... 231 yards? There is some good news, as Brian Van Gorder's defense allowed 100 fewers yards to Clemson than Ted Roof's defense did last year (500+ yards to 600+ yards).

     Next week, the Auburn Tigers head to Starkville, where the cowbells await them (not to mention a decent football team).  The Tigers are going to have to circle the wagons and get ready for war. Said Gene Chizik Saturday night, "We now have a very good idea of where we need to go, and as you all saw, we have a long way to go."

     As the Tide and the Tigers head into week number two, I believe my advice would echo that of coaches Saban and Chizik. Alabama fans may want to temper their plans of purchasing those national championship game packages, while Auburn fans may not want to write off what could be a fine 2012 season.