Tuberville looks to save a lost season

By John McMullen  |   Thursday, November 06, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Auburn Tigers
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A top 10 preseason ranking and dreams of a national title in Auburn these days are exactly that -- dreams.

A well-documented disastrous tryst with the spread offense has turned the Tigers from a national power into a team that will have to struggle to become bowl-eligible.

Heck, as of today, the mighty Tigers (4-5, 2-4 SEC) aren't even a .500 team with Homecoming and Tennessee-Martin on the horizon.

Despite an impressive record, UT Martin (7-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley) was scheduled on Homecoming for a reason and Auburn will find a way to stop an ugly four-game slide and climb back to mediocrity.

Of course, the Skyhawks are a Football Championship Subdivision team, so a win -- even an impressive one -- will do little to stop a growing sentiment that Tommy Tuberville has outlived his usefulness at the top of the Auburn program.

The Tigers have has won 16 consecutive Homecoming games (by an average of 24 1/2 points). Anything less than that, even in a disappointing season like this, against the junior varsity masquerading as the FCS is unacceptable.

Tuberville claims the Tigers have had a good week of practice despite a number of starters being absent while nursing various injuries.

"It was a good practice. We had a few people out there that are attempting to learn the game plan and might play a few plays, but we have a lot of guys out," Tuberville said Thursday. "Again we haven't had a lot of continuity this week, but it's been the same thing the last couple of weeks.

"The game plan is in. We've expanded our offense a little bit in terms of formations and things we're doing on the running game and passing game. I think (quarterback) Kodi (Burns) has had a real good week throwing the football. I think we're getting better every day."

Optimism aside, the expected win over UT Martin will only stem the tide -- literally.

Following the Skyhawks on the Auburn schedule will be 14th-ranked Georgia on Nov. 15. A bye week follows that before Nick Saban and the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide host the Tigers in the Iron Bowl.

It's almost inconceivable to think an Auburn team that has shown little life against an Arkansas and an Ole Miss could rise up and pull off an upset against either the Bulldogs or Alabama.

But that's exactly what Tuberville will have to do if he wants to save a lost season and keep the sharks at bay.
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About John McMullen

John is the managing editor of The Phanatic Magazine, the assistant managing editor of The Sports Network and the co-host of the highly rated 'Johns on Sports' radio show on WTBQ in New York. Every Saturday from 6:30-9 p.m. (et) you can hear John along with his co-host, John Gottlieb, talk to the ...
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