I feel it’s my responsibility to point out something many people are overlooking about Saturday’s game. Sixty years from now I will not remember the score of the this game. I might not remember if we beat Alabama in 07. I might not even remember what Auburn University is, or that I once graduated from there. What I will remember, is that I saw this amazing trick play on a kickoff return;

This has been a personal favorite play of mine ever since Auburn ran it during the 2004 Sugar Bowl. Has another team even tried this play during these past three years? Personal feelings aside, in the grand scheme of things, this was probably about the 32nd ballsiest call of the night.

That’s how crazy this game was; a ‘starburst’ kickoff return was rendered forgettable.

Immediately after a loss, we have the impulse to place blame on whose fault it was. But, we can’t blame the offense. They were incredibly clutch during Auburn’s final drive. We can’t blame the defense. Powers was all over LSU receiver guy during the last play from scrimmage. It must be the coaches’ fault then. “Tommy should’ve used his timeouts!” we instinctively thought to ourselves, but we quickly realized that would’ve only helped LSU further by allowing them extra plays. “Tommy should’ve been prepared for the long pass”. No. Going into a zone would’ve defied all coaching logic.

Unfortunately, Auburn faced a man willing to defy all coaching logic. He took the game out of Auburn’s hands and went with an incredibly risky dice roll.

Auburn forced what many people consider to be the greatest football team in the country, inside one of the most intimidating atmosphere, to gamble on dumb luck. With the extra dumb luck on Miles’ side, no team could’ve beaten LSU on Saturday.

When an idiotic call works, you must give credit where it’s due despite all logic. Why was Coach Miles so timid to announce what was going through his mind before the last play from scrimmage? After watching them play this season, I’m sure the sideline conversation between Miles and an assistant coach went something like this at the end of the game;

“Ok, send out the punting unit.”

“But coach, it’s second down, we’re down by two with just seconds left in the game!”

“I know! They’ll never see it coming!”

“A field goal will win the game coach!”

“That’s EXACTLY what they want you to think! We gotta get INSIDE their heads man! Get moving!”

“Coach, we need to score points, we’re in field goal range… please…”

“FINE! Throw for the endzone, just make sure it’s the last play of the game.”

“Bless you, sir!”

Auburn had no chance at that point. Tuberville is a gambler, but he lacked the insanity to beat Les Miles. However, I’m calling it right now, Houston Nutt and Arkansas will blow LSU out of the water. Not only is Nutt the only coach with the capabilities to out-insane Miles, it’s a law of the universe that Houston Nutt will forever be Arkansas’ head coach. Beating LSU is the only way he’ll keep his job. Therefore, Arkansas will win in a landslide. Arkansas fans will be even more devastated than LSU fans after the game.

Unfortunately for Auburn, good cannot come from evil - Alabama has no chance at beating LSU. There will be no SEC Championship for Auburn this year. It’s a shame because Auburn is three plays away from being the #1 ranked team in the country. Yeah, yeah, Auburn’s also three plays away from a 2-6 record, but think about how young this team is. Auburn will be a preseason top 10 next season (It’d be #1 if we could only find a loophole to allow Brandon a 7th season on the team. I promise to take back every mean thing I’ve said about Chris Weinke), Auburn is setting itself up for some huge championship runs. Enough about that though, there’s plenty of fun to be had this season; particularly a fun revenge game against Georgia and game for hilarity against Alabama.

National title hopes are gone. SEC championship hopes are gone. But, with games against the University of Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama coming up, we’ve got a pretty good shot at the tri-state championship.

War Eagle!

E-mail Mark at mark@theauburner.com

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