2015 Common Opponents Preview: Auburn
We’ve made it folks. Well, not quite to football season (only a week away, eeeeeek!!) but almost as important, we’ve made it to Auburn. It’s Alabama’s seventh and final (scheduled) common opponent (looking at you Ohio State) in 2015.
2014 Recap:
Basically Blake Sims dropping Bombs over Baghdad.
BOMBS OVER BAGHDAD
Credit: http://collegespun.com/sec/alabama-sec/gif-alabama-scores-a-td-on-a-75-yard-bomb-from-blake-sims-to-amari-cooper
But yeah the final score in this one was 55-44 (good guys of course). 99 points in an Iron Bowl is obviously a record and one even in this day and age I don’t see getting broken for quite a while.
I was actually pretty nervous about this one for a while because Blake Sims was definitely not his best the first half and the first drive of the second half. I can’t lie; I was definitely the guy in the stands screaming as loud as I could to get Jacob Coker in, because I didn’t think Sims could get it done. I’ll also say this; I’ve never been more content with being wrong.
Alabama jumped out to a 14-3 lead after Amari Cooper’s first touchdown of the night. The Tigers then scored 23 of the next 30 points to take a 26-21 lead into the half.
Coming out of the second half the Crimson Tide got the ball back only to watch Blake Sims throw his third pick of the night. The pick resulted in some serious loosening up on Jacob Coker’s part. Auburn was able to score a touchdown 7 plays after the pick to take what looked like a commanding 33-21 lead.
Saban gave Blake Sims one last shot to prove himself and boy did that payoff.
Sims played some of the best at the quarterback position I’ve ever seen coming down the stretch as Alabama scored 28 unanswered points including two absolutely perfect touchdown throws to Amari Cooper. I can promise you Auburn fans are still having nightmares about Amari Cooper.
When it was all said and done, Cooper ended up with 13 catches for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns which was way better than anything Chris Davis ever did in his career.
Hey Auburn, remember this guy?
Credit: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/lane-kiffin-celebrated-a-td-pass-to-amari-cooper-before-ball-was-thrown–video-050411688.html
Some Auburn guys had some nice stats and all too but in the end who really cares? The only stat that matters is the one that says loss.
2015 Look Ahead:
Alabama has to travel to Cow College this year on Saturday, November 28th. The Barners will no doubt be looking forward to this, and I can assure you it’s already been brought up more at practice than their opening game against Louisville.
Both teams should be coming into this game off victories as Alabama hosts Charleston Southern and Auburn hosts Idaho the week before. Seriously, Idaho? To afraid to at least play someone from the South?
TJ Yeldon also had a big game in his final Iron Bowl.
Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Key Losses Returnees for Auburn:
Auburn loses their top passer, top rusher and top receiver from a year ago. They also lose a couple of starters off a terrible defense.
As mentioned above, Auburn is also replacing their starting quarterback. However, theirs is somehow penciled in the Heisman race, while we are getting all kinds of backlash on ours. Look I saw Jeremy Johnson play in high school, and he’s not bad, but let’s pump the brakes a little. The kid has yet to throw a meaningful ball at Auburn, yet he’s still got Bo Jackson level hype surrounding him.
That’s just that wonderful Auburn propaganda machine at work again folks, WAR DAMN MUSCHAMP!
Speaking of Muschamp, they really think he’s the guy to save that god awful defense, don’t they? It’s never a good sign when your top recruit is tweeting this out:
Apparently Byron Cowart isn’t having the best of offseasons.
On the subject of tumultuous off-seasons, what the hell is going on with Duke Williams? He skips half of camp then shows back up only to learn he has to “earn his spot back”.
Yeah, that’s hilarious. There’s literally a better chance of Terry Bowden coaching Auburn’s first game than anyone starting over Duke Williams against Louisville.
There’s a 0.00% chance Duke Williams doesn’t play against Louisville.
Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama has the all-time edge in this one 43-35-1 (damn, can you imagine this game ever ending in a tie?) and they’ll look to make it two straight against the War Eagle Tigers in 2015. The FAMBLEH has great expectations for Gussy Gus and the Tigers in 2015, but expectations don’t beat Alabama no matter how bad you want them to Barners. See you November 28th, Roll Tide!
Gus Sad
Sad Gus
Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports