Just like always, nobody has been more affected by something done by Alabama than Auburn.
Auburn fans and one outspoken former coach just can't stop crying about Alabama. It doesn't help that the Crimson Tide walked into the Jungle last Saturday and handed the Tigers an L. And as the losses continue to pile up for the Nepo baby on the Plains, you're going to continue to hear them more and more want to talk about Alabama and Charles Bediako.
Because while Alabama continues to pile up wins and is almost certainly headed back to the NCAA Tournament for a sixth straight season, Auburn is in danger of missing out as Steven Pearl's Tigers are on the bubble in his first year after being handed a job he didn't earn.
“Nate said he’d play (Bediako) a 100 times again, what that tells me is Nate doesn’t really care about the SEC, he doesn’t care about the NCAA," Pearl said. And it’s fine, you’re (just) going to care about your student-athletes, that’s fine. But you’re a member of this conference, and you’re a member of the NCAA. What about the rest of the teams, what about the rest of the players? Why should those five teams have to play against an ineligible player? I think it was selfish, and I think it was wrong.”
Maybe look in the mirror there, Bruce? When have you ever cared about the NCAA? Was it when you earned a show-cause and got fired at Tennessee? How about when you tried to ruin the career of Deon Thomas at Illinois because you didn't get your way?
And speaking of selfish - what would you call someone who waits to announce his retirement in a decision he made months before until six weeks before the season starts, strong-arming the university into hiring your son who wouldn't have gotten the job otherwise, and locking in a roster who committed to play for your when it was too late for them to enter the Transfer Portal?
Sounds pretty selfish to me, but Pearl and Auburn fans are nothing if not self-righteous.
Auburn's on-court struggles have amplified the off-court focus
Auburn fans spend 90% of their focus on everything Alabama does anyway. They couldn't be more of a little brother if they tried.
It's amplified because of the struggles on the court this season for the Tigers, though.
Auburn is in the midst of a three-game losing streak that has dropped them to 14-10 overall and 5-6 in SEC play in Pearl the lesser's first season as the head coach.
Take our sister site over at Fly War Eagle as a perfect example of where the focus is on the Plains.
Articles written about Alabama and Bediako: 7
Articles written about Auburn's three-game losing streak: 1
I don't blame them for it. They are catering to their fanbase. Their fans would rather talk about Alabama than talk about the pitiful product they've put on the basketball court recently.
And that's not going to change anytime soon. Because in the midst of a three-game losing streak, Auburn is staring a fourth dead in the face this weekend with a road game at Arkansas on tap.
So expect the above counter to go up regarding Alabama and Bediako. It's certainly more fun for them than having to accept the reality that they made a horrible mistake with Steven Pearl, and the flare-up of basketball success is nearing its unceremonious end as Auburn crashes back to the cellar where they belong.