AuburnFamilyNews.com: Making Sense of this Auburn Football Season

Monday, November 21, 2016

Making Sense of this Auburn Football Season

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Late into the Auburn afternoon on Saturday, people were still talking about it. How did this coaching staff blow it against Georgia? It’s a hangover that’s likely to linger into the off-season. With the win over Alabama A&M a mere formality, fans tried to put in perspective this football season.

Given the possibility of an 8-3 season heading into Iron Bowl week, most Auburn people would have been thrilled at the prospect back in the summer. Considering the excitement of a six-game win streak starting in late September, fans are left to wonder what might have been.

When the rankings are released Tuesday, Auburn will likely be sitting just outside the Top 10. Lost is any real possibility of a New Year’s Six bowl invitation. So how do you put into perspective this year?

While anything is possible in the Iron Bowl, the likely loss of Sean White, Kam Pettway and fullback Chandler Cox means this offense will show little resemblance to the one that ran through Arkansas and Ole Miss.  

Overall, it’s impossible not to give Gus Malzahn above average grades for the season. Having overcome a 1-2 start and getting himself off the hot seat deserves credit.

What sticks in the craw of Auburn fans is that coaching contributed directly to the Clemson and Georgia losses. Flip those games and Auburn’s in the national title discussion and heading to Tuscaloosa with one loss.

More will be expecting next year. Malzahn must deal with Auburn’s three biggest rivals. LSU will be in transition. Georgia and Alabama visit Jordan-Hare Stadium. Anything short of 2-1 against its rivals will get fans grumbling.

Malzahn is almost given a pass because of what Nick Saban is accomplishing at Alabama. But should he? Losing to Georgia is something that must be corrected in short order. A loss at home to Kirby Smart and there will be some serious soul searching.

An unlikely win on Saturday against Alabama clearly changes the narrative. A loss means little more than a good season. Considering no one expected even a modest year, fans are likely to be satisfied. Talk about lowering the bar.

So there you have it. Short of a win on Saturday, the 2016 season will be considered a good one – nothing more. It’s a year that will fade into memory as soon bowl season ends. It could have been better. It could have been worse.

It almost feels like a tie.

Nobody gets excited for a tie.

The post Making Sense of this Auburn Football Season appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.



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