In speaking with reporters Tuesday at the Senior Bowl Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn announced the date for the start of spring practice. And for the second consecutive year the Tigers will begin practice in February with the finish coming at the April 7 A-Day game.
Normally I get excited whenever Auburn announces the date of spring football. However, with the basketball team undefeated at home and on a tear in their SEC schedule, all my interest is focused on each time the Tigers take the court.
Not since the days that Cliff Ellis roamed the sidelines (1994-2004) has there been so much excitement around the round ball sport on the Plains. Ellis won an SEC Tournament Championship and took the Tigers to three NIT’s and three NCAA Tournaments, reaching the sweet sixteen twice.
But he did it with players like Wesley Person, Doc Robinson and SEC Player of the Year Chris Porter. There are no stars like that on this undersize Auburn team. And that’s one of the things that make following this bunch so exciting. The fans recognize that and have made the Auburn Arena a very difficult place for opponents – a true jungle of horors.
In addition, no Auburn coach has ever connected with the fans like Bruce Pearl. His persona has as much to do with the rocking Arena as the performance of his team. He’s one part coach, one part showman, one part cheer leader, and one part magician. A combination that has made him probably the most popular Auburn basketball coach ever, at least with the students.
It’s hard to temper my enthusiasm for what we are witnessing. I know with the Tigers at 17-2 and 5-1 in the SEC, there’s still a lot of basketball left to play, but don’t wake me up from this dream just yet. I want to see the Tigers repay the Tide when they come to the Arena Feb. 21. I want to see Bruce Pearl cutting down the net after winning a championship. And I want to see Auburn return to the Big Dance.
Lofty goals? Yes, but I believe in Auburn and …
I believe in Auburn Basketball!
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