Published January 28, 2011 - 5:40am
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
Texas Longhorns 2009 – 2010
You don’t have to look far to find the worst downturn in college football this past season, and I guarantee you won’t get past Austin and the Texas Longhorns. Texas, who was entering the season as the reigning Big 12 Champion and representing the other team against the SEC in the National Championship in 2009, had a miserable year this past season, with only five wins. Mack Brown struggled all year to get anything at all from his team, and from his coaches for that matter.
Let’s take a look at Texas to see what they lost coming into the 2010 season. Texas lost starting quarterback and Heisman finalist Colt McCoy. They lost their premier wide receiver and McCoy’s favorite target in Jordan Shipley. Texas also lost a massive defensive end and linebacker in Sergio Kindle. As we all know, all three of these guys were difference makers and all are playing on Sundays.
Also, this season, Texas started a freshman quarterback in Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert struggled all year, and the offensive play calling gave him no confidence.
Interesting enough, Will Mushcamp was named “Coach in Waiting” at Texas. Muschamp then left Texas for Florida, as he was arguably the hottest young assistant and head coaching prospect, other than Gus Malzahn. No one knew he would leave for Florida, but he did.
Auburn Tigers 2010 – 2011
As we all know right now Auburn is the king of the roost by running the table in the SEC during the regular season, trouncing South Carolina in the SEC Championship game and beating Oregon in the BCS National Championship game. They retained all of their coaching staff despite many teams looking at offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Let’s take a look at Auburn to see what they lose going into the 2011 season. First, Auburn loses Cam Newton to the draft. The one-and-done Heisman Trophy winner and superstar has decided to take his talents to the NFL, and I don’t blame him because of the microscope he continues to be under from the media. Next, Auburn loses defensive superstar Nick Fairley. I’m not sure anyone saw Fairley exploding onto the scene, but nonetheless, Fairley dominated SEC play this year. He will only get better. Third, Auburn loses Darvin Adams. While I know Adams is replaceable, he was the Tigers’ stud receiver this past season.
So, Auburn loses their quarterback, their best defensive prospect and their best wide receiver. Strikingly similar to Texas isn’t it?
Who will be the starting quarterback for Auburn in 2011? Most likely Chizik and Malzahn will go to the heralded freshman Kiehl Frazier if Barrett Trotter cannot bust a grape. Frazier is just as heralded as Gilbert was for Texas.
Another eerily similar situation is Gus Malzahn. Malzahn signed a three-year deal with Auburn, but that won’t stop him from taking a big-time program’s coaching vacancy.
So, What Gives
Let me just say this – Auburn has more running back talent than Texas dreamt of this past season right now with Michael Dyer, Onterio McCalebb and newcomers Tre Mason and Quan Bray. The Tigers also have a tremendous play caller in Gus Malzahn. I know Malzahn will lean on his talented running backs, as Texas couldn’t lean on anyone this past year.
Even though both Auburn and Texas are in different conferences with different dynamics, the similarities between the two programs are striking. I am in no way saying Auburn will win only five games next year, but you can’t help but notice the similarities.
Let’s hope for Auburn’s sake and the SEC’s sake, 2011 Auburn does not turn out like 2010 Texas.
I pray they have a worse season than Texas did!! Followed up next season with probation and 2010 season vacated along with the NC!! Couldn’t happen to a better program!!
I would think UGA fans would be better served by “praying” for a team that can beat Colorado and Central Florida. Auburn might be as bad as Texas was last year, but I doubt they will be as bad as UGA has been the last two years in a row. UGA fans should work on keeping their players and athletic director out of jail. 19 players & the AD arrested in one year has to be some kind of a record.
I agree with you! I’m glad UCF and Colorado beat UGA last year. Enuff said! I predicted UGA to finish 10-3 in 2010 but its turned out to be fluke with 6-7! Praise the Lord!
Anybody with any sense that turned on the TV to watch UT once this season, immediately recognized UT’s problems started with the cmplete lack of a running game. Thus, UT signed the #1 RB in the country (Malcolm Brown) and 5 on the O-line(as of 28JAN).
A better blog post would be comparing UGA’s recruiting to UCF’s.
Texas sucks
What UT recruiting site are you looking at, Isiah Crowell is the number 1 running back in the nation, check espn and rivals. Also UT will continue to suck, its just their nature, they cant compete with the recruiting of Alabama, Florida and UGA, teams that are consistently in the top ten recruiting picture.
Nope He is not #1 He is Rated #2 check again
Yea I think it’s gone be ugly for auburn this season.
It’s understandable to see the similarities because the holes in the starting roster are absolutely staggering. You can’t lose two of the most dominant players in ’10 CFB, along with a big group of seniors and not fall down a few notches. Remember this, though, Auburn was predicted as a 3rd-4th in the SEC West team before our National Championship run in 2010. There were a lot of unknowns ready to make their presence felt including Fairley. The biggest difference right now at least is not having a Cam Newton to run the offense next year. Barrett Trotter will be efficient with a good stock of WR’s and the stable of young running backs ready to carry the load. As an Auburn fan, I’m incredibly optimistic (to a point) about our upcoming 2011 season unlike every other sports writer out there today. This story grows older and worn out by the day, but there’s no way to end it until football gets back in play this next season. Whether AU proves the stories wrong or right, it doesn’t diminish the NC won in 2010. And for you SEC fans still angered by being steamrolled by the AU-train this past season…get over it. Nothing worse than a bunch of whiny losers, especially those “cry-me-a-freakin-river” UGA fans. You guys are pathetic.
Prediction for AU 2011: most likely 9-4 or 8-5
Im sure you are a bandwagooner but… do you remember clemson 3 years ago? Probably not so let me fill you in, they lost their key player to the draft as well as all but 1 offensive linemen(this is only on offense). They still returned CJ Spiller, one of the top young backs in the country. They were hyped the following season saying their running back and “efficient young quarterback” could lead the to a title. Needless to say it didnt happen after getting blistered by Bama, GT, VT, and miami that year. Im not saying Auburn is hyped to repeat but 9 wins is way out there, it will be more like 7-5 for the barners next year. Losing to Bama, LSU, Arkansas, Miss St. and UGA. Auburn is done for next season and then the next will be the death penalty and Auburn will turn in to Vandy.
Oh delusional TideRoller13, why would anyone listen to what you have to say about Auburn? Your team just got one-upped by that “cow college” across the state in both an Iron Bowl win, Heisman trophy and National Championship. Of course your jealousy can shine through. Apparently, your ignorance also by still holding on to the hope that AU gets the “death penalty” despite the scent of Newton scandal being left at Miss St. only. Keep hoping and dreaming, though. As an Alabama fan, you of anybody should not be calling the kettle black after your team spending much of the last 2 decades under some form of probation. Presumption is not conviction, remember that.
Secondly, never ever compare Auburn to Clemson in way, form or fashion. Especially when that Clemson team from 3 years ago never even sniffed a national title, much less competitive ball against anyone outside of the ACC. The coaching staff at Auburn remains completely intact…BIG. The last two recruiting classes for Chizik already made an impact in 2010….BIG. And as we speak Auburn is yet again closing in on a top 5 recruiting class. And just so we’re clear, Auburn has almost taken half of the top 25 in-state talent. Nick Saban must be furious!
Lastly, why the “bandwagon” comment? Really? Nice try. I’m an Auburn man for almost 30 years. Graduate of the AU class of 2002. Hmmm…a college graduate, now there’s something an Alabama fan knows little to nothing about.
Didnt your team get one up’d the prior year in the same catagories? And no, Nick isnt mad, why take half the top 25 players in the state of Alabama when you can get the number 1 player from Ohio, the top players from Florida and possibly the best Georgia and South Carolina player. They are all better than half the top 25 state of Alabama players. Oh and if the Cam scandle stopped in Miss. St. then why is the FBI still at Auburn? Ever heard of Milton McGregor or Bobby Lowder? McGregor, the guy who while trying to buy votes to legalize gambling in Alabama, was wire-tapped by the FBI when the uncovered the major recruiting violations happening at Victoryland. Players and family recieving comp money to bet on and win money. Also the Bobby, who after driving a bank into the ground(Surprise Surprise he went to Auburn and is on the B.o.T) was investigated by the FBI when they uncovered “secret” accounts and guess who had access to them? Of course, players for the University of Auburn.
http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/p/22778676/As-the-Plains-Burn——-Updated-1-23-2011-pg-925.aspx
I hope they taught you how to read and comprehend at Auburn.
Tiger dropings is a joke. You won’t find that much made up hate outside of the KKK. Enjoy playing with your 7 children as you enjoy your Bama and rebel flag hanging over your single wide.
The coaches have a lot of work to do to get Auburn ready to play next year, but that is why they make the big bucks. Auburn in bringing in a top 10 recruiting class this year and brought one in last year as well so there is still some talent on the plains.
Trotter will be the QB next year and I think he will have a pretty good year. Malzahn has NEVER coached the same starting QB 2 years in a row in college. Trotter has been in Malzahn’s system now for 3 years and has been the guy signaling in the plays for the last two. Trotter knows the offense and the plays better than any QB Gas has had at the college level. My biggest knock on Trotter is his height. He is only listed at 6’2″ which means he is probably 6’1″ at best and when your average offensive lineman is 6′-6″ I think it makes for some field vision issues. Trotter does not have the arm of Newton, but he has really good timing and touch and a better arm than Chris Todd (2,600 yards and 22 TDs).
I think the biggest issue for Auburn is getting an OL in place that can work together and replacing Josh Bynes at LB. I have faith the Rocker will field a DL that will play hard and fast.
8 or 9 wins will be a good year given the loss of 26 seniors, two of the best players in college football and road games in Red Stick, Fayetteville, Columbia, Clemson. Auburn adds Florida to the schedule this year.
Seldom does a National Champion return the following season to run the table and win it again, but I highly doubt AU will suffer as much as UT. I see them being more like a post-championship UA, with a few disappointing losses, but an overall winning season.
So let me see if I have this right, Bama loses 9 starters on arguably the best def this decade and it’s no big deal they still start out #1 but Auburn who did lose a bunch mind you is just going to fall of the face of the earth? I’m not saying repeat but there’s not a team on the schedule that Auburn can’t beat.Only time will tell how Auburn will fare but I have a feeling a lot of people will be surprised.
Bama started out #1 because they still retained almost ALL of their offensive starters that steamrolled a highly ranked Texas defense. Not to mention, although they did lose a majority of their defensive starters, they had some key backups returning that got a lot of playing time, as well as some players that were obviously studs in the making (Dareus, Hightower, Barron, etc…). Auburn’s problem is that they’re losing almost EVERYBODY. They were so reliant on Newton on offense, and Fairley was the centerpiece of that defense (which btw, wasn’t that great of a defense anyway). Bama had a lot of young backups at many positions that could’ve been starters, and all got significant playing time. Ingram won the Heisman, but the team proved they weren’t SOLELY reliant on him. AU’s offensive line has been decimated, and Bama’s was almost intact following 2009. The many differences are obvious.
Auburns deffense was alot better than anyone gives them credit for.. just ask Alabama in the second half.. Auburns front 7 and run defense was easily up in the top 5 in the country.. And UA was totally reliant on Ingram when he won the hiesman and it showed this year when Bama lost big games because COULD not run the ball with Ingram “hurt” and McElroy couldn’t get it done with his arm. And I don’t see Richardson being the answer.
Bama seamrolled Texas?!?! Had the best player in the nation not gone down in the first Bama would have fallen behind 21-0. Even with a true freshman taking his first snap they almost came back on Bama becase their Offensice sucks. Why would you brag about an offence that took a whole half off aginst Ole Miss, Tenn, and Auburn?
they could not*