Noah.Dreams
08-30-2005, 09:35 AM
Since I've got free tickets, I'll be attending this game. Find me after game rolling the trees at Toomer's Corner if Tech pulls an upset....
Tigers turn to Georgia Tech
Auburn veterans remember disappointing loss to Yellow Jackets
Monday, August 29, 2005
By EVAN WOODBERY - BHM News Sports Reporter
AUBURN -- Auburn offensive tackle Marcus McNeill entered the game eager to play in his hometown, in front of scores of friends and family.
He left utterly humiliated.
"I'm not afraid to say we got embarrassed," McNeill said.
Of all the unpleasant memories of Auburn's 17-3 defeat to Georgia Tech in 2003, McNeill's might be the most personal.
Auburn started the 2003 season filled with optimism, pumped up by a preseason No. 1 ranking by The Sporting News. But the Tigers were shut out by Southern California to open the season, then were beaten handily the next weekend at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
Auburn managed only 40 net yards rushing. Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams were ineffective. The offense failed to score a touchdown for the second game in a row. The optimistic season had quickly turned desperate.
"That's all I remember is how frustrating it was," running back Tre Smith said. "I remember how our offense couldn't move the ball."
Although the Tigers and the offense would improve as the season went on, the backlash from the 0-2 start was costly. Head coach Tommy Tuberville nearly lost his job, and then-offensive coordinator Hugh Nall was demoted to offensive line coach after the season.
Tuberville said he remembered the Georgia Tech game in the context of a disappointing 2003 season.
"Every game is a disappointment when you lose," Tuberville said. "(Georgia Tech) was one of many that year. They played a lot better than we did. We didn't execute. We didn't even make a game out of it."
Tuberville said the team's spirit was already sapped after being trounced by Southern California, which went on to win the national championship.
"We came out of that USC game with no confidence and never got off the mat," Tuberville said. "This is a different team. That was obviously a big disappointment."
The Tigers started their undefeated 2004 season with a considerably easier opponent, and the 31-0 defeat of Louisiana-Monroe helped get the year off on the right foot.
That won't be possible against Georgia Tech. Smith said watching film of this year's Tech squad reminds him of the 2003 team.
"Watching their defense, it looks just the same as it did then," Smith said. "Their defense is so fast. They probably have the best, or one of the best defenses, we'll see all year long. It will be a good one to start out with to get all the kinks out."
The danger is that Tech's fearsome defense could again put a kink in Auburn's season.
"That's the game of football," McNeill said. "You can never rest on your laurels, and we're not going to."
-- FLEEING KATRINA: Auburn has four players on the roster from the New Orleans area, including three true freshmen.
For the new Tigers, only a few months removed from home, the last few days have been particularly upsetting as Hurricane Katrina is expected to make a devastating landfall near New Orleans today.
Of the true freshmen, linebacker Patrick Trahan and defensive end Alonzo Horton are from the city, while defensive tackle Rudy Odom is from nearby Mandeville. Backup punter Patrick Martyn, a redshirt freshman, is also from the city.
Trahan said most of his family had evacuated to Texas, although his mother was staying behind in Baton Rouge.
"I tried, during practice, to get my mind off of it, because it's real hard to think about it," Trahan said. "Somebody said it's a Category 6 hurricane or something like that. After practice, we started praying, and I started praying about it. It just kind of hit me hard again."
Horton said his family is remaining behind in the city. His mother works as an operator for Hilton and will be taking shelter in the hotel. His grandfather has gone to an emergency shelter.
"From what I've been hearing, this is one of the worst storms ever to hit the United States," Horton said. "The 'perfect storm' is what they're calling it right now. I've been praying -- it's really been worrying me ever since I heard about it. New Orleans is below sea level, so we get a hard rain for an hour and we've got two feet of rain in the house. It's a real big concern."
Tigers turn to Georgia Tech
Auburn veterans remember disappointing loss to Yellow Jackets
Monday, August 29, 2005
By EVAN WOODBERY - BHM News Sports Reporter
AUBURN -- Auburn offensive tackle Marcus McNeill entered the game eager to play in his hometown, in front of scores of friends and family.
He left utterly humiliated.
"I'm not afraid to say we got embarrassed," McNeill said.
Of all the unpleasant memories of Auburn's 17-3 defeat to Georgia Tech in 2003, McNeill's might be the most personal.
Auburn started the 2003 season filled with optimism, pumped up by a preseason No. 1 ranking by The Sporting News. But the Tigers were shut out by Southern California to open the season, then were beaten handily the next weekend at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
Auburn managed only 40 net yards rushing. Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams were ineffective. The offense failed to score a touchdown for the second game in a row. The optimistic season had quickly turned desperate.
"That's all I remember is how frustrating it was," running back Tre Smith said. "I remember how our offense couldn't move the ball."
Although the Tigers and the offense would improve as the season went on, the backlash from the 0-2 start was costly. Head coach Tommy Tuberville nearly lost his job, and then-offensive coordinator Hugh Nall was demoted to offensive line coach after the season.
Tuberville said he remembered the Georgia Tech game in the context of a disappointing 2003 season.
"Every game is a disappointment when you lose," Tuberville said. "(Georgia Tech) was one of many that year. They played a lot better than we did. We didn't execute. We didn't even make a game out of it."
Tuberville said the team's spirit was already sapped after being trounced by Southern California, which went on to win the national championship.
"We came out of that USC game with no confidence and never got off the mat," Tuberville said. "This is a different team. That was obviously a big disappointment."
The Tigers started their undefeated 2004 season with a considerably easier opponent, and the 31-0 defeat of Louisiana-Monroe helped get the year off on the right foot.
That won't be possible against Georgia Tech. Smith said watching film of this year's Tech squad reminds him of the 2003 team.
"Watching their defense, it looks just the same as it did then," Smith said. "Their defense is so fast. They probably have the best, or one of the best defenses, we'll see all year long. It will be a good one to start out with to get all the kinks out."
The danger is that Tech's fearsome defense could again put a kink in Auburn's season.
"That's the game of football," McNeill said. "You can never rest on your laurels, and we're not going to."
-- FLEEING KATRINA: Auburn has four players on the roster from the New Orleans area, including three true freshmen.
For the new Tigers, only a few months removed from home, the last few days have been particularly upsetting as Hurricane Katrina is expected to make a devastating landfall near New Orleans today.
Of the true freshmen, linebacker Patrick Trahan and defensive end Alonzo Horton are from the city, while defensive tackle Rudy Odom is from nearby Mandeville. Backup punter Patrick Martyn, a redshirt freshman, is also from the city.
Trahan said most of his family had evacuated to Texas, although his mother was staying behind in Baton Rouge.
"I tried, during practice, to get my mind off of it, because it's real hard to think about it," Trahan said. "Somebody said it's a Category 6 hurricane or something like that. After practice, we started praying, and I started praying about it. It just kind of hit me hard again."
Horton said his family is remaining behind in the city. His mother works as an operator for Hilton and will be taking shelter in the hotel. His grandfather has gone to an emergency shelter.
"From what I've been hearing, this is one of the worst storms ever to hit the United States," Horton said. "The 'perfect storm' is what they're calling it right now. I've been praying -- it's really been worrying me ever since I heard about it. New Orleans is below sea level, so we get a hard rain for an hour and we've got two feet of rain in the house. It's a real big concern."