Auburn kicks past Florida… twice

18 year-old Wes Byrum kicks Auburn to a 20-17 victory.

AUBURN	20
FLORIDA	17

On a day that saw several ranked college teams fall, including four in the top 10, the Auburn Tigers came up BIG on the road– again.

Tebow who? The hero of the night was Wes Byrum.

Wes Byrum is 18 years old, yet he already has his permanent place in Auburn history. Using a rather shady rule allowing coaches to call time out from the sideline, Florida coach Urban Meyer called a timeout just before the ball was snapped. Byrum hit his 43-yard field goal, but to no avail. It didn’t count. It didn’t matter. After the time out, Byrum nailed his field goal again. This time, it sent the #4 and previously unranked Florida Gators– the defending National Champions– to their first loss of the season.

At the end of the night, three facts remain.
1. Alabama lost. Again.
2. Florida is no longer undefeated.
3. An 18 year old beat Florida. Twice.

What else can be said? I can think of one thing. WAR EAGLE!!

Pride

Welcome back Brandon Cox. Welcome back.

In other news, welcome back to reality Bama fans. You are not going to win the National Championship this year.

More words for my Auburn Family members

I realize I may have overloaded some of you with my comments yesterday with an Auburn Creed of my own.  Well, I have more for you today.The on-going topic of “to boo or not to boo” has been circulating since Saturday.  I really don’t know how to address that, so I thought perhaps some words from another Auburn man may offer some help.
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A special message to my fellow Auburn fans:

Could I have your attention please? Thank you. Now, will the real Auburn fans please stand up? Good. There are a lot of you, but you haven’t made your presence felt lately.

The folks who claim they are Auburn fans aren’t the same Auburn family I used to know. The Auburn fans of old were patient and loyal to the core. They loved their school and they wore Orange and Blue no matter what happened on the field. Sure, they loved it when their team won,but they also knew it wasn’t possible to win them all. They live and die with their team. If the tigers were playing well, or if they weren’t, the fans were always there, cheering. You never heard those folks boo the players, because they loved them win or lose. I’ve even talked to old timers who told me about cheering for first downs because touchdowns were so rare.Once, when some fans became impatient and booed the team, they were scolded by the coach who reminded them that “Auburn fans don’t do that”. So much for the boos.

There was a time when although Auburn fans hated losing they didn’t threaten to fire the coach if things didn’t go well. Auburn folks hung in there during the good times and the bad. The radio talk shows and internet chat rooms weren’t around in those days, but I think if they had been available, Auburn folks wouldn’t have used them as a forum to blast their team and coaches.

Dirty laundry wasn’t hung out for the world to see. If the family had a quarrel, they weren’t so eager to let the neighbors here about it. Those people were a lot more tolerant. They understood that young men, not robots, play football.

They’re not perfect and they make mistakes. These guys are playing a game they love at a school they love. They work very hard to prepare and give it their best shot. But so do the guys on the other team and sometimes that other team wins. The Auburn players and coaches don’t like it any more than we fans, but losing was not always a hanging offense.

Now I don’t claim to be a fortuneteller. I have no idea how many more games this football team will win or lose. But no matter what happens for the remainder of the season, let us remember that screaming for a coach’s scalp or booing the quarterback doesn’t help the situation. It only makes things worse.

When the football season is over, Auburn will still be Auburn. The school we love and support has always been special in the hearts and souls of her people.

I’m just thankful to be a member of her family. I refuse to let the emotions of some change the way I feel about her.

See you here next week.

Kindest regards and War Eagle,

Jim Fyffe
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I don’t think those words from the grave are overkill.  In fact, I can’t think of a better way to relay my feelings on the “booing” issue.  Does a ticket holder have the right to boo?  Sure.  Fans boo.  But I am no fan.  I am a member of a family, and I never boo family.   I love family unconditionally.

So, I guess I am saying it’s up to you if you want to boo.  Just don’t forget what makes you part of the Auburn Family.

War Eagle.

It’s time to clear the air.

I need to clarify something. I have heard and read a few comments from so called “bammer” fans that have gotten under my skin. Except for my friend Josh Shaddix and very few other Bama fans, apparently you just don’t understand my love for Auburn.

Why do I love Auburn?

First of all, the football team (or any athletic team for that matter) has nothing to do with it. I love Auburn because it’s AUBURN. It’s the chimes of Samford Hall. It’s free movies in Langdon Hall. It’s the dread of a Math exam in Parker Hall. It’s Hey Day. It’s lemonade at Toomer’s Drugstore. It’s the eerie silence in RBD Library. It’s the stalking of students walking to cars to find that perfect parking place. It’s the half-mile hike from the student parking lot to Haley Center. It’s the smell of an aging building in Tichenor Hall. It’s The Plainsman coming out every Thursday. It’s the Tiger Hosts and Hostesses. It’s calling Foy Union and asking them ANYTHING. It’s listening to a boring lecture on the economics of some third world country in Lowder business Building. It’s the ROTC cadets in their uniforms on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s $.25 wing night at Buffalo’s. It’s $3.99 burger night at Niffer’s. It’s Rolling in the Hay and Velcro Pygmies at the Supper Club. It’s Rush Week. It’s “Grrr… a Tiger of a bookstore!” It’s Anders. It’s Tiger Rags. It’s Wire Road. It’s “The Mark Teixeira Song” guys. It’s Pat. It’s Bo. It’s “The Round Mound of Rebound.” It’s Jim Fyffe. It’s Dr. George Petrie. It’s Shug. It’s “Punt Bama Punt.” It’s the chills that go down your spine as you walk behind Jordan-Hare stadium while walking to class. It’s “Boda Getta.” It’s “Track ‘em.” It’s “It’s Great to Be an Auburn Tiger,” even after losing. It’s “The Jungle.” It’s Beard Eves. It’s Hitchcock Field. It’s Aubie. It’s the Eagle flying. It’s “WAR EAGLE!” It’s orange. It’s blue. It’s The Auburn Creed. It’s Auburn.

You see, loving Auburn is so much more than football. Auburn is a way of life. Auburn is an institution. Auburn is part of many people. Auburn is a part of me. Auburn isn’t about football. It’s about believing in Auburn and loving it! So, if you are reading this and you aren’t an Auburn fan, the next time you think, “Well, I guess Auburn fans will fade away now,” you couldn’t be more wrong. We aren’t the Auburn nation. We aren’t even Auburn fans. We are the Auburn FAMILY, and families stick together. Just like Dr. Petrie penned over 60 years ago, I believe in Auburn and love it.

War Eagle my family members. War Eagle.

Remember

They deserved it.

Brandon Cox sucks.  Period.  End of discussion.  Poor coaching decisions… blah, blah, blah…  I’m sick and damn tired of it.

Even in loss, I’d rather be an Auburn Tiger than a bammer.  War Eagle anyway.

War Eagle baby!

KANSAS STATE	13
AUBURN	23

I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again.  A win is a win.  Be it pretty or ugly, I will take it either way.Auburn didn’t play all that well.  I have no problem admitting that.  What does matter is that they stepped up BIG when the need arose.  Brandon Cox was Jason Campbell-like, and he was never really rattled down the stretch.

Quentin Groves had a HUGE sack that forced a fumble that Antonio Coleman returned for a touchdown.  That play was the final nail in the coffin for Kansas State.

Auburn still has a lot of work to do before SEC play starts.  First of all, don’t overlook South Florida: they are NO slouch!  All in all, I was impressed with Auburn’s ability to come from behind with their backs against the wall.  I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again.  A win is a win.  WAR EAGLE!!