Enough silence.

I’ve been pretty silent this football season.  Unlike Auburn and their spread, I am about to open it up.  Here is a Facebook message I just sent to my long-time friend, Bradley Foust.

Seriously, man, he’s got to go.  He can stand at a podium all day and talk about fire, drive, and all the other clichés, but his actions speak much louder than his words.  Do you see him on the sideline?  I honestly think he means well, but he’s just lost it.  At some point, it happens to all coaches.  It even happened the mighty Bear in ’82.  It’s just his time.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a great run, and I appreciate all he’s done.  I love that he has led the boys to 7 victories over the bammers in is tenure at Auburn, but you know just as well as I do in the grand scheme of things that wins over UAT are meaningless when we lose to LSU, UGa, Arkansas, Vandy, and MORE.  We will NEVER be a championship caliber team as long as that continues to happen.  Look up his combined record against LSU, UGa, and Arkansas.  Acceptable, but not pretty.  In the span of less than a year, he has lead us from the premier program in the state to a distant second.  Are you okay with that?  I, sir, am not.  Those kids deserve better.  We, the fans and alumni deserve better.  Our beloved University deserves better.

I do NOT listen to FineBUM.  I think he’s an idiot who just likes to stir feathers for ratings; however, if he thinks Tuberville should go, I agree with him.  I fear change just as much as you or anyone else, but change it not only inevitable, it’s mandatory.  The sooner we embrace that cold, hard, fact, the better.

I still believe in Auburn and love it.  I will cease my cries of War Eagle on the day I die.  I will never make myself blind to reality like bammers do.  All good rides must come to an end.  It’s been one hell of a ride, but like all the others, it’s reached its end.

My time here is up, and I thank you for yours.  War Eagle, buddy.  War Eagle.

~Andy

There will be more to come later.  I am far from silent now.  War Eagle.

Coach of the year

Well, I did say get ready for anything, but I never thought that would mean get ready for Tommy Tuberville to out stupid Les Miles.  A pooch kick?  Not challenging a blatant bogus spot on a would-be fourth down with under a minute to play?  Give me a break!

I am one Auburn Tiger hoping the Texas A&M rumors are true.  Enough is enough.  War Eagle anyway.

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.

Top 10 Most Scandalous Programs in College Sports?? Says who?

This may be the biggest crock I have ever read. How can a team who got the DEATH PENALTY (SMU) in football or teams always filled with thugs with rapsheets miles long (Miami, FSU) rang below Alabama and Auburn? Just go read this for yourself. WARNING: If you are a fan of the SEC, you are just going to be angry!

I think we can agree that ALL college football programs “cheat” in some way, form, or fashion. (Well, except maybe Duke and Vanderbilt, but they don’t count anyway.) But is ranking Alabama and Auburn numbers one and two respectively a fair thing to do? Sure, they’ve both had their share of wrong-doings, but, at their worst, neither of them received the death penalty like SMU. You can add up all of the players from Auburn and Alabama arrested in the last ten years, and I guarantee Miami has had more in the last two– GUARANTEED. Speaking of Miami, when is the last time you saw Alabama or Auburn– or ANY SEC school for that matter– in a brawl on the field? Alabama and Auburn hate each other, yet there has never been a brawl in the history of the rivalry, and their never will be. The SEC still knows the meaning of “class,” while the ACC will remain clueless.

I thought SI.com and CBSSportsline.com were more credible in their selection of articles. Shame on me. CBS Sportsline’s Mike Freeman must have forgotten about a deadline and quickly jotted something down on the back of a PAC-10 media guide. (Where is USC on his list?)

Lastly, you just can’t blame a program for wacko boosters. Just ask anyone in Auburn if they’d rather Bobby Lowder get the heck off the Plains. You’d be amazed how many people just wish he would pack up and leave town. Do the same in Tuscaloosa about Logan Young (God rest his soul.) Do you think Alabama WANTED Mr. Young to cause them to nearly get the death penalty? He acted on his own will– not that of the University.

I’ve said enough for now. I probably shouldn’t have said anything while angry, but I couldn’t help. Shameless, illogical, irresponsible media outlets tend to bring out the worst in me.

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Dusting off my soapbox…

I need to get something off my chest.  I am sick and tired of people only contacting me when they need something.  How dare you, you leaches?!  Friends.  Family members. Co-workers.  I am talking to you.  The next time you need a favor, ask someone else.  The Andy Palys personal IT department/courier service/favor service is closed.  If you are one of the people who never calls, e-mails, Facebook or MySpace messages, etc just to see what’s up or say hi, then don’t bother asking for my help.  I am broken, and I just don’t care any more.  Go use someone else.  You have abused me enough.  Go find another host you parasites.

If you are asking yourself, “Is he talking about me?” the answer is probably “Yes.”  If you are one of the many people I’m talking about, then I don’t care how angry you are.  I don’t need you anyway, so go away, and LEAVE ME ALONE!

Good riddance, you vultures.

On a serious note…

Don’t threaten me.  You know who you are.  Before, I was just upset.  Now, I am angry.  You wouldn’t like me when I am angry.

Message from a fellow Auburn man

The following was posted by a fellow Auburn man, Cole Cunningham.  I spent over an hour one night preparing my soapbox moment about the “situation” on the Plains, but somehow the entire message was lost while posting.  Enter Cole.  I could not have said it better myself.

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Friday, July 14, 2006

Auburn Investigation

The New York Times might have just passed FIFA World Cup Referees for the top spot on my hate list. I know I’m an Auburn fan, and I’m bias, but let me just make one point about this matter.

The one-on-one coursework an Auburn professor provided to dozens of students, including a number of football players during the Tigers’ unbeaten 2004 season, is typically granted only under special circumstances, a professor said. ”A student may need a class for graduation that may not be offered at a time that fits into their schedule,” Auburn sociology professor Paul Starr told the Opelika-Auburn News in a story Friday. “So if the professor agrees, they can meet with the student on an individual basis and assign work and reading. Dr. Thomas Petee offered the directed-reading format to 250 students in 2004-2005, including 18 members of the 2004 football team, along with other athletes, according to a report in Friday’s New York Times. Two players who took the courses under Petee, tailback Carnell Williams and defensive end Doug Langenfeld, said they did nothing wrong and didn’t get special treatment. Williams took two courses during the spring of his senior year in 2005 while spending much of his time on the road meeting with NFL teams. He had already completed his playing career at the time.

“I didn’t do nothing illegal or anything like that,” Williams, now a tailback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, told the Times. “My work was good. It was definitely real work.” (ESPN.com)

This all began from complaints by professor James Gundlach, the director of the Auburn sociology department who reports to Petee.

“I didn’t think it was appropriate for him to take over teaching the sociology major entirely on his own in a directed-reading format. It was an insult to me and what I do,” Gundlach said. (ESPN.com)

Now, here’s my point. I remember a Heisman winning quarterback named Matt Leinart taking a Ballroom Dancing course to remain eligible for his final season at USC. In my view, if he can take one joke class to play football, then surely any other student athlete can take a one-on-one directed-reading course offered by a professor. I believe The New York Times is far out of line in blowing this event out of proportion. 

Please feel free to comment.
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Well said Cole.  Thank you and WAR EAGLE!

I hate laptops

There once was a time when I loved opening new “techy” things, especially laptops.  Sadly, that has changed.  For those of you who don’t know, my employer, Cullman City Schools, is implementing a 1:1 Laptop Initiative that will supply all 7th and 8th graders at Cullman Middle School with a Dell Latitude D510 laptop.  That is the very reason I now HATE laptops.  Yes, yes, yes, I know hate is such a strong word, but who do you think has to set up those 500 laptops?  That’s right.  Yours truly.  If you had to do the SAME things to 500 laptops, day in and day out, I assure you that you, too, would loathe laptops.  I have nothing more to say for now.

Wait, I do have one more thing to say!  Becky has joined the MySpace cult, er, I mean community.  Go check out her profile, add her as a friend, and tell her hi!