Auburn must right wrongs vs. Rebs

Last Saturday, just three hours in time and 347 miles in distance, two football seasons took dramatically different turns.

One season was saved by a monumental play, perhaps immortalized in Alabama folklore. Another season seemingly headed down the drain, caused by ineptitude and perhaps incompetence by men who make large sums of cash.

Alabama lives on to fight another day.

Auburn's once promising season suddenly hangs in the balance.

Some reasonable people warn it's too early to hit the panic button for Auburn. Others hang their head, wondering if it's too late.

So what happened? How did the same Auburn coaches who looked like real men of genius a few weeks ago suddenly become dunces? Some want to blame the transition. Some want to blame Tommy Tuberville. Still others want to lament a lack of depth. But doesn't that usually show up late in the fourth quarter when your team begins to wear down? This Auburn team looks beaten right after the coin flip.

How else can one explain the Tigers' being totally unprepared and unfocused in recent weeks? Sure, players have responsibility. And injuries have hurt this Auburn football team.

But what about coaching? Against Arkansas, the Tigers showed up listless and limp, falling behind 34-3. Against LSU, it was the same chapter, different verse, getting down 31-3. Can I get a second for a motion to make Gus Malzahn SEC assistant coach of the year by acclamation?

Do the math. In two consecutive road games, the Tigers have been out of games before the uniforms got dirty, trailing by a total of 65-6. This wasn't against the Denver Broncos or the New Orleans Saints. Auburn fell behind 34-3 to an Arkansas team fresh off a 35-7 pounding to Alabama. LSU has looked a little better, but it still needed a miracle goal line stand to beat Mississippi State.

Can we say lousy coaching?

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