🏈 Teams don't get "up" for AU as they do U of A....

[ExiledTidefan]

I know that is quite an inflammatory remark, but this is a Bama board, so it's all good....
It is my opinion and observation from years of watching football that other teams in this conference, and most definitely nationally, just simply do not prepare to play Auburn the same as they do for Alabama. This has been true for a long long time, but moreso recently. I can expect every team that Alabama plays to bring it's A game, and also to throw every wrinkle at us that they can. This may date back all the way to the start of success in football at the Capstone, but I wasn't around then, so I don't know that.

What I do know is that Miss State will be much more UP for their game against us than they were for Auburn back in September. Same for LSU, when we face them in two weeks.

I'm not saying that teams lay down and let Auburn run over them. Not at all. But they don't have the expectations for the game and how they want to play the way they do us. We get the BEST our opponents have to offer. Auburn gets something less.

 

[RollTidePGH]

I don't think I've ever heard any ex-boxers ever talking about going toe to toe with Rudy Clay. The lesser brother isn't usually of much consequence. Barners may hate it, but that's reality.

In all seriousness, they typically aren't much more than an annoyance that pops up with a good season and a few really big wins every decade or so for most teams. They haven't maintained extended success for any long stretch in their history, so teams and fans have fresh memories of beating them. It's hard to get that electric gameday feeling for a team that typically you know is good for 2 to 3 losses in their better years.

 

[TideAlum05]

Was it true in '04 when they ran the table and we finished 6-7? Did everyone get up to play Bama that year? We were the better team that year right, but everyone got up to play Bama and no one cared about playing AU? This is not Tidefans.

 

[RollTidePGH]

Was it true in '04 when they ran the table and we finished 6-7? Did everyone get up to play Bama that year? We were the better team that year right, but everyone got up to play Bama and no one cared about playing AU? This is not Tidefans.

Auburn did have a hell of a year that season and as much as I dislike them I still argued then and do today that they belonged in the title game. That being said; the '04 Auburn is the exception to the rule. Much as us being down for such a long stretch was an exception to our normal trend. Teams and fans remember the strong Georgia teams in the 80's Bama in the 60's 70's Florida in the 90's and Florida and LSU in the 2000's. How does Auburn fit in with those teams that maintain excellence, simple, they don't. They rise up here and there and have a good season, they don't go on stretches where it's a monumental task to beat them for years at a time.

I don't remember anyone tearing down goalposts because they just beat a 3-1 Auburn team, such as Kentucky did when they beat us in '97. It wasn't the '97 Bama team that Kentucky was thrilled about beating, it was that they remembered Bama dominating them so long. Auburn doesn't have that kind history or cachet that goes along with their program.

I don't see why you feel that a valid conversation is out of bounds and should be banished to TideFans, especially when Exiled clearly points out that he doesn't feel that that teams lay down for Auburn. Id' imagine if you'd ask any team or fanbase in the country who'd they rather play Bama or Auburn. My guess is that Bama would be the answer much more often. I don't think it's odd to think that Bama is a more "special" team to play for most programs and that by the nature of Bama's historical success that teams put a little more effort into trying to win games against us than they would another program.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Thanks for the responses. I think the posters here have taken my point on exactly. To the poster who wonders about the 04 Auburn team....I'm sure they had some challenges that year. In fact, the 04 LSU game was pretty close if I recall, and they didn't exactly sweep us off the field either, even with our pitiful performance that season. Still, teams look on their schedule and see ALABAMA, and immediately circle. You know Auburn does, as does UT, as does LSU, Vandy, South Carolina (clearly), and everyone else. They don't do this with Auburn, for all the reasons previously mentioned.

I am disgusted by the remark about that other Alabama FANS website. I don't mention that site unless I'm in need a puking sensation, to rid my gut of an offending matter.

Alabama gets the BEST that every opponent has to offer. And in years when Auburn is better than we are, and we might be in one here, Auburn still doesn't get the best an opponent has to offer, and can sneak in wins over opponents that will play much more competitively against Alabama.

 

[reger60]

I don't know that I buy into that and I'm guessing that Les Miles would agree with me (probably for the first and last time.) I would imagine that LSU will be as "up" for this game as any they've played in the last few seasons.

If a team can't "get up" for every opponent on the schedule, then I would question the essential quality and character of the team and would seriously doubt that the alleged "get up" factor would have any bearing on the outcome of the game. You are either prepared to play an opponent or you're not.

Now, if what you are suggesting that teams would get more pleasure and/or satisfaction out of beating Bama then they would Auburn? Yeah, I could agree with that.

 

[bear facts]

I don't think I've ever heard any ex-boxers ever talking about going toe to toe with Rudy Clay. The lesser brother isn't usually of much consequence. Barners may hate it, but that's reality.

In all seriousness, they typically aren't much more than an annoyance that pops up with a good season and a few really big wins every decade or so for most teams. They haven't maintained extended success for any long stretch in their history, so teams and fans have fresh memories of beating them. It's hard to get that electric gameday feeling for a team that typically you know is good for 2 to 3 losses in their better years.

May also be some of the reason why Auburn has posted victories against Bama when they weren't expected to--at least half-dozen games immediately come to mind.

"Rudy Clay" . . . now that's a goodun.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

Now, if what you are suggesting that teams would get more pleasure and/or satisfaction out of beating Bama then they would Auburn? Yeah, I could agree with that.

And I think that statement proves my point. There is a team focus on beating Alabama, because it means more them than beating the other guys. I'm not saying teams don't get ready to play Auburn, or that they lay down when they play Auburn, but they don't play with as much intensity as they do us. When they see that Crimson and White, it's an instant challenge to the minds of these guys and their coaches. Even the Ol Ball Coach, as much as he's talked down on Bama through the years, had his team READY to play Alabama. As he should have. We were #1. If Auburn had been #1 when they played them, I might have expected the same motivation as they had against us. But Auburn wasn't #1 (I really don't know when they have ever been #1), and SC was playing at Jurdan-Hare (as it seems like every game is).

Teams get up for all the big opponents on the schedule if their coach does his job. But Alabama is in a different league, sometimes, most times, on name alone. Auburn doesn't get this treatment. I contend they just don't get the best that opponents have to offer them.

 

[Ump]

Playing Bama must be more important to every SEC team just look at their bye weeks and say it isn't so.

 

[TideAlum05]

You guys are insane. Of course everyone gets up for us now when we're definding NCs and were ranked #1. In '97, we sucked. That's why UK beat us. It wasn't because they "got up" for us. UK rushing the field has no bearing on anything besides fan reaction. UK beat a big name team (even if we sucked) and that barely ever happened, so the fans celebrated. I dunno if UK rushed the field when they beat USC last week, but you could tell it was a huge deal to their players and fans. Why? Because USC was a highly ranked team.

Bama has a bigger name than AU in CFB without question. That doesn't mean teams play us any harder based on that alone.

 

[UAgrad93]

Alabama is one of THOSE programs that anyone circles on their schedule. Michigan State circles Notre Dame and Michigan, USC circles Notre Dame, etc. It isn't the team of that particular year, it is that HISTORIC factor that is brought by that program.

 

[Duder]

What I do know is that Miss State will be much more UP for their game against us than they were for Auburn back in September. Same for LSU, when we face them in two weeks.

LSU has a bit more ire towards you all due to a certain head coach patrolling the sidelines, yes? Until 2008 when Bama popped back up, five of the previous six season at least a share of the SEC West was held by the winner of the "Tiger Bowl." Many LSU fans consider Auburn their biggest rival, due in large part to the Tuberville cigar game. The Bama/LSU game picked up national attention in 2007 because of Saban. Since then it has certainly taken prominence although I'm not sure if the rivalry is actually with Bama or just unabashed hatred for Saban because they feel cheated.

And I beg to differ on Mississippi State for this year at least. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmp5bXeEq1Q&p=1975C236EDDB884E&playnext=1&index=4

You may be correct in some regards. If you mean the last two years when you say "recently" certainly you are correct. 2008 Auburn had one of their worst seasons in recent history, 2009 was a touch better but Bama ended up running the table. In the years before that I think that opinion is a bit of a stretch considering the rankings of the two teams.

I think by and large I think many schools have a stronger disdain for Bama than Auburn that fuels the competitive nature. Some of it is the national championships (whichever number you go with, Bama is either tied for first or first) and the rest is just a dislike for the fans and the reputation of the university. I mean no true offense by saying that, clearly I don't hate Bama or I wouldn't be on here. Bama's sidewalk alums have a far worse reputation than a lot of schools (yes we all have them, some schools are just more vocal than others).

Just my two cents after having spent time at many campuses and with a myriad of fans from various locales. I wouldn't say that schools get up more for Bama--to say that is to insinuate that schools give less than their best efforts. I assure you Tennessee came to play against Auburn every time we've played them recently in spite of the fact we are not a regular rival. Perhaps a bigger premium is put on beating Bama.

As for Kentucky--it was their first victory over Bama in like 75 years. Do you really think Colorado puts more of a premium on beating UGA than other people on their schedule? No, but they stormed the field and such after beating them this year.

 

[BamaCore]

Bama's sidewalk alums have a far worse reputation than a lot of schools

Hey, nothing wrong with sidewalk alums. I wish to God I could've attended the University of Alabama and hope to someday have that privilege when I've saved up enough money. I can't stand when people turn their nose up at you because you didn't get a chance to go to the school. I pay my taxes and I buy the merchandise and I'll cheer as loud as I want for my team.

 

[Duder]

Hey, nothing wrong with sidewalk alums. I wish to God I could've attended the University of Alabama and hope to someday have that privilege when I've saved up enough money. I can't stand when people turn their nose up at you because you didn't get a chance to go to the school. I pay my taxes and I buy the merchandise and I'll cheer as loud as I want for my team.

Didn't say there was a thing in the world wrong with sidewalk alums. I'm saying it is a case where the few create a reputation for the masses. Of the more obnoxious fans I've met from ANY university, by and large they were sidewalk alums. There are many, perhaps more so, that are not loud and obnoxious. Unfortunately, the negative interactions and ridiculous fans are the one that stick in the mind. My Dad was a die-hard Alabama fan, his family didn't have money and he joined the military shortly after graduating high school and never had the opportunity to attend Alabama. A fan is a fan and of course you can cheer as loud as you want. I didn't mean that as a slight towards all sidewalk alums--that comment referenced only the obnoxious, insulting fans that all schools have and those of us that aren't "that fan" hate. More often than not, "those fans" are not at all affiliated with the university they support.

 

[BamaCore]

Didn't say there was a thing in the world wrong with sidewalk alums. I'm saying it is a case where the few create a reputation for the masses. Of the more obnoxious fans I've met from ANY university, by and large they were sidewalk alums. There are many, perhaps more so, that are not loud and obnoxious. Unfortunately, the negative interactions and ridiculous fans are the one that stick in the mind. My Dad was a die-hard Alabama fan, his family didn't have money and he joined the military shortly after graduating high school and never had the opportunity to attend Alabama. A fan is a fan and of course you can cheer as loud as you want. I didn't mean that as a slight towards all sidewalk alums--that comment referenced only the obnoxious, insulting fans that all schools have and those of us that aren't "that fan" hate. More often than not, "those fans" are not at all affiliated with the university they support.

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. There are some sidewalk alumni that will make you simply ashamed to be near them. You're absolutely right. It does give us all a bad name. I'm really more or less upset with people who will completely write someone off if they've learned they didn't attend the school. Of course I'm not saying you did that or anything, I actually enjoy reading your posts. You bring a lot of insight to the forum and a refreshing look from the other side.

 

[tidentrue]

proud to be a sidewalker...

 

[rick4bama]

proud to be a sidewalker...

:td:

 

[Duder]

:td:

Unless I've missed something, I don't consider you two "those" fans.

 

[planomateo]

So you think 18-22 year old kids on the other teams care/know about Alabama's past (why else would they play Bama any different than another team as you say). seriously, I'm kinda speechless by this post.