🏈 Why earn it when you can just claim it

[LBS]

Please explain Auburn's argument for the 2004 National Title.

At season's end Auburn was undefeated, but so were four other teams.

We hear the Barners stream about starting the season so deep in the polls, yet they did nothing to warrent being ranked in the top 2 at the beginning of the season, an honor bestowed upon USC and Oklahoma and validated by an undefeated regular season to follow. At the end of the regular season there was no justifyable reason to not play Oklahoma versus USC. (You can bet your bottom dollar Auburn would back this belief if the show was on the other foot.)

In the end, USC had advantages that the rest of College Football did not. Oklahoma had to face this advantage, Auburn did not.

So am I now let to suppose that Auburn's justification for getting the title is that Oklahoma failed at what Auburn was not tested against, while ignoring the fact that at no point over an entire season Auburn topped Oklahoma?

Are they saying that they could beaten Oklahoma and/or USC? 'Cause if words like this actually count then there is no reason to play the season, and that rankings based upon an undefeated season are worthless.

All this is so...so...well, so Auburn.

 

[planomateo]

I think Auburn would have put up a better fight than OU (of course this is speculation on my part)...but that wasn't the question. I don't know how they think they deserve it to be honest, I don't think I can explain it and frankly, I'm not sure an Auburn fan could legitimately explain it to me.

The Auburn fans seem to forget they started out too low in the polls to compete with either USC and OU...as both of them were unbeaten and started the season at #1 and #2. If you ask me, OU deserves the trophy...not Auburn (if anyone should get it).

 

[JoshB]

No, Auburn would've been thrashed too. Regardless it's obvious now the matchup we should've seen was OU vs. AU.

 

[LBS]

There are only three Apples-to-Apples, Head-to-Head comparisons that can be used with Oklahoma and Auburn.

1) The first poll, which Oklahoma beat Auburn in. Auburn could not break the top 15 while the Sooners were #2.
2) Regular season performance, which each each went undefeated (along with USC, Lousiville, and Boise State), yet the nod here goes to Oklahoma because they not only ran the table but did so impressively enough to hold the #2 slot wire to wire for the season.
3) Final poll, which Oklahoma wins as well. Given an entire season of play, Auburn with the help of an entire SEC season of play, the voters still said Oklahoma is better than Auburn.

Having 100% proven they were better to this point, the only place the Tigers can look to gain on the higher ranked Sooners is a single game where neither plays each other. Sooners catch the #1 rank and a cheating team with an advantage. The Tigers catch the #8 VT Hokies. The only thing that Auburn can prove in that match up is that they deserve to be in the top-8, which they were rightly awarded.

But for this, I can not see a shread of a defendable arguement.

Is it a raw deal for Auburn, maybe, but join the crowd. USC had a schedule full of teams that were impacted by on-the-field beatings that Auburn did not not risk. How about the Sooners, who played the season perfectly and didn't get a relative creme puff #8 team with which to rest their case for #1. If anything, Auburn is the one team that benefited from USC having cheated. Chew on that one for a moment, cheating a factor at yet another Tiger team's efforts for a title.

Before I listen to a whining fan from the University of Auburn call foul and claim victory, I would first like to hear them argue why they should be ranked higher that Boise State, who categorically can make the same arguement at Auburn, but has the class not to.

Losers.

 

[RollTideinGA]

I dont understand why everyone seems to be looking at Auburn. In my opinion wouldnt the championship go to the team that lost that game due to forfeit? Which is Oklahoma. To say Auburn should get it doesnt make sense.

An example is that in the games Alabama had to forfeit due to the Langham fiasco they got an L, and the team they played got a W. So if USC played OU and now USC has to forfeit, how does Auburn even get a mention?

If Auburn deserves it then why doesnt Utah? Personally I think the NCAA is ready for a playoff. Every NCAA sport has a tournament and championship game except Div 1. Then you wouldnt have these issues or conversations. The bowls and BCS worked when you had 20-30 good teams, but now it seems like more teams are getting in the mix.

 

[Nate]

I try not to concern myself with most things Auburn... makes them seem relevant or something

 

[psychojoe]

If their ratioale for claiming this is that USCw cheated, let's look back at that other NC the barners clai, 1957. They were only recognized in one of the two polls. The other one refused to recognize them because they were on probation for cheating at recruiting. I'd have a bit more sympathy for their case in 2004 if they'd renounce their claim on 1957.

 

[LBS]

If their ratioale for claiming this is that USCw cheated, let's look back at that other NC the barners clai, 1957. They were only recognized in one of the two polls. The other one refused to recognize them because they were on probation for cheating at recruiting. I'd have a bit more sympathy for their case in 2004 if they'd renounce their claim on 1957.

Independant of USC, or 1954, they have yet to put forth an arguement for why they should be ranked higher than Oklahoma. Its Oklahoma that should be making the noise that the University of Auburn is making.

 

[rick4bama]

Go ahead and give them the trophy that will be the only way that Auburn will receive one. Their can put it by the NPC that was giving to them.

 

[61_Shasta]

This has been a topic that has been a thorn in the side of Utah fans since 2004. There's no reason that (assuming it still would have been USC/OU in the championship game) the Sugar that year shouldn't have been Utah/Auburn. Agree fully that the system is ready for a playoff.

 

[UAgrad93]

USC and Oklahoma were coming off pretty good years in 03 if I'm correct and therefore were deserving of the high status at the start of 04. Meanwhile, the barners were coming off a so so season and therefore didn't crack the Top 20. Let them have the thing. They will still be without a legitimate MNC anyways!!

 

[Swamptick]

I try not to concern myself with most things Auburn... makes them seem relevant or something

Who the heck is Aubrun?

 

[AlabamaAubKiller]

Who the heck is Aubrun?

Some school in West Georgia that teaches sheep shearing & chicken wrangling.
They also offer courses in Beer Drinking, Wife Beating, Cradle Robbing, Cow Tipping, tractor driving, money laundering, & cheating.
Just to name a few....but by and large tabaco spitting and cheating seem to be the core curriculm.
I had to call and find out. aparently they don't have the internet there. Theyhave it in hte next town over....but no one there understands it or know how to use it.