In a game of inches, no other game this season has shown the true bravado of the phrase ‘any given Sunday.’

Alabama, in theory, had nothing to play for.

Auburn had everything to play for.

In the parking lot, Crimson Tide fans were selling T-shirts that read ‘Scam Newton,’ with the ‘S’ as a dollar sign. Tuscaloosa was sold out. The fans were on their feet the entire game. 

So why does this game suggest a playoff bracket?

Alabama showed the nation today that not only can they beat anyone on any given day, but even in defeat, the Crimson Tide relayed to their fans that no matter what the circumstances are in the BCS, every game is equally as important.

Cam Newton and the Auburn offense played horrifically in the first half. They trailed 24-0, were being out-gained 314-2 at one point, and Newton was in the red as far as yards on the ground.

Thank goodness the Tigers have a guy named Nick Fairley.

As Alabama tried to add to their lead late in the first half, Fairley stripped McElroy and recovered the fumble. This was one of two fumbles by Alabama inside the red zone, the other being fumble out of the end zone as Ingram rumbled down the sideline for a big gain.

Newton came back on the road in one of the most intimidating stadiums with over 100,000 fans going nuts.

I think he’s silenced his critics…on the field, at least.

Can you imagine if this was a playoff game? Perhaps with the winner playing the winner of Oregon and Boise? It’s games like this that make me angry that we can’t see a three-loss team like Alabama in another battle royal.

I agree with the argument that every game is like a playoff game, especially in the SEC.

But what fun would it be if we could mix in the home-field advantage in a bracket of top-ranked teams?

It’s an old argument, and I’m certainly not trying be the millionth BCS system whiner, but Alabama and Auburn have shown us how great games can be when there’s nothing to lose (Alabama), and when there is everything to gain (Auburn).

Imagine if both teams had the chip on their shoulder as having made it to the playoffs.

When it’s said and done, Auburn’s Cam Newton quite possibly sewed up his bid to win the Heisman Trophy.

Now with Arizona underway at Oregon, and the score tied at 14 in the second quarter, will be have two reasons on the day after Thanksgiving to march towards a college football playoff system?

Obama couldn’t even get it done, so it may be games like these that eventually decide the fate of the idea.

Don’t hold your breath.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —  Cam Newton took an improbable victory lap around Bryant-Denny Stadium, savoring his most audacious performance yet in this season of triumph and controversy: leading Auburn back from 24 points down against the defending national champs.

One more showing like that, and it’s Newton and the second-ranked Tigers who’ll be getting a shot at the title.

Newton threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, keeping Auburn on track for a shot at the BCS championship game with a stunning 28-27 victory over No. 9 Alabama yesterday.

Auburn (12-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed 21-0 before it even picked up a first down, and Alabama (9-3, 5-3) had a 314-2 lead in total yards when things looked especially grim for the Tigers.

But Newton, with another signature performance in this season that has no equal on the field, rallied the Tigers from a 24-0 deficit to leave the crowd of more than 101,000 in disbelief when it was over. Well, except those orange-clad faithful crammed into one end of the stadium amid all the crimson, celebrating a win no one could have seen coming just a couple of hours earlier.

Auburn Tigers Champions of the Iron Bowl t-shirts and more (as seen above):

Newton threw scoring passes of 36 yards to Emory Blake, 70 yards to Terrell Zachery and, finally, a 7-yarder to Philip Lutzenkirchen with 11:55 remaining that gave Auburn its first lead of the day.

It held up, keeping the Tigers perfect heading to next week’s SEC championship game against South Carolina. If Auburn wins that one, the reward will certainly be a spot in the national title game.

Newton also had a 1-yard TD run, and this may be the performance that locks up the Heisman Trophy — if allegations that his father sought a huge payout for the quarterback to sign out of junior college don’t weigh too heavily on the voters’ minds.

Certainly on the field, Newton has no peer.

As the college football season begins to focus on conference championships and BCS bowl projections, the Georgia Bulldogs’ season is slowly and painfully coming to an end. With a record of 5-6, Georgia must rely on a win against rival Georgia Tech to become bowl eligible at 6-6. With that said, let’s look at some issues that are hovering over the program heading into a much needed bye week.

Coach Mark Richt

There is still much grumbling about Georgia’s head coach, but it should be put to rest for the duration of this year. Richt has the support of the athletic director Greg McGarity, who for now is willing to work with Richt to give him the resources needed to win. Simply put, if the Bulldogs struggle with this plan, Richt is out—no more speculation.

Todd Grantham

Everybody knew that Todd’s 3-4 scheme would take time to grow. All of a sudden fans are complaining that he is overpaid and that the defense is worse. These fans obviously don’t know much about football.  Question: Did anyone really believe that Georgia was going to slow down Cam Newton? He is the Heisman front-runner for a reason and proved it yesterday. Georgia lacks a powerful defensive line and a secondary that can play the ball. With these flaws, the defense still improved greatly from last year. On the other hand, if there was one hire that has not proven to be satisfactory, it is Scott Lakatos, Georgia’s secondary coach. The secondary looks just as lost now as they did last year with Willie Martinez.

Running Backs

This one is simple. Georgia does not have an elite running back in the backfield. Georgia should have been the team rushing for 300-plus yards at Auburn. It was clear early that the Tigers couldn’t stop the run. Georgia simply needs a workhorse in that backfield.

New Offense Needed

Georgia is notoriously known for running their pro-style offense that is predicated on the run and the play-action pass. This is a problem. Fans will say “the offense is fine, the team has scored 30-plus points in our last six games.” The easy response is that the offense completely opened up when AJ Green came to play. Make no mistake, the offense was miserable during the games he was absent. If there is no AJ Green, this team at best averages around 20 ppg. Honest UGA fans know this is correct. Richt needs to change his philosophy and get an offense where anyone can score while this defense continues to grow.

Recruiting

Georgia coaches need to begin to look at whom they recruit and change it up. It seems that the offense recruits players that are intelligent and can clearly articulate their thoughts about game plan and schemes. You can tell they have brains.

The defense, on the other hand, not so much. Have you listened to these players talk? If they can’t put together a sentence, then how do coaches expect them to execute a full game plan? Georgia needs to recruit a smarter defense. The phrase is “work smarter, not harder,” and Georgia sure has been working hard of late. Coaches can only coach so much—then it’s up to the players to execute.

Georgia has a lot to focus on as it prepares for its bye and Georgia Tech. The thing that is sure to plague many minds of the Bulldog nation this year is this: If we hadn’t had those turnovers earlier, where would we be?

Read more Georgia Bulldogs Football news on BleacherReport.com

V
2010—it’s hard enough to imagine that we are in this futuristic century. One in which, as kids, we imagined that everyone would be flying around in flying air cars and have video phones a la Dick Tracy. Well, half of that fantasy became reality. And for Auburn fans, winning a National Championship has been in our dreams since the middle of the last century.

So it’s no small wish to be reckoned with for the Village on the Plains and its many fans around the world.  Being denied championships twice when undefeated, taking the bridesmaid spot behind a team who was stripped of the title, Auburn fans have endured and taken solace where possible. Not as a team to be pitied, the tigers made their own victories with perfect seasons and entire classes of Alabama players never knowing an Auburn defeat.

And then comes along 2010—a year where starting at #24 out of 25 made for a quiet beginning.  Auburn did what Auburn does and began a steady climb in the ranks. A quarterback that no one had ever heard of brought his smile and his skills and we took notice. Each week the wattage of that smile grew as did those of the fans.  At its brightest we began to hope and to believe.  Like climbing a mountain, slow and steady, and then with more vigor and enthusiasm as the summit came into sight, heights of our dreams began to fall away below us.   This time, this time, we would reach that top! A prodigy was ours and we were his dream. A match made in Heaven—the very goal we longed for for so very long.

Cam Newton made Saturdays in the fall our weekly salvation, destined to become historic, to become dreams come true. Each week while we trudged though a failing economy, crisis in our politics, depression in our jobs, the mention of a possible SEC championship, then of a perfect season, then (how dare we?) of a (gasp) National Championship shot would transport us to another universe where orange and blue and white teeth wrapped around a 6’6”  hero with his warriors around him was a reality.

But suddenly a black mark, like spinach in those pearly whites, began an erosion of that mountain climb.  At first, the bitter taste of sour grapes from those jealous of our wonder boy seemed to be the answer. But as more and more of this bitter taste came to light and did not go away, hearts began to break. Denial and blind faith would overshadow objectivity. Lines became drawn between perceived guilt and innocence to be proven.  The ill feeling in my stomach grew, knowing the scandal itself was as distasteful as losing the dream.  My turning point came when Cam’s own father made disturbing admissions that hit me like a power tackle on the one yard line.  I avoided the media until game time and was in tears on the kickoff of the Georgia game.  Resentment had begun to stir, hurt and pain for what could have been crept into me. The first play Cam being just Cam with a first down. Then another, then a touchdown and I hissed “yesss!”—after all, this is my Auburn tigers, my team till death do us part.  By halftime, Auburn had overcome a deficit and did what they do well. This kid bounced and he smiled and he pumped up the stadium of fans and made them his. My heart began to turn around. After all, this is Auburn.

When Wes Byrum started the second half with an onside kick, I let go—this was a prodigy of coaching and team efforts all around. One man leads but he has an entourage who make his brilliance work. The fun and the sparkle of Saturdays between the hedges began to well up again.  Cam Newton broadcast a smile to rival the klieg lights and it was infectious! Georgia went down and the elation of a stadium of dreamers could not be dampened. At home in my box seat in front of our own mini Trinitron, hope once again began to return. The announcers were voicing their astonishment, accolades were handed out, and the plea for fairness and deserved performance in voting for ranking and a Heisman prize made me cheer for the out pouring support from the football community.

If Cam Newton keeps smiling and popping up after every play like a big kid enjoying the circus, I can do nothing but love and admire him.  Coach Chizik, his team mates, so many of the football commentators, sing his praises and remain in awe. The drive and determination in the face of all the controversy only secures the confidence of the dream.  There is no doubt that this young man is very special.

I overheard someone in a local Atlanta store say that they “used to be” a Georgia fan. They were quickly informed that no one EVER says they “used to be” an Auburn fan.  We may not be flying around in flying air cars but Auburn fans, in pursuit of the perfect season, the championships, and even another Heisman—these fans are still flying high.

—————

Jay White–huge auburn fan and writer for sports blog GeorgiaDawgHouse.com
click here for NCAA Tailgate & Gameday Gear

ESPN’s latest report said that a Mississippi State recruiter (presumably an assistant coach) was told by Newton’s father, Cecil, that it would take “more than a scholarship” for Cam to play in Starkville. Another recruiter shared that Cam has told him that he wanted to play for the Bulldogs but Cecil had forced him to Auburn because of the money.

Is it true? Only time may tell.

The story also said the Mississippi State compliance office turned the information over the SEC last January. Eleven months later Newton is still eligible. Last week SEC associate commissioner Greg Sankey said the league received “specific information” on Newton in July (not January). He later said, “We don’t deal in rumor and innuendo. We deal in facts.”

The facts may say there is nothing to the stories of Cam and/or Cecil Newton being paid by Auburn. (The NCAA is currently looking into it). It stands to reason, however, that the unnamed sources in the ESPN report were not satisfied with the pace of the investigation. And taunted with weekly highlights of Newton racing up and down the field, they decided to make it public.

If nothing else, next year’s Mississippi State at Auburn game ought to be a doozey.

If Auburn did cheat for Cam Newton, then Slive should applaud the whistle blowers. If they didn’t, then he should be furious at the vengeance shown here.

If there’s nothing to the story, then this is a messy, unnecessary inside hit job. It’s the kind of soap opera that could distract Newton and Auburn, making the road to the title game even more difficult. The Tigers already face the most difficult remaining gauntlet of the unbeaten BCS contenders.

Auburn certainly doesn’t need added hurdles. They’re getting them though. It’s officially a circus down South, a feeding frenzy of scoops and sources and, who knows, even the FBI.

It’s up to Mike Slive to figure out how to steady the ship.