Best team won't be in Atlanta
Sunday, November 20, 2005
AUBURN -- Georgia and LSU will almost certainly meet for the Southeastern Conference championship in two weeks. But the best program in the SEC won't be determined in the Georgia Dome. That distinction belongs to the Auburn Tigers.
The Tigers scored all the points they would need in the first 11 minutes of Saturday's Iron Bowl. Like last year, the final score was skewed by Alabama scoring a meaningless touchdown in the game's final minute. But that fact doesn't alter Auburn's dominance in the SEC -- and in particular over the Tide.
Auburn's fourth straight win over Alabama ensures the Tigers of at least a share of their fifth SEC West title in the last six years. The only exception was when LSU was good enough to win the BCS national championship two years ago.
Auburn is 17-1 in its last 18 SEC games, with an SEC-best conference record of 36-12 since 2000. Why everyone doesn't appreciate the Tigers' incredible run is a mystery to Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville.
"For some reason we've had a hard time earning respect the last couple of years," said Tuberville, whose team has won 24 of its last 26 games. "We've got a pretty good football team."
There will be no argument from the Crimson Tide on that point. No player on the Alabama roster has ever beaten Auburn, while no Auburn player has ever lost to Alabama.
Saturday's 10-point win matched the largest victory by the Tigers over the Tide since 1969.
To make matters worse for Alabama, even the cliché of "wait 'til next year" rings hollow.
While the Tide is restocking its roster with more talented players -- and more players, period, following NCAA probation -- 2005 was probably Alabama's best chance to end Auburn's dominance in the series.
Seven of the 11 starters on Alabama's stellar defense are seniors. That's a group that includes the best linebacker in the country (DeMeco Ryans), the Tide's best pass rusher (Mark Anderson) and the league's best safety tandem (Roman Harper and Charlie Peprah).
Offensively, the Tide can't be worse on the offensive front, but it's not often a team has the luxury of a fifth-year quarterback such as Brodie Croyle. John Parker Wilson looked solid in relief Saturday, but it remains to be seen if he can produce in a situation other than mop-up duty.
With only 364 days before the 2006 Iron Bowl, it's not too early to starting thinking how these teams might look in the not-too-distant future. Though much can change in a year, it would probably be safe to go ahead and install the Tigers as a 10-point favorite next year in Tuscaloosa.
But for the winningest senior class in Auburn history, there's no need to worry about next year. They've already done everything needed to establish Auburn as an elite program in the country and clearly the dominant program in the state.
"I've got bragging rights the rest of my life," said Auburn senior defensive tackle Tommy Jackson of Opelika. "When I'm 80 or 85, I can take my cane and tap my grandchildren on the head and say I never lost to Alabama. This is going to feel good the rest of my life."
Contact Sports Editor Randy Kennedy at:
rkennedy@mobileregister.com
251-219-5689.
His column appears on Sundays in the Register.
