Want to know what made it a perfect night?

Final score from Tuscaloosa:
UAT - 28
Lousiana Tech - 29

Wow.

I'm speechless. Speechless I tell you.

I mean, I certainly didn't predict the outcome of Saturday's Auburn-LSU game. I really didn't even spend much time thinking about it; I sort of figured we'd give them a respectable game, but, in as much as I was making any mental preparations at all, I was preparing for a loss. There would be no shame in losing, obviously--playing LSU at night in Death Valley is tough, especially with a weak Auburn team that had a tough time with its previous two [cream puff] non-conference opponents. Expectations coming into this game were low, and with good reason.

Now, I say I was preparing for a loss; what I mean by that is I was trying to bring my optimism down to reality. I always think that Auburn has a good chance to beat any team we play, no matter how overmatched we are. It's not a conviction grounded in any kind of intelligent observation, mind you; it's merely my love for the Tigers manifesting itself in irrational ways. And this game was no different; even though I was trying to suppress the notion, deep in my heart of hearts I thought we might win in Baton Rouge.

But...41 TO 7? That's not a win. That's a flat-out ass-whuppin', as the beloved Pat Dye might say.

I can't remember the last time Auburn destroyed an SEC team like that. I can sure remember Auburn getting destroyed like that (several games, in fact), but I really can't recall the last time Auburn dominated a conference opponent to the extent we did the Bayou Bengals. It defies comprehension.

I won't go on about it; you can read all about the game yourself. But before we start talking bowl games, let's remember a few things:

1] LSU looked terrible. I mean, they looked awful. Part of that was undoubtedly due to our stellar play, but let's remember that this is the same team that only won one more game than we did last year. It ain't like we beat Nebraska or Florida State.

2] We were lucky. I mean it, we were! I don't mean we were lucky to win the game, I just mean that the breaks--all the breaks--went our way. Come on, Ronney Daniels recovering his own fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, after getting hammered by an LSU DB? When that happens, you know that God in His wise Providence has ordained your victory.

3]We're still the team that went 3-8 last year and struggled against Appy State and Idaho. Sometimes the worst thing that comes out of a huge victory like this is everybody starts thinking we're better than we are. Everything worked to perfection Saturday night; that's rarely going to happen. And Ole Miss is coming to the Plains with murder in their hearts. The time for glorying in this win passed with the Sunday evening church service.

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket; in fact, I'm still giddy with victory. I'm just trying to sober you up, dear reader, in case we don't live up to the expectations that have suddenly shot skyward.

But of course, the fact that expectations have suddenly risen is testament to Saturday's thumping, too. Bring on the Rebs, baby.

Some thoughts on the AU-Appy State game.

Auburn links:
The Auburn Plainsman
The Auburn Network
The "Sam-Cam"



















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