National Champions!!!

I began my Americorps term attempting to maintain not only my personal blog, but also a blog on Auburn football which I had begun last year for a friend’s website. As my personal blog dwindled, so also did my Cover2Sports blog. So, now you get to read my football recap in Drewbiesnacks form. What a year I chose to leave Auburn University! I was lucky enough to make it to one game this season- the greatest Iron Bowl ever. But wow, did I miss the greatest season of football I can imagine by one year. Many saw big things from this Auburn team before the season started, but few imagined this amazing a season. Six months ago, we had no idea how amazing Cameron Newton would be and how big an influence his presence would have on this team. Yes, there were lots of distractions, but for a guy my age, he did a phenomenal job of keeping poise, focus, and humility amidst a barrage of pointed and vicious media attention. But this season wasn’t all about Cameron Newton or Nick Fairley. Yes, they were incredible talents, leaders, and emotional forces, but this was about a senior class that had been through a gauntlet of ups, downs, coaching changes, and learning curves, and emerged as an outstanding group of leaders poised to take on challenges, face big deficits without losing faith, and persevere even when trailing seven times in the second half to emerge undefeated national champions. Many of these guys will be forgotten by a history that will remember Newton, Fairley, Wes Byrum’s kick, and Michael Dyer’s Oregon Duck chair. Much of the credit for this team’s success, however, must go to guys like Ziemba, Pugh, Berry, and Isom- an offensive line that put in more than its share of snaps and deserves way more credit than it will ever get. How about Zach Clayton, Zac Etheridge, and Aairon Savage? Three guys who missed significant time to injury during their Auburn careers but put in key time mentoring young players and helping Auburn develop the depth that it had missed so much in recent years. And don’t forget Clayton’s presence on the field. Fairley got a lot of credit, but Clayton was a dominant force at times. And what can be said about Kodi Burns? The former quarterback who moved to wide receiver and made himself into one of the best blocking wideouts in the country as well as a threat to catch the ball in key situations. It is the dedication and sacrifice of guys like Burns that take a team from good to great- the desire to do what it takes to make the team better while forgoing selfish desires. Credit the Auburn coaches for this type of development, not only in Burns, but in many members of the team. The “Auburn Family” line is not just lip service, as it may have been under previous regimes. These coaches have taken a personal investment in the lives of their players, dedicated themselves to Auburn (as evidenced by Gus Malzahn and Jeff Grimes turning down more money in other places to stay and get things done at Auburn), and made a huge impact on the field as well as off. I would have counted myself among the skeptical when Gene Chizik was given the job more than two years ago, but also encouraged people to wait and see who he surrounded himself with. Once he hired a staff that included some of the most highly respected men in the business, I knew that special things were in store. I guess I am a genius. War Damn Eagle!