Miss Emily was resistant to change. She liked things the way they were. The way they used to be. The memories. The glories of days past. And although she liked things "the way they were", the world around her refused to comply.
Much like Auburn football. Quenton Riggins, on the Auburn post-game show following the (only win of the season to date!) victory over Kansas State said "Auburn won this the way Auburn wins football games...outstanding defense when it counts...and just enough offense".
After the Miss(erable)ippi State game, I have to wonder....is that really the way to win in the SEC anymore? And what if you have a great (or at least very good) defense, but NOT just enough offense? What if you are so resistant to change, that you only try to do things the way you've always done them...to the point of being predictable?
William Faulkner went on to write about Miss Emily's anti-bellum home in the post-civil war south that "It was a big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies, set on what had once been our most select street. But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily's house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps--an eyesore among eyesores."
I have to say that what I have seen of Auburn's offense....outside of the spark that Kodi Burns brought....was like the decaying home of Miss Emily... "an eyesore among eyesores." Yes it once was great, but the world (conference) around it is changing. The teams that are being successful week to week (Florida, West Virginia, Appalachian State for Pete's Sake!) are running and passing off of the spread option. They are exciting, posting large numbers, and hard to beat.
Unlike Miss Emily's crumbling house, we did try this with Kodi....a little bit. But the kid can't do it alone. Receivers HAVE to catch the ball...we HAVE to reduce the number of turnovers each game....and we HAVE to be less predictable.
One statistic we cannot escape, however....and that is the statistic of youth. At one time during the game, on the offensive side of the ball, we had Lee Ziemba (Fr.), Kodie Burns (Fr.), Mike Berry (Fr.), Mario Fannin (Fr.), Chris Slaughter (Fr.), Andrew McCain (So.), Montez Billings (So.), and Tommy Trott (So.). That is 8 Freshmen and Sophomores. Maybe that explains why all 60 of Auburn's points this season have come from Freshmen and Sophomores. No Junior or Seniors have scored thusfar.
It is only at the end of the story that we find out why Miss Emily has been closed up inside her crumbling plantation house refusing to move ahead with life and be open to change. Read the story and you'll understand the rose part.
As for Auburn....maybe.....there is a blowing Pneumata (wind or spirit) of change. The change will continue to be painful, for it is a change from the old guard to one of youth. And unlike Miss Emily, who got a rose.....Auburn will get no rose....or sugar....or cotton...or chick-fil-et.... and will have to work very hard to get a Music City Bowl. But IF Auburn sticks with the change, 2008 could be special.
War Eagle,
WJLaneSr
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