O.K., I’ll admit it. I was a little skeptical when I first heard about the “Tiger Prowl”. You remember that, don’t you? All of the coaches allowed under NCAA rule hopped into a stretch hummer limousine with Auburn magnets and flags and criss-crossed the state of Alabama visiting schools, building relationships, giving photo-ops and signing autographs. As the momentum began to build during “Tiger Growl”, I began to see that this was not a recruiting ploy aimed at me, a 50 year old, but rather aimed at 18 year olds.
And I began to understand.
Push the fast-forward button 1 month.
All day yesterday, the “inside media” teased the Auburn faithful with “big news” that would be announced at 7:00 p.m. Auburn time. Who knew what the big news was? How was it kept so secret?
At 7:00 p.m., Rivals, Scout, Alabama Live, Auburn Undercover, and several media outlets posted stories about Auburn’s Inaugural “Big Cat Weekend”.
Arriving on the Plains last night and today, for a weekend of wearing flip-flops, t-shirts, hanging out, pie-eating contests, home-run derby and chillin’ with all of Auburn’s current football players, coaches and their spouses, came 25 to 30 of the top rated recruits in America. It is a weekend of family and fun for the “Big Cats”.
How is this for a list: The #1 AND #2 rated running backs, one from Texas and the other from my home base of Spartanburg, South Carolina. The nation’s #2 rated wide receiver. The nation’s #4 rated offensive tackle. The nation’s #6 rated offensive guard. The nation’s #18 rated defensive end. The nation’s # 2 rated outside linebacker, who flew in from Connecticut. The nation’s #4 and #15 rated cornerbacks. And this just begins the list.
And I continued to understand.
This coaching staff is willing to think differently, within the rules, and recruit as hard as anyone out there. They are not conceding one inch of turf, and are recruiting in areas Auburn has never been….Connecticut, California, Texas, etc.
And now, the latest news is…..you can join in the fun of the “Big Cat Weekend”.
At 9:00 p.m. Auburn time today, there will be a “Toomer’s Corner Walk-Thru”. All Auburn fans are invited to come to the corner, and roll that traditional tree. (A little birdie told me that it’s possible there could be guests there). It is the final activity planned for the Big Cats today, and everyone else is invited to participate as well.
It’s time to show your Auburn Spirit. Head to the Plains if you can. Take plenty of toilet paper with you. Show your Auburn Spirit. Shout War Eagle! And let the Big Cats see what Auburn is really all about.
WJLaneSR
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Get Along
I don’t know if grammar is taught in school anymore. Maybe it has gone the way of Latin, which also is a curriculum course of bygone eras.
I never liked grammar. Not that it was too hard or difficult, but rather it wasn’t the language I spoke. Being married to a former subject of the Queen, who found her rebellious ways and abdicated her English loyalty to become a naturalized U.S. citizen while she was in college, I have been reminded throughout the years that mine is NOT the Queen’s English.
Mine is more chattahooglish. But, thanks to Ms. Claudia Malleson, I did learn the parts of speech, including what intransitive verbs were. Call my grammar lazy; just because I don’t USE the English language properly doesn’t mean I don’t KNOW the English language.
An example of an intransitive verb is two words used together, such as: “get along”.
Those words remind me of Woody Guthrie’s “Whoopee ti yi yo, get along little doggie, it’s your misfortune and none of my own.”
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive has changed that up a little. He has informed the head football coaches, who are vacationing (cough, cough) I mean meeting in Destin, Florida this week, that he expects them to tone down their rhetoric toward one another, and just “get along”. According to Slive, the back and forth vicious idioms between coaches are a a misfortune to the conference AND to everyone involved. Whoopie ti yi yo.
The Reverend Houston Nutt, an evangelist of sorts and the head Ole Miss-erable Rebel, said of Slive’s message to the coaches who were meeting in conclave, “He brought it today….he came with it today….I thought he was pretty good.” Sounds like Reverend Nutt was ready to pass the plate after Slive’s sermon. Not that a plate needed passing, considering the CBS/ESPN deal. Can I get an “Amen!” Reverend Nutt?
I suspect Coach Kiffin was sitting on the back pew doodling on his bulletin and shooting spitballs at the Ole Ball Coach, and I’m sure one of the deacons had to remind mad-hatter Les Miles to remove his cap while in church. Saint Richt never saw any of this, as his head was bowed and his eyes were shut in reverence.
Saban probably took a page out of Napolean’s book and put two cushions in his seat so that he would look as tall as the other coaches. That buzzing noise? That’s just Rich Brooks snoring in the back. Petrino wanted to see a fight in church, while Urban Meyer was busy texting the Florida Lettermen’s Club to find out if they had received their tickets in Section C.
Afterwards, did they sit around and sing KumBaYa and roast marshmallows on the Destin beach? Or maybe sing Sister Sledge’s “We are Family”?
Nah. Probably Not.
After all….what extended family that comes together for a week at the beach “gets along?” Especially when so many of the cousins are dysfunctional.
Chizik probably just shook his head saying to himself…”just get me back to Lee County.”
WJLaneSR
I never liked grammar. Not that it was too hard or difficult, but rather it wasn’t the language I spoke. Being married to a former subject of the Queen, who found her rebellious ways and abdicated her English loyalty to become a naturalized U.S. citizen while she was in college, I have been reminded throughout the years that mine is NOT the Queen’s English.
Mine is more chattahooglish. But, thanks to Ms. Claudia Malleson, I did learn the parts of speech, including what intransitive verbs were. Call my grammar lazy; just because I don’t USE the English language properly doesn’t mean I don’t KNOW the English language.
An example of an intransitive verb is two words used together, such as: “get along”.
Those words remind me of Woody Guthrie’s “Whoopee ti yi yo, get along little doggie, it’s your misfortune and none of my own.”
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive has changed that up a little. He has informed the head football coaches, who are vacationing (cough, cough) I mean meeting in Destin, Florida this week, that he expects them to tone down their rhetoric toward one another, and just “get along”. According to Slive, the back and forth vicious idioms between coaches are a a misfortune to the conference AND to everyone involved. Whoopie ti yi yo.
The Reverend Houston Nutt, an evangelist of sorts and the head Ole Miss-erable Rebel, said of Slive’s message to the coaches who were meeting in conclave, “He brought it today….he came with it today….I thought he was pretty good.” Sounds like Reverend Nutt was ready to pass the plate after Slive’s sermon. Not that a plate needed passing, considering the CBS/ESPN deal. Can I get an “Amen!” Reverend Nutt?
I suspect Coach Kiffin was sitting on the back pew doodling on his bulletin and shooting spitballs at the Ole Ball Coach, and I’m sure one of the deacons had to remind mad-hatter Les Miles to remove his cap while in church. Saint Richt never saw any of this, as his head was bowed and his eyes were shut in reverence.
Saban probably took a page out of Napolean’s book and put two cushions in his seat so that he would look as tall as the other coaches. That buzzing noise? That’s just Rich Brooks snoring in the back. Petrino wanted to see a fight in church, while Urban Meyer was busy texting the Florida Lettermen’s Club to find out if they had received their tickets in Section C.
Afterwards, did they sit around and sing KumBaYa and roast marshmallows on the Destin beach? Or maybe sing Sister Sledge’s “We are Family”?
Nah. Probably Not.
After all….what extended family that comes together for a week at the beach “gets along?” Especially when so many of the cousins are dysfunctional.
Chizik probably just shook his head saying to himself…”just get me back to Lee County.”
WJLaneSR
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