Auburn fan here

I like Auburn. Very excited for the game. I expect it to be a good/close game. I think Auburn is a better team, but that doesn’t matter often times in Bowl games.
My favorite non-MN athletes when I was a punk kid were Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley.
I have no quarrel with War Eagle.
 

My prediction -- Your DL studs skip the game to get ready for the NFL combines (which makes sense for them to do), Capt'n Morgan gets time to pass and pillages your secondary, we get a lead, and then play possession ball to run out the clock (we're very good at making long drives that consume massive amounts of clock time).

I think it's a 50/50 chance and I'm not being a homer. Both came back for their senior seasons and are extremely high character, hard working guys. I wouldn't be surprised if they played at all.
Without them our Dline takes a big step back even though we have pretty good depth there.
 



Just wanted to talk football and do some recon. How do y'all think the game will go? Are you excited to have us as an opponent? Do you think any players will sit out the game?

I realize I'm a guest here and I'm not here to troll, just wanted some football discussion.

Hi dude, and welcome. First, we're pleased to be playing Auburn in the Outback Bowl. There's a novelty in playing an unfamiliar team, and Tampa is a nice destination for Minnesota people.

I think that - judging by what I've read on fan forums - Auburn fans are badly underestimating the talent Minnesota has at the skill positions. But there's no doubt that Auburn is a very highly talented squad and played a really tough schedule this year. Should be a good game, and very competitive at least until halftime. After the half, one team or the other will pull away.

Senior WR Tyler Johnson might sit out the bowl to save himself for the draft. There's talk of Sophomore safety Antoine Winfield Jr opting for the draft, but he probably plays regardless, because he hasn't yet gotten the national attention that he (rightly) thinks he deserves. Senior RB Rodney Smith will probably be undrafted despite his resume, so I expect him to gamble that a big game improves his standing.

Apart from sit-outs, our boys are limping. That means that these weeks of recovery are critical if we hope to have guys like LB Kamal Martin, DE Carter Coughlin, and RT Daniel Faalele playing near full strength on Jan 1.
 


From our first game of the season right up to this game I have felt that the one weakness that our team has that can not be fixed or schemed around is that we have a below average four man pass rush. It is why our D is not elite. But, your coaches know that and it will make for an interesting chess match as they and our coaches plot over that reality.

PS Having played Arkansas in a bowl game some years back I am fully ready to accept any sounds which you War Eagle folk might emit.
 
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I think it's a 50/50 chance and I'm not being a homer. Both came back for their senior seasons and are extremely high character, hard working guys. I wouldn't be surprised if they played at all.
Without them our Dline takes a big step back even though we have pretty good depth there.

They're locks for going somewhere in the first three rounds of the draft. High character and hard working yes, but also smart enough to know that they can skip the game and be financially set for life, or play it and risk losing what they've worked so hard to achieve. If they were playing for the national championship, then I'd say they'll play; but in this game I'm guessing (total complete guess on my part) that they skip it to concentrate on doing well for the combines. For us, that's a big deal as if Morgan gets time to pass he's very accurate.
 


We are waiting to see if 2 of our best defensive lineman, Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson sit out or not. I personally don't think they will, they are both very high character, hard working guys. We have good depth on the Dline but they are huge game changers.

We are annoyed that Alabama got the better bowl but $$$ talks and Alabama is a household name. I'm personally happy that y'all are our opponent. I don't believe we've ever played before. I would much rather play y'all than Wisconsin again

Don't feel bad. The Outback Bowl and the Citrus Bowl are basically on the same level. And we were technically passed by Michigan as well....depending on how you look at it.
 



Welcome

I'm still hurt we pissed our chances to play in the Rose Bowl, but with that said, very happy to play Auburn and be on national stage. Much more excited than playing a MAC school in Detroit, so.

Bowl games are funny, I like our chances, but it would be an upset. So long as we don't get shelled 50-0 and embarrass ourselves, I think it's win/win as previously mentioned.

Iron Bowl is on my list of things to attend. Just think it would be crazy atmosphere and give me something to experience outside of B1G football. I have no rooting interest in Auburn/Bama (depending on year, I'd lean Auburn, but that's because I like the upset, so in this context, you'd probably prefer I leaned Bama)
 

This should be a fun and interesting game. Especially nice that its the first time we've ever played.
 





My favorite non-MN athletes when I was a punk kid were Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley.
I have no quarrel with War Eagle.
Barkley is a beast power forward and always gets overlooked. Everyone sees him as the overweight, goofy analyst on TNT, but the guy could flat out ball as an undersized power forward. I miss that era of the NBA. Now it’s let’s make a superteam, jack up 3’s, and play iso ball.
 

I think it's a 50/50 chance and I'm not being a homer. Both came back for their senior seasons and are extremely high character, hard working guys. I wouldn't be surprised if they played at all.
Without them our Dline takes a big step back even though we have pretty good depth there.

The way you describe them sounds very similar to how I feel about our top NFL prospect in WR Tyler Johnson. There is a chance he could skip the game but my gut says he will play for many of the same reasons you listed for your guys on the D-Line.
 

Barkley is a beast power forward and always gets overlooked. Everyone sees him as the overweight, goofy analyst on TNT, but the guy could flat out ball as an undersized power forward. I miss that era of the NBA. Now it’s let’s make a superteam, jack up 3’s, and play iso ball.
Watch clips of Barkley when he was on the sixers. that dude could run the floor and handle the ball. Being 6'5-6'6 back then and doing that was impressive.
 

Welcome! Would love to hear your thoughts on your head coach...and Fleck if you have any.
 

We are waiting to see if 2 of our best defensive lineman, Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson sit out or not. I personally don't think they will, they are both very high character, hard working guys. We have good depth on the Dline but they are huge game changers.

We are annoyed that Alabama got the better bowl but $$$ talks and Alabama is a household name. I'm personally happy that y'all are our opponent. I don't believe we've ever played before. I would much rather play y'all than Wisconsin again
B1G splits all money after expenses, so schools don’t worry about which bowl pays out more. In the end it’s all split 14 ways.
 

Hi dude, and welcome. First, we're pleased to be playing Auburn in the Outback Bowl. There's a novelty in playing an unfamiliar team, and Tampa is a nice destination for Minnesota people.

I think that - judging by what I've read on fan forums - Auburn fans are badly underestimating the talent Minnesota has at the skill positions. But there's no doubt that Auburn is a very highly talented squad and played a really tough schedule this year. Should be a good game, and very competitive at least until halftime. After the half, one team or the other will pull away.

Senior WR Tyler Johnson might sit out the bowl to save himself for the draft. There's talk of Sophomore safety Antoine Winfield Jr opting for the draft, but he probably plays regardless, because he hasn't yet gotten the national attention that he (rightly) thinks he deserves. Senior RB Rodney Smith will probably be undrafted despite his resume, so I expect him to gamble that a big game improves his standing.

Apart from sit-outs, our boys are limping. That means that these weeks of recovery are critical if we hope to have guys like LB Kamal Martin, DE Carter Coughlin, and RT Daniel Faalele playing near full strength on Jan 1.

Daniel Faalele has a broken leg, so you will NOT see him in the lineup....
Kamal has been dinged, but should be good to go if he chooses.
If I recall correctly, Carter Coughlin was not happy when some graduating seniors opted to not dress for the bowl game last year, so I expect him to "walk the walk" and play.
 



Just wanted to talk football and do some recon. How do y'all think the game will go? Are you excited to have us as an opponent? Do you think any players will sit out the game?

I realize I'm a guest here and I'm not here to troll, just wanted some football discussion.
Do you have any Auburn fan boards that you recommend to visit? Seems like most of the stuff I have seen are either low traffic or pay boards.
 

Auburn's win over Alabama was a really exciting game to watch - and I still remember that 100-yard run returning a missed field goal to beat Alabama a few years ago - maybe the single most amazing play I've ever seen. Generally, we see Auburn as superior, a tough opponent. We pass well but have not been able to run against a lot of teams. The regular game plan failed against Wisconsin, so maybe the coaches will come up with some new wrinkles. Tampa/St. Pete is a great place for a bowl game for those of us in snow country.
 

Welcome! Would love to hear your thoughts on your head coach...and Fleck if you have any.

Gus Malzahn is very frustrating and inconsistent with his play calling. Sometimes he comes up with an absolutely brilliant call and then the next play its "Lets just run up the middle against a stacked line"

I don't know too much about Fleck, but it seems like y'all are very well coached and disciplined.
 


Auburn's win over Alabama was a really exciting game to watch - and I still remember that 100-yard run returning a missed field goal to beat Alabama a few years ago - maybe the single most amazing play I've ever seen. Generally, we see Auburn as superior, a tough opponent. We pass well but have not been able to run against a lot of teams. The regular game plan failed against Wisconsin, so maybe the coaches will come up with some new wrinkles. Tampa/St. Pete is a great place for a bowl game for those of us in snow country.
I'd have to disagree on your run game comment. AVG 175 yards/game rushing. Gophs really only had two games where the running game struggled.

Gophs offense is very balanced to the point that it takes what the defense gives. Five games where they ran for close to or more than 200 yards, and four games where they passed for close to or more than 300 yards.
 


Gus Malzahn is very frustrating and inconsistent with his play calling. Sometimes he comes up with an absolutely brilliant call and then the next play its "Lets just run up the middle against a stacked line"

I don't know too much about Fleck, but it seems like y'all are very well coached and disciplined.
Yeah, unless you are like Wash State, it seems like most college FB fanbases have the common RUTM frustration.
 

Do you have any Auburn fan boards that you recommend to visit? Seems like most of the stuff I have seen are either low traffic or pay boards.

Yes there's the Auburn board on SEC Rant and AUFamily. Both are high traffic and aren't pay boards.
The Rant is going to have more trolls, but it's more entertaining IMO. AUFamily has a lot of sunshine pumpers but it's a friendlier site
 

Yes there's the Auburn board on SEC Rant and AUFamily. Both are high traffic and aren't pay boards.
The Rant is going to have more trolls, but it's more entertaining IMO. AUFamily has a lot of sunshine pumpers but it's a friendlier site
Gopherhole is basically those two boards combined. Makes for some pretty interesting interactions and, of course, some serious tangents within threads!
 




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