Mrs. Wilkie and the Iron Bowl

(Photo courtesy trackemtigers.com)

OK, first of all, in case our faithful readers did not know, Jon Nelson - founder and president of OSG Sports Media - got married over the weekend (which is why OSG was a little silent - we were all at the wedding festivities).

I tell you this to set up one of the funniest moments of the weekend.

Brother Wilkie, Mrs. Wilkie, and I were standing at the reception, admiring all of the Auburn fans in attendance. Brother Jon's wife is a HUGE supporter of the Atlanta Auburn Club, and I think the entire town of Ozark, AL was there for the wedding. The reception band came all the way up from Auburn, Alabama.

They even played War Eagle during the reception, and worked it into the wedding processional. I'm not lying, Auburn was in the house! Brother Jon is a diehard FSU fan, and did have a flaming spear on top of his groom's cake. There was SOME diversity.

Mrs. Wilkie said, "Ya know, I should go up to the new Mrs. Brother Jon and ask her if I can join the Atlanta Auburn Club. I like these people."

(NOTE: Mrs. Wilkie was born and raised in upstate New York. Trust me; it matters.)

Wilkie goes, "You don't need to join. Just say War Damn Eagle at the top of your lungs and you're in!"

Me, being the kindhearted person I am, and knowing that Mrs. Wilkie is not the biggest football fan in the world, I decide to offer my brand of advice.

"Mrs. Wilkie, here's the deal. all you have to do is walk up to any Auburn fan here, take in a deep breath, and say "Roll Tide!" as confidently as you can."

Wilkie immediately shoots me a glance, and we both smile. Mrs. Wilkie innocently said, "OK, I'll do that!"

As I'm brandishing a cheshire cat grin, a very well lubricated Auburn fan came up to Wilkie, pointed his finger at him, and said, "I heard what you said."

Wilkie immediately started backpedaling, saying "I said say War Eagle...I said say War Eagle...that wasn't me!"

Then the Toomer's Corner alum turned to Mrs. Wilkie and said, "It was you. I heard what you said."

With an innocent grin, Mrs. Wilkie said, "What did I say?"

The fan shared with Mrs. Wilkie that, "Those words...Roll Tide...have NEVER brought joy to anyone's hearts...you best stop saying those words."

At this point, Wilkie and I are literally in tears due to extreme laughter, as Mrs. Wilkie is now surrounded by Auburn faithful - getting an earful about why Auburn is better than Alabama. It was like blood in the water, and these Auburn fans were trying to convince Mrs. Wilkie (who kept saying, "I'm from New York...I don't care about football"...still with that innocent grin on her face). She let them talk...and talk...and talk...and we kept laughing our butts off.

Brother Phil comes up and asks what we're laughing so hard about.

"She's getting a crash course about the Iron Bowl!" Wilkie squeezes out between rolls of laughter (yes, I used that word on purpose).

I guess the moral of the story is this. If one is surrounded by Auburn fans, and there are adult beverages around, one must never ever mention "Roll Tide" - even in jest.

Unless you're saying you want them to roll the hell back to Tuscaloosa.

(NOTE: Everyone does know that Alabama just won back-to-back National Championships, right? And three out of the last four? Just saying...)

I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilkie. That was not the way I intended to show you the importance of the Iron Bowl.

Updyke Indicted By Grand Jury, Toomer's Oaks Both Show Poison

((HT: WRBL-TV Columbus))

A Lee County ((AL)) grand jury has indicted Harvey Almorn Updyke, Junior on two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, two counts of desecrating a venerated object and two counts of unlawful damage, vandalism or theft of property from a farm animal or crop facility.

Updyke will be arraigned May 26th before Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob A. Walker III in the town of Opelika. He has a tentative trial date of June 20th.

The HQ is of the thought that there will be no plea agreement. But we do, somewhat, agree with Dan Patrick who would sentence "Al From Dadeville" to five years of planting trees and being banned from witnessing any Alabama football game while wearing Auburn University colors...

TBH, when told of the Patrick gambit, said that the first two ideas were fine. But no Auburn person would want Updyke to ever...

And the HQ means EVAH...

Ever wear anything Auburn on his person... them's grounds for fighting...

Alison Flowers puts together one of the most condescending voice-overs with really bad puns that we've heard in quite some time in discussing the trees current state...


And the four former Auburn players who were busted on their burglary, robbery, and theft of property charges...?
They've now got felony indictments hanging over their heads and they're set for arraignment May 26th...

Toomer's For Tuscaloosa Goes National

Right Reverend Rece is an alum of the University of Alabama...

The four-letter made a point to send him down to his old haunt to check in on the tornado after-effects and relief efforts from those in orange and blue as they reach out to their crimson-clad neighbors...

Toomers For Tuscaloosa

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

Just as the fans of the University of Alabama came to the forefront after the poisoning of the oak trees at Toomer's Corner, Auburn fans and alums are now reaching out to their affected rivals in Tuscaloosa...

Here's the latest on rivals putting rivalry aside...
Don Hawes is in NorthPoint...


The "Toomer's For Tuscaloosa" Facebook site has been off the charts-busy since the tornadoes touched down...

Make your impact known there...

Saban Discusses T-Town Destruction

((HT: MyFoxAl.com/WBRC-TV Birmingham))

Sports Director Rick Karle caught up with Alabama head coach Nick Saban to ask him about how his team is doing since the horrible tornadoes that destroyed a lot of the town of Tuscaloosa earlier this week...


The video of the tornado hitting Tuscaloosa actually happened during Fox6's 5PM newscast... their tower cam is hyah...

In First Meeting Since Tree Poisoning, Alabama Gets By Auburn With Last Second Tip In

For the first time since an uber Alabama fan, Harvey Updyke, revealed on Paul Finebaum's radio show that he poisoned the oak trees on Toomers Corner, Auburn and Alabama competed against each other in Tuscaloosa.

While the men's basketball game was important the recent tree poisoning was still top of mind. Bryant Somerville of ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama provided this report on the mood of the fans in the aftermath.



As far as the game it was a dandy. Alabama's JaMychal Green's tip in with 0.3 seconds left to win it for the Crimson Tide 51-49.

Here's the only video we could find of the game. The buzzer beater is at the 7:45 mark. (Thanks michaelcasagrande/Youtube.com

BREAKING: Some Idiot Poisoned The Toomer's Oaks

((HT: OAnews.com))

The oak trees at Toomer's Corner were poisoned by an herbicide- as some maroon claimed responsibility on the January 27th Paul Finebaum Show.

PAWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

The caller, "Al from Dadeville" called the sports show to discuss allegations that Auburn students had allegedly rolled Toomer's Corner after learning of famed UA football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's death in the early 1980s. "Al" then made the stunning admission that the week after the Iron Bowl in November 2010 he went to Toomer's Corner and dumped "Spike 80DF" on the trees.

"They're not dead yet, but they definitely will die."

When Finebaum asked if it was illegal to poison the trees, the man said "Do you think I care?" The caller ended the conversation with "Roll Damn Tide."

Here's the call, thanks to the PFRN and MyFoxAl/WBRC

The HQ thinks its the SEC version of Al Qaida...
Al Abama...

"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer’s oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community,” said Auburn University President Jay Gogue.

"It is understandable to feel outrage in reaction to a malicious act of vandalism. However, we should live up to the example we set in becoming national champions and the beliefs expressed in our Auburn Creed. Individuals act alone, not on behalf of anyone or any place, and all universities are vulnerable to and condemn such reprehensible acts."

The university announced that lab reports found a high dose of Spike 80DF was applied in "lethal amounts to the soil around the Toomer's Corner live oaks." Yeah, about 65 times the safe amount for usage...

The Auburn Police Division is investigating.

More when we know more...
Absolutely classless...

Here's WSFA-TV in Montgomery live at the intersection with Samuel King trying to do a live shot with traffic behind him...


Here's the live camera put up by the City of Auburn looking directly at Toomer's Corner...

Watch live streaming video from cityofauburntoomerscorner at livestream.com

National Signing Day Wrap

The HQ understands about signing day...
It's kinda like this...
A - Always
B- Be
C- Closing

Always, be, closing...



But Georgia kept 19 players home in their 25 signee class... that's huge...
And Isaiah Crowell even brought props...
((HT: ESPNU))


FOSG Buck Lanford talks about the greatest hits...
((HT: MyFoxAtlanta))

It's High School Football Signing Day: MyFoxATLANTA.com

The national champs had a pretty good day...
Here's the Chiz watching the Enrique Florence signing...
((HT: WBRC-TV Birmingham/MyFoxAl.com))


Nick Saban's day is hyah...

Shelley Smith catches up with Jimbo Fisher...
Everyone thinks Florida State had the best class in the country...
The HQ isn't so sure...
((HT: ESPNU))


Donnitra Gilbert is at Thomas County Central to check in on the cross-state class, thanks to our friends at WCTV

Man-mountain Cyrus Kouandjio picked Auburn over Alabama- the place where his brother currently is.
((HT: ESPNU))


That didn't sit well with Cyrus' parents. After the selection at DeMatha ((MD)) High School and all the consternation, he left school to "figure things out..."

And, apparently, Cyrus was developing a nervous tick over the whole process...
((HT: Brooks via Kristen Kenney/Scout.com))


Clemson got top prep linebacker Tony Steward...
((HT: WSPA-TV))


And the HQ is still trying to figure out how the OBC got 30...
((HT: WSPA-TV))


And FOSG Jeff Hullinger turned an interesting piece on Ralph David Abernathy IV...
Yes, THAT family of Abernathy's...
((HT: WXIA-TV/11alive.com))


That should get you started...
More when we know more...

The Auburn Celebration From The Inside

So, what do you do with 78,000 friends that you either knew or didn't...???

Get to know them, because there was a chance that you'd never get to sit in the seat you had Saturday afternoon at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Loveliest Village...

It was a General Admission-we might check your bag-we're definitely not going to search you free for all to get to see your favorite football team one last time together ((pictured over there, thanks to me)).

And there were almost as many people in 50-degree weather as there were in a 72-degree climate-controlled environment a few weeks earlier...

There was pomp, circumstance, rah-rah-ing with some cool hooks and some over-the-topness, but that was to be expected somewhat when The Champ Is Here ((capitalization intentional)). Players each wore their new Click-Clack issued warm-up suits. Some spoke volumes through very little and some spoke even more volumes by talking too much. It was a love fest...

And it should have been...

You had the past show up in Dr. Lloyd Nix- the QB of the 1957 champs. And Nix had the most important carry of the day- the crystal football to its rightful place on the three studs it sits on every season.

Heck, when Bill Hancock- the head of the Bee-Cee-Ess- came to the dais, he didn't even get booed. The HQ wasn't really sure how many of the people there knew how responsible he is for the current college football post-season mess. But the HQ is certain that 78,000 people didn't care at present.

It was the last time The Loveliest Village would see Cameron Newton and Nick Fairley on their football field- even if Fairley tried to bear hug the life out of his fellow, future millionaire. And even if Newton tried to shake his leg as if he was getting Nick Fairley smell off his person after the fact.

And it was the first time that they may have heard their head coach cuss- even if the word was, in fact, "Damn."

But the school wisely scheduled the first event before the second event of the day. The Alabama-Auburn basketball game where the visitors from Tuscaloosa had to return the Omicron Delta Kappa Sportsmanship Trophy- which sits on the campus of the winner of the "Iron Bowl and has since 1946."

The football players for the winners were strategically positioned on the end line closest to the crimson-clad for the first half- as well they should be- and received the booty of their November win at half time ((pictured over there, thanks to TBH)).

It's the only time of the year that a student government president gets booed indoors, since the rest of the year they're booed outdoors.

You can't sing from notes and you can sing as poorly as you feel like you should. Since, there is a bit of a conundrum ((that's a big word for "something you gotta think about")) for the President-Singer-To-Be.

Do you really sing as off-key as humanly possible and as quickly as humanly possible just to get the whole thing over with, or do you really put your heart and soul in to it so you represent you own school proudly in the situation...???

Conventional wisdom varies...

Here's the end result of all of that fussin' and fightin' for another year...
((HT: michaelcasagrande and his dailybamablog))


And don't think that TBH doesn't cry every single time she sees the Wes Byrum field goal, either...

It's a National Title...
You're en-title-d...

Now, if someone could direct the HQ toward one of those hats Trooper Taylor was wearing backwards, we'd greatly appreciate it...

NCAA Silly Season Continues... Friday Update...

Today we can add three Alabama players- Alabama running back Mark Ingram, defensive lineman Marcell Dareus and wide receiver Julio Jones say they're entering the NFL draft.

Linebacker Dont'a Hightower says he is returning to school.
Coach Nick Saban says each player made the right decision.

This adds to the total of: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
((HT: KTHV-TV Little Rock))


UCLA's Rahim Moore, and according to FOSG Kelin Johnson, the HQ is supposed to keep an eye on three UGA players- AJ Green, Justin Houston, and Brandon Boykin...

Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles is staying... which means the Sooners will, probably, be ranked Pre-season Number One

Newsok.com's Jenni Carlson and FOSG Berry Tramel discuss Monday's game for us instead...
((HT: Newsok.com))


Coaching Carousel: Pat Fitzgerald is NOT leaving Northwestern for Michigan and neither is Bo Pelini...

But Dan Mullen's staff takes a huge hit as Manny Diaz leaves Miss State and moves over to Texas to be DC for Mack Brown...
((HT KXAN-TV Austin))

Longhorns introduce DC Diaz: kxan.com

More when we know more...

TWTW Bowling: Bama Embarasses Michigan State In Orlando

And the HQ is putting it mildly in that case...

The game was 49-0 before the Spartans decided to actually score late in the game in Orlando, as the final was 49-7 Alabama...

Alabama had a lot of success running and passing against Michigan State.
Michigan State, on the other hand, had very little success doing anything except letting Alabama score...

A lot...

Here's your highlights...
((HT: ESPN/Youtube))

Alabama PA Guy Fired Over Newton Song Choices

The University of Alabama has fired the employee who played songs aimed at Cam Newton before the Iron Bowl.

University spokeswoman Debbie Lane said Monday that the part-time staffer was fired for the "unauthorized songs."

Like this one...


And this one...


...were played while Newton and the Tigers warmed up.

Lane said in a statement that all music and videos played in the stadium have to be approved by a senior athletic administrator. She said the staffer didn't get those songs cleared.

Yikes... while funny... it's still a yikes...

Greg and Julio Discuss The Loss

((HT: weagleweagle5))

There, simply, are no words...


My head hurts...
//wait two seconds
//rub

2010 Iron Bowl: Survive And Advance

Walking towards Bryant-Denny Stadium on the Tuscaloosa campus, it seemed neither side wanted to acknowledge there was a game going on.

Alabama fans had a sense of dread as if they were getting their ass haded to them and staring at a three-loss (gasp) season at the end of Friday afternoon. Auburn fans were going into the game feeling that, since they were the underdog, they must be the underdog after all.

There wasn't any smack talk on the boulevard. There were just merchants trying to sell "Scam Newton" and "Got Laptops? Cam Does" t-shirts.

By the way, the HQ now has a few of those for Festivus gifts.
They were on special after the game...

But when you see Mark Ingram run for nine without being touched, when Julio Jones is left to run free in a two-deep zone as corners think safeties are there for support and vice versa, and when Darius Hanks catches a 15-yard fade that everyone could see was going to work, it a 21-0 lead that took all of 17 minutes to put on the board.

Full disclosure... I went as a civilian this year. TBH got tickets in the endzone and I went since I had never gone in that capacity. It was wet. It was cold. And I couldn't get a cell signal out to save my life.

And when the lead was that big for Alabama, TBH wondered if the beating was going to be worse than the one in Tommy Tuberville's last year- 36-zip.

But it wasn't...

I reminded her that her team had been a second-half team all year- all 32 games they've played in, they've trailed. There were a half-dozen games where the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles had trailed in the fourth quarter and had escaped. They were also getting two defensive starters back after they had thrown punches in the UGA game and had to sit out the first half. All the depth you would have had in the first half would be there in the second half.

But the two marquee defensive plays in the first 30 minutes, the Nelson punchout and the Nick Fairley bench press/fumble recovery, kept the team hanging around. Emory Blake caught the TD pass in the first half with all the confidence his father had on some Sundays as a quarterback ((Remember "throw up a moon ball and hope someone in the same colored jersey runs under it?")).

They got the ball at the start of the second half, and made the most of it. Terrell Zachery was the lucky recipient of an overplay in the Bama secondary to make it 24-14, and all the yards that Greg McElroy threw for in the first-half (something short of eleventy-billion), didn't mean a thing.

He threw for thirty-something yards in the second half before he was suplexed by Tasharvin Bell in a way that would have made Chris Benoit proud. From that moment on, McElroy thought he was Scott Hunter and wanted his mommy.

Evidence below...
((HT: SEC on CBS/youtube))


Compare/Contrast...
Continue...
((HT: WWE/youtube))


McElroy didn't get to finish- that was left to AJ McCarron. And we found out why he was a redshirt freshman who signalled in plays instead of ran them. Especially after getting his ass slapped and his ears chewed in the Miss State game by Nick Saban.

But the defensive adjustments made by Ted Roof and the staff were top notch in a season where there have been two ways Auburn had to win- come from behind and make Vegas mad, or outscore everyone and make Vegas money.

As all the Crimson people were leaving, it turned into a blue-and-orange celebration. All of the Bama fans were left with was a bunch of expletive-laden retorts on their way to a weekend's worth of sulk. For every win that the Tide thinks is "bought and paid for," all the Auburn fans had to do was point to a scoreboard. But it wouldn't be that simple, would it...???

It's a game where families are divided. It's a game where middle school principals wander over to former students on their way to concession stands and make fun of their allegiances. And, on the next play when things go south, the father of the student makes a point to race to the stairwell and offer an answer to the question previously posed.

None of it clean... for the next 365 days...

It's where Auburn fans sit next to Alabama fans and send their index fingers as close to their seatmates and second-guess their neighbor. It's a game where your color choice is looked at as nothing short of Goodwill-bought and there is never any Goodwill sold.

And the land where there is nothing short of a Paul Bryant Drive will make a point to reinforce that every coach on the staff should be drawn and quartered, after being shot and killed and not a moment before.

Monday will be a fun day... for half a state, anyway... because some coaches, probably, will...

Kirby Smart and Joe McElwain are looking for work...
And so is Nick Saban, but we aren't supposed to know that yet...

Right, Pawwwwlllll...??????

TWTW: Tide Beats Auburn In One Half, Loses Bigger In The Other

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

The HQ will have it's individual recollections of the game in a bit, but when you hold Alabama to 67 total yards and thre first downs in the second half of the Iron Bowl game, there's a good chance you'll win.

Auburn did, but they had to come from 24-0 down to do it in the first place.

Time to catch up with Gene Chizik again...


More in a bit...

TWTW: The State Of Alabama Sweeps

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

Not that the first game was any surprise, as Alabama took out what frustrations they had left over from the LSU game out on Dan Mullen and Mississippi State 30-10.

MSU was ranked in the alphabet soup, not so much anymore...

Here's Chris Pollone's wrap from T-town...


Auburn, traditionally a slow starter this season, didn't disappoint either. TBH knew that there would be an inability to hear once a certain QB's name was mentioned for starting lineups.

We know this to be true since she got a cell signal out and some of the HQ listened to said intros from McKenzie, Tennessee...

They were down 21-7 before coming from behind to win 49-21 over the University of Georgia on the Plains. Having an experienced offensive line these days is HUGE!!!

Time for another visit from Don Hawes who didn't get the short end this week...

TWTW: LSU Finds Offense To Beat Bama

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

Admittedly, this was the game the HQ had on in the car and on the telly the instant we got home Saturday afternoon.

It gave most of the college football world the opportunity to sample the daytime hatred LSU has for Alabama and, specifically, Nick Saban.

Hey, look at it this way, this gives Saban an out to go be the new head coach for the Dallas Cowboys next season...

((Who said that...???))

Wright Thompson penned a piece on what Saban means, outwardly, to the folks on the bayou- it is here and it is required viewing...

LSU gashed Bama for big plays on offense in the second half. This can only widen the supposed rift between Saban and DC-On Paper Kirby Smart...

((Who said that...???))

Here's our weekly visit with Don Hawes...who looks just plain chapped...


And here's your sample of the Saban Presser...


To Saban's point, from a few weeks ago, that his players hadn't proved s***, well, he may actually be on to something...

TWTW: Tide Takes Out Frustrations On Vols

((HT: WVTM-TV Birmingham))

Trent Richardson's two TD's were half of 28 unanswered second-half points as No. 7 Alabama beat Tennessee 41-10.

Greg McElroy completed 21 of 32 for 264 yards. Julio Jones set an Alabama single-game record with 221 yards on 12 catches.

Richardson finished with 119 yards on 12 carries, and Alabama got its fourth straight win over Tennessee for the first time since 1992.

Chris Pollone got to take the roadtrip for this one...

TWTW: Bama Rebounds Against Black Bears

((HT: WTVM Birmingham))

The HQ has heard another really wild stat...

There's this quarterback... for Alabama... and he's lost, like, only one game since he was an eighth grader or something...

That just AMAZING!!!
We've never heard that mentioned... ever...
Yep... we couldn't believe it, either...

And we still think that Houston Nutt is playing with karmic fire since he brought Jeremiah Masoli into the SEC- thus, all of his great numbers in a 23-10 loss to Alabama in front of 101-thousand people Saturday night...

What was he...? 4-for-12 or something...???
Enjoy your time as a grad student...

Chris Pollone was the one who had the really late night telling us what went down...

TWTW: Saban Wipes The Floor With Meyer's Gators 31-6

((HT: WVTM-TV/NBC 13 Birmingham))

The HQ thought it would be easy, but this easy...???

Florida, against quality competition not named Ohio University, finally showed the civilized world two things:

1) They're rebuilding and John Brantley is not a quarterback that fits the Meyer system. He may as well just go ahead and put Trey Burton in there right now for the remainder of the season at QB...

2) Polls don't need to be anywhere close to being published until, about, right now... Florida is not the 7th-best team in the country...

Alabama made it look too easy... and it, probably, was...

It's time for another visit with Don Hawes...


Here's Nick Saban trying not to laugh about how easy it was to smack any kind of wry grin off Urban Meyer's face...