Kodi Burns: avoids a tackle from a Vanderbilt player in the October 6 game. Burns and the rest of the Tigers will have to step up their game against LSU and West Virginia in what Sports Illustrated says will be two of the top-ten "season-defining" games. PLAINSMAN AR
According to Sports Illustrated, the Tigers will be playing in two of the top-10 “season-defining games” for the 2008 football season.
The two games that are expected to be major games are LSU and West Virginia.
“All of our games are big, but it’s interesting to see that we’re always picked to be in a lot of the biggest games every year,” said head coach Tommy Tuberville. “That just shows you how tough our schedule is.”
Auburn was one of two teams selected to play in more than one top-10 game this year. Georgia was the only other team playing in multiple top games this season.
“I think it says great things about our football program to have two games mentioned as top-10 season-defining games this upcoming season,” said Blake Smalley, a senior in physical education.
LSU has become a fierce rivalry for the SEC-West. This game was placed as sixth in SI’s rankings.
“The LSU game is always a big one because the past few years, the team that has won that game has gone on to the SEC championship,” said Jason Bosley, the Tigers’ senior starting center. “They are going to be highly ranked, and hopefully we will be too. It’s just a big-time match-up, just like it is every year.”
This game has always been close, but this year, Auburn will be playing the defending national champions.
“Everyone knows that Alabama is our biggest rival, but I believe over the last eight to 10 years, this game has become probably the toughest hard-hitting game in the SEC, year in and year out, with the winner representing the western division,” Smalley said. “I expect the game to be another close scoring contest, just like it has been the last few years with Auburn pulling out the victory.”
Following the LSU game, Auburn will play the ninth season-defining game at West Virginia.
“West Virginia probably should have been in the national championship game last year, but they didn’t make it because they had a bad game at the end of the year,” Tuberville said. “I’m sure that everyone’s looking at Pat White as a Heisman Trophy contender, and us going on the road should make it a high-profile Thursday night game.”
This game is one that many students are also eager for.
With it being scheduled for a Thursday night, it will definitely put out a different atmosphere.
“I believe this game will have a major impact on Auburn and W.V. and in my opinion, is one of the biggest non conference games in the country, with it playing a major role in both teams’ efforts to get to a BCS bowl game,” Smalley said. “As stated in the article, it won’t play any role on each team’s quest to reach its conference championship, but it will help the winner’s BCS chances. I believe this game will also be a close, but more high-scoring game with Auburn, once again, coming out on top.”
As summer comes to an end, the Tigers are getting ready to start practicing again to prepare for these two games, as well as the entire season.
“We’ve been working hard all summer, and we start practice here in a few weeks. It should be an interesting two-a-days,” Bosley said. “It’s going to be tough to start off in the middle of the heat and everything, but I think everybody is ready to work and is excited. We have a lot of potential, and I think if we utilize that potential, the ability of this team to win games is going to work out.”
With these two “season-defining” games in mind, the Tigers seem honored to be placed in SI’s top10.
“We just have to work hard and see what happens. I think it speaks a lot for Auburn and where we are at as a program. The teams respect us and they are obviously going to give us some respect if we are going to be in the season-defining games, especially if we are going to win those games. It will really help our ranking and help our goal to win the championship, which is what we set out to do every year.”
July 17, 2008 - 10:51am
I can't wait. It's a tough
I can't wait. It's a tough schedule this year, but that's the way it should be. You can't blame the BCS algorithm when your fate is entirely in your hands. Bring on the football!July 30, 2008 - 2:16pm
Top 10 games
Au v. LSU is only ranked sixth? It should be number one, every year it's an amazing game. 2004 we came out on top in the last few minutes 10-9, 2005 barely lost in OT, 2006 we pulled it out 7-3, and who can forget last years loss in the last second? The Auburn v. LSU game is always the best of the year.