The Bodda Getta

The biggest difference between us and them is when we sit down to explain to children and grandchildren. The Auburn story begins with "THIS is Auburn Football". The alafumble story begins with "Once upon a time".....

THIS, my friends, is a FACT!

Good article. I'd like to see some names associated with those quotes. That would be interesting. Nice job.

Great Article!

Great read. I love Coach Dye. Alot of the assistants on his staff were Bear's boys. My favorites were Bud Casey and Frank Orgel. At football camps during the summer Casey would climb up to the top of the bubble and holler at us with a megaphone. Governor Wallace used to attend practices from time to time. Coach Dye repeated in 1981 what Shug did in 1951. War Fam Eagle.

Well said. I had command of a few of those facts, but not all in one place and so well written. Thanks and War Eagle!

You think that some of the bammers venom is coming from the fact that they finally realized that we are equal? It kills them. But they still control the state media and ESPN loves them...so we still get trashed nationwide. But, that's OK. We got us another NC and have to be reckon with on the big stage just like uat, Texas, OH St, FL, OK, etc.

Amen to the article. It is so good to see Coach Dye being included and recognized for his contributions to the Auburn legacy.

Thanks. I've never been so moved by numbers and facts. I may be using these in future "discussions" ...

Ron, excellent article, one worth saving.

A few comments: 1. Some folks seem to think that the "in state university" will always dominate, but that just isn't true. A classic example is USC and Clemson over the years.

2. I completely agree with nujaC's comments on Shug. During the Bear's tenure there were few limitations on recruiting, and he would just add players to prevent them from going elsewhere. However, Bear didn't just dominate Auburn, he dominated the entire SEC. Having said that, Shug did the best job of competing with him. Shug beat Bear in '58, 63, 69, 70 and 72. Back then we used to think that Bear was the luckiest guy alive--that's how he got the "walk on water" reputation. With just some decent luck, Shug would have beaten Bear in '59, 60, 64, 67, 68 and 74. So, if the breaks had fallen Shug's way, he would've actually had more wins that Bear.

It was during the Barfield years that Auburn really sank low, and I'm not putting all of that on Barfield, because again, Bear dominated not just Auburn, but the ENTIRE SEC. Look at his record, for example, against LSU and Tennessee during those years--total and complete domination.

3. Pat Dye changed the landscape. I will always consider Pat Dye as the one person who completely restored Auburn to prominence. I'll never forget how when he arrived he said, "Here we are geographically positioned halfway between Alabama and Georgia, both enjoying great success (at that time), and there is absolutely no reason why we can't be just as successful.

Johnny Majors when he was at UT used to express envy over Auburn's fantastic recruiting base: All of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The location of Auburn's campus was perfect for recruiting those three states. Pat Dye worked hard and Auburn totally dominated the SEC during the 1980s.

4. Yes, the perception does still exist. In fact, I live in Montana and I pull for the land-grant institution here (Montana State University--almost a "mini-Auburn) against the state university, U of Montana ( a "mini-UAT). I've been amazed at how MSU seemed resigned to being the little brother to UM. However, a new president came in at MSU and basically said that attitude would no longer be tolerated. But, in discussions with fans here, many would use the analogy of Alabama's "dominance" over Auburn, and I was quick to set them straight on the facts! This year, Montana State beat their butts and won the conference. The attitude here now reminds me of Auburn's after Dye arrived. The expectations have changed.

5. Bottom Line: Given Auburn's tradition, facilities, alumni and fans, there will never be a reason for Auburn not to be a major player from now on in the SEC and on the national scene. Let's face it, does any other school have anything close to our many traditions? Our history of great teams and great players? Just the overall heritage of being a great, "down to earth" institution? The Auburn Creed depicts what we are all about at Auburn.

I know the Alabama folks will try to hold on to their "dominant" theory, but I'm afraid they are grasping at ancient, obsolete history. THose days are gone and there is no reason they should ever return.

War Eagle for now and forever!

Sorry for the double-post. My computer was acting up today.