2004 Auburn

[Matt3467]

Was definitely shammed out of playing in the NC, but how do you think that team would've stacked up vs the Bama and Clemson teams of this decade? I can still see Cadillac and Ronnie Brown running all over us that year.

[Maroonthirteen]

Did we play them in Starkville that year? I was on the sideline part of that game. Hole e sheet... Cadillac Williams was fast.

[Matt3467]

Did we play them in Starkville that year? I was on the sideline part of that game. Hole e sheet... Cadillac Williams was fast.

Yea it was in Starkville. I think we were down 40-0 until York finally got us on the board in the 4th quarter. The 00's were miserable years for MSU football.

[STATEBALLIN]

And we?re on the same trajectory at this time...

[R2Dawg]

And we?re on the same trajectory at this time...

Yep we have flatlined alright. Only question is how long will we stay there? 5 Years with Croom. Looks like we got 2 more after this for sure; we can't stand another 5 year Croom death penalty.

People talk about being patient but many were not patient with JWS either. He really only had 2 bad years at the end after much success. The 2001 year was for the most part competitive and talented. I still believe JWS could have turned it around certainly faster than the Croom era. JWS had a bad JUCO group and some bad assistant coach hires that ended his time.

[Cowbell]

Yea it was in Starkville. I think we were down 40-0 until York finally got us on the board in the 4th quarter. The 00's were miserable years for MSU football.

I was there on a recruiting visit with some friends. I was in awe of that running duo. One of the best football teams I ever watched play. They would've won it all.

[BrunswickDawg]

Yep we have flatlined alright. Only question is how long will we stay there? 5 Years with Croom. Looks like we got 2 more after this for sure; we can't stand another 5 year Croom death penalty.

People talk about being patient but many were not patient with JWS either. He really only had 2 bad years at the end after much success. The 2001 year was for the most part competitive and talented. I still believe JWS could have turned it around certainly faster than the Croom era. JWS had a bad JUCO group and some bad assistant coach hires that ended his time.

Coaches rarely survive major sanctions. And if we had held onto Jackie, those major sanctions would have been worse and we would have ended up firing him anyway (which is what the NCAA wants schools to do with sanctioned coaches).

[Matt3467]

Yep we have flatlined alright. Only question is how long will we stay there? 5 Years with Croom. Looks like we got 2 more after this for sure; we can't stand another 5 year Croom death penalty.

People talk about being patient but many were not patient with JWS either. He really only had 2 bad years at the end after much success. The 2001 year was for the most part competitive and talented. I still believe JWS could have turned it around certainly faster than the Croom era. JWS had a bad JUCO group and some bad assistant coach hires that ended his time.

I disagree. It was a sharp decline. We lost to FL 52-0, LSU 42-0, lost to Troy 21-9. We we're so bad.

[Matt3467]

I was there on a recruiting visit with some friends. I was in awe of that running duo. One of the best football teams I ever watched play. They would've won it all.

Yea they were like a machine on both sides of the ball. I believe they ended the year with the #1 defense too. The only comparable backfield I've seen was ARK with McFadden, Felix Jones, and Hillis.

[R2Dawg]

I disagree. It was a sharp decline. We lost to FL 52-0, LSU 42-0, lost to Troy 21-9. We we're so bad.

We had some bad games, I remember the UF game well. Spurrier was getting revenge for the beatdown in Starkville his last couple trips. The SC loss early put us in a hole after 911. Overall that team wasn't as bad as our record. The big dip happened the next 2 years. The only player we lost on O from 2000 to 2001 was Michael Fair the center. Why we went backwards so bad was a mystery. Madkin was a senior but played like a freshman. There was talent on that team.

Agree on NCAA stuff with JWS but some of that was witch hunt BS. JWS had hauled in a good recruiting class that last year. I think he would have turned it around. Sherril wouldn't put up with losing forever.

[coachnorm]

Was definitely shammed out of playing in the NC, but how do you think that team would've stacked up vs the Bama and Clemson teams of this decade? I can still see Cadillac and Ronnie Brown running all over us that year.

When you schedule The Citadel, you loose considerations. The other two who played had respectable OOC games.

[Matt3467]

When you schedule The Citadel, you loose considerations. The other two who played had respectable OOC games.

I get it but Auburn beat 3 teams that year within the top 10 and also beat #15 TN. OK came in suspect having squeaked by in their 3 games against ranked competition and it showed when they got beat down by USC. I don't see Auburn losing to USC 55-19. Of course hindsight is 20-20.

[coachnorm]

I get it but Auburn beat 3 teams that year within the top 10 and also beat #15 TN. OK came in suspect having squeaked by in their 3 games against ranked competition and it showed when they got beat down by USC. I don't see Auburn losing to USC 55-19. Of course hindsight is 20-20.

You could be correct. I believe that you can sabotage yourself by scheduling The Citadel when a close decision has to be made. A program should not put itself at risk with a soft OOC schedule. Also, Auburn only played 4 away games while USC and Oklahoma played more away in front of opposing fans. I believe Auburn would have been in that game if it wasn't for The Citadel, but justice was served and hopefully a lesson was learned.

[Red Clay Hills]

Yea they were like a machine on both sides of the ball. I believe they ended the year with the #1 defense too. The only comparable backfield I've seen was ARK with McFadden, Felix Jones, and Hillis.

Maybe it was 2003 and not 2004 but Brandon Jacobs was also in the backfield alongside Cadillac and Ronnie Brown. That's 3 guys who spent meaningful time in NFL as starting RBs..... I feel like that trio, Ricky Williams in Cotton Bowl, and Cecil "the diesel" from LSU were the best I saw in my lifetime against MSU. I'm 38 so I remember around early 90s and forward fairy well.