Since we live in a world of hyperbole and the need to be edgy and/or join the edgy group, many said this game as a whole was a disaster. Yes, Auburn has 5 turnovers and Arkansas had 2, but there were over 750 yards of total offense. Plays were made. Touchdowns were scored. In actuality, there was decent defense from both sides at times.
It was 1000 degrees and Auburn moved the ball well, but again, just kept coughing it up as they got closer to the endzone. Arkansas was in no way better than Auburn. Here’s how I know: 5 drives that almost certainly ended up with at least 3 points ended with a turnover, and Arkansas only won by 10 points, with 7 of those off a 3rd-and-19 chunk that required an Arkansas receiver to moss Auburn’s defender.
Speaking of that, it’s hard to blame the Auburn defense for much of anything considering both losses included 5 turnovers each and both losses were by 7 and 10 points. This defense hasn’t given up more than 24 points in a game all season. BUT…
If they could get off the field on ANY 3rd-and-long, Auburn would be 4-0 at this point. Yes, if Auburn had maybe 2 less turnovers in those losses, they’d be 4-0 as well. Yes, the defense has had their backs against the wall and been on the field much more than the offense, but they’d also be off the field more if they could finish the hard work they are putting in on 1st and 2nd down and stop a 3rd down.
As silly and as unrealistic that it seems for Auburn to be unable to hold onto the ball or that the universe is causing perfectly thrown balls to get deflected and flail right to a defender, it is equally silly and unrealistic to see a defense lay massive wood, chase quarterbacks down, and put the opposing offense in deep holes and then let a quarterback run around, do 3 backflips, and then throw a duck backwards and land perfectly into a wide open receivers’ hands.
Auburn’s loss to Arkansas was my 175th straight home game. I started in 2000, so that makes this my 25th straight year of attending Auburn games inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this many inexplicable turnovers and unfathomable 3rd-and-long conversions ever.
The positive in these things is that at some point the law of averages will take over. There is NO WAY Auburn will continue to turn the ball over 5 times. There is no way that Auburn will continue to give up 3rd-and-hail mary’s. Again, when those things happen, Auburn has lost by 7 and 10. Imagine the score if just one less turnover happened. Imagine the score if there was one less drive-extending miraculous play.
As I tweeted the other day, with many smart people understanding the quirky truth of it and idiots that hate life hating it: maybe Auburn is actually pretty good to have that much go against them and still only lose by 7 and 10?
The life-haters will claim it’s because Auburn played “terrible teams.” I’m not saying Arkansas and Cal are Alabama and Georgia, but the ones wanting to extend their self-made agenda are acting like it’s UL-Monroe and San Jose Tech. Both of these teams are 3-1, and Arkansas took Top 15 Oklahoma State to overtime on the road.
Auburn should’ve beaten both. In no way am I denying that. But sometimes you don’t. The simple thing is blame the guy with the ball. But as we’ve seen, it can be the ones without the ball, too. There’s some silly stuff going on right now. I can’t be sure that it’s all on the universe, but I know the universe (and math) will correct it.
Oklahoma is coming to town, it’s time to correct the course.
