Dusty Thibodeaux – an Auburn native, left for then Northeast Louisiana, now University of Louisiana Monroe. A 2x Warhawk with two sheets of paper to prove it. Dusty is the owner, publisher, and everything else for WarhawkReport.com since 1999. New venture that started three years ago is the now syndicated podcast – FunBelt Podcast that covers all of the Sun Belt Conference. FWAA member and All-American voter, his only goal is eventually be a Heisman Trophy voter.
1. What are UL-Monroe fans’ first thoughts on Auburn football at this very moment?
Could and should be a winnable game, but with the ULM offense not being around the past few weeks, it’s a steep up-hill battle.
2. What’s the mood like in Monroe for this probably better-than-expected football team?
Disappointment honestly. Vegas odds were 1.5 wins on the season, but the fans have forgotten that key fact under 1st year Head Coach Bryant Vincent. This is straight house money now, but it will sting if the season ends 5-7, knowing there are a few games that just slipped.
3. Who are your two favorite Auburn Tigers of all time and why?
Football wise – Fred Beasley, FB/RB and Daniel Carson – K. Beasley was a beast on the field and I still remember him going Bo over the Top on several scores. Carson was the kicker that started the trend of the fake flip, taking the flip from the holder for a fake field goal. Baseball – how can you not love Timmy Hud. His debut pitching was being called in from the outfield with whispers of this being some little league move – and EVERYONE was wrong about that. Basketball – Moochie Norris – brought the swag back to Auburn basketball helping them to land in the NIT.
4. Who are two Warhawks that Auburn fans should look out for and why?
Billy Pullen – defensive end/LB hybrid. Pullen is the team’s leader in sacks and is a constant ball hawk, always in position to make the big play. Offensively, true-freshman Ahmad Hardy. Top 20 in the NCAA for rushing yards, and top 5 for YAC. He’s the real deal!!
5. Who are two Tigers that worry you and why?
KeAndre Lambert-Smith – big receiving threat for the Tiger that could exploit the ULM secondary for the big play. Keldric Faulk – 7 sacks means he knows his way into the back field.
6. Where do you see each team having a decided advantage?
Auburn – it’s at home and Auburn is a wounded animal and that’s the most dangerous kind. ULM – there’s no expectations to do anything more than go and play the game – as stated earlier, it’s house money, everything else is just lagniappe.
7. What’s the best case and worst case situation for the Warhawks?
Best case – Win. Worst case – injuries mount which impacts the remaining Sun Belt slate of games.
8. What’s your score prediction and analysis for this game?
ULM has struggled offensively, so points are hard to come by. The defense has not been the same the second half of the season, with that in mind, maybe this is the game where the 134 mentality comes back and they play like they have nothing to lose or they just continue to play like #134.
9. Where will Auburn and ULM end up this season?
Love New Orleans and love the thought of having the Warhawks in the NOLA Bowl, although with just one bowl game in the program’s history….I would take any game, any place.
As for Auburn – you gotta hope this is bottom and Freeze rights the ship to get the Tigers back in contention for a trip to Atlanta, but there’s a lot of pieces and questions to know for sure what’s next.
10. Let’s talk about Terry Bowden. Go.
He loves Coca-Cola, Winn-Dixie, and Golden Flake – he had the Warhawks on the upswing…until an assistant coach left for a CUSA school and took the staff and about half the roster. That pretty much sealed his fate of not being able to move the needle forward and it’s a shame since there was some glimmer of hope when you saw the full potential by beating the likes of Liberty, South Alabama, and Louisiana-Lafayette.
