Auburn Football All-Access Podcast

What went wrong in the Outback Bowl, and looking to 2020 Despite Bowl games which are not part of the college football playoff being, in some ways, not overly meaningful to a season, the manner in which Gus Malzahn’s Auburn team appeared unprepared and less motivated in the 31-24 loss to Minnesota unavoidably dims the luster off the impressive 48-45 Iron Bowl win over archrival Alabama. Join cohosts Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the discussion, and a look ahead to what will surely be a critical year for Malzahn now eight years into his tenure at Auburn. Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Auburn Tiger fans in the Christmas (and New Year’s Day Bowl!) spirit! Join cohosts Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for a spirited Christmas edition of the Auburn Football All-Access Podcast show! The stocking stuffers for banter include favorite Christmas movies, the very promising Gus Malzahn hiring of offensive coordinator Chad Morris, the outstanding group of early signing day recruits, the overall vibe of Auburn football, and more! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Riding high off an epic 48-45 Iron Bowl win, the Tigers look to a New Year’s Day matchup with the Minnesota Golden Gophers For residents of the great state of Alabama, hailing in the Christmas holidays with Iron Bowl bragging rights makes spirits brighter and smiles bigger, to be sure. Having put the wraps on a solid, albeit not magical, 9-3 season, the Auburn Tigers now prepare for an interesting New Year’s Day Outback Bowl matchup with charismatic head coach P. J. Fleck’s Minnesota Golden Gophers.  This will be the second straight Auburn Bowl match with a Big Ten team, having boat-raced the Purdue Boilermakers last year. Join Coach Ray and Doug Dean for the banter, including a final return “victory lap” look at the EPIC 2019 Iron Bowl! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

In one of the more electric Iron Bowls of all time, the Tigers get it done! Epic, historic praise for the Iron Bowl rivalry is hardly anything new.  But are you kidding me?  An outrageous TEN lead changes, a mind-numbing THIRTY EIGHT points scored in merely the last 5:47 of the 2nd quarter between the teams, TWO pick sixes by the Auburn defense – one an Iron Bowl record 100 yard pick six in the 3rd quarter, a kickoff return by Bama’s Jaylen Waddle for a TD, a near decapitation of Bama’s best tackler, McKinney, by diminutive RB Shaun Shivers for Auburn’s go-ahead TD.  And a perfect FIVE field goals outside 40 yards by Auburn kicker Anders Carlson, the game MVP. WOW, this Iron Bowl had it ALL.  And not to mention a DOINK 30-yard field goal by Bama’s Joe Bulovas with 2:00 left which would have tied the game, followed by a brilliant Gus Malzahn 4th down scheme which duped “greatest of all-time head coach” Nick Saban into a game-ending substitution penalty which bailed the Tigers out of punting to game-breaking returner, Jaylen Waddle. Don’t miss the fun, hilarity, and analysis of the Auburn 48  Bama 45 Iron Bowl, which was an instant classic! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Can the Auburn Tigers wreck Bama’s college football playoff hopes? Sure, it’s Thanksgiving week, but here in the deep South, particularly in the state of Alabama, it’s IRON BOWL week, as the Auburn Tigers prepare to host 5th ranked Alabama in Jordan-Hare Stadium this Saturday, November 30th.  The game is very possibly a “play-in” game for the Tide, depending on how this Saturday’s final regular season and a week later, the conference championship games go, particularly in the Utah vs Oregon and LSU vs Georgia title games.  Playoff guru Heather Dinich believes that Nick Saban’s 1-loss Bama team – due to a shaky at best “resume” in schedule difficulty – must “crush” Auburn in order to sway voters.  WHAT? The term “crush” or “dominate” has at NO point this season been used to describe Auburn’s three losses which were to # 1 ranked LSU (23-20), Georgia (21-14), and Florida in close one in the Swamp.  The Auburn defense simply doesn’t let you breathe offensively to light up the scoreboard. So Bama plans to accomplish that with star QB Tua Tagovailoa out and backup QB Mac Jones trying to solve this elite Auburn defense? Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the fun and analysis on this monster rivalry week, and even grab a couple of holiday culinary tips from “Chef Ray”! Happy Thanksgiving! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Auburn’s offensive woes cost it another big SEC game Given the opportunity to take on # 4 ranked archrival Georgia in the rabid confines of Jordan-Hare stadium, the Auburn Tigers’ defense delivered a winning performance, stuffing Georgia with a remarkable NINE “three and out’s” on offense, and in the 4th quarter, suffocating the Bulldogs’ offense to a paltry 4 total yards. Surely that would be plenty to deliver what would be a very big Amen Corner win?  Unfortunately, it was not, as the continuing woes and lack of a consistent, planned “identity” on Coach Gus Malzahn’s 2019 offense was the culprit, as the Tigers were stuffed for zero points through the first three quarters.  And although the offense caught fire in the final quarter to close the score to 21-14, they again came up short as Bo Nix was unable to deliver on critical plays down the stretch. Up next, a likely breather game against Samford, and then, the 83rd edition of the Iron Bowl on November 30, 2019. Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Can the Auburn Tigers make November, 2019 a month to remember? Amen Corner, as former Auburn Coach Pat Dye dubbed the Georgia and Alabama rivalry games of late November, has arrived on the Plains in Auburn.  With the college football playoff committee’s ranking of LSU as the # 1 ranked team coming off of their emotional 46-41 road win over the Crimson Tide, the national  – and SEC country – discussion centers heavily around one team which has the opportunity to be a November dream wrecker. The Auburn Tigers’ only two losses, as it turns out, have been in the Swamp against a # 11 ranked Florida Gator team, and by the score of 23-20 against the # 1 ranked team in all of college football. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the analysis of the hugely important renewal of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, # 4 ranked Georgia vs # 12 ranked Auburn, Jordan-Hare stadium, November 16, 2019.

In the wake of the crushing loss in Baton Rouge, Auburn still has huge games ahead The Auburn Tigers turned in what would be considered one of the more brilliant defensive game plans and efforts in Baton Rouge, holding the juggernaut LSU offense to a mere 24 points, half of their eye-popping season average of 50 points.  And that is precisely what will sting about the loss, as once again in a big road game, the Auburn offense sputtered, stumbled, and could find little rhythm or success.  Nonetheless, the Tigers’ found themselves down only 23-20 with a desperation shot at an onsides kick with two minutes left, which came up short. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the discussion, and how Auburn must rally in a hurry as some huge games remain, all of which will be in home Jordan-Hare stadium.

Auburn must be road warriors to end 20-year drought in Baton Rouge The stakes simply do not get any higher in a midseason SEC West tilt between the # 2 and # 9 ranked LSU and Auburn Tigers this Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge. LSU is riding extremely high with the nation’s most potent aerial attack, an oddity to even say in the same breath as “LSU”.  Meanwhile, Auburn just may have a mad on as they recently are mentioned at best as an afterthought to contend for the SEC title and playoff selection. Can Malzahn and Kevin Steele bring a smart, bold plan that knocks LSU back on their heels, and sets up this weekend’s big stunner? Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the analysis!

How Gus Malzahn’s staff must use the Arkansas road game to ready for the brutal home stretch In the wake of the bitter – and entirely avoidable – 24-13 loss to the Florida Gators in the Swamp, what lies ahead now for Gus Malzahn’s 5-1 Auburn Tigers is nothing short of a bloody gauntlet which includes a road trip to face currently undefeated LSU in Death Valley, and November home sweet home stands against an improving Ole Miss, Georgia, and # 1 ranked Alabama. The first order of business coming off the open date is to take care of business in FayetteNam, against a Razorbacks team that fought the Aggies hard, but has more problems on both sides of the ball than they’re likely to fix against an elite Auburn defense, and capable Tigers offense. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the analysis! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

How must Auburn use the open date to correct the problems exposed in The Swamp? Few football season open dates have come at a better time than this one for Gus Malzahn’s Auburn team, coming off the bitter “one that got away” against Florida in the Swamp, and dealing with the injury of bell cow running back Boobee Whitlow. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the banter!

Here We Go Again, 25 Years Later: Battle of Undefeated’s in The Swamp In a curious twist of fate, the undefeated and 7th ranked Auburn Tigers will head to Florida Field in Gainesville, aka “The Swamp” to take on the 10th ranked and also undefeated Florida Gators. The last time this happened was exactly 25 years ago, as then Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix led the Tigers to a stunning 36-33 upset of # 1 ranked Florida, who was a 16-point favorite at home. This Saturday, the Tigers will again be led by a QB named Nix, whose father and high school coach, Patrick, will watch on from the stands. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the analysis of the clear-cut college football headliner this Saturday, October 5th! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Surging 4-0 Auburn Tigers return home to settle score with Miss. State The consensus pundit opinion of Auburn’s stunning 28-20 victory over the Texas A&M Aggies last Saturday was that Gus Malzahn and his staff flat out laid the wood to Jimbo Fisher and Co in the coaching department.  It was as problematic a loss for the $75 Million man, Fisher, as it was a huge road win for Malzahn, whose surging Tigers are now ranked 7th in the AP Poll and in the conversation as the team with the current best resume as the college football playoff committee might tend to evaluate it. The big challenge this week is to get the team back to earth, and to that end, Malzahn has trumpeted early and often his recollection of what he called the “embarrassing” loss in Starkville a year ago as the Tigers prepare to face 3-1 Mississippi State in a 6:00 p.m. kickoff in Jordan-Hare this Saturday. Join cohosts Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the discussion! Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Undefeated Auburn takes its show on the road to College Station As both Auburn and Texas A&M enter SEC league play this week, this game is considered the prime time headliner in the CBS 2:30 p.m. CST spot, as it promises to be contested deep into the fourth quarter.  While it may at least technically not be considered a “must win” for either team should they have hopes to win the SEC West title, if you study both teams’ brutal remaining schedules, go ahead and call it “must win”.   In fact, this game pits arguably the two teams with the toughest football schedules in all of college football. And for both head coaches, the fact of their compensation is not lost on them, as Fisher’s guaranteed $75 M and Malzahn’s lucrative contract were not “invested” for a mere return of being “decent” every year.  Contending for titles is the expectation, else the seat begins to grow as hot as an August in Alabama. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for analysis of keys to this game, and how both coaching staffs will opt to play it on both sides of the ball in hopes of getting off to a winning start in conference play.  Intro music provided by Royalty Free Music: https://www.youtube.com/royaltyfreezone Music used: For You King by Ender Güney https://www.youtube.com/c/NCMEpicMusic Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…

Auburn Sitting Pretty 2-0, 8th in the nation, or are they? Ah, such is the glorious reality of college football, right?  Is that spectacular wine glass half FULL?  Or are my eyes fooling me, and it’s half EMPTY in merely week two of the 2019 college football season? Metaphorically, speaking, of course.. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for analysis of exactly where the Auburn Tigers sit week three of the college football season, with arguably the best defense in the SEC, yet an offense which has Auburn fans frustrated and befuddled given that this is head coach Gus Malzahn’s seventh season.

Coach Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers Start the 2019 Campaign with a Bang While it is usually ill-advised to open your college football season against a top-15 opponent, if you find a way to escape with a win, it can inject a big dose of confidence for your team. That was exactly the case as the Auburn Tigers overcame a slow start, their defense ultimately lived up to billing, and TRUE freshman QB Bo Nix was able to deliver a game-winning strike to WR Seth Williams with only 9 seconds on the clock to seal a 27-21 Auburn win! Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the analysis!

Are you ready for some football? As in, the huge Auburn vs Oregon matchup? For most college football coaches, the textbook wisdom would hold that you schedule the Fighting Sisters of the Poor as your opening game to avoid a blemish on your record right out of the gate. So what does Auburn do for Gus Malzahn in this, a critical must win season, with the head coach starting a true freshman at QB?  Book an opening game with the 11th ranked Oregon Ducks, who will be starting the odds on first round QB draft in Justin Herbert. But Malzahn appears to be embracing this opportunity for his Auburn team, who most pundits believe to have the first or second toughest schedule in all of college football. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean for the analysis, as we kick yet another joyous season of college football here in the Deep South!

Fall camp heats up as Auburn prepares for the Oregon Ducks In an August 31st game which is clearly the most significant prime time opening weekend game, the Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks will face off in “JerryWorld”.  While the game may not be technically a “must win” for either head coach, Mario Cristobal or Gus Malzahn, it comes about as close to it as possible if you study the team schedules and gauge the temperature on Malzahn’s proverbial hot seat. Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean as they kick off the football podcasting season, with the huge season opener a mere 17 days out!

On a Saturday night, Memorial Day weekend, May 25th, 2019, tragedy struck in a two car accident, taking the lives of Auburn legendary play-by-play announcer Rod Bramblett, and his wife, Paula. Join show cohosts Coach John Ray and Doug Dean as they fondly remember the life and brilliant impact of Rod Bramblett, the “voice of the Auburn Tigers” since 2003, and for 10 years prior to that calling Auburn baseball.

Join Coach John Ray and Doug Dean with an in-depth discussion of the apparent strengths and weaknesses for Gus Malzahn’s 2019 Auburn football team. While the focus among fans is naturally the competition at QB, there appears to be an embarrassment of riches at a few other positions.