Auburn's schedule anything but daunting?

I doubt Tommy T will get a ride off the field after 2009's announced nonconference opponent

Auburn had a big announcement of a future nonconference foe that will be visiting Jordan-Hare Stadium. A team that has won national championships. You say USC, again.

Nope. Try Furman.

Josh Moon's Sunday column bears reading because it is based on the adage: "those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it."

Auburn, which was denied from a berth in the title game in 2004 because of a I-AA (I refuse to use the subdivision classifications that the NCAA uses now) opponent on the schedule, is going right back into its old ways as far as scheduling.

This year's game against West Virginia is an exception to that rule.

When it comes time to play the pansies, think it through.

Why play Furman or The Citadel? If you're going to play a (formerly) I-AA opponent, why not go after an in-state opponent, like Alabama State, Alabama A&M or Jacksonville State? Do something good for the state. That would at least make the paying fans feel a little less robbed.

Of course, what would make them feel great about all of it is if AU wouldn't waste their time. That's what a game against Furman is -- a complete waste of time. It's also a waste of chalk and perfectly good sod.

Look, I understand that SEC teams play a brutal conference schedule. Even in 2004, when voters were discounting AU's case for a national championship because it played The Citadel, the Tigers still played more ranked opponents and had a stronger schedule than USC and Oklahoma.

But at the same time, Auburn learned a harsh lesson that year -- college football is all about perception and appearances.

Because you're not winning championships on the field. You're winning them in the minds of voters.

And in 2004, those voters were able to discredit the accomplishments of one of the best teams the SEC has ever seen based partly on the fact that a (formerly) I-AA opponent was on the schedule.

And yet, not four years later, here's Furman on the schedule.

There's a term for doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Read the rest here.

Les Miles has best week ever?

Photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING/BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE

Les Miles scores some cheap shots against archrival Nick Saban and picks up an OL commit from Alabama of all places.

Les Miles couldn't resist yet another poke at former LSU coach Nick Saban.

Miles tossed some other uncooked morsels at the crowd, too. For example, he managed a quick slight of Alabama when discussing how tough it is to play in the Southeastern Conference and how the 2008 slate includes trips to Auburn and Florida as well as hosting Georgia.

There was no question the attendees still bask in last November's victory over former LSU head coach and Tide boss Nick Saban, and Miles brought down the house when he urged the faithful "not to make too much of that game as it seems like a lot of teams in Louisiana beat that team," referencing Alabama's shocking subsequent loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

Read the rest here.

Saban's Tide travels to Baton Rouge on November 8. It oughta be fun!

In other news, Miles got pretty excited about an OL commit from the Dothan area, Josh Williford. Maybe a little too excited about the three-star prospect on Scout.

After informing Miles during a mid-afternoon meeting, Williford said, "He jumped out of his chair and hollered. I'm not sure exactly what he said. He welcomed me to the (LSU) family and gave me a hug and gave my mom a hug."

Williford is LSU's fifth commitment from an offensive lineman and the 10th overall from out of state.

Read the rest here. Read about him here and here.