Auburn doing Auburn things.
Let me start by saying War Damn Eagle. For this is not going to be a pleasant article.
Ah, our Auburn Tigers - fierce, proud, and apparently allergic to any form of sustained success. This game was a throwback game....not a good throwback... but one to the last few seasons. In a flashback inducing display of missed opportunities and questionable play-calling, Auburn once again managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against a much lesser team in the Cal Bears.
For the fans that were expecting a powerhouse SEC performance, you were treated to a masterclass in how to hand over a game with gift-wrapped turnovers and baffling penalties both for and against us. Because who among us Auburn faithful doesn't love a good, old fashioned meltdown under the bright lights of national television to a much lesser opponent.
Auburn caught a break on a near fumble to open the game. That led to beautiful touchdown catch with KLS getting his feet down on an odd play to get the first score of the game about five minutes into it. It was downhill from there.
Folks, we can't even claim it was against a good team. This was barely a step up from New Mexico State. Cal is not that good a football team. They might be a six to seven win team in the ACC. Considering there aren't many of us that can name most of the ACC teams without cheating, thats a bad thing.
Freeze and company met their goal- if their goal was to confuse their own team and the Auburn fans. I am imagining meetings this past week where they were pulling plays out of a hat (offensively and defensively) and saying "just keep trying them with no adjustments and what the hell, throw in a few just-wing-its in there for decoration." And Thorne? A true beacon of indecision. I am not exactly sure, until I watch film, if he spent more time staring down defenders to throw the ball at or laying on his back because the offensive line (especially the tight-ends) whiffed on blocks. He did find a lot of wide open defensive backs either way.
I love my Auburn Tigers, as many of you do. However, at some point Auburn's game plan cannot be just to try to lull teams into a false sense of security by how good we are at wasting talent. It is an avant-garde approach to coaching, truly, but it is not working.
The defense finally made some adjustments in the second half. They played solidly for most of it. Eventually, everything wears out, and they did as well, allowing a long rushing touchdown to a team that had a hard time moving the ball against a FCS team last week. Still, I cannot heap too much praise on the defense after they spent the entire first half making an un-recruited kid play quarterback like Tom Brady had a love child with Brett Farve. Even on special teams play was mediocre at best. This was a bad game guys. It was bad all around. I hate it for us, the fans. We deserve better. I do not have an answer. I will watch film, as hard as that will be to stomach, and give a full wrap up on Monday.
In the end, Auburn's loss to Cal wasn't just a defeat. It was an instructional guide on how to unravel in every phase of the game. For now, at least this week is over and we can all rest easy knowing Freeze has mastered the art of turning potential into unadulterated frustration.
That being said, we love our Tigers. We will be back next week to cheer them on again. Why not click the HERE and buy a new piece of Barner gear to make yourself feel better. Always remember, it could be worse, we could be Notre Dame fans. Also, we are undefeated in SEC play. So, we have that going for us. Might as well look stylish while we suffer. Give @BarnerSupply a follow to keep up with merchandise updates.
I should also add in, our team to be a fan of by proxy due to a beloved Auburn fan's child going there, also felt the sting today, when No. 1 Georgia downed the Golden Eagles, 48-3. Get home safe all. It is rough out there.
Matthew Jacobs is an experienced sports writer who has joined Barner Supply as the managing editor, bringing with him a rich background in sports journalism. With a career spanning major outlets like Sports Illustrated and ESPN, Matthew has built a reputation for insightful coverage of teams across the Southeast. His deep dives into the Auburn Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Memphis Grizzlies, and Tennessee Titans have earned him a loyal following, known for his sharp analysis and engaging storytelling. At Barner Supply, Matthew looks forward to continuing his tradition of excellence, delivering compelling stories and expert commentary to a more focused audience. He can be found on 𝕏 @Mindful_Legacy
