Tiger Eye Review – Film Noir Edition
So the first week of the 2020 Southeastern Conference football season is officially in the history books, and what a weekend it was. No fewer than three teams threw for over 400 yards in a game, and the two teams from the state of Mississippi combined for over a thousand yards of passing in a single afternoon, after each team averaged less than 200 yards per game all last year. Kyle Trask threw for more yards last Saturday than any Florida quarterback has thrown since Tim Tebow suited up and came within just 39 yards of eclipsing even that player’s best game. Offensive power football has definitely entered conference play.
Or has it?
Because what I’m seeing in the numbers this week is an entirely different story line. One that is filled with what the Tiger Eye Preview last week anticipated might be the case at least in several of the games. Miscues, penalties, turnovers, poor discipline, new coaching staffs, new players, lack of preparation all impacted various teams throughout the league in such a way that to take the yardage numbers at face value may prove to be an illusion.
Like a film noir classic, what has been presented this week is a version of SEC football with artificially contrasting divisions between light and dark, lacking all subtlety or depth of focus. We only see the bold, sharp lines and deep, soul-crushing shadows wherein madness dwells, ready to snatch us from the what little light is available. To delve deep into that shadowy gloom is the role of the grim, practical and cynical detective. One whose worldliness and world weariness allow him to slip in and out of the shadows, whose ingenuity transcends the law and tip-toes on the razor’s edge of legality but who’s soul is still untarnished and true.
What is needed is a Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe: a sort of a Tiger “Private Eye Review,” if you will.
That is why I’m choosing for this year’s Tiger-Eye Review theme the gritty, darkly cynical world of post World War II Hollywood classic crime novellas and story lines where every frame of every picture is a study of contrast and brilliance that few genres have shown before or since that entrancing golden age of cinema.
Come with me now into the shadowy backdrop and steamy streets and alleyways of the conference that never sleeps.
As always, the standards of excellence are below:
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Tigers Dump the Wildcats! (Grading Auburn’s 29-13 Win Over Kentucky)
Seth Williams Snatches a Touchdown!(AP Photo by Butch Dill) War Eagle everybody! It's time now for the Acid Reign Report on Auburn's season opening 29–13 win over the number 17 Kentucky Wildcats. Featuring veteran lines on both sides of the ball, Kentucky took the ball right at the Auburn Tigers and took their first dr... Read Full Story
Wax the Wildcats! (Auburn vs. Kentucky Open Thread)
A Sparse Seating Arrangement Is Ready(Photo courtesy Auburn Athletics) War Eagle, everybody! SEC football is back today, in full swing. This morning, the Auburn Tigers will host the Kentucky Wildcats at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This game will kick off at 11:00 AM Central Daylight Time and will be televised on the SEC Network... Read Full Story
It Finally Begins!
Auburn Must Shut Down Dual Threat Terry Wilson War Eagle, everybody! At long last, SEC opening-game week is here! It may be a shorter season, there may be fewer fans in the stands, and we certainly can't predict what the future holds. However, SEC football is back, and we are certainly glad. On Saturday morning, Septembe... Read Full Story
Tiger Eye Preview of the 2020 Season
In this strange, half-started season of college football, the Southeastern Conference finally begins play this week in closed session. As other conferences have shown, the extended protocols call for extraordinary measures that have changed the entire fan experience like few other events in history. Gone are such regular feature... Read Full Story
Shall We Play a Game?
I sometimes feel the future of the 2020 football season is like a new Cold War. If only for the war of words expressed to the press and public by various pundits, league Presidents, coaches and fans. It is an issue that strikes deep into the heart of the sport. The nature and variety of response to the Covid-19 phenomenon among ... Read Full Story
To Forgive, or Not to Forgive (that IS the question)–repost
With the news of Harvey Updyke's death, I hope I am keeping my promise.
Read Full StoryWhen Will College Sports Return?
The national pandemic has affected almost all of us in some way, including our coverage of Auburn Sports here at Track ‘Em Tigers. At the end of March, we announced in an article that there’s not much we can bring our readers due to the cancellation of all collegiate sports. In the interim, not much has changed in the sports... Read Full Story
Could There Really Be No College Football in 2020?
“The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” That’s the way legendary journalist Jim McKay used to introduce ABC’s popular TV show, The Wide World of Sports. I was reminded of the phrase this week when the Sumner Olympics were postponed.I’ve heard some friends say it’s almost agonizing to not have any sports to f... Read Full Story
Carolina May Rue the Day of Cam Newton’s Release
On Tuesday the Carolina Panthers released the winningest quarterback in the history of the franchise. Auburn’s 2010 national championship quarterback, Cam Newton, has been the face of the program since Carolina made him the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2011. Newton has had to deal with some health issues recently, but I’m not... Read Full Story
NCAA’s Decision to Cancel Championships Makes No Sense
This writer understands the need for caution when the CDC warns against large crowds. However, what I can’t understand is why couldn't the NCAA postpone the NCAA Tournament (and the other championships) till April or even May. If the threat is still there in a month or two, then a decision could be made at that time to cancel all championships.
Read Full StoryRegular Season Wrapup
Samir Doughty Was Deadly against the Vols War Eagle, everybody! Yesterday, Auburn wrapped up the basketball regular season with a resounding pummeling of the Tennessee Vols, 85-63, in Knoxville. The win came at a good time, breaking a 2-game losing streak, and giving the Tigers some momentum headed into the SEC Tourname... Read Full StoryAuburn Softball Looks for Answers after Struggling Mightily in Opening Weeks
The success of the Clint Myers era took Auburn softball from a mediocre SEC team to a national powerhouse almost overnight. The success led to Auburn becoming a nationally-recognized brand, earning invites to premier early season tournaments. Separated by mere days, Auburn played in Palm Springs, California and Clearwater, Flori... Read Full Story
Musings From The Plains—College Football Free Agency Edition
The NCAA inched a step closer to free agency this past week when the ACC joined the Big Ten Conference in support of allowing athletes to transfer to another school without losing a year of eligibility. Currently, football and basketball players must sit out a year before becoming eligible. The proposed change would do away with... Read Full Story
A Wild Week in Auburn Basketball!
Auburn Freshmen, Including Devan Cambridge, Really Stepped Up!(AP photo Julie Bennett) War Eagle, everybody! What a strange week in Auburn basketball. A week ago, a trip to the snow in Missouri, and a double digit loss, had us reeling with a huge headache. Then Auburn really stunk up the joint in Athens, Georgia at midwe... Read Full Story
Tigers On the Road at Missouri Today
Can the Tigers Win without Isaac Okoro? War Eagle, everybody! Today the Auburn Tigers leave the soggy south and head to Missouri Arena for a battle of Tigers. It has been a harrowing week of close Auburn wins, but it has not been without cost. The Tigers weathered a couple of hits at the forward positions, with Danjel Pu... Read Full Story
Auburn Baseball is Back – Tigers Win Opening Game in Front of Sellout Crowd
With chilly mornings and frost still on the ground, it’s hard to believe it's that time of year again. Yes, it’s time for America’s sport, at least on the college level. Baseball is back on the Plains. Auburn opened the 2020 season Saturday with a 5–3 win over Illinois-Chicago in front of a full house. Tanner Burns and... Read Full Story
After Buzzer Beater Comeback against LSU, Auburn Looks for Payback against Tide
There was a different feeling from Auburn basketball’s showdown versus LSU than last week’s take down of the Kentucky Wildcats. The showdown with Kentucky brought fanfare that accompanies blueblood teams and with it came College Gameday, a first for Auburn. The Kentucky game was the prime-time event, and though it was a hard... Read Full Story
A Football Look Ahead
What Will Auburn's Playing Rotation Look Like in 2020? War Eagle, everybody! National signing day has come and gone once again, and Auburn's roster for the season is now close to being set. In addition, this morning Auburn announced the hiring of Al Pogue as a defensive backs coach, so we now have a good idea who the on-... Read Full Story
Auburn Looks to Cap Off Strong Class on National Signing Day
Today is National Signing Day (NSD). Before 2017 it was a day of anticipation and even excitement for college football fans hungry for some football news in the offseason. That was before the NCAA instituted an early signing period. There is little doubt the drama has all but disappeared with the majority of top players on the b... Read Full Story
Tigers Put the Brakes on Kentucky!
Danjel Purifoy on the Defensive End(John Reed, USA TODAY Sports) War Eagle, everybody! The Auburn Tigers' mens basketball team got their first win over a top-25-ranked opponent yesterday, defeating the 13th-ranked Wildcats, 75–66. The win moved Auburn to 19–2 on the season, and the Tigers picked up a big signature wi... Read Full Story
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