Maybe the Tiger's early season sprint to a 6-1 record and a win over Florida raised expectations too high, but the Tigers' 1-4 finish was ugly. They did not just lose, but they looked bad in doing so. What is scary is how close the Tigers came to losing 5 additional games - Ole Miss, Miss State, Vanderbilt!, Louisiana Tech!!, and Georgia. With all the wrong breaks, this could have been a 2-9 team. The other losses, the Tigers played like a 2-9 team. We did not look like we deserved to be on the same field with Syracuse, Arkansas and Alabama.
Given all of that we need to remember just how young this team was and how much off the 2000 squad did not play - especially the offense. Daniel Cobb and Jason Campbell were both somewhat disappointing in their development as quarterbacks, but with both coming back in 2002, as will most of the team, things should improve.
The best player we lose in 2002 is our kicker Damon Duval, but I hear Philip Yost is at least adequate and looks to improve as he gets experience. We still have most of our receiving corps and backs, but our offensive line will need to be rebuilt losing a few including Kendell Simmons.
The defense is also young and should improve. Experience will keep teams from sneaking up on us like Syracuse and Arkansas did with unfamilair offenses.
I don't think "The Jungle" ever caught on with the Auburn fans. The team played more like it was a Jungle Gym the last part of the season, anyway.
I see Tuberville where DuBose was at the time he fired a few of his asistants. That is the first straw. If things don't improve and if we lose at home to Alabama in 2003, he should be afraid of his job security, IMHO.