Fans everywhere had one thing in common - it can't get any worse. Whether or not that is true is debatable- ask LSU. However, most everyone, including myself hoped for a near-breakeven year. This team held together pretty well through the ups and downs of the season. It was usually exciting, at least. We started with a near upset of titantic proportions against a pretty good 1-AA Appy State team - they came in with a good attitude and nearly held on for the upset. This game essentially ended the football career of Gabe Gross, but as I predicted, he decided to focus on Baseball - the sport he will play for money very soon.
The Idaho game almost slipped away in the end, but the game began to show that Ben Leard would be the QB to lead the Tigers to success. LSU was an exciting one to watch - the trick TD on a FG attempt was one of the Riverboat Gambler's few successes this season as a risk taker. It definitely kept the momentum in our favor.
Losing Ben Leard during the winnable Ole Miss game was a tough break. It turns out that the missed Duval FG alone was enough to cost us the Independence Bowl, but that's football. (I once missed the Dean's list at Auburn by missing one multiple choice question on one test in one subject.) Close only counts in horseshoes. Jeff Klein took the reigns during our October losing streak. But I think he played admirably against very stiff competition. Notice our defeats that month came to teams who are in the Fiesta, Peach, Citrus and Cotton Bowls. We played Tennessee tough for 3 quarters and Mississippi State tough for 57 minutes.
The Central Florida win was expected, but it took a last quarter rally to do it. This was Jeff Klein's only victory as he had to fill in again after Leard's return to action in the Arkansas game was short lived - another bad break on a rainy day in Fayetteville.
The Georgia game was even more exciting than the LSU game - they were a highly ranked team with a highly touted QB (who still has not won a big game, BTW). It was a bit scary to see us come close to blowing a 38 point lead, but the defense nailed the coffin shut in this one.
The Bama game showed a lot of heart. We played this team - a very good one - very well until the 4th quarter. We simply did not have the depth to keep up against Samuels blocking and Alexander's running. Losing to 'Bama at home was a shame, but it would be nice to return the favor in Tuscaloosa in 2000.
The defense played very well most of the season - especially the front four led by Carson and Brumbough. Lincoln had the only defensive TD of the year at Linebacker and the secondary played well most of the time as well led by Casher and Pate. I thought the defense had a few breakdowns that allowed some big plays and they allowed several huge fourth quarters. Depth will solve this - unfortunately 9 seniors leave after this year.
The offense had one star - Ronney Daniels (who was just named SEC Offensive Freshman of the year) who really came to the forefront as a wide receiver. He helped establish Ben Leard as a very good QB. Leard is not extremely mobile or adaptable, but when given time to throw he is deadly and he picked apart LSU and Georgia and played well in other games. Our running back situ was disappointing. Myself and many others have been screaming for Heath Evans since last year, but it took trials by Rusty Williams and Clifton Robinson before he was given a chance. He may prove to be an excellent back before he leaves.
Our kicking situation was inconsistent. Duval was a good punter and he made some good FG's but he proved to be unreliable in the big kicks. He was also a behavorial thorn in Tuberville's side all season. Look for him to be just a punter next year and for a JUCO kicker to start as the placekicker.
Coaching is the hardest thing to pinpoint, because the position coaches have the most individual player influence, but the Head coach is responsible for everything and for advising his staff. Tuberville's staff was mostly familiar to him so the chemistry certainly should have not been a problem. I thought the staff had some successes and some failures. There were a few ill-timed gambles I question, but overall, the reports I hear are that the players are happy, they believe in the system and they are ready to move forward. That's probably the best indicator of good coaching.
In summary, we moved up 2 wins this year - a repeat improvement next year or maybe an 8-3 is not out of the question. I hope things work out well in the recruting and the off season to make this happen.
Summary - look to next year