Auburn Tigers News

While Alabama will be a heavy favorite in next week's Iron Bowl, history says that not always the best team wins. This story takes a look.

Sporting News' Matt Hayes analyzes what Thursday's buzz means to college football. Replay madness If only college football were so simplistic. Ireland challenged France to replay a World Cup qualifying match after television replays clearly showed a French player touching the ball with his hand (an obvious no-no for the soccer ignorant) during an assist of a goal that gave France a 2-1 aggregate victory. FIFA has ruled out any prospect of a replay, but that hasn't stopped Ireland assistant... manager Liam Brady from throwing down the gauntlet: "Do you want to play the game in Paris? We'll play in Paris," he said. Imagine if, instead of choosing his words carefully, Les Miles stepped to the podium two weeks ago and said, "I challenge Nick Saban to a rematch. We'll go right back out there now and replay the last six minutes, starting with the LSU team getting the ball, first-and-10 at the 31." Or Bill Stewart challenging Brian Kelly: "Now, Bri, we both know that ball was fumbled. Let's do the right thing by these folks who paid good money, and go back out there and play a couple of overtimes." Or Bill Lynch to Rich Rodriguez: "You've got to be @#$%! kidding me. How can they make that @^%$@! call? You're getting your team on that @#$%! field right now." Self promotion Ben, babe, it's all about choosing the right time to make a statement. One week before the biggest game of your season? Not the right moment. So Auburn's Ben Tate thinks he's best tailback in the state of Alabama. That, of course, means he believes he's better than Alabama star Mark Ingram, who has more yards and more catches than Tate—and is the leader for that bronze trophy. Tate is part of a program in the middle of a rehab; Ingram's team could be playing for the national title. "I know I'm the best back in the state," Tate told reporters recently. Here's a little news for Tate: He may not be the second-best back in the state. Because I'm not sure Ingram is the best back on his own team. At the very least, Alabama freshman Trent Richardson has pushed Ingram enough to get 91 carries this season as a backup. A top-five recruit nationally last year, Richardson would start for most Division I programs—including the nation's No. 1 team, Florida. So go ahead and thump your chest, Big Ben. At least there will be some intrigue in the Iron Bowl. Judge and jury Seems as though we've finally found a solution to the Cincinnati quarterback quandary: a judge with a grudge. A judge in Cincinnati threatened Bearcats quarterback Zach Collaros with jail time if he doesn't immediately begin a court-ordered program on the dangers of underage drinking. Collaros, now 21, was 20 when he was accused of showing a fake ID at a bar. Judge Bernie Bouchard told Collaros he has until Dec. 7 to begin the diversionary program or face jail time. The max time he could receive: 180 days. I've got to think that part of Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly—a no-frills, accountability-first coach—had to like the way Bouchard treated Collaros. The judge's order will do more to keep Collaros focused amid his newfound fame than anything Kelly could have done. Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.more>>

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