Iron Bowl gives Auburn chance to play spoiler

Nov 25, 2008 - 8:21 PM By Jim Ralabate PA SportsTicker College Football Editor

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Tommy Tuberville has become accustomed to beating Alabama.

If Auburn's embattled head coach finds a way to defeat the Crimson Tide this year, he might just save his job.

Tuberville and the disappointing Tigers will face arguably their toughest challenge this season Saturday when they visit Nick Saban and the undefeated, top-ranked Crimson Tide in the 73rd edition of the Iron Bowl.

For Auburn, this annual rivalry game represents and opportunity to atone for an awful season and become bowl eligible.

For Tuberville, who has guided the Tigers to six consecutive victories over Alabama, the contest constitutes his final chance to appease the rabid fan base that has dogged him for the last five years.

Tuberville, who will be on the sideline for his 10th Iron Bowl this weekend, found himself on the proverbial hot seat at the end of the 2003 season, when his Tigers limped into the Alabama game with a 6-5 record.

But Auburn posted a 28-23 victory - its second straight in the series - and Tuberville more than regained his job security the following season when he coached the Tigers to a perfect 13-0 record.

Since the undefeated 2004 campaign, the Tigers have gotten steadily worse under Tuberville, who has seen his team gradually slip into mediocrity in the SEC.

That mediocrity has turned to ineptitude this year, as Auburn will enter the Iron Bowl with a losing record for the first time since 1998 - the year before Tuberville arrived.

"We look at this season as one that didn't go our way and is not near what we would have wanted it to be when we started out," said Tuberville, whose team owned the No. 11 preseason ranking.

Since climbing as high as ninth in the national polls, the Tigers (5-6) have lost six of their last eight games, once again placing Tuberville on the hot seat.

The criticism certainly has been justified, as Auburn returned the majority of its starters from a 2007 team that finished 9-4 after winning the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

But the Tigers' new spread offense stalled under first-year coordinator Tony Franklin, who was unceremoniously fired by Tuberville in early October.

The surprising decision to fire Franklin after just six games has backfired, as Auburn has gone just 1-4 since Tuberville decided to assume the offensive play-calling.

The Tigers likely will have another offensive struggle on their hands against Alabama, which boasts the third-ranked defense in the FBS and allows only 12.5 points per game.

But the statistics - and the records - generally get thrown out the window when these rivals take the field.

"It'll be a tough assignment for us, but we feel like we've got a good game plan," Tuberville said. "It's a rival game like no other. It means so much to the fans on both sides. Obviously, there's a lot riding on the game this week."

There certainly is a lot riding on this Iron Bowl - like the BCS standings ... and Tuberville's job.

THE BAD, THE WORSE AND THE UGLY: Every week, PA SportsTicker's college football staff will sort and rank the worst 10 teams in the country. Only BCS conference schools are eligible for this prestigious poll:

1. Washington (0-11) - New unanimous No. 1 as the only winless team in the FBS.

2. Washington State (2-10) - Fell from the top spot after double-OT win over the Huskies in the (Rotten) Apple Cup.

3. Michigan (3-9) - Punctuated worst season in school with stinker against Ohio State.

4. Iowa State (2-10) - Went winless in Big 12; will Gene Chizik still be around next season?

5. Indiana (3-9) - Ended forgettable season with nine losses in last 10 games.

6. Notre Dame (6-5) - Should change name to "Notre Shame" after home loss to Syracuse.

7. Syracuse (3-8) - Plummeted in poll after last-second win in South Bend.

8. Duke (4-7) - Need to beat UNC to avoid ending once-promising season with five-game losing streak.

9. Tennessee (4-7) - Will look to send Phillip Fulmer out on high note against Kentucky.

10. Texas A&M (4-7) - Will be hard-pressed to upset Texas again.

Also receiving votes: Arkansas, Mississippi State, Purdue, Kansas State, Baylor, UCLA.

WEEKLY WEIS WATCH: Few people expected that Notre Dame could sink any lower this year after going 3-9 last season under Charlie Weis.

But that's exactly what happened this past weekend in South Bend, where the Fighting Irish dropped a 24-23 decision to lowly Syracuse.

With Weis calling the plays for a second straight week, Notre Dame's offense continually stalled in the fourth quarter as the Irish squandered a 23-10 lead to one of the worst programs in the country.

Even more embarrassing was the fact that several Notre Dame players were pelted with snowballs by their own fans.

And all this on a day when Notre Dame reportedly was showcasing its program to several recruits.

The buzzards officially are circling Mr. Weis.

Question or comment? E-mail james.ralabate@pa-sportsticker.com.