Auburn’s phoenix-like 2016 season has been a wonder to behold. From the early uncertain hesitant play of September, to the full width and breadth of the season in October, the Tigers have been on a fiery arc of achievement that is breathtaking in its height, power and diversity. Every single facet of the team is showing outstanding ability, discipline and effort that goes far down the depth chart and past even the wildest hopes of the most sunshine pumping optimists of the preseason.
All future opponents remaining on the schedule save one that looked so formidable in the preseason have faded into obscurity, replaced by disappointing underachieving teams whose coaching staffs, new and old, are suddenly saying those dreaded mid-season phrases to their fan base like ‘rebuilding’, ‘reviewing all positions’ and ‘concentrating on improving both sides of the ball’.