AUBURN TIGER FOOTBALL NEWS

2011 Auburn Tiger Football, 8-5

The 2011 Auburn Tiger Football team simply did not get better as the season progressed. So, after an incredible 2010 National Championship year, the Auburn Tigers finished 8-5 with a strong victory over Virginia in the New Year's Eve Chick-Fil-A bowl. All anyone heard all year was how "YOUNG" the Auburn Tiger football is. Actually, Auburn was the youngest team from top to bottom in Div. 1 football. However, a young team had 13 weeks to get the critical snaps and experience under their belts to show the nation how far they have come heading into the Iron Bowl showdown in Auburn. Simply put...Auburn isn't any better than they were when they took the field against Utah State in week 1. The Alabama Crimson Tide took it to Auburn's offensive and defensive lines, defensive backs, wide receivers, and, of course, the Quarterback. As Auburn fans looked at the 14-45 scoreboard as time ran off, few good memories came to mind from the 2011 season.

"Any time you play three quarterbacks in one year, you're just trying to give your team life," Tigers offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. "At times, all three have played well." "Kiehl has a ways to go in terms of being ready to run this offense, but it certainly doesn't mean he won't get ready any time soon," Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said. "He's got a chance to be a really good quarterback here." Auburn will have more than a month to prepare for its bowl game. With that much time, the Tigers' coaching staff will evaluate every position. Including all three quarterbacks. Asked whether or not there could be a change at the position going into the bowl game, both Chizik and Malzahn came up with the same answer. "We are going to look at everything," Chizik said. "Every position."

When asked what he would say to Auburn fans, defensive end Corey Lemonier said: "I'm sorry ... we're sorry for this defeat. We know we could have done better."

Auburn's Season in Review...

Auburn takes on the Virgina Cavaliers in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on New's Years Eve (7:30 PM EST). "I know they play really good defense and offensively they do a really good job running the ball and having a balanced attack," Tigers coach Gene Chizik said. "And I know Virginia's Mike London's background of winning championships. That is all I really need to know."

FINAL SCORE AUBURN SOURCE PREDICTIONS vs. ACTUAL SO FAR FOR 2011:

Week 1: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 38, Utah State Aggies: 27....ACTUAL: 42-38 Auburn

Week 2: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 34, Mississippi State Bulldogs: 33....ACTUAL: 41-34 Auburn

Week 3: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 38, Clemson Tigers: 24....ACTUAL: 24-38 Clemson

Week 4: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 56, Florida Atlantic: 17....ACTUAL: 30-14 Auburn

Week 5: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 28, South Carolina: 49....ACTUAL: 16-13 Auburn

Week 6: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 24, Arkansas: 34....ACTUAL: 14-38 Arkansas

Week 7: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 21, Florida: 17....ACTUAL: 17-6 Auburn

Week 8: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 17, LSU: 27....ACTUAL: 10-45 LSU

Week 9: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 24, Ole Miss: 20....ACTUAL: 41-23 Auburn

Week 10: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 31, Georgia: 20....ACTUAL: 7-45 Georgia

Week 11: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 35, Samford 17....ACTUAL: 35-16 Auburn

Week 12: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 10, Alabama: 49....ACTUAL: 14-45 Alabama

CHICK-FIL-A BOWL GAME: Prediction - Auburn Tigers: 24, Virginia: 23...ACTUAL: 43-24 Auburn