Mailbag: Let's talk *reasonable* expectations for Auburn football
This week: How much recruiting still matters, the 5-in-5 rule, that LSU kickoff, Sumrall vs. Golesh, peaking too early and Yan Diomande
AUBURN — Welcome back to the mailbag, our last piece before we turn over to what we’re calling “Contributor Week” here at The Observer.
I am on vacation, starting today. (Actually, I left last night. The power of scheduling posts at work.) I will be back shortly after 4th of July weekend. It’s the longest break I can remember taking since we started almost six whole years ago.
But, here’s the thing: If you’re paying for this with your hard-earned money, I want to make sure you get something out of it, even if I’m gone. And I’m beyond fortunate to have several talented people in the extended Observer Cinematic Universe who were more than willing to fill in for me next week.
Here’s what you can expect while I’m out:
Monday: A breakdown of Auburn basketball’s new-look roster through the lens of building around Tahaad Pettiford from Henry Patton
Tuesday: Friends of the Program takeover on the podcast feed
Wednesday: Breaking down a new way to measure talent in this new age of college football — specifically the SEC — from AUNerd
Thursday: A column speaking directly to Auburn fans that I’m really excited to share from Justin Lee
Friday: Whatever Dan has planned for his own podcast episode to get rolling straight into the holiday weekend
That’ll be three newsletters and two podcasts for subscribers, which is what we’ve promised each week from the very beginning. Like I said, I love that we have this collection of talent here at The Observer. It makes the offseason even better.
Now, onto the mailbag. This week, we went back to a real big-picture approach, as you guys wanted to ask about how you’re supposed to feel about everything that’s going on with Auburn football ahead of an exciting Year 1 under Alex Golesh.
We also take a look to a couple of SEC home games before some more basketball questions and, of course, the ongoing World Cup.
Thanks as always for supporting The Observer. Have fun with the fellas next week.
Honest opinion — and I’m all in Coach Golesh, btw — can this team contend in Year 1? I think they will, despite a brutal schedule.
James
Will we be happy this year?
Auburn Elvis
I’ve written plenty of times on here how I understand what it means to be a fan. A lot of you are either are shooting for the stars or bracing for the worst. Balance doesn’t conjure up a ton of emotion, and sports are an outlet for just that. I get it.
But I want people who subscribe to us to be as well-informed as possible about Auburn football and men’s basketball. I want them to be able to enjoy what’s coming up next in the best possible way, and I think the key to that is being realistic — maybe on the more optimistic side of that spectrum, too.
Here’s the deal: Auburn has had five straight losing seasons. This is the worst run for the program in the modern era. Golesh and his staff have their hands on a rebuild, even if the act of rebuilding doesn’t follow the exact same blueprints anymore.
My take is that Auburn fans should realistically expect and hope for the team to win more games than it loses. If it does so, it’ll be the first time that has happened in six years and three head coaches. Anything above that is a pleasant surprise.
Why do I think that? It’s just what the numbers tell me.