Wednesday, January 12th 2011, 4:00 AM
Riedel/AP
Auburn coach Gene Chizik likely will lose Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton and Lombardi Trophy-winning defensive tackle Nick Fairley to the NFL. But when you coach in the SEC, even champions can't take a vacation.
"There are no days off in our league," Chizik said. "We'll crank it back up today."
You can't really blame him, since the SEC, which has produced the last five national champions, is clearly the best and toughest conference in college football.
"It's a great conference," Chizik said. "That's not to slight any other conference, but year in and year out, the Southeast Conference has more draft picks than any other league. The passion in the venues where you play in the league are second to none. And then there's our championship game."
That league championship game not only is something every SEC team strives for, but, according to Chizik, may be an even tougher one to win than the BCS title game.
"Whoever you play after that, you believe you can beat anybody. Again, that's not being pompous. There's a lot of confidence that comes from winning our league."
Having two special junior-college transfers - Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton and Lombardi Trophy-winning defensive tackle Nick Fairley - didn't hurt Chizik, who is in his second year on the job. The 6-6, 250-pound Newton completed 20 of 34 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for an additional 64. He also gutted out the game-winning drive, playing in pain after his back went out on him in the fourth quarter.
"There was never any question in my mind Cam would finish the game," Chizik said. "He's the greatest competitor I've ever been around."
Chizik was the defensive coordinator for Auburn's last undefeated team in 2004 and occupied a similar position at Texas, when the Longhorns won the national championship in 2006.
While some of us fell in love with Chip Kelly's innovative offensive philosophy and were brainwashed into thinking the Ducks' speed and tempo might help rack up points like they did in the Pac-10, Chizik wisely realized this game would be decided in the trenches, where Auburn had all the advantages.
Auburn used its massive offensive line, which averages 306 pounds, to open gaping holes for freshman running back Michael Dyer. The game's offensive MVP came off the bench to rush for 143 yards, including a wild 37-yard gain in the closing minute to set up Wes Bynum's game winning-field goal as time expired.
On the play, Dyer rolled over an Oregon player and - along with everyone else on the field - stopped, figuring the play was dead. But the Auburn sideline realized Dyer's knee never touched the ground, and urged him to keep running, allowing him to go all the way to Oregon's 23-yard line. A vide replay confirmed he wasn't down.
As for the Tigers' defensive front, it simply overwhelmed the Ducks' overmatched offensive line, leading to a key goal-line stand late in the third quarter. If there is one thing we learned after this game, it's that size and strength trump skill and speed. Also, not only can a 37-day layoff affect the inner workings of a timing offense, it also allowed Auburn's bigger linemen to rehab and get completely healthy.
Auburn, with Newton and Fairley likely heading to the NFL, could come back to Earth next season. The Tigers could even dip from national-championship status to fourth place in the SEC West behind Alabama, LSU - which will have Les Miles back - and Mississippi State.
It's why Chizik relished every moment of Monday night's win, and why - like most coaches in the SEC - he is afraid to go on vacation
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