Doba’s the Man on Auburn vs. USC

By all accounts, Bill Doba is a great guy and we may have been wrong to compare him to an idiot coach in the Big-12. His approach to last Saturday’s game – to actually try to win the game – almost caught USC off-guard, and he should be commended for having Wazzu ready to play.

Being the man with class that he is, Doba took the time this week to feed the southern inferiority complex machine by comparing USC and Auburn. Wazzu has played both teams, which makes Doba an expert on the comparison War Eagle yearns to make. Arkansas plays Auburn this Saturday, which would presumably make Houston Nutt an expert, too … but you know we can’t use the words “expert” and “Nutt” in the same sentence.

Anyway, Doba provided this insight to Doug Segrest of The Birmingham News:

"They're both good teams, but they're a little different," Doba said Tuesday. "I think Auburn's running game is better. Southern Cal has a slight edge in the passing game. The defenses are very similar. Both run to the ball very well and both have linebackers that are special."

Doba mentions Auburn’s “superior special teams” before pointing out that “of course, USC doesn’t kick off but once a game.” [This is where knowledgeable Trojan fans confirm that Doba is merely toying with the southern simpletons, since we know that USC punted way too much against Wazzu and almost lost the game on a high snap. But, I digress …]

Doba also gives props to Auburn “coach” Tommy Tuberville, who according to Doba has more lives than a tomcat, which is a nice way of saying that Tuberville is both stupid and lucky as hell.

"They've got a fourth-and-11 from their own 16 and he's calling a fake punt?" Doba said.

Washington State had narrowed Auburn's lead to 26-14 in the third quarter and seemingly stopped the Tigers on three downs on a critical possession. Out of punt formation, linebacker Will Herring took the direct snap and raced 42 yards for the first down.

"I told (Tuberville) afterward that I'd never forget that (call)," Doba said

As for USC:

USC's John David Booty "always throws to the guy that's open, whether it's short or long. He takes what's there. He makes great decisions."

Another advantage for the Trojans is linebacker Rey Maluaga, "who's 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, runs sideline to sideline and can cover you deep."

USC played Washington State with two disadvantages. First, the Trojans played on the road. Second, they played without All-American wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett.

"I think that was to our advantage," Doba said. "But let me tell you, that Steve Smith can play with anyone."

Okay. We recognize that Doba isn’t telling us anything we don’t already know. Of course, Doba knows this also, but apparently War Eagle will swallow any “insight” that will give them an indication (read: validation) for the top-two ranking they know will be denied them like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Doba knows this, too.

Doba is no dummy.
east coast bias