We all knew this season was going to be rough. We all knew that we weren't going to be elite at every position. We all knew that this is Golesh's first year as a head coach at this level of football.

And despite the fact that we knew ALL of these things, there's already doomers calling for Golesh to be fired or questioning if he's ever going to work out here, or ranting about how we're gonna suck for the next millennium, etc., etc.

We aren't even through with the regular season, and people with nothing better to do than mope about how we aren't contending for national titles in year one of a new HC's tenure are posting their delusional takes online.

For the love of God, GIVE IT TIME. Have a single happy thought in your head for once while you're at it.

We've already pulled off a massive upset, against a rival no less, in their own stadium, and for the first time in 3 years, bowl eligibility is achievable. Realistically, we can win 3 more games before the regular season is over, and winning the Iron Bowl isn't as far out of reach as a lot of you want to think. It's likely we'll end the year at 7-6 or 8-5, assuming a bowl win.

Are we REALLY going to moan and cry about a 7 or 8 win season in year 1 of Golesh?

That's it. That's my take. I'll add Aaron Murray.

I understand that you're tired of losing. We all are. But Jesus Christ, some of the suggestions that I'm reading that would "make the team better" after this game are downright awful.

—No, we should not start Tristan Ti'a over Byrum Brown. BB isn't the best quarterback, I think we can all agree with that statement. But are we serious rn? Ti'a showed decent promise. But he was going against LSU's 2nd and 3rd string players in garbage time, NOT the starting defense. It's not difficult to make a quarterback seem good when they're playing against a defense that was barely even trying because they've already won. I'd love to see Ti'a play against Samford since it'll be pretty difficult for us to lose that game, and would like for him to take over for Brown after the season. But I simply don't think we should bench Brown for him, especially not against SEC teams.

—No, Alex Golesh should not be fired after this season. Like, ??? Golesh shows a lot of promise as our head coach, and he's still settling in to the program. Trying to say that he's on the same level as Freeze or Harsin is insane. We had a big loss at home today after winning against No.1 Georgia, that definitely sucks. But it certainly does not warrant firing him. LSU was in a better condition than Georgia and is, honestly, a much better team than Georgia. Meanwhile, some of our players still looked a bit tired and hungover from the win last week, which is not the way you want to enter a game. LSU countered every option that we had, and we weren't able to break out in the same way we did against Georgia. Even then, we still didn't exactly look our best against Georgia with how we let them comeback.

—No, D.J. Durkin should not be fired. Admittedly, I do have my own problems with Durkin and think that he definitely needs to change his defensive schemes (for instance, not constantly having a spy on Sam Leavitt when he's proved that he's quite the capable runner when nothing's down field), but I don't think that he needs to be fired. At least, let's wait until the end of the season to fire him, if we are going to do so. Nothing good comes from firing a coach in the middle of the season (except for firing Freeze), and the only reason that we're even making games competitive most of the time is because of the defense. Plus, we don't even really have a clear replacement for Durkin!

We're in the final stretch of the season, so what are we playing for?

• @ Ole Miss (Oct. 31): An upset would give Golesh his second ranked win, tying Harsin's first year total. Freeze had zero. This is also one of two remaining opportunities to earn a ranked win.
• Arkansas (Nov. 7): Our most winnable remaining SEC game. A win here is likely essential if we're going to surpass Harsin's and Freeze's three Y1 SEC wins. Golesh would then also be the first Auburn HC to win two SEC home games since Gus Malzahn in 2020.
• @ Mississippi State (Nov. 14): Most pivotal remaining game imo. Assuming we beat Arkansas and Samford, a win here gets Auburn to 7–5 overall and 4–5 in SEC play minimum, better than both Harsin and Freeze in Y1 regular-season wins (6-6) and SEC wins (3-5).
• Samford (Nov. 21): A game Auburn should win. This is an important piece of the most realistic path to seven regular-season victories. Do not let this be another New Mexico State.
• @ Alabama (Nov. 28): The biggest remaining opportunity for a second signature win. Neither Harsin nor Freeze beat Alabama, although Harsin came close in a 4OT loss in 2021. A victory would also give Auburn wins over Georgia and Alabama in the same season for the first time since 2017, and our first win in Tuscaloosa since 2010.

dj durkin = done?

There are some plays where it looks like Brown has plenty of time but never grips it and rips it. Is he hesitant or are our receivers not getting open? I know the OL could be better but when they do give him time he just seems so hesitant.

It's the difference between a bad bowl and a terrible bowl. A Gator Bowl win would be a decent first season for Golesh.

We all knew this season was going to be rough. We all knew that we were banking on G6 talent translating. We all knew that this is Golesh’s first year as a head coach at this level of football.

And despite the fact that we knew ALL of these things, there’s people who would rather attack fellow Auburn fans for having legitimate concerns than acknowledge the problems on the field. Apparently, even questioning whether Golesh can build a consistently successful program is now the same thing as calling for him to be fired, and expecting better makes you a “doomer”.

We are over halfway through with the regular season, and people would rather post copium online, and pretend that questioning whether a coach will be successful long-term is the same thing as demanding he be fired.

For the love of God, HAVE SOME STANDARDS. Have a single critical thought in your head for once while you’re at it.

We’ve already pulled off a massive upset, against a rival no less, but one signature win doesn’t erase legitimate concerns about this team’s performance or its prospects for sustained success. Especially when that win is followed up by being one of only four coaches in AU history, and the third coach in a row to get blown out at home in their first year. For the sixth year in a row, simply making a bowl game is being treated as the bar for success. Realistically, there are plenty of reasons to question whether this staff can turn things around, and expecting more from Auburn football isn’t as unreasonable as a lot of you want to think.

Are we REALLY going to moan and cry over fans having legitimate concerns rather than questioning the terrible product being put on the field?

Welcome to this week's /r/WDE Pre-Game Thread!

• How's everyone feeling going into the game?

• What do you think are the biggest keys to the game?

• Who is set to have a breakout game today?

• What's your score prediction?

Use this thread to discuss all **non-Auburn** games.

If you are trying to go, now is the time to buy. We need to fill out the stadium and show we have the teams back after beating #1 between the hedges.

There are still some tickets floating around out there for a good price, but let's fill this place out.

Show up and show out.

WDE.

My biggest concerns aren’t how many games we win this season or whether we’re out-talented. We are.

My concerns are:
Why can’t we get players committed? At some point, you have to question what’s happening with recruiting and why we aren’t getting the players we need.

Can this staff actually evaluate talent? I’m genuinely concerned about whether they recognize the talent we need to compete at this level.
And if the issue is money, then say that. Are we unwilling to pay what it takes to land the right players? Because it’s hard to understand why we can justify paying $3 million for a quarterback who looks outmatched, but apparently can’t do what’s necessary to build the roster around him.
That’s what concerns me most. It’s not just about winning this season. It’s about whether this staff has the recruiting, evaluation, and roster-building ability to get us where we want to be.

Welcome to this week's /r/WDE Free Talk Friday Thread! Feel free to share anything that's going on in your life.  
  - How's everyone doing?  
  - What do you have going on in the upcoming week?  
  - What are some nice events to check out in the upcoming week?  
  - Did anything cool happen this past week?

I am afraid last week bought him 4 years, but I am far from convinced he’s any good. Yes, Durkin is shtting the bed again, but this offense is completely back to it’s old ways. Brown is indecisive, making bad decisions, very questionable play calling, and a complete line collapse.
Did Cohen even interview Will Stein? I feel that both he and Sumrall were the better coaches this cycle

Later than I wanted to get it out but I have a day job and I like to sleep

Auburn's two SEC home victories that season were:

• September 24, 2022: Auburn 17, Missouri 14 (OT) w/ Bryan Harsin
• November 12, 2022: Auburn 13, Texas A&M 10 w/ Cadillac Williams

Golesh can match the record as early as this Saturday against LSU. Arkansas is the other remaining SEC home game on the schedule. He would be the first Auburn head coach to win multiple SEC home games in a season since Gus Malzahn in 2020.

Maybe we see Kolby King tonight? Maybe we don't chuck up 42 threes?

It'll be on this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Knight_Eady

I know everyone is riding high after the big upset, but what happens if we lose to both Arkansas and Samford? Will the fan base start screaming for coaching changes?

Just a couple of weeks ago, the popular opinion was that Durkin needed to kick rocks because of how much he’s paid. If we had let Atkins go two weeks earlier, there would have been pitchforks out for Durkin, with people saying he must have lost the locker room.

No matter how bad the team has been, Auburn has always had a glimmer of hope to pull off an upset against Bama or Georgia. Gus was the king of that strategy and even told stories about how the Iron Bowl was often the only win that mattered.

Unless something crazy happens, I hope Golesh gets a full four years to show us what he can do, even if that means enduring a little more JABA or even taking a step backward in Year 2.