AUBURN, Ala. -- It's Auburn's turn. That's how Karibi Dede
sees it.
Other presumed national title contenders have had their chance
to show their worthiness before a big TV audience while the
third-ranked Tigers were tuning up against more lightly regarded
opponents.
That changes Saturday when No. 6 LSU visits.
"The first week there was a big game with Notre Dame and
Georgia Tech," said Dede, an Auburn linebacker. "The second week,
a lot of people watched Ohio State and Texas.
"Right now, if people want to know what Auburn looks like, this
is probably going to be the game they focus in on a lot."
That's because the Tigers have hardly broken a sweat in beating
Washington State and Mississippi State by a combined 74-14,
dominating games they were expected to dominate.
Those were mere preludes to the visit by LSU (2-0) in a matchup
of the two Southeastern Conference Western Division favorites.
"This is going to be the big test to see if we're ready,"
defensive end Quentin Groves said.
But Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville would rather let the buildup
for this game carry on outside the football building. He's adamant
that preparing for games like this isn't a matter of longer, harder
practices or working even deeper into the night than usual.
"We don't practice any different, put any more hours into the
game plan," Tuberville said. "We work more mentally on the
players, how to play the game. It could come back to a guy jumping
offsides or a mental mistake by a linebacker or a mental mistake by
a back. It's just that close."
"That," he said, "is how you coach a big game."
He traces that approach to his days working under Jimmy Johnson
at the University of Miami, and it's hard to argue with the
results. The Tigers have won six of their last seven meetings
against top-10 opponents dating back to the 2004 season.
Despite the high ranking, receiver Courtney Taylor still
complains that the Tigers haven't been getting enough airtime
nationally. It's hard for Auburn to keep the underdog edge these
days, but he's trying real hard.
"The only people you hear about are Notre Dame, Ohio State,
that's it," Taylor said. "Then they play a brief clip of Auburn --
there goes Auburn. That bothers me. I don't know about anybody else
on this team, but that bothers me. I can't stand that."
Where does Taylor get that chip on his shoulder? From his coach,
naturally.
"Coach Tuberville preaches that every day. He says, 'Nobody
still gives you respect," Taylor said.
That would definitely come with a win over LSU.
So far, everything has come easily. The Tigers are averaging
twice the yards they're allowing: 436-218. Quarterback Brandon Cox
and Kenny Irons are ranked among the top 13 nationally in pass
efficiency and rushing, respectively.
If there's been a surprise, it's been a defense with three new
linemen, converted safety Will Herring starting at linebacker and
key linebackers Tray Blackmon and Kevin Sears suspended.
Tuberville hasn't said when Blackmon and Sears will play, but
emphasized they won't return against LSU.
Despite all that, Dede believes this defense could become even
better than the group that helped Auburn go undefeated in 2004.
"There's certain things you can't coach," he said. "You can't
make people hustle, you can't make people tough, you can't make
people physical and you can't make people have that want-to. Those
four things our defense already has.
"If we can execute, then I think we have a chance to be as good
as any defense in the country."