Sorry...this has taken a life of it's own that I never intended it to. I was not trying to "out" anyone and the last thing I would want to do is harm the school that I love and attended. I have amazing memories from my time there and I absolutely meant no harm in my story. It was for pure entertainment. I was never asked to steal signals. I only kept my eyes and ears open. That's all.
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about 1 year ago
I don't buy it.
about 1 year ago
It sounds like this is something that everyone does. A little game of cat and mouse if you will.
It's not like the coaches explicitly teach the ball boys how to cheat, but if they happen to overhear any useful information, they're going to share it with their team, right?
It's also clear that Wes wasn't trying to break a major story here, he's just trying to lay out a light-humored story about how stealing signs is more of a part of the game than most people think.
about 1 year ago
Seems to me Wes Howard isn't good with keeping secrets. Not going to go far in journalism if your sources think you'll end up revealing their identities later on down the road.
about 1 year ago
This is filth and doesn't belong here. Grow up.
about 1 year ago
I remember when I was at Auburn and Wes Howard was known for being the late night hook up for lots of the frat boys.
Or was that suppose to be a secret? I just felt that I needed attention by bringing people who trusted in me with their secrets down to my level.
This is irresponsible "journalism".
about 1 year ago
ROLL FUCKING TIDE you Auburn Fuck!!! lets see one of these little managers do that to Bama this year and I swear we'll have a BBQ on TIE DYE field.
about 1 year ago
Guys, why all the hostility?
Wes is just telling it like it is. He's not trying to out Auburn or rat on anybody he just wanted to share an entertaining anecdote which is relevant right now given the issue at hand. Why is that irresponsible?
What it sounds like to me is that stealing signals isn't as uncommon as people think. If that's the case, everyone should stop narrowing in on Bill Belicheck and the Pats as it's a practice that is not unique to them.
Thoughts?
about 1 year ago
The issue with the pats was that they were not just watching the signals but videotaping them. Most teams send scouts to the games of future opponents and one thing they do is watch the signals to see if they can figure any of them out. There is a reason so many people are sending signals at one time. To make it harder for them to figure out. With the pats videotaping them they would have all the time in the world to figure them out.
about 1 year ago
I can honestly tell you that my experience at USC wasn't a "secret". I wrote the story to try and tell a humorous story that happened to me. The Patriots scandal gave me a way to tell the story that related to something in the news. I am NOT trying to "out" Auburn or reveal any secrets. Take my story for what it's worth, an entertainment piece.
The fact of the matter is that what I did is no different from what any other "ball boy" does. If you hear or see information that could help your team, you report it. Simple as that. I didn't have a video camera nor did I have a tape recorder. I just listened and watched and threw balls in to the refs.
I think the title skews the story a little more towards the "stealing signals" side of the message, but I totally understand that a catchy headline is everything. I hope that people can read the story and get entertainment out of it, not a NCAA scandal.
Thanks everyone.
from about 1 year ago
Wes, I thought the article was entertaining. On the other hand, I feel it might have been nice if you didn't reveal that you went to Auburn with Coach tub and all that. Some of those critics who badmouthed you probably feel as if you have no loyalty towards your school. I liked the article, and believe there's definently a spot for it, but I see both sides of the argument on this one. war eagle
about 1 year ago
I agree. I don't have a huge problem with stealing signs unless it involves advanced technology. AKA - teams are taking full measures to gain an illegal advantage. As far as having ball boys try to pick up signs or overhear the opposing coach, some of that responsibility falls upon the opposition.
about 1 year ago
Which is why we need radio helmets for everyone, not just the quarterback. Great article by the way!
about 1 year ago
John Madden, who coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969-79, said stealing signs is nothing new. "Well, I mean, we all did it, and that was part of it, getting signals," he said. "Every coach in the world is always pushing to get a competitive advantage, that's always been happening. "And if they are giving away cues, or clues, or whatever tendencies that you could pick up, you take them, and you play against them. "Part of it is a player giving away a play. Part of it can be the snap count, part of it can be signals that they're signaling in, or you hear the things they yell. That's always been, happening from Day 1 of football." -- Boston Globe
about 1 year ago
Are you sure that was John Madden? Because that sounded insightful. I agree 100% though
from about 1 year ago
Hahaha...you don't like Madden? What are you, a communist?
about 1 year ago
It looks like Auburn could use someone stealing signals this year. Do you have any eligibility left?
about 1 year ago
ROLL FUCKING TIDE you Auburn Fuck!!! lets see one of these little managers do that to Bama this year and I swear we'll have a BBQ on TIE DYE field.
The above statement is why I'm proud to be an AUBURN TIGER!!!!
What a classless REDNECK........Should have signed his comment MulletMan
6 IN A ROW !!!!
about 1 year ago
If they will turn on the Starting QB has won many a game watch out Wes!
about 1 year ago
the ball boy saturday must have had trouble figuring out MSU's signal for "up the middle"
about 1 year ago
your and idiot
from about 1 year ago
And you're illiterate.
about 1 year ago
wa wa wa waterboy
about 1 year ago
Dear Tubs,
You just got pwned by Sylvester Croom. Let that sink in.
Sincerely,
The rest of the league
about 1 year ago
dubmass
from about 1 year ago
Wow, you sure told him!
about 1 year ago
Dear Auburn Faithful,
I want to apologize now for my lack of stealing ability. I took over for dear Wesley as ball boy and have been unable to fulfill my duties. Sylvester Croom lived up to his nick name "Sly" on Saturday afternoon. I was totally confused with their signals. They must be using some very subtle differences because I could have sworn that they kept calling the same thing over and over again. I promise to do my best during the next game if you will have me.
Kindest Regards
about 1 year ago
Dear rest of the league,
After I get Croomed this year I promise to never speak kindly of Coach Crooms again the week preceding the game we play them when I am coaching your team.
All Hail to the Kang,
Coach Tubs
about 1 year ago
obviosly you don't see the humor in this post and the one from below that says "dubmass." i am certain that they were done as a joke. i see it on boards all the time.
about 1 year ago
Yeah, but they're still tasteless, idiotic, and un-funny.
about 1 year ago
grow up folks. if you're gonna talk such trash towards other people, at least tell them who you are, rather than just "anonymous"...you couldnt be much more cowardly. its pathetic really.
about 1 year ago
The way I see it, any way to gain an advantage without breaking the rules is okay. It's when you break the rule that there is a problem. In the NFL it is against the rules to video coaches of the opposing team during the game. The Patroits did, got caught and have to pay the penality. If they were just watching the oposing coaches with boniculars then no problem. Every good coach want all the advantages that he can get for his team. It's when they cross the line and break rules that I have a problem with it.
about 1 year ago
Let's face it guys. We in the SEC, have the best conference in the nation. Alabama is the best college football team to ever grace a football field. The media and other conferences don't like the SEC or Bama. Why? Because of our leauge. Across the board, no other conference in the USA has the compotition week after week that we have to deal with. Yeah, we my go out of conference and get beat every once in a while, but that keeps us honest. All other conferences are jealous. Last year is a prime example. Nobody gave Florida a chance. 1992, nobody gave BAMA a chance. So all you coaches that want to get other teams in trouble (Fulmer) to get the upper hand. Leave it along and compete on the field. All the other conferences want to crush us. Stop your fucking argueing and let's play some football. ROLL FUCKING TIDE!!!!!!!
about 1 year ago
Didn't you notice all the criticism Belichick was getting for stealing signals. You should have known the controversy your article would create. You are truly a dumbass for writing that article in the first place.
about 1 year ago
I thought it was a pretty good article. You people are getting way too bent out of shape over this.
rtr
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