Editor's Note by Stan J. Griffin: Late last year after my friend Darren Owens and I created this sports blog site, one of the first people I enlisted to help us out was Channel 42 sports anchor/reporter Lauren Sisler, who I had not long before become friends with on Facebook. Just taking a random risk, I sent her a message, informing her about our site and inquiring if she might be open to being interviewed for The Sports Connection. Even though she had never met me or had any real conversation with me, she quickly replied and said that she would love to help out. I sent her a few questions, and what followed was a great and movingstory, not only about her sports career and the journey that led her to Channel 42, but also a riveting story that detailed some of the highs and lows of her personal life. This also included a bit of tragedy as well. The interview was received very well, and to this day, it is probably the blog piece that has received the most comments since we began the site in November of lastyear. Despite her crazy, busy schedule of late, which includes getting prepared to cover both the Sugar Bowl matchup between Alabama and Oklahoma and also the BCS Championship matchup between Auburn and Florida State, Lauren, without hesitation, agreed tofurnish her own guest blog to The Sports Connection, and a piece which I think you will also find enjoyable, especially if you're a fan of Gus Malzahn's Auburn Tigers. Thanks again Lauren for your excellent work and valuable help. The following is the exclusive guest blog by Lauren Sisler.
When I first moved to the state of Alabama to work at CBS 42, I was assigned to cover the Alabama football team. I traveled to all of their home and away games and enjoyed the thrill of the Crimson Tide earning their 14th National Championship. But it was all still very new to me. The SEC that is. It didn't take long however, to understand why the SEC straight dominates college football.
The following season, 2012, our crews switched things up and I was assigned to the Auburn Tigers. Now if you followed their fall from grace, you can probably relate when I say each week got harder and harder. Eventually, I was numb to the losses. As a media member, it's tough following a team that is always on the losing end. Sitting in the press box, standing on the sideline, doing postgame interviews can all be difficult when you have a team that can never find a way to win (aside from 3 wins that had very little meaning).
But then the Gus Bus rolled into town and little did everyone know the final destination would be a trip to Pasadena for the BCS National Championship.
The season seemed to start off a little slow. Nothing too flashy about the Auburn Tigers. But then as the season rolled on, the Tigers threw on the flash bulbs (The Drive--Week 3 against Mississippi State). From there, there was no turning back. I remember running back Tre Mason said "We will be a Top 10 team this season." That comment came soon after Auburn broke the Top 25 so many thought that was a bold statement. Obviously, the guys in the locker room knew something we didn't. Gus Malzahn got these guys to buy in from jump. Forget 2012, "It's a New Day."
It sure is.
The Auburn Nation came to life as Gus Malzahn orchestrated it all. And not to mention, the personnel really didn't change from 2012 to 2013. Just the coaching staff and the catalyst, quarterback Nick Marshall. Just what Auburn needed. A guy like Marshall who can throw the ball, run the ball, and even fake out his own teammates on the read option. It also helps to have a unit of running backs that can stack up yards and an offensive line that can open big holes. Defense and special teams certainly gets credit too. The defense bailed the offense out in critical situations meanwhile special teams (punt returns, kick returns, ohand field goal returns) proved to be a turning point in several games.
Biggest takeaway for me this season...
I spent last season with the Auburn Tigers. I felt their pain. Losing week in and week out while Alabama was on top of the world was a tough pill to swallow. Our Alabama crew was getting to see some good football. I, on the other hand, witnessed a lot of bad football and I hated every minute of it. Not so much for me, but for those players, the coaches, and the fans. Remember, I am not biased and don't take Alabama over Auburn or vice versa, however, covering an outstanding football team makes my job a whole lot more fun! That said, I can empathize with Auburn's 2012 season. My junior year at Rutgers, I was part of a National Championship gymnastics team. The following year we fell less than a tenth of a point shy of making the finals. That was it. My gymnastics career was over and I felt like I never really got to have a proper farewell. I can only imagine what the 2012 Auburn seniors felt like. They went from being on top of the world with a National Championship to a steady nosedive to the very bottom. In my opinion, experiencing a 3-9 season gives you a much greater appreciation for what Auburn has accomplished this season and I have a strong feeling the players, the guys that pour their heart and soul into the game of football, feel the same way.
Some of my memorable moments (the life of a sports broadcaster)...
-The 13 hour drive to College Station on a bean bag in the live truck that included Sodolak's Chicken Fried Bacon, a pitstop at Buc-ee's, and the nicest fans I've ever met
-Nick Marshall went down with a knee injury in the Ole Miss game. Ironically, I went down with a fractured ankle that was the size of a tennis ball when we finished our postgame show (old gymnastics injuries never go away). The giant walking boot was a lovely accessory for the next 3 weeks
-Our live truck battery died during our pregame show before the Georgia game. Our crews got the shot back up however I had to race back to the studio (2 hours away) in case the shot went back down. I didn't get to witness the Miracle at Jordan-Hare in person but I did get back in time to catch it in HD in the sports office
-The Iron Bowl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you weren't there to see that, or haven't seen any replays, I suggest you do a little Google search. Enough said.
-The SEC Championship in the Georgia Dome. It's where I started the season for the Chick-Fil-a Kickoff between Alabama and Virginia Tech. It's where I ended the season...almost!!! A trip to New Orleans and Pasadena are in my near future and I am grateful to have the opportunity to cover two of the nation's best football teams to ring in the new year!
