08/31 at 12:54 AM

There’s a reason the mural of Pat Dye in Jordan-Hare Stadium’s south end zone was scowling Saturday night.

His figure stoically looked down upon the field that bears his name and didn’t like what it saw.

Gone was Auburn’s patented power offense, replaced by a high-flying circus that depended on timing and speed.

Gone was a run-first mentality that wore down defenses and ran the clock, replaced by a pass-first, shotgun showcase that relied on flair and pizzazz.

Except there was one problem: before the 10th-ranked Tigers flexed muscles and cruised to a 34-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe, the spread wasn’t working. Kinks must be worked out.

Maybe this was Tommy Tuberville and new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin refusing to show their hand. You know, “let’s keep it close to the vest and ‘spread’ the vanilla around as much as possible.” Maybe a little tapioca next week.

Whatever it was, the Tigers had no offensive points until late in the first half.

Auburn clung to a 14-0 lead for much of the half on the strength of Michael Goggans’ fumble recovery for a touchdown and Robert Dunn’s nifty 66-yard punt return.

The Tigers did have a defense. Lord, did they ever. The AU defensive line turned ULM quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster into a human piñata. Give the kid a pat on the back and some extra strength Motrin.

“You win games on defense and special teams if you play hard,” Tuberville said.

You also win games when you do not allow your opponent to score.

With Auburn’s defense keeping ULM at bay, the Tiger offense — rotating quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd every other series — struggled in the first half.

A stadium buzzing with pre-season excitement moments before kickoff was turned on its ear with 5:29 left in the second quarter when boos rung down from the rafters.

Boos. Not booze.

At Jordan-Hare.

With a 14-0 lead.

And Brandon Cox was nowhere in sight.

“Run the blasted ball,” Dye’s image snarled from above.

So Auburn did.

A lot.

When the carnage was finished, Auburn rushed for 321 yards — the most in a game since 2005 at Kentucky.

Ben Tate pounded ULM defenders for 115 yards on just 13 attempts, while freshman Eric Smith made his debut with 67 more.

The Tigers used four successive running plays to kick off the second half and used them to take a 24-0 lead after Brad Lester barreled in for a touchdown.

Power football. Out of the shotgun.

Hmm … maybe the Tigers are on to something. Forget the pass. It wasn’t going to work and Auburn wasn’t about to try and make it work.

Did the spread sputter? Sure, when passing plays were called. But that’s what early games like this are for. Like Tuberville said afterward — find the wrinkles, then fix them.

There’s no doubt, Auburn’s new offense is a work in progress and refinements must be made if the No. 10 Tigers are to match preseason expectations.

As for Saturday’s hyped quarterback battle, Todd and Burns were exceptional when they handed off.

Joe McAdory is editorial page editor for the Opelika-Auburn News. He can be reached at 737-2549 or .