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The AUperations Order: FRAGORD 13, Memphis Tigers

The final AUperations Order of the year is here as we discuss Auburn 's opponent in the Birmingham Bowl.

Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

The base OPORD for the 2015 football season can be found here.

FRAGORD 1: Louisville

FRAGORD 2: Jacksonville State

FRAGORD 3: LSU

FRAGORD 4: Mississippi State

FRAGORD 5: San Jose State

FRAGORD 6: Kentucky Wildcats

FRAGORD 7: Arkansas Razorbacks

FRAGORD 8: Ole Miss Rebels

FRAGORD 9: Texas A&M Aggies

FRAGORD 10: Georgia Bulldogs

FRAGORD 11: Idaho Vandals

FRAGORD 12: Alabama Crimson Tide

FRAGORD 12: Memphis Tigers - The Birmingham Bowl

Time Zone Used Throughout: Central Standard Time.

Light and Weather Data: While the game will begin in daylight, electric illumination may be necessary due to the forecast. Currently there is a 67% chance of precipitation at the scheduled game time, decreasing gradually as the game goes along. The high for the day is 58 degrees and the temperature should stay between 2-3 degrees of that mark for the entirety of the game. .

Terrain: Artificial Turf.

1) SITUATION

a) Enemy -

Intelligence reports indicate the enemy is a tenacious Group of 5 opponent who already claims one victory over an SEC team to their credit for this season. They are coached by an interim head coach after their previous coach departed for the Virginia Tech job. They will also have the advantage of help from their future head coach, Mike Norvell, who has worked with Gus Malzahn at a previous school. Their QB, Paxton Lynch, is one of the better QBs in the nation and will give the Tigers a very tough time. The Most Likely Course of Action is that they will attempt to attack Auburn's secondary with Lynch's passing while limited Auburn's rushing attack. The Most Dangerous Course of Action is that they are able to get a running game going, too, and Auburn is unable to pressure the QB while also not able to get any offense going for themselves.

b) Friendly -

(1) Higher Unit Mission Two Levels Up: No Change

(2) Higher Unit Mission One Level Up: No Change

c) Civil Considerations:

The local population will be largely unfriendly to Auburn since it's Bammerham, but the crowd around the stadium should be mainly Auburn fans and therefore friendly to the Auburn Tigers.

d) Attachments & Detachments:

Attachments: Auburn Cheerleaders, Aubie the Tiger, Auburn University Marching Band

Detachments: None.

2) MISSION

The Auburn Tigers Football Team competes against the Memphis Tigers on 30 December 2015 at 11:00am CST at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL, in order to salvage a winning season and go into the offseason on a positive note.

3) EXECUTION

a) Concept of the Operation.

The football team will play four quarters of fast, physical football against the Memphis Tigers with each portion of the team performing special duties  assigned to them.

Scheme of Maneuver.

The operation will consist of multiple phases. Phase 1- the planning and preparation phase - began with bowl practices following the announcement of the bowl game and ended when the team departed for Birmingham and the team hotel for the Bowl Week activities. Phase 2 - the travel phase - begins upon departure for Birmingham and ends with Tiger Walk. Phase 3 - the execution phase - begins upon arrival at Legion Field and consists of pre-game warm-ups and game activity. It will end upon completion of the contest. Phase 4 - the recovery phase - begins with post-game locker-room activities, and ends when the Tigers return to Auburn for the completion of the 2015 football season.

Offense, the main effort, will attack the Memphis defense using play-action passes, jet sweeps, and pretty much everything in the Gus Malzahn playbook. Memphis has a pretty good run defense, so efforts should be taken to get outside on the perimeter or use the passing game to open up the middle for Jovon Robinson and Peyton Barber. Explosive plays via deep passes to Ricardo Louis, Tony Stevens, Jason Smith, or other Auburn wide receivers should be attempted at least once per quarter, as their primary weakness is the pass defense and giving up big plays in the passing game. The running game of Jovon Robinson, Peyton Barber, and Roc Thomas cannot be abandoned, though. It will still be necessary to gain yards in the line. At all costs, the offense must stay ahead of the chains, not beat itself with penalties, and take advantage of pace in order to confuse the defense.

Defense, a supporting effort, will employ fast/physical assaults on the opponent's offense. Memphis' strength is in its passing game. Paxton Lynch will likely be the first quarterback selected in this season's NFL draft. The defensive line of Auburn should focus on getting pressure on Lynch and not allowing him to get into a rhythm. They are not without a ground game, though, and use every skill player to gain yards. Containment on the perimeter will be important as they do employ sweeps with the wide receivers. Communication between defensive efforts is also key.

Special Teams, a supporting effort, will conduct all kicking and returning duties. The return team should provide holes for the return man. The return team should exercise caution, but definitely take advantages to use Auburn's speed on returns to set the offense up in good field position. All advantages should be taken if it is observed that the opposing team has "only fat guys" on the field.

b) Task to Subordinate Units

(1) Offense. Task: Conduct fast/physical hurry-up, no-huddle offensive maneuvers via ground and air attacks. Attempt to spread the defense out. Purpose: Move the ball into scoring position in order to score more points than the opponent.

(2) Defense. Task: Disrupt Paxton Lynch's passing attack. Purpose: Force Memphis to alter their game plan and not allow them to get comfortable on offense.

(3) Special Teams. No change

c) Coordinating Instructions

(1) Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIR): No change

(2) Commander's Critical Information Requirements (CCIR): No change

(3) Friendly Force Intelligence Requirements (FFIR): No change

(4) Essential Elements of Friendly Information (EEFI): No change

(2) Timeline

Saturday, 9:00am: Tiger Walk

Saturday, 11:00am: Kickoff

4) SUSTAINMENT

a) Logistics

(1) Supply: No change

(2) Transportation: Charter buses will take the team from Auburn to the RON site and return the team to Auburn for the game

b) Personnel

No change

c) Medical

SEC Medical Observers will monitor each game for possible concussion issues. MEDEVAC is available upon request

5) COMMAND & SIGNAL

a) Command - No Change

b) Signal

1) Call Signs - No Change

2) Challenge / Password - No Change

3) Running Password - No Change

4) Frequencies

TV: ESPN

Stream: WatchESPN

Internet Audio: Auburn IMG Network

The time is now FOOTBALL. What are your questions?