STULTZ: It's time to bring out the orange

Before we begin, let me say to the traditionalists: I'm with you. I understand. I love the fact that Auburn keeps its jerseys the same and doesn't have 1,041 or so combinations like Oregon and other schools. I get it.

But imagine this scenario. In its navy blue tops, Auburn goes through warmups on Saturday as usual. The crowd, waiting for the Tigers to take on No. 22 Penn State, is already amped up. Then, the smoke comes up and out of the tunnel in the south end zone emerges a team wearing orange tops. The crowd, already at a 10 and with all due respect to This is Spinal Tap, takes it to 11.

How amazing would that be? If that doesn't give you chills, you are either a Penn State fan or dead. Possibly both.

We all are fans of the traditional uniforms Auburn wears. But this game, with a Big Ten team visiting Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time and a chance to show that this Auburn team should be taken seriously, is crucial. It is critical for a coaching regime looking to make a statement and a program looking for the respectability it is usually given.

While old-timers might not like the idea, some important people do: the players. Oh, you forgot about the players that put their butt on the line for the program and university every day? Listen to what they say when asked about coming out in orange jerseys.

"That's definitely something that I would like to see," Derick Hall said.

"It would be sweet if that happens," Owen Pappoe stated.

There have only been a couple of moments over the years that the Tigers went away from uniform protocol. In the 2019 Outback Bowl, Auburn sported gray face masks and a No. 7 on one side of a helmet to celebrate the life of Pat Sullivan. Last year, against Penn State, white face masks were worn with the all-white uniforms. Against Ole Miss, the Tigers went with orange face masks.

Those are simple changes. And yes, I understand the history of Auburn wearing orange tops. Forget that. That's another team. That's another decade. That's another coach. And I get that the last time Auburn sported these jerseys, Doug Barfield, the football equivalent of Tony Barbee for Auburn fans, was the coach.

I also recognize the fact that the chances of this happening are about as good as me winning the US Open. There are long odds, and then there is Auburn going this much against tradition. But, in my opinion, this would send Jordan-Hare Stadium over the top.

Derick Hall said that the White Out at Penn State last year was great, but there is nothing like the atmosphere in Jordan-Hare. Auburn fans are ready to show out, as is the team. Add in another level to that, and it becomes Iron Bowl electric.

And it's not like Auburn fans haven't seen the impact of one of these types of games. The infamous Black Out in Athens is still resting in the memory of everyone who watched that game, along with the Bulldogs – not to mention Verne Lundquist – dancing to Soulja Boy. We saw what that did to Georgia the night Mark Richt finally got a hair up his butt to do something different.

No, the color of Auburn's jerseys on Saturday won't be the final determination of the game's result. As Hall also said, "We're just ready to line up and play ball." However, let's stray from the traditional ol' Auburn for one game.

An All Auburn, All Orange complete with orange jerseys? It's time.