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A spirit that is not afraid

2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game notes

Auburn arrives in Atlanta to take on Clemson on Friday, August 31, 2012 in Atlanta, GA.

(Courtesy of Todd Van Emst)
Auburn arrives in Atlanta to take on Clemson on Friday, August 31, 2012 in Atlanta, GA. (Courtesy of Todd Van Emst)

-The SEC has played the ACC in four of the past five Chick-fil-A Kickoff games with the exception being last season's Boise State -- University of Georgia contest.

-The SEC is 4-0 in those match-ups. The team that scored first has won each of those games.

-In the past two games between Auburn and Clemson, however, the team that struck first has lost both games (Clemson in 2010 and Auburn in 2011).

-Auburn's all-time record against Clemson is 34-12-2, 2-0 in Atlanta.

-Auburn has 92 season opening victories, tied with Arkansas for second all-time in the SEC behind Alabama, and has won 74 consecutive games when scoring 30 points or more.

-Under Gene Chizik, Auburn is 15-1 against non-conference opponents with the only loss coming against Clemson in 2011.

-Clemson will start sophomore Charon Peake, fifth-year senior Jaron Brown and junior DeAndre Hopkins at wide receiver Saturday with sophomore Sammy Watkins suspended.

-In 2011, Watkins caught 82 passes for 1219 yards, only 236 yards shy of the combined receiving total for all three of Saturday's starters.

-Clemson is one of four teams with at least three players -- junior quarterback Tajh Boyd,senior running back Andre Ellington and Watkins -- on the Maxwell Award watch list for the nation's best player.

-Senior running back Onterio McCalebb is Auburn's only Maxwell Award nominee.

-McCalebb is second to South Carolina sophomore Marcus Lattimore for most rushing yards gained among active SEC players.

-Auburn's game ball will be presented by former quarterback Randy Campbell. Campbell played alongside Bo Jackson and helped lead the team to an SEC Championship in 1983 as well as two consecutive Iron Bowl victories against Paul 'Bear' Bryant's Crimson Tide after a nine year drought.


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