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(12/05/14 4:36am)
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) announced on Tuesday that sophomore equestrian rider Ashley Foster was the NCEA Equitation over Fences Rider of the Month.
Foster won the award due to her undefeated record in November, going 4-0 in the event and being named Most Outstanding Player (MOP) in dominant victories over Kansas State's Taylor Schmidt (85-68) and Fresno State's Randi Pomrehn (81-68).
"We are extremely proud of her," head coach Greg Williams said. "She has come on strong during her sophomore season. I am proud of the way she has competed, and I know she has her best rides ahead of her."
Foster, (who is from Brookeville, Maryland) started out the month with a victory over Texas A&M's Haley Webster 81-76 before an 82-74 win over Georgia's Megan Southam. Foster finished the fall season with a 5-1 record overall in equitation over fences.
(12/01/14 2:05am)
Ellis Johnson's tenure as Auburn defensive coordinator has come to an end, per a release from Auburn Sunday night.
Johnson's replacement will be tasked with fixing a defense that allowed 30 points or more in the Tigers' final six SEC games this season.
Auburn has a history of hiring former head coaches as defensive coordinator. Its last three, Johnson, Ted Roof and Brian Van Gorder, were a combined 9-65 at their most recent head coaching position.
We as the sports staff of The Auburn Plainsman have compiled a list of potential replacements for Auburn's defensive coordinator. All but one of the names on our list is a former head coach who is currently without a job or could be without a job due to varying circumstances.\0x200B
Will Muschamp (former Florida head coach, 28-22 overall record)
Even though his stint at Florida was unsuccessful, Muschamp is definitely the main candidate for this position in the eyes of the fans.
Muschamp began his coaching career as a linebacker's coach under Nick Saban at LSU, and was quickly promoted to defensive coordinator. In his second year as coordinator, LSU led the nation in scoring defense and total defense, and the Bayou Bengals won the BCS National Championship.
He then followed Saban to the Miami Dolphins as his defensive coordinator for a season, but returned to the college game as Auburn's defensive coordinator.
In his two seasons at Auburn, Muschamp's defenses were top 10 nationally in total defense and led the SEC. He was a fan favorite also, as his energy was contagious to players and fans.
Muschamp then was hired as the defensive coordinator at Texas, where he became one of the hottest head coach prospects in the country. After three seasons, he was hired as the head coach at Florida.
Muschamp would be a home run hire for Auburn. One of the main problems for Auburn's defense has been its lack of discipline, something that Muschamp's fiery personality will be able to solve. Also, he's a proven commodity as an SEC coordinator, with success at multiple programs.
By: Andrew Monson | Sports Writer
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Bo Pelini (Former Nebraska head coach, 67-27 overall record)
In a stunning move by the Nebraska front office, head coach Bo Pelini was fired on Sunday after seven seasons with the team.
Pelini leaves Nebraska with a 67-27 overall record and had won at least nine games every season. It was a move that angered players and fans of Nebraska but could be seen as a blessing for Auburn.
When Pelini was hired as defensive coordinator for the Cornhuskers in 2003, he improved a defense that was ranked 55th nationally the year before to 11th and led the country in turnover margin.
In 2004, he was a co-defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners team that went to the BCS National Championship game against the USC Trojans and was the sixth-ranked rushing defense and 11th-ranked scoring defense.
Pelini earned the Nebraska job as a defensive coordinator came during his tenure with the LSU Tigers. For each of his three years as defensive coordinator LSU was ranked third in overall defense and even managed to win the 2008 BCS National Championship game with a 38-24 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes.
By: Pierce Quinn | Sports Writer
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Manny Diaz (Defensive coordinator, Louisiana Tech)
Manny Diaz has 14 years of Division I coaching experience and has led his defenses to 12 bowl game appearances.
As defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech this year, the Bulldogs have improved with a ranking of No. 29 in the nation in total defense this year, a year after they allowed an average of 408 yards per game.
Diaz previously coached as defensive coordinator at Texas from 2011-2013, and during his first season he led the Longhorns to become the top defense in the Big 12, as they ranked No. 1 in the conference in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense.
Diaz was also the defensive coordinator for Mississippi State in 2010, which ranked No. 22 in the nation in scoring defense. The Bulldogs allowed only 19.9 points per game in 2010, which showed when they lost only 19-14 to the 2010 Auburn national championship team. That team also ranked nationally as No. 15 in red-zone defense, No. 17 in nationally in rushing defense and No. 17 in tackles for loss, which was another major turnaround after Mississippi State finished No. 71 in scoring defense and No. 89 in tackles for loss the season before he arrived in Starkville, Mississippi.
Although Diaz may not be the biggest name on Auburn's short list of potential defensive coordinator candidates, he has had plenty of success turning around big programs that have had defensive struggles before he got there.
By: Kyle Van Fechtmann | Assistant Sports Editor
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Bill Clark (6-6 in 2014 season as head coach at UAB, 11-4 in 2013 season as head coach at Jacksonville State)
The possibility of Auburn hiring UAB head coach Bill Clark to take charge of the Tigers' defense remains an option if concerns surrounding UAB football shut the program down.
During his first year as head coach at UAB, Clark led the Blazers to a 6-6 season, and made his team eligible for bowl competition for the third time in school history. The Blazers are one of eight Conference USA teams to win at least six games in the 2014 season.
Before that, he guided Jacksonville State to a record-setting 11-4 season as its head coach in 2013. It was the most victories for the Gamecocks since 1992.
Prior to Jacksonville State, Clark was assistant head coach and the defensive coordinator at South Alabama.
Clark was the high school football head coach for nine years at Prattville High School, where his last two teams won a pair of Class 6A State Championships.
Depending on the future of UAB's football program or how long it takes for the school to give Clark a contract extension, Auburn could find the missing piece to its coaching staff in his 20 years of coaching experience.
By: Derek Thompson | Sports Writer
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Gene Chizik (38-38 as head coach)
Gene Chizik's tenure as Auburn head coach was well documented. His questionable hiring was well documented too, but the firing of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson leaves a spot on the Auburn coaching staff.
Before disregarding the former head coach, remember his success as a defensive coordinator for both Auburn (2002-2004) and Texas (2005-2006).
As Auburn defensive coordinator, Chizik's defenses gave up an average of 15.13 points per game. In 2004, after major contributions to the undefeated season, Chizik was awarded the Broyles Award, given to the nation's best assistant coach.
Everyone remembers the 2010 National Championship Chizik celebrated with the Tigers, but it should be noted that he also played a major role in Texas' 2005 National Championship win over USC.
Chizik also coached three different winners of the Thorpe Award, an award given to the nations best defensive back; Carlos Rodger (AU), Michael Huff (UT), and Arron Ross (UT).
However, Auburn fans are unlikely to forget Chizik's fall from dominance.
In his last two seasons as Auburn's head coach, Chizik amassed an 11-14 record including a winless conference record in 2012.
It also would be interesting to see how Auburn fans would react if the team signs on a defensive coordinator that still hasn't finished his head coach contract.
The former head coach is currently bringing home $209, 457.84 a month, according to Auburn's payroll.
Chizik may not be on many Auburn fan's wish list, but if worst comes to worst, at least there's another proven defense coordinator living in the Auburn city limits.
By: Patrick Lucas | Sports Reporter
(11/23/14 5:29am)
The sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers lost a close match against Fresno State, 9-8 on Saturday at the Student Horse Center in Fresno, California.
"We definitely had some good individual rides, but we just didn't get it done today," head coach Greg Williams said. "A couple of the mistakes that I didn't think would be as costly turned out to be. We can move forward from this, but we will remember this one when we start back up in January. We will use this to fuel the fire. I am disappointed, but we will move on."
Auburn jumped out to a 3-2 lead on Equitation over Fences, as junior Elizabeth Benson continued her undefeated season by defeating Paige Pastorino, 40-30 and improving to 6-0. Junior Megan Bifano beat Gianna Armanio 75-69 before sophomore Ashley Foster defeated Randi Pomrehn, 81-68, to earn MOP honors for the event.
Auburn had a rough time in the Reining event, as freshman Alexa Rivard secured the lone point for the Tigers by defeating Hailey Robinson, 72-70 and earning MOP honors.
After going into halftime tied at four, Auburn opened the second half with a 3-2 victory in Horsemanship, thanks to victories from junior Griffin Knight and seniors Lucy Igoe and Katie Buff. Knight was named MOP after defeating Rachel Williams, 75.5-74
Sophomore Tory Hoft continued her strong play after Friday's match against Kansas State, as she earned her second-consecutive MOP honor and third of the season following her 87-84 victory over Kylina Chaiack.
With the loss, the Tigers fall to 3-3 (1-2 SEC) on the season.
The equestrian team will return to action on January 30 as the Tigers host seventh-ranked Southern Methodist University at the Auburn University Horse Center at 3 p.m. CT.
(11/22/14 1:10am)
The sixth-ranked Auburn Equestrian team bounced back in a big way on Friday, as they won 10-6 in an upset victory over fourth-ranked Kansas State at the Student Horse Center in Fresno, California.
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 lead in Equitation over Fences as junior Megan Bifano scored her first victory of the season over Alexis Grabes, 84-76. Junior Elizabeth Benson remained undefeated on the season, moving to 5-0 after defeating Madison Wayda 74-71, while sophomore Ashley Foster earned MOP honors for the event.
In Equitation on the Flat, Auburn won three straight due to strong performances from Benson, senior Demi Stiegler and sophomore Tory Hoft. Hoft's score of 95 was the SEC's highest score on the flat this season, a distinction that earned her MOP honors and high praise from head coach Greg Williams.
"Tory's ride was unbelievable," Williams said. "We just feel like Tory has turned the corner this season. She has really gotten the hang of college riding, and she is really coming into her own."
Sophomore Hannah Stephens won MOP honors in Horsemanship, while junior Griffin Knight defeated Kara Guy 68.5-65.5 to earn MOP honors in Reining. Senior Katsy Leeman ensured victory for the Tigers with a 71-70 victory over Savannah Smith.
Auburn claimed 3-1 victories in both English events as well as Reining, in addition to sweeping MOP honors for all four events.
"Winning 3-1 in three out of the four events and being named MOP in all four events is huge," Williams said. "For the most part we rode fantastic. In the other areas where we didn't ride well, those errors we made today are so easily correctable, so we are looking for a good round tomorrow against Fresno State."
With the victory the Tigers move to 3-2 (1-2 SEC) on the season. They have a quick turnaround as they will return to action against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT.
(11/22/14 7:00pm)
LaDarius Owens was coming off the best season of his career at Auburn University. The 6-foot-2, 259-pound defensive end started 12 of 14 games in 2013 and finished with 30 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries, but offseason surgery on a stress fracture in his left foot caused him to miss all of the spring practices.
This led LaDarius to feel like he was being overlooked as a factor heading into his senior season, especially when ESPN analysts didn't talk about his absence from the A-Day scrimmage.
"They didn't say my name," LaDarius said. "They said nothing about me being hurt, missing the spring or anything. During rehab that was on my mind [to] get back and get my name out there. That was the biggest drive for me."
LaDarius said his quest to get back on the football field and return to being one of the best defensive players on the team took another hit when he had additional surgery in June to repair a stress fracture in his right leg he developed because of overcompensating while recovering from the first surgery.
"It was trying," LaDarius said. "To be honest, I just prayed about it, and it really built me. It kept me going."
LaDarius and his family are no strangers to adversity. His uncle, James Owens, was the first African-American scholarship football player in Auburn history when he enrolled in 1969.
James rushed for 225 yards and scored five touchdowns in his career as a fullback, but faced segregation on and off the football field to the point where he said he wished to go home many times.
Each time, he said his mother convinced him to stay, and by the end of his career with the Tigers, James paved the way for African-Americans to play at Auburn.
LaDarius credits his uncle for enabling him to conquer the adversity he has faced in his own playing career, especially during his sophomore season in 2012, when the team went 3-9 and brought in a new coaching staff.
"The 2012 season was the biggest impact he had on me," LaDarius said. "I was frustrated because I wasn't playing a lot and the results of the season. With everything he went through and knowing the courage he had made me keep chopping wood though. When the new coaches came, I just flipped a switch. Whatever came my way, I was going to fight and try to conquer it."
LaDarius responded with his best season in 2013. LaDarius has said he put the injuries behind him and has recorded 16 tackles and a pass deflection this year.
"A lot of times I have had to do a lot of convincing that things are going to be OK," James said. "I'm so glad he has listened and been patient waiting for his time to come."
(11/15/14 3:28am)
It was a tough day for the 4th ranked Auburn equestrian team, as they lost 13-6 to the 6th ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Friday at the UGA Equestrian Complex.
"We didn't ride well enough to win and couple that with mistakes, it was a bad day for us," head coach Greg Williams said. "Georgia did ride really well the whole time, so it was a deserving win for them. We need to drill hard and get ready to pick up some wins on the west coast."
In Equitation over Fences, junior Elizabeth Benson remained undefeated and improved to 4-0 on the season as she defeated Kylee Arbuckle, 80-76. Sophomore Ashley Foster won against Megan Southam 82-74 and then earned her second win over Southam in Equitation on the Flat, 84-73.
Auburn was nearly shut out in Horsemanship, as junior Griffin Knight gained the Tigers' only point in by beating Sara Parr, 74-73.5. Knight also defeated Charley Thiel in Reining, 65.5-64, while junior Hailey Munger earned Reining MOP honors following her 69-67.5 victory over Lindey Cheek.
The Tigers fall to 2-2 (1-2 SEC) on the season with the loss. They will have a chance to bounce back when they return to action on Friday, Nov. 21, as they take on the Fresno State Bulldogs, in Fresno, California.
(11/09/14 9:30pm)
Plainsman sports writers C.J. Holmes and Pierce Quinn recap the AU vs Texas A&M game.
(11/09/14 1:35am)
The Auburn Tigers lost in heartbreaking fashion to Texas A&M Saturday night, as the Aggies recovered a fumble on a botched snap in the final minute to hold on 41-38. The loss was crippling to the Tigers' hopes of returning to the National Championship, and they might have lost their top receiving threat as well.
Junior wide receiver D'haquille Williams left the game with a right knee injury early in the second quarter of today's game against Texas A&M. Williams was reaching up for a pass by quarterback Nick Marshall when he was hit by Aggies defensive back De'vante Harris.
Williams stayed down on the field for several minutes after they play, as head coach Gus Malzahn and others came onto the field to check on his condition. He eventually got up but had to be helped off the field where he was immediately looked at by training staff.
It was announced shortly afterward that Williams would not return to the game, who was seen crying on the sideline as he was being attended to. He walked on crutches with a towel over his head into the locker room shortly before halftime.
It is unknown how severe the knee injury is.
"He couldn't play in the second half," Malzahn said. "I do not have any other update at this time."
Junior wide receiver Melvin Ray remains optimistic about Williams.
"I have no clue on his status but I know he'll be okay," Junior receiver Melvin Ray said. "Duke's a strong guy, he tries to play through whatever he can so as soon as he's able to come back I'm sure he'll be back."
The loss of Williams could potentially be devastating for Auburn's offense depending on how long he is out, as Williams has been the Tiger's top receiver for the year and go to target whenever a big play is needed. He currently leads the team in yards, receptions and touchdowns for the season.
(11/08/14 3:30am)
On a day that celebrated the official opening of a new million dollar facility, the No. 4 Auburn Tigers equestrian team bounced back from a tough loss against South Carolina last month with an 11-9 victory over No. 9 Texas A&M Friday.
(11/08/14 2:30am)
Auburn University's equestrian team has been successful for the better part of two decades, including winning three national championships. However they had never played under a covered arena before.
(11/14/14 1:00pm)
Tra'Cee Tanner's fondest memory of playing basketball at Auburn with her sister Tyrese isn't what most would expect.
Tra'Cee said it was the first conditioning practice of her freshman season when she was still trying to get back in shape. Tyrese was a junior and considered a leader on the team, and even though Tra'Cee was her younger sister, Tyrese wasn't going to go easy on her.
"(Tyrese) just kept yelling at me to the point where I got frustrated and yelled out, 'Stop yelling at me!' at the top of my lungs," Tra'Cee said. "Everyone in the gym just stopped and looked and were probably thinking, 'This is what the season's gonna be like.'"
Tra'Cee said the memory sticks out because she and her sister spent the next two years proving they could play together as a powerful duo, with Tyrese as the versatile perimeter player and Tra'Cee as the low post scorer.
They also proved to be a support system for each other instead of bickering all the time.
That will all change this upcoming season, as Tyrese graduated in May and is now playing professionally overseas, leaving Tra'Cee and the women's basketball team with a void to fill.
"It's weird playing without my sister because she was always there to pick me up in high school and in college when things weren't going right," Tra'Cee said. "Now that she's overseas, I can't talk to her as frequently. She's still a big part of my life. It's just hard because Ty was the captain of our team last year."
While her sister's departure from the team has been tough for Tra'Cee, she also said she is excited for the opportunity to be more of a leader heading into her junior season, which hasn't gone unnoticed by teammates.
"She's stepped it up," said sophomore shooting guard Brandy Montgomery. "Knowing that her sister's gone, I feel like she's stepped up as far as being a leader and is trying to fill Ty's shoes, which are some big ones."
Tra'Cee said she admits she wasn't always as passionate about basketball, something she said led to her feeling as if she was in her sister's shadow growing up.
Both of her parents were basketball players in college, and Tyrese had been playing since she was old enough to walk.
But Tra'Cee didn't have an interest in the sport and instead dreamed of being a cheerleader or tennis player. She said this didn't go over well with her mother, and by middle school she was playing on the basketball team.
Although Tra'Cee found the same passion her sister had and followed her to Auburn, they still were almost complete opposites both on and off the court.
Tyrese was described by Montgomery as the more outgoing and talkative of the two, who was never afraid to command leadership of the team.
Tra'Cee is more quiet and reserved, according to her coach. Tyrese also played small forward while Tra'Cee is a center.
Even the way they were coached by Williams-Flournoy was different.
"With Tyrese, I could get on her and yell at her all the time," Williams-Flournoy said. "All that did was motivate her to go harder on the court and push herself more. Tra'Cee's a little more sensitive. You can't yell at her too much."
Despite their differences, Tra'Cee said she plans to surprise a lot of people this upcoming season in her first season on the Plains without Tyrese.
"I know people think that since Ty's gone this is going to be a down year, but I think people are underestimating our team," Tra'Cee said. "We can come in to the season as the underdogs because the underdogs usually come out on top."
(11/06/14 4:00pm)
When defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker had surgery on his right knee before the 2013 season, he said he was hoping he could return later in the year. However, he wasn't able to make it back, redshirting his senior year while having to watch Auburn's magical run to the national championship from the sideline.
Heading into the 2014 season, Whitaker approached his final season with a chance to lead the team back to the title game while realizing they are no longer the underdogs.
"The way I viewed myself coming back was everybody had that joyride and the crazy finishes and all that, and I was going to have to be one of the guys to help bring us back down to reality," Whitaker said. "The reality is we have to keep working, and that now we are the hunted. Now people are circling us on the schedule."
It wasn't easy getting back on the field for the 6-foot-4, 322-pound Whitaker, as he said he had to fight his way back to playing at a high level.
He has not completely healed from his knee surgery from October 2013, but Whitaker said he has battled through it to contribute on a deep defensive line that includes seniors Angelo Blackson and Gabe Wright and sophomore Montravius Adams.
Jokingly referred to as the old man of the team, Whitaker's teammates, such as Blackson, said they have a great deal of respect for the fifth-year senior and have gravitated toward him for his ability to lead both on and off the field.
"Jeff is a great leader," Blackson said. "He's a veteran of the defense, probably the oldest. He's been around since 2010, the year we won the nationalchampionship, and he's one of those guys you can go to about anything. A lot of guys on this team respect him as a leader, including myself."
While Whitaker has taken great lengths to return and be a leader on the field, he still acts as a mentor to the younger players on the team. This includes giving advice on how to line up in certain formations or what to do on specific plays. He also guides them on how to handle the success of last year while staying focused on this year.
Whitaker said he is taking the season one game at a time as he enjoys his final season wearing the orange and blue uniform.
"I'm just soaking in the moment," Whitaker said. "I think just listening to former players and guys that have played and retired, the main thing they keep stressing is, 'Don't take it for granted. Don't wish that it was over,' because no matter how many years you play in the NFL, no matter, whatever, you're going to always remember these Saturdays."
(10/11/14 3:45am)
The No.6 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks pulled off the upset on the road with a 10-9 victory over No. 3 ranked Auburn on Friday in a match that came down to the final event.
"We were literally half a point away from winning the whole match on three different rides," Head Coach Gregg Williams said. "I love what the coaches are doing and the girls are rising up to the challenge, we just slipped up and let it get away from us tonight."
It was a tale of two divisions for the meet, as the Gamecocks dominated the Hunt-seat division before the Tigers rallied in the Western division to keep the score close.
"South Carolina is always a really strong meet," junior hunt-seat rider Elizabeth Benson said. "We were beaten 3-2 over fences and then 4-1 on the flat of the Hunt-seat side but horsemanship and reining really helped us keep it neck and neck. Western carried their own today and they made it such a close match."
Despite the Tigers losing 3-2 in equitation over fences event Benson managed to snag Most Outstanding Player (MOP) honors after posting the highest score at 95. It was Benson's second straight MOP after winning one against Tennessee-Martin on September 19th.
With the score tied at five heading into halftime, South Carolina reeled off a commanding 4-1 victory over Auburn in the flat event to give the Gamecocks a 9-6 lead. The Tigers made a furious rally by winning the reining event 3-1, but a tie between junior Hailey Munger and the Gamecock's Cody McMillion prevented the 10-10 result that would have forced the judges to add up individual scores to determine the winner.
Junior western rider Griffin Knight earned MOP honors for the reining event, her first MOP honors of the season, but the close defeat was the only thing on her mind after the match.
"It honestly just means that we have to work harder," Knight said. "Remember the taste of defeat and let it drive you. It's never good to lose but it's always good to remember the loss. You just have to take that painful feeling and use it as fuel for the next match to propel you to a win."
The teams chance to wash away this defeat will be their next match on November 7th against Texas A&M at home. With the loss, the Tigers fall to 1-1 (0-1 SEC) on the season, while South Carolina moves to 1-2 (1-1 SEC).
(10/03/14 4:30pm)
For a program that's only 5 years old and plays with teams that have been around since the '80s, it would make sense that Auburn's hockey team goes through some rough patches at times. However, after a lopsided 29-0 loss against Arkansas, the team's status is at an all-time low.
"This is the first year it's been this bad," said junior forward Sonny MacCurrach. "Right now, we're just trying to hold onto the club, but with a 29-0 loss like that, it's hard to keep players involved. If we start forfeiting games we could even get kicked out of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)."
While Arkansas is a perennial powerhouse in the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SECHC, a division of the ACHA) and Auburn brought 11 of a maximum 21 players to the game, it's still a rare final score for a hockey game. It's hard to stop other teams from scoring when a team doesn't have an experienced goalie on its roster.
One of the most important positions in hockey is absent on Auburn's team, which has caused a ripple effect from guys losing interest in playing to the team potentially being disbanded.
"It took us by surprise," said assistant coach Mike Robinson. "We were coming into the season with a possible four goaltenders. We felt we would be OK, and then the numbers started to dwindle a little bit. Either guys didn't want to play or couldn't because of time restraints."
Without a goalie, it has been difficult for Robinson and head coach Marcel Richard to assess how the team is as a unit.
The team has had to bring in different goaltenders in practice to help out, with Robinson himself having to dress out at times.
As for the actual games, the team has a forward put on goalie gear and hope for the best, producing less than desirable results.
"Goalie is essentially the quarterback of the team," MacCurrach said. "You can't just learn on the fly, as even players who have played other positions fail miserably when put in the goalie position. It's like the keystone of the whole team. If you don't have that, then everything's going to just come crumbling down."
In order for the team to stay ACHA eligible, a student had to dress as a goalie to keep Auburn available for rankings and postseason play. It became evident after losing the first two games and having to forfeit another that the team wasn't going to be competing for any of that, so they decided to go non-ACHA this season, which would allow them to put a non-student in net.
"According to the University, however, we need to be either have a student or staff as a goaltender," Robinson said. "We would prefer a student, but right now we are going with me in net."
Robinson said he fully expects Auburn's hockey team to be back in the ACHA next year, but for right now the search is on for a goalie that can commit to the team.
"Contacting myself or Mike Robinson would be a good bet if you were interested in joining the team," Richard said. "They have to have at least some type of hockey experience, since goaltending is a lot tougher than people realize. If we can get a goalie things could turn around quickly though, and if everything is in place we could beat a lot of teams in our conference."
Potential goalies can contact the team on their Facebook page or in Room 204 of the Student Activities Center.
(09/26/14 6:00pm)
The 2014-15 season of the Auburn Tigers equestrian team started Friday, Sept. 19, with a 13-7 victory at the University of Tennessee-Martin, capping an offseason dedicated to rebuilding the team after what many riders considered a down year in 2013-14.
"Last year wasn't bad, it's just we won it enough to where that's just our expectations," said equestrian head coach Gregg Williams. "We're in it for a title every year, but we're also in a rebuilding situation right now because we lost a pretty good amount of seniors, so we have to see who steps up and starts filling those shoes."
After a 12-3 record and winning a National College Equestrian Association (NCEA) championship in 2013, the Tigers stumbled to an 11-6 record last year, going 3-3 in SEC competition.
Senior rider Danielle Long said she believed everyone not being on the same page led to the drop off.
"It didn't go quite as smooth as it could have," Long said. "After the season ended our whole group got together and planned on what our goals were going to be during the summer in order to be on the same page before we got back to school."
With many freshmen and sophomores on the team heading into the new season, it's imperative for the upperclassmen to step up as leaders and guide them throughout the season, according to Williams.
Among these leaders are juniors Elizabeth Benson and Griffith Knight, while notable seniors include Lucy Igoe, Jennifer Delman, Demi Stiegler and Melena Smith.
A point of emphasis for this year's team, however, is for the leadership to be spread among the entire team, and that's something that has happened so far, according to equestrian head coach Greg Williams.
"Right now it's early, but the leadership is so spread out," Williams said. "They seem, as a whole, more together, and you just don't feel like there have been any issues so far. It feels good because they're all carrying the weight and our seniors are just way too ambitious to just let things slide."
One thing the freshmen riders have to get used to is the fact the horses ridden at events are based on a draw, meaning they don't know which horse they'll be riding until shortly before they perform.
This is why Williams preaches to his riders that "the unfamiliar has to become the norm."
"Before college riding everything is individually based, so you can build a relationship with your horse and have a continuity from competition to competition," said junior rider Elizabeth Benson. "But when you're competing in college, you only have four minutes to get to know the horses and put the course together better than the other school."
The NCEA ranks Auburn fourth in the national poll, with Oklahoma State and rivals Georgia and South Carolina above them.
All three defeated the Tigers last year, but the Tigers consider the ranking positive.
"I think coming in fourth is a good thing," Long said. "If we were ranked any higher we might get overconfident, so it gives us a goal to look forward to."
Williams agreed and said as long as they win at home and steal a few road SEC games, a No. 1 ranking is attainable.
"It's the same teams in the hunt every year," Williams said. "Georgia, South Carolina and Auburn. It usually comes down to the three of us."
The Tigers next match is their home opener against the top-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 10.
(09/14/14 8:00pm)
On the Friday before Auburn's home opener against Arkansas, students lined up in droves outside the Student Center to catch a glimpse of a former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.
Cam Newton? No, he's too busy getting ready for the NFL season with the Carolina Panthers. Enter Tim Tebow, who was in town as an analyst for the newly created SEC Network's traveling pregame show SEC Nation.
Rounded out by play-by-play announcer, Joe Tessitore; former star LSU defensive lineman, Marcus Spears; and talk show host Paul Finebaum, SEC Nation's crew caused quite the stir by being on Auburn's campus for the game.
For me, their presence reinforced my beliefs on the exciting opportunities the network presents for students, student athletes and fans of the SEC.
While many Auburn fans will be thrilled with the greater coverage of popular sports, such as football, basketball and baseball, I am more intrigued by the exposure the lesser-viewed sports in the SEC will receive.
The SEC is comprised of 21 sports (nine men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sports) and yet many of them never get the chance to be seen by fans because they are never on TV. The creation of this new network gives fans the chance to see lesser known sports, such as equestrian or indoor track and field, from the comfort of their own homes.
What the SEC Network's involvement with Auburn excites me the most is the opportunity it brings to students like me.
This fall, the SEC Network teamed up with Auburn to create War Eagle Productions to produce live sporting events and coaching shows, while also developing footage for Auburn's athletic website.
A studio is in the process of being completed at the telecommunications building next toOn the Friday before Auburn's home opener against Arkansas, students lined up in droves outside the Student Center to catch a glimpse of a former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.
Cam Newton? No, he's too busy getting ready for the NFL season with the Carolina Panthers. Enter Tim Tebow, who was in town as an analyst for the newly created SEC Network's traveling pregame show SEC Nation.
Rounded out by play-by-play announcer, Joe Tessitore; former star LSU defensive lineman, Marcus Spears; and talk show host Paul Finebaum, SEC Nation's crew caused quite the stir by being on Auburn's campus for the game.
For me, their presence reinforced my beliefs on the exciting opportunities the network presents for students, student athletes and fans of the SEC.
While many Auburn fans will be thrilled with the greater coverage of popular sports, such as football, basketball and baseball, I am more intrigued by the exposure the lesser-viewed sports in the SEC will receive.
The SEC is comprised of 21 sports (nine men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sports) and yet many of them never get the chance to be seen by fans because they are never on TV. The creation of this new network gives fans the chance to see lesser known sports, such as equestrian or indoor track and field, from the comfort of their own homes.
What the SEC Network's involvement with Auburn excites me the most is the opportunity it brings to students like me.
This fall, the SEC Network teamed up with Auburn to create War Eagle Productions to produce live sporting events and coaching shows, while also developing footage for Auburn's athletic website.
A studio is in the process of being completed at the telecommunications building next to the Auburn Athletics Complex. This building is also home to a new class on sports production that has students working with the SEC Network on a part-time basis.
As a student currently enrolled in the class, and an aspiring sports journalist, I can tell you that this class is an amazing opportunity to get a feel for all aspects of sports production, including filming, editing and broadcasting.
The SEC Network is something that will change the scope of sports in Auburn and the SEC for years to come. While many students will be excited with the increased appearances of famous people on campus, such as Tim Tebow, they should be even more excited about the bundle of opportunities the SEC Network provides for them. the Auburn Athletics Complex. This building is also home to a new class on sports production that has students working with the SEC Network on a part-time basis.
As a student currently enrolled in the class, and an aspiring sports journalist, I can tell you that this class is an amazing opportunity to get a feel for all aspects of sports production, including filming, editing and broadcasting.
The SEC Network is something that will change the scope of sports in Auburn and the SEC for years to come. While many students will be excited with the increased appearances of famous people on campus, such as Tim Tebow, they should be even more excited about the bundle of opportunities the SEC Network provides for them.
(09/08/14 9:00pm)
When Auburn equestrian head coach Greg Williams traveled up to Ohio to see then high school senior Lucy Igoe in an equestrian competition, he went with the intent of seeing her skills and attempt to recruit her to Auburn's equestrian team.
There was just one problem: it was a nighttime show and he still had not seen her compete.
"Everything was running late due to rain delays and the practice arena at that time didn't have any lights," Williams said as he recalled the events of that night. "It was so late at night by the time they finally got to her class."
When he finally saw her compete, he was impressed. Igoe managed to have a great round despite the weather and lighting conditions, but it wasn't her skills that impressed Williams the most.
"I won't ever forget watching her with this cute smile on her face," Williams said. "That's what I love more than anything. I love her grit, but her passion shows through too."
As a senior majoring in political science, Igoe is considered one of the top riders for this year's equestrian team. She competes in the Western division and is part of a returning group of riders who are ready to challenge for the NCEA title this year.
Igoe's passion for horseback riding is considered her greatest strength, something that has not gone unnoticed by teammates and coaches.
"She has a lot of insight about horses and she knows what she's talking about," said fellow senior and western rider Bailee Bussey. "If anybody has advice for her she takes it, and she likes to give advice as well."
The roots of Igoe's love for horseback riding stem from her hometown of Powell, Ohio, where she was first put on a horse by her aunt Denise at the age of 7.
Her aunt always owned horses, so Igoe grew up with a desire to ride them.
However, an unfortunate incident to her first horse almost caused her career to end before it began.
"She was named Lady Bug," Igoe said. "We fit each other perfectly because she was little as well, but two years after I got her, she fractured her leg, so she had to be put down."
Igoe said the experience traumatized her, and she took a two-year sabbatical from horseback riding. Gradually she got back into it, and by the time she entered high school it was apparent that she had a real talent for the sport.
It wasn't easy juggling equestrian riding with being a regular teenager, as her commitment caused her to miss out on activities such as high school dances and other social events.
Her friends didn't understand why she was missing out on these things at first, but after she started getting recruited by colleges, they realized how serious she was about being an equestrian.
"I had always had Auburn in mind since it was such a dominant equestrian program," Igoe said. "I took some visits to some other places but nothing felt like it was here at Auburn."
Igoe has racked up numerous career accomplishments at Auburn, including an MVP honor in Auburn's 11-8 victory over Delaware State last year. She has also been named as a first alternate for the 2014 American Quarter Horse Association Collegiate Horsemanship Challenge in Oklahoma City this November.
Still, rather than turn pro at the end of this year, she plans on going into law school. This doesn't mean that she will give up horseback riding completely, though.
"I still have horses with my aunt and I don't think she'll ever get rid of them," Igoe said. "This is something we bond with, so I'll never grow out of riding as long as she wants to do it with me."