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(09/19/14 5:45am)
Never has the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Nick Marshall been better on display than what we saw Thursday night in Manhattan, Kansas.
At times, many of the bad tendencies Marshall displayed in 2013, a lack of touch on deep balls, low passes that are batted down at the line and poor decisions on the zone read, reared their ugly head against the Wildcats.
It got to the point that the couch-seat coaches of social media began calling for Marshall to be yanked in favor of backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
But then came the moments of brilliance, such as the pinpoint pass to D'haquille Williams in the corner of the end zone for a third quarter touchdown.
Then it was his poised connection with Duke on third-and-9 in his own territory late in the fourth quarter, a completion that sealed Auburn's victory over a scrappy Kansas State team fighting to claw back late in the game.
Marshall's final pass Thursday night is a prime example of why Marshall is, and should continue to be, Auburn's starting quarterback: Gus Malzahn trusts him with the game on the line.
"He has that knack for when the game is on the line," Malzahn said of his senior quarterback. "He did it all last year, and he did it tonight. He helped find a way to help our team win the game."
This isn't the first, and likely won't be the last time that Marshall stepped up when given the opportunity.
Whether it's the oft-forgotten game-winner to C.J. Uzomah against Mississippi State last season, or his improvisation on the tying touchdown of the Iron Bowl, Marshall has shown an icy calmness in late-game situations.
While it's hard not to be critical of the quarterback as he continues to miss open receivers deep down the field, it's also important to realize how easy he's made late-game situations look as a starter.
Marshall has lost two games as a starter, and one of those required a last-minute drive from a Heisman trophy winning quarterback.
We've yet to see the significant passing improvement from Marshall that Malzahn and his coaching staff raved about this offseason.
But one thing hasn't changed: Marshall's teammates and coaches fully trust him to make a play when his team needs it.
It's about time Auburn's fanbase showed that trust as well.
(09/11/14 6:30pm)
It has been 13 years since the terrorist group al-Qaida killed almost 3,000 people in the Sept. 11 attacks.
The attacks occurred in New York City, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, but they affected people around the country.
Wanda McGatheran, Opelika resident, said 9/11 reminded her of another dark day in American history.
"I remember thinking this must be what my parents felt like during Pearl Harbor," McGatheran said. "This was the first time we had been attacked on American soil since that day."
McGatheran also said many local people feared for their loved ones' safety.
"There were a lot of people in and around Auburn who knew people in New York, and they didn't know if they had made it out until days later," McGatheran said.
According to McGatheran, the Auburn community came together in the wake of the attacks.
"There were lots of prayer vigils held," McGatheran said. "There were lots of first responders there. I think after that day, we started to take them a little less lightly. So many of them did not know it was a terrorist attack, but they still would've gone even if they did."
In December 2001, Esquire magazine published the article "162 Reasons It's Good to Be an American Man," by Charles P. Pierce in an attempt to boost morale.
The lemonade sold at Toomer's Drugs was No.1 on the list.
Pierce wrote of the lemonade, "When God was a little boy and He needed extra money, He put up a card table outside His folks' house. This is what He sold."Michelle and Michael Overstreet, Toomer's Drugstore managers, were in college in 2001.
"We were in college when it happened," Michelle said. "I was in class, and I didn't believe it when someone said a tower had fallen. I was almost in disbelief."
According to Michael, people were not sure how to respond to the news of the terrorist attack.
"I think for the first day or two, everyone was kind of in shock," Michael said.
Michael said he did not know about the Esquire article until one of his employees informed him.
"We ran out to get one, and wanted to make sure everyone we knew saw that what we were involved in was getting national attention," Michael said.
According to Michael, the article was the talk of the town.
"People would come in and say 'I saw y'all in a magazine,'" Michael said.
(09/07/14 8:42pm)
Auburn brought home one win after playing three matches on the road this weekend at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
The Tigers fell 3-0 (14-25, 14-25, 20-25) to the host, Ohio State in their opening match at St. John Arena Friday morning.
Sophomore Stephanie Campbell led Auburn with eight kills and hit a team-high .278 against the Buckeyes, while freshman Courtney Crable and sophomore Emily Klizke both had six kills in the loss.
Junior setter Alyssa Ivey had a team-best eight digs with a service ace, while junior Mary Hannah Arrington had seven digs.
Ohio State held the Tigers to a season-low in hitting percentage (.032), kills (27) and assists (20).
Auburn did not have more luck in their second match Friday against Southern Illinois.
The team fell 3-0 (23-25, 20-25, 19-25) to the Salukis.
Nine service errors from Auburn along with seven team blocks from Southern Illinois kept the Tigers from a victory against a team they fared well against statistically.
Crable posted a season-high 15 kills, hitting .323, while freshman middle blocker Macy Reece collected 10 kills and hit a season-best .381. Reece also picked up three blocks for the Tigers on defense.
Junior Mary Hannah Arrington recorded nine digs for the Tigers, while freshman Alexa Filley had eight in the second match of the tournament. Filley also compiled a match-high 34 kills in the loss.
After having Saturday off, the Tigers did not leave Columbus without a win for the weekend.
Auburn (3-3) beat Florida Gulf Coast, 3-1 (30-28, 17-25, 25-18, 25-18) Sunday afternoon for head coach Rick Nold's 50th win at Auburn.
The team hit .323 and collected 29 of its 51 kills along with five blocks to beat the Eagles in their concluding match.
Campbell tied a career-high with 13 kills on a season-best 37 attempts. The middle blocker also added in four blocks and five digs in the victory. Klitzke posted a season-high 12 kills, hitting .217 along with six blocks. Sophomore Breanna Barksdale contributed a career-high 10 kills and six blocks to the Tigers win. Ivey helped the Tigers' passing game with a career-best 22 digs.
Filley had 43 assists in the win and added in a pair of kills and two blocks. Crable picked up her first career double-double as a freshman with 10 kills and 10 digs.
The Tigers will play their first home matches in the Active Ankle Challenge against Troy, South Florida and Winthrop at Auburn Arena, Sept. 12-13.
(09/01/14 12:25am)
The Auburn volleyball team opened their 43rd season over the weekend at the George Washington Invitational in Washington D.C., posting two wins out of three matches.
The Tigers played two matches on Friday, first defeating North Dakota and then taking a loss to George Washington, the tournament host. They wrapped up the two-day tournament action Saturday against Arkansas State at the Charles E. Smith Center.
The Tigers' first match Friday was a 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 25-22) victory over North Dakota.
Freshman Alexa Filley, 2013-14 Gatorade National Player of the Year, had a double-double with 43 assists, the most by an Auburn setter in a match since 2011, and 13 digs.
Thirteen of the Tigers' kills came from freshman Courtney Crable, Kentucky's Miss Volleyball and a First-Team Under Armour All-American in 2013. Sophomore Emily Klitzke and freshman Macy Reece had 11 kills each, while Stephanie Campbell had 10. Auburn had 13 blocks in the match.
The Tigers took their first loss of the season in their second match Friday against George Washington. The tournament hosts beat Auburn 3-0 (13-25, 18-25, 20-25). Auburn was held to 33 kills, hitting .082 with 24 errors against the Colonials.
Offensively, redshirt freshman Kristel Moor led the way with seven kills on 13 attempts in her first match for the Tigers on Friday night. Crable and Klitzke contributed with six kills apiece. Junior Mary Hannah Arrington had a team-high 18 digs, while Filley had 28 assists at the setter position.
The Tigers recorded a weekend-best 43 kills on Saturday to beat Arkansas State 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-16) in their concluding match.
Crable led the team with 13 kills and 14 points, while sophomore Stephanie Campbell hit a team-high .471 and converted 8-of-17 attempts. Freshman Macy Reece added nine kills in her first collegiate debut. Auburn finished 39-of-58 (75%) in sideouts.
Sophomore Taylor Schill had a career-high 14 digs in the final match of the two-day tournament, while Filley recorded another double-double, posting 34 assists and 10 digs. Filley also had a pair of aces in Saturday's win to help the Tigers finish 2-1 at the George Washington Invitational.
Auburn will take its talent to Columbus, Ohio for the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic next weekend, where they will compete with host Ohio State, Southern Illinois and Florida Gulf Coast. The three-day tournament will be the Tiger's final non-conference competition.
(08/30/14 1:39am)
The Auburn volleyball team opened the 2014 season with a win against North Dakota and a loss against George Washington in Washington D.C Friday.
The Tigers won thier first match by a score of 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 25-22). True freshman setter Alexa Filley led the way with 43 assists. With 13 digs as well, she led the team against a North Dakota squad that refused to lie down.
Other big performers included Breanna Barksdale and Courtney Crable. Barksdale led the team with 3.5 blocks. Courtney Crable, another one of Auburn's talented freshman, went for 13 kills. The next closest attack came from Emily Klitzke who tallied 11 solo kills.
Filley and freshman libero Kelly Stewart combined for 28 digs. Junior Mary Hannah Arrington, a two-time Academic Honor roll recipient, had 25 digs by herself.
The offense grew steadily throughout the match. In the first set there were 7 kills and 7 errors; which grew to 13 kills and 5 errors in the second set. There were 31 kills over the last two sets (15, 16) and 12 errors (8, 5).
The Tigers dropped their second match by a score of 3-0 (13-25, 18-25, 20-25).
Auburn's next match is against Arkansas State Saturday at 12 p.m. The game will be played in Washington D.C.
(08/22/14 3:25am)
The Southeastern Conference head coaches released their picks for the preseason all-SEC team Thursday.
While Alabama and LSU led the conference, Auburn landed three players on the list, all on the offensive side of the ball.
Center Reese Dismukes, wide receiver Sammy Coates and quarterback Nick Marshall were all chosen.
Marshall, who won't start in the Tigers season opener against Arkansas, returns for his senior season after posting 1,976 yards through the air in 2013, his first year on the Plains.
Coates comes into the 2014 season following a breakout performance in 2013, grabbing 42 receptions for 902 yards.
Several other Tigers were named to the second and third teams.
Tight end C.J. Uzomah, defensive lineman Gabe Wright and cornerback Johnathon Mincy were named to the second team, as well as offensive lineman Alex Kozan, despite the fact that he will sit out the entire 2014 season due to back surgery.
Players named to the third team were offensive lineman Chad Slade, defensive lineman Montravius Adams, and defensive back Robinson Therezie.
The Auburn football team opens its 2014 season on August 30 against SEC West foe Arkansas at 3:00 p.m.
(08/16/14 4:49am)
With only two weeks before the season opener, the offense is confident in Jeremy Johnson and Nick Marshall and both Johnson and Marshall are confident and ready to lead the team at quarterback.
Head coach Gus Malzahn has already announced that Marshall will not get the starting nod against Arkansas on Aug. 30. Since then Marshall has taken responsibility and put the work in to earn back the team's respect, according to senior tight end C.J. Uzomah.
"He's been tremendous," Uzomah said. "I think aside from Reese (Dismukes) who has been a four-year starter in this league and a huge leader on our team, I think that Nick is right next to him."
Marshall also has become much more vocal this fall and it has shown during practice and after practices.
"After practice we needed an extra pace period, which is the worst thing," Uzomah said. "And he said, 'yeah, we need another pace period, let's do two.' That just shows his drive and willingness to win."
Marshall knows how important those pace periods are to their hurry-up no huddle offense.
"The pace is what our edge is," Uzomah said. "That's what we thrive on. I think as far as a leadership standpoint, (Marshall) is back to where we want him to be."
Marshall has also been taking advantage of the free time before classes begin by getting extra reps in with the receivers and other quarterbacks outside of practices.
"He texts everyone," Uzomah said. "He has a group message where he'll text the receivers letting us know that we need to get out there and throw."
Johnson has also grown into more of a leadership role before his sophomore season.
"(Johnson) knows that we trust him," Uzomah said. "He knows where we're going to be. We know that he's going to put the ball where it needs to be. His connection with receivers has boosted his confidence tremendously."
Marshall isn't the only quarterback who has been speaking up at fall practices.
"If we drop a ball Jeremy will get on us to do it again and run the same play," Uzomah said. "He wants to make sure that we're clicking."
Although Johnson has become more vocal this year, Uzomah is even more impressed with his skills and abilities at quarterback.
"I think he could start anywhere else in the SEC," Uzomah said. "That's no disrespect to any other SEC team, that's just how we feel about him. We have all the confidence in the world in him."
(08/10/14 11:02pm)
Auburn Arena was buzzing with excitement on Sunday, Aug. 10, but it had nothing to do with Bruce Pearl and the basketball team.
Football's annual Fan Day was taking place and both gym floors were filled with fans waiting to meet and greet their favorite Tigers.
Jim Pitt, Auburn native and his nine-year-old son Jack waited in line to see C.J. Uzomah.
"I think the defense is going to be a lot better and the offense will have more versatility with throwing the ball," Jim said. "We are going to have another good year."
Jack was quick to name his favorite Auburn player.
"Nick Marshall," Jack said without a beat.
A record 9,500 fans came out to get autographs and pictures with the defending SEC Champions.
Boys in football jerseys waited with their parents while fight song music played over the loud speakers.
Seven-year-old Carson McCulloch of Montgomery patiently stood in line for the chance to meet Sammie Coates.
Corey Orr, 11, of Auburn was confident about this football season.
"Undefeated," Orr said. "National title."
The line to see Coach Gus Malzahn stretched all the way outside and halfway around the arena.
Upstairs on the concourse, little girls in cheerleading uniforms waited to meet the Tiger Paws, Auburn cheerleaders and Aubie.
The longest lines of the day, besides for Malzahn, were for quarterback Nick Marshall and wide receiver Sammie Coates, with both lines winding around the gymnasium.
Brooks Forehand, season ticket holder from Columbus, Georgia, was excited for the upcoming season.
"We definitely have more talent than we did last year," Forehand said. "This is our year."
(08/10/14 5:13pm)
Opelika artist R.C. Hagans' work was on display in the upstairs gallery of Overall Coffee Company, The Color Room, for The Southern Revelry Saturday, Aug 9.
Raye May / PHOTO & DESIGN EDITOR
(08/06/14 7:08pm)
Auburn took to Pat Dye Field in Jordan-Hare Stadium Wednesday for the first scrimmage of fall practice.
While practice was closed to the media, head coach Gus Malzahn said the practice was run-heavy as the Tigers' offense readies for the upcoming season.
A key role in Auburn's run game in 2013, fullback Jay Prosch, was drafted by the Houston Texans in the NFL Draft, leaving an opening at the position.
H-back Brandon Fulse and tight end C.J. Uzomah are two names Malzahn has mentioned as potential replacements.
"(Fulse) will play a similar role, him and CJ (Uzomah) both," Malzahn said. "Brandon has very good receiving skills. He's used to splitting out, since last year we split him out at the No. 2 receiver and some at the No. 1. He's got a lot of versatility."
Along the lines, offensive lineman Chad Slade and defensive lineman Devaroe Lawrence were held out of the scrimmage.
Malzahn described both Slade and Lawrence as "a little banged up."
On the defensive side, veteran defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker may have played just three games in the last two seasons, but that hasn't changed the respect he's earned from his teammates.
"He's a guy that all of his teammates respect," Malzahn said. "He's a guy that all the coaches trust and respect. You have to have strong leaders and you know I'm one of those guys that puts a lot on seniors."
Whitaker was voted by teammates as one of the top leaders on the team. He thinks Auburn's defense has the potential to steal some of the headlines from the offense this fall.
"I think we have the potential to be something special," Whitaker said. "But like Coach (Garner) says, potential only means we haven't done anything yet. We got to keep working."
The second half of two-a-days will focus more heavily on situation preparations, but Malzahn doesn't expect the physicality to differ.
"It's going to be a little more special situations and a lot of teaching," Malzahn said. "It was pretty physical out there, which is good."
(07/28/14 12:00pm)
Sarah-Baskin Champion did not grow up a pageant girl. Baskin, Miss Alabama Teen USA 2014, was a self-proclaimed introvert, something her mother, Laura Champion, said she agreed with.
"She's naturally just a very quiet, shyer person," Laura said.
Baskin, sophomore in apparel design, competed in her first pageant at Miss Alabama Teen USA 2013 after Paula Miles, director of the Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant, recruited her.
"She had a very unique look, a great personality, was cute and bubbly and personified exactly what we thought a Miss Alabama Teen USA would be," Miles said.
Baskin said she wanted to get out of her comfort zone and become comfortable around strangers, something she said the pageant taught her.
"Since she has gotten involved in the teen program, she has just blossomed," Laura said.
In Miss Alabama Teen USA 2013, she won Miss Congeniality, Most Photogenic and placed 4th runner-up overall.
In 2014, the crown was hers.
As Miss Alabama Teen USA, Baskin has spoken at programs, volunteered at aTeam Ministries, which supports children diagnosed with cancer and participated in a walk for Crohn's disease and Colitis. She also had opportunities to model; an interest of Baskin's before her involvement in pageants.
Baskin, the second of four children, has traveled around the world on medical missions with her father, Greg Champion, a doctor, and cites New Zealand, Africa and Israel as her favorite places.
Even though Baskin, whose parents graduated from the University of Alabama, grew up a die-hard Alabama fan, Auburn won her heart.
"I just love the small town feel of Auburn," she said.
Baskin said she had close friends at Auburn, loved Auburn's conservative values and knew the apparel design program was nationally ranked.
Baskin convinced her older brother, Josh Champion, junior in marketing, to transfer from Alabama to Auburn in 2013. Baskin's sister Abby Grace plans to join her on the Plains in 2015. Her favorite Auburn memory was the 2013 Iron Bowl because, not only did Auburn have a last-second victory, she was introduced on the field as Miss Alabama Teen USA.
When she is not competing, Baskin loves hiking at Chewacla State Park and water sports. At the Miss USA 2014 competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she met business tycoon Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization.
According to Miles, before competing at the state pageant, contestants complete an application and interview. They are then awarded a title representative of their area. Baskin's title was Miss Vestavia Hills, her hometown.
The Miss Teen USA contestants, representing all 50 states and Washington D.C., compete in swimsuit, evening gown, interview and on-stage question.
This year's Miss Teen USA pageant is in the Bahamas, with preliminaries Aug. 1, and finals Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.
Baskin's parents, siblings, close family friends and several Phi Mu sorority sisters will be on-hand as she competes.
As for her preparations, Baskin said she will work on hair, make-up and review her questionnaire responses before flying out July 28.
"I feel like the reason I'm doing this is so girls can see you don't have to be completely fake to be a pageant girl," Baskin said. "I think it's important to stay true to yourself during pageants."
(07/17/14 2:47pm)
Thirteen Auburn Tigers were voted preseason All-SEC, including four first team selections, by the media at the 2014 SEC Media Days.
Quarterback Nick Marshall, wide receiver Sammie Coates and center Reese Dismukes represents Auburn on the offense first team while defensive lineman Gabe Wright was selected on the defensive side.
Tight end C.J. Uzomah, offensive lineman Alex Kozan and defensive back Robenson Therezie were named second team.
Running back Corey Grant, offensive lineman Chad Slade, defensive lineman Montravius Adams, defensive lineman Carl Lawson, linebacker Cassanova McKinzy and defensive back Jonathon Mincy were named third team.
The defending SEC champion Tigers were voted by the media to finish second overall and in the SEC West to rival Alabama.
(07/15/14 1:06am)
When tight end C.J. Uzomah looks back at Auburn's backfield, he sees a monster.
"You can kind of account for our running backs going through the hole, but then Nick [Marshall] will take off for 200 yards like he did against Tennessee," Uzomah said Monday at Auburn's session of SEC Media Days. "That added dimension is definitely there, and with the work that he's been putting in during the offseason, it's definitely a triple-headed monster in our offense."
And he says that will only be half of the problem for opposing defenses in 2014.
After a 2013 SEC Championship season that featured the nation's No. 1 rushing attack, Auburn is hoping to keep the momentum going on the ground, even after the departure of Heisman finalist and school record holder Tre Mason.
With the Tigers electing to run the ball on 72 percent of their possessions last season, defenses will be focused on shutting down the read-option game between Nick Marshall and his top running back, who will most likely be Corey Grant or Cameron Artis-Payne.
According to Malzahn, that is when his offense will tip the scales.
"We led the country in rushing last year," Malzahn said. "When you do that, defenses have to take some chances. We've got to do a better job this year of making them pay when they do take their chances."
Marshall will be the central focus of Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee's mission to give run-heavy Auburn a more balanced attack in 2014.
The senior quarterback has already proved his worth as one of the nation's top rushers under center, but now his coaches want him to improve his passing. Marshall completed only 59 percent of his passes last season for fewer than 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns.
But he showcased the Tigers' new emphasis on passing during the spring A-Day Game, where he threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns in just one half of play.
Uzomah told reporters at SEC Media Days to expect that trend to continue into the fall.
"It's going to be a lot more balanced than last year," Uzomah said. "It's been fun being in the mix with, in my opinion, the best group of receivers in the nation. It's a lot of fun to have the opportunity to be in the mix with those guys."
Auburn returns big-play weapon Sammie Coates, who finished third nationally in yards per catch, and several more veterans at wide receiver, such as Georgia game hero Ricardo Louis and a re-energized Quan Bray.
Joining the experienced corps are former No. 1 junior college recruit D'haquiile Williams and Jaylon Denson, who was one of the Tigers' most consistent performers in the 2013 preseason.
No matter who lines up at wide receiver or in the backfield for Auburn this season, senior center Reese Dismukes said he expects Malzahn and his staff to make the right call for the offense.
"I think Coach Malzahn is a great offensive mind and just a genius," Dismukes said. "I think that has a lot to do with a lot of our success. He, Coach Lashlee and [running backs coach Tim] Horton all work so well together."
Auburn has a target on its back after winning the SEC Championship in 2013, and Uzomah knows defenses will be focusing on being the first to figure out how to shut down the Tigers.
But he said he believes that the triple-headed monster and the nation's best receivers will always have the upper hand thanks to the coach roaming the sidelines.
"We have so many plays under the same formation that look the exact same, so it's really hard to gameplan for something like that," Uzomah said. "You can try your best to gameplan, and we may get stumped on certain plays on a certain drive. But Coach Malzahn will adjust, and we'll adjust as a team."
(07/14/14 6:46pm)
Following a marijuana citation that cost him an appearance at the 2014 SEC Media Days, Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall will face additional "consequences," according to head coach Gus Malzahn.
"It is a privilege and a reward to represent Auburn here at SEC Media Days," Malzahn said. "Last Friday, Nick lost that privilege. We have high expectations for our players, but specifically with our quarterback being the face of the program."
Malzahn said the nature and timing of the consequences have yet to be determined.
Marshall was cited, but not arrested, on Friday, July 11 for marijuana possession in Reynolds, Georgia, according to Reynolds chief of police Lonnie Holder.
According to Holder, Marshall was in possession of "eight to nine grams" of marijuana at the time of a traffic stop over window tinting.
The citation came as a surprise to Malzahn, who said Marshall is remorseful over the incident.
"Up until last Friday, Nick had been a model student, teammate and citizen," Malzahn said. "Nick made a mistake and he will have to deal with the consequences. I'm not ready to say what those consequences are at this time, but I know he is regretful and he feels very bad about it."
Senior defensive lineman Gabe Wright said the team acknowledges Marshall's mistake, but is rallying to help the senior quarterback improve.
"As a senior, I'm not at the stage where you get loud and get in people's face," Wright said. "I saw him going into the dorm, just driving by, and I just told him I loved him. That's all I said. I [hugged] him in the team meeting. I know him personally. I know he made a bad decision, and he is truly remorseful. I can tell from the look in his eye and the words coming out of his mouth."
Despite the incident, Marshall's teammates said they still have faith in him as a leader.
"Our trust in him hasn't faltered in him at all and our faith in him is as strong as it's been," senior tight end C.J. Uzomah said. "Coach Malzahn will address it and he'll get back on track."
Marshall's citation is the second marijuana-related incident of the summer for Auburn; senior defensive back Jonathon Mincy was arrested for second-degree marijuana possession on June 27 in Henry County, Georgia.
In addition to action taken by the coaching staff, Wright said the team's seniors plan to come together to address the ongoing issues.
"I hate to use the word 'consequences,' but there will be senior leadership," Wright said. "We will talk, even if we have to have a senior meeting on our own. Things have been going well before those two incidents, and that's something you can't deny about this football team. We accept these two things that occurred, but I know my coach will handle it accordingly."
(07/11/14 10:14pm)
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall has been pulled from Monday's 2014 SEC Media Days lineup in Hoover, Alabama, according to Auburn spokesperson Kirk Sampson.
Senior tight end C.J. Uzomah will attend in his place.
Marshall was cited Friday afternoon for marijuana possession in Reynolds, Georgia, according to Reynolds chief of police Lonnie Holder.
Marshall was not arrested.
"I am aware of the situation that happened earlier today with Nick," head coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement late Friday night. "I'm very disappointed and I will address it with him accordingly."
According to Holder, Marshall was pulled over for a window tint violation when the officer smelled marijuana in his car.
Marshall was found with between eight and nine grams of marijuana in the car and was ticketed for the offense.
Possession of marijuana in an amount of less than one ounce is considered a misdemeanor under Georgia state law. Possession is often punished by probation and a fine, which is set by the court.
The Rochelle, Georgia native is expected to be the returning starter for Auburn this season and was announced as a participating player at SEC Media Days on Monday, July 14.
Following a 3-9 season in 2012, Marshall led Auburn to a SEC title and within seconds of a BCS National Championship victory in his first season as quarterback.
Marshall threw for nearly 1,976 yards, rushed 1.068 and accounted for 26 touchdowns on his own.
His explosive 2013 season found the rising senior on a number of preseason Heisman watch lists as well as the Maxwell award watch list.
Check back at ThePlainsman.com for any further updates.
(07/10/14 8:30pm)
Auburn University and the City of Auburn recently announced they will receive consultations from the Urban Sustainability Accelerator (USA) program at Portland State University over the next year.
USA, housed in the School of Urban Studies and Planning, offers year-long services to smaller and midsized communities called cohorts, throughout the United States, according to Robert Liberty, executive director of USA.
These services provide consultations to help implement sustainability and redevelopment projects in interested cities.
In Auburn, three main projects will receive consultations: downtown's section of College Street, stormwater infrastructure and the alleys and back lots downtown.
Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager of Auburn, said calming the wide stretches of College Street between intersections downtown is a top priority for the city.
Similar to how the crosswalks on Magnolia Avenue funnel pedestrians off campus, the city wants to build crosswalks across College Street and between Samford Avenue and Roosevelt Drive.
The recent development and popularity of the Heart of Dixie shopping center and adjacent Barbecue House have caused an increase in students and faculty jaywalking across College Street, resulting in the need for a crosswalk.
The city also plans to redevelop the intersection of Toomer's Corner to match the changes being made to the University's corner of College Street and Magnolia Avenue. The project is scheduled to start in the summer of 2015.
Cowper said a landscaped median is planned between Samford and Thach Avenue to make "a more aesthetically pleasing entrance to campus and downtown."
Projects increasing the stormwater infrastructure on and off campus will also receive consultations.
Recent improvements to Parkerson Mill Creek, near the Wellness Kitchen, showcase how the University wants to increase flood protection and water quality on campus, according to Liberty.
Liberty said he hopes the plans to allow rainwater and run-off to soak into the ground will create long-term solutions to growing flooding concerns and will help replenish Auburn's water table, the underground surface saturated with water.
Another project involves cleaning up the alleys and back lots behind Little Italy and Moe's Barbecue on Magnolia Avenue.
The project, scheduled to start in December, will allow Auburn to grow up, not out, according to Liberty.
Building on the existing structures and space will better use Auburn's developed downtown and will increase the area's attractiveness.
Liberty said he also wants to rethink the way Tiger Transits are used. He thinks using the transits for more off-campus trips, similar to how the transit currently runs to Wal-Mart and Tiger Town, could better benefit more faculty, staff and students.
Mike Kensler, director of campus sustainability operations, said these projects should make Auburn a more pedestrian-friendly campus and create a greater "sense of place" where students can congregate at places, such as Toomer's Corner.
Liberty said USA researched between 40 and 50 towns and talked to more than 200 people before settling on this year's cohorts.
Each college and town cohort is required to give $18,000 to USA, which will cover 20 percent of the cost of consultations.
The remainder of USA's funding comes from three sources this year: the Summit Foundation in Washington, D.C., the Entity for Sustainable Solutions at Pennsylvania State University and an independent grant from the California Strategic Growth Council.
The program also receives monetary gifts and volunteered consultation services.
Kensler said a group of seven people from Auburn will go to Portland, Oregon, in mid-July to meet with the consultants.
After their consultation, the group, consisting of three University employees and four city employees, will revise their plans.
Liberty, who visited Auburn this spring, said he enjoyed touring Auburn, despite the heat, because of the hospitality and interest in USA he saw.
"It's a pleasure working with Southerners because of their graciousness," Liberty said.
Kenser said he is looking forward to the city and University's collaboration with USA.
"This gives us another opportunity to enhance that relationship and work together to create outcomes that are really going to be enjoyable and visible by the people of the Auburn community," Kensler said.
(07/08/14 10:45pm)
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall and wide receiver Sammie Coates added to their preseason watch list haul this July, with Marshall landing on the Walter Camp Award (Top Player) and Davey O' Brien Award (Top QB) lists and Coates on the Biletnikoff Award (Top QB) list.
Senior center Reese Dismukes and junior linebacker Kris Frost were added to the Lombardi and Butkus award watch lists respectively on July 14.
The Lombardi award, which is given to the nation's top lineman or linebacker, is Dismukes' third preseason watch list of 2014 (Rimington, Outland).
After recording 59 tackles in 2013, Frost landed on the Butkus award watch list. The award is given to the nation's top linebacker.
On July 10, Auburn defensive lineman Gabe Wright was placed on the Bronco Nagurski Award watch list. The Nagurski award is given to the collegiate player adjudged to be the best defensively in the nation.
Wright also joined offensive linemen Dismukes and Alex Kozan on the Outland Trophy watch list, which is given to the nation's top interior lineman.
On July 8, Dismukes and tight end C.J. Uzomah were named to college football preseason awards watch lists.
They join Marshall, Coates, and safety Robenson Therezie as Auburn representatives on the numerous preseason lists released every July.
Dismukes, who began his accolade-laden career as a freshman All-American, was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list. Given to the nation's best center, Dismukes was one of six finalists for the award last winter after helping lead Auburn to the most rushing yards in the nation.
Uzomah was selected to the Mackey Award watch list, given to the nation's best tight end. The 6-foot-5, 264-pound senior caught 11 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns last season, including a game-winning touchdown vs. Mississippi State.
Marshall and Coates were chosen to the Maxwell Award watch list, given to the nation's top player.
Last season, Marshall accounted for 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air, while also rushing for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first SEC season at quarterback.
Coates caught 42 passes for 902 yards and seven touchdowns last year. The 6-foot-2 speedster averaged 21.5 yards per catch, placing him third in the nation.
Therezie was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, given to the nation's top defender. A starter at the "Star" hybrid position, Therezie recorded 57 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions.
Other watch lists will be released every weekday until July 19th.
(06/24/14 10:00pm)
When Christina Aycock, junior in graphic design, joined Silver Wings her freshman year in the fall of 2012, she never expected to be where she is today with the organization.
Before the school year was over in April, Aycock was elected Silver Wings National President. Aycock was elected with six Auburn students Ryan Hall, junior in psychology; Ashley Kinsey, employee in biosystems engineering; Rena Divine, employee with wildlife sciences; McKinnon Pearse, sophomore in precommunication; Sarah Sawyer, junior in nursing; and Jonathan Corona, junior in environmental design.
In the past, the Auburn Chapter of Silver Wings have been labeled as a hostess group for the Air Force ROTC, but the organization is much more than that.
When the Air Force ROTC have their monthly physical assessment, called PTs, the silver wings will bring them fruit and make signs and cheer for them. However, this is not the group's main purpose.
"It's less social than it is community service," Corona said. "We do things for them, but its meant to be more professional."
Silver wings also teams up with Air Force ROTC and their sister organization, Arnold Air Society, ASA, to complete community service projects.
"We are our own organization and we are really emphasizing it this year," Corona said. "As far as being civilians, we take pride in that because we are like the civilian force of the Air Force."
Silver wings can best be explained like a pyramid. At the bottom are general chapter members then chapter officers. Next are region officers. Silver wings divide the country into 11 regions. Auburn is in region five along with Ole Miss, Mississippi, South Alabama, Samford, UAB and Tennessee.
The Silver Wings national staff is in charge of all 90 Silver Wings chapters throughout the country. The national staff heads the projects the chapters are working on.
"We want to make sure that all the chapters in the country are doing their best, and trying to get involved with the community as much as they can," said activities officer Jonathan Corona.
The goals of national staff are to promote national defense and to reach out to people with disabilities.
"I attended my first national conference the year before last in Atlanta," Aycock said. I saw all of the Auburn staff and they were pretty much running the national staff. It was really impressive to see that age student taking on something like that."
To apply for national staff, members must complete what is called a bid packet to present to the Executive Management System (EMC). These packets outline plans for a budget and what changes would be made to the organization.
After the bid packet is completed and the EMC had voted, select members present their bid packet at the national conclave called NATCON in Washington D.C.
Aycock said she is looking forward to how her national title can benefit Auburn's chapter in the next school year.
"It definitely helps give (members) perspective," Aycock said. I want them to see that leadership and think 'Whoa that's awesome. I want to try that.'"
If you are interested in Silver Wings, contact beb0017@auburn.edu or look for the Silver Wings information booth on the concourse days in the fall.
(06/08/14 8:30pm)
Jim Gorrie has been a fan of the Atlanta Braves his entire life, but his involvement with the Major League Baseball team just got bigger.
Gorrie, 1984 building science alumnus of Auburn University, is president and CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie, one of four construction companies jointly named American Builders 2017, recently awarded the contract to build the new Braves stadium.
Barton Malow Company, New South Construction and Mortenson Construction are the other companies that make up American Builders 2017.
This group was formed to highlight each of the four companies' strengths. Brasfield & Gorrie took the lead position because of their large presence in Atlanta and Cobb County.
Gorrie graduated with New South Construction CEO Doug Davidson in spring 1984 and has always had "a tremendous amount of respect for [Davidson's] firm."
Gorrie, whose parents are Auburn alumni, grew up attending football games and said football Saturdays with his friends and family are one of his favorite memories of the Plains.
"Meeting my wife, Alison, our senior year was a highlight for sure," Gorrie said of his time in Auburn.
Gorrie and Alison met through mutual friends, after which Alison asked him to go to the Kappa Delta formal her senior year.
The couple has been married for 29 years and resides in Mountain Brook. They have two children, Mills, who attends Samford University, and Alie B., who attends Belmont University.
Gorrie was in Kappa Alpha Fraternity where he served as president and rush chairman. He was also an SGA senator and parliamentarian, member of the Builders Science Builder's Guild, Sigma Lambda Chi, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Spending time at the KA house was one of Gorrie's favorite activities to do during his years in Auburn.
He also frequented the BBQ House, Momma Goldberg's Deli, Guthrie's and Taco Casa; each meal followed by a trip to the Santa Freeze.
No matter the fun he had outside of class, Gorrie always came back to his schoolwork.
When Gorrie came to Auburn, he knew that building science was the degree for him.
"I enjoyed my senior thesis because it brought all of the pieces of my building science education together," Gorrie said. "I liked all my building science classes and teachers. We had great teachers. In fact, I talked Mark Taylor into becoming house dad for the KAs in 1983, and I'm not sure he has forgiven me for that."
Gorrie's father, M. Miller Gorrie, a 1957 Auburn alumnus, bought out the assets of the Thomas C. Brasfield Company in 1964 and subsequently renamed the company Brasfield & Gorrie.
The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
"It is all I have ever done or known," Gorrie said. "I never really considered anything else and have enjoyed working with my father and learning from some pretty special people."
Gorrie believes every job the company takes is special, but counts the Georgia Dome, the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham and the M. Miller Gorrie Center in Auburn as a few of his favorites.
The M. Miller Gorrie Center was made possible through donations from Brasfield & Gorrie employees and was a named in honor of the Gorrie's father, chairman and founder of Brasfield and Gorrie.
"We surprised my father," Gorrie said. "Auburn officials were present one night at the Birmingham Country Club to spring the news on him."
Brasfield & Gorrie also completed the last renovation to Jordan-Hare in the mid-eighties.
Even though Brasfield & Gorrie recruits employees from all over the country, Gorrie remembers his Auburn roots.
"We have a pretty strong Auburn presence in our company for sure," Gorrie said.
Gorrie has also donated to the J. Steve Williams Endowed Scholarship in the McWhorter School of Building Science this year.
Gorrie considers landing the Braves contract a "great win" and is excited about working with the team.
Gorrie grew up listening to the Braves play on the radio with his grandfather.
The lifelong Braves fan frequently watches the team on TV, even though he rarely makes it to games at Turner Field.
"I did take my son the day before we were selected for the Braves stadium," Gorrie said. "We had a great time, even though the Braves lost."
(05/20/14 10:54pm)
The Auburn Tigers basketball team snagged it's third commitment today, when three-star T.J. Lang of McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile announced his commitment to Auburn via Twitter.
The 6'6 small forward was signed by Virginia Tech, but decommitted after Virginia Tech fired coach James Johnson.
Lang is the third commitment in the Tigers recruiting class, joining New Mexico State transfer K.C. Ross-Miller and Cinmeon Bowers, a 6'7 power forward from Chipola (Florida) College.
Signing Lang is another step in reversing the Auburn basketball team's recent struggles, even though Bruce Pearl still hasn't met any of the three recruits due to the NCAA's Show-Cause Penalty that expires in August.
Lang isn't the first in his family to play college ball, as his father Antonio Lang had a very successful career at Duke, winning the national championship in 1991 and 1992 before having a brief stint in the NBA.
