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(10/06/14 12:00pm)
According to Jan King, Auburn University Medical Clinic's nursing manager, there is a season where people faking sick come out of the woodwork: Football season.
King said there is also a spike of fakers right before and after spring break.
According to King, people come into the clinic looking for a little vacation extension.
"It happens weekly, for sure," King said. "I bet you anything we have people come in with nothing wrong with them on a daily basis."
Elizabeth, senior in hospital management, said she prefers not to say her last name. She recalls one time she used the clinic for a note.
"I had a 'sinus infection' the day of my first college test," Elizabeth said.
Doctors gave her a prescription she never used.
"Apparently, I had some allergy from moving down South from my hometown," Elizabeth said. "I was, supposedly, 'adjusting to the weather.'"
Anne Sims, senior in journalism, said a simple stomachache did the trick.
"I'm not kidding when I say I did that all the time," Sims said.
King said her favorite story is one about a student who went as far as to forge a note from the clinic.
King said it seemed like a smart idea, but the student dated the excuse Feb. 33.
"Some of these fakers are just really brilliant," King said.
According to King, one of the most common lines of a faker is, "I threw up earlier today, but now I'm fine. Can I get an excuse?"
King said the medical clinic will not issue excuses to people the doctors have not personally examined. Even after an examination, the doctors will not give an excuse to a person who has nothing wrong with them.
Furthermore, the fine print on medical clinic excuses say the instructors do not have to accept them.
"We've had people get really mad at us for not giving them an excuse when that's what they came there for," King sad.
According to King, some people even pay a copay to get an excuse.
"Some people are so desperate that they will call the office and ask, 'What do I have to do to get a medical excuse?'" King said.
One thing King said irritates the staff at the medical clinic is when a student comes in for a hangover.
King said it is never a good idea to use a hangover as an excuse to get a doctor's note, because you will fail every single time.
(10/01/14 9:45pm)
On Thach Avenue, an old, wooden church is tucked on the top of the hill.
It was built in 1866 by freed slaves and named the Ebeneezer Baptist Church. The building was sold to a group of Unitarians, and is now the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Church.
However, the building is more than a church. A place of worship on Sundays, the other six days of the week it is utilized as a yoga studio, a meeting hall, an art gallery and, for 12 nights of the year, a concert hall.
The Sundilla Concert Series started in 1993, when Auburn resident Katie Smith interviewed singer-songwriter Steve Young. He asked her about a place to play for singer-songwriters in Auburn. While she couldn't tell him any good place at first, she told him to give her a call if he was ever in the area and wanted to play.
He called, and that was the beginning of Sundilla.
Bailey Jones is the producer of Sundilla. He started volunteering in the late 1990s. In 2001, Jones took over booking, and when Smith stepped down, he stepped up. Jones said he doesn't make any money, but he works for the love of music.
The performance space is rustic. The floor is covered in red carpet, a stark contrast to the dark hardwood ceiling.
A quilt hangs behind performers, and art, rotating with the changing galleries, adorns the walls.
"The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is one of the best listening rooms I've ever heard," said Kelly Walker, host of the Sundilla Radio Hour.
The Sundilla Radio Hour is a program broadcasting concerts. It started in March 2013. It plays on three local NPR stations, one station in Ithaca, New York, and online. The four most recent concerts stream on sundillamusic.com. The radio audience is strong, according to Jones.
"After the fourth show, he (Walker) called me and said, 'We just got an email from a guy in California that's been listening,'" Jones said. "He says there's people in the Middle East, in Europe, who are listening at various points in the day."
Jones' theory for the widespread audience is the type of music they host.
"It all goes back to when you turn on the radio," Jones said. "It's not always what people want to listen to. There are stations out there playing this kind of music, but you have to hunt around to find them. When people find them, they listen and they're loyal."
Sundilla's performers are acoustic, but acts have included bluegrass, singer-songwriter, Americana, country and classical.
"There's a limited number of people we can put on the stage," Jones said. "It's an old building. There's a limited number of stuff we can plug into the sockets before fuses start blowing. So you're never going to see an all-electric rock band here. In the early years, there was a chart: Plug this coffee pot into this wall and this one into this wall or all the lights will turn off. They fixed that, but they do have limitations."
Even with the limitations, the popularity is still high, according to Jones, with Auburn being the exception.
"Locally, as far as people coming, it's not as good as I like," Jones said. "I'd like every seat to be filled every show. In 2005, we went to 12-13 concerts a year from 22-25. In 2005 to 2012, our attendance was pretty much averaging 60 for the year. Last year, it dropped to about 50. That's where we are this year."
The listening room can hold 150 people comfortably, and has even held 192.
"I know there are people out there who would like it who won't come for various reasons," Jones said. "One of those is that it's in a church, which freaks them out. It's a church on Sundays, and our concerts are usually on Thursdays or Fridays. If you get over that initial trepidation, which I had for the first one, you quickly realize you're not going to church, you're coming to a concert."
People can bring food and beverages, including alcohol. Jones joked someone could even bring a full bar, as long as the clinking bottles were quiet when performers took the stage.The only rules for the audience are no smoking and stay off their cell phones while the artists perform.
According to Jones, performers are well-established in their genre. They hail from 41 states and seven foreign countries. Upcoming performers include Moors and McCumber, playing Oct. 2 and Eliza Gilkyson, playing Oct. 9.
"The series has brought so many amazing and talented artists over the years," said Wildman Steve, Sundilla's sound engineer. "It brings culture to our city that no other entity, including the University, has even come close to approaching. If you love music, you will find artists they bring enjoyable."
(10/01/14 4:50pm)
Former Auburn University football players Eric Mack and DeAngelo Benton were called to the witness stand yesterday for the Desmonte Leonard murder trial.
Leonard is on trial for the capital murder of former Auburn football players Ladarious Phillips, Ed Christian, and DeMario Pitts.
Leonard is also being charged with attempted murder and assault due to the injuries caused by the shooting to Mack, Xavier Moss and John Robertson.
Both the district attorney Robert Treese and defense attorney Susan James focused on an altercation that happened at University Heights the day of the shootings.
Each witness was individually asked to watch video surveillance from the night of the shooting, to identify specific people during the incident.
Benton said that he could feel somebody staring at him at the party, so he took him outside to "have words with him." The person he felt staring at him was Leonard.
Mack also joined him outside with Leonard to calm Benton down.
"We were approaching him about what he was staring at," Benton said.
Benton was also shown on tape having an argument with a female, whose name he could not remember, or the reason why they were arguing. "I guess I was telling her to get out of my face," Benton said.
Benton said they had been drinking alcoholic Jell-O shots at the party, but that he was not intoxicated.
When James asked if he had been smoking spice, Benton said he had not been.
After Benton and Mack went outside with Leonard, Mack then restrained Benton against a wall to calm him down when they were outside.
Turquorius Vines and DeMario Pitts also spoke to Benton.
"No physical fight or anything had started," Benton said.
Treese asked Benton if he then heard anything unusual, and Benton eventually replied that he had heard a few shots being fired.
Mack was shot from behind, and said that he didn't see who the shooter was. "Some shots were fired," Mack said. "I didn't realize I was hit. Everything after that was a blur."
As soon as Benton heard the first shot, he said he ran for the bushes and down Longleaf Drive.
He did not call the police, but returned to the scene 5-15 minutes later.
Benton said he did not see who shot the gun either.
The District Attorneys called forensic scientists to the stand to question what the chain of command for some of the evidence was, and to ask how it was processed.
(09/29/14 6:40pm)
Most students are aware of the recycling bins around campus and have probably contributed a plastic bottle or two.
However, some people are unaware of what happens to their recycling after they throw it in the bin.
Courtney Washburn, recycling coordinator in the waste reduction and recycling department, said the trash and recyclables from campus go through a specific process.
"The custodians service it first," Washburn said. "Then our staff get it and they bring it back to the food service building. They unload the bins and there's someone here sorting them. By sorting, I mean we're taking it from a small bin and putting it into a larger one."
Washburn said the recycling is sorted into three different categories: plastic and aluminum, mixed paper and cardboard.
"All the recycling from campus comes to our parking lot," Washburn said. "We have a compacter for paper and a roll off for plastic and aluminum. We also have cardboard bailers. You basically just stick the cardboard into it and it spits it out bailed."
According to Washburn, the materials are then sent to multiple locations off campus.
"They're called material recovery facilities, but we call them MRFs," Washburn said. "They're basically a recycling center. The MRF is kind of the middle-man."
Washburn said the plastics and aluminum go to a MRF in Columbus, Georgia.
The mixed paper and cardboard is sent to one in Lee County and the waste from construction and demolition is sent to Sand Hill in Lee County.
Washburn said there is a reason their system is so complex.
"A lot of places do single stream," Washburn said. "That's where you put everything in one bin, you send it to the MRF and they separate it for you. It's very simple. But there's also a very high contamination rate because people can throw everything in. They do and it can get messy."
According to Washburn, mixed paper and cardboard are some of the most recycled materials in Auburn.
"That's where most of our revenue comes from, cardboard and mixed paper," Washburn said. "If we mixed them in together it wouldn't be as valuable. Having that single material is more profitable. And there's lower contamination rates," Washburn said.
According to Washburn, Auburn's diversion rate has room for improvement.
"You measure recycling success through what we call diversion rate," Washburn said. "You measure diversion rate by looking at your total waste, trash and recycling added together, then you find out how much of your total waste was diverted from the landfill. Basically, how much of it was recycled.
The University's diversion rate is 13 percent.
"The national average is around 30 percent," Washburn said.
According to the EPA's website, tax incentives are offered for purchasing recycling equipment.
These tax incentives range from 10-50 percent of equipment costs.
Auburn was recently named one of the greenest universities in the nation.
Mike Kensler, director of campus sustainability operations, said he knows how Auburn became one of the most sustainable campuses.
"About 10 years ago, a couple of Auburn deans saw sustainability as an important trend," Kensler said. "Now we have so much going on compared to the rest of Alabama."
(09/23/14 10:05pm)
Auburn showed everyone that they have a defense as well as an offense in their Thursday night victory against Kansas State.
A defense that has allowed just 258 yards rushing in their first three games, has 19 interceptions in its last 17 games, and has not allowed a third quarter touchdown this season has definitely improved compared to last season's statistics. And head coach Gus Malzahn thinks so too.
"We're very good right now at stopping the run," Malzahn said. "We're just working on improving in all areas and putting a little more pressure on the quarterback in pass situations. I like the direction we're going, and I think we're improving."
The Tigers' defense has improved from the first half to the second half in its first three games significantly by allowing a total of 10 points, 54 rushing yards, 263 passing yards and 317 total yards.
Having a defense that is playing well will help the Tigers' in Saturday's matchup against Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs have an offense that likes to throw the ball a lot and does it well, Malzahn said. They also have junior running back Kenneth Dixon, who is ranked 21st in the country in rushing.
A lot of Auburn's defensive success last Thursday came from junior Josh Holsey.
Holsey took over the calls and checks at free safety last Thursday after senior Jermaine Whitehead was suspended for an altercation with an assistant coach.
"I was well prepared for the job," Holsey said. "I know the secondary pretty much like the back of my hand so it wasn't really hard."
Eleven tackles against Kansas State earned him SEC defensive player of the week honors.
"I didn't even know I had that many tackles at the end of the game until they told me, but as the game went on I was just really focused on doing my job, and make sure we came out with the 'W,'" Holsey said. "I wasn't even focusing on myself as an individual."
The Tigers' defense went into Manhattan ready to let people know that Auburn has a defense as well as an offense, Holsey said
Being in the same system for the second year has helped the defense perform better this season, Holsey said.
"There's really no excuses not to know your job," Holsey said. "Especially when we are doing our base defense. It gives us a big advantage. You know your base calls. That's when you can start adding the exotic blitzes, and start doing different things for different people."
Junior Jonathon Jones, who had an interception against the Wildcats last Thursday, said the Tigers' defense did a solid job to hold Kansas State's offense to 14 points.
"Obviously the offense is going to do what they do every week, but as a defense we want to kind of make a name for ourselves and show we can hold people, and the offense can score," Jones said.
The SEC Champions are seeking their 300th all-time win at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday in the Tigers' homecoming game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The defense will continue to be a major factor in Auburn's success.
"We talk every week about improving our defense," Jones said. We obviously made mistakes, but we definitely got better."
(09/20/14 12:00pm)
When Fernando Cruz was finishing high school in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he was assigned a final project. While other students struggled with ideas for weeks, Cruz said he knew what he was doing in a heartbeat.
On the day of his presentation, Cruz walked to his senior classroom with a smile on his face -- portable gas stove in tow.
Cruz said his peers watched in awe as he effortlessly seared a skirt steak, mixed an Argentine chimichurri sauce and whipped mashed potatoes.
Ten years later, Cruz is the executive chef at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center and a recent competitor on season 13 of FOX's hit show "Hell's Kitchen."
"I didn't just wake up one day and say, 'I'm going to cook,'" Cruz said. "It just grew into me and became a part of me. From there, I set my goals high."
In 2003, Cruz left Puerto Rico to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in hospitality and hotel and restaurant management in 2007.
The 29-year-old chef said his accomplishments are the product of hard work.
"My family didn't have any money, and the CIA was incredibly expensive," Cruz said. "But I went, and I told myself, 'I'll pay for it later.' I'm a very independent person and I've paid for everything myself. Even with all the loans, I could never regret my education."
Roy Khoo, culinary director at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Newnan, Georgia, hired Cruz fresh out of culinary school.
"Fernando was young and he was green, but I hired him because he had an indescribable drive for success," Khoo said. "As I talked to him, I saw this passion in his eye and knew he had a keen dedication for what he does, and that he'd make it in this business."
After working with Cruz for five years, Khoo drove more than an hour to attend the "Hell's Kitchen" premiere watch party at the Hotel at Auburn University Sept. 10.
"The trip was worth it because I got to see Cruz's great performance on the show while being there with him," Khoo said. "This will give his career a boost, and he deserves it. People will know his name, and people will see the same passion I've seen in him for years."
Cruz said Khoo has been a mentor throughout his career, and Cruz wouldn't be as successful without him.
"Roy's the person who taught me how to be a leader," Cruz said. "When he hired me, I knew how to cook, but he was a mentor to me for so much more. He taught me something very special. I won't stop for someone in the kitchen, but I will always slow down for them and teach them like Roy did for me. I have so much respect for Roy and his teachings."
After cooking in different regions around the country with Khoo, Cruz said his experience made him an ideal contestant for "Hell's Kitchen," but that's not what led him to apply.
"I remember watching the show while I was at the CIA and thinking, 'These people are crazy, I would never,'" Cruz said. "I don't know what came over me. I wanted to see how I compared to other cooks across the nation and when the opportunity knocked at my door, I answered it."
While Cruz finished his culinary training years ago, the executive chef said "Hell's Kitchen" was an extension of his schooling.
"Gordon Ramsay is one of the greatest chefs I've ever met," Cruz said. "What you see on TV is what you get. The audience usually sees him stressed and angry, but his mentoring side is the side you don't see. He truly wants to help you grow and become a better chef. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher."
Maria Gomez, Cruz's wife, said she was concerned about his decision to participate in a reality television show, even with the opportunity he would receive if he won the competition.
"I rarely watched the show to begin with because it stressed me out," Gomez said with a laugh. "I just don't care for reality TV. Sometimes people are portrayed how they're not. From the Kardashians to 'Hell's Kitchen,' the producers can make something out of nothing, and I was worried about how Fernando would be portrayed."
To keep her husband grounded, she gave him a piece of advice before he left for filming.
"'Don't lose yourself,' I told him," Gomez said. "We have three kids under the age of 5, and he has an entire professional career at stake, but he never lost himself or his values. He didn't change, and I'm so proud of him."
Gomez, who also attended the CIA, met Cruz while pursuing her bachelor's degree in culinary arts.
"We've been successful, but we're not making filet mignon at home," Gomez said. "We are very simple, and we aren't food snobs. We'll feed anything to our family if it's fresh, good and done right. Simplicity is what it's all about."
Now, seeing her husband's success, Gomez said she's been able to put her concerns aside and enjoy the "Hell's Kitchen" experience with her children.
"We're all so happy and proud of him," Gomez said. "We're so young, and he's going to have such a long and successful career. We have a lot to look forward to."
Cruz said he's glad "Hell's Kitchen" shaped his culinary abilities and not his personality.
"I got a part on 'Hell's Kitchen' by being who I am," Cruz said. "The show didn't change that, and I couldn't be more proud of the way I handled everything."
The Hotel at Auburn University is hosting watch parties every Wednesday throughout Cruz's run on "Hell's Kitchen." The parties are free and open to the public.
"On TV or not, I'm still a part of this community," Cruz said. "I want everyone to come and enjoy this experience with me, young and old. I'll prepare the dishes on that night's show, and it will create great memories."
Cruz said he's grateful he set his sights high, and advises other young people to do the same.
"Don't let anything stop you," Cruz said. "Set your goals as high as you can. You won't be able to achieve them tomorrow, but that's why you work on them. If you have a goal and fight for it, but are able to remember who you are, someday you'll achieve more than you ever thought possible."
(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."
(09/07/14 12:00pm)
A dedication ceremony in honor of William "Will" May was held at the South Donahue Courtyard on Aug. 29.
Will was 13 years old when he was killed in a hunting accident Jan. 12, 2013.
Because Will was an avid Auburn fan, the South Donahue Courtyard was dedicated in his memory.
According to Tim Jackson, executive associate athletics director, the May family is a member of The Talon Society, which requires a donation of at least $500,000.
"The May family has been a strong supporter of Auburn athletics for years," Jackson said.
Joe Whitt, former Auburn football assistant coach, spoke at the ceremony.
"We are here for love," Whitt said. "Love for family, and love for Will."
Jackson unveiled a plaque in honor of Will after athletics director Jay Jacobs delivered a short speech.
"I never had the chance to know Will, but his legacy will live on forever," Jacobs said at the ceremony. "He is not here with us, but his legacy will live on in our hearts."
Will's father, Guy May, also spoke at the ceremony.
"My favorite thing that was said about Will was something we heard from about 20 different kids," Guy said. "They said, 'Will May was my best friend.' I don't know how a 13-year-old found a way to make that many people feel like they were his best friend, but he did."
According to Guy, his son embodied the Auburn Creed.
"Will loved everything about Auburn University, and everybody in it," Guy said. "He didn't need to read The Auburn Creed to know what it meant to be an Auburn man."
According to Will's uncle, Joe May, Auburn was a family tradition for Will.
"My mom and dad went to Auburn," Joe said. "They actually met at Auburn and had five boys and we all went to Auburn. Will put that Auburn jersey on at a very young age. He loved Auburn, he loved Auburn athletics and especially Auburn football."
Joe said his nephew was more than just an Auburn fan, however.
"Will was a good kid," Joe said. "He was very involved in the community, very involved with school and very involved with church. He was well respected by his peers. He was a funny kid; he really liked to clown around. He enjoyed music, he enjoyed sports and he enjoyed video games."
Joe said Will touched people he did not even know.
"Will was an unconditional person," Joe said. "He did things to help people out because that is what you should do, not because they could do anything for him. We heard stories of him helping classmates and people he didn't really know. They said he would do things for them just because he knew they needed it. That is just who he was."
According to Joe, Will's life, though short, was full of meaning.
"He lived life to its fullest," Joe said. "He believed in having a good time. We have so much to give and we get caught up in what's going on in our lives and we forget to be there for others. Will seemed to understand that at a very young age."
(08/28/14 6:00pm)
Only two incoming SEC volleyball players have ever earned Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year. The most recent recipient is a 5'9 freshman setter for Auburn out of Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky.
Alexa Filley, the 2013-14 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, looks to be a factor in getting the ball to Auburn's hitters this season, regardless of her height.
"A lot of people put attention toward the height thing, and I've said for a long time it doesn't matter what the position is," said volleyball head coach Rick Nold. "You want to look at the player first, and something with her is she's a good all-around player. She's a good athlete. She jumps well and puts up a very good block for a setter."
Being tall can help in volleyball, but that doesn't mean shorter people cannot make a difference. Filley said she overcomes her height disadvantages by working harder than everyone else and playing as if she's a "big" player.
Filley and junior Alyssa Ivey are vying to be the setter in the Tigers' system this season. Ivey returns for her second season at Auburn after appearing in 24 matches during the 2013 season.
Both players will look to replace Lindsey Wintzinger, who became one of the four setters in Auburn's school history to reach the 2,500-assist mark.
Part of a top-15 recruiting class, Filley and the other freshman have acquired the highest ranking in program history and are looking to play a major role for the Tigers in 2014.
"I'm excited about competing with my teammates and getting better and trying to beat some people," Filley said.
Filley led her high school team to a 36-6 record, a Kentucky state championship and a final national ranking of No. 6 as a senior, according to prepvolleyball.com.
She recorded 1,248 assists, 334 digs, 102 kills, 58 blocks and 41 service aces during her senior season.
She was a 2013-14 Under Armour Second-Team All-American, MVP of the state tournament.
While attending Assumption High School, Filley helped her team win four straight state titles, winning state tournament MVP honors in 2012 and 2013. She was also named a second-team All-American selection by USA Today after posting 1,238 assists and 332 digs during her senior season.
Filley and freshman outside hitter Courtney Crable, high school rivals at Louisville's Assumption and Mercy Academy, are now teammates at Auburn.
Crable was Kentucky's Miss Volleyball and a first-team Under Armour All-American in 2013.
Crable said it was fun playing against Filley in high school.
"(Filley) was always a great leader on the court for her team," Crable said. "She is definitely bringing a lot to the table. She's a great defensive player and she is also a threat at the net. I think she will be really good for us."
Nold believes Filley's greatest quality is her competitiveness.
"You put her in a situation, she's going to give everything she has," Nold said. "She's a hard worker, but she's very, very driven and, again, I think that competitiveness is what sparks that."
The competition for the setter position is ongoing, but Nold said Filley and Ivey are both improving and battling for playing time.
Filley is enjoying her first year on The Plains and is ready for the season to start.
"I'm hoping we do really well," Filley said. "I'm hoping we compete in all our games and all our tournaments."
(08/27/14 11:00pm)
Coming out of Plano West High School in Plano, Texas, Casie Ramsier had several accolades next to her name.
All-American, team captain and state champion were just a few.
Auburn's leading goal-scorer was not one many expected to add after only her freshman season. Not even head coach Karen Hoppa saw it coming.
"Obviously, we knew Casie had potential; that's why we recruited her," Hoppa said. "But I would say I wouldn't have expected her to get as many goals and be as impactful as she was that quickly, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise."
After a freshman campaign where she started all 22 matches and scored nine goals, Ramsier gave credit to upperclassmen for preparing her for SEC soccer.
"I wasn't really sure what to expect," Ramsier said. "I knew it would definitely be a step up from the pace I was used to, but our older girls helped us adjust quicker by making sure we were ready for what was coming."
After such a great season, Ramsier said she stayed focused in the offseason, trying to avoid the infamous "sophomore slump".
"I know personally, I want to do better than I did last year," Ramsier said. "It's great to have a freshman year like that, but I can't let down."
Hoppa is confident Ramsier has the work ethic to avoid becoming complacent.
"I definitely think she's improved," Hoppa said. "The great thing about Casie is she works her tail off no matter what we're doing. It doesn't matter if it's weight room, fitness, anything, everything. She works her tail off."
Improving upon her numbers last season will be a tough task, though, and Hoppa said she knows teams will be focused on the goal-scorer.
"Last year she was an unknown and could sneak up on people," Hoppa said. "Now she's going to be the number one forward on our scouting reports, but hopefully what it will do is it will open up other players around her."
With teams focused on her, displaying leadership on and off the field will be a key part of her game this year. Hoppa said she thinks she is ready for that role.
"I think she's grown a ton over the past year," Hoppa said. "I definitely think she's stepped into a leadership role, and we expect her to be the leader of our front line."
(08/27/14 6:00pm)
Videos of people being doused by a bucket of ice water have saturated social media for the past few weeks.
If one is challenged to pour a bucket of ice water over their head and they do not complete it within 24 hours of receiving the nomination, he or she is supposed to donate $100 to fund Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research.
If they do complete the challenge, he or she is encouraged to donate $10. No one is monitoring whether the money is donated, but videos of someone being showered in ice water have spread across social networks.
The videos typically include a nominee giving a "thank you" for the nomination, as well as a challenge to a few family members or friends to do the same within 24 hours.
This is all a part of the ALS ice bucket challenge, a movement to raise awareness and money for research of ALS.
According to nurse Kate Carruthers, ALS is often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, named after the baseball player who died of the disease in 1941.
Carruthers said ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
"ALS is degenerative, so it progressively gets worse, similar to Parkinson's disease," Carruthers said. "It affects the spinal cord and brain. When the motor neurons die, the patient loses the ability to initiate and control muscle movement. This eventually leads to paralysis and then death."
Carson Haley, senior in social science education, was nominated by his brother to complete the challenge.
He then challenged his roommates to do the same. He said along with seeing his friends complete the challenge, he has enjoyed watching leaders in the sports world get involved.
"I've seen [Major League Baseball] players challenge each other, which is cool," Haley said. "I saw on the MLB Network that the manager of the Red Sox challenged the manager of the Yankees."
Other Auburn students have gotten involved too. Anna Donze, junior in accounting and Tiger Paw, said the volleyball team nominated the cheerleaders to take an ice bucket for ALS.
Donze was relieved to know the Tiger Paws weren't challenged, but she has enjoyed seeing how much awareness and money has been raised for the research of ALS.
One of the most famous people to take the ice bucket challenge is Apple CEO Tim Cook, an Auburn graduate.
"What should I do?" Cook asked a crowd of Apple employees in a video posted by the company. "I'm going to do both."
The popularity of the challenge has caused some social media users to become curious about the disease.
Some challenge videos include information about ALS and how to donate to the cause.
The videos have helped spread awareness of ALS. Before the challenge started circulating, Haley said he didn't realize that ALS was the same as Lou Gehrig's Disease, the more commonly used name.
"I saw a video of a man with ALS, and his walking and speaking were impaired," Haley said."I had heard of the disease before, but didn't know much about it."
The ice bucket challenge spreads awareness through social media and raise money for researching a cure for Lou Gehrig's disease.
(08/13/14 6:00pm)
Twenty degrees north and south of the equator, in regions known as the 20th parallels, natives harvest the fuel that keeps the world running - Coffee.
It is in these regions where Wake Up Coffee Co. chooses to buy their coffee beans at a fair price.
It's called fair and direct trade, according to Megan Preston, co-owner of Wake Up Coffee Co., and it beats the banana republic - a politically unstable area with an impoverished working class whose economy depends largely on exporting products - most coffee growers in the 20th parallels work.
"When you create a market place for what people can produce, that could go on forever," Megan said. "It gives them more opportunity for continued income and gives them the pride of a job well-done and empowerment through meaningful work."
From Ethiopia, Mexico, Liberia and straight into your coffee cup on Auburn University's campus; Wake Up Coffee will be selling their worldly coffee on campus among the ranks of the various other food trucks this coming fall semester next to Comer Hall off of Mell Street from morning through lunch.
Wake Up Coffee will begin selling their coffee from a 1982 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia modified to into a coffee house on wheels, which they named Papercup Espresso.
Equipped with most of the amenities the main store has to offer, Wake Up Coffee and Papercup Espresso will be able to satisfy the coffee craving students need fixed to wake up with lattes, espresso, mixed drinks and dripped coffee.
Wake Up Coffee will begin roasting their own coffee beans locally once the van makes its debut on campus.
"From what I've heard, Starbucks is always really crowded," Megan said. "It would be nice to have another option, so we might catch some of their overflow."
Megan and Wade Preston, co-owner of Wake Up Coffee Co., purchased the van from Steady Hand Pour House, a coffee shop based in Atlanta.
"It used to be a street coffee van, but it had been sitting out for three or four years, was rusty and busted up," Wade said. "We saw some potential in it and we thought it was made for a college town."
The van's first adventure into coffee was at the 2013 Iron Bowl before Wake Up Coffee Co. ever opened. Megan and Wade set up Paper Cup Espresso next to Ander's Bookstore to advertise their soon-to-be coffee shop.
"It's fun to look back and know that our first day of business, the first cup of coffee we ever sold was on the Iron Bowl 2013," Wade said.
Now, the van is in good shape thanks to Auburn industrial design seniors Blaine McHale, Kathryn Klebenow, Joanna Waters, Madeline Sharp and Matt Severin.
Wake Up Coffee contacted the industrial design department at Auburn to work on the interior design and layout of the van.
"With one or two people working in the van, space can be at a premium," Severin said. "There are also certain things you are required to have for health standards, so making sure everything can fit into the van can be kind of a hard job."
After measuring the van, brainstorming and consulted with Wade, the industrial design students were able to design an interior that was as efficient as possible from the standpoint of a barista.
"It'll make it look like more of a coffee can, instead of like a 'let's all grab Shaggy and the gang and go camping' van," Severin said.
Megan and Wade have begun a Kickstarter in order to get their van project off the ground.
Wake Up Coffee's goal is $10,000 and will end on Aug. 17.
Individuals who pledge money to Papercup Espresso's Kickstarter can receive anything form free coffee and T-shirts to full barista lessons.
Backers who donate $1,000 or more will receive a private party from Wake Up Coffee with live music and unlimited free drinks at Wake Up Coffee Co. in Auburn or at a private location of the backer's choosing.
(07/25/14 4:00pm)
Call him what you want: family man, Auburn man, a winner or even a loser, if you don't cheer for the Auburn Tigers.
But one thing cannot be denied about Coach Gus Malzahn -- he is a man of second chances.
While many people wonder why Malzahn continues to give players second chances, the answer is simple.
It seems to have worked out for Malzahn as a coach so far, as well as for the players.
It started in 2010 when a kid by the name of Cam Newton transferred to Auburn University from Blinn Junior College in Texas.
But that's not where the real story begins. Newton and Malzahn's connection began after Newton allegedly stole a laptop while attending the University of Florida.
Months later, it was uncovered Newton had allegedly violated the honor code as a freshmen by cheating in class.
Yes, the same football player who left Florida after allegedly stealing a laptop came to Auburn, where he was later named the Heisman Trophy winner -- the player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.
Fast forward to 2013, Malzahn's first season as the head football coach at Auburn.
A young man by the name of Nick Marshall was dismissed from the University of Georgia for allegedly stealing from a teammate.
In an instant, Marshall's career looked as though it was over.
However, a little help from Coach Malzahn got Marshall back on his feet faster than ever, literally.
Marshall took the job as Auburn's starting quarterback where he also thrived, leading the team to within 13 seconds of the school's third national football title and leaving his name in the Heisman mix for the upcoming season.
Many people online have called Auburn a classless program, but what is classless about giving a kid a second chance and watching him succeed and become a role model?
Nothing, nothing at all.
Every time Malzahn decides to give a future to a player with a sordid past, he sticks his neck out and takes the risk.
He puts his own reputation and the University's on the line.
Malzahn has enough confidence in his program and coaching staff to ignore the potential backfire with his players' reputation.
If Malzahn ignored Marshall and Newton, the odds of them becoming successful role models would have been low, which points the finger at an issue with today's society.
The trouble with today's society is not enough youth are given a second chance.
I understand life is not fair and not everyone gets a second chance, but throwing a kid in jail only makes his or her behavior worse.
Removing Newton and Marshall from football, the game they loved, for minor hiccups when they were younger would have only created more unsuccessful members of society.
Auburn has only had three football players arrested since Malzahn arrived in Auburn in December of 2012.
So I'll agree with Father Flanagan, whose core belief was "there are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking."
(07/12/14 1:00pm)
Former Auburn men's tennis All-American Tim Puetz was more excited than head coach Eric Shore had ever seen him after the Tigers won a match against Alabama 4-3 in Tuscaloosa.
Puetz lost his doubles and singles matches that night, but that didn't matter to him as much as the team winning.
According to Shore, it was not about winning or losing for a "humble" person like Puetz, but learning about life through the game of tennis.
"It's not so much about tennis," Puetz said. "It's about getting more mature and learning the things that matter more. I learned that in Auburn."
The former Tiger has come a long way since his tennis days on the Plains.
Puetz's first adventure at Wimbledon came to an end Wednesday, June 25 after his second-round loss to No. 16 seed Fabio Fognini in London.
After playing in the U.S. Open and the French Open already, he was excited to compete against more big names at Wimbledon.
"That's what you play tennis for," Puetz said. "You play tennis to play the guys you see on television."
Puetz was a four-year letter-winner and All-American at Auburn. He posted at least 18 singles wins each year.
During his senior season in 2010, Puetz made a run to the NCAA semifinals in singles with a .857 winning percentage and an 18-3 record. He also earned All-SEC honors during each of his four seasons at Auburn.
Puetz's relaxed mentality on the court is what helps him deal with pressure, according to Shore.
"He's never been a kid that gets too stressed out," Shore said. "He just enjoys the competition and doesn't let it affect him personally."
Puetz said he believes in finding a balance that works for you.
"Every player is different," Puetz said. "Some players are really, really intense when they play. I'm not like that. I try to be focused, and at the same time relaxed. There are some things you can't control and that you can't get too upset about when you play."
At just 26 years old, Puetz appears to have his best days ahead of him.
Shore believes he also has the potential to make a name for himself in doubles.
Puetz and his former Auburn doubles partner Alexey Tsyrenov advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships in 2009, finishing the year ranked sixth in the nation by the International Tennis Association.
"He is very diverse," Tsyrenov said. "He can play on the baseline, but he can also shut down people with the serve and volley and he can be really good at the net."
To this day, Puetz claims his time spent at Auburn was the best of his life and said the atmosphere is different on the Tour.
"You're playing for yourself," Puetz said. "You're not playing for the team anymore. Auburn was the best for me. You had the team atmosphere."
He still keeps in touch with most of his friends from college, including Shore and Tsyrenov.
"I come to Auburn as much as I can every time I'm in the states," Puetz said. "I miss everything about it."
(07/14/14 12:00pm)
President Jay Gogue was named the second highest paid public university president in the country in 2012, second only to Pennsylvania State University's then presdient, Graham Spanier.
Spanier was fired in 2012 after his involvment with the Sandusky scandal.
Spanier brought in $2.9 million for the 2011-2012 year.
Huffingtonpost.com reported Gogue's salary at $2.54 million.
Before he was hired as president of Auburn University, Gogue was president at the University of Houston.
"At the University of Houston, President Gogue had a very nice package with great pay and benefits, it was about $425,000 or so," William Sauser, managment professor, said. "To compete, Auburn had to tell Gogue they would give him a significant bonus if he would come and stay for five years."
According to Sauser, Auburn had an abundance of inner turmoil and interim presidents and decided that Gogue would offer the stability the University needed, so they offered an increased salary.
Gogue arrived in 2007 and signed a five-year contract.
"For those first five years, Dr. Gogue was paid a base salary of $450,000 per year," said Brian Keeter, Director of Public Affairs. "By the way, it's widely reported that the median base salary for a public university president is $441,392 per year."
Keeter also explained the confusion with the term bonus when applied to President Gogue's salary.
"A bonus is typically defined as an amount paid in reward if the University reaches a certain objective under the president's leadership," Keeter said. "The Board of Trustees has not approved or provided a bonus for Dr. Gogue at any time."
Keeter also explained the annual compensation for Gogue as provided by the Board of Trustees as broken into two parts - base salary and deferred salary.
"The combination of the two is typical for how public university presidents are paid," Keeter said.
The Board of Trustees provided a deferred salary of $250,000 only after Gogue served his full five years as stated by the contract. Keeter explained if Gogue had left before the five years were completed, he would not have received any of the deferred salary.
"In July 2012, when he completed five years as president, the Board made a one-time payment of the $1.25 million that he had earned in deferred salary over the five-year period."
Keeter acknowledged the payment has often been confused with a bonus when it was in fact part of his salary as stated in the contract.
"I would say President Gogue is well paid, there is no question about that, but he has definitely earned it," Sauser said. "He has been a great president and the civil turmoil has virtually disappeared. Faculty and administration have been on the same team, and that's what I've always hoped for in my 34 years here."
The Board of Trustees raised Gogue's yearly salary to $482,200 in July 2012.
"His current base salary is only 7 percent higher than it was seven years ago," said Don Large, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "I recall from that meeting that the Board recognized his stellar annual evaluations and the improvements in academics, research and outreach that occurred under his leadership."
With the increase in Gogue's salary comes an increase in tuition.
Sauser explained the way funding for the University is distributed. State Appropriations, tuition, grants and donated funds make up the way the school is funded.
"Since 2008, appropriations from the state have been cut by about $100 million per year, " Keeter said. "Auburn's operating budget is about $1 billion per year, so you can see that from the percentage basis, a $100 million cut is substantial."
Donations have increased, but the University was unable to gain more money from grants due to research costing more money than actually made. The Board of Trustees was forced to raise tuition.
"The Board resisted trying to raise tuition by a large amount," Sauser said. "They plan to raise tuition by a small amount every year, they understand how difficult it is for parents and students to afford a higher tuition each year."
According to Keeter, universities across the nation have faced similar budget challenges and have responded by eliminating degree programs and laying off staff.
"Through the combination of cutting University costs and incremental increases in tuition, Auburn has avoided the pain of eliminating majors and faculty positions," Keeter said. "Auburn has been able to maintain a robust academic environment despite significant reductions in its budget from the State of Alabama."
(07/04/14 4:00pm)
Auburn University's radio, television and film (RTVF) program recently changed its title to media studies.
The name change reflects a dramatic and quickly shifting media landscape, according to George Plasketes, professor and associate director of the media studies program.
Last year, the department of communication and journalism became the School of Communication and Journalism in order to modernize the four programs under it: journalism, communication, public relations and RTVF.
The program's name change led to the creation of media studies, according to Susan Brinson, professor in media studies.
In the past 20 years, the media industry has changed dramatically with the development of Web 2.0 - a more interactive Internet than what was originally developed.
Convergence, the shifting of all media to the Internet has also occurred, as well as the decline in the radio industry.
"For us to continue calling the major radio, television and film really wasn't an accurate representation of the industry as it currently stands," Brinson said.
Media studies will reflect a shifting emphasis towards mass media, which is any medium used to communicate to mass audiences, and digital media, according to Brinson.
Plasketes agreed, and said media studies "is more comprehensive and contemporary."
According to Plasketes and Brinson, the program's change was a team effort by the media studies faculty and was encouraged by Jennifer Adams, director of the School of Communication and Journalism.
"Everybody felt it was a positive and good step to make," Plasketes said.
The faculty researched the program names of the top media schools in the country, especially the top schools in the Southeastern Conference.
While no school had a degree titled media studies, they all had similar titles, which encouraged Auburn's faculty they were on the right track, according to Brinson.
Although the program's name has changed, the faculty and curriculum are relatively unchanged, and the new degree name will only affect the incoming freshmen of 2014.
When Plasketes mentioned RTVF was changing its name, during a class this spring, students seemed uncomfortable.
"I respected that discomfort, but I tried to convince them that it's basically the same thing," Plasketes said.
James Coker, senior in media studies, says the program's new name is a welcomed change.
Coker believes other students, pursuing similar majors in the South Eastern Conference, are more successful because of their all-encompassing degree titles.
"More opportunities are offered to them as a senior and after college just by the name they studied under," Coker said.
Plasketes hopes future employers will look at courses taken and skills learned instead of focusing on the name of a graduate's degree.
One change, which will be implemented in the fall, is a new visual media track inside the media studies degree.
Professors Hollie Lavenstein and Kevin Smith have spent the last two years developing new courses and course sequences for the visual media program, according to Plasketes.
The new track will include more filmmaking, sequence design and a concentration on new media.
Media studies courses will be identified as MDIA, but the faculty is satisfied, according to Plasketes.
(06/30/14 1:11am)
Since receiving the news of Philip Lutzenkirchen's death this morning, many thoughts have run through my head. The main thing that continually comes to mind when I think about Lutzenkirchen is legacy.
Auburn University produces thousands of graduates into society every year. Many go on to build a name for themselves and earn their respect after many years.
However, in an age where arrogance and selfishness is celebrated in athletes like Johnny Manziel, Lutzenkirchen was a shining example of the opposite of that mindset.
When I met Lutzenkirchen in a class several years ago, I never expected him to give me the time of day due to his status. He was an elite Auburn football player, a superstar on campus. However, when I approached Lutzenkirchen and Jeffrey Whitaker about signing a poster for Sean Fredella, a Birmingham boy battling cancer, I saw for the first time the kind of man that Lutzenkirchen was.
Not only did he and Whitaker sign the poster, they got the entire team to sign the poster along with having the team sign a game ball that they gave to Sean.
After immediately gaining my respect for their incredible act of kindness, I was able to get to know Lutzenkirchen a little more during our time in class. When asked about a crazy athletic feat he had performed in high school, he simply responded, "It wasn't talent, it was lucky."
When I advised him to stick to saying, "Thanks," he laughed it off like it was nothing.
For someone with the athletic talent and popularity to shrug it all off and be a genuine person, when he could have had the superstar athlete mentality and ignored those less talented than him, it left a lasting impression.
For us to say that the Auburn Family has lost someone dear isn't sufficient, because Lutzenkirchen's life has affected so many more people.
In one of those instances of rare unity in college football, fan bases from all over the nation are expressing their sympathy.
After Lutzenkirchen was waived from the St. Louis Rams, he began working as an assistant financial advisor at McDonald & Barranco, Wealth Management in Montgomery. On the side, he found a way to get back on the football field, as an assistant coach at Montgomery private school St. James.
Again, Lutzenkirchen showed his desire to help others. Not only did he share his football talents with the St. James Trojans, he also stepped in on behalf of Michael Sam, after Sam became the first openly gay player in the NFL.
After seeing homophobic tweets, Lutzenkirchen immediately took to Twitter to defend Sam. He could have easily ignored the tweets and let Sam fend for himself, but he wouldn't stand by and watch someone be bullied.
As the mourners continue to gather around Toomer's Corner to pay their respects, we could easily dwell on the fact that Lutzenkirchen has left us. We could mourn for days wondering what could have been from such a gifted and kind individual.
Instead, let's think like I believe Lutzenkirchen would think.
Let's not think about what we no longer have, let's celebrate the legacy that Lutzenkirchen has left with not only our great university, but with the entire world.
In his 23 years, Philip Lutzenkirchen did a lot of amazing things. He won an SEC Championship and a National Championship, and had an incredibly successful career as a football player on the Plains.
While those feats are incredible, his most incredible feat lies in the establishment of a legacy that will live on forever in only 23 years. Many people die at an old age without ever coming close to touching the number of lives that Lutzenkirchen affected.
Number 43 will always live on in Auburn, as he exemplified the Auburn Creed more than any individual I have ever met.
He will also live on in many other places, through those who were touched by Lutzenkirchen's legacy. We should all strive to leave our mark on the world just as Lutzie did.
(02/25/15 6:07pm)
Juggling the demands of a graduate school accounting major and a newborn child is no easy task, let alone for a college athlete who is also training for his final season.
Those demands eventually caught up to Patrick Savage, who decided to quit the team in February after four years with the Auburn baseball program.
The departure, according to Savage, was smooth and respectful on both sides.
"(Auburn head coach Sunny Golloway) was completely okay with my decision and respected it and was fine with me parting ways," Savage said. "You can ask any coach that was in that room. I shook their hand, looked them in the eye and they told me I was welcome back, then that was it."
But Savage wasn't the only player to have a meeting with Golloway.
According to former pitcher Jay Wade, a number of players, including Chase Williamson and Hunter Kelley, were called in for meetings with the coaching staff after a 3-2 loss to East Tennessee State.
"It was kind of cloudy because we didn't really find out what was said," Wade said. "Several players were called in for meetings, and some players decided that was where they wanted to draw the line and stop playing. One was released by a coaching decision."
In the end, Kelley was dismissed from the team. Williamson, like Savage, decided to leave of his own accord.
Golloway hinted at roster minimization after a previous loss to California, but the first-year head coach got straight to the point with the media after the extra innings loss to ETSU.
"If we're going to end up having some cancer in our clubhouse, we're going to end up having to cut that out and move forward," Golloway said.
Media reports on the departures quoted Golloway blaming attitude and effort as the reason for the minimization, which Savage said was false and misleading.
"To hear that in the media just blew my mind," Savage said. "I don't know if it was a cop out or what, but you can ask any of the kids in the locker room. I was a part of this program for a long time and for him to go out and say that, whether or not it was directed at the person he dismissed directly, it seemed like I was grouped in that group."
Golloway declined to talk to The Plainsman about the situation.
Though Savage was not recruited to Auburn by Golloway, the Suwannee, Georgia native said he never had an issue with the new coach's stricter program.
Instead, Savage said he took issue with the way Golloway handled player issues in the media, citing the 'cancer' quote and the general 'airing of dirty laundry' as prime concerns.
"He definitely used what had happened with the one player, who was technically dismissed, and then lumped the other players together into it to make it sound like there was a ton of bad things going on that I and many other people didn't see going on," Savage said. "That's not how my meeting with him went and you can ask every coach who was there that it never went that way."
Savage, who was Auburn's 2014 recipient of the Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award, said media reports tying him to player dismissals have created problems as he seeks employment.
"It makes me look bad because, for a future employer to type my name in online and it come up with 'Auburn baseball, three players no longer with the team,' then I have to tell them that that's not how it went," Savage said. "It's entirely false how it was portrayed and the fact that he was able make it into sounding like I had done something wrong really upset me."
Now graduated with his CPA license and looking to settle down with his wife and child, Savage said he hopes to put to bed rumors that his dismissal was due to internal conflicts with the coaching staff.
"It was more of a personal decision than anything, it wasn't like I was clashing or anything," Savage said. "I was overwhelmed with stuff on my plate and the fact that he made it out to seem like us three were a problem was ridiculous."
(06/14/14 12:00pm)
When my fiance suggested that I attend the inaugural Auburn Women's Football camp, I wasn't exactly on board from the get-go.
I couldn't think of anything more intimidating than surrounding myself with diehard Auburn football fans for a whole day while trying to learn the technicalities of football, a subject that has never been my strong suit.
I've lived in Alabama my entire life, but football was never a part of my upbringing.
I understood the game at its most basic level.
I knew the positions and the faces of the big-name player for each team.
I knew what a fumble was.
I knew what calls the refs were making at least half of the time.
But as far as Auburn-specific football, I was a rookie.
But then, I took a deep breath and decided to attend the camp with my future mother-in-law, Martha.
I was expecting to enjoy a fun day with Martha, while Nate spent the day hanging around Auburn with his dad.
I thought, at the most, I'd get a few autographs.
However, what I got out of this experience was much more.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.
I graduated from Auburn in May and have since moved to Birmingham. Throughout my four years on the Plains, I never went on the field or in the locker room.
I had never seen the new athletic facilities, including the new indoor football field.
I didn't understand the key components to our Hurry-Up, No-Huddle offense or our defense.
And I never knew how much creativity, patience and skill it took to be the Tiger's equipment manager.
However, after eight hours of intense lectures, tours, meet-and-greets and videos, I feel like I'm up to speed.
I even got to meet Gus Malzahn, spend time with his coaching staff and eat lunch with Travis Williams, current defensive analyst, former Auburn linebacker and rapper who created the "Tiger Walk" song.
Even though I enjoyed everything offered to us at this day camp, my favorite segment, by far, was the presentation by Dana Marquez, the equipment manager of the only certified equipment staff in the SEC.
Marquez patented a shoulder pad, both the soft and hard shells, that only weighs 3.8 pounds when dry or wet. Most shoulder pads weigh between 15 and 20 pounds by the end of a game.
Not only that, he also put himself through culinary school while working for several teams in various sports across the country before his arrival at Auburn.
Marquez was funny, well spoken and charming, so much so that one of the attendees asked if he was interested in "older women."
Needless to say, the entire room erupted in laughter.
I couldn't have asked for a more immersive way to wrap my head around something that for so long was completely foreign to me, and for this being the first year the University has hosted a football camp exclusively for women, I applaud it for an invaluable experience that I'll always cherish, along with all of the other memories I made at Auburn.
I am excited to see how next year's camp unfolds.
I'm sure it will be an even greater success than this year's.
I also couldn't have asked to spend the day with more inspirational women.
These women are at the heart of the Auburn family.
They're the great-grandmothers, grandmothers and mothers of current students.
They're the alumnae who helped make the University and the football program what it is today.
I can only hope to be as dedicated, loud and loyal as these women are by the time I'm their age.
(06/12/14 8:00pm)
Beginning in 1847, the city of Auburn had a steady heartbeat. Each beat sounded of railcars barreling down tracks and the faint whistle of trains howling through the middle of town.
This central hub, and heart, of Auburn was the train depot, a historic location now crumbling into ruin.
The peeling, pale-pink brick building is the third depot Auburn has seen since 1847.
The depot was built in 1904 by Auburn architecture student, Ralph Dudley. The aging, victorian style train depot sits alone on Mitcham Avenue.
Vacant since 2003, the depot has continued to deteriorate into obscurity. As a result, the Auburn Heritage Association and the Alabama Historical Commission jointly placed the depot on the 2010 list of Places in Peril.
Mary Norman has been the president of the Auburn Heritage Association since 2004, and she has helped in aiding the preservation of the depot.
"The train depot was the center-point of Auburn," Norman said. "People think Toomer's was, but if you look at history, it is how everyone came into Auburn. Some [came] in horses and buggies, but the majority of people and students traveled on the trains."
According to Norman, the Alabama Historic Commission saw the depot was deterorating and suffering from neglect and knew something had to be done.
The Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation's 2010 Places in Peril list described the state of the depot as "suffering from deferred maintenance, a leaking roof and possible environmental problems from an adjacent gas station."
The East Alabama Male College, Auburn University's former name, was incorporated in 1839. A few years later in 1847, the first depot was built on the same site it rests on today.
The original building fell during a Union raid by General Rousseau during the Civil War. The track, running from Atlanta to Selma, was seized and destroyed to hinder supplies and communication to the two vital cities.
The second depot burned to the ground after it was struck by lightning in 1904.
The Montgomery and West Point Railroad served as transportation for people, mail and supplies to Auburn.
Across from the present depot is a historic marker bearing the details of Jefferson Davis' stop on the way to his inauguration in Montgomery.
The president of the Confederacy stopped at the depot on Feb. 16, 1861, for his first inspection of the Auburn Guard cadets at the college.
Ann Pearson, resident and Auburn historian, grew up riding the train.
"I went to the old train depot many times when I was much younger and would get a ticket to ride the train to Atlanta," Pearson said. "It had separate waiting rooms for blacks and whites and was heated with a potbelly stove."
Ralph Draughon Jr., son of former Univeristy president, Ralph Draughon, elaborated on the prank Auburn students played when the Georgia Tech football players came into town traveling by train.
"There was a big crowd waiting at the depot," Draughon Jr. said. "When the Georgia Tech train came by it just kept on going right past the depot. Auburn students had greased the track and the train just kept on gliding past the depot for miles."
The boarded-up depot sold its last ticket and boarded its final passenger in 1970, after losing money because of the growing popularity of cars and public transportation.
"It's changed and been remodeled so much it's hard to recognize what it used to look like," Draughon Jr. said. "I just hope it can be saved."
The depot has been vacant since 2003, before that it was a real estate office for 20 years.
The building is listed as being owned by MRT LLC, owned by attorney Ronald Russell in Montgomery. The city of Auburn voiced wishes to buy the depot. The asking price was $1.2 million.
"They're either going to keep the gas station next door and sell it to the city, or keep both and rehab the train depot," Norman said. "I'm just happy something is going to be done."
Draughon Jr., serves on the Alabama Historical Commission and on the Alabama Trust Historic Preservation and has been involved with the preservation attempts by the associations.
"I'm very concerned about the depot," Draughon Jr. said. "It was the center of town and a place where people came and went for years and now it's deteriorating. I'm holding my breath it gets saved."
City Manager Charles Duggan described City Council plans at a meeting held in November 2013.
"On the Tuesday night council agenda, the initial development board was looking for a resolution from the city council to buy the depot and preserve it," Duggan said.
The city tentatively plans to turn the depot into a gateway building for traffic coming from the north.
They are also planning a proposal to see if a private business would like to do something with the depot and have it in the private sector.
"There is no definitive plan except to get a hold of it and preserve it," Duggan said.
