1000 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(06/11/14 8:00pm)
For years, "paleo" simply referred to the Paleolithic era.
The Paleo Diet is named after the Paleolithic era, and the foods allowed on the diet are intended to mimic what cavemen ate during this period.
The foods allowed on the diet are grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruits and nuts.
Excluded foods include anything thought to be an agricultural product: grains, legumes, dairy, potatoes, refined sugar, salt and processed oils.
The diet was first popularized in the 1970s, but it has lost much of its acclaim.
Recently, the diet has gained the attention of alternative health professionals and dieters alike, and has even found its way to the Plains.
"I did the Paleo Diet for about a month," said Darby Stanton, recent Auburn graduate. "Alcohol was my one exception."
Kelly Tsaltas, Auburn alumna, and Matt Villarrubia, senior in software engineering, are both taking on the diet for 30 days.
"(Matt and I) needed the structure and rigidity of a strict healthy diet to get ourselves started [on the diet]," Tsaltas said.
The diet is restrictive, as Stanton, Tsaltas and Villarrubia have attested, but for Villarrubia, this aspect was appealing.
"The diet made me focus and deal with less food," Villarrubia said.
However, when asked about the most difficult part of the diet, Villarrubia listed the lack of dairy, beans, rice and bread as major issues.
Stanton said she finds the lack of Paleo choices at restaurants difficult.
"I found Paleo to be extremely limiting in today's society," Stanton said. "If you go out to eat, what are you going to order? Spinach leaves in olive oil?"
Stanton also points out the expenses and said being on the Paleo diet can be expensive when someone is on a college budget.
Although there are people who praise the benefits of Paleo dieting, there are those who do not find the diet logical.
"The underlying premise behind the Paleo diet is that the ills of modern human health can be traced back to the Agriculture Revolution," said Alexander Roberson, Auburn agriculture alumnus. "But man existed for millennia after the Agriculture Revolution with grains and dairy in their diet just fine."
Roberson said the real problem with modern society's health is the increased consumption of sugar and the decrease in physical activity.
"It's a health-food fad that is quick to demonize," Roberson said. "While it is tempting to trace back our eating habits to a time before obesity, it is important to remember we left the Paleolithic age for a reason."
Despite the drawbacks, Villarrubia said there were definite advantages to the diet.
"I lost about 15 pounds and was more energetic for sure," Villarrubia said.
Tsaltas said she is going to continue to carry on some of her lessons from the experience.
"I added in [to my Paleo Diet] dairy, bread, that doesn't have preservatives that I get from the farmers market, and macaroni and cheese," Tsaltas said. "That's it."
Stanton does not agree with this sentiment.
"I just really love eating and some of the things I couldn't eat were pretty outrageous," Stanton said. "I stick to about an 80 percent Paleo diet now, so I don't absolutely loathe myself if I eat the mac and cheese at The Hound."
(06/09/14 6:00pm)
When Kasey Cooper came to Auburn last year after a dominant high school career at Dothan High School, she probably didn't realize the impact she would have on the team in the upcoming season.
Cooper was named the 2013 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year along with being named to Alabama Super All-State Team and the MaxPreps All-American Team.
Her high school stats were a batting average of .569 and 22 home runs in her senior high school season.
In her first year on the Plains, Cooper broke Auburn's single-season home run record, blasting 18 homers.
Dothan High School head coach Patricia Bell expected big performances from her former star player.
"(Kasey's) mindset was always to put in the hours to play at the top of her game," Bell said. "Whatever it took to make the team better was her approach to the game."
Cooper finished her freshman season with a .418 batting average with 77 RBIs and 70 runs scored.
Cooper's record-breaking year didn't go unnoticed, as she was awarded the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Freshman of the Year Award.
Auburn head coach Clint Myers said he believes the award was given to the right player.
"I'm extremely proud of a deserving young lady," Myers said. "We're excited that she is able to represent Auburn in such a great way and she had such a wonderful season that we're happy to see her hard work pay off."
While breaking records and garnering national attention can inflate egos, Cooper remains humble about her success.
"It's a humbling experience knowing people think I am a pretty good ball player," Cooper said. "Just seeing the girls that I'm up against who dominated and were in the Top-25 and Top-10 makes it a great experience."
The power-hitting Cooper firmly believes the batter shouldn't focus on hitting home runs.
"We don't focus on home runs," Cooper said. "That was one of the focuses, was having quality at-bat because quality at-bat leads to a good swing, then a good swing leads to line drives and then home runs."
Cooper expects big things from Auburn next season. Until then, she'll be preparing herself for another title run.
"We had a great run and we're going to use everything we did this year for next year," Cooper said. "We're going to push to be that much better next year because we know what it takes."
(05/19/14 11:51pm)
If you had told me senior year of high school that I would soon be a member of a sorority, I would've laughed at you. Not that I had anything against Greek life - I didn't know enough about it to form an opinion.
From what I had seen and heard, it just wasn't for me. I spent four years of high school trying to avoid anything even remotely resembling a "swap" or a "social" and now I was expected to voluntarily pay money for them?
Besides, the idea of being defined by a few letters creeped me out.
But when summer rolled around, something started to happen. Instead of enjoying their last few months at home, my friends were spending all their time freaking out about rush, or as it's formally known, sorority recruitment. They didn't have enough recommendations, their new Lilly Pulitzer dress just didn't fit quite right or, God forbid, someone Instagrammed a picture of them with a drink in their hand.
At first I was actually embarrassed for them. How could someone spend so much time worrying about something so trivial? But then I realized-when we started school in the fall, I would be the only person I knew who was not involved in the Greek system. I had no idea how I would spend my time or even who I would spend it with.
So, very begrudgingly, I signed up for recruitment.
On the first day, I tried to have a positive attitude. How bad could it be? I mean, thousands of girls do it every year, right? But as soon as I got to my first party, I knew I was in for a rough week. I was met at the door by a group of jumping, screaming girls. The looks on their faces were somewhere between "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited you're here!" and "Oh my gosh, I'm clinically insane!"
I went from party to party, having the same conversations.
"Wait, you're a journalism major? No way! My sister's friend's boyfriend's cousin majored in journalism!"
The whole thing stressed me out. The word "awkward" is thrown around a lot these days, but there really is not a better word to describe how I behave in situations like this. I was tired, sweaty and annoyed. While the other girls in my Pi Chi group giddily discussed which sororities they wanted to keep and wanted to drop, all I really wanted to do was nap.
Half way through the week, I got sick. I can't tell you if it was because I was actually sick, or because my body literally couldn't handle the stress I was under.
So I quit.
It wasn't that difficult of a decision. I hated Recruitment, so I was bound to hate being in a sorority. A couple weeks of school went by and everything was fine. All my friends were busy getting to know their new pledge sisters, but I had classes to worry about so I didn't really notice. Eventually, however, I started to get kind of lonely.
Then I got an email about continuous open bidding, or a very informal version of Recruitment. The way it works is you get to know a couple members of a sorority, and if they like you, they give you a bid. Still unsure about the whole thing, I put my name on the list.
The first sorority to contact me happened to have been my favorite during recruitment. The conversation had been easy, or as easy as forced conversation can be and I had a very personal connection to its philanthropy. After a couple days, I accepted their bid.
After all this, I still wasn't sure I made the right decision.
Everyone I met seemed so confident, well mannered and polished all the time. I didn't know if I would ever be able to fit in with this crowd.
Pretty soon, though, I realized there were girls in my pledge class that were just as weird and lost as me.
I'm now great friends with people I never would've met if I hadn't joined a sorority.
So, in the end, it was the best choice for me.
However, just because it was right for me doesn't mean it will be right for someone else.
There's a common misconception, especially for women in the south, that you have to be in a sorority.
That if you're not in one, you don't have an identity.
That somehow you're an incomplete person if you don't have Greek letters on your t-shirt.
Those things are absolutely, without a doubt, not true.
Yes, joining a sorority has a lot of benefits. Members form great friendships, do a lot of hard work for deserving philanthropies and tend to have relatively high GPAs.
But there are so many other ways to get involved at Auburn. Don't feel pressured to do something you don't want to do just because it feels like you have to.
I love the people I've met through my sorority, and I'm proud to wear my letters. But those things are not the end-all, be-all of my existence and they most certainly do not define me.
(05/14/14 12:00pm)
When it comes to college, we often falter and get lost in the craze of what all it has to offer.
We all know what the social scene is like, which fraternity or sorority we want to rush or which bars we want to go to with our friends.
We also know what the academic scene is like, which professors you need to get and stay far away from, what the best place to study is and just how many all-nighters you're going to have to suffer through to maintain your GPA, but what about your body? What all is going into it?
Between the Chick-fil-A, the numerous Red Bulls and all of the beers chugged on the weekends to unwind, the healthy aspects of college are often forgotten altogether, and before you know it, the "Freshman Fifteen" is no longer a rumor. Fortunately, though, Auburn has tons of options to promote healthy lifestyles for its family, from the new Rec Center to some fine eating establishments promoting healthy food choices.
What are these eating establishments, and where are they?
Go Greek, not to be mistaken for the slogan pushing fraternity and sorority life, has a wide array of options, catering to a large customer base, ranging from vegetarians, vegans, and those that enjoy chicken that's not fried.
When reading its menu on the first floor of the Student Center, you can see food choices ranging from a Gyro Pita Fold, which has grilled Greek seasoned beef lamb meat stuffed into a warm pita pocket, to a Falafel, which is not only a well-balanced meal, but also appeals to vegetarians.
"I like going to there because normally mac and cheese and fajitas aren't healthy, but Go Greek has all organic ingredients, which are healthy, so I don't feel bad eating it," said Olivia Laing, freshman in pre-business. "Also the food makes you really full the whole day and you don't feel bloated sitting in class so it's a win-win!"
Olo sushi is also another popular choice among students.
Located in Village Dining and hallways of the Student Center occasionally, the sushi is all freshly made and rolled in front of the students.
While some of the sushi is indeed fried, Olo also takes requests for just about any roll and any ingredients you do or don't want in it.
From there they spread the rise over the seaweed wrap and add anything from cucumbers to cream cheese and fish options from salmon to shrimp, and it is then neatly rolled and chopped and served immediately to you, no pre-packaging required.
"It's so fresh and perfect for a quick meal between classes," said Courtney Davison, senior in radio, television and film.
For those looking for a place that is not only healthy for the body, but healthy for the spirit as well, you need look no further than Au Bon Pain.
Located on the first floor of the Student Center next to the Game Center, Au Bon Pain, or ABP as it is commonly referred to by students, offers an atmosphere similar to that of Panera Bread Company.
With food options ranging from soups and salads to wraps and warm sandwiches, ABP prides itself on the freshness of their food.
All bread is made daily and the fruits are ordered and brought in daily as well. "Everything about the place says healthy and it's delicious too," said manager Terrence Bradley. "Even the customer base is healthy. In the afternoon we have tons of people come in from the gym and we get a lot of vegans and vegetarians too."
Bradley believes the healthiness of ABP does not just stop at the consumption of the food, but the relationship that is built with its customer base as well.
This was evident from a simple introduction. Bradley's lanyard is decorated with a pin from every sorority on campus, and the passion he has for his job makes ABP feel a lot more like home, rather than just a place to eat on campus.
A fun fact of Au Bon Pain is its secret menu.
Don't go during the main hours and ask for the items, but come during the afternoon, when campus has died down, and you are in for a treat.
All secret menu items are named after students, such as "The Merrideth", which is a piece of grilled chicken topped with egg white, basil pesto, roasted tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.
At ABP your experience will not only be healthier, but will have you leaving in better spirits than you had when you initially came in.
When asked what message Bradley said he would like to give to incoming freshman looking for a healthy place to eat, Bradley said, "Auburn is all family, and family will take care of family."
(04/24/14 7:31pm)
For 214 college football players, their lives are forever changed on NFL draft day when their name is called.
Last April, Onterio McCalebb's life changed in a different way after he wasn't drafted.
McCalebb was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as a defensive back, even though he had no prior experience at that position.
"Some nights I cried because it was like I was starting all over again," McCalebb said. "All my life I played running back, so it was like I went back to playing little league football."
McCalebb had to adjust to his new position from the ground back up in a matter of weeks while hoping his name would not be the next cut before preseason ended.
Coming into training camp, each team is allowed 90 players on their roster. The Bengals had to cut their roster down to the final 53 players, plus the seven-man practice squad after the last preseason game.
"I'm just thinking every day wondering if they're going to keep me," McCalebb said. "During the whole process when they were cutting guys, I was just seeing people drop like flies. I had best friends on the team and I come in the next day and they're gone."
But McCalebb did fall back on his friends when looking to get advice from former Auburn teammates, such as defensive back T'Sharvan Bell.
"I called him and was like, 'I'm going to need your help because I don't know what I'm doing out there,'" McCalebb said. "After the whole process of practicing and stuff like that, it's really stressful, so you need someone like that who has played the position before."
When the Bengals signed McCalebb, he found out about a former NFL cornerback, Ken Riley, who happened to also live in Polk County, Fla.
Riley also switched from playing offense in college as a quarterback at Florida A&M University to playing defense once he got to the NFL.
Riley ended up becoming the all-time interceptions leader in Bengals history and is fifth all-time in NFL history with 65 career interceptions.
"You're not going to make the transition if you still think you're an offensive player," Riley told Bengals.com. "If you're still thinking about being a running back or receiver, you're going to have problems. You have to get your mind right and focus on defense."
McCalebb turned to Riley for advice about transitioning to a new position in the NFL.
"We met every morning and we trained, and he showed me some pointers with back pedaling," McCalebb said. "When I first started I thought I was going to tear both of my ACLs because I'm not used to running backwards, but when I got used to, it I told myself I can guard anybody."
McCalebb had to not only make the difficult adjustment of turning into a defensive player, but also impress the coaching staff. Bengals defensive backs coach Mark Carrier took McCalebb under his wing.
"Coach Carrier, he helped me out a lot," McCalebb said. "He took his time to do one-on-one with me and he helped me break it down to a T."
From trying to outrace trains in high school, to catching a squirrel with his hands in college, to running an official 4.34-40 yard dash at the 2013 NFL combine, McCalebb has always been fast and the coaches took notice of that.
"A thing we weren't necessarily sure about with Onterio was, 'Does he have the quickness to be a corner?'" Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told Cincinnati.com. "After watching him in practices, I don't have any doubt about that."
McCalebb has used his speed to his advantage when guarding top NFL receivers in practice.
"I guard A.J. Green and all those guys; I can guard anyone because of my speed," McCalebb said. "I'm not worried about the speed part though; you've got to worry about technique and what to do when the ball is thrown."
After spending the entire 2013 season on the practice squad, McCalebb now considers himself a defensive player and is looking forward to what is in store for him this upcoming season.
"I love football so much so it feels like I've been off for a long time now," McCalebb said. "I told (Carrier) I can't wait to get back because somebody on the team is going to hate me because somebody is not going to be playing and I'm going to be playing."
(04/23/14 5:15pm)
When most students are searching for an internship, they come to find there are many opportunities available. While some like to stay within the area, there are those who look to travel and intern for big-name companies.
Allie Mullen, junior in marketing, applied for an internship in the interactive marketing department with Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles. While still in the interview process, Mullen said she is learning that the position will consist of promoting movies through different websites.
"It's a little different than what I've done before," Mullen said. "I know I want to be in a big city when I graduate, and I love LA. This would be a new experience for me, so I'm excited to see if it's something I want to do."
Many students find the process to be tedious and difficult when applying for competitive internships in big cities. Jared Nash, junior in turf grass science and management, found his paid internship through the Sports Turf Management Association's website.
Nash said anyone in his field can become a member of the website. They can easily scroll through internship listings of major league teams and decide which ones they want to send their resumes to.
"I applied for the Atlanta Braves, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Sandiego Padres and the Washington Nationals," Nash said. "I heard back from all of them and decided to take Washington."
Nash said the best way for people to get results when applying for these internships is to get good experience, apply to as many places as possible and don't let something pass you by even if it seems out of reach.
"I'm looking forward to being in a different city, like a fast-paced setting where I can be able to work almost everyday," Nash said. "This is what I would like to do with my job, so I'll be looking forward to doing this for the rest of my life."
Interning for big-name companies have helped graduates land their jobs after college. Auburn graduate Cynthia Crandell, who now has a job at Fox Station Sales in Atlanta, said her internship with the Rachael Ray Show allowed her to make connections and get good references when she was applying for her job.
"I was a production intern for the Rachael Ray Show in New York City, and I worked in a bunch of different departments," Crandell said. "If someone gets an internship like mine at a competitive place, I would say that one of the most important things is to get to know everyone's names in the company. If you don't know who they are, then they aren't going to know who you are. Just be dedicated and focused the whole time."
Crandell said she learned a lot and enjoyed her experience, especially in the talent department because she got to greet and escort celebrities when they were guests on the show. Her favorite person to meet was Julie Andrews
Crandell also said her past experiences in college and involvement in Eagle Eye TV and UPC made it possible for her to get chosen to be an intern for the show. She said she would encourage others who are interested in internships such as hers to do the same and build their resume.
(04/22/14 9:00pm)
The Auburn Circle, Auburn University's literary magazine, is set to hold its biannual launch party this week. Editor-in-chief Shelby Rice said she wanted to have an event to promote the magazine after experiencing years in which the magazine struggled to distribute its content.
"I sat down with my PR team, and they came up with the idea of having an event to honor the people who had been published in the magazine," Rice said.
Snaps became an event for artists, poets and other talented students to showcase their work.
"Each semester, we host an artist expo where we display all the visual art and read selected poems and stories that were published in the magazine that semester," Rice said.
The event started fall 2012 after Rice wanted to change the way the magazine was promoted and distributed.
"As we worked through the details, it became what it is today: a party that celebrates the magazine and its readers," Rice said.
The event is Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Room 2222. Snaps gives Auburn students a taste of what types of content can be found in the literary magazine.
"[You can] hear some live music, listen to poetry and look at artwork," Rice said.
Since the first Snaps event, Rice has seen the launch party gain more popularity over the years.
"We have had an average turn out of one hundred people," Rice said.
Michelle Roberts, a junior with a double major in anthropology and political science, has the privilege of having her photo published for the front cover of the magazine as well as having other photos published throughout the magazine.
"It was exciting to know my photo was on the cover," Roberts said.
Roberts had never submitted work to the magazine before, but is said she is excited to see what Auburn students think of her pictures.
"It's a really cool way to show your work to the campus because a lot of people do see it and to showcase my pictures."
Roberts also said she likes all of her photos, but the one she likes the most is named "Chestnut Smoke."
"It's my favorite because of all the people in the photo," Roberts said. "It was taken when I was studying abroad and it was a scene in Spain. It had personality and felt real."
Robert's photos and many other works of art and literature from aspiring Auburn students are featured in the magazine each semester. Rice offered her opinion on this semester's magazine.
"The upcoming issue of The Auburn Circle is probably my favorite issue from my time as editor-in-chief," Rice said. "This issue has so much to offer: it has a lot of great poetry, some amazing photographs and artworks, and several interesting stories. There's really something for everyone to enjoy."
The Snaps launch party aims to attract students to come out, hear and see the work of fellow students and promote the upcoming issue of The Auburn Circle magazine.
"It is a great evening of artistry that we encourage everyone to attend."
(04/19/14 1:27am)
Few position groups were more rocked by graduation this spring than the Auburn secondary.
Senior defensive backs Chris Davis, Ryan White and Ryan Smith all departed from a secondary that was 100th in the nation in passing yards allowed in 2013.
That said, Ellis Johnson's secondary group will return in 2014 with a number of athletes with SEC experience.
"The (Jermaine) Whiteheads, the (Joshua) Holseys, the guys that have been back there, we know what they can do," Johnson said. "It's a matter of them just continuing to improve their craft and to get better as leaders and players."
In addition to Holsey, who is returning from an ACL injury suffered against Texas A&M, and Whitehead, defensive backs Robenson Therezie and Jonathon Mincy are each returning for their senior season.
"I don't really think we have a 'quote-unquote' leader," Whitehead said. "I think it's just the guy who wants what's best for the team, what's best for the defense, who's been here, who knows what it's supposed to look like."
While the upperclassmen have already proven their worth to coaches, spring practice has also allowed new faces to show their potential.
One name making early waves is former No. 1 JUCO safety Derrick Moncrief.
"Moncrief has been an extremely pleasant surprise," Johnson said. "When you get a junior college player who's not played in your system, you always wonder how long it is going to take him to transition."
One secondary player hoping to make a name for himself in 2014 is Jonathan Jones, who is coming off another injury.
Finally, former wide receiver Trovon Reed has had a steep learning curve after his offseason switch to cornerback, but coaches are confident the senior can carve out a role.
"Trovon has had a really good camp," Johnson said. "We think he's going to help us tremendously."
(04/19/14 1:19am)
Auburn will have the tall task of replacing Dee Ford, Nosa Eguae, Craig Sanders and Kenneth Carter along the defensive line but Auburn still has plenty of star power returning in 2014.
Of the many players returning for Auburn on the defensive line, sophomores Carl Lawson, Elijah Daniel and Montravius Adams are looking to make immediate impacts after all three had impressive debuts for Auburn as freshman in 2013.
Counter that with the senior leadership of Gabe Wright and Jeffrey Whitaker returning with plenty of experience and this defensive line could make a lot of noise in 2014.
"As a defensive unit, we are so athletic," said Lawson. "Everyone on D-end and D-tackle can go back and forth between two positions. Elijah has been working hard as always. He's trying to get his fundamentals right, same thing as me. Just working hard to get better that's all he can do. Mon is a freaky athlete."
In spring practice this year Auburn has tried rotating three different sets of only defensive tackles. The name "Rhino Package" was coined after senior Gabe Wright ran the idea across position coach Rodney Garner.
Returning senior tight-end C.J. Uzomah has liked what he's seen so far in the Rhino package and explained the problems Auburn could cause for other SEC opponents who rely heavily on big offensive lines and dual tight-end sets.
"That's something completely different than blocking against like Dee, someone who's extremely quick and fast," said Uzomah. "Blocking against someone like Gabe and Montravius, they're [huge]."
Even with their success last season, the defensive line has problems it wants to fix in 2014.
"As a defensive unit, we need to establish more communication," said Lawson. "We had a lot of problems with that last year. It's a big spring for me because last year I was a little bit disappointed about my performance, and I can't wait to get better."
(04/18/14 11:56pm)
As spring rolls onto the Plains, the Auburn football team has been left with a dilemma.
Who will replace Tre Mason?
After Mason declared for the NFL Draft, the conversation began as to who would be the Tigers No. 1 for next season. The competition will be fierce, with the Tigers returning four running backs, three with experience from last year.
Senior Cameron Artis-Payne joined the Tigers before last season as the No. 1 JUCO back in the nation. Artis-Payne saw the majority of last season's action in the first several games, before Mason was named the starter, and was able to accumulate 610 yards and 6 touchdowns on 91 carries. Artis-Payne is seen by many as the favorite for the starting job, given his experience and ability to run through the tackles.
Artis-Payne won last year's A-Day MVP award and said he hopes to do the same this year. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has high praises for Artis-Payne.
"(Artis-Payne) practices like a pro," Lashlee said. "He doesn't have bad days. He's always attentive. He's always trying to get better."
While Artis-Payne has the lead in experience on his fellow Auburn backs, the competition will be fierce, and he said he believes that the battle is a good thing.
"You've got a bunch of a good running backs in a room, and everybody's trying to push each other," Artis-Payne said. "Everybody wants to be the guy to step up and be the lead back. It's a healthy competition. We all feed off of it."
Senior Corey Grant also saw a decent amount of playing time in 2013 at the speed-back role. On 66 carries, Grant accumulated 647 yards and 6 touchdowns. While Grant will most likely not take the starting role, he will almost assuredly be an integral part in Auburn's run game and is happy with his role as the speed back.
"It's kind of to my advantage," Grant said. "My speed is a little bit more of me than power, but I accept that role and like that role."
While Grant is largely known for his speed, the team knows him for his strength. Head coach Gus Malzahn is impressed with what Grant has done in his tenure on the plains.
"He's very physical," Malzahn said. "He's one of our stronger guys in the weight room, and he's a veteran guy, too."
Sophomore offensive lineman Alex Kozan is also impressed with Grant, calling him a "freak athlete."
"Pound for pound, I'd say he's probably the strongest guy on our team," Kozan said. "A lot of those speed guys, they're not really tough, but Corey's one of the toughest."
Sophomore Johnathan Ford moved to cornerback last year to help with the secondary's depth issues, but Ford is also probably in the mix for the running back race.
Last year, Ford was able to get in against Western Carolina, having a breakout game and running the ball six times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Peyton Barber, who redshirted last year, has also generated a lot of buzz with his work ethic in the past year. Barber even got some pretty serious accolades from Tre Mason.
"[Barber] is probably, skill wise, the best out of all of us," Mason said. "That guy is good. He's very consistent when he's scrimmaging."
Barber originally committed to Ole Miss, but was persuaded by high school teammate and Auburn defensive star Carl Lawson to flip to Auburn.
While redshirting last year, Barber was able to gain valuable experience using the year to improve.
Tight end C.J. Uzomah has high hopes for Barber.
"I've been hearing from some of the defense that Peyton is untouchable," Uzomah said. "Going against our first team all last year helps him tremendously as a running back."
While the stable of backs returning is already strong, the Tigers will bolster their strength with the addition of Racean "Roc" Thomas and Kamryn Pettway.
Thomas, out of Oxford High School, was a five-star prospect who put up crazy numbers in his senior year of high school ball, running the ball 226 times for 2,211 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Thomas brings elusiveness and power, and will have the chance to compete immediately for this next season's running back job.
Thomas was named to the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and to the 2014 Under Armour All-American game. Thomas was also named the 2013 Alabama Player of the Year and was second-team All-USA by USA Today in 2013.
The Tigers signed long-time commitment Kamryn Pettway out of nearby Prattville High School. Pettway has clocked a 4.46 40-yard dash time, and was listed as a three-star recruit, running the ball 169 times for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns in his senior season with Prattville.
Artis-Payne, Grant, Barber and Thomas -- the battle to be the best back at Auburn is just getting started.
(04/17/14 6:45pm)
After The Wall Street Journal dropped its investigative opinion piece about Auburn four months ago, we began receiving messages from our readers. Both emails and written letters came to our inboxes and desks, asking if we could confirm what WSJ wrote was true.
The story that ran on our front page is not about proving who is innocent and who is guilty. The purpose of this editorial is to take a look at the University's justice system and report what we found.
Did anything illegal happen within the justice system at Auburn University? No. In fact, the University seems to be exhausting itself in an attempt to meet all of the Title IX regulations set before it.
Did anything unethical happen? We don't think Auburn has purposefully wronged students - both those going before the student discipline committee and those serving on it. We do, however, think that in an effort to keep the image of the University clean, they have negotiated the rights to those accused of crimes and alleged victims that go through this system.
Our first request from the University is to abolish the practice of holding these hearings behind closed doors. We ask that one member of the student press be allowed access to report on student discipline hearings that would be considered a felony if tried in court. This provision would provide transparency among University administration, as well as hold committee members presiding over a case accountable.
If allowed to report on these hearings, we would adhere to the journalistic industry standard of keeping the names of alleged victims private.
We know that the allowance of a reporter into a student disciplinary hearing is not unheard of, as both the University of Alabama and the University of North Carolina make provisions for so within their respective codes of conduct.
This would not be a violation of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (a Federal law that protects students' privacy and educational records) as this act does not protect the identities of students found liable for a violent crime.
Our second request is for an overhaul of how students and faculty members who serve on the Student Discipline Committee are trained. We ask that all members have thorough understanding of legal proceedings before being allowed to hear a Student Discipline Case.
Another possible solution would be have an administrative law judge, who is a legally trained hearing officer for felony like charges, serve as the committee chair for any forthcoming infractions that would be considered a felony case in a court of law.
Lastly, we ask the University to do everything in its power to allow legal advisers to represent their clients in Student Discipline Hearings that are judging felony level infractions. We were baffled at the blatant lack of efficiency and fairness that ensues when defendants and plaintiffs are left to call and cross examine their own witnesses, present their own evidence and give their own opening and closing statements.
Even if this requires Alabama senators to pass a law protecting the right to counsel in Student Discipline settings, which has recently been the case in North Carolina, we think it is of the utmost importance that these steps be taken.
Overall, our requests are simple. All we ask is the University protect two of our most basic rights: the right to a fair trial and our freedom of speech.
(04/17/14 1:00pm)
When people find out that I work for The Auburn Plainsman, they always ask me what I do. Then comes the follow-up, "What does being a reporter even mean?"
It means a myriad of things to multiple people.
To my section editor, it means being responsible and reliable. Dependable and dedicated. My section editor is the closest thing I have to a boss at this point.
When I switched over from the intrigue section in December, I really didn't know what I was getting into.
I was visiting a friend when I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. It was my new section editor calling me.
All I could gather from the brief phone call was that she talked fast and loud, wanted to meet as soon as possible and had already given me a story that would be due the next week.
To say I was a little intimidated would be an understatement.
Throughout the semester, the intimidation lessened, but I still get a little nervous when I see her name pop up on my phone.
To the people who read the community section, being the reporter means having the facts and getting them out there as soon as possible.
The Plainsman readers are accustomed to speedy and reliable information. They want the whole story, and with the rise of technology and the many outlets to gain information, the story needs to get to them fast.
Getting the whole story doesn't mean just calling one person and being done.
Multiple people have different facts and viewpoints you can use to fill your story out. And it has to be well written, or else you just look stupid.
I need to be ready to go after a story when it happens, that's what's expected from a reporter, even if it's late at night or early in the morning after Rodeo.
It's pretty much a 24/7 job, and that's what it means to work at The Plainsman.
The responsibility taught me to grow up. Of course I grew up in my years here at Auburn, but school and The Plainsman taught me that deadlines are real.
If you don't deliver, people who were depending on you will be let down. If I were to not do my part on The Plainsman, they would fire me, and I would be devastated.
I've become a part of a little family, and The Plainsman office is always a place I can go to get some peace and quiet on this loud campus. I've met some of the greatest people working here and working the community section.
I've gotten to be on a first name basis with city council members, and I call the mayor and city manager on a weekly basis.
I've learned how to compose an important email, speak intelligently to adults and go to meetings that last an hour.
I can now walk into a last minute interview and think of questions off the top of my head.
I talk to the most interesting people and learn more about this town that I love so much.
I've found the coolest hole-in-the-wall places around town and found amazing organizations that benefit the community here.
So, when I'm asked what being a reporter means, the answer is too long and complicated for a friend or passerby.
I just tell them it's my job to talk and listen to people and tell their story, and I love doing it.
(04/16/14 3:31am)
UPDATE: April 16, 2014 at 4:01 p.m.
(04/09/14 7:00pm)
You may not know him by name, but chances are, you've seen him on the big screen more times than you can count. From appearances in shows such as "The West Wing," "NCIS," "Grey's Anatomy," "NUMB3RS" and "Sons of Anarchy," Michael O'Neill is a 1974 Auburn graduate with a list of impressive credits to his name. He is best known for his roles in films such as "Transformers," "Seabiscuit," "Secondhand Lions" and most recently, "Dallas Buyers Club." Though O'Neill is a renowned Hollywood actor, he bleeds orange and blue as much now as he did during his time as an Auburn student. You're from Montgomery, but how did you end up attending Auburn University? Were you an Auburn fan growing up?I was. I was born into it. My dad took me to a [football] game. The first game I ever saw was against Florida in 1958. It was love at first sight.Did you have other family members or relatives that attended Auburn, too?You know what? I was the first person in my family to go to college. It was a dream of my parents to attend the University, and they sacrificed a lot to make that happen over the years. I'm so grateful for that.I know you're really busy, but do you still follow Auburn football?My wife and I try to get back for at least one or two games in the course of the year. We try to bring our daughters when we can. I follow football, I follow the swimming program and I'm very excited about what's happening with basketball and baseball. There are a lot of wonderful things happening at the University beyond athletics, too. The campus to me is like a moving painting. Whenever I'm there, it's just so beautiful. There are such bright faces and bright lives there, and I'm just in awe.You went to Auburn in the 70s - that was a pretty interesting time period for our nation. There was a lot going on. What was that like?It was an optimum time to be there. My freshman class was the first to use the Haley Center. That fall, there was a list of the former students who had been killed in action in Vietnam on the lawn. As I was leaving [my senior year], people went streaking across campus. It was a remarkable time. I'm so grateful because we had the opportunity to listen to some very interesting points of view that we wouldn't have been privy too otherwise. Gloria Steinem, Muhammad Ali and Dan Rather came and spoke. It was a tremendous experience. It was a very, very diverse influence. It sure gave me a good education to go out in the world with, I'll tell you that.If you could do it over, would you go to Auburn again?Yes, yes. I would, and I'd hope for the same kind of influences and opportunities. I've always thought that college was the time to expand your vision and your horizon, and that was my experience. It created an appetite for me to go out into the world to see something and do something and make a contribution somewhere. I was fortunate that that was put in me.You were an economics major. Economics to professional acting is quite the stretch! How did that happen?Well, the way it happened is sort of unusual. I was a Lambda Chi at Auburn, and I had written an address for my national fraternity, which I had delivered at an international convention in Indiana. The attendees there recorded the address. They were from California and were doing interviews with distinguished alumni from the entertainment industry. One of them was the actor that played the grandfather on "The Waltons," a popular show in the 70s, and he was sort of iconic. He was a member of Lambda Chi at the University of Chicago 50 years earlier, and someone played that address for him, and he called me. I was at Auburn, and he literally called me and said, "Son, I think you should try acting before the corporate structure snaps you up," and I said, "Honestly... I don't know anything about it," and he said, "Well come to California, and I'll work with you." I really expected him to tell me "Son, go get a job," but he said, "You probably won't make it. But you have to go. You have to try. You don't want to look back on your life and wonder what it might have been like." It was a great ambition. About 10 days later, I loaded my car and drove to California.Was moving from the South to California a difficult adjustment for you?Yes and no. It was difficult in that I didn't know anyone. I was a young man just going out into the world without knowing what the world was - or at least that part of the world. On the other hand, the Montgomery March during the Civil Rights Movement happened when I was a child of about 10 or 11 years old. At the end of the march, a lot of people from California came and spoke. In my childhood mind, California had the answer to the racist issue. I was very excited about going out there because I always thought they had the answer in California. I found out that they had the answer to some things, but there were others they didn't have the answer to at all.You were a member of the Lambda Chi fraternity and the SGA while here at Auburn. Did you do anything with theater?When I first started there [at Auburn], the theater was still in that little chapel off of College Street. I took every opportunity I could to go and see things, but I never auditioned for a play. I never could have imagined what it would have been like to have gone out there and done that. I've been back a couple times [to Auburn's theater] and I've done little classes or a couple question and answer things, but I'd like to do more than that. You get to a certain age where you want to give something back, but even so, I didn't have that theater experience while I was at Auburn. I love the campus of Auburn, and I do because I had to work with a lot of different people... not just one kind.What was it like to work on such an influential movie such as "Dallas Buyers Club"?I could never have seen it coming. I was on a plane trying to get back to Birmingham to see my family, and I got a call from my agents who wanted to re-route me to New Orleans to shoot this movie. I said, "Wait a minute, I haven't seen my kids in three months. I've gotta get home," and they said, "Just read the script." As soon as I read that script, I knew I had to be apart of it. It's a very, very powerful story. It's been a great ride. I've made sure to enjoy it while I can. Before I knew it, I was ready to shoot my first scene, and Matthew [McConaughey] was standing probably 12 feet from me and I didn't even recognize him. I was still waiting for him to come in. Once I knew it was him, I realized the commitment he had made [his dramatic weight loss] was pretty extraordinary, and I needed to make sure I brought the very best of what I could do to match up to this special project. It was incredibly gratifying to work on. It was alive, dangerous and compelling.So far, what has been your favorite character that you've portrayed?I'm really loving "Extant," this new television series I'm involved in. I pinch myself every day when I get to go to work. It's about a former astronaut who returns home from a year-long mission in space, and tries to reconnect with everyday life. It's wonderful, complicated, demanding and fun. What things are you working on now that we should keep an eye out for? There are two things I've been working on. The first is called "Rectify," which is a series I did at Sundance last year, and am filming 10 episodes of this year. It will premiere on SundanceTV in June. The second that I already mentioned, "Extant," is pretty special, especially getting to work with lead Halle Berry and this cast. It's a really good family, and the writing is so smart and clever. I'm excited about it. That premieres on CBS in July.At this stage in your acting career, what are your goals for your self and the roles you're playing?That's a good question. Being a character actor, you tend to just take what's moving in your direction. You try to find something in terms of film or television that stretches you - that breaks the glass a little bit and gives you the opportunity to discover something that you're either drawn to or afraid of. When I was on "Grey's Anatomy" and portrayed that shooter, I didn't want to do that role to begin with. I didn't want to touch it, and yet, it's probably one of the most compelling jobs I've ever done. It put me in touch with more humanity than I would ever have imagined a character could explore or inhabit. That's what I hope for - something to continue to teach me, to stretch me and to make me lean forward and get on the balls of my feet. Usually what that means is something that's going to frighten me. Fear is an incredible motivator. When I can't sleep after I've finished a role, I know I've done okay.What advice would you give to Auburn student body about following your dreams, your passion and becoming successful?The first thing that comes to mind is to be kind. There's something in the currency in the Auburn family that makes us different. A lot of people talk about it, and I don't know what the defining element is, but we're all connected. As I'm out in the world more, I've just learned to value simple kindness more - the kindness where you befriend a stranger. As much as anything for me, it's also been perseverance. I guess that's the thing that I'd recommend. I had more gumption than I had talent. I feel like those who are willing to persevere in whatever that pursuit is, even in the face of doubt, will succeed. Doubt isn't necessarily a bad thing - there isn't much courage without fear, and there's probably not much faith without doubt, but follow your desires as best you can. Persevere. Be kind.Do you have any parting words to us current students?Enjoy every minute of this experience at Auburn. It goes by so quickly. Once we're done at AU we're always welcomed back, but it starts with that undergraduate experience. Look after one another, and enjoy it.
(04/09/14 1:30pm)
The Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital is set to be dedicated on Friday, April 11. The $47 million facility features services such as community practice, oncology, neurology, imaging, orthopedics and community care.
According to Janet McCoy, communications and marketing director for the College of Veterinary Medicine, the change of space was much needed.
"Our old facility was over 40 years old," McCoy said. "While we gave excellent care to the patients that came into the clinic, this facility allows us to give even better care because of the new technology."
William Brawner, veterinary radiation oncologist, said he agrees.
"So much of what we do now involves high-end technological equipment, and our old buildings were not designed to do that," Brawner said. "Both from the point of view of space and technology, we had just simply outgrown our old building after 40 years."
Brawner graduated from Auburn University in 1971.
"My class was the first to have a full clinic here in the small animal hospital," Brawner said. "So, I've kind of come full circle."
Brawner said he stayed in Auburn for more than one reason.
"Auburn is a great place to live," Brawner said. "I've raised my family here. From the point of view of the school, we've had a really collegial faculty over the years. That's not always true with schools. Here, there is cooperation. I can go into anyone's office and sit down and talk to them."
In fact, the hospital is named to honor an esteemed member of the faculty and Brawner's wife.
The late Wilford Bailey, veterinary parasitologist, began his career at Auburn as a professor.
Bailey became president of the University in 1983.
After retiring the next year, Bailey served as president of the NCAA.
John and Rosemary Brown made a $10 million donation to the University in memory of the Baileys.
"They had been friends since they were on college," Brawner said. "Mr. and Mrs. Brown wanted to honor them. People talk about the Auburn family, but that speaks about as highly as you could that somebody would pay $10 million to put a friend's name on a building instead of their own."
Ben Hohenstatt, journalism intern at the hospital, said he is impressed by the facility's technology.
"The new equipment is phenomenal," Hohenstatt said. "It's all amazing stuff."
According to Brawner, the hospital was built to accommodate the ever-changing medical technology.
"We built this facility looking ahead for the next 40 years, because a building like this we are not going to replace anytime soon, "Brawner said. "We built it with some expansion room, because we know technology will continue to get more advanced. We consciously built this building with an eye to the future so we can grow into it and stay at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine. "
(04/06/14 2:15pm)
Jake Meadows, veteran and sophomore in international business, isn't your average student.
While many students graduate high school and go to college, Meadows graduated high school and went to the military.
Meadows, named after his grandfather who fought in World War II, said he received his grandfather's flag at the funeral procession and saw that as his calling to serve his country.
"My country has given plenty to me, so I feel like I need to give plenty back," Meadows said. "The world is a dangerous place with dangerous people and I feel like it's my duty to do as much as I can to stop them."
Beginning with basic training in Fort Benning, GA, Meadows embarked on a five-month journey, which consisted of many different phases.
Meadows was taught how to shoot, march, move tactically, defend himself and properly act like a soldier, things which he said eventually took a toll on everyone in training.
"Basic was no joke," Meadows said. "It's physically and mentally challenging all day. You're getting yelled at while having to perform a task, which is very difficult. By the end, everyone has been broken and has become a better person."
Following five months of basic training, Meadows boarded numerous flights, which eventually landed him and his infantry in Afghanistan.
Stationed in Leatherneck, Afghanistan, a base in southern Afghanistan, Meadows said it was like landing on a different planet.
"It was a long and uncomfortable flight," Meadows said. "We were in the middle of the desert so we were breathing dust. It was almost like going to mars. The thought of being in a combat zone sets in and you get scared and excited at the same time."
Once Meadows arrived in Leatherneck, he immediately was put to work.
Meodow's infantry started out as a light infantry unit, meaning they did things on foot, but eventually transitioned into a mounted unit which, he said allowed them to carry out their missions on convoys.
"Our job was to protect the military contractors and high ranking military officials whenever they went off base," Meadows said. "We lived on base and whenever someone wanted to go somewhere or do something off base they would come to us. We would then plane the mission and suit up and execute."
Meadows said driving the convoys, or mine resistant vehicles, which protect soldiers from IEDS, were one of his favorite memories from executing missions.
"We would usually switch out, but during these convoys, I would drive the MRAP," Meadows said. "It was fun driving a huge almost 10-foot-tall vehicle at 70 miles per hour."
On other missions, Meadows and his infantry would travel to nearby Afghani military bases to provide security to any contactors located there.
On these missions, each contactor would have two soldiers assigned to them just in case of insider attacks Meadows said.
"These are Afghanis who are in the Afghani military or police who for some reason decide to turn on the Americans who are their allies with deadly intentions," Meadows said. "They usually open up on the Americans and their fellow Afghanis with gunfire. Anything bad could happen at any second."
When Meadows was not protecting high ranking officials or carrying out other missions, he said he had little to nothing to occupy his time.
"I usually worked out twice a day to stay in good shape," Meadows said. "When I wasn't doing that or eating I would watch something on my laptop. That's really all we had to do."
After spending nearly nine months overseas in a heated combat zone, Meadows found it was time to come home, something he had been waiting to do for months, but said the feeling wasn't as great as he expected once he arrived.
"It just felt odd and I didn't know what to really think," Meadows said about returning to America. "It took a long time for it to actually hit me that I was back home in America. Sometimes I wish I could be back over there because I was so used to my routine and I was comfortable over there. It was a strange yet safe feeling."
It is quite evident to Meadows peers that the army helped form an outstanding young man. Meadows, who joined SAE this past August, has already made a large impact on the fraternity said Andrew Citrin, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and junior in biomedical sciences.
"Meadows has been an exemplary member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon," Citrin said. "We couldn't be prouder to have an individual of his caliber in our organization. Jake has proven himself to be a true gentleman through his leadership, strong work ethic and a desire to make our fraternity a better place."
After returning home and being accepted into Auburn, Meadows found that the University is doing its best to take care of their veteran students.
"The University treats me great," Meadows said. "They send me helpful emails almost every day trying to get feedback on things they can improve on when it comes to veterans. They try to help you with anything like finding a job or just managing school."
In Meadows opinion, the school could not be doing a better job in returning service to its veterans.
(03/21/14 3:45pm)
Auburn prides itself on being a family.
A few years ago, one member of the family found a way to capture the hearts of the Auburn faithful like few have managed to do.
His name is Phil, but he is also known as "Lutzie."
Philip Lutzenkirchen was a tight end on the Auburn football team from 2009 until 2012.
In that span of time, he became the top scoring tight end in Auburn career history with 14 career touchdowns.
He broke the single-season touchdown record for touchdowns by a tight end in 2011.
Lutzenkirchen also caught three game-winning touchdowns during his Auburn career, including the famous fourth-quarter touchdown to complete the "Camback" in 2010's Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
At 6-foot-5, Lutzenkirchen could catch and run as well as he could block in Gus Malzahn's Hurry Up, No Huddle offense.
"He'll fit in well in any system," Malzahn said at the 2013 Senior Bowl. "He's very flexible. That's his biggest asset. He can do a lot of different things well, and he'll be very successful."
After winning a national championship in 2010 and breaking records in 2011, Lutzenkirchen's collegiate career ended in the 2012 Ole Miss game after trying to play the entire season with a hip injury.
"I heard if I had come out last year, I would have been taken in the third or fourth round," Lutzenkirchen said before the 2013 NFL Draft. "But I've never regretted coming back to play my senior year and getting my degree. We didn't finish the way we wanted to, but I still thought I'd be a fourth- or fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
"It was a long and frustrating day for me that Saturday by not getting taken."
Regardless of his absence on the field, fans still cheered on "Lutzie."
After graduating from Auburn, Lutzenkirchen was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams. The hip injury, however, lingered and affected Lutzenkirchen's play.
Lutzenkirchen was released several months later, but said he has no regrets.
"I got released, and I could tell it was the right time to step away from it," Lutzenkirchen said. "It was a tough decision, but not many people get that opportunity, and I'm just glad I got the shot."
After being cut from the Rams, Lutzenkirchen delayed making any decisions about his future for a few more months.
"I gave it about a month or two to see if any teams would call," Lutzenkirchen said. "After I had my hip surgery, it kind of went downhill from there, and I didn't get back to my career here, athletically and physically.
"So, I decided to look elsewhere and hang up the cleats."
Soon afterward, Lutzenkirchen met Brandt McDonald at Tim Hudson's annual Iron Bowl Charity Golf Tournament.
Brandt is the Owner & President at McDonald & Barranco, Capital Wealth Management in Montgomery and graduated from Auburn in 1989 with a degree in finance.
It didn't take long for the two to hit it off.
"We started having a conversation about life after football, and it just so happened that he was looking and trying to figure out what he was going to do," McDonald said. "He's got honesty and integrity, he's an honorable person and he's proven that to the Auburn people, so that was a hurdle that we didn't even have to overcome because I knew that immediately."
McDonald hired Lutzenkirchen shortly afterward as an assistant financial adviser. McDonald saw Lutzenkirchen's knowledge of sports and connection with Auburn as a business advantage.
"We manage money for a lot of [professional] athletes and a lot of them have gone to Auburn and so it was like a hand in glove for Phil to join us," McDonald said.
When asked if McDonald would do the famous "Lutzie" dance after Lutzenkirchen signs a big client, McDonald said there would be a good chance.
"If he brought on board a first-round draft pick, I'd do it," McDonald said. "I might not look as good as him, but I'd do it."
(03/21/14 7:30pm)
The NFL draft is quickly approaching, and teams everywhere are constantly scrutinizing on which player they think can either turn their franchise around or help continue their success.
Without a doubt, the most talked about player in the upcoming class is former Texas A&M quarterback, 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel.
That, for the most part, is due to his style of play, but also has a lot to do with his near celebrity status.
Let me start by saying that I love mobile quarterbacks. They are an absolute blast to watch and a real treat for football fans who love offense.
Quarterbacks who can run like a wide receiver are the biggest of defensive headaches on a college football field, but that doesn't mean Nick Marshall is the next Peyton Manning.
I don't think Manziel is either.
To back this up, take a look at some of the recent running QBs who took a shot at the bigs.
When you think about running quarterbacks, you most likely immediately think of Michael Vick.
Vick was a trailblazer for mobile quarterbacks everywhere, and he certainly saw substantial success in Atlanta running around making defenses look incredibly confused before he went to jail.
Where is Vick now? He's riding the bench behind Nick Foles, who looks like he's the got the starting job in Philly locked up for a while.
Next, there's Vince Young.
In college, Young was the engineer of what was the greatest pre-2013 Iron Bowl college football game of all time, a 41-38 win over Reggie Bush and USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl for the BCS National Championship.
During his time at Texas, Young ran through defenses as if they weren't even there. NFL scouts salivated as they thought they had discovered the next Vick.
Like Vick, after he was drafted third overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 draft, Young saw some success, but it was limited.
Sure, he won some games and was even named to the Pro Bowl following his rookie season, but two years later, he suffered a season ending injury and watched from the sidelines as career-backup Kerry Collins led the Titans to a 13-3 record.
Young remained on the bench the following season and he was gone by 2010. He's out of the league now and probably won't be coming back anytime soon.
There's plenty of other examples, such as Tim Tebow of Florida and Matt Jones of Arkansas.
Of course there are success stories like Auburn's own Cam Newton, but Newton is a once-in-a-generation athlete.
I'm not saying for certain that Manziel won't pan out in the NFL. I'm just saying it's not likely.
One of my biggest reasons for my hesitance to be sold on Manziel is his tendency to throw a ball up for grabs.
There have been plenty of times where Manziel, in a scrambling situation, will just launch the ball into the air, hoping some Aggie will come down with it. You can't do that in the NFL; just ask Brett Favre, the league's career leader in interceptions.
As far as the character issue everyone loves to harp on so much, I don't see it as an issue.
If you really think about it, Manziel is doing the same sort of things any college student would do. He's just doing it on an exponentially larger budget.
I think Manziel can be a decent NFL player, but I don't see him as a top 10, or even first round pick.
If I'm an NFL general manager, I'd take Manziel in the third or fourth round. Put him on the Aaron Rogers system. Let him learn from your starter for a few years, and then when it's his time, he'll be ready.
(03/21/14 5:00pm)
Editor's Note: The pet owners' names and residence location have been withheld to protect their privacy and security.
(03/20/14 3:30pm)
Tangela Johnson isn't fond of handshakes.
She'll slap that outreached hand away almost as though she was offended. However, she is a hugger. She will smile widely and insist on a hug. Her embrace is short-lived, but its warmth lingers.
In her living room, dozens of framed photographs portraying her loved ones--children, grandchildren, extended family and friends--smile up at the onlooker.
Her trophies, her most treasured possessions, are the memories tied to them.
Even though she's living in subsidized housing, Johnson considers herself the richest she's ever been, and those photographs are proof she's right.
However, Johnson hasn't always been so opulent.
While growing up in Detroit, Mich., Johnson endured hardships.
At age 4, she was molested.
Fourteen years later, she was raped.
At 20, while "feeding off of the depression (she) was already in and trying to hide those secrets," she propelled herself into an emotionally, physically and verbally abusive marriage.
At a time in a young woman's life when she is flooded with opportunity and optimism, Johnson found herself spiraling into a life-threatening depression. She was a victim, and she knew it. Even worse, she believed that was all she could be.
"Is this me?," Johnson said looking down at the floor ashamedly.
"Is this all that I have? Is this what my life is about? I just kinda gave in to that. I felt like I didn't have anywhere else to go in my life."
"You can't feel sorry for yourself, and I found myself doing that. That was not me. That was not the woman God wanted me to be. I couldn't see myself being the victim all my life."
Had Johnson continued to victimize herself, her story may have ended there.
However, she took hold of her own fate the day she decided to leave Detroit, move herself and her family to Auburn and write her story down on paper.
"After everything I went through, God got me through it," Johnson said. "I'm here, and I'm here for a reason. It didn't kill me. It made me stronger, even though I gave up many times."
What started off as a self-medicating diary metamorphosed 12 years later into a self-published autobiography titled "Can a Storm be Weathered? Memoirs of a Broken Past." Going by the pen name Ta'Ressa, Johnson wrote about her life experiences, and she spared no details.
Ta'Ressa told Johnson's story and gave a needed voice to free herself of her past.
"I had to take things in my own hands and put it out there," Johnson said. "My book is basically about secrets--secrets we hold in our families--and that doesn't do anything but torment you.
"You hold that secret in so that your family doesn't get overwhelmed or embarrassed, but what about how you feel? My thing was to let my secret out. So, I let my secret out."
By releasing her secrets, this novel served as Johnson's agent to empower women in her neighborhood to come forward about their own abusive pasts and catalyze their recoveries.
Through her testimony, Johnson ministered inspiration and encouragement to those in similar situations.
"My book is [here] to let people know you don't have to stay where you are in life," Johnson said. "A lot of people like to carry their past with them, and they feed off of it, and it becomes a tool that they use to gather sympathy.
"Well, you ought to be saying, 'I'm a victor. I've got a testimony. This is where I came from.' I refuse to be broken, and you can always move forward."
