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(10/24/13 1:00pm)
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a nationally recognized month in which events are held to raise awareness and prevent or reduce domestic violence.
Once again, Auburn has made it a point to try and raise awareness of domestic violence and its consequences.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Cater Lawn was the host of the Silent Witness Roll Call and Candlelight Vigil.
The event featured speakers such as Caitlin Woods, a survivor of domestic violence, Lisa-Jackson Stephenson, executive director of the Domestic Violence Intervention Center, and William Shallock, who took a stand against domestic violence and told stories of his experiences with it.
Afterward, the names of all victims who died during the past year in Alabama as a result of domestic violence were read aloud.
A purple balloon was released for each individual as his or her name was read. This was followed by a candlelight vigil for those individuals.
"This is the first time I have been to (the Silent Witness Roll Call.) It was a good experience because we got to hear people speak who had been through, and survived, domestic violence," said Natalie Adcock, sophomore in business. "I really appreciate them opening up their lives to complete strangers, because I'm sure it is not easy."
Also, in front of Cater Hall was a Silent Witness exhibit in which numerous wooden silhouette cutouts were spread out in representation of those who had been killed by their partners. Attached to the cutouts were stories of local individuals who lost their lives to domestic violence throughout the past year.
After the roll call of people who lost their lives from domestic violence, members of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority released balloons into the air, each with a name of a victim of Domestic Violence.
In the attempt to raise awareness of domestic violence, Auburn has launched a Zero Tolerance Campaign.
Signs across Auburn's campus, marked with a purple ribbon, help outline facts of domestic violence and how to get help for domestic violence issues.
"I think they would have more of an impact if they stuck out a little bit more," said Stanford Hornsby, undeclared sophomore. "It might grab people's attention and before they know it, they have learned something new."
On Saturday, Oct. 28, Auburn will conclude the Domestic Violence Awareness Month with an event called "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes."
The event will begin at 2 p.m. on the green space.
"Participants will walk a mile in a pair of high heels to benefit local survivors of domestic violence," said Bonnie Wilson, diversity intiatives coordinator. "Both men and women are encouraged to wear high heels because it's what makes the experience so eye opening. However, tennis shoes are allowed if participants would rather wear them."
Wilson said since both men and women are affected by domestic violence, they shoud both participate in all Domestic Violence Awareness Month events.
(10/23/13 2:54pm)
People can change their pictures or use someone else's, fake personal history and even create their own unique worlds with individual characters, like a drama played out over social media and mass communication, often without the other ever person realizing it.
(10/21/13 2:53am)
The Auburn Tigers defense has been no stranger to adversity in recent years.
Battling disciplinary issues, coaching changes and an ever growing list of injured players, the Tigers have looked back at the trials of the 2012 season for inspiration during the 2013 season.
"Everything we went through last year is showing its effect this year," senior defensive end Dee Ford said. "We look at each other like 'Our backs are against the wall, but we've been through worse.' That shows a lot of maturity and trust that we have on defense and offense."
Ford said there is a night and day difference in the defense's mentality compared to last season.
"We're the same players, but a different team from last year," Ford said. "It is a new day and we're not worried about last year. We expected this and we're going to keep moving from here."
A late injury to Joshua Holsey during Thursday's practice added another name to the long list of injured Tigers defenders and forced cornerback Ryan Smith to take over his position.
Combined with the offseason dismissal of safety Demetruce McNeal, defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said the defense has been hampered by a lack of depth in the secondary.
"If we had them all healthy, I think you'd see a lot better things," Johnson said. "Even as proud as I am of them, when they get tired we don't have anybody to sub for them. In addition to that, some of these injuries are costing us some of our best special team players."
Despite the injuries, Johnson said the defense has rallied around each other and is finally settling into his defensive scheme.
"We're starting to find our personnel and what they do best," Johnson said. "We actually took a pretty simple game plan against Texas A&M and it actually helped because our players were able to play a little faster. I'm just really proud of how well the players have handled it."
Fatigue has been an issue for the Tigers against pacier offenses, but a tough offseason conditioning program has proven essential to the defense's longevity.
"It's what you train for in the summer," senior defensive back Ryan Smith said. "You don't think about being tired or needing a rest because you live for that moment and that's the spotlight you want to be in."
Auburn's 45-41 over then No. 7 Texas A&M has given the Tigers a renewed sense of confidence moving into the second half of the 2013 season.
"The sky is the limit," Ford said. "It's a great environment to play in when your team can trust in each other at pivotal times in the game. We're just trying to keep our composure and our focus so we can keep moving forward."
Ford said the Tigers have one goal in mind after their 6-1 start to the 2013 season.
"I think we can win it all," Ford said. "There's no reason to say that we can't. Why not win it all?"
(10/17/13 6:35pm)
October in Auburn is a beautiful time. Leaves change color, Halloween is coming and football games abound.
When you get up for your early class, at approximately 8 or 9 a.m., the air is cool and that fall nip is in the air.
That is, until about 11:30 a.m. and it's a sauna on campus again.
This makes it a little difficult to plan out what to wear since the weather is always changing this time of year.
I always seem to be opening my closet and trying to pick out a nice outfit for the night and can't even begin to decide.
Will it be too hot if I wear long sleeves? Will I freeze to death if I wear these shorts?
It's a never ending cycle.
I rarely let myself shop in the downtown boutiques because it's all the same and everyone will be wearing it.
Plus, I'm a college student living on a fixed budget. The solution: thrifting and consignment stores.
Most of the consignment boutiques in Auburn only accept name brands, such as Judith March, Lilly Pulitzer and Michael Kors, great name brands for great low prices.
I bought a skirt, a top and a necklace at Fringe for only $29.96.
The manager of the Auburn location, Lauren Hayden, helped me look around and answered all of the questions I had about consignment.
I had to cover the Auburn game Saturday, Oct. 12, and needed a professional looking skirt.
Those items are hard to find in Auburn, especially without draining my fragile bank account.
If is wasn't for consignment, I'd be broke and skirtless right about now.
Empire waisted and with pockets, I had to get this Nicola skirt.
It's black and white patterned and is made of the perfect material that can be worn during warmer days in the fall, or with tights in the winter.
Best part: it was only $5.50. I also picked up a taupe John H. half-sleeved top.
It's extremely soft and comfortable, perfect to wear with jeans to dress it up or throw it on with some leggings to go study or go to class.It's a great fit and was only $9.99.
I thought I was done until I saw all the jewelry decorating the counters.
I'm a fan of burnt orange and I absolutely love gold jewelry.
I found a great orange pendant necklace on a gold chain, the perfect statement piece.
I couldn't say no when I saw it was only $12.
I was honestly proud of myself for walking out of a store with a shirt and skirt for $15.
I was even more excited I could use these pieces for many outfits to come.
It's a great fall transition outfit, which we could all use this time of year.
If you're a little strapped for cash, selling your name brand clothes that are in good condition is the way to go.
Stores such as Fringe, Plato's Closet, New Leaf Consignment and Sydney's Consignment Boutique will buy back all of your clothes that need a new home.
Macklemore made thrifting for clothes and shopping on a budget super cool with his recent single "Thrift Shop."
After my experience at Fringe, I have to agree with him, even though that song still gets on my nerves.
(10/20/13 10:00pm)
Downtown Auburn was abuzz Wednesday night, Oct. 9, much more than the usual, all because Aaron Carter was in town.
Walking downtown past Bourbon Street Bar at 8 p.m., girls were lined up way past Quixote's, and excitement was the theme of the night. In the line, posters of Carter and his old CDs were waved around and chants of "Aaron, Aaron" rang through the air.
Names were asked at the door and the line continued inside, toward the dance floor downstairs, where all concerts at Bourbon are held.
Throughout the day and night, Carter tweeted from his personal account, retweeting and following as many fans as possible. Support poured in from fans, and pictures of fans holding signs wished Carter good luck with his comeback tour.
Before going on, he tweeted, "I hope I can make you all proud of me."
At Bourbon, the dance floor quickly became crowded. It was already full well before the first opening act, Brie Goldsobel.
She started off the night singing songs that were barely distinguishable over the cheers of impatient fans. Rapper Jayceon also performed, passing out free CDs.
Before Carter took the stage, Bourbon was so packed that people could hardly move.
Girls were shoving, some fell and were trampled and it was almost chaos. Carter came onstage a little after 11:45 p.m. and the crowd went wild.
He jumped on stage wearing camouflage cargo pants and a short-sleeved black tee that showed off the multiple tattoos decorating his arms.
He started off the show with a crowd favorite, "I Want Candy." He continued the show with other classics such as "That's How I Beat Shaq," in which he wore a Lakers jersey, and "Aaron's Party."
He also ventured into performing covers of popular songs such as "Blurred Lines," "Treasure," and "Get Lucky."
Leah Beard, junior in public relations and concert attendee, said she has been a fan of Aaron ever since she was a child.
"He's better than ever," Beard said. "He truly has made a comeback."
Carter put on an energetic act, infusing new and old songs to give the crowd a taste of the Aaron they used to know, and of the new Aaron his comeback is bringing.
Carter returned to his tour bus right after the concert where fans sat and waited, banging on the doors, waiting for him to come out.
When he did emerge, he took a few photos, snagged a kiss from a fan and ran through the back doors of Bourbon Street Bar for a meet-and-greet.
Outside the front doors of Bourbon Street Bar, his sister B.J. was loading tour gear onto the bus and stopped to talk to a few fans standing outside.
"Aaron is the thoughtful one," B.J. said. "No matter what he is doing, he's always going to look back and be like 'You ok? You still there?' He's a sweet kid."
It was $50 for the meet-and-greet with Carter, which lasted approximately 10-15 minutes. Blakesley Wilcox, junior in chemical engineering, boasted a picture of Carter kissing her on the cheek.
"He was so nice and super flirty," Wilcox said. "He gave me a kiss, then kissed me on the cheek just for a picture. It was great."
Carter left the bar at approximately 3:15 a.m. and met with some fans still waiting by his tour bus.
"It was a really fun concert," Carter said. "I hope my fans had as much fun as I did."
(10/21/13 2:00pm)
Many of the world's great ideas are born in high-rise offices of bustling cities or in the minds of scholars working away at research in institutional laboratories or technology campuses. For Stacy Brown, the founder of local restaurant success Chicken Salad Chick, the best ideas are simply born in the kitchen.
In 2012 the Auburn Chamber of Commerce named Brown, an energetic blonde from Rome, Ga., and Auburn alumna, because of her successful 63 Chicken Salad Chick franchises all over the South. Her recipe for success began with a modest plan and a bit of patience.
She began humbly: the mother of three, recently divorced and in need of a source of income.
"For their stability, I said, 'I've got to figure out something to do from the house,'" Brown said.
Limited to the confines of her home, Brown headed to the kitchen and was struck with an idea, or rather, a craving.
"I happened to be obsessed with chicken salad," she said. "I thought I was a connoisseur of chicken salad. I didn't make my own, I just tasted everybody's. I thought I was like a fine wine steward."
Brown started her "science experiment" in the kitchen, cooking pounds of chicken in trial and error batches of what eventually became the Classic Carol, her regular chicken salad sold in stores today.
Initially, Stacy passed around the tubs of her creation to friends, neighbors and her hairdresser. Word quickly spread about the chicken salad, and she recruited her current husband, Kevin Brown, for business advice. Kevin jumped on board, and the business was born.
Before she began to sell her creation, Brown customizing batches for friends by throwing in unique ingredients.
"This idea started to unfold and evolve. Everybody makes chicken salad differently because everyone likes it a different way," Brown said. "It's not just a one-recipe thing. Why not make one for everybody?"
Brown created four flavors, a logo and a name -- Chicken Salad Chick -- and set out door-to-door, with tubs of chicken salad in hand.
To name the flavors, Kevin suggested playing off the "chick" theme and naming them after special ladies in his and Stacy's lives. They made batches for their mothers: Stacy's mother, Nutty Nana and Kevin's, Mimi's Mix.
"Looking back, I think (the customers) thought I was pitiful," Brown said. "The important thing is, they bought it once, so whatever their reason was, I'm OK with that. They bought it again. I never felt sorry for myself and never felt pitiful. I thought I had a great idea, and I was going to go out there and sell it."
The turning point for the business came when she took a bowl of chicken salad to the teacher's lounge at Ogletree Elementary School, where her children attended. The teachers loved it, and that's when the phone began ringing off the hook with orders.
"How could you quicker get a word spread throughout a community than through the teachers, who are connected to every family?" Brown said.
Brown began making huge batches, sometimes more than 20 pounds at a time. Now, Brown said Auburn consumes an average of 500 pounds per day.
Despite that Chicken Salad Chick had a logo, Brown insists it was initially only supposed to be for a bumper sticker on her car with a phone number for people to call in orders.
Brown recalled a late-night grocery-store run when she received a phone call while sitting at a stoplight.
"It (was) someone in the car next to me, drunk as all get-out, saying, 'I want some chicken salad,' like I was Willie's Wings or something."
Suddenly, the health department called after an anonymous source revealed Brown's in-house chicken salad business. The department explained it was illegal for her to cook something in her home and sell it. Brown put production to a halt.
This fact didn't seem to deter hungry customers. Brown said people would call her, begging her to make them just one order.
"I felt like I was bootlegging chicken salad," Brown said. "It felt like a dirty thing in the back parking lot."
Despite the apparent success of her product, the health department shutdown left Brown deflated. After all her hard work and the option to stay home with the kids, she feared returning to a full-time job and disappearing from their daily lives.
Kevin, fortunately, had a plan. He figured there was enough success for them to open a small, inexpensive takeout-only location to cook and sell the chicken salad - a place that Brown, who had no business experience, could easily manage. They purchased a modest space on 555 Opelika Road - a location still open today.
After renovating the space themselves, Kevin was let go from his software-sales job.
"He has no income, I have no income," Brown said. "We both have families to support. We were scared. We had put every penny of our savings into this chicken-salad restaurant."
They powered through concerns and opened on Jan. 7, 2008, christening the new place with friends and family. No customers showed up.
"And I was like, they were right, this is stupid," Brown said. "I cannot believe I put all my money into this. Then, the first customer came."
Since that first customer, Brown said business has been nonstop.
They prepared 40 pounds of chicken salad for the first day and sold out in two hours. The second day, they made 80 pounds and sold out, again in two hours.
In November 2008, Brown and Kevin took their partnership a step further, parted for a few days from Chicken Salad Chick and flew to Jamaica to get married.
Much has changed since that year, but Brown said making food and serving customers has always been her top priority.
"The only thing we take seriously is the chicken salad and our service," Brown said. "We understand that we are a chick-y place, and we understand that the names are silly, and we understand that it makes people feel silly to say the names. People will come in giggling and saying, "I want the Fancy Nancy because I'm fancy.'"
Brown cites the support of her staff, which is quickly growing, and her husband, as major components in running the rapidly expanding company.
"The reason, internally, we're able to keep going like this, is every person in here has an absolute passion for their position," Brown said. "The momentum and the atmosphere in here are unbelievable, because nobody is in a position that they don't love. It feels good to come to work because everybody is happy."
Ali Rauch, the business' director of marketing, began working in December 2012 and praised the positive atmosphere Brown creates for employees.
"It's so much fun," Rauch said. "I say fun a lot, but it is. She's a very fun-loving person, and I think she realizes how blessed and lucky she is to be where she is, because it didn't start like this. It's all taken on a life of its own, and she's just along for the ride. This is where her passion is, and she didn't even realize that until five years ago."
Jessica Claussen, who graduated from Auburn in May 2013 with a degree in psychology, has worked for Chicken Salad Chick since her sophomore year. When applying for graduate school, she asked Kevin if he would write her a letter of recommendation, but Kevin had another idea. Instead of going off to school, the Browns wanted to keep Claussen on staff to work as a corporate trainer. She accepted, and said the family-like atmosphere is one of the reasons she wanted to stay on.
"It's such a team effort," Claussen said. "I've worked for them for years, and they're two of the most hardworking and best people who deserve absolutely every bit of success that they're having."
As for working with her husband, Brown said their polar opposite personalities are what keep the business and family running. Brown said Kevin is efficient, organized and business-oriented, while she is focused on the creative side.
Brown said the two constantly talk about work at home, bringing their different viewpoints to one. She likens their owning a business together like having a child - an attachment so dear that it can't be understood until it actually happens to you.
"There's nobody else I could talk to about this that would understand it and have the same feelings about it that I have as Kevin. It's a great thing."
Ultimately, Brown said Chicken Salad Chick has come to be less about food service and more about serving others.
"In the beginning, we thought it was chicken salad, because in the beginning, I just had to pay the power bill," Brown said. "It was supposed to be a car magnet. That's all. I think because of that, how it's all happened, it helps Kevin and I keep it all in perspective. Because it was so clearly not our plan, we want to be good stewards of what the plan actually is. We are just very grateful for every day."
(10/13/13 5:00am)
Auburn has many symbols that represent the student body, past and present, and the principles and morals that guide its students.
One symbol that has been a part of Auburn's history since 1859 is Samford Hall.
Located at the heart of Auburn, the current building was built in 1888 after the original building burned down.
While some students may know the building's history, few know what actually happens inside this Auburn symbol.
Mike Clardy, director of university communications, has worked in Samford Hall for 15 years.
Clardy said he works with reporters\0xAD\0xAD\0xAD--pitching stories, putting things on Auburn's website and handling inquiries people may have.
"When you stop and think about the history and what's happened in this building, what's taken place over the years here, it's a special building," Clardy said. "Maybe sometimes we take that for granted because to us, it's coming to work every day, but you know you kind of step back and think about it, we're working in a very special building."
Samford Hall has undergone renovations throughout the years, but some parts have remained.
Clardy said the heating and cooling system for the building is hot and cold water running through the pipes.
Upon entering Samford Hall, guests are welcomed by decades of history in a room filled with relics from Auburn's past.
Among the relics displayed is documentation of the name changes Auburn has been through, pictures of past presidents and old cadet uniforms.
Samford's old clock face hangs on the wall. According to Chris Green, coordinator for campus and community events, the back of the clock has signatures on the back dating back to 1906.
The rest of the building is office space for the office of communications and marketing, the office of the executive vice president, the office of the president, the office of the provost, the office of sponsored programs and vice president research.
"There's a lot of people who will circulate through our office and a lot of them will say, 'I didn't realize this actually was a functional building,'" Green said.
Some faculty members in Samford Hall have a long history with the building. Lucy LaMar graduated from Auburn in 1981, and now works in Samford Hall as a marketing manager.
"I have a fondness for it because it is such an iconic representation of Auburn," LaMar said. "It brings back fond memories of being a student here; I'm glad to be able to be a part of the University where I graduated from."
LaMar said her favorite part of working in Samford Hall is hearing the bells, especially when they chime "War Eagle."
Green said the building itself doesn't have any venue for events inside, but numerous proposals, graduation pictures and other important events have taken place around and near the building.
"This is the heart of the University as far as I'm concerned," Clardy said. "This is where things happen."
(10/10/13 1:00pm)
The 50th anniversary of Auburn's desegregation is on the horizon, and it can be hard for current students to imagine what the University was like in the '60s for the students who lived that history.
Jim Vickrey, Owen Brown, and Andy Hornsby, Auburn alumni, were able to paint a picture of what life on The Plains was like almost half a century ago.
Vickrey graduated from Auburn with his first degree in 1964. He was president of the Student Government Association from 1963-64, which had some differences from today's SGA.
"There was a Student Government Association which covered everybody, men and women," Vickrey said. "Then there was an additional Women's Student Government Association that just focused on women."
Vickrey said the WSGA was limited mostly to the women's residence hall life.
Vickrey also said during this time, all women were required to live on campus and abide by the set of rules that were enforced.
"It was a very restrictive atmosphere for women," Vickrey said. "They were very well-protected in the dorms. There was a curfew every night. You had to get in by a certain time or you'd get locked out of the dorm."
Hornsby enrolled at Auburn fall 1963 and graduated in 1968 after spending time in the Army Reserve.
Hornsby said he recalls less than half of the students having cars, so traffic and parking were never a problem and it created a relaxed atmosphere.
Brown enrolled at Auburn in 1960 and graduated in 1964. Hornsby and Brown both frequented the War Eagle Supper Club as an off-campus hangout, and were both members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
For on-campus dining, Hornsby went to the old Foy Union where he said each fraternity had a table.
"In my day, most students ate on campus," Hornsby said. "Whoever you were dating at the time would come sit at your table."
Though some traditions may have changed, Hornsby said downtown Auburn is one thing that has remained remarkably unchanged.
He said he remembers two movie theaters downtown that only had a single screen.
"The downtown part is remarkably the same," Hornsby said. "Much bigger, much more grandiose, but independently run businesses for the most part."
In 1964, Auburn was integrated when Harold Franklin registered for classes for graduate school and became the first African-American student to attend Auburn.
Vickrey, Brown and Hornsby, were all students at Auburn during this time.
Brown said he thinks everybody at Auburn was determined not to go through the same thing the University of Alabama experienced when George Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door to prevent integration.
"We were afraid [Wallace] was going to do that same set of theatrics at Auburn," Vickrey said. "He wouldn't tell anybody what he was going to do, and at the last minute decided not to come so we had a very, very quiet integration."
Vickrey said the University and student leaders spent months preparing for that day, and he was glad it worked out the way it did.
Hornsby said one particular moment in time has stuck with him since the day Franklin arrived on campus with hundreds of students gathering to watch him enter his first class.
"We had a great All-American guard named Bill Van Dyke," Hornsby said. "As Franklin approached his first class, and I remember him walking in that dark suit, he had to be scared to death...but as he waited to go into his first class, Bill Van Dyke broke out of a group and walked over and shook hands with him and walked into class with him."
Although the Auburn University Brown, Vickrey and Hornsby attended was different from today's campus, many aspects of student life have continued.
They still enjoyed traditions students today participate in, including decorating floats for Homecoming week, and singing the alma mater during football games.
(10/08/13 4:00am)
This year, one of Auburn's academic resources celebrates its 35th year of tutoring Auburn students in a variety of courses.
Study Partners, located on the 2nd Floor of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, is a free tutoring program sponsored by Academic Support Services, which assists currently enrolled Auburn students with their academics.
"Its been around for a long time, but when it started out, it was in the basement of the library and there were only five or 10 tutors," said Amanda Cameron, Study Partners graduate assistant. "It's really grown a lot in the last four or five years."
Despite its humble origins, Study Partners now has a large number of qualified tutors.
Study Partners tutors are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA and have earned an "A" or high "B" in the particular subject in which they tutor.
"We have approximately 85 tutors who are primarily undergrads, with a couple of professional and graduate students who generally tutor undergrads, as well in a lot of different subjects," Cameron said.
Although finding enough time in the day to squeeze in a tutor is difficult, Study Partners' appointment scheduling makes the process easy.
Appointments are made using the online scheduling system, SARS, at any time, day or night.
However, as demand for tutors increases, scheduling times are becoming less available.
"We are in the process of trying to hire more tutors because there is so much demand," Cameron said. "People are starting to find out about us more, and we are trying to meet that demand by hiring more tutors."
Prior to making an appointment, students need to know the course name and number. Each appointment is a 50-minute session, and each student is guaranteed their own Study Partners experience.
"A tutoring session usually includes meeting the client and asking questions like what class they are in, what teacher they have, whether they are coming before a test or after a bad grade," said Phylesia Hill, Study Partners tutor. "From there, it really depends on the student because everyone learns differently."
Study Partners has helped many students, but once a student decides to take part in Study Partners, it's really up to the student whether they benefit from the sessions.
"When they come back regularly, they really do seem to do better in those classes," Cameron said. "When they only show up once, it's not as effective, but when they keep coming back and keep working on their subject, it really does help them out and, of course, it makes us feel good to see students come back."
With a mission to provide quality one-on-one and small-group tutoring for undergraduate courses, Study Partners strives, and often succeeds, in creating independent learners.
Although Study Partners has grown drastically since it began as a five-man operation in the basement of the University's library, it continues to grow.
Study Partners will continue to get their name out to the student body and will hold an event for National Tutor Week.
Between Oct. 7-11, Study Partners will have a bulletin board on the 2nd Floor library hall so students are able to publically show their appreciation for those who have assisted them.
For more information call the office at 334-844-5702.
(09/18/13 5:42pm)
The National Security Agency recently named Auburn University a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations.
This is the second designation of academic excellence out of a 10-year relationship with the NSA, and despite controversy surrounding the agency, those closest to the relationship say it is a positive one for the University.
Accusations of sweeping domestic surveillance, and spying on nations friendly to the U.S. among other activities, have been documented through internal agency leaks.
The leaks, which began during June of this year, have prompted reviews, inspections and both public, and political debate, aimed at determining the legality of the agency's behavior.
"Auburn folks are not working in direct support of the NSA as we speak. We are not an existential arm of the NSA. I can't state that more definitively. Auburn students are not sitting over there in Shelby Center working for NSA and taking direction from them. That ain't happening," said Retired Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess, senior counsel for Auburn cyber security programs.
Burgess also said the interdisciplinary program helps meet the demands of the expanding cyber workforce, and performs the three main functions of a land-grant university: research, education and workforce development.
The Center of Academic Excellence program is a broad-spectrum approach to developing what the agency calls the U.S,'s cyber operations capacity by deepening its involvment with all levels of academic institutions.
Burgess said Auburn's general focus of research in its cyber programs is defensive in nature.
"When you have personal information out there residing someplace, that information is protected and people can't get your data and use it for nefarious purposes. Auburn's engaged in that type of work," Burgess said.
Burgess, who serves as senior counsel for national security programs, cyber programs and military affairs, has an extensive background in the military and intelligence community.
Among his many appointments, he served as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from August 2005- May 2007.
"Throughout my career, I have been in and around the NSA. In the latter part of my career, I was a customer of the NSA. I was a user of their information. I tasked the NSA for information as I did any other part of the U.S. Intelligence Community," Burgess said.
He said that he was aware of the agency's activities.
"At the end of the day, I was confident, and still am confident, that, we had the requisite authorities to do what we were doing," Burgess said.
The NSA has been the subject of heated debate because of its intelligence-gathering practices and methods.
Drew Hamilton, assistant vice president for research for Mississippi State University, first applied to the agency in 2002 regarding academic excellence in information assurance.
He recently left his position in the computer science and software engineering department to go to Mississippi State University to help develop its cyber programs.
"We just haven't really engaged in anything that I think would really be considered to be intelligence collection or surveillance, or anything like that. We pretty much work on the technical side and all the work we've done for NSA is publicly available," Hamilton said.
David Umphress, associate director in the department of computer science and software engineering took over as acting director of the Auburn Cyber Research Center after Hamilton left.
"We do it so that we can show that we support the nation to begin with... But what the NSA does for us in return for recognizing us as a center of excellence is that they help with jobs," Umphress said. "For students that go through our program, the NSA will make sure that those students' resumes are looked at, that they are paid close attention to."
The Academic Excellence in Cyber Programs spans across multiple schools within the University.
It uses the capabilities to help development cyber program operations. It is based in a computer science, electrical engineering or computer engineering department.
(09/17/13 1:57pm)
The Black Student Union held its general Assembly Meeting Monday, Sept. 16 where they had quite a large itinerary on its hands. This general assembly meeting, called Learning the Ropes, was open to all college students who were interested in learning about the different organizations Auburn has to offer in relation to diversity, leadership, and social interaction. Eight organizations, including the Black Student Union, presented their organization with a brief five minute presentation which touched on the main goals and focuses of each party.
The Auburn University Student Democrats was the first organization to take the floor.
"We like to do a lot of what's called collaborative doctrinism. For example, if there is another organization on campus who is having an event, or that has some sort of mission or something that lines up with our progressive values, we will be happy to help with that group no matter who they may be. We will work with these organizations to make their event successful," said senior Political Science major Sergio Gallardo, President of the Auburn College of Democrats.
Many of the organizations shared the common theme of helping students find their niche within the Auburn community. Organizations such as the Black Graduate and Professional Students, African Student Association, Ilead, and the Involvement Ambassadors all centered around helping students network within the University as well as helping students academically.
" Our goal is to support all students, not just black graduates and professional students through write nights and by giving pointers on what students need to do while in undergrad. We try to support everyone socially in order for students to have outlets away from academics," said Derrick Robinson, the Association Vice President of the Black Graduate and Professional Students.
"This organization was founded four years ago and the intent was to provide incoming international students from Africa with a homebody when they get here because it can be kind of hard to adjust," said senior UNSM major Faith Kashaa, Senior President of the African Student Association.
Other organizations focused on the importance of academics and offered promises of helping their members achieve a high academic standing. The Student National Pharmaceutical Association and the Harold A. Franklin Society stressed the importance of academics and not losing sight of the opportunities pioneered by African Americans years ago.
Harold A. Franklin was the first African American to enroll in Auburn University. The society, named after Franklin, continues to work towards their goal.
"Our main focus is to improve the minority male retention rate, graduate African American students who have a good GPA in hopes of breaking stereotypes put on us," said Aaron Jordan, President of the Harold A. Franklin Society.
The Student National Pharmaceutical Association, like the Harold A. Franklin Society, took aim at stressing the importance of continuing the legacies left by African Americans in the pharmaceutical field.
"We really have seen a decline in the amount of African American pharmacists, as well as in the medical field as a whole. We want to encourage students in this area that it may be tough, but again, you get that warm feeling that you are helping people. If students are discouraged because of the academics or because they don't think they can do it, we are here to say that they can do it and we would really like to help those students," said P3 pharmacist Gabrielle Allen, Service Chair for The Student National Pharmaceutical Association.
In closing, senior marketing major and President of the Black Student Union, Akilah Williams took a moment to describe the goal of the Black Student Union.
"Our goal is to make sure students get everything out of Auburn University. We always hear people talk about THE Auburn experience, but we are here to help students create their own personal Auburn experience," said Williams.
Although students are here to gain a good education, it is important that they get involved with some organization and the Black Student Union's Learning the Ropes general assembly meeting was a reminder that there are organizations at Auburn pertaining to nearly anyone's wants and needs.
(09/16/13 9:03pm)
He's only been here for a short amount of time, but freshman Johnathan "Rudy" Ford has already made a name for himself on The Plains.
Recruited by running backs coach Tim Horton and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee out of New Hope, Ford came to Auburn as a four-star running back hungry to win.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Ford rushed 155 times for 1,526 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season for the New Hope Indians, earning Ford a No. 15 overall running back ranking from Rivals.com.
Ford received offers from numerous schools, including Georgia, Tennessee and Florida State before picking Auburn.
With a 40-yard dash time of 4.41 seconds, Scout.com said Ford's strengths as a running back include cutback ability, elusiveness and vision.
As summer camp went on, Lashlee commended Ford and fellow true freshman running back Peyton Barber for their hard work.
"They're working hard, and there's no fear in them," Lashlee said. "They might not always block the right man, but they're going to go and hit them in the mouth hard--they've shown out."
As the season opener approached, the Tigers suffered an unfortunate series of events in their secondary.
Veteran senior safety Demetruce McNeal was dismissed after a marijuana-related arrest, and sophomore corner-back Jonathan Jones broke a bone in his foot, which required surgery.
Losing these two players spread Auburn's secondary dangerously thin.
While Ford could have continued to work on gaining a role in the backfield, he committed a rare deed in today's world of college sports.
He put his team before his own interests and volunteered to switch from running back to corner back.
"We have got to do what's best for the team," Lashlee said in August. "(Ford) came to us and said, 'coach, I want to help the team win. I want to win now.' And right now, that's what's best for our football team."
Though Ford is struggling with inexperience, his coaches said his work ethic and athleticism drive him to succeed.
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson believes while Ford may not be familiar with his new position's fundamentals, he will have a bright future.
"I think he physically is really going to be a good player [at corner-back]," Johnson said. "He's not ready yet, but physically he is the most impressive of the bunch."
Ford recorded his first solo tackle against Arkansas State in an impressive showing by the Auburn defense.
Ford's athleticism and selflessness have The Plains buzzing about his potential.
When asked about Ford's abilities during an August interview, Horton's response was simple.
"Johnathan Ford can make a play," Horton said.
(09/12/13 9:01pm)
Going to college, leaving behind old friends and parents, taking new classes and living in a new place can be a difficult transition.
One thing makes the transition a little easier: a pet.
After a stressful day of class, sometimes a big, sloppy kiss from a dog, or just petting a cat can help.
No on-campus dorm allows animals in the building, but Auburn has plenty of apartments that do.
Shannon Kazek, sophomore in anthropology, has an Australian shepherd/lab mix named Chance, who loves to visit Kiesel Park.
"Chance is about five and a half months old," Kazek said. "He is not hard to take care of at all because I live in a trailer and he can just go out in our yard. He is very obedient and he won't go anywhere. It was really difficult when he was a puppy though, because he was hard to house train, but he hasn't really been too bad about chewing or anything."
Ashley Durand, sophomore in animal sciences, is the owner of a Pomeranian named Kit.
"I named him Kit because he looks like a baby fox, and that's what (baby foxes) are called," Durand said.
Durand has been Kit's owner since Christmas and now lives in The Grove, one of the many pet-friendly apartments around campus. Kit is approximately 8 pounds. He is hypoallergenic, and he does not shed, which makes cleanup a breeze.
Having a small dog, such as a Pomeranian, means having a low maintenance pet.
Durand's roommates help by rotating who takes Kit out for playtime or for a bathroom break.
"The Grove has plenty of room for Kit to run around," Durand said. "Kit can usually go six hours without having to be let out, so he is not hard to balance with class. He is a great companion, and I recommend having a dog in college."
For those who don't live in apartment complexes with ample yard space, Kiesel Park is pet-friendly and offers an off-leash dog area. It is fenced in for dogs to be able to run around and play. The dog area has a playground, obstacle course and waste receptacles to keep the area clean.
Carmen Littleton, junior in marketing, owns a kitten and lives in Ross Park.
"The only hard part is when he runs out the door and I have to chase and find him," Littleton said.
Some pet-friendly apartments near campus include The Reserve, Southern Edge, University Village, Garden District, Creekside, Eagles West and Logan Square.
Auburn also has many veterinary clinics, including East University Veterinary Hospital, Village Veterinary Clinic, and South College Veterinary Clinic.
Local grooming businesses include Groomingdales, For Paws Boutique, Liz's Pet Grooming Salon and many others.
(09/04/13 3:13am)
The City Council met Tuesday, Sept. 3 to discuss Havana Dreamin' requesting an alcohol license, and Exhale's request to operate as a cigar and hookah lounge. "They died because a lack of action," said David Dorton, city director of public affairs. "The Havana Dreamin' one is two issues, even though they are both dealing with smoking. Havana Dreamin's issue was that they wanted to add alcohol to a smoking lounge."Havana Dreamin', 2328 S. College St. suite 12, sought approval for an alcoholic beverage license, but the license was denied after being granted approval to operate as a retail tobacco shop in January.Zamil Ali of Exhale, the cigar and hookah lounge, requested approval to operate as a tobacco specialty shop, or operate as a cigar or hookah lounge. Exhale is located at 221 N. College St. in the College Edge Overlay District. At the Aug. 6 meeting, both Havana Dreamin' and Exhale's requests were tabled in order for the Council to research the businesses' compliance of the City's smoking ordinances."The problem the Council saw with that was we've told bars that they can't smoke anymore," Dorton said. "So if you allow a smoking lounge to add alcohol to the smoking lounge, then that might be inconsistent with rules bars have to abide by."Three citizens approached the Council to discuss the potential harms of smoking, while Havana Dreamin' owner, Rick Payne argued for the approval of the alcohol license. "I think the hookah bar goes back to the issue of what do they want the smoking ordinance to allow, and the idea that we are going back and being consistent in how we apply all of these rules," Dorton said. "And really do they want to allow any type of smoking establishment, I think is part of the discussion."
In other business:
Katie Robinson from the planning department was named employee of the month.
The Mayor awarded five service pins and plaques. Stephanie Spraggins with the finance department and Audrea May with the public works department were awarded pins for their five year service to the City. David Carr with the public safety department and Marty Beckwith with the public works department were honored for their 10 years of service.
City Manager Charles Duggan announced vacancies in the Auburn City Public Library board, cemeteries advisory board and two vacancies in the industrial development board.
The Council approved alcoholic beverage licenses to Halftime Sports Bar and Grill on 154 and 156 N. College St.
The Council approved with unanimous consent the establishment of a stop sign in the Shelton Cove Subdivision.
Approved closing City streets for the Historic Pine Hill Lantern Tour and the Downtown Trick or Treat in October.
Approved Zazu's, 149 E. Magnolia Ave., request for an outdoor cafe permit.
Approved fixed costs for cutting overgrown lots at 804 Cahaba Drive and South College Street parcels.
Approved non-educational tax abatements for Pyongsan America Inc and toolCare U.S. International.
Approved conditional use of an accessory road for Oly's Automotive Detailing located at 465 Opelika Road. The item originally appeared in the August 20 City Council meeting where it was tabled to ensure the correction of zoning violations.
Approved Boykin Center tenants leases
Approved the purchase of 60 Motorola two-way radios at a cost of $59,145.
Approved purchase of two 60-inch Exmark mowers, three weed eaters, two edgers and one backpack mower at a total cost of $21,968.25
Approved drainage and utility easements at lot 2-C of the Samford Glenn Subdivision and two easements for the Northeast Parallel Outfall Sewer Project.
Approved nomination of Anna Hovey on the Mental Retardation Board.
(08/28/13 3:05am)
On the heels of a prolific high school career, top freshman defensive end Carl Lawson brings elite pass rushing ability to an Auburn defense that finished 74th nationally in sacks in 2012.
The 6-2, 258-pound Lawson, rated the No. 1 overall defensive end and No. 4 player overall in the 2013 recruiting class by Rivals, has already impressed his new teammates with his physicality and speed.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him be successful and it's going to be quick," senior defensive end Dee Ford said. "Usually on defense you have to make physical changes before you can play and this guy is ready to play."
New defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson has praised the quick transition Lawson and fellow newcomer Elijah Daniel had made to Division I competition.
"They're maybe two of our best pass rushers," Johnson said during fall camp. "I think they're coming along well enough that we're going to be able to play those guys sometimes, and hopefully early."
Lawson is expected to improve Auburn's edge pass rush, an area the Tigers struggled to find consistency in during the 2012 season.
"Those guys have shown a good sense of rushing the passer, smoking off the ball," said senior defensive lineman Angelo Blackson. "Those guys are young, but we need them to compete this year."
A native of Alpharetta, Ga., Lawson excelled at Milton High School where he tallied 42 sacks and 75 tackles for a loss in his final two seasons. Lawson was selected to the Under Armour All-American team after his senior season.
This summer, ESPN recognized Lawson by naming him to their preseason freshman All-American team. He is Auburn's first since junior Reese Dismukes and former player Erique Florence were named to the CBSSports.com team in 2011.
Lawson and Daniel, along with seniors Craig Sanders and Nosa Eguae, will be utilized in a rotation system to fill the defensive end spot opposite Ford this fall, according to Johnson.
But with Ford out for the season opener, the newcomers could see a lot more playing time against Washington State.
"Those guys are talented," Eguae said. "Those guys came in with college bodies."
While the athleticism Lawson brings to the field may be obvious, but teammates say the intangibles Lawson plays with are what set him apart.
"He just has one way of playing and that's it," Ford said. "He has one motor."
By donning the No. 55 jersey, Lawson will be reminding Auburn fans of the freshman success of another well-known No. 55: All-Pro linebacker Takeo Spikes and former Auburn player.
(08/27/13 9:01pm)
Saturday marks the official start of the Gus Malzahn era at Auburn, but at his weekly press conference Tuesday, Aug. 27, the first year head coach didn't seem to be feeling the pressure that comes along with the job. He feels "comfortable."
"Regarding our players, I'm very proud of our guys for buying into the stuff they did in the spring and the fall camp," Malzahn said. "They've really improved all the way around. I think after Saturday's game we'll know a lot about this team. But I feel good about where we're at right now. We feel as comfortable as we can right now with our guys. Our coaches work extremely hard, and our players have really responded well."
Since accepting the job in December, Malzahn has been repeating the signature phrase "it's a new day." On Saturday, he'll find out just how far his team has come since last season's disappointing 3-9 effort.
"I told our guys the other day, 'I'm excited to watch you guys and I'm curious to see how you respond to certain situations,'" Malzahn said.
Malzahn said he would be looking specifically at effort, attitude and how well the team responded to adversity and success as key indicators to gauge the potential of the team.
Quarterback Nick Marshall has progressed nicely since being named starter two weeks ago. Malzahn said despite not participating in spring practice, Marshall has caught on quickly.
"This will be the first quarterback we've had that didn't get a chance to go through spring. He's learning every day," Malzahn said. "We named him the starter because we feel like he's comfortable. He definitely earned that position. We feel like he'll get more comfortable and better each game."
Rave reviews of Marshall's superior athletic ability from former coaches and teammates have excited the Auburn faithful, but left others skeptical of his ability to move the ball effectively through the air. Malzahn laid those doubts to rest on Tuesday.
"He's very accurate. He's shown that he's accurate, not just in the vertical game, but the intermediate and short also," Malzahn said.
Malzahn had nothing but good things to say about Washington State, his first opponent as Auburn's head coach.
"We're playing an opponent that I feel like will be much improved. They finished (last) year beating their rival, Washington, which was a very big win," Malzahn said. "They've got the majority of their guys offensively and defensively back, so that definitely is a concern. And then the fact that it's the second year in their system and they've got a proven head coach [Mike Leach] who's won just about everywhere he's been. So we're expecting those guys to be much improved and a very good opponent."
Mike Leach has orchestrated some of the most prolific offenses in recent history, and Malzahn knows that defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson's unit will be challenged by his Air Raid they'll face on Saturday.
"We're playing a good offense," Malzahn said. "They're going to be much improved from what they were last year. When their quarterback had time, they were very effective. So, we've got to get a pass rush. They're going to throw it a lot, so we're going to have to have some depth in the secondary. So it will be a good challenge for our defense."
Malzahn also went in to detail about his play-calling relationship with offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Both are constantly looking to make adjustments to counter the schemes opposing defenses may throw at them. Malzahn said the two are usually on the same page.
"I'll be the one who actually calls the plays, but (Lashlee) will be the guy who will actually be on the sidelines looking at it from a different standpoint," Malzahn said. "He's a very good complement and I've got a lot of confidence in him. He's got a gift. He's not wrong very often."
While Lashlee will join Malzahn on the sidelines, wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig will join Johnson and cornerbacks coach Melvin Smith in the press box.
(08/27/13 2:28pm)
For many students, the final lazy days of summer are filled with packing, last minute visits with friends and finishing up jobs and internships. But for the four members of Auburn-based band Scooter McGavin, the last few weeks have been far from lazy.
The band has almost completed recording their first, full-length album, performed a marathon of shows in the Alabama-Georgia area and kicked off their fall line-up with a show at Spicer's Music in Auburn, all in the span of three months.
The band is comprised of vocalist, lyricist and guitarist Sam Harvey, bassist Jimi Greene, electric guitar and mandolin player Mitch McKoy and drummer Corey "Scooter" Spicer.
What started out as a simple jam session among friends has become an organized music group.
"I met Mitch at Auburn United Methodist Church, and he always kept talking about his roommate [Harvey] who was an acoustic guitar god," Spicer said. "We just started jamming at the beginning of last summer."
After being together for only a year, the band's success has come as a surprise to its members.
"It's kind of weird just because for the longest time starting out it's so hard to get gigs," McKoy said. "But now it's people calling us."
The group's first gig was performing at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, but soon afterward, they received calls to play at the Loft in Columbus, Ga., the Summer Swing Series in Opelika and the Taste of the Highlands Festival in Atlanta.
McKoy considered the Highlands Festival as his alltime favorite gig so far.
"The whole experience was so cool, meeting a ton of cool people and the family we stayed with. We didn't make much money, but it was still cool," McKoy said.
When asked about the unique name, McKoy laughed and said it's a combination of all the band members' names. Spicer contributed his own nickname, Scooter, to the band's first name. McGavin is a blending of McKoy and Harvey's real name, Gavin.
And Greene's contribution?
"Jimi is the space in-between," McKoy said.
Scooter McGavin has been described by its members as folk, funk and Southern rock, but according to Harvey, the band's genre is somewhat of a mixture.
"We always joke about how we call ourselves Americana because that could be anything," Harvey said.
Lyrically, the music of Scooter McGavin attempts to provide a sense of connection through shared experience.
However, Harvey said he is hesitant to write about real people.
"I made it a point to myself to never write about actual situations," Harvey said.
"It's too dangerous, you end up like Taylor Swift. I try to make them a story but they're always about some people who aren't actually real."
The fast pace that has defined Scooter McGavin this summer will continue into the fall with a line-up that will include shows at The Overall Company in Opelika, Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and the Art, Food and Wine Festival in Atlanta.
The band's first album is expected to be released sometime this fall and will be available on iTunes and Spotify and as a physical copy. More info can be found at www.ScooterMcGavinBand.wix.com/ScooterMcGavin
(08/25/13 1:07pm)
While most of us spent our summer weekends looking for ways to avoid working, a group of Auburn students and alumni entered Atlanta's 48 Hour Film Project with the complete opposite in mind.
After a weekend filled with sleepless nights, the group, comprised of current and graduated Auburn students under the team name Love Handles, ultimately won big in a contest that featured more than 70 competitors.
"Sure it was stressful, and you get no sleep and you're exhausted as hell, but its nice to start something and to finish it right away, as opposed to shooting something and then letting it sit around," said Charlie Harper, senior in radio, television and film. "It feels nice to not have the option to procrastinate."
The contest, now in its 11th year in Atlanta, took place from June 14-16 and ranged from high school groups to recent college graduates and experienced professionals.
Each team that enters will have their film projected on the main screen of the Landmark Theater in Midtown, Atlanta, with the films blocked out in small groups over six days.
Teams must draw from a hat to find out what genre their film will be, from a selection that includes operetta, western and more.
Any team that exceeds the 48-hour time limit and fails to submit their film by 7:30 p.m. Sunday is automatically disqualified.
"I think it kind of worked to our advantage though because most of us have been in college for four years and we were used to working with no time," said Brad Zellner, senior in radio, television and film. "It's like trying to finish a paper with no time the night before. We had that kind of experience from the last few years behind us."
After drawing suspense-thriller, the team worked in shifts to write and storyboard a story of a young girl's disappearance from a park and ultimate rescue from a spooky basement.
The team was comprised of filmmakers who already had experience around Atlanta interning for multimedia companies such as FUGO Studios and BARK-BARK.
Between shooting at multiple locations across town, editing scenes on the fly and developing characters and plot mostly on the spot, the group said it was a team effort.
Love Handles' film "Butterfly" took home the viewer's choice award in its viewer block, making it one of six films competing for the grand prize.
Members of the Love Handles team said they were pleased with their work and with the festival, which not only challenges upstart filmmakers to work and think in new ways, but brings together a community of like-minded individuals.
"It was fun because there's a competitive edge to it, but at the same time, it was a really good networking opportunity because everyone is meeting new people and talking about their strategies," said Brock Hanson, member of Auburn's media production team. "There are veterans who have done it before, and there are ones that this is their first year."
For most, though, the opportunity to see their films on the same screen that plays summer blockbusters is what makes it all worthwhile.
"It's fun seeing your name projected bigger than yourself," Zellner said. "And the sound kind of envelops you."
Love Handles is currently campaigning to enter "Butterfly" into the much larger 2014 Atlanta Film Festival.
In the meantime, they said they will return to their day jobs, writing, practicing and networking in preparation for their next 48 hour project.
(08/17/13 11:07pm)
After 16 days of fall practice Gus Malzahn has named Nick Marshall as the starting quarterback, making him the seventh different opening-day starter in the last seven years.
"Nick Marshall has emerged and earned the right to be our starting quarterback," Malzahn said in a press release. "As I've said, we wanted to go with the guy that gives us the best opportunity to win football games and Nick is that guy. He has caught on quickly in the short period of time he has been with us. He is a playmaker with a big upside, and once he becomes more comfortable with the offense, he has the chance to improve each week."
Malzahn made the announcement that Marshall would be the starter through Twitter.
"I've named Nick Marshall our starting QB. He's earned that opportunity. Auburn family lets get behind him and the team. #WarEagle," Malzahn wrote.
Marshall was chosen over freshman Jeremy Johnson and sophomore Jonathan Wallace after a competitive neck-and-neck battle for the starting position.
Marshall signed with the University of Georgia as a defensive back coming out of high school in 2011, but was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.
He played last season at Garden City Community College passing for 3,142 yards, 18 touchdowns and also had 1,095 yards on the ground with 19 rushing touchdowns.
A big concern with Marshall going into fall practice was ball security. He threw 20 interceptions last season at Garden City. This has been a big focus for Marshall so far in fall practice, and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and Malzahn believe he has improved enough in this area to earn the starting job.
Regardless of his interceptions last season, Marshall's athletic ability and strong arm appears to be exactly what Malzahn is looking for in his starting quarterback.
Marshall will make his first start for Auburn against Washington State on Aug. 31 as he looks to help the Tigers rebound from a disastrous 3-9 campaign in 2012.
(08/08/13 6:37pm)
The Auburn football team had its first two-a-day practice of fall camp on Thursday, a tough test after Wednesday's fully live scrimmage at the indoor facility.
Head coach Gus Malzahn spoke to the media between the morning and afternoon practices, and he was not happy with his team's performance in the first session.
"I pulled the team up afterwards and told them, bottom line, I wasn't happy with the way we responded," Malzahn said. "I didn't feel like our approach was good, and we are going to have to make sure we are mentally and physically ready to practice each time.
"Our standards are high, and I want to make sure that our players understand that."
Malzahn said Thursday morning's practice focused on corrections from Wednesday's scrimmage, a practice the head coach looked at in a positive light despite a disappointing Thursday morning.
"The great thing about scrimmages is that you can specifically learn from them and teach off of them," Malzahn said. "There were a lot of good situations in the scrimmage yesterday that we can learn from as a team. It was really good from a coaches' standpoint. We found out a lot of information about our team--not just individuals, but a lot about the team."
Wednesday's scrimmage news was dominated by the decision to make all four quarterbacks battling for Auburn's starting job go live, and Malzahn says he was impressed by the play of his signal callers.
"Each one of them handled the pressure well," Malzahn said. "We had some guys hang in the pocket. All four of our quarterbacks showed toughness, and I think that's one of the number one things you look for in a quarterback--can they hang in the pocket when the pressure is on?"
Malzahn said he and his staff are looking at each individual mistake the quarterbacks and the rest of the Tigers made during Wednesday's scrimmage so they can put the players back in those same situations in the next scrimmage, which is scheduled for Saturday.
The head coach said those situations on Saturday will help the staff start narrowing down the depth chart in all positions, including quarterback.
"Now when I say 'narrow it down,' I don't know what it means yet other than the fact that we're rotating too many guys right now," Malzahn continued.
In addition to the quarterbacks, Malzahn said he was also impressed by the play of some of Auburn's younger players.
During Wednesday's post-practice player interviews, freshman defensive end Carl Lawson's name was mentioned as someone who "blew a play up." On the other side of the field, freshman wide receiver Tony Stevens has garnered the praise of several of his teammates so far in camp.
"We really feel like (Stevens) is talented, and we're just trying to see how he reacts," Malzahn said. "Fall camp for a lot of the freshmen coming in is 24/7 football. It's meetings, it's practice. It's eat, sleep, get up and more football. We're trying to figure out these young guys, how they are doing mentally."
The Tigers will wrap up Thursday with a practice scheduled for 2 p.m. After a live scrimmage and a two-a-day, the players will have an off day on Friday, which is also team photo day.
