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A recap of the Auburn vs. South Carolina football game.
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A recap of the Auburn vs. South Carolina football game.
In a back-and-forth game, Auburn was able to make big plays in clutch situations to come away with the victory over South Carolina 42-35. With the Tigers leading by a touchdown, South Carolina was driving inside the Auburn redzone, seemingly destined to tie the score. But Auburn's defense held strong, as they forced the Gamecocks to turn the ball over on downs with 5:28 remaining. The Tigers were then able to run down the clock and stop a last minute South Carolina drive with an interception in the endzone. "It went down to the very end," head coach Gus Malzahn said. "There was a lot of adversity that we faced and our guys found a way to win." The two teams combined for 1,086 yards, but they did their damage in different ways. Auburn's offense was paced by the running game, as the Tigers ran for 395 yards, while South Carolina leaned on the passing game, throwing for 416 yards. "We went into this thing feeling like we needed to run the ball," Malzahn said. "We felt like we could have success with the read zone, which we did." Cameron Artis-Payne led the Auburn attack with 167 yards and a touchdown, averaging 6.7 yards-per-carry. "(Artis-Payne) was patient in the zone read and he was just hitting the holes how he was supposed to," quarterback Nick Marshall said. Marshall also added 89 on the ground and three touchdowns, as well as 139 passing yards and a touchdown. For South Carolina, Dylan Thompson's 402 yards and five touchdowns fueled the offense, and Mike Davis also added 88 yards on the ground. After looking out-of-sync against Mississippi State, the Auburn offense finally looked like the offense of a season ago. The Tigers put together scoring drives of 92, 93, and 88 yards, as they were able to find a rhythm in Gus Malzahn's hurry-up offense. "We were back to playing Auburn football," Marshall said. "In the bye week, we went back to the basics and focused on getting our edge back." The Tigers were 6-8 on third down, and they were only forced to punt on the first and last drives of the game. The Auburn defense could not match the play of the offense though, as they forced South Carolina to punt only once. Malzahn is confident that they will improve though. "Our defense has played well up to this point and we'll correct it and get better," Malzahn said. While Auburn held South Carolina to 5-13 on third down, the Gamecocks were able to convert on 5 of 6 fourth-down conversions, keeping key drives alive. "They made it just about every time," Malzahn said. "It was frustrating being on the other sideline." The Gamecocks' offensive success can be attributed to Steve Spurrier though, who Malzahn has much respect for. "Their coach is one of the better coaches to ever walk the sidelines," Malzahn said. "I think you saw that with the fourth down calls and the tricks plays tonight."
The Auburn Women's Soccer Team was able to avenge football's road loss to Mississippi State by shutting out the Bulldogs 2-0 Thursday night at the AU Soccer Complex.
Jonathon Mincy's senior season didn't start on a positive note. In June, the senior cornerback was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana just days after contributing to a Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. As a result, Mincy did not start the opening game against Arkansas, but he stayed focused on earning the trust of his coaches and teammates. "I made a mistake," Mincy said in a press conference in August. "Right now, I'm very apologetic to everybody that is a part of the Auburn Family, the coaches, the fans and my teammates. Day in and day out, (I'm) just trying to get everybody's respect back." Since then, Mincy has avoided trouble off the field and stepped up his play on it. Following the LSU game, opposing quarterbacks have targeted Mincy's receiver less than 17 percent of the time. Though he has no interceptions this season, defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson credits that to his coverage and experience. "They probably look at film and see he's started 20-something games and (Jonathan Jones) has never started until this year, and Trovon [Reed] is out there as a converted wide out," Johnson said. "They're probably testing those guys a little bit." The position switch from field corner to boundary corner, a spot occupied last season by Chris Davis, was a move Mincy said he welcomed and may have contributed to his improved play. "I get to be more aggressive," Mincy said. "I love to be in contact. I love to play a lot of man, which we do play." It has taken some time for Mincy to get accustomed to the position, though. "It's different from what I played last year, so I just go out there and play my technique," Mincy said. "It's really just switching a lot of leverage." In the 41-7 win over LSU, Mincy played his best game of the season so far, and Johnson said he took note. "I thought (Mincy) played exceptionally well [against LSU]," Johnson said. "There were some times (he covered) the primary receiver, and they took their eyes off him real quick because it looked like he had good coverage." The rest of the defense followed Mincy's example, resulting in their best defensive performance of the year, according to Johnson. "I think it was definitely (his best performance)," Johnson said. "That is a piggyback to our coaches. They drew up a great scheme and we were able to execute that plan well." "You just have to continue to fight throughout the whole play," Mincy said.
Auburn soccer lost 3-1 Friday night at No. 8 Texas A&M, but answered with a 2-1 win over Arkansas Sunday in double-overtime. Though they played well in the second half against A&M, the Tigers fell into a hole in the first half that was too much to overcome, as the Aggies scored the first three goals of the game. The first goal came in the 18th minute from a throw-in that deflected off the crossbar and fell to A&M's Annie Kunz for her fourth goal of the season. Nine minutes later, the Auburn defense was unable to clear an errant shot from Bianca Brinson, allowing the ball to find its way into the corner of the net. The Tigers' final blow came in the 35th minute, as an Aggie free kick was chipped into the box and headed in by Janae Cousineau for her third goal of the season. Brooke Ramsier was able to convert a penalty kick in the 41st minute for the Tigers for her team-leading fourth goal of the season, but Auburn struggled to create many offensive opportunities afterward. Auburn was outshot 20-9, and Alyse Scott's seven saves were not enough to keep the Tigers in the game. But on Sunday, the Tigers bounced back against Arkansas, keeping them in the hunt for their 13th straight conference tournament berth. Just two minutes into the game, the Razorbacks opened the scoring, as Tyler Allen scored from five yards out. But in the second half, Alex Massey tied it up for Auburn with her first goal of the season. The two teams then headed into overtime, where the first period ended scoreless, and it looked as if the Tigers were headed for another tie. But junior Haley Gerken sealed it for Auburn, scoring from a volley 30 yards out, floating the ball over the keeper who had come off of her line. Auburn moves to 8-5-3 overall and 2-3-3 in conference play. The Tigers play in their final home stand this weekend, starting Thursday against Mississippi State at 6 p.m.
Auburn women's soccer had two players claim SEC honors following their 3-2 victory over No. 25 Missouri Friday night, as midfielder Tori Ball earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week while forward Kristen Dodson earned SEC Freshman of the Week.
On Friday night, Auburn women's soccer was able to draw Ole Miss 2-2, the same team that defeated the Tigers 7-0 last season. Then on Sunday afternoon, they battled Tennessee to a scoreless draw. Despite countless chances, the Tigers were unable to convert throughout regulation and two overtime periods against the Volunteers. "It is frustrating," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We had plenty of chances and should have put one or two away. But at the same time, Tennessee made some great defensive plays to save it or block it off the line." Auburn finished the game with 18 shots and seven corners, but Tennessee goalkeeper Jamie Simmons saved six of the Tigers chances. Perhaps her most important save came with one minute to play in the second overtime, when she was able to make a foot-save on an Ellie Leek shot from about 10 yards out. Overall though, Hoppa was pleased with the play of her team, especially the defense who held their opponent scoreless for the sixth time this season. "I was really pleased. Our defense is playing great, and that's a really good offensive team," Hoppa said. "Tennessee's got some really dangerous offensive players, and I thought defensively we played tremendous. I thought we played better today as a whole than we did the last couple of games, so we're happy about that as well." Sunday's match marked the fourth time in five SEC matches that Auburn has gone to overtime. The extra time on the field may slow the Tigers down heading into the second half of their conference schedule, and minor injuries to Ellie Leek, Chelsea Gandy-Cromer, and Samantha Solaru indicate that could be true. But when asked if she thinks it will affect her team, Hoppa did not seem concerned. "I don't think so," Hoppa said. "We're fit team, it's deep in the season, everybody's a little banged up. But I think our team is fit enough that they're going to recover and get back." The weekend's results move Auburn to 6-4-3 overall and 0-2-3 in SEC play. The Tigers play next on Friday at 7 p.m. against Missouri at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
Which running backs are physically ready to help out the team and make an impact is a question college coaches have to answer before every football season. Known throughout his career as a speedster, Auburn running back Corey Grant has worked to become an all-around back. The 5'11," 205-pound senior has run for 203 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown in an increased role this season. His journey to this point has been an unusual one. A dual-sport athlete at Opelika High School, Grant was a standout in both football and track, earning All-American honors in football and winning the 6A 100-meter dash in consecutive years. His remarkable speed earned him scholarships from both Alabama and Auburn. Even with his proximity to Auburn, Grant decided to attend Alabama. But after a redshirt season, Grant had a change of heart and transferred to Auburn, where he walked on and sat out the 2011 season because of NCAA transfer rules. During that season, Grant played on the scout team and was praised for his dedication on and off the field. "Corey Grant has always had such a great work ethic," said running backs coach Tim Horton. "The big thing for me, as a coach and for our team, is that you continue to improve." Grant's hard work paid off, and he was awarded a scholarship after his redshirt freshman season at Auburn. After having a limited role in 2012, head coach Gus Malzahn found a way to utilize Grant's speed. In 2013, Grant ran for 647 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 9.8 yards per carry in mainly a speed back role. This offseason, Grant worked tirelessly both in the weight room and on the practice field to earn carries between the tackles, which has prepared him through the first three games. "Corey's always been a strong guy in the weight room," Malzahn said. "Any time you run the ball downhill in spring and everything that goes with that, he's getting more comfortable and finishing runs, but he's a very strong young man." His teammates have also taken notice of his desire to get stronger and more physical. "He's one of the strongest guys on this team," said center Reese Dismukes. "He's pretty fast, too." With the added strength, Grant has been running with more purpose and aggression this season. "Going into every game this year, I'm trying to be a more physical back," Grant said. "As I'm running the ball, there have been some times where I could have got out of bounds, but I'd rather lower my shoulder and try to break that tackle or get two or three more yards." Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has admired Grant's determination to improve his physicality. "Corey, for a guy that fast, usually those guys are trying to get down and try to get out of bounds, he loves to finish runs," Lashlee said. "He's finishing downhill, and he's not dancing, which is really good. He's really developed as an overall running back." Even with his new mentality, Grant said he knows he must continue to improve. "Running inside, I'm following my block and making sure I'm making the right cuts," Grant said. "The physical part of it is not one thing I focus on, it's just making my right reads and trying to be more like Cam (Artis-Payne). He makes good reads. Our inside runs, that's what I'm trying to get better at."
After a strong A-Day performance that earned him special teams MVP, Daniel Carlson won both the kicking and punting job for the Tigers this fall. A redshirt freshman from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Carlson is the first Auburn player since 2002 to handle both duties. This is not the first time Carlson has done both, though. "I did it a little in high school," Carlson said. "Obviously, it's a whole new level here. But, mentally, I've prepared for it. There are kickers at other schools that have done it successfully. Of course it's a little more rare, I guess, but I'm happy to take on the challenge." While he was recruited solely as a kicker, Carlson said he feels he can be just as effective as a punter. "I think I could be a really good punter if I continue to work on it," Carlson said. "I'm kind of taller, built like a punter. If I can connect well, I can drop some bombs." In the preseason, head coach Gus Malzahn thought the young player may need time to adjust to doing both duties in a college game. "I'm sure there will be some growing pains; we know that anytime you go with a redshirt freshman," Malzahn said. "Right now, he won the job and he's been very impressive." If the first few games are any indicators, Carlson may have already overcome any growing pains he has faced. Against Arkansas, Carlson was 1-2 on field goals, kicked seven of his eight kickoffs for touchbacks, converted all six extra points and averaged 53.3 yards per punt. His only hiccup was a 42-yard field goal try that bounced off the upright, but he answered with a 45-yarder in the second half. His performance earned him SEC Freshman of the Week, an honor no kicker or punter has ever accomplished at Auburn. Even with his first few performances, replacing former Auburn and current Philadelphia Eagles kicker Cody Parkey will be no small task according to special teams coach Scott Fountain. "Cody was good," Fountain said. "It's going to be tough to (replace Parkey), but it's kind of a good standard for him to work towards."
Following Auburn's first game against Arkansas, many things became clear: Jeremy Johnson is extremely overqualified as Auburn's backup quarterback, Duke Williams is a special player and Arkansas is much improved from last season. Perhaps most of all, though, is Jordan-Hare Stadium needs some updating. Right from the start, the scoreboard clocks malfunctioned and could not be repaired until halftime. For this to happen at all, let alone in the first game of the year, is unacceptable. The sound system is also subpar. While that does not seem like a huge deal, it is something that is missing from the game day experience. After the game, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema complained his assistant coaches were stuck in an elevator during halftime, something that is, again, unacceptable. Those are just the technical problems. Aesthetically, Jordan-Hare falls short of other conference rivals' stadiums, many of which have recently undergone significant upgrades. LSU is finishing their expansion to Tiger Stadium, which brings its capacity to more than 102,000 and cost approximately $80 million. Texas A&M is also finishing renovations to Kyle Field, bringing its capacity to more than 102,000, as well, and costing $450 million. Mississippi State finished renovations to Davis-Wade Stadium, adding approximately 8,000 seats, as well as several suites. Not to mention Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa is one of the best-looking stadiums in America. The renovations are not just about adding seats; they are about improving the game day experience. I'm not saying Jordan-Hare needs to expand. Considering this was the first year since 2011 Auburn sold all of its season packages, it would be difficult to consistently sell-out for most of the smaller games. First of all, the little things need to be fixed: improve or add scoreboards, improve the sound system, renovate the usually forgotten press box. Instead of expansion, the outside of the stadium needs to be focused on. Large, plastic murals are the most aesthetically pleasing aspects of the outside of our stadium. Those are nothing compared to the stadiums of Auburn's rivals. The concrete "ribs" descending from the upper decks need to be covered or at least made visually appealing. The metal bleachers in the end zones are outdated and need attention sooner rather than later. With Gus Malzahn leading the program, Auburn football is heading in the right direction. But to stay in that direction, you need to be able to recruit. Recruits love nothing more than being wowed by impressive stadiums. As it stands, several other stadiums in the SEC outshine Jordan-Hare. If Malzahn continues his success on the field, other programs with more impressive facilities will come calling with loads of cash. I do not see Malzahn leaving for another school, but why give him any reason to? Just improve the man's facilities, especially the stadium, and enjoy rooting for one of the smartest coaches in the country.
Auburn soccer had an impressive home debut in the Tiger Classic, winning the tournament without conceding a goal. Their momentum continued as the Tigers took to the road to compete in the Rebel Classic, where they beat Memphis 3-0 and Minnesota 3-1. So far, the defense has stepped up their play, something goalkeeper Alyse Scott said was a goal for this season. "We're holding ourselves to a higher standard," Scott said. "We set goals, and last year, we didn't meet the goals that we wanted." Last year's disappointing season stayed in the minds of Auburn players, and defender Kala Faulkner said it motivated them to improve their play during the offseason. "Last season we didn't have the season we wanted," Faulkner said. "There were a lot of close games that if we wouldn't have let in one goal it could have changed our season. So there's been an emphasis to not let that happen again." Head coach Karen Hoppa said she can already see improvement in the defense from last season. "I think we've improved a ton defensively," Hoppa said. "We're deeper on our defensive line and our goalkeeping line. Kala (Faulkner) is even more experienced than she was last year, and last year she was an all-SEC selection. She's really leading the charge for us with that group, and I think we have a lot of players that can play back there and that helps us a ton." According to Faulkner, Hoppa has put more emphasis on the defense this season and has stressed its importance. "People say defense wins championships, and she's emphasized that," Faulkner said. "Each week, we do a defensive practice just to emphasize that so we can be one unit." Hoppa said Faulkner has been the standout player in Auburn's defense, especially in the Tiger Classic, where she won defensive MVP honors. "She had an MVP type performance this past weekend at our own tournament," Hoppa said of Faulkner. "She's been a leader both vocally and in her play. She's been the outstanding performer so far." Scott has also taken note of Faulkner's performance so far this season. "She's made an immense impact," Scott said. "She's such a natural leader on the field. As soon as she steps on the field she knows it's business. She's all about winning for the team, and she'll sacrifice everything to make sure we win." Faulkner and the rest of the defense have bought in to Hoppa's defensive philosophy, and Hoppa has taken notice of their new attitude. "It's a defensive mentality," Hoppa said. "We talk about our back line of four, they have to be one unit. If one of the defenders do something that the others aren't on the same page with, it can cost us a goal. So with our back line in particular, we stress that a ton. They are one unit, as one goes, they all go, and they really buy into that and it makes a difference for us." With SEC opponents on the horizon, Hoppa said the Tigers need to keep improving to reach their ultimate goals. "Our goal is to get better every week," Hoppa said. "We're happy at 5-1, and we've gotten better from first weekend to second weekend, but we're still not where we need to be. We need to build on the way our defense has played so far to get us ready for SEC play."
According to defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, the Auburn defense played well for the most part in their 59-13 victory over San Jose State. But after reviewing the film, Johnson saw "a dozen plays or so" that he was particularly disappointed with. "We could have played a lot cleaner," Johnson said. "I was disappointed with some of the plays we left on tape. I think we played 77 snaps, 60 of them as good as you want to see. But there are still those dozen plays or so every game that we do something that we really worked on, kids are keyed in on it, and we seem to make a mistake." Those mistakes kept drives alive and allowed San Jose State to put points on the board. On the Spartans' 75-yard touchdown pass, Johnson said the problem was communication. "They had the miscommunication on the touchdown," he said. "It was between one of the safeties and the corners. It wasn't the safety's fault, but I think there was a check going on that may have confused the other one." Johnson said it is the "trashy plays" that are holding the Auburn defense back. "There are some things that can be fixed," Johnson said. "It's not getting beat, it's not things from a fundamental standpoint. I think we're playing really well but it's just one or two guys that make a mistake here or there that are costing us some trashy plays we ought to clean up." Johnson was quick to point out though that San Jose State did a good job in their execution. "They are a good football team," Johnson said. "I think, obviously, talent-wise we had better players. But you have to give them credit. They can execute. They know who they are, the precision of their routes and some of the things. They made some great catches. We could have played better, but I thought we improved in some areas." Even with the mistakes, Johnson thought the defense played well overall. "You've got four punts, three takeaways, should have been four takeaways," he said. "I think they had half of their series they had no first downs or one." The "should have been" takeaway Johnson mentioned occurred on San Jose State's first offensive play, when the Tigers caused and recovered a fumble in Spartan territory. But, a facemask penalty negated the turnover, something Johnson disagreed with. "The facemask was not a penalty," Johnson said. "There was no facemask on that play. What can you do? That was first-and-10 for Auburn at the 22-yard line, and instead it was first-and-10 for them at the 37." Moving forward, Johnson says he will focus on getting his players to limit the mistakes that result in big plays for the offense. "At the end of the day you go back and look at those plays and say 'When are these going to get cleaned up?" Johnson said. "That's the thing we're going to really put emphasis on."
Coming out of Plano West High School in Plano, Texas, Casie Ramsier had several accolades next to her name. All-American, team captain and state champion were just a few. Auburn's leading goal-scorer was not one many expected to add after only her freshman season. Not even head coach Karen Hoppa saw it coming. "Obviously, we knew Casie had potential; that's why we recruited her," Hoppa said. "But I would say I wouldn't have expected her to get as many goals and be as impactful as she was that quickly, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise." After a freshman campaign where she started all 22 matches and scored nine goals, Ramsier gave credit to upperclassmen for preparing her for SEC soccer. "I wasn't really sure what to expect," Ramsier said. "I knew it would definitely be a step up from the pace I was used to, but our older girls helped us adjust quicker by making sure we were ready for what was coming." After such a great season, Ramsier said she stayed focused in the offseason, trying to avoid the infamous "sophomore slump". "I know personally, I want to do better than I did last year," Ramsier said. "It's great to have a freshman year like that, but I can't let down." Hoppa is confident Ramsier has the work ethic to avoid becoming complacent. "I definitely think she's improved," Hoppa said. "The great thing about Casie is she works her tail off no matter what we're doing. It doesn't matter if it's weight room, fitness, anything, everything. She works her tail off." Improving upon her numbers last season will be a tough task, though, and Hoppa said she knows teams will be focused on the goal-scorer. "Last year she was an unknown and could sneak up on people," Hoppa said. "Now she's going to be the number one forward on our scouting reports, but hopefully what it will do is it will open up other players around her." With teams focused on her, displaying leadership on and off the field will be a key part of her game this year. Hoppa said she thinks she is ready for that role. "I think she's grown a ton over the past year," Hoppa said. "I definitely think she's stepped into a leadership role, and we expect her to be the leader of our front line."
Following the biggest turnaround in SEC history, Auburn sold all of its football season ticket packages, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 2011 season. The University has sold 62,900 ticket packages; a new school record. The preseason hype surrounding head football coach Gus Malzahn and his program has both longtime fans and new fans eager to see the Tigers in person. Mark Winne, who has attended several games over the years, decided after last season it was time to buy season tickets. "I'm all in for Auburn every year, but this year the excitement surrounding the football program is palpable, uplifting, even inspirational," Mark said. "Coach Malzahn's fast-moving, innovative offense is one of the most exciting phenomena in sports and a joy to behold, particularly in person." Malzahn's teaching philosophy and his off-the-field character also attracts Winne to the games. "I have the sense Coach Malzahn, a man of strong faith, and his staff, which seems to include some good men, stand for something that transcends football, and that makes me feel even more inspired to sit in those stands," Mark said. Auburn also implemented a Young Alumni program, which allows graduates within the last three years to purchase season tickets for only half the contribution. Jack Winne, 2013 Auburn graduate, decided to take advantage of the deal even with the Alabama and Georgia games being on the road this season. "Auburn offered the Young Alumni tickets at a reasonable price in the lower bowl. It's a heck of a deal," Winne said. "Having to play both of those red teams on the road is unfortunate and I was slightly more apprehensive about pulling the trigger as a result, but I'm expecting big things from the Tigers this year, so I'm glad I did." There is no question last year's magical season is the main selling point for most season ticket holders, but Cassie Arner, Auburn's associate athletic director for strategic communications, believes there's much more to the Auburn game day than just the game. "Our fans know there's no better way to experience Auburn football than being inside Jordan-Hare Stadium," Arner said. "There's so much pageantry and tradition that can only be felt while on campus." Arner expects the increased ticket sales to continue due to the amazing support of the Auburn fans. "We've averaged over 80,000 [fans] in Jordan-Hare Stadium over the last few years," Arner said. "Auburn fans are very passionate about Auburn football and all Auburn sports, and when they come to the stadium, they know they are going to experience a lot of tradition, and that stands the test of time." The success and excitement around the football program is also rubbing off on the rest of the athletic program, especially the basketball team and Bruce Pearl. Arner can see the difference already. "There's a lot of excitement on Auburn's campus right now about all of our sports," Arner said. "(Basketball tickets) are already selling better than they have the last few years. Bruce Pearl is a very exciting coach, a very exciting figure, and people are more than thrilled about what we can expect from men's basketball in the coming years." Besides football season tickets, Mark Winne has also contemplated buying basketball tickets as well. "I have thought of buying basketball tickets, purely because of Bruce Pearl," Mark Winne said. "I get a lot out of watching his embrace of the Auburn family and his unfolding story of redemption."
On Monday, Auburn picked up another 2016 commitment from Stephen Davis Jr, son of former Auburn running back Stephen Davis Sr. He had been wavering between deciding this summer and waiting until later in the process, but his fifth visit to Auburn this weekend sealed the deal. Davis, from Irmo, South Carolina, had been leaning towards Auburn for months, and he finally chose to pull the trigger after visiting Sunday with his dad to watch practice. The No. 8 athlete in the country, according to Rivals.com, Davis chose Auburn over offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Though rated as an athlete, Auburn is reportedly recruiting Davis to play safety, the position he plays at Dutch Fork High School. At 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, Davis fits the mold of bigger, longer defensive backs that defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said he likes in his 4-2-5 defenses. He still plans to take visits, but said he is a solid commitment and will let the Auburn coaches know where he goes. Davis is the fourth commitment in the Tigers 2016 class, joining tight end Landon Rice from Rome, Georgia, running back Jalen Buie from Jacksonville, Florida, and wide receiver Nate Craig from Tampa, Florida. Davis is Auburn's second highest-rated 2016 commit, behind only Craig, who Rivals.com ranks as the No. 1 overall player in the country. There is still a long way to go though, as National Signing Day for the 2016 class is not until February 2016.
On Sunday, former Auburn slugger Frank Thomas was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, becoming the first SEC player to be awarded with the honor. Known as "The Big Hurt", a nickname given to him by Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson, Thomas, a two-time American League MVP, had a .301 batting average, hit 521 homeruns, and drove in 1,704 runs in his career. While Thomas is widely known for his professional accomplishments, his career began on the plains of Auburn University. As a senior at Columbus High School in Georgia, Thomas' skills on the football field earned him a scholarship to Auburn as a tight end. But after an outstanding baseball season, which ended with a state championship, Thomas eyed the MLB draft. To the surprise of most, including then-Auburn baseball coach Hal Baird, Thomas was not drafted. "It was clear he was a great baseball player," Baird said. "In any type of decent draft, he probably would have played professionally straight out of high school." So instead, Thomas enrolled at Auburn and competed in the 1986 football season. He then reported to the baseball team in January, and it did not take long for him to impress. "He hadn't swung a bat in over a year, and even in the very first day of workouts, it was as if he had been working at baseball every day," Baird said. "His timing was terrific, the bat speed, the vision, all of those things that take normal human beings quite a while to get, Frank had them in the first day." Baird said Thomas' talent helped him transition to college ball more easily. "I remember talking to our hitting coach Steve Renfroe and saying 'this is an incredibly talented young guy,'" Baird said. "Of course we needed to see him in games, but there was just no learning curve for Frank." To both Baird and Renfroe, it was obvious the kind of talent they had on their hands. "The first ball he ever hit in batting practice, Coach Baird and I, our heads just swiveled," Renfroe said. "And we said 'there's our number four hitter'. He was the best baseball player in my 32 years around Auburn that I saw." Even after winning the SEC MVP his senior season and hitting a career school record 49 home runs, Baird said Thomas will always be remembered at Auburn for his smile and personality. "He was one of the most popular players in the athletic department, not just the baseball program and football program," Baird said. "He always had a huge smile, the most beautiful smile you ever saw, and he was always smiling" "Great, great person," Renfroe said. "He was just fun to be with, his teammates loved him. He was like the pied piper. The big infectious smile, he was just excitable and loved the game. He treated all of the guys well, the coaches and the people. He's just a special person to be with."
When talking about Auburn as a college town, many descriptions come to mind. A small-town feel, lovely campus, welcoming people and an outstanding atmosphere on fall weekends are compliments uttered often. For the most part, everyone leaves Auburn with only nice things to say about the town. But this does not mean the experience cannot be improved, especially when it comes to downtown entertainment. One glaring issue, to me, is the lack of consistently good, live music in Auburn. It has not been an ignored subject though. The University Program Council has increased its efforts in booking headliners at Auburn Arena, such as B.o.B and The Avett Brothers. But they are not involved in the downtown music scene, which has not shown the same improvement, and has left many people wondering how it can be enhanced. Some say the proximity to Atlanta and Birmingham keep the big artists away. Tuscaloosa is closer to Birmingham, and Athens is not much further than Atlanta. To me, the lack of an attractive venue downtown is the main obstacle. In the next two months, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre has booked Peter Frampton, Umphrey's McGee and Darius Rucker. In Athens, the Georgia Theatre is one of many top-notch venues near the University of Georgia. In recent years, artists such as R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band, Ludacris and Willie Nelson have played at the venue. The Lyric in Oxford, Mississippi has not had any problem booking headliners either. In the near future, T-Pain, Corey Smith, Jason Isbell, and Citizen Cope are scheduled to perform. All of these towns are similar to Auburn. The main attraction in each city is the local university, and thousands of music-loving students flock to these cities every fall and spring. Yet they have thriving music scenes, while Auburn's is far from it. There is no excuse for the inferior music scene here in Auburn, but until some more venue options become available and popular, we have some catching up to do.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall and wide receiver Sammie Coates added to their preseason watch list haul this July, with Marshall landing on the Walter Camp Award (Top Player) and Davey O' Brien Award (Top QB) lists and Coates on the Biletnikoff Award (Top QB) list. Senior center Reese Dismukes and junior linebacker Kris Frost were added to the Lombardi and Butkus award watch lists respectively on July 14. The Lombardi award, which is given to the nation's top lineman or linebacker, is Dismukes' third preseason watch list of 2014 (Rimington, Outland). After recording 59 tackles in 2013, Frost landed on the Butkus award watch list. The award is given to the nation's top linebacker. On July 10, Auburn defensive lineman Gabe Wright was placed on the Bronco Nagurski Award watch list. The Nagurski award is given to the collegiate player adjudged to be the best defensively in the nation. Wright also joined offensive linemen Dismukes and Alex Kozan on the Outland Trophy watch list, which is given to the nation's top interior lineman. On July 8, Dismukes and tight end C.J. Uzomah were named to college football preseason awards watch lists. They join Marshall, Coates, and safety Robenson Therezie as Auburn representatives on the numerous preseason lists released every July. Dismukes, who began his accolade-laden career as a freshman All-American, was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list. Given to the nation's best center, Dismukes was one of six finalists for the award last winter after helping lead Auburn to the most rushing yards in the nation. Uzomah was selected to the Mackey Award watch list, given to the nation's best tight end. The 6-foot-5, 264-pound senior caught 11 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns last season, including a game-winning touchdown vs. Mississippi State. Marshall and Coates were chosen to the Maxwell Award watch list, given to the nation's top player. Last season, Marshall accounted for 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air, while also rushing for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first SEC season at quarterback. Coates caught 42 passes for 902 yards and seven touchdowns last year. The 6-foot-2 speedster averaged 21.5 yards per catch, placing him third in the nation. Therezie was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, given to the nation's top defender. A starter at the "Star" hybrid position, Therezie recorded 57 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions. Other watch lists will be released every weekday until July 19th.
Eyes from around the world are focused on Brazil for the next few weeks, but to many Brazilians, it is for the wrong reason. Billions of dollars have been used in preparations for the World Cup, but many Brazilians feel the money should have been used to improve the quality of life for citizens of the country. They have not been afraid to make their voices heard, as violent protests started in 2012 have continued during the event. Brazilian Olympian and former Auburn swimmer Marcelo Chierighini feels the issues should get more attention in the media. "We have so many problems in Brazil," Chierighini said. "We don't have good education, we don't have hospitals, we don't have security. We don't have any of this stuff, but we have stadiums that cost billions of dollars to make, so it doesn't make any sense." Growing up in Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, the 2013 SEC Male Swimmer of the Year has experienced the difficulties of living in such conditions. "Sao Paulo has problems because the city grew so fast," Chierighini said. "The government didn't plan, so we don't have infrastructure. The streets, for example, are all messed up. There are holes in the street, the public transportation is awful, and the traffic is really, really bad." The lack of improvement in Brazilian society does not completely stem from the World Cup though. According to the 19-time SEC Champion, Brazil has the money for improvement, but corrupt officials make it difficult, including President Dilma Rousseff. "I think Brazil is a rich country, but the problem is the corruption," Chierighini said. The leadership of the Brazil Student Association (BSA) at Auburn University is also divided about how their home country will handle hosting the World Cup. "I'm not worried at all," said Philipe Aldahir, president of the BSA. "Our national team aren't politicians. We are supporting soccer." But Luana De Sena Monteiro Ozelim, vice president of the BSA, had his worries about the event. "I was there two weeks ago, and I had noticed that half of my friends were worried about the politics," Ozelim said. "They just spent millions of dollars in building stadiums everywhere, including in Manaus, where people want money for healthcare and education."
On Saturday, Auburn hosted one of the biggest recruiting events of the year, known as "Big Cat Weekend". The hope is that a few commitments from attending athletes will follow. The first commit of the day, though, came from a player who did not even attend the event. Chandler Cox, the nation's number two fullback according to Rivals.com, tweeted his commitment to the Tigers over Florida and several other programs. The Apopka, Florida native named the Tigers his leader following the A-Day game and indicated a commitment could come at any time. At 6-foot-1, 220-pounds, Cox is considered an ideal fit for the H-Back position Jay Prosch played last season. With senior Brandon Fulse graduating following the 2014 season, the chance for early playing time is there. There is also little need to worry about the firmness of his commitment, as Cox has told multiple sources that his commitment is solid. Besides being considered a huge pickup in his own right, Cox is also a friend and teammate of five-star offensive tackle Martez Ivey, who has the Tigers among his favorites.