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(09/26/14 12:00pm)
The Auburn Tigers played their first game in Jordan-Hare Stadium 75 years ago.
When it opened Nov. 9, 1939, it was simply known as Auburn Stadium and housed less than 8,000 fans.
Since then, it has been home to two national championships, 12 SEC championships, three Heisman trophy winners and 68 consensus All-Americans.
Jordan-Hare is a special place for Auburn fans, students and alumni, and it means something different for all of them.
"The stadium is a place where I have lots of memories," said Ryan Wilson, class of 2014 graduate and former Plainsman. "Auburn football kind of started my love for Auburn. Being a student, it was extended to other areas, but it's neat to know where your passion for Auburn started, and mine was in that stadium."
Jacob Taunton, senior in biomedical sciences and current Plainsman, said he thinks about the memories he's made in Jordan-Hare not just on game day, but every day.
"I walk by Jordan-Hare everyday on my way to class," Taunton said. "To say that it's iconic would be an understatement, and I always enjoy that was the stadium where the Kick-Six happened."
Recently there has been talk of expansion in an effort to keep up with SEC foes and their ever growing seat capacity, but Taunton said he enjoys the intimate feel Jordan-Hare Stadium offers.
"All these other schools are getting renovations," Taunton said. "Yet our stadium stands timeless because, just like the University, it's big but it doesn't lose the feeling of intimacy."
Taylor Rowell, member of the Tiger Hosts, said Jordan-Hare is what made him decide to come to Auburn.
"Jordan-Hare is what sold me on coming to Auburn," Rowell said. "I was unsure on where to go to college until the LSU game in 2010. Seeing the energy of that stadium was what won me over."
Rowell added that the resolve of fans in Jordan-Hare when adversity hits is what he'll remember from his time at Auburn.
"When I think of Jordan-Hare, I think of the fans at the Georgia game last year," Rowell said. "When we blew the 20-point lead, I just remember the 'It's great to be an Auburn Tiger' cheer. There's not many stadiums where you get the entire stadium saying how they love their team after blowing a 20-point lead at home to a rival, especially with how much was one the line."
The official 75th anniversary is Nov. 9.
(09/18/14 6:00pm)
Auburn Starting safety Jermaine Whitehead did not make the trip to Kansas State with the team for Thursday night's game against the Wildcats.
According to Jay Tate of Auburnsports.com, Whitehead did not board the bus to Columbus, Ga., with the rest of the team on Wednesday.
Whitehead has been an impact player for the Tigers this year, with two interceptions in two games, including a pick-six against Arkansas.
Nothing is known about why Whitehead didn't make the trip , or his future with the team.
(09/12/14 8:50pm)
Bruce Pearl is a coach of the people.
In his short time at Auburn, Pearl has shown how important he believes it is to be not only a part of the University, but a part of the community.
"I'm on staff at Auburn," Pearl said. "Being on a college campus, there's a lot of different ways I can serve. I love to contribute in the classroom when I can. I love to support our faculty and our students and things that they're interested in."
Pearl and the team are doing several things currently to get students more involved, including looking for those who may be talented enough to join the team.
The team will host an open walk-on tryout Sept. 16 in the Auburn Arena.
"I walked on at Boston College, and my son walked on at Tennessee," Pearl said. "It's special to me."
Pearl said he believes there could be students on campus who are worthy of suiting up on the basketball team.
"There are guys on campus that could've been Division II scholarship players some place and still love the game," Pearl said. "Sometimes that means just practice, but sometimes that means actually playing in the games. Sometimes it even means getting a scholarship."
Pearl referenced a game during his time at Tennessee in 2010 when the 15th ranked Volunteers knocked off the then No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks, thanks to some crucial play from walk-ons.
"Three walk-ons were in our top players," Pearl said. "My son Stephen, Skylar McBee, who hit a game winner, and Josh Bone from Nashville."
Tryouts will start at 7 a.m. Sept. 16 in the Auburn Arena, but prospective players won't just be able to walk in off the street.
"There's a lot of eligibility things they need to do in advance," Pearl said.
Before Sept. 16, hopefuls will have to file a full physical, and be deemed eligible to compete. In order to do that, they'll need to contact Todd Golden, Auburn's director of basketball operations, at trg0012@auburn.edu.
"I'm making a lot of arrangements and changes to be here," Pearl said. "I'm going to be out recruiting, and I'm coming back for the tryout. That's how important it is."
Pearl is trying to get involved with the student body not just on the court, but in the stands of the Auburn Arena as well.
A video was released recently with Pearl asking for students' feedback on what to call the student section inside the Auburn Arena.
"I'm OK with the Jungle," Pearl said. "We are the Auburn Tigers. I'm personally more comfortable with a name that revolves around our school or our mascot than me."
Whatever it's called, Pearl said it needs to be exciting.
"I don't want it to be tame," Pearl said. "I want it to be wild. We've got to give our students something to cheer about. We have an opportunity, both on and off the court, to show the nation that Auburn can represent. The culture we're trying to change is the fact that basketball has been good here before, it's just been a while. I'd like to see if we can make some noise that first night."
Auburn will tip off the 2014 basketball season against West Alabama on Nov. 7 at 8:30 p.m. in the Auburn Arena.
(09/06/14 6:01pm)
A season opener against a divisional foe is a rarity.
More often than not, the opening game for SEC teams is a pay-to-play surefire win against a lesser opponent. For Auburn, after a strong win against Arkansas, that definite win comes in week two.
The San Jose State Spartans of the Mountain West Conference will roll onto the Plains on Saturday, Sept. 6, and barring a miracle, the Tigers should move to 2-0.
The first half of the opener against Arkansas was a little tougher than most thought it would be, but backups did get their time near the end with Auburn up 45-21. Against a team like San Jose State, those backups should see more time. Here's a list of players I think will have an impact in week two.
(09/02/14 1:19am)
Auburn place kicker and punter Daniel Carlson has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week.
Against Arkansas on Saturday, Carlson impressed, despite missing his first field goal attempt that would've put the Tigers in front heading into halftime.
His first career punt, a booming 62-yard spiral, was the longest by an Auburn punter since Kody Bliss in 2006.
Carlson was perfect on extra points, and added a 45-yard field goal with 9:55 left in the game, just before the hour and 28 minute rain delay.
The freshman also impressed on kickoffs, with 7 of 8 kicks going for touchbacks, including a few that went through the back of the end zone.
After the game, Carlson said he was happy to have one game behind him.
"It was a lot of fun," Carlson said. "I was a little nervous to get the first one under my belt. My first punt was a bomb, so that was a nice little surprise."
(08/31/14 12:59am)
Auburn started the 2014 football season off on the right foot, beating SEC West foe Arkansas 45-21, in a game that included an hour and 28 minute delay due to inclement weather with 9:55 to go in the fourth quarter.
For Auburn, halftime adjustments were a thing of beauty on Saturday.
Heading into the locker room at the break on Saturday, Auburn's defense was getting gashed by the Arkansas running game. In second half, the Tigers looked like a different team.
After playing to a 21-21 tie in the first half, the Auburn defense shut out the Razorbacks in the third quarter, while scoring two touchdowns of their own, one on defense, a 33-yard interception return from safety Jermain Whitehead. That gave Auburn a 35-21 lead that they never relinquished, shutting the Razorbacks out again the fourth, outscoring them by a total of 24-0 in the second half.
In the first two quarters, Arkansas rushed for 151 yards and threw for 116 more. In the second half, they were held to just 61 total yards of offense.
"We made our adjustments in the second half," said senior defensive lineman Gabe Wright. "And for the most part, we were able to execute."
Offensively, Auburn looked sharp all game long.
Starting in place of suspended Nick Marshall, sophomore quarterback Jeremy Johnson was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 12 of 16 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Auburn QB to throw for more than 200 yards in the first half since Cam Newton in 2010.
"I just took advantage of all my time that I had," Johnson said. "I just had to show the world what I was capable of doing and what I can do against anybody."
The one-two punch from running backs also saw success. Carmeron Artis-Payne ran for 177 yards, with Corey Grant adding 87 of his own.
"It was fun," Grant said. "Anytime you're just running up the score and putting away the game, securing the game, it's a good feeling.
In the second half, head coach Gus Malzahn lifted Mashall's suspension and sat Johnson. Marshall returned with a band, leading Auburn right down the field on the first possession of the third quarter, capping off the 9 play, 78-yard drive with a 19-yard scamper into the end zone.
Newcomer D'haquille Williams lived up to the hype that surrounded him all offseason, racking up 154 yards on 9 catches and a score, including a quick slant that turned into a 62-yard gain right up the middle of the field.
"Coach just kept giving me the chances, and I just made the best of it," Williams said. "It just felt good to be out there and playing in the SEC."
The rest of the receiving corps looked strong as well. Junior Melvin Ray was on the receiving end of Auburn's first touchdown, a 49 yard pass from Jeremy Johnson.
"He (Ray) had one of the best fall camps out of everyone," Malzahn said "Hard work paid off for him."
Redshirt freshman Daniel Carlson, another fresh face on the field, impressed as well. Though he did hit the upright on a field goal opportunity at the end of the first half, his first career punt was a tight spiral that went for 62 yards, the longest Auburn punt since 2006.
Auburn finished the game with 595 yards of total offense, while Arkansas finished with 328, 267 of them coming in the first half.
"I'm very proud of our guys," Malzahn said. "Very proud of the way our guys responded in the second half."
Auburn's next game is next Saturday, Sept. 6 against San Jose State at 6:00 p.m. in Jordan Hare Stadium.
(08/28/14 9:00pm)
It's an undeniable fact the excitement for this season of Auburn football is beginning to boil over.
The sport that hasn't had much excitement surrounding it in recent history is basketball. Until now, that is.
When Bruce Pearl was hired to try and veer Auburn basketball in he right direction, I asked journalism professor John Carvalho if he had ever seen this much excitement revolving around Auburn basketball.
At 12:01 a.m., August 24, my question was answered.
Not only was it the waning hours of the first weekend of school, but it was six days away from one of the most anticipated Auburn football seasons in years. But as Bruce Pearl walked into his office early Sunday morning to talk to a recruit for the first time in three years, Auburn football was the last thing on fans' minds--at least those who gathered outside Auburn Arena.
Pearl was noticeably emotional when he walked up to the scene, similar to the one he was welcomed with at the Auburn airport the day he was hired and told fans that he was honored and blessed to be coaching the Tigers.
After a celebration with the players and several minutes of photo opportunities with fans, Pearl headed upstairs to get on the phone.
Less than 12 hours later, he had a commitment from Horace Spencer, the 57th best basketball prospect in the nation according to 247Sports.
The night before, Pearl's staff picked up a commitment from Danjel Purifoy, the 56th best prospect in the country, according to 247Sports.
Those two commitments pushed Auburn's recruiting class to the top 10 in the country, something that hasn't happened in quite some time.
It will only get better from here.
Pearl said in a press conference Sunday that for the next three weeks, his team will "go as hard as we can go," before he hits the road for a recruiting trip.
On Sunday, I watched Pearl address the attendees of his elite camp before the best of the best faced off in an all-star game.
I've been around Auburn sports for a long time, and there's always been a negative connotation around the basketball program.
In recent history, were I a blue-chip basketball recruit (which I most assuredly am not), I never would have even considered Auburn.
That, I believe, has changed. The players at the camp wanted to be at Auburn. They wanted to play for Pearl.
Not a single game has been played, but the excitement for the 2014 basketball season is reaching a football-esque level.
It's rare in the SEC to be successful in both football and basketball. Those schools that do see success in both sports usually have a strong coaching duo. Take Florida in 2006, for example. With Billy Donovan coaching basketball and Urban Meyer on the sidelines in the Swamp, the Gators captured national championships on the hardwood and the gridiron.
With a coaching duo like Gus Malzahn and Bruce Pearl, the possibilities are endless. Maybe not two national championships in the same year, but success is inevitable.
Without a doubt, it's a special time to be an Auburn fan.
(08/27/14 7:30pm)
Auburn University has announced a list of 25 enhancements coming to football game days in an attempt to make Saturdays at Jordan-Hare Stadium more enjoyable.
Items on the list include concession price reductions and fan events, among other things.
At the concession stand, a 20 oz. bottled water will now cost attendees $2 instead of $4, and hotdog prices have been knocked down from $4 to $3.
Rush Jones, senior in Pre-med, said he was excited about the concession changes.
"I think they're good," Jones said. "My favorite was the hotdog and water decrease in prices."
Other enhancements in the concession department will be the addition of "grab-and-go" concession stands at gate 0 and 2, as well general public access Friday nights to Auburn's new Wellness Kitchen.
Several of the other items on the list concern ticketing and ticket access. For instance, fans will be able to access their tickets to games on their smartphones, which can then be scanned upon entry like a paper ticket.
Fans will also be able to enter the stadium through gates that were previously designated for University faculty.
Faculty tickets will have unique barcodes, and faculty will be permitted through any of the public gates.
The University is also making efforts to minimize purchases of fake tickets, instituting a system that will require scalpers to identify themselves as such. Scalpers must be licensed to sell tickets and will wear identification.
"While this does not legitimize the tickets as authentic, it does give the buyer the ability to write down the name of the seller to notify the authorities if counterfeit tickets are identified," according to the list released by the University
There were several events listed as well, including fan access to Pat Dye Field following the game against Samford on Saturday, Nov. 22, the honoring of two past Tiger teams (1989 and 2004) and the third annual military appreciation game Nov. 8 against Texas A&M.
Also announced was the opening of Cafe Jordan-Hare.
Described as a "unique dining experience at the 50-yard line," it will be open the Fridays prior to the games against LSU and South Carolina.
Jones said he doesn't plan on trying to take part in Cafe Jordan-Hare.
"I could see it being expensive," Jones said. "And I don't have a lot of money."
Restrooms in Jordan-Hare will also be receiving enhancements, including bathroom attendants, fans and audio for access to the Auburn IMG Network broadcasts in all restrooms located on the lower concourse.
"We're extremely grateful for the hard work that Auburn Athletics has put into improving the game day experience," said SGA President Logan Powell. "Mr. Jacobs' leadership in putting students and fans first will only improve a football atmosphere that is already first-class."
Powell also said these enhancements add to the already high level of anticipation for the 2014 season.
"I'm confident that I'm speaking on behalf of the student body when saying this only makes me even more excited for the upcoming season," Powell said.
SGA Treasurer Richmond Gunter also pointed how the changes the changes will mimic the action on the football field this fall.
"Our offense is fast on the field; hopefully our texts and tweets will be faster following this upgrade," Gunter said. "Keeping students hydrated and connected will allow each of us to enjoy gamedays even more."
These enhancements will all be instituted by Auburn's first home game, a 3:00 p.m. matchup with SEC West foe Arkansas on Aug. 30.
(08/24/14 5:00am)
UPDATE:
At midnight Saturday, a visibly emotional Pearl was greeted by a large crowd of Auburn fans at the door of Auburn Arena as he headed into his office.
"We're going to have a lot of fun," Pearl said. "I'm sorry about being emotional, but you know, that's what I've always done my whole life is coach and teach, and I think that's what God wants me to do."
Pearl, emotional as he was, still managed to take several jabs at himself and the situation.
"Thanks for understanding," Pearl said. "The NCAA Rules, since I follow them so closely, I know them so well."
Pearl added that he is honored and blessed to be Auburn's coach and later tweeted "to the Auburn Family, I thank you."
---------------------
As of 12:01 Sunday morning, Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl will be officially be back.
At that moment, the moment Pearl's show-cause is officially lifted; he will speak with a recruit for the first time in three years.
Pearl has been restricted from recruiting activities since 2011, due to the show-cause penalty that was bestowed upon him during his last season as head coach as the University of Tennessee.
According to CBSSports, Pearl will host a recruit in his office the at 12:01 Sunday, wasting no time getting back on the recruiting trail and beginning the quest to rebuild the Auburn Basketball Program.
That recruit's name is Horace Spencer, who is ranked as the 57th best basketball player in the nation according to 247Sports.
Even though Pearl has been allowed to have absolutely zero contact with recruits since his hiring, that doesn't mean the rebuilding and rebranding process hasn't already begun.
On Friday, Auburn received a commitment from Danjel Purifoy, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound, four -star guard who chose the Tigers over Maryland and Alabama.
Purifoy, who is ranked as the No.56 overall player according to 247Sports, averaged 17.7 points per game last season for Bibb County.
Purifoy's commitment adds to an already strong class, which includes Cinmeon Bowers, the nation's top junior college player, and college basketball's top returning scorer Antoine Mason.
For Pearl, 12:01 Sunday means not only the opportunity to begin recruiting top talent again, but the chance to begin to prove that he is capable of taking a battered program , and bringing it back to relevance.
This story will updated with quotes from coach Pearl following his media availability at 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
(05/04/14 9:43pm)
The Auburn softball team ended the season on a low note Sunday, dropping game three of the weekend series with a 4-2 loss to South Carolina.
The Tigers took the lead early on a sacrifice fly from Tiffany Howard that scored Mackenzie Kilpatrick in the top of the second inning.
South Carolina grabbed the lead back in the home half of the third off of a solo homerun from Ashlyn Masters that put the score at 2-1.
The Tigers tied the game in the top of the fifth on a throwing error that allowed Morgan Estell to come in and score.
Auburn wouldn't see the lead again.
South Carolina followed with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, and the score wouldn't change from there.
Auburn stranded one runner in the sixth, and went three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
The loss was the second straight for the Tigers after Saturday's defeat ended a six-game winning streak.
Auburn finished the season 38-16-1 overall, with an 11-13 mark in conference play. They'll get the ninth seed in the SEC tournament, which will start on May 7 in Columbia, S.C.
(05/03/14 2:10am)
The Auburn softball team won in dramatic fashion Friday night.
Down, 3-1, the Tigers scored four unanswered runs to take game one of the road series against South Carolina 5-3 in eight innings.
The win was the 19th on the season for pitcher Lexi Davis, who pitched seven innings.
With the basses loaded with two outs in the top of the eighth, Austyn West batted in the decisive runs for the Tigers.
West singled through the left side, bringing in two runs to give the Tigers the lead that they would not relinquish.
Marcy Harper came in to close the game in the bottom of the eighth. She gave up a base hit and a walk before retiring the last batter and ending the game.
The win moved the Tigers to a 38-14-1 mark on the year overall, with a 12-11 record in conference play.
The Tigers will go for their seventh straight win on Columbus on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
(04/23/14 6:30pm)
From time to time, fate plays out in a way that makes us stop and appreciate what we have.
During last year's Boston Marathon, two pressure cooker bombs exploded, killing three people and injuring more than 260 who were running or watching from the sidewalk.
Two Auburn students, Louis Roger, junior in sociology, and John Christenson, senior in history, were nearly among those who witnessed the attack last April.
"I would have like to run there, but I couldn't because the registration deadline ended in September, and I didn't qualify till December," Christenson said. "In the days to come, I knew I wanted to be a part of next year's."
Roger, a member of the Marine ROTC program at Auburn, came just 15 seconds away from qualifying for the race in 2013.
"I was pretty bummed about that," Roger said. "But it turns out, because of that 15 seconds I wasn't at the race where the bomb went off."
Roger said he was at a loss for words when he heard the news.
"I just don't know what to say," Roger said. "It's just kind of a crazy chain of events. I miss it by 15 seconds, and a bomb goes off."
Both Roger and Christenson ran in 2014's race, and agreed that it was an unforgettable experience.
Known in Boston as "Marathon Monday," the race is a holiday for Bostonians, as more than 500,000 spectators come out to offer their support to the runners.
"Not just anyone can do it," Christenson said. "You're in a pretty elite group of runners, which is pretty special."
"It was an awesome experience," Roger said. "There were more people in that marathon than any road race I've done."
Roger said the streets of the city throughout the course of the race were covered in spectators there to offer their support and observe the one year anniversary of the tragic attack last April.
"The whole city was out on the streets," Roger said. "Honestly, I can't think of more than a few hundred meters of blank space on the side where there wasn't anyone. There was probably like mile total that wasn't covered by fans cheering."
With the events that took place last year, safety was priority number one for Boston city officials, which Roger said was never a problem.
"There was tons of security," Roger said. "Everyone felt really safe."
After the 2013 attack, the city of Boston adopted the "Boston Strong" moniker, which took on a life of its own and was promoted by sports teams and companies throughout the city.
"Everyone was wearing 'Boston Strong' shirts," Roger said. "That was kind of the theme. Like saying 'We can come back from a terrorist attack and still have another very successful run.'"
Christenson said the atmosphere in Boston was unlike any other race he has ever run in.
"You're running from the suburbs into the city," Christenson said. "As you get closer and closer to the city, you have more and more people lining the streets. There is an incredible amount of energy there."
(04/19/14 1:25am)
Things are starting to take shape in Auburn's defensive midfield.
According to redshirt freshman Cameron Toney, Cassanova McKinzy and Kris Frost have stepped into leadership roles in the linebacker corps this spring.
"They're great leaders, [and] I look up to them," Toney said. "I basically look up to those guys, and I'm in a great position to help those guys out this year."
Toney, who will see his first on-field action this year, has been adjusting well this spring after spending his freshman year taking most of his reps in the scout team.
"Cameron Toney has caught on pretty well," said defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. "When you put them on the scout team and decide to redshirt them, they don't get as many reps at your base defense.
"He's almost going to back to square one learning what he's doing. He's had a pretty solid spring."
Frost and McKinzy recently underwent a position swap, which Frost said both players are getting along well with the change.
McKinzy led the team in tackles last season as Auburn's starter at weakside linebacker, while Frost backed up the recently departed Jake Holland at middle linebacker.
"I have traits of an outside linebacker, and Cass has traits of a middle linebacker," Frost said. "We're adjusting to it well."
Frost also said that McKinzy is doing a good job being the "quarterback" of the defense as the new middle linebacker.
"Cass is doing a really good job with all the calls and making sure the defense is where we need to be and everything," Frost said.
Frost also talked about how much he has liked the move as a player.
"I'm really enjoying it," Frost said. "I'm enjoying having the opportunity to fly around and not really think so much, but just reading and feeling so comfortable with the defense."
Hard-hitting redshirt freshman Khari Harding also just underwent a position change, switching from safety to linebacker.
"He's got good body size to play linebacker," Frost said. "He's fast; he moves well from playing safety. His drops are really good. It's good seeing him here."
Despite the solid spring the linebackers have been having, Johnson still has his worries as fall approaches.
"None of them have really jumped out and [done] anything dynamic," Johnson said. "But I feel like I'm gaining confidence in all of them."
Johnson claimed depth as one of the main problems he sees with his linebacker corps.
"I'm not sure we're going to have that many guys," Johnson said. "If we get into a situation in the fall where I only feel like we've got three guys that are ready, I won't have the availability to play those guys at Mike or Will."
Johnson said he believes if the depth situation works out, he will be able to play who needs to play in the position they need to be in.
"I want the third best guy on the field with them wherever he is," Johnson said. "If we develop some better depth, I see Cassanova at the Mike and Kris at the Will."
With several starters leaving after last season, the linebackers will have their work cut out for them.
(04/13/14 9:01pm)
The Auburn softball team dropped its eighth-straight game Sunday, losing 7-6 to Missouri in the Tigers' second straight sweep.
"You can't waste opportunities," said Auburn head coach Clint Myers. "You can't not know what you're doing."
Auburn found themselves in a hole early when, in the top of the third inning, Missouri first basemen Kelsea Roth hit a grand slam off Auburn right-hander Lexi Davis.
That same inning, Davis was struck hard in the chest by a line-drive comebacker.
"She didn't come out [after she was hit]," Myers said. "How many times are you gonna see that?"
Davis did eventually come out in the next inning, replaced by Hillary Mavromat.
Auburn put four of its own runs on the board in the fourth, two of them coming from a first basemen Madi Gipson home run.
Missouri added one more in the 5th, with Auburn notching another in the 6th to tie the game headed into the last inning.
With Mavromat still on the mound, Missouri hit two solo home runs in the top of the seventh to 7-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Auburn was able to get one run back, but the comeback effort ended when Madi Gipson grounded to short for the third out.
Myers said that the pressure of the losing streak isn't effecting the team.
"I don't think that has anything to do with it." Myers said. "We've just got to kick ourselves in the butt, and say 'let's go' and get it done."
Myers also said that the team is playing as well as it can right now.
"We're a better team than we've played," Myers said. "You can't say they gave up or had no heart."
Mavromat took the loss for the Tigers and dropped to 1-2 on the season.
The loss drops Auburn to 31-12 on the season, after starting 31-5, one win more than the Tigers had at season's end last year.
On Wednesday, the team will head to Montgomery to take on rival No.2 Alabama.
(04/04/14 7:45pm)
Clint Myers gazes down at his College World Series Championship ring.
As he rotates it around this thumb and finger, the first-year Auburn softball coach looks out to right field, where his team is stretching before practice.
"They're starting to believe," Myers says. "If we can get a couple more big series wins, this could be something special."
Auburn won 30 games all last season.
Now, only 38 games into Myers first season as head coach, the team has one more win than they did at season's end last year.
"I knew we'd be better," Myers said. "I'm not sure what our record is. I only worry about the next game, not the past ones."
Myers, who won two College World Series while at Arizona State, preaches on three basic keys to success: good defense, good pitching and timely hitting.
"We have a pretty simple formula," Myers said. "We don't play the opposition. We play the game. We've got four or five kids playing really well, but we know we've got to get nine kids playing really well in order to do the things that we want."
The Tigers took two of three games in a weekend series against No.10 Kentucky, dropping the second game of a Sunday double-header.
"For us, it was just another series in preparation," Myers said. "We let the third one slip away. In our opinion, we should have had that."
Even after the Kentucky series, the tough stretch only gets tougher.
In their next two series, the Tigers will take on No. 6 Florida and No.8 Missouri back to back.
The Missouri series will kick off April 11 and will be the first home series for Auburn since the March 21-23 series win against Mississippi State.
"Tim [Walton, Florida head coach] does a great job," Myers said. "Each of these three game series is going to tell us a little bit more of what this team needs to go in order to get where it wants to be."
After the Missouri series closes, the tigers will head to Montgomery on April 16 to play their only game on the year against cross-state rival, No. 1 Alabama.
The extremely tough stretch of road will come to an end with two more tough weekend series to close out April with three games in Athens against No. 2 Georgia, then a home series with No. 11 Texas A&M.
"The SEC is full of post-season competition," Myers said. "This is a Super Regional every single weekend."
(03/27/14 7:30pm)
Early in the second half of the Auburn women's basketball team's March 24 WNIT game against Old Dominion, senior forward Tyrese Tanner decided it was time to put some space between the Tigers and the Big Blue.
Tanner rejected an Old Dominion shot, and then proceeded to go on a 6-0 run by herself.
"When we go on a run like that (the other team) sees that and gets a little down," Tanner said. "Their coach called a timeout, but it didn't stop our run, and I was very proud that we stayed in it."
The Tigers never looked back and cruised to 82-59 victory.
Throughout the season, Tanner has time and time again proved to be the catalyst on both ends of the floor for the Tigers.
Tanner can score at will against anyone, but she is also a valued part of the defensive machine the Tigers rely on to set up their offense.
"She can score different ways, really attack the basket, beautiful mid-range game," said Old Dominion head coach Karen Barefoot. "Defensively she's incredible. She's got a lot of good players around her, but they look to her a lot and she makes big plays for them."
So far in the tournament, Tanner has 41 points in two games, with 17 coming in the team's first round 78-64 win against Furman on March 20.
It's not just Tanner who has been hot in the tournament though, and she knows that the Tigers can win without her, if they have to.
"I know they can do it with or without me," Tanner said.
In the Old Dominion game, freshman Katie Frerking had ten points.
Tanner said Frerking can be a threat from anywhere on the court.
"She has both games," Tanner said. "She can shoot the three or she can penetrate. That's what we love about Katie; she's one hard worker and likes to attack the basket."
The Tigers will face a familiar foe in the third round of the tournament as they will travel to Starkville, Miss to face the Bulldogs of Mississippi State for the third time this season.
In their previous two meetings during the regular season, the Tigers won both games, each by eight points.
Tanner had 21 points in the February 9 matchup with the bulldogs, with 17 of them coming in the second half.
In that game, the Tigers exploited MSU defensively, using their aggressive press to create 27 total Bulldog turnovers, including 20 steals.
Tipoff for the March 27 game against Mississippi state game is set for 7 p.m.
Should the Tigers get their third win on the season over the Bulldogs, they will be one of the final eight teams standing.
The winner of the Auburn and Mississippi State game will face off against the winner of Thursday's game between George Washington and South Florida in the quarterfinal round.
(03/26/14 8:30pm)
Under the leadership of first-year head coach Clint Myers, the Auburn softball team has made a drastic turnaround and is out to the best start in club history.
That success, which yielded a recent 11-game win streak, comes from Myers three main principles for his team "good pitching, good defense and timely hitting."
The Tigers certainly pitched well during that streak, recording three consecutive no-hitters -- one from sophomore Lexi Davis and two from sophomore Marcy Harper.
"I didn't expect to get two," Harper said. "I didn't even expect the first one. I didn't even know until after the game was over. I just hit my spots, and everything was working."
During the streak, seven of the 11 games were called early due to the mercy rule.
"Our hitting has been a big improvement, especially since last year," Davis said. "We've been putting the ball on the ground, and keeping pressure on teams."
The Tigers have been stellar at the plate this season, scoring 10 or more runs in 15 of their 28 games.
"We've been staying pretty consistent to our plans," Myers said. "We don't have a unique formula for success."
If they want to continue their recent success, Myers said his Tigers will have to play better than they have all year over the next few series.The team kicks off a three-game series with No. 18 Kentucky in Lexington on March 28.
"At Arizona State, we played Kentucky in the super regional, so we just happen to have that scouting report," Myers said. "It's a new team and a new year. They're well coached and well disciplined. We're just going to have to play well."
After the Kentucky series, the Tigers will head to Gainesville to take on their toughest opponent of the season thus far, the No. 3 Florida Gators.
It won't get any easier after that.
When the Gainesville series ends, the Tigers will return home to face No. 11 Missouri in a three game series. Auburn will then face the No.2 and No.1 teams in the same week, with one game against Alabama at a neutral field in Montgomery and a weekend series in Athens against No. 1 Georgia.
Davis is confident that the team can play with any team in the country.
"When we play Auburn softball, all facets are coming together," Davis said. "As long as we keep playing the way we've been playing, I think we stand a chance against anybody."
(03/25/14 11:54pm)
Two Auburn gymnasts have been named regular season All-Americans by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.
Sophomore Caitlin Atkinson and Freshman MJ Rott received the honors Tuesday afternoon.
"I think the fact that Caitlin and MJ are both being recognized as a couple of the very best gymnasts in the country speaks volumes about our program and the direction it's heading now," said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. "It's just a tremendous honor for them as well as for our program."
Atkinson, a Texas native, ranks 10th nationally with an RQS of 39.500. Her best career mark, 39.550, came against Missouri on March 7.
Rott ranks 16th nationally on the vault and recorded a 9.975 on the road at LSU on January 22, tying the Auburn program record.
(03/25/14 2:24am)
It has been almost a week since Bruce Pearl was hired as Auburn's basketball coach and held an energetic opening press conference.
Prior to tipoff of the women's basketball team's second round WNIT matchup against Old Dominion Monday night, Pearl returned to Auburn Arena about his first week on the job.
"The primary focus has been getting with the players," Pearl said. "We had some really productive meetings the first couple days."
Pearl said he met with the whole team initially, then began individual meetings with players at 5:45 his first morning on the job.
"Those are really good because I get a chance to get to know them a little bit and find out what they're thinking about, "Pearl said. "There are some really good kids in the program."
Questions that have been brought up frequently since Pearl took over at Auburn on who he will hire to assist him in his attempt to resurrect the program and how he'll handle recruiting until his show-cause penalty runs out in August.
"I'm spending a lot of time filtering through our coaching opportunities," Pearl said. "The response has been great. If recruits respond to this opportunity as well as coaches, we're going to be okay."
Pearl said that he plans to begin putting a full staff together near the end of the NCAA Tournament.
"The Final Four is where I can hobnob with my fellow wizards," Pearl said. "There will be a lot of coaches that will be there, and sometimes, instead of bringing them to campus, it's easier and productive to visit with them at the Final Four. "
As far as recruiting, because of the restrictions from the NCAA, Pearl knows how important it is for him to get the word out about his program anyway he can.
"I can't call high school coaches," Pearl said. "If I'm a high school coach in the state of Alabama, and I've got a good sophomore and it's been five or six days, and I'm wondering 'When is coach Pearl gonna call me?' Coach Pearl can't call him."
Pearl said that he has been sure to accept any media invitation, so he can spread the word via TV or radio.
"My being available to media is a way for me to get that word out," Pearl said. "If [national radio host] Jim Rome wants to talk to Auburn's basketball coach, Auburn's basketball coach is going to be available for Jim Rome, because everybody in the country is listening to him."
Pearl also told the media that he is going to try and schedule tougher non-conference opponents for Auburn in the future.
"My philosophy is going to be to play the best schedule we possibly can," Pearl said. "We're probably going to have to travel some, especially in the beginning. People aren't gonna come here right away. If I've got to go on the road to develop the program that's what we'll do"
Pearl added that tough games at the beginning of the season will better prepare the team for conference play.
"We're going to put the kids in challenging situations early," Pearl said. "So that when we get into league play, we're not as overwhelmed."
(03/25/14 2:17am)
The Auburn women's basketball team will move on to the third round of the WNIT by way of a dominating win over Old Dominion on Monday night.
After a back-and-forth first half that ended on a Tyrese Tanner buzzer-beating layup, the Tigers took charge in the second half, outscoring the Big Blue 52 to 31 in the final 20 minutes for a 82-59 final score.
"The young ladies came out after halftime and just took complete control of the game," said Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy.
Auburn outscored Old Dominion 44-14 below the basket, which, according to senior center Peyton Davis, they knew they were going to be able to do.
"That was our plan the last few days," Davis said. "We're a lot bigger than they are. I'm 6-foot-5, Tra'cee [Tanner] is 6-foot-3, and they're only 6-foot-1. The goal was to get it in the paint."
The Tigers' leading scorer on the night was Tyrese Tanner, who had 24 points. Four other Tigers scored in the double-digits, including freshman Katie Frerking, who had 11.
"Katie is one hard worker," Tanner said. "She's a tough freshman to guard, and she did a great job tonight."
Tanner also led the team in assists on the night with 5 of team's total of 29.
"We had 29 assists, which is absolutely awesome," Williams-Flournoy said. "That's a great job of sharing the ball.
Holding on to a 30-28 lead at halftime, Williams-Flournoy said she told her team that they had to start attacking the basket more.
"I told them I thought we were not being as aggressive as we could be," Williams-Flournoy said. "Let's stop standing out there taking jump shots. Let's get the ball in transition and let's attack the basket."
Defensively, Auburn was able to force Old Dominion into 20 turnovers, with 13 coming in the second half.
"In the first half, our second line of defense was coming up just a little too soon," Williams-Flournoy said. "We tried to get them to hold the middle a little bit longer, and wait for the next rotation, and that worked for us in the second half."
The win pushes the Tigers into the third round of the WNIT, where they will take on the winner of Monday's game between Mississippi State and Southern Miss.
The Tigers swept the two-game regular season series with Mississippi State with a pair of eight-point wins over the Bulldogs.