252 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(10/01/14 3:35pm)
With uncertainty at the quarterback position compounded by a rare home loss to Mississippi State, LSU currently sits in an unfamiliar position: As an underdog to Auburn.
According to Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, however, these Bayou Bengals don't look much different than the championship LSU teams of the past.
"You can turn the film on and, if you didn't know year from year, they look like the same old LSU team," Malzahn said. "They're flying around and they have a lot of talent."
Les Miles and LSU are the opening act of a six game stretch that features five ranked teams, a daunting task even for the reigning SEC Champions.
"We're about to start the meet of our schedule facing a very talented, very good LSU team," Malzahn said. "They have a good mix of veterans along with some extremely talented freshmen."
A loss to Mississippi State two weeks ago dropped LSU from the top ten and raised defensive questions after Bulldog quarterback Dak Prescott carved up LSU's defense for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
But Malzahn said he is convinced performance isn't indicative of LSU's overall defensive strength.
"It really looks like the same old LSU defense to me," Malzahn said. "They don't give you a lot of cheap ones. They make you earn everything."
Malzahn's lone regular season loss at Auburn came at the hands of Miles in 2013, something the second-year head coach said was a motivating factor for his team.
"That was one of the defining moments of our year last year," Malzahn said. "We got embarrassed in the first half. They got after and not a whole lot was good on offense, defense or special teams."
While Malzahn said the loss motivated his team last year, he also said that motivation comes from many other places and that last year's result hasn't changed his preparation for this year's game.
"You are motivated big picture wise, but as far as your opponent, you can't get any more motivated than you already are," Malzahn said. "You use stuff to motivate you during the course of the year, but as far as game week, everyone is going to be motivated to play their best."
Senior center Reese Dismukes agreed with his head coach, but said he couldn't help feeling some extra motivation due to LSU's recent success over Auburn.
"Obviously in the back of your mind that's the only team in the SEC that I haven't beaten," Dismukes said. "That'd be nice, but it's not about that. It's about being 5-0 and doing whatever you got to do to help this team win."
(09/28/14 2:45pm)
Plainsman sports editor Eric Wallace, assistant sports editor Kyle Van Fechtmann, and sports writer CJ Holmes give you the highlights and more from the AU vs. LA Tech.
(09/26/14 10:15pm)
This week Plainsman sports editor Eric Wallace and assistant sports editor Kyle Van Fechtmann talk everything Auburn sports, including AU vs. Kansas State, AU vs. LA Tech, volleyball, and soccer.
(09/21/14 8:09pm)
For 100 minutes Sunday, Auburn's defense held No. 14 South Carolina's attack under wraps.
But two defensive lapses, one at the end of regulation and one at the end of the first overtime period, proved fatal in the end, as the Tigers fell 2-1 (6-3, 0-1 SEC) in their SEC home opener.
"I thought our team really played well today against the No. 14 team in the country," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "We were right there toe to toe with them."
It was a cagey affair for most of the match Sunday, with neither team able to break down the opposition's defense.
It took until the last five minutes of regulation for South Carolina (8-1, 1-0 SEC) to open the scoring, when Gamecock forward Savannah McCaskill was brought down in the penalty box by Kala Faulkner.
Sophie Groff then froze Auburn goalkeeper Alyse Scott to score the penalty into the right side of the goal. It was Groff's fourth goal of the season.
Auburn then equalized minutes later after midfielder Brooke Ramsier latched onto the end of a pass in the box and slid her shot past Gamecock keeper Sabrina D'Angelo.
"There wasn't a lot time when they had scored their goal, so I'm proud of the team for not giving up," Ramsier said. "We knew we had to stay composed and not get all freaked out because there wasn't a lot of time left."
In the first golden goal overtime, South Carolina defender Taylor Leech nearly scored on a header off a corner kick, but Scott made a diving save, clawing the shot off the line at the last moment.
The Tigers' defense fatally faltered a few minutes later, however, when Gamecock midfielder Stevi Parker latched onto a bounding ball just outside of the box.
Her volley screamed past Scott and into the top corner of the goal, sealing the victory for the Gamecocks in the final 30 seconds of overtime.
Despite the loss, Hoppa said she was impressed with the defensive performance of her team.
"We were really organized," Hoppa said. "It took two really fantastic goals to beat us, on that penalty kick and then the upper-90 bomb. Full credit to our defense and the way our team played. It took a brilliant goal to beat us tonight."
Hoppa said the team has a number of positive takeaways from the loss as it prepares for a trip to Vanderbilt on Sept. 26.
"We can play with anyone and we've got as good a chance in this league as anyone," Hoppa said. "We're going to learn from this and we'll go in and compete for the rest of conference play."
(09/19/14 5:45am)
Never has the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Nick Marshall been better on display than what we saw Thursday night in Manhattan, Kansas.
At times, many of the bad tendencies Marshall displayed in 2013, a lack of touch on deep balls, low passes that are batted down at the line and poor decisions on the zone read, reared their ugly head against the Wildcats.
It got to the point that the couch-seat coaches of social media began calling for Marshall to be yanked in favor of backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
But then came the moments of brilliance, such as the pinpoint pass to D'haquille Williams in the corner of the end zone for a third quarter touchdown.
Then it was his poised connection with Duke on third-and-9 in his own territory late in the fourth quarter, a completion that sealed Auburn's victory over a scrappy Kansas State team fighting to claw back late in the game.
Marshall's final pass Thursday night is a prime example of why Marshall is, and should continue to be, Auburn's starting quarterback: Gus Malzahn trusts him with the game on the line.
"He has that knack for when the game is on the line," Malzahn said of his senior quarterback. "He did it all last year, and he did it tonight. He helped find a way to help our team win the game."
This isn't the first, and likely won't be the last time that Marshall stepped up when given the opportunity.
Whether it's the oft-forgotten game-winner to C.J. Uzomah against Mississippi State last season, or his improvisation on the tying touchdown of the Iron Bowl, Marshall has shown an icy calmness in late-game situations.
While it's hard not to be critical of the quarterback as he continues to miss open receivers deep down the field, it's also important to realize how easy he's made late-game situations look as a starter.
Marshall has lost two games as a starter, and one of those required a last-minute drive from a Heisman trophy winning quarterback.
We've yet to see the significant passing improvement from Marshall that Malzahn and his coaching staff raved about this offseason.
But one thing hasn't changed: Marshall's teammates and coaches fully trust him to make a play when his team needs it.
It's about time Auburn's fanbase showed that trust as well.
(09/19/14 4:56am)
It hasn't been an easy transition to defense this year for senior cornerback Trovon Reed.
But with two interceptions in Auburn's last two games, the former wide receiver said he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I love it man," Reed said. "I'm back to having fun playing football."
With Kansas State driving early in the fourth quarter Saturday night, Reed jumped on the end of a Jake Waters pass for his second career interception.
After picking off a pass against San Jose State two weeks earlier, head coach Gus Malzahn has been impressed with Reed so far this season.
"Very proud of Trovon," Malzahn said. "You're talking about a guy that hasn't played defense but for the spring, and then to go out there and play one of the better receivers in college football, and to play him pretty well. I was very impressed with him."
Reed's journey from rarely targeted wide receiver to contributor at cornerback is one he said can only be credited to the man upstairs.
"It's a God thing man," Reed said. "I talk to Quan Bray every time before the game and he tells me that a lot of people don't have the story that we have."
That story is a tragic one, with both players suffering the loss of their mothers.
"We got angels over us," Reed said. "Some people tell you that and you just blow it off, but me and him have been through the same thing with losing our moms. We really do have angels over us."
Reed credits his successful transition with the family he's built in the secondary alongside experienced players such as Jonathon Mincy, Jonathan Jones and Jermaine Whitehead.
"The defensive guys they took me in with no problem," Reed said. "They automatically put me as one of the leaders over there. I just got to play my role."
Additionally, Reed credits Auburn defensive backs coach Melvin Smith with instilling confidence in him at his new position.
"Coach Smith is one of the best to ever do it," Reed said. "He's got so much confidence in me. I always tell him if he's got so much confidence in me, I can't let him down."
That confidence has led to a growing comfort for Reed at a position he's wanted to play ever since he left high school.
"I actually wanted to play it when I first got here," Reed said. "I went to all the All-American games as a corner, just to show them that I wanted to play there. But things didn't go that way."
While his story didn't follow the route he always wanted, Reed said he is trying to fashion his own ending to his story.
"There's an ending to every story and I'm trying to make this one a great ending," Reed said.
(09/19/14 4:41am)
(09/19/14 2:26am)
Gus Malzahn has left his footprint on the college football landscape with a blistering, nation-leading rush attack.
But with that rushing attack struggling Thursday night in windy Bill Snyder Family Stadium, it was the oft maligned Tiger defense who rose to the occasion, limiting Kansas State to 40 rushing yards and forcing 3 turnovers.
It wasn't always pretty, but Malzahn and the No. 5 Auburn Tigers (3-0) will fly home from Manhattan, Kansas undefeated, with a tough 20-14 win over the No. 20 Kansas State Wildcats (2-1) under their belts.
It was tense affair throughout, but Malzahn said it's the kind of game he prefers once the Tigers have come out on top.
"I told (the players) after the game that this is going to be one of those games that can help us in the future," Malzahn said. "We faced some major adversity tonight, and our guys responded well."
Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder and the Wildcats will likely rue a number of missed opportunities, the majority of which came from normally steady placekicker Jack Cantele. The junior placekicker missed all three of his attempts, the last of which came from just 22-yards out.
Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall lacked sharpness at times, and went just 17 for 31 with 231 passing yards.
But with Auburn facing a third down late in the fourth quarter on its own 37, the senior quarterback delivered, hitting D'haquille Williams on a 39-yard strike to close out the game.
"We just felt strong that we give our guys a chance to win the game here," Malzahn said. "We caught them in a defense we liked and it worked out."
Auburn struggled to get much of anything moving in the first quarter. The Tigers were limited to 49 yards, including just 27 on the ground, and were held without an offensive touchdown in the quarter for the first time since the third quarter of the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.
The score could've been significantly worse early for the Tigers too, without catching a couple breaks. Jonathon Jones, who was called for pass interference twice in a drive while covering Lockett, picked off a Waters pass in the end zone after it deflected off Lockett's hands.
Marshall's struggles continued, however, into the second quarter.
The senior was picked off after defensive lineman Travis Britz tipped his pass at the line, allowing Wildcat linebacker Dakorey Johnson to come down with it.
"They did a good job getting their hands up and knocking a few balls down," Malzahn said. "Give those guys credit."
As the Tigers' offense continued to struggle, Kansas State finally took advantage of an opportunity in the second quarter when Demarcus Robinson rumbled in from three yards out for the game's first touchdown.
Trailing for the first time since the BCS National Championship Game, Marshall drove Auburn down the field late in the second quarter, converting the team's first two third downs of the game.
Marshall then hung in the pocket to find Ricardo Louis, who evaded several defenders to score from 40 yards out. Louis has scored a touchdown in two consecutive games.
"That was a setting off point for us," Louis said. "We needed something to get the defense and offense going and that first touchdown helped boost us up."
The missed opportunities continued to pile up for Kansas State at the end of the half, when Jack Cantele missed his second field goal of the half as time expired.
Despite holding a lead, Auburn managed just 55 yards on the ground in the half, its worst output in a half this season.
Kansas State moved the ball with ease on their second drive of the half, but Cantele's struggles continued, as he missed a 22-yard field goal, his third miss of the night.
Marshall and the Auburn offense then responded with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown pass to Williams in the corner of the end zone.
"Nick made a great throw and Duke made a great play on the ball," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "With our wide outs, we've got to be able to do that when we've got one-on-one coverage."
Auburn finished with just 128 rushing yards and averaged only 2.8 yards per attempt in what was the lowest scoring output of the Malzahn era.
That will likely be an after thought for the Tigers, who remain undefeated after a stiff test from the Wildcats.
"They gave us a little bit of a tough time, but we just came and made adjustments to come out with this victory," Marshall said. "Coach said it wasn't going to be easy. He told us it was going to be a dog fight."
Auburn will return home next week for a matchup with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-1). Kick off is scheduled 3 p.m. CT.
(09/18/14 8:30pm)
Even distance can't keep some fans from showing their passionate support of Auburn football in person.
That was the case for Sue and Wade Sadler of Guntersville, Alabama, who made the trip despite the 659 miles standing between them and Manhattan, Kansas.
"We came in our truck full of our of Auburn gear, bringing all of it from North Alabama," Sue Sadler said. "We took it all to Jackson Hole [Wyoming] and now we're back."
The Sadlers made the trip as a part of a vacation, which began with a two day trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and is now ending in Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The couple aren't the only staying in Kansas, either.
"The hotel last night in Topeka was full of Auburn people," Sue Sadler said. "That was really cool to see."
Traveling into hostile territory can be hazardous for college football fans, especially those rooting for highly ranked teams such as Auburn.
But according to Wade, the locals have been more than friendly.
"This guy next door to us at the tailgate welcomed us into town," Wade Sadler said. "He kind of gave us the ground rules of what we can and can't do so it's been good so far."
The Sadlers will make the 12-hour return trip tomorrow morning, but for now they're content to soak in this unique college football environment with other fans who've made the trip.
"It'll be interesting tonight to see how much orange has shown up, because we've seen a lot," Wade Sadler said.
(09/13/14 8:00pm)
Between competitions at running back and quarterback this offseason, the race to fill Chris Davis' return role was often overlooked.
That competition may be over after senior wide receiver Quan Bray's 55-yard punt return for a touchdown against San Jose State Saturday night.
"When the punter kicked it, I saw one of the guys was already down," Bray said. "I knew [Stephen] Roberts was going to hold the other guy off of me. Once the first man missed me, it was off to the races."
It was Bray's first career punt return for a touchdown and Auburn's first since Davis' return against Tennessee in 2013.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said the coaching staff expects veterans to step up, which he said the confident Bray has done this season.
"When guys are seniors, they raise their level and we ask a lot of our seniors to do that, and I believe that he is definitely doing that," Malzahn said. "We have gotten a little better around all the specialists too. I'm very happy for Quan, he's very confident right now."
With three years of experience under his belt, Bray said his confidence is the result of becoming more comfortable on offense and special teams.
"Coming in my freshman year, they threw me in the fire in the South Carolina game," Bray said. "Ever since then, I've just tried to be the best player I can be, and I feel very comfortable."
As the other specialists gain confidence, Bray said the group has the same goal as the rest of the team--to be the best in the country.
"Our special teams are very important," Bray said. "We have play-makers that will make big plays. They are contributors, especially the punt return team who want to be the best in the nation."
(09/12/14 9:20pm)
This week in sports, Auburn football has a bye week, but there are a lot of other Auburn sports that sports editor Eric Wallace and assistant sports editor Kyle Van Fechtmann discuss.
(09/07/14 7:01pm)
Plainsman sports editor Eric Wallace, assistant sports editor Kyle Van Fechtmann, and sports writer CJ Holmes wrap up the Auburn Tigers victory over San Jose State.
(09/07/14 6:02pm)
Between competitions at running back and quarterback this offseason, the race to fill Chris Davis' return role was often overlooked.
That competition may have finally found a winner after senior wide receiver Quan Bray's 55-yard punt return for a touchdown against San Jose State Saturday night.
"When the punter kicked it, I saw one of the guys was already down," Bray said. "I knew (Stephen) Roberts was going to hold the other guy off of me. Once the first man missed me, it was off to the races."
It was Bray's first career punt return for a touchdown and Auburn's first since Davis' return against Tennessee in 2013.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said the coaching staff expects veterans to step up and that the confident Bray has done just that so far this season.
"When guys are seniors they raise their level and we ask a lot of our seniors to do that and I believe that he is definitely doing that," Malzahn said. "We have gotten a little better around all the specialists too. I'm very happy for Quan, he's very confident right now."
As the specialists gain confidence, Bray said the group has the same goal as the rest of the team: to be the best in the country.
"Our special teams are very important," Bray said. "We have play-makers that will make big plays. They are contributors, especially the punt return team who want to be the best in the nation."
(09/06/14 5:52pm)
It's rarely a good sign in modern college football to hear your favorite team is considering a two-quarterback system.
It usually means neither quarterback has done enough to win the job outright, such as David Ash and Case McCoy in 2012 at Texas, or each quarterback has a significant weakness that requires the other's complimentary skills, such as Chris Relf and Tyler Russell in 2010 at Mississippi State.
Of course there are a few outliers.
Florida won a national championship in 2006 with the experienced Chris Leak and true freshman bruiser Tim Tebow. Notre Dame made it to the national championship in 2012 with contributions from Everett Golson and Tommy Rees.
But in general, it seems to be in a team's best interest to have an established signal caller under center.
It provides a comfort for offensive lineman anxiously listening for audibles at the line, and continuity for the skill position players the quarterback is distributing to.
So what does that mean for Auburn in 2014?
Head football coach Gus Malzahn has already stated backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson will have a role in the offense this season, even with starter Nick Marshall's suspension officially coming to an end.
Talent isn't the question when it comes to Johnson. The sophomore showed his undeniable talent in the first half against Arkansas, passing for 243 yards and two touchdowns in his first ever SEC start.
Johnson appeared to have a strong connection with junior college transfer receiver D'haquille Williams; the former No. 1 JUCO receiver reeled in 138 of his eventual 154 receiving yards with Johnson passing the ball in the first half of his debut.
But if Auburn's offense showed a weakness Saturday with Johnson calling the shots, it was in the run game.
The Tigers led the nation in 2013 by averaging 328 rushing yards per game, but with Johnson taking snaps in the first half, Auburn only managed 68 rushing yards. There seemed to be little threat of the quarterback keeping on zone read plays, and Johnson contributed zero rushing yards of his own.
Meanwhile, with Marshall making his season debut in the second half, the run game opened up to the tune of 234 rushing yards.
Simply the threat of Marshall keeping the ball, which he did on a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter, was enough to clear space for Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant.
Auburn's offense took on two different forms in each half against Arkansas and those forms corresponded to who was calling the shots.
So can the Tigers make the two-quarterback system work?
One advantage for Auburn is the overall experience on the team. The offense is chock-full of experienced starters who have spent two years with both quarterbacks, meaning it shouldn't be too big of a changeup with whoever is out there.
Auburn's strength is still in the run game, which means Marshall will likely remain as the official starter, but it will be interesting to see how and when Johnson is used each Saturday.
Just how the snaps are divvied up between the two will likely remain a mystery, however. Malzahn is known to play these matters close to the vest.
(08/31/14 6:26pm)
After a season that saw Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers lean heavily on a dynamic rushing attack, to the tune of 328.4 yards per game, much of this offseason was spent attempting to strike a better offensive balance in 2014.
According to coaches, senior quarterback Nick Marshall improved his passing in the offseason, a vital addition to his already lethal rushing ability.
The presence of sophomore quarterback Jeremy Johnson, a more refined passer by most accounts, had also been seen as a motivating factor for Marshall to improve through the air.
During Saturday's season opener against Arkansas, the 2014 Gus Bus showed off that balance, passing for 293 yards and rushing 302 in the season-opening 45-21 victory over Arkansas.
"We were close to 50/50 on passing and rushing yards," head coach Gus Malzahn said. "I am very proud of Jeremy Johnson. We said before that we feel like he could start for most teams in college football. I think everybody saw that tonight. We have two outstanding quarterbacks."
With Marshall's suspension costing him a start in the season opener, Johnson rose to the occasion, going 12-for-16 with 246 yards and two touchdowns in his first SEC start.
"Jeremy got off to a good start and so we were going to make a commitment," Malzahn said. "As a quarterback you want them to get in there and get comfortable and that's what me and Coach Lashlee decided to do. He definitely looked comfortable."
Johnson was quick to form a connection with new Tiger receiver D'haquille Williams, who reeled nine catches for 154 yards in his first game on the Plains.
"He really spreads the field and it gives us more options to throw the ball deep or throw it across the middle," Johnson said. "He's a big factor and a key to our offense."
The offset of the Tigers' aerial explosion, however, was a struggling run game, which produced just 68 yards in the first half and received zero from Johnson.
After three scoreless drives to end the first half, Auburn's Heisman candidate made his season debut. The Tigers racked up 234 yards on the ground with Marshall taking snaps and controlled possession for most of the final half.
The threat of Marshall running on his own opened up lanes for the tandem of Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant, who combined for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the opener.
"Jeremy can run as well, but not like Nick," Malzahn said. "They are different type of players. It is good to have two guys who can run you offense effectively."
Marshall has performed well enough to silence most whispers of a quarterback controversy, but the Gus Bus' new aerial components appear to be here to stay, which could spell trouble for SEC defenses attempting to cover the likes of Williams and Sammie Coates.
"Nick is still the quarterback, but Jeremy will have a role," Malzahn said. "We talked in the off-season about giving him more of different situations and packages."
(08/29/14 6:00pm)
Since a dismal 2012 athletics season, in which many, including our own publication, called for his removal, Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs has been at the helm of a stunning revival in the athletic department. Jacobs sat down with Plainsman sports editor Eric Wallace to discuss the high profile hires behind the turnaround and the future of Auburn's sports programs.
What impact can the SEC Network have on Auburn University?
"There's no way Auburn could afford the marketing we're about to get from the SEC Network. It's not just a help to athletic programs, but now coast-to-coast people that don't even have an affinity for athletics can see our athletics and University on this cable channel. It is going to be such a positive tool for Auburn University to recruit student-athletes as well as the best and brightest students."
Has there been any update on the internal national championship claims discussion
"They're still looking at it, and now that we're so close to the season starting, I think we're probably going to wait until the end of the year, so it's not going to be a distraction when we're making a decision on what we're going to do."
Have you ever seen this level of excitement surrounding Auburn basketball?
"Never. Our ticket sales are up about 200 percent and our enthusiasm is up by about 1000 percent. It's interesting to be talking about men's basketball four days before the first SEC football games."
Is there any discussion of expanding Jordan-Hare Stadium?
"We're not looking to add seats. We want to have a more rich and positive environment for our current fans. We've sold out this year for the first time since 2008, so we want the same people coming back and having a better experience.
What updates are in discussion for improving the stadium experience?
"We're constantly looking at what we can do to make what we have even better. Sometimes that means taking seats we currently have and maybe making them premium seats. We want it to be a better experience."
How do you deal with the personal criticism that is inevitably directed toward someone in your position?
"I'm more excited about the next ten years of me being the athletic director here moving forward, and there may be some bumps in the road, but you can't celebrate the victories unless you have some tough times. It just comes with the territory. When I was a player here, my dad told me, 'When it's getting too tough for everyone else, it's getting about right for me and you.' I think about that everyday."
Thoughts on the upcoming football season?
"The thing about Auburn football is that it's back, it's fun and it's fast. I can't wait until Saturday to see how we do. The plan is that by the end of the year, we'll end up back in Atlanta. I don't have a prediction for Saturday. I know everybody is talking about all kinds of things, but you never know in the SEC. We have a couple guys we have to replace and a couple of injured guys, but I'm really excited about Saturday and looking forward to it."
(08/28/14 1:30pm)
From performance-enhancing drug scandals to three-hour game times and decreased scoring, baseball is battling a litany of issues that seem to drive casual fans from the game.
Statistics show that attendance numbers are declining from their all-time peak in 2007, likely a product of ever-increasing ticket prices and the comfort of watching games at home.
That's not to say Major League Baseball isn't trying to improve. The institution of instant replay has been a positive and relieved pressure from umpires trying to call the game.
But one of baseball's most enduring problems is also rooted in one of its most deep-seated traditions: the 162 game schedule.
Baseball's lengthy season wasn't a problem in the past when it was still the nation's favorite sport, but the schedule now over steps its bounds, extending well into September and October when it has to compete against not only the NFL, but college football as well.
The start of football season, which in this area also coincides with the Atlanta Braves' annual fall from relevancy, snatches the spotlight from America's pastime during its most dramatic time.
Football is king in the United States, and its legion of followers is only growing.
According to a Harris Poll conducted in 2014, 35 percent of adult fans (ages 18 and over) called the NFL their favorite sport. That's an 11 percent increase from the 24 percent of fans who called the NFL their favorite sport in a 1985 Harris Poll.
College football even managed to bring in 11 percent of fans in the 2014 poll.
Baseball, meanwhile, is down from 23 percent in 1985 to a measly 14 percent in the 2014 poll.
A reduced schedule wouldn't be the ultimate cure to baseball's interest ailments, but it would give the MLB a chance to take a page from the NBA and showcase its best product: the drama and inspiration of the postseason.
Moments like Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, where David Freese saved my St. Louis Cardinals with his two out, two strike triple before crushing a walk-off home run in the 11th inning, are what help baseball create lasting memories.
But baseball currently doesn't spotlight the best portion of its product.
Instead, it drags on from April to October, leaving casual fans ready for a swift end so they can focus on football.
As important as each and every game can be (just ask the 2011 Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves), it's difficult to generate excitement in the casual fan when their team still has 40+ games left to play in the middle of August.
As much as I love regular season baseball, the sport's best moments are not written in the dog days of summer.
They're written on cool autumn nights under the lights of the great baseball cathedrals of Fenway Stadium, Busch Stadium and Camden Yards.
But as long as those moments are competing with two ongoing football seasons, they'll never quite get their due.
(08/26/14 4:00pm)
Incoming freshmen have likely heard it all by this point.
By the time they've finally sat down for their first class of the semester, freshmen have probably been bombarded by advice from parents, friends and advisors for the last six months about the right way to navigate college and score an all-important degree.
When I was a freshman, this advice ranged from the obvious; for instance, why you should attend class regularly, to the more specified, such as the million reasons you should avoid that vat of hunch punch your roommate's friend concocted last night.
While this advice is for the most part helpful in guiding students toward a degree, it often ends up being shortsighted of the final goal in earning a degree: landing a job.
With in-state undergraduates paying $39,408 in tuition and fees over four years, it seems to make sense that a student salvage as much value as possible from their investment in earning a degree.
But what good is a 40K degree with no pay off afterward?
According to the United States Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for 2013 college graduates, those ages 20-29 who earned a four-year or advanced degree, was 10.9 percent.
Applying those numbers to the 3,670 students who graduated in Auburn's spring 2014 ceremony, 400 graduates would be left searching for employment despite holding a four-year degree.
That number may not seem too high, but that's one of three graduation ceremonies Auburn will hold in 2014. And Auburn is just one of 629 four-year public universities in the United States.
As important as a degree is, it's really not that rare: 1,439,264 bachelor's degrees were awarded in the United States in 2013 alone, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
While those degrees are scattered amongst fields that vary in availability, competition amongst degree-holding graduates is only increasing as continued growth in college enrollment is projected by the National Center for Education Statistics through 2022.
So, if a degree is no longer the end-all for securing a job, how can a student reap the most from their hefty college investment?
Even though there are few sure-fire ways of securing employment, gaining outside work experience in their prospective field can give students a leg up over their classmates, who may not be putting in the extra work. The sooner you start adding to your resume, the better.
Whether it's writing for local newspapers during the summer, working as a research assistant in the computer science department or simply finding an internship, there are plenty of opportunities to gain a little extra experience in Auburn.
The benefits of this extra experience are incalculable; you won't build individual contacts, on-the-job skills and references in the classroom.
(08/07/14 11:31pm)
Day 6 of fall practice tested Auburn's defense with some of the highest temperatures in recent weeks.
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said the heat was a good test of mental strength for his players, and in spite of it all, the Tigers had a "really good day."
"We kind of rotate inside and outside with offense and defense," Johnson said. "Defensively, we were outside today and it was probably one of the hotter days we've had."
Johnson said the practice focused heavily on special situations, such as in the red zone and when offenses go hurry up to prevent defensive substitutions.
"We got a lot of work done in what I call the 'score zone,' which is inside the twelve," Johnson said. "Overall it was a really good practice and tomorrow is a day off for them and I think we could use it mentally."
Defensive back Derrick Moncrief, who transferred in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, has been making great progress despite a sickness that set him back.
"We don't know if he had a little bug mixed in with some dehydration," Johnson said. "He missed a full practice and another half where he couldn't go full speed."
The loss of Dee Ford to the NFL and Carl Lawson to an ACL injury has put pressure on Johnson to innovate the defense and create pressure.
An expanded dime formation, which the Tigers tinkered with in 2013, is one way Johnson hopes to add pressure and speed to the defense.
"We had it last year but our personnel didn't fit it well so we sort of moved on," Johnson said. "Working five defensive backs with a Star safety back there, three down linemen and two linebackers."
On the injury front, sophomore defensive back Khari Harding was a little banged up according to Johnson and senior defensive back Trovon Reed has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury.
Star safety Justin Garrett went down for 10-15 minutes with an injury, but continued practice later on.
Freshmen defensive backs Markell Boston and Stephen Roberts have turned some heads with their play in camp, but Johnson said neither are quite ready to play at the highest level.
(08/06/14 7:08pm)
Auburn took to Pat Dye Field in Jordan-Hare Stadium Wednesday for the first scrimmage of fall practice.
While practice was closed to the media, head coach Gus Malzahn said the practice was run-heavy as the Tigers' offense readies for the upcoming season.
A key role in Auburn's run game in 2013, fullback Jay Prosch, was drafted by the Houston Texans in the NFL Draft, leaving an opening at the position.
H-back Brandon Fulse and tight end C.J. Uzomah are two names Malzahn has mentioned as potential replacements.
"(Fulse) will play a similar role, him and CJ (Uzomah) both," Malzahn said. "Brandon has very good receiving skills. He's used to splitting out, since last year we split him out at the No. 2 receiver and some at the No. 1. He's got a lot of versatility."
Along the lines, offensive lineman Chad Slade and defensive lineman Devaroe Lawrence were held out of the scrimmage.
Malzahn described both Slade and Lawrence as "a little banged up."
On the defensive side, veteran defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker may have played just three games in the last two seasons, but that hasn't changed the respect he's earned from his teammates.
"He's a guy that all of his teammates respect," Malzahn said. "He's a guy that all the coaches trust and respect. You have to have strong leaders and you know I'm one of those guys that puts a lot on seniors."
Whitaker was voted by teammates as one of the top leaders on the team. He thinks Auburn's defense has the potential to steal some of the headlines from the offense this fall.
"I think we have the potential to be something special," Whitaker said. "But like Coach (Garner) says, potential only means we haven't done anything yet. We got to keep working."
The second half of two-a-days will focus more heavily on situation preparations, but Malzahn doesn't expect the physicality to differ.
"It's going to be a little more special situations and a lot of teaching," Malzahn said. "It was pretty physical out there, which is good."