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(02/28/14 3:30am)
Auburn women's basketball head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said last week the Alabama Crimson Tide would want to come to the Plains "and cut [Auburn's] heads off."
For 24 minutes of game time Thursday night at Auburn Arena, it appeared the Tigers' bitter rivals were going to get their wish.
But Tyrese Tanner led the Tigers back from 17 down, Hasina Muhammad kept them in the game during two overtime periods, and Brandy Montgomery sealed the victory with several clutch shots in the final minutes for a wild comeback victory.
Auburn completed the season sweep against rival Alabama with a 70-65 double-overtime victory Thursday night.
"As mad as I want to be at them for getting down, I can give them nothing but credit for fighting hard to get back in and win the game," Williams-Flournoy said. "We were down, but there was a lot of time left. We tried to tell our kids to stay calm and focused."
Thursday night marked only the second time Auburn and Alabama played in a double-overtime game, and it was the first double-overtime game for Auburn since 2010 at Florida.
The Tigers' final home game of the season was a true tale of two halves, as Auburn followed up an 18-point first-half performance with a 33-point resurgence out of the locker room to take the game into overtime.
"It's a game of runs, and it's a game of mistakes," said Alabama head coach Kristy Curry. "You can't miss nine free throws and win games in this league."
Tanner led all scorers with 26 points, with 12 of those coming in a 22-6 second-half run that tied the game with two minutes to play.
"We knew we had to keep attacking," Tanner said. "If we couldn't get inside, we gave it to our shooters on the outside in Katie [Frerking] and Brandy [Montgomery]."
After Tanner fouled out in the second overtime period, Muhammad took control of the game. Although she finished with only six points, Muhammad hit a fadeaway jumper off the glass with 35 seconds left to give Auburn a one-point lead it would not relinquish.
"I knew the play," Muhammad said. "It was for me...my adrenaline was pumping, and I wanted to win so bad. I just went for it, and I did what I do best: midrange jumpers."
Montgomery then hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final seconds to preserve the win for the hometown Tigers. The true freshman also drilled a pair of clutch 3-pointers with 3:14 left in regulation, then in double overtime to keep the Tigers within striking distance of the Crimson Tide.
Alabama dominated almost every major statistical category in what was a disappointing first half for Williams-Flournoy and the Tigers. Auburn was outrebounded, outshot and ultimately outscored by 15 points in the opening 20 minutes of its 2013-14 home finale.
"We just got a good talking to [from Williams-Flournoy]," Tanner said. "It's my last year, and you have to come out and play hard every chance you get. You can't come out in a mood. You have to shake everything off and play."
After Alabama stretched its lead to as large as 17 points in the second half, Tanner took control of the game on both offense and defense. The senior, playing in her final regular season game at Auburn Arena, scored 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting and recorded four blocks to lead a furious Auburn comeback.
"I just see extreme leadership [from Tanner], and she pulls everyone else along," Muhammad said. "It makes everyone else want to work harder to match her intensity, and it just makes the game fun."
Montgomery's 3-pointer with 3:14 left in the second half pulled Auburn to within two points, and Tanner's stepback, midrange jumper tied the game with 2:11 left on the clock.
The two teams traded buckets and defensive stops for the remainder of regulation and the first overtime period, which only featured a combined 12 points from the two rivals.
Montgomery's deep jumper in double overtime swung momentum back to Auburn after a quick Alabama start. Muhammad gave Auburn the lead for good with just seconds left on the clock.
"We call them freshmen, even though at this point they are sophomores with the minutes they have played," Williams-Flournoy said. "I think Brandy has played more minutes out of anyone on the team...she hit some huge free throws at the end there."
The Crimson Tide's remaining shots failed to draw the rim, and Montgomery sealed the deal for the Tigers at the free-throw line.
Auburn will wrap up its regular season Sunday in Oxford, Miss., as the team takes on Ole Miss. The Rebels have only recorded one SEC win this season.
(02/26/14 8:00pm)
Let's not kid ourselves.
Pace of play in college football is a real problem.
Well it's a real problem in the eyes of Nick Saban and Bret Bielema.
But that, in turn, is the real problem with the problem -- two highly paid head coaches are trying to change the rules in order to send a message to the up-tempo offenses that gives them headaches.
The men who are ultimately in charge of the SEC West's two slowest offenses are behind a proposal that will force offenses to let at least 10 seconds run off the play clock before snapping the ball.
It wouldn't be a problem to Alabama and Arkansas, and it wouldn't even be a problem with Auburn and Texas A&M, two high-octane offensive attacks that have given Saban grief in recent years.
Every type of offense gave Bielema's Arkansas team grief last season.
Even with Gus Malzahn, the godfather of the hurry-up, no-huddle style, Auburn rarely snapped the ball with 30 or more seconds left on the play clock.
The Tigers did it twice in the BCS National Championship Game against Florida State.
By the way, Bret, they only did it twice against your Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville last season. You know, the game when you were more worried about Auburn's game tape not showing a brief second of an extra-point audible and Anthony Swain "faking" an injury.
But the proposed rule change wouldn't make a drastic difference to most hurry-up offenses. It's the principle.
The up-tempo offense was not a problem a decade ago when Malzahn and those who coached like him were running things at schools like Tulsa, Hawaii and Houston.
But, now, these schemes are at some of college football's powerhouses, even those in Saban's backyard.
Look who has beaten Saban's Alabama teams in the last few years: Malzahn's Auburn offense in 2010 and 2013, Texas A&M in 2012, Oklahoma in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
These fast-paced offenses are changing the landscape of college football, but should the rules change because Nick Saban wants them to change?
The front for this proposition is player safety, but it looks thin without the presence of hard evidence.
"Once again, I don't think we need to lose sight of the fact that the only way you can change a rule [this year] is the health and safety of our players," Malzahn said last week. "And it's got to be documented, and there's got to be proof. And there's not."
NCAA rules committee member and Troy Calhoun, who runs a traditional triple-option offense as head coach of Air Force, even admitted the rules would not be changed unless there was evidence of the offenses being a threat to safety.
Calhoun was an original supporter of the rule change, but he started backtracking shortly after Malzahn and other head coaches spoke out on the proposition.
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier, never one to mince his words, called the rule like he saw it: "The Saban Rule."
Never change, Ol' Ball Coach.
But the backlash from coaches and fans has not stopped the side favoring the change, which will stop at nothing to make it happen.
Bielema showed how low he could go last week, when he cited the tragic death of California player Ted Agu as a reason to slow down the offenses.
"Player safety," Bielema called it, motioning to "death certificates" as if they are nothing more than a talking point to promote his agenda.
Agu's cause of death is still unknown, but let's make one thing clear: he died after collapsing during an off-season conditioning session. (Sickle cell trait is rumored to have played a part, but nothing is official at the moment.)
This tragedy has nothing to do with how fast an opposing offense is going, no matter how much the struggling Arkansas head coach wants to spin it.
But the war of words will continue to rage.
I personally do not believe the rules will be changed. There isn't any evidence to make a move in the name of player safety, and that rises above the influence of any coach, no matter how many championships he has won.
But until it is officially shut down, I'm with the head coach here on the Plains.
"I would like to think that it wouldn't [pass]," Malzahn said. "I'm just going to do everything in my power the right way to stand up."
(02/26/14 5:00pm)
After leading a resurgence from the bottom of the SEC to a berth in the BCS National Championship Game, several former Tigers are seeing their NFL draft stocks rise as quickly as Auburn did in the polls last season.
Several draft analysts called former Auburn left tackle Greg Robinson the biggest winner of this year's NFL Scouting Combine, a week-long showcase of the top prospects heading into this year's draft.
The Louisiana native impressed scouts with his strength by bench-pressing 225 pounds 32 times, but his official time in the 40-yard dash created an instant buzz on social media.
Robinson ran 40 yards in 4.92 seconds, which put him ahead of most tight ends and several quarterbacks on the overall time charts.
"Auburn OT Greg Robinson -- 332-pound [offensive lineman] shouldn't move like that," ESPN Director of College Scouting Todd McShay posted on Twitter. "If you've actually done his tape, how do you not see top OL in this class?"
Robinson's performance in the physical tests of the combine drew comparisons to South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick by several media outlets.
However, some analysts believe Robinson may have pulled ahead of Clowney with his workout in Indianapolis.
"It's hard to find 332-pound offensive linemen with light feet and swivel hips, which is why the combine has been buzzing since Robinson stepped on the turf," said NFL.com's Bucky Brooks. "Robinson moved like a dancing bear on the turf, alleviating any concerns about his ability to take on elite pass rushers off the edge. Overall, the stellar workout in front of hundreds of scouts and coaches will not only send Robinson's draft stock soaring, it could make him enter discussion as the draft's top overall prospect."
Clowney was a subject of conversation for Robinson's teammate Dee Ford, who is also projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Although the NFL Combine medical staff would not let him participate in drills due to an old herniated disc injury suffered in 2011, Ford still made waves during a interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
"I'm better [than Clowney]," Ford said. "People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes. People are just looking at the fact that he's a physical specimen. Honestly, if you watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market, basically."
Ford later said there were no hard feelings between him and Clowney, telling the NFL Network he was using a phrase he learned from former Auburn defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder, who is now at Notre Dame.
"We're not saying that the dog can't run," Ford said when asked about Clowney's speed. "That wasn't a personal shot at him at all. That's my guy; you know what I'm saying? It's competition, and I want everyone to understand that."
Although Ford was ruled out of participating in the NFL Combine, he said he would do "everything" at Auburn's Pro Day workout March 4.
Chris Davis also did not participate in any field drills in Indianapolis due to injury.
The hero of the 2013 Iron Bowl suffered a hamstring injury before arriving at the NFL Combine and was only measured in bench press.
"They just told me don't run here, just wait until pro day," Davis who is projected to be a later pick in the seven-round draft, told AL.com.
In addition to former Auburn punter Steven Clark, who showed scouts a modified form of his Australian football style, another former Tiger looked to show teams something new in Indianapolis -- running back Tre Mason.
The Heisman finalist ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, which was slightly slower than his best unofficial time of 4.44. While he was listed as a 5-foot-10 running back at Auburn, Mason measured as 5-foot-8 at the Combine.
The slightly disappointing measurements in speed and height did not faze Mason, who continued to focus on proving doubters wrong like he did on the Plains.
"I'm not sure what I've got to prove," Mason said. "I believe that numbers don't lie. I put up a lot of numbers this year, and it should be able to speak for itself.
"I've been doubted all of my life. I just love proving people wrong."
(02/23/14 10:49pm)
After a pair of tough SEC losses against Missouri and Tennessee, the Auburn women's basketball team started and finished strong Sunday to knock off rival Georgia at Auburn Arena.
Senior Tyrese Tanner and freshman Brandy Montgomery each scored 21 points for the Tigers, who forced 24 Bulldog turnovers in the victory.
"That's 24 possessions that we took away from them," said Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "That's what we're trying to get our girls to see. It's not so much turning it over and scoring them from it, but it's 24 possessions that they didn't have."
Tanner sat 17 of the first 20 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, but she was able to come back from halftime to get 19 second-half points.
"In this game, we really stepped it up with our steals and our press, forcing them to turn it over and then converting off of them," Tanner said. "We just attacked the basket and went hard in the second half."
Tyrese's sister Tra'cee Tanner added 11 points, and Hasina Muhammad recorded three blocks in the final 75 seconds to secure the Auburn win.
The two sides went back and forth for the majority of the first half. Montgomery overcame a slow start from deep with three consecutive 3-pointers midway through the first 20 minutes of action.
"Brandy Montgomery really helped us," Williams-Flournoy said. "I thought she did a great job. She hit some really big shots for us, and she kept us in the game in the first half."
The Tigers shot just 31 percent from the floor as a team, but Williams-Flournoy's patented full-court press was enough to get Georgia out of its offensive rhythm, especially in the second half.
Georgia raced out to a 5-point lead midway through the second half, but Auburn responded with an 8-0 led by Tyrese Tanner.
The older Tanner shone in the second half on her Senior Day, scoring nine straight points for Tigers in their run to the lead and going 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
"We shot 100 free throws after practice yesterday," Tanner said. "That got us pretty warm. When we played Georgia last year, we were 3-for-15 from the line. Our focus was to knock them down this game."
Auburn's second senior, center Peyton Davis, hauled down a team-high seven rebounds while notching a crucial layup in the final minutes of the game.
The Tigers led by one point with two minutes left to play. Tanner hit a mid-range jumper off an offensive rebound by freshman Kiani Parker to extend the Auburn lead.
Muhammad went on her block party on three of Georgia's late possessions, keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard and allowing Auburn to take an 8-point lead from the free-throw line.
"I just knew we needed some defensive stops to win," said Muhammad, who finished with four blocks and four steals. "It came down to heart. Everybody did their part and defended well. When it came down to me as the last line, I just had to go for it."
Auburn will host its final game of the season at Auburn Arena this Thursday, Feb. 27, against in-state rival Alabama. The Tigers blew out the Crimson Tide 61-39 in Tuscaloosa earlier this season.
"Alabama probably wants to come in here and cut our heads off after we pretty much beat the devil out of them [in Tuscaloosa]," Williams-Flournoy said. "It's an Alabama team that's playing pretty well right now. It's another game that we need to be ready for like any other game, but they will feel like they didn't play well against us the first time."
(02/23/14 8:30pm)
The Auburn softball team is showing no signs of slowing down its dominant run through the non-conference schedule.
The Tigers posted their 10th straight victory Sunday, a 8-0 win against Purdue to wrap up an unbeaten sweep of the Wilson/DeMarini Classic at Jane B. Moore Field.
"It doesn't matter who you play, it's how you play," said Auburn head coach Clint Myers. "We have to go out and play good defense, get good pitching and have timely hitting. We have to work on the consistency of all three of those."
Sophomore pitcher Lexi Davis earned her seventh win of the season with five complete innings of shutout softball. Davis struck out three batters and walked only one Boilermaker.
Freshman Kasey Cooper led the way for the Auburn offense as she knocked in four RBI, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning to set up the early victory.
Auburn scored three runs in both the first and second innings. The top four of Auburn starting lineup -- Emily Carosone, Morgan Estell, Cooper and Branndi Melero -- went a combined 8-for-9 hitting against Purdue to keep the Tigers' hot offense going.
The win was Auburn's eighth run-rule victory of the season as the game was called after the fifth inning.
The schedule will get tougher for Auburn in the next few days as No. 10 Florida State visits the Plains Wednesday night at 5 p.m. The Seminoles will be Auburn's first ranked opponent of the season.
"We're getting better," Myers said. "We're getting to the part of the schedule where it's going to be a little tougher and we have to get ourselves ready to play with conference starting in two weeks."
(02/22/14 2:50am)
After a close loss to Alabama last weekend pushed the Tigers to No. 10 in the country, the Auburn gymnastics team was unable to keep the momentum going Friday night in a 196.875-196.100 loss to No. 6 Georgia at Auburn Arena.
"I don't think we were the same team until we got to floor tonight," said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. "(The Tigers) were good, and there were some real bright spots, but it seemed like the energy wasn't the same...I'm excited that we could score a 196 with a fall and a bad bar set."
Caitlin Atkinson led the way in scoring for the Tigers, posting an all-around score of 39.525. The sophomore scored a 9.9 in both uneven bars and balance beam.
"It felt good to get back to normal tonight," Atkinson said. "I felt a little off last week. Obviously there were some things I could improve on, but settling down and being myself on beam felt really good."
The rival Gym Dogs led for the entire Flip For a Cure Meet after they defended their No. 1 overall ranking in uneven bars with a score of 49.5. Megan Walker led Auburn with a 9.9 on the vault in the first rotation.
Auburn hung close with Georgia until the third rotation, when a pair of falls from Lexus Demers and MJ Rott allowed Georgia to extend its lead to almost an entire point.
"The mistakes came from veterans tonight," Graba said. "I believe there was something going on in the psyche. The people we asked to do new things did a really good job for us, and that's encouraging."
The Tigers rebounded to score a season-high 49.450 on floor, their first rotation at the event since junior Bri Guy's season-ending Achilles injury against Alabama. Kait Kluz, Caryn Kadous and Brittany Webster all tied their respective career highs on the floor, while Demers set a new career-high score with a 9.925 to finish the meet.
"It was good to see (Demers) become a competitor after a mistake," Graba said. "It's always nice to see that grit and determination to come back...you don't want to see them go into a shell and fade away on you. She finally lived up to our expectations and her expectations on floor tonight."
Auburn travels to face the unranked Kentucky Wildcats next Friday, Feb. 28, in Lexington, Ky. The Tigers will return to Auburn Arena the following week, March 7, to host Missouri in their home finale.
(02/21/14 3:00pm)
In sports, teams rarely get any real benefit from a loss.
Coaches and players may talk about the lessons learned from a defeat or the motivation that came from playing a close game with a team that was favored to win big, but losses still carry a negative connotation.
Unless you are Auburn gymnastics head coach Jeff Graba.
On Valentine's Day, rival powerhouse Alabama entered Auburn Arena with its impressive No. 5 national ranking and left with its 108th consecutive victory against the Tigers' gymnastics team.
But even though Auburn failed to record its first win against Alabama since the dawn of NCAA-sanctioned gymnastics, Graba was pleased with his team's performance in the 197.5-197.1 loss to the Crimson Tide.
"Actually, it was about as good as we could do," Graba said after the first Iron Meet of the season. "We were hitting our landings and getting really sharp on some stuff. I was pretty impressed."
Alabama's 197.5 tied its second-best overall score for the season against Auburn.
The Tide had the same score against fellow SEC power Georgia, who only scored a 196.825.
"We pushed Alabama to be at their best to beat us," Graba said. "They did it, but we were pretty darn good, too."
The Tigers set season-high scores in two separate events: uneven bars and balance beam. Auburn's individual gymnasts set or tied 11 different personal records during the meet.
Caitlin Walker, who posted a 9.90 on the uneven bars to help shrink Alabama's lead to .025 after the second rotation, said she would rather have a great performance in a loss than a win against anything less than the Crimson Tide's best efforts.
"I wouldn't want to see any of their gymnasts fall just to see us win, especially if we have to compare ourselves to that lower score," Walker said. "In reality, this is how it's going to be if we go up against them in regionals and nationals.
"Both schools have really great gymnastics teams, and we saw that tonight."
The biggest negative Graba took away from the loss had nothing to do with Auburn's final score or any individual event.
In the final performance of the evening, junior Bri Guy suffered a serious injury during her first run on the floor exercise, which has been her best event throughout the 2014 season.
According to Graba and Walker, Guy rolled her ankle before taking off on a back handspring.
She was not able to get enough amplitude on the move, causing her to crash headfirst on the mat.
Auburn Arena fell silent for several minutes as team physicians checked out Guy, who left the meet on a stretcher.
"It put a damper on a really good night, and it's a concern of everybody here, obviously," Graba said.
Graba confirmed Saturday morning via Twitter that Guy had suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
Even with Guy's fall at the end, Auburn lost by less than half a point to a top-5 program.
Graba took confidence in his team's final score, saying he knew some fans would be disappointed by losing once again to the powerful Crimson Tide.
"I don't look at streaks or anything like that," Graba said. "I look at it like we were ranked 12th, and they were ranked fifth. If we have Bri at the end, I think we're within a couple tenths of them. I think that says a lot about this team.
"I think this says we're under-ranked. Yeah, we didn't upend No. 5, but we take a lot of confidence from it."
The Tigers received the bump in overall ranking Graba wanted thanks to their performance against Alabama.
Because NCAA rankings are based on average team score instead of overall record, Auburn returned to the Top 10 at the beginning of the following week.
Another welcome increase in numbers for Auburn came in the attendance for its first home Iron Meet since 2012.
A crowd of 7,123 watched the two rivals battle it out and became the second-highest home attendance in Auburn gymnastics history.
"It's amazing to see so many people here," Walker said. "I mean, this is gymnastics -- who thinks about that? It's like we're kids on the playground, but people wanted to come see it. We're all eventually going to be done with gymnastics, and there's never going to be over 7,000 people cheering for you and wanting you to succeed."
Walker and her teammates are hoping for a similar home atmosphere Friday, Feb. 21, when they host another Top-10 SEC opponent.
The No. 6 Georgia Gym Dawgs will enter Auburn with an extra week off after their home meet against Missouri was canceled due to severe winter weather.
While Georgia will arrive on the Plains with extra rest, Graba is confident in his Auburn team coming off the performance against Alabama.
"I thought that we did well in all four events," Graba said. "I think we did a good job in staying consistent with our lineups all night long.
"The only concern next week is that we might have to plug in four new routines, and hopefully we utilize what we've done in the last five weeks of getting people ready."
(02/15/14 3:13am)
The Auburn gymnastics team posted season highs in two of the four events Friday night in its meet against rival Alabama, but it was not enough to end "The Streak."
No. 5 Alabama improved to 108-0 all-time against No. 12 Auburn in NCAA meets with a 197.500-197.100 victory against the Tigers at Auburn Arena.
"I don't look at streaks or anything like that. I look at it like we were ranked 12th, and they were ranked fifth," said Auburn head coach Jeff Graba. " I think this says we're under-ranked. Yeah, we didn't upend No. 5, but we take a lot of confidence from it."
Friday night's attendance was 7,123, which was the second-highest in program history behind Alabama's last visit in 2012.
Although Auburn recorded new season highs on both uneven bars and the balance beam, the Crimson Tide kept their streak alive with big scores on vault and floor.
"Actually, it was about as good as we could do," Graba said. "We were hitting our landings and getting really sharp on some stuff. I was pretty impressed. Even with Bri's fall at the end, it's still one of the best nights we had in a couple years."
Megan Walker led the way for the Tigers in setting those new highs, posting a 9.925 on the beam and a 9.990 on the uneven bars. Caitlin Atkinson was Auburn's all-around leader with a combined score of 39.375.
"Normally, I don't like to watch [everyone else], but with so many people here, I couldn't give up the opportunity to see my teammates thrive on this energy," Atkinson said. "It was a wonderful experience."
The Tigers took a .025 lead -- the smallest lead possible in a gymnastics meet -- after the first rotation by scoring 49.275 on vault, Auburn's best event by average this season.
Alabama took the lead by the same margin after the second rotation in spite of Auburn's season-high on the uneven bars. Atkinson, Bri Guy and Kelsey Kopec each posted a 9.875 to go with Walker's 9.900.
The Crimson Tide scored a 49.425 on vault after Sarah DeMeo's opening score of 9.900.
The fifth-ranked Tide got some breathing room on the third rotation with a 49.500 on the floor. Auburn had some early issues with its rotation on the beam but finished strong to move just .275 points behind Alabama.
"One of the things we decided to do as a team was focus on all the little things all the way through -- not just for each person, but the whole team," Atkinson said. "Every little thing in each routine, every day. I think everybody really addressed what their issues were, and tonight just added to our confidence in what we could do on the beam."
The visitors stretched their lead on the beam to take the meet by four tenths of a point. Auburn scored 49.200 on the floor to end the evening, with M.J. Rott scoring a team-high 9.925.
The evening ended on a scary note as Guy landed on her head during her floor routine, which was Auburn's last of the meet. Guy sat up after a couple of minutes but was stretchered off, still visibly shaken after the fall.
"I didn't get a good view, but I think she rolled her ankle on takeoff," Graba said. "That's why she didn't get enough amplitude. I think they checked her out, and it's mainly the ankle we're worried about. It put a damper on a really good night, and it's a concern of everybody here, obviously."
Auburn will return to action next Friday, Feb. 21, against another rival, No. 6 Georgia. The meet will start at 7 p.m. inside Auburn Arena.
(02/14/14 5:15pm)
Auburn football will unofficially start its 2014 season the same way it ended its 2013 season -- with a nationally televised game on ESPN. The 2014 A-Day spring game will be shown live on the popular sports network starting at 2 p.m. April 19, Auburn athletics announced Friday morning. The game will give fans a first look at the 2014 team while honoring the 2013 SEC Championship squad. Last year's A-Day, which also included the final rolling of Toomer's Corner, had a record-shattering attendance of 83,401 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. "The crowd at A-Day last year was incredible and was a spring board for our success during the 2013 season," said head coach Gus Malzahn. "We look forward to another great turnout this year from the greatest fans in college football." General admission A-Day tickets are currently on sale for $5.Spring practice start date setA-Day will end Auburn's month-long spring practice period as the Tigers will hit the field first March 18.The defending SEC champions will hold 15 practices before A-Day.Auburn athletics also announced pro day for the Tigers' NFL prospects will be held March 4. Senior Bowl MVP Dee Ford, SEC Championship Game MVP Tre Mason and first-round projected draftee Greg Robinson are expected to attend.Auburn announces "Young Alumni" season ticket programStudents who may be upset about losing their less-expensive football tickets after graduation could be in luck thanks to a new program announced by Auburn athletics Friday morning.Alumni who graduated within the last three years of the next football season can now request season tickets at half of the minimum contribution for Tigers Unlimited."This is a great way to show our graduating students how much we appreciate their love and support of Auburn football and how much we want them to stay connected with the Auburn family," said Auburn Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs.Approximately 500 seats will be reserved as part of the program in Section 37 of Jordan-Hare Stadium. Recent graduates will only have to give $130 of the normal $260 contribution to Tigers Unlimited in order to receive a full credit toward ticket priority.For more information on joining, visit the Tigers Unlimited website.
(02/14/14 3:03am)
After 21 straight losses, a streak that lasted more than 14 years, the Auburn women's basketball team finally got the big win it needed against SEC rival Vanderbilt on Thursday night in Nashville.
Senior Tyrese Tanner led the way for Auburn (13-10, 4-6 SEC) with 18 points against the No. 16 Commodores, who rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to take the lead with five minutes remaining.
Tyrese's sister Tra'cee Tanner scored inside the paint to give the Tigers the lead for good against Vanderbilt (17-6, 6-4 SEC), who was led by Christine Foggle's 24 points.
Auburn shot 64 percent from the field in a high-scoring second half for both teams.
Peyton Davis and Kiani Parker each hit a pair of free throws late to prevent a comeback from the hosts at Memorial Gymnasium.
Despite being outrebounded by the Commodores, Auburn held their opponents to just 43 percent shooting from the field.
The Tigers will return to Auburn Arena this Sunday to face Missouri at 2 p.m. Auburn's 1988, 1989 and 1990 NCAA Tournament finalist teams will be honored during the game.
(02/09/14 4:10am)
Auburn football signee Kalvaraz Bessent was arrested early Saturday morning in Nassau County, Fla. according to online records.
Bessent, a 4-star cornerback from St. Mary's, Ga., was a former Alabama commitment who flipped to Auburn in December and signed his letter of intent Wednesday.
According to Nassau County sheriff Bill Leeper, the 2007 Dodge Charger Bessent was riding in was pulled over by a deputy sheriff Friday night at 10 p.m. for going 58 miles-per-hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone on US Highway 1.
"Upon approaching the vehicle, there was a strong odor of burnt marijuana," Leeper said. "A search was conducted and 202.5 grams of marijuana was found under the front seat and driver's seat in four separate bags."
According to Leeper, all four people in the car refused to admit ownership of the drugs, so all four were arrested on three separate charges.
The charges were one count of possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, and, according to Leeper, because of the way the marijuana was packaged, one count of intent to distribute.
Bail for the possession of the marijuana and the intent to distribute was set at $2,502, while the paraphernalia charge added another $502, a combined total of $5,506.
A Jacksonville man named Elbert Thornton was driving the car at the time the stop was made, but Leeper said he doesn't know who the car belongs to.
Bessent's arraignment is set for Feb. 27.
According to a team spokesman, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn "is aware of the situation and is continuing to gather information."
Updates to come when they are made available.
(02/08/14 5:00am)
After inclement weather caused the Clint Myers Era of Auburn softball to begin in a bizarre fashion Thursday night, the Tigers were able to pick up their first win of the season for their new head coach Friday in their home opener against North Dakota State.
Sophomore Emily Carosone led the Tigers on offense Friday night as she went 3-for-4 with three runs scored in an 11-3 victory over the visiting Bison in six innings.
After falling behind in both the first and second innings to NDSU, Auburn scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-3 lead that it would never relinquish.
"The thing that was impressive about tonight was they scored in the first inning and we came back and answered," Myers said. "The second inning, the scored and we came back and answered. It's about winning innings and we did a much better job of staying with the plan and executing that plan."
Auburn scored seven more runs in the final four innings of the ball game while sophomore Lexi Davis pitched four innings of shutout softball in relief of starter Marcy Harper. Davis also came off the bench to shut down the opponent's offense in the Tigers' season-opening tie with Troy.
"You are going to see both of them pitching again," Myers said. "They are going to be a relief and we will hopefully see some of the other kids pitching. If we can continue to get strikes and play good defense, we will play with whoever is in the circle."
Junior Brandi Melero hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Auburn a commanding 10-3 lead over NDSU. Melero's teammates in the middle of the Auburn lineup enforced the mercy rule in the next inning as Morgan Estell knocked in Tiffany Howard from second base.
Auburn will play their next two games of the Plainsman Invite on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers face Morehead State at 3:30 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe at 5:30 p.m. at Jane B. Moore Field.
(02/05/14 11:21pm)
There were a few surprises along the way, but National Signing Day 2014 was mostly business as usual for Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers.
Auburn officially signed its fourth Top-10 recruiting class in the last five years Wednesday. According to 247Sports.com's Composite Team Rankings, which combines several of the nation's the top recruiting services into one, Malzahn and his staff had the No. 6 class in college football this season.
"We have guys who can help us immediately, and we have depth," Malzahn said. "I'm very excited about this class. It's been a good day."
Auburn had 16 verbal commitments prior to National Signing Day, and each one of them stayed true to the Tigers by sending in their National Letters of Intent to The Plains Wednesday morning.
The Tigers signed two 5-star players for the Class of 2014, and both were from the state of Alabama.
Oxford native Racean "Roc" Thomas, the No. 4 running back and No. 23 overall player in the country, officially signed with Auburn just before 9 a.m., making some Auburn fans sweat for a couple of hours. Thomas joined current Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson as Mr. Football for the state of Alabama, giving the Tigers back-to-back winners for the first time since 2000 and 2001.
"This humbles me a lot," Thomas told reporters Wednesday at a special ceremony at Oxford High School. "It's an honor. It shows that all my hard work is paying off."
Auburn's second 5-star recruit was Tre' Williams, who was rated as the No. 1 inside linebacker in the country by several outlets. Williams, who hails from Vigor High School in Mobile, was recruited by and No. 1 rated recruiter and assistant coach Dameyune Craig.
As for Signing Day surprises, highly touted offensive guard Braden Smith and defensive end Andrew Williams committed and signed with the Tigers in nationally televised announcements Wednesday.
Smith, a 4-star lineman chose Auburn over Texas A&M and TCU in a ceremony at his high school in Olathe, Kan.
"The reason I chose Auburn was because of the opportunity when Greg Robinson left for the NFL," Smith said. "I could get that opportunity to play early, and the style of offense they run is similar to the one we run here. I also liked all of the coaches there. They're top-of-the-line people."
Williams, the 4-star defensive end from McDonough, Ga., picked Auburn over Clemson and Georgia in a ceremony broadcast on ESPN3.com Wednesday afternoon.
"Auburn was the best decision for me to help grow as a man," Williams said. Auburn missed out on several targets on National Signing Day, but none were bigger than local 5-star outside linebacker Rashaan Evans.
For the second year in a row, the top recruit from Auburn High School decided to turn down the hometown Tigers in favor of the rival Crimson Tide.
"This decision was probably the hardest I've ever made in my life," Evans said. "There really was no bad decision and ultimately the reason I picked Alabama was because I felt like, not only could they help me pursue my football career, but also aspects outside education."
But Auburn was still able to secure a highly ranked recruiting class without Evans.
The Tigers finished with 23 signees -- 18 who officially sent their Letters of Intent in Wednesday, five who are already on campus after enrolling in school early. Auburn's class comes from only five different states, the lowest number of states since the Class of 2002.
Thirteen of Auburn's signees are on the defensive side of the football, with six signing to play on an Auburn defensive line that already has younger talent on campus.
On offense, Auburn secured a signee in every position on the field except for offensive tackle, a position of great depth for the future. In addition to Thomas, Auburn signed 4-star pro-style quarterback Sean White, who was named MVP of the Under Armour All-American Game.
"I'm proud of our staff," Malzahn said on the class. "They worked really hard developing relationships and they really worked hard to bring the right type of guys to Auburn: hard-nosed, high character, very talented young men."
(02/05/14 12:00pm)
(1:24 p.m.) Auburn's final target, Andrew Williams, has rounded out the Class of 2014 by announcing his commitment to play for the Tigers.The 4-star defensive end from McDonough, Ga., picked Auburn over Clemson and Georgia in a ceremony broadcast on ESPN3.com. Williams, who is rated as the No. 13 defensive end in the nation, was selected to play in the Offense-Defense Bowl after his senior season at Eagle's Landing Christian HS."Auburn was the best decision for me to help grow as a man...everything was right for me there," Williams said. Williams is the final commitment of the day, rounding out Auburn's class of 23 with 18 NSD signees and five early enrollees.--------------------(10:58 a.m.) Auburn's last commitment prior to Signing Day, Markell Boston, has sent his official letter of intent to the Tigers.Boston flipped from East Carolina to Auburn on Monday. A 3-star from nearby Newnan, Ga., Boston will provide depth to an Auburn secondary that is missing several starters due to graduation.-------------------- (10:47 a.m.) The Tigers' top target for National Signing Day is not staying on The Plains.Rashaan Evans, a 5-star outside linebacker who has been called one of the best overall recruits in the country picked Alabama over the hometown Tigers and UCLA at a ceremony during at Auburn High School's gymnasium.-------------------- (10:25 a.m.) Auburn's busy 10 o'clock hour has started with a bang as highly ranked offensive guard Braden Smith has committed to the Tigers.Smith, a 4-star lineman chose Auburn over Texas A&M and TCU in a ceremony at his high school in Olathe, Kan. He is known as a "weight room warrior," as video of him bench-pressing more than 500 pounds went viral on recruiting websites last month."The reason I chose Auburn was because of the opportunity when Greg Robinson left for the NFL," Smith told ESPNU. "I could get that opportunity to play early, and the style of offense they run is similar to the one we run here. I also liked all of the coaches there...they're top of the line people."-------------------- (10:20 a.m.) Another Mobile commitment, De'Shaun Davis, has officially signed with the Tigers.Davis is a borderline 4/3-star linebacker from Vigor who committed to Auburn last April. He was an 6A All-State selection as both a sophomore and a junior and is rated as the No. 13 inside linebacker in the country.-------------------- (9:40 a.m.) The Tigers' first surprise pickup of the day is Ike Powell, a 2-star long snapper from Tift County HS in Chula, Ga. According to Auburn's official website, Powell, who was originally committed to Vanderbilt, will be a preferred walk-on at Auburn.We are about an hour or so out from some major announcements, including 5-star linebacker Rashaan Evans and 4-star guard Braden Smith.-------------------- (9:12 a.m.) Auburn's 14th signee of the day is now official: Dontavius Russell.Russell is a 4-star defensive tackle from Carrollton, Ga., who flipped from Georgia to Auburn in December. Auburn also beat out Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Florida State for the 300-pounder's commitment-------------------- (8:55 a.m.) The national letter of intent is in from Auburn's biggest offensive commitment of the class, Racean "Roc" Thomas.The 5-star Oxford native was Mr. Football for the state of Alabama this past season, giving Auburn back-to-back Alabama Mr. Football honorees (Jeremy Johnson won the award in 2012) for the first time since 2000 and 2001 (Carnell Williams and Brandon Cox). The Under Armour All-American ran for 2,211 yards and 32 touchdowns in his senior season for the Yellow Jackets.Thomas is the No. 4 running back and No. 23 overall player in the country, according to 247Sports's Composite Rankings.-------------------- (8:25 a.m.) The first 5-star signing of the day is official. Tre' Williams is going to be an Auburn Tiger.The 5-star linebacker from St. Paul's Episcopal in Mobile racked up several major awards in his high school career: Under Armour All-American, first-team 247Sports All-American and two All-State selections. He is rated as the No. 2 overall inside linebacker in the country, with several outlets calling him the top ILB in this year's class. Williams was another one of Dameyune Craig's Mobile commitments who stayed true to Auburn since his announcment last May.-------------------- (8:20 a.m.) While many Auburn fans will spend Signing Day interested about the signing of 5-star linebacker Rashaan Evans, another son of a former Auburn player has signed to the Tigers --- Myron Burton.The son of Myron Burton, Sr., a defensive end on Auburn's 1993 undefeated team, Burton was listed as an athlete by most recruiting services. However, the 3-star Suwanee, Ga., native is expected to stay at wide receiver when he arrives on Auburn's campus.-------------------- (8:05 a.m.) Auburn is now at 10 signees as 3-star defensive tackle Devaroe Lawrence has faxed his letter to The Plains.Another signee from Georgia Military College, Lawrence stands at 6-foot-3 and 278 pounds. Auburn grabbed his commitment last May, beating SEC West rival Mississippi State for his services.--------------------(7:54 a.m.) The in-state train keeps chugging along for Auburn as Stephen Roberts and Jakell Mitchell from nearby Opelika have signed their Letters of Intent.The four-star Roberts was originally committed to Alabama, but he flipped to Auburn shortly after his unofficial visit to the now-legendary Auburn-Georgia game from this season. He also played quarterback for the Bulldogs this season, but he is projected to play safety for the Tigers.Mitchell is a versatile player who played several different positions at Opelika, from running back to linebacker. The three-star is expected to play tight end in Malzahn's offense. Mitchell missed his entire senior season at Opelika with a torn ACL injury he suffered during a summer on 7-on-7 camp, but Auburn still honored his commitment.-------------------- (7:35 a.m.) Auburn officially signs its first in-state commitments of the day, 4-star defensive end Justin Thornton from Vigor HS in Mobile and 3-star running back Kamryn Pettway from Prattville.Thornton, a feared pass rusher off the edge, is ranked as the No. 6 defensive end in the country and was named a second-team All-American by 247Sports. He was an early commitment out of the Mobile area, the old stomping grounds of No. 1 ranked recruiter and Auburn assistant coach Dameyune Craig.Pettway was another early commitment to the Tigers who stayed true through his entire senior season. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the 6A powerhouse Prattville Lions and is described as a solid, all-around runner for the Auburn backfield.-------------------- (7:16 a.m.) Two more signees are official for Auburn, and they are four stars: Nick Ruffin and DaVonte Lambert.Ruffin is the Top-10 cornerback in the country and hails from St. Pius X in Atlanta, Ga. At 6-foot-1, he is a bigger cornerback who could be an instant boost for the Auburn secondary that will be missing Chris Davis. He played the 2014 Army All-American Bowl.Lambert was a former Tennessee commitment from the JUCO ranks, but he flipped to the Tigers in December on JUCO Signing Day. The defensive end is from the Georgia Military College, who also has several other Auburn commitments in this class.-------------------- (6:48 a.m.) The only quarterback in this year's class of signees, Sean White, has officially signed with Auburn.White, a 4-star pro-style quarterback from the University School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is coming off a senior season full of accolades. The 6-foot-2 signal caller was the MVP of the Under Armour All-America game and was named to the Elite 11 Class of quarterbacks following his performance at Nike's Opening scouting combine.White is the No. 6 pro-style quarterback prospect in this year's class according to 247Sports.com's Composite rankings (our go-to rating system here at The Plainsman). While most people think of dual-threat quarterbacks like Cam Newton or Nick Marshall when they think of Malzahn's offense, White is a skilled passer who has been described as highly mobile inside the pocket.-------------------- (6:44 a.m.) Auburn's first two NLIs of the day are in: Kalvarez Bessent and Raashed Kennion.Bessent is a 4-star cornerback from Camden County HS in Kingsland, Ga. and chose Auburn over Alabama, Florida and Florida State. He was an Under Armour All-American after picking off six passes in his senior season at Camden County.Kennion is a 3-star weak side defensive end from First Coast HS in Jacksonville, Fla. Kennion was originally committed to former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati. He stands at 6-foot-6, already making him one of the Tigers' biggest defensive players. -------------------- (6:37 a.m.) As we wait for the first Letter of Intent to arrive on the fax machine at Auburn, here is a look at the five Class of 2014 signees who are early enrollees and are already on campus:WR D'haquille Williams (4-star WR)6-foot-3, 200 poundsMississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeWilliams was rated as the No. 1 overall junior college prospect in the country this season and should provide an instant boost to Auburn's passing game next season. He had 733 yards and nine touchdowns in his sophomore season at MGCCC, a solid follow-up to his 17-touchdown freshman season at the junior college powerhouse.S Derrick Moncrief (4-star S)6-foot-3, 226 poundsMississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegeThe Tigers also grabbed a letter of intent one of Williams' most sought-after teammates in December. Moncrief was rated as the No. 1 safety from the junior college ranks and is a graduate of 6A state powerhouse Prattville. The former Lion has been described by many recruiting experts as a hard-hitting defensive back that could step in immediately into an Auburn secondary that lost a few key players to graduation.Stanton Truitt (3-star ATH)5-foot-10, 185 poundsMonroe (Ga.) Area HSTruitt had almost 4,000 all-purpose yards and 60 touchdowns in his senior year of high school as a dual-threat quarterback, but he will most likely play wide receiver or defensive back for Auburn in the future. Chris Laye (3-star TE)6-foot-6, 240 poundsLambert HS (Suwanee, Ga.)Although Auburn has several playmakers already at tight end, the 6-foot-6 Laye's early enrollment could give him an advantage in the race for early playing time at special teams and certain offensive packages.Xavier Dampeer (3-star C)6-foot-4, 300 poundsCopiah-Lincoln Community CollegeOne of the highest rated offensive line prospects from the junior college ranks, Dampeer provides immediate depth to a center spot that will be vacated after next season with the graduation of veteran starter Reese Dismukes. -------------------- (6:00 a.m.) We are officially live from the Auburn Athletic Complex for National Signing Day 2014. Auburn currently has 21 commitments for their 2014 recruiting class, and recruits can start sending in those coveted letters of intent starting right now. The Plainsman will have live updates from the Complex and Auburn High School, where 5-star linebacker Rashaan Evans is expected to make his announcement at around 10:45 a.m. If you will be following the Signing Day action on Twitter, make sure to follow @TheAUPlainsman, sports editor @JFergusonAU and sports writer @AUMcKinney.-------------------- Here is the most up-to-date list of Auburn signees from today:- Racean "Roc" Thomas (5-star RB from Oxford)- Tre' Williams (5-star ILB from Mobile)- Kalvarez Bessent (4-star CB from Kingsland, Ga.)- DaVonte Lambert (4-star DE from Georgia Military College)- Stephen Roberts (4-star CB from Opelika)- Nick Ruffin (4-star CB from Atlanta, Ga.)- Dontavius Russell (4-star DT from Carrollton, Ga.)- Braden Smith (4-star G from Olathe, Kan.)- Justin Thornton (4-star DE from Mobile)- Sean White (4-star QB from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla)- Andrew Williams (4-star DE from McDonough, Ga.)- Markell Boston (3-star S from Newnan, Ga.)- Myron Burton (3-star ATH from Suwanee, Ga.)- De'Shaun Davis (3-star ILB from Mobile)- Raashed Kennion (3-star DE from Jacksonville, Fla.)- Devaroe Lawrence (3-star DT from Georgia Military College)- Jakell Mitchell (3-star TE from Opelika)- Kamryn Pettway (3-star RB from Prattville)
(02/04/14 8:23pm)
I have a love-hate relationship with recruiting.
It's my guilty pleasure. Some people love it because it's a great way to fill the gap between the end of bowl season and the beginning of spring practice.
Those people aren't doing it right -- you need to follow recruiting during the regular season, too.
It's a 24/7/365 love to some of us.
There are entire websites dedicated to just recruiting coverage.
Sure, they cover a team during the regular season, but they make their money offering premium insider information on the future of your favorite program.
But there are plenty of times where I hate it.
People start to obsess over the decision-making processes of 18-year-old kids who just so happen to dominate on the high school football field.
Twitter becomes a cesspool of fans lobbing corny tweets at potential targets.
And if his decision doesn't go your way, some fans cross the line and make threats.
C'mon, guys.
As a fan of the sport of college football, I follow recruiting because it has a lot to do with how teams will shake out in the future.
Why was Alabama able to build a dynasty that was unrivaled in the BCS Era?
Why was Auburn able to bounce back from a 3-9 season to a spot in Pasadena?
You bring highly ranked recruiting classes in year after year, and then you develop them to realize their full potential.
(Auburn only had the first half of that formula in the Chizik years, but it looks like Malzahn and Co. could have all of it down.)
But it's not a perfect formula by any means. After winning the 2011 Sugar Bowl, Michigan signed back-to-back Top-5 classes after hanging just outside the Top 10 in the recruiting rankings for several years.
The Wolverines' last two seasons finished 8-5 and 7-6, respectively.
For every Jadeveon Clowney and Cam Newton (two five-star recruits) there are guys like Nick Fairley and Johnny Manziel (two three-star recruits).
You don't know who is going to be a bust or a diamond in the rough.
Let's not even get started on the constant commitments and flips, the fax machine drama and the hat switches.
I believe nothing is for sure until the signee actually puts both feet on the campus after National Signing Day.
So why do we keep following it?
Why will some of us wake up at an ungodly hour next Wednesday morning and lock our eyes to ESPNU until way after the sun goes down?
Because it's college football.
It gives fans hope, no matter what the previous season record turned out to be.
It gives fans of powerhouses even more reasons to be dreaming of a national championship.
And it can be extremely fun to follow.
But like anything else in college football, fandom can turn into a dark obsession.
This past weekend I read an article from Tom Green, the preps reporter for the Opelika-Auburn News.
I helped cover area high school football for him during the fall, and I think he does a great job of telling the stories of these athletes we put under a microscope during recruiting season.
Green had a fantastic interview with Rashaan Evans, the five-star linebacker from Auburn High School who is considering Alabama and Auburn for his football future. In the interview, Evans spoke candidly about the constant pressure he's under as a blue-chip recruit.
"The fact I came out of Auburn High School and I were to go to Auburn, I have no other choice but to be successful," Evans said in the article. "It would almost be like people would see me as a disgrace to Auburn if I were to not be like everybody plans to make me. They're really putting me on a pedestal right now...It's a lot of pressure, man."
As the final week of recruiting rolls on and we prepare for National Signing Day, do these athletes a favor. Hang back and be a quiet observer of the recruiting chaos. A tweet never convinced a high schooler to go to a particular college.
We'll have coverage at our website all day next Wednesday, Feb. 5 -- we'll even cover Evans' highly anticipated decision that morning on location--and you can expect to see a lot of recruiting recap in next week's print issue.
So, fans, let us all enjoy the madness of National Signing Day in a positive way -- for ourselves and for the athletes.
(01/31/14 4:35am)
Thanks to the winter storm that swept through The Plains earlier this week, the Auburn men's basketball team had to wait an extra day before taking the court against in-state rival Alabama on Thursday night.
The postponement made it exactly 358 days -- one week shy of an entire calendar year -- since Auburn's last conference win on the hardwood.
The long wait for an SEC victory is now over for head coach Tony Barbee's squad.
Senior forward Chris Denson scored a career-high 32 points to lead Auburn to a streak-snapping 74-55 victory against Alabama at Auburn Arena.
The Tigers, whose last SEC victory came at home against the Crimson Tide on Feb. 6, 2013, held their rivals to just 36 percent shooting in another defensive-minded win for Barbee's team.
"I'm proud of the guys and the way they fought, especially on defense," Barbee said. "Their energy this week has been great. Their effort has been great. I'm proud that they were able to finish one off tonight and get the rewards of their hard work."
Junior guard KT Harrell added 23 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double in his first rivalry game as a Tiger, giving one of the nation's top scoring duos as many points as the entire Alabama offense Thursday night.
"Breaking the streak against Alabama is big," Harrell said. "We can move on from it now. It's not that we were lingering on it, but we still had it in the back of our minds. Now we feel like we can win several games down the road."
Alabama's top scorer Trevor Releford was held to only 15 points as he was the only Crimson Tide player to score in double digits.
"I thought Auburn's energy right from the jump was the difference in the game," said Alabama head coach Anthony Grant. "They played with a passion and an energy that we weren't able to match."
Auburn raced to an early 14-3 lead thanks to accurate shooting out of the gate and a stifling defense. The Crimson Tide hit only one of its first seven shots and turned the ball over six times in the opening five minutes of Thursday night's game.
Alabama fought back to trail just by five late in the first half, but senior forward Allen Payne hit a midrange jumper with one second left to give Auburn a 30-22 lead heading into halftime.
Halftime featured the presentation of the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy to Gus Malzahn and the Auburn football team for its 34-28 victory against Alabama in the Iron Bowl -- exactly two months before Thursday night's basketball game.
"I'm here to tell you, this trophy, it's going to be here for a while," Malzahn said to thunderous applause.
The energy from the trophy presentation continued into the second half on the hardwood. Denson scored 26 of his 32 points after halftime, and Harrell netted 12 of his 23 in the final 20 minutes.
"I had a shaky first half," Denson said. "The coaches talked to me at halftime, and KT grabbed me individually to say that he needed me in the second half. So that's what I did -- attack, attack, attack."
The Tigers ended the game on a 9-3 run in front of a near-sellout crowd at Auburn Arena.
"We were just so turned up today," Denson said. "The Jungle was rocking today. They got us so hype today. If we come out there with that kind of energy every day, we are going to win a lot of games."
(01/31/14 1:10am)
Although they rallied out of the locker room to make things interesting at Auburn Arena against visiting Texas A&M, Auburn's women basketball Tigers could not keep any momentum going Thursday evening.
Inconsistency would be the theme of the game as Auburn dropped its fourth consecutive SEC game to the No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies by a score of 71-54.
The Tigers (11-10, 2-6 SEC), who shot 32 percent from the field, were led offensively by sisters Tyrese and Tra'cee Tanner. Senior Tyrese scored 15 points while sophomore Tra'cee added 11 points in the loss.
Texas A&M (17-5, 7-1 SEC) relied on its size advantage heavily in the victory, scoring 46 points in the paint and outrebounding the Tigers 41-25. A&M's 6-foot-5 center Karla Gilbert scored 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting before fouling out halfway through the second half.
The Aggies also got 17 points from guard Courtney Williams, who shot 7-of-12 from the field.
The Aggies shot 57 percent as a team and converted six of their seven attempts from the free throw line.
Auburn was doubled up by Texas A&M 32-16 in a first half where the Tigers turned the ball over 11 times and shot 5-for-23 from the field.
Although Auburn's Tanner sisters sparked an 8-2 run coming out of halftime, the Aggies responded with a pair of 8-0 runs of their own to turn the interesting contest into a rout for the visitors.
The two teams, who combined for an alarming 49 turnovers, tipped off their game two hours earlier than originally scheduled due to this week's winter storm on The Plains. The game was pushed back to setup a doubleheader with the men's basketball game against Alabama, which was postponed from its original Wednesday night time.
(01/21/14 9:08pm)
Thank you, Richard Sherman.
I am not a Seattle Seahawks fan, but I would like to thank you for your last-second deflection in the NFC Championship Game, one that led to a game-ending interception.
It's not exactly the play for which I'm most thankful, Richard. (May I call you Richard?)
As soon as the clock hit all zeroes, FOX's Erin Andrews found you in the midst of the Seattle celebration and asked you about that one play.
The next 20 seconds ignited the entire sports world.
You called out 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, a player you have feuded with all season long. You called him "mediocre." You told him to stop running his mouth, because you just proved that you could shut it.
People immediately took to Twitter and gave their instant reaction to your interview. (Mine was the simple, yet profound "RICHARD SHERMAN.")
Some called you a thug. Some called you classless.
I'll call you a role model.
Wait, let me finish -- a role model for other athletes. (I'm sure there are parents out there who wouldn't want their kids going full Richard Sherman on the playground.)
You just made the play of your life and refused to give a canned answer. You spoke from your heart.
In sportswriting, you get a ton of bland responses to questions. It's always the same answers.
"It was a good game." "We played hard."
But maybe your interview, Richard, despite the negative response you received from others, will help inspire other athletes.
Maybe they will tell us how they really feel and not always take the safe route.
Sports need more Richard Shermans.
They make for better stories. Everyone wins.
(01/17/14 3:20am)
After dropping back-to-back home games against ranked SEC opponents, the Auburn women's basketball team got the bounce-back victory it needed Thursday night against its most bitter rival.
And the Tigers got it in style.
Auburn (11-6, 2-2 SEC) routed Alabama (8-9, 1-3 SEC) 61-39 Thursday night at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, giving the Tigers their 19th victory in their last 23 games against the rival Crimson Tide.
Once again, the sister act of Tyrese and Tra'Cee Tanner led the way for Auburn, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively. Younger sister Tra'Cee also pulled down 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.
Auburn held a massive 41-14 lead over Alabama heading into the break thanks to a 17-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from freshman guard Katie Frerking, which was the Tigers' only field goal from beyond the arc in the victory.
The Tigers' defense was the key to the visitors holding onto their lead in a sloppy second half for both sides. Auburn forced 21 Alabama turnovers, and the Tide shot only 22 percent from the field in the blowout loss.
Alabama was led by guard Shafontaye Meyers, who had 14 points despite a personal shooting mark of only 29 percent. The Tide were outrebounded 52-38 by the visiting Tigers.
Auburn will return home for Sunday afternoon's game against No. 10 Kentucky (14-3, 2-2 SEC). The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. inside Auburn Arena.
(01/16/14 8:17pm)
Tre Mason is a dream chaser.
Gus Malzahn saw it time after time both during his tenure as Auburn's offensive coordinator and later as the head coach.
He saw it in Mason's transformation from an undersized speed back into a powerful, record-breaking starter who helped lead his team to a remarkable turnaround.
So it came as no surprise to Malzahn when the Tigers' star running back told him his plans for the future.
After a dream junior season on The Plains, Mason was headed to chase a boyhood dream of playing in the pros.
"I recruited Tre, and going to the NFL was a goal of his," Malzahn said. "I'm very proud of him reaching his goal. He did a wonderful job for us, not only this year, but his whole career."
Mason spearheaded the nation's top rushing attack in Auburn's storybook 2013 season while shattering several individual school and conference records.
Although he finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, Mason had 1,816 yards on the ground in 2013, breaking a school record set by legendary running back Bo Jackson--who set the record during his 1985 Heisman-winning season.
For Mason, breaking Jackson's record was another bullet point of a list of dreams he has realized on the gridiron.
"Everyone has goals for themselves, and one of mine is 1,500-plus (yards)," Mason said in August 2013, weeks before Auburn's season opener against Washington State. "I heard the rushing record here is around 1,900 yards, and I would love to be the one who breaks that mark."
Mason did just that, and he broke the Auburn legend's record in a game virtually no one thought the Tigers would be back in fall camp.
The Palm Beach, Fla. native broke the Auburn single-season rushing record on a 37-yard, go-ahead touchdown run with 1:19 left to go in the BCS National Championship Game.
While Auburn will not go down in the record books as the 2013 national champions, Mason will share the SEC record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with another Heisman winner, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
So with his draft stock at an all-time high following a legendary season, Mason will take the next step.
"He's coming out either the best running back or one of the best running backs," said head coach Gus Malzahn. "Of course, in my opinion, he is the best running back in college football right now."
But success in the college game does not directly translate into professional success, especially at the running back position.
Because the average career length of an NFL running back is almost two full seasons--a fact Mason mentioned as part of his reasoning to go pro a year early--franchises rarely pick a player from the position with one of their top draft choices.
Even after one of the best rushing seasons in SEC history, Mason has been projected by scouting services everywhere from the No. 2 running back in this year's NFL Draft to a player destined to be an undrafted free agent.
Mason's biggest critics point to his size as a problem to his draft stock.
"(Mason is) shorter than ideal," wrote Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com. "Durability may be a concern considering his physical running style and 'smallish' stature."
But the 5-foot-10 Mason, a player who constantly refers to himself as a runner "fueled by doubt" who "loves being an underdog," remains calm about his future.
He has heard those criticisms before, back when he was chasing another dream--the dream of becoming a starting running back in the SEC.
"You know I came in small, frail," Mason said. "I was recruited as a speed guy, and I always had people tell me I was too small to be a running back."
After primarily running the speed sweep and kick returns in his freshman season, the speedy Mason put on weight and worked to become more of a hard-nosed runner.
By the time he got the starting job in Auburn's dismal 2012 season, he was a lone bright spot in a largely ineffective offense, rushing for 1,002 yards in his sophomore year.
When Malzahn came back to The Plains, Mason took charge and helped the team through the tough transition process.
While it seemed like a longshot during fall camp, Mason repeatedly talked about the team's belief that the Tigers could be one of the best teams in college football in 2013.
Mason turned out to be absolutely correct.
"As a coach, you're always looking for leaders, and guys will look up to those leaders," Malzahn said. "Tre was one of our leaders and he led by example. He helped us get to the national championship and 13 seconds away from winning it."
Mason's transformation from reserve running back to workhorse Heisman finalist mirrored Auburn's resurrection from winless SEC school to conference champion.
Malzahn attributes a lot of Mason's personal and Auburn's corporate turnaround to the junior's desire to win.
"He's a great competitor, and he wants to win," Malzahn said. "That's the thing about Tre Mason--he wants to win, and he doesn't get distracted by all the other stuff."
Although Mason has already accomplished some of his dreams, one will continue into the professional ranks--the dream to win a championship.
While some underclassmen who leave school early can be focused on the early financial rewards of being a professional football player, Mason's NFL dreams are not based on multimillion-dollar paychecks.
"(The NFL) will get somebody that's a hard worker, willing to do whatever it takes to win," Mason said. "My mind's not just set on money. It's set on championships. I have yet to win a championship, and my mindset is not going to change."