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(01/10/14 7:45pm)
Kiehl Frazier's roller coaster career on The Plains has come to an end. According to head coach Gus Malzahn, Frazier, who was Auburn's starting quarterback for the first five games of the 2012 season, will transfer from Auburn to a school where he will have a chance to play his former position."Kiehl Frazier is moving on," Malzahn said Friday in his season wrap-up press conference. "We appreciate everything that he has done. He has been a class individual. He's a winner."After going 1-4 to start the 2012 season, Frazier was replaced by Jonathan Wallace as starting quarterback midway through the campaign. Both Frazier and Wallace lost the battle for the 2013 starting quarterback job to Nick Marshall.Frazier moved to defensive back during preseason camp after Marshall and true freshman Jeremy Johnson were named as the two finalist for the starting quarterback job. He saw time in special teams action and played a few downs as a Wildcat formation quarterback for Auburn in 2013.The former USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year was the No. 4 quarterback in the nation coming out of Shiloh Christian HS in Arkansas, where Malzahn once coached current offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.Malzahn said he was unsure where Frazier planned to transfer.
(01/09/14 7:15pm)
Less than 12 hours after the conclusion of Auburn's BCS National Championship Game loss, starting left tackle Greg Robinson declared for the NFL Draft via Twitter.
Although it took him a couple more days to announce his intentions, the star of the backfield Robinson helped lead to a national-best rushing mark will be joining him in the pros.
"After all the thought, talking to my family and friends...I am going to declare for the 2014 draft," Mason said Thursday afternoon at a special press conference. "The lifespan of a running back of a running back in the NFL is very short, and I had a great year...I'm a dream chaser, and I'm just trying to make a dream into a reality."
Mason said he also discussed his decision with head coach Gus Malzahn, who "expected" him to turn pro.
"Our staff is extremely proud of him," Malzahn said after Mason's announcement. "I recruited Tre, and one of his goals was to get to the NFL, so I'm very proud of him reaching that. He did a wonderful job for us not only this year, but his whole career...not just the way he played football, but the way he represented Auburn."
The Palm Beach, Fla. native finished his career with 2,979 rushing yards, which ranks him sixth on Auburn's all-time charts. His go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter of the BCS National Championship Game gave him Auburn's single-season rushing record, passing Bo Jackson with 1,816 yards.
In his freshman season at Auburn, Mason was a smaller running back primarily used on speed sweep plays and kick returns. After a breakout performance in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl, a heavier, stronger Mason was a lone bright spot in Auburn's 2012 offense as he rushed for 1,002 yards in the Tigers' nightmare season.
"People always told me I was too small to be a running back," Mason said. "I had coaches like (strength and conditioning) Coach Russell who helped me become bigger, faster and stronger. I had coaches like (running backs) Coach Horton and (offensive coordinator) Coach Lashlee who helped me become not only a better running back, but a better man as well."
Mason was invited to New York City last month to the Heisman Trophy presentation, where he finished sixth in overall votes for the nation's premier college football award. His invite came after an incredible 306-yard, four-touchdown performance in the SEC Championship Game against Missouri.
The workhorse load Mason received in the last half of Auburn's run to Pasadena factored some into his decision to forgo his senior season.
"It does take a little wear and tear on your body, but I embrace that," Mason said. "I want to have the ball in my hands to make that play. That's a good feeling."
Mason said his the NFL Draft Advisory committee gave him a potential third-round grade.
"(The NFL is) getting one of the tougher individuals in all of college football," Malzahn said. "He plays his best games in the biggest games."
When asked on what kind of running back an NFL team could get in him, Mason kept it simple.
"I feel like they'll get someone who is a hard worker, someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to win," Mason said. "My mind is not set on money, it's set on championships."
He joins Robinson, a projected first rounder, as Auburn's underclassmen than have declared for the draft. Junior center Reese Dismukes announced he would stay in Auburn for his senior season following Monday night's loss.
(01/07/14 8:30pm)
After Monday night's loss to Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game, several Auburn players spoke of how the team's No. 2 finish would propel the Tigers into next season.
While Auburn will return most of its starters, one of them has announced he is leaving early to go to the NFL.
Greg Robinson, who was Auburn's starting left tackle in the team's run to Pasadena, announced Tuesday afternoon that he would not be returning to The Plains next season.
"This was a tough decision but I have decided to declare for the NFL Draft," Robinson tweeted.
Robinson was in his sophomore season at Auburn, but his redshirt status allows him to forgo both his junior and senior seasons to enter the professional ranks. The Thibodaux, La. native is projected to be a Top-10 pick in this year's NFL Draft.
"Greg played a big part in our success this season and I appreciate everything he did as an Auburn Tiger during his career," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement. "He has a bright future ahead of him at the next level and we wish him nothing but the best."
Robinson tweeted two more messages after his announcement, which he said was "harder" after Monday night's loss to the Seminoles.
"I am so thankful for (Malzahn, offensive line coach J.B. Grimes and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee) for everything they have done leading us to a memorable season," Robinson tweeted. "I want to thank my teammates and I love them all. Also thank you Auburn Family the best fans in college football."
(01/07/14 3:00pm)
Tre Mason feels like he let you down.
With less than two minutes left to go on the biggest stage in college football, the junior running back turned a three-point Florida State lead into an Auburn lead with a 37-yard touchdown run.
The run not only gave Auburn momentum after a devastating 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Florida State's Kermit Whitfield, it also gave Mason the school's single-season rushing record.
But even with all his new records and individual awards, Tre Mason wants to apologize to you, Auburn fan.
"We all bought into having the biggest turnaround in college football, but I apologize to the Auburn Family and the rest of the fans that we didn't finish," an emotional Mason said after Auburn's 34-31 loss to Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game. "We didn't finish what we started."
Although Mason was on the sidelines when Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston found Kelvin Benjamin for the game-winning score, the junior running back only had one thing in mind in the aftermath of the Tigers' last second loss.
"Emotions are everywhere right now," Mason said. "Right now I just feel like I let the whole Auburn family down by not finishing."
Senior defensive end Dee Ford said his teammate was being hard on himself, but Mason's attitude was what he thought made him such a tough competitor.
"I don't expect him to be any other way," Ford said. "But that's why we're a team. That's why we're brothers. I'm able to really talk to him. And the Auburn Family is going to do the same thing.
"But yeah, he's down on himself. That's expected."
Mason's late, go-ahead touchdown run was compared by some to big plays made by legendary Aubunr running back Bo Jackson, who Mason passed for the all-time single season rushing record.
"It's a blessing to surpass his yards that he put up, but it would be great to do that with holding the crystal ball in the air," Mason said. "But that's just the way it is."
Mason finished with 34 carries for 195 rushing yards, giving him 1,816 rushing yards in his junior season. In addition to his record-breaking touchdown run, he scored Auburn's first touchdown against the Seminoles on a screen pass late in the first quarter.
It was another workhorse-like performance for Mason against another highly ranked rush defense.
"I anticipate a nice workload every game," Mason said. "That's the way teams are going to play us. I had to do my thing, and I gave it all I got. My team looks at me to make plays, and I tried to do that."
Mason, who was alongside Winston as a finalist at the Heisman Trophy presentation last month, could forgo his senior season with the Tigers and enter the NFL Draft.
The Palm Beach, Fla. native previously said he would make his decision on going pro soon after the BCS National Championship Game.
But the decision would not come as quickly as Monday night.
"I still have to sit down with my family," Mason said. "Now is not the time to make that decision."
(01/05/14 12:15am)
As they head into Monday night's BCS National Championship Game against the turnaround Tigers of Auburn, the Florida State Seminoles are exuding confidence.
During Florida State's BCS National Championship Media Day session Saturday, the confidence was on full display in the radiant smile of Heisman Trophy-winning freshman quarterback Jameis Winston and the calm demeanor of linebacker Telvin Smith.
"Well, I'm glad they call Auburn 'the team of destiny' because at Florida State, we control our own destiny," Winston said, referring to the nickname Auburn has received from several media outlets throughout the course of the season.
The Alabama native praised Auburn during his press conference, highlighting Auburn's "intensity" and belief "that they can do anything," but he later set social media abuzz with a quote about the Tigers' finishes against Georgia and Alabama.
"That's one thing they talk about staying to the fourth quarter," Winston said. "But at Florida State, we are controlling our destiny and we are trying to do it big. We are not looking for miracles to happen. We are going to play football and do what we do."
Smith echoed his quarterback's message of confidence early in his interviews Saturday.
"We know what we're capable of," said Smith, a senior All-ACC linebacker who recorded a team-high 75 tackles for the Seminoles this season. "We know if we play hard and play hardnosed football for 60 minutes, no team can play with us in the country."
And Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has embraced his Seminoles' confidence with open arms.
"I think we've practiced extremely well, and I like our mindset and our attitude right now," Fisher said. "I think we're very confident in what we do, but we're not arrogant. I think our kids believe in the system and the team we have, there's not a lot of arrogance where they're ignoring things and not preparing at the same time, and I think that's very critical."
Florida State's high levels of confidence have been backed up this season by its devastating run through the regular season.
As the only unbeaten team in college football, the 13-0 Seminoles have outscored their opponents 689-139 this season--a six-touchdown difference per game.
If you call Auburn "the team of destiny," you can call Florida State "the team of dominance."
"That's what we do, we dominate our opponent physical and mentally," said Winston. "That's what we want to do. Obviously with Auburn it's going to be a harder task because they're a great team, but we enjoy dominating our opponent, that's Florida State football."
With a top-ranked rushing offense that put up close to 300 yards against then-No. 1 Alabama and torched SEC East champion Missouri for more than 500 yards, Auburn will be the toughest matchup of the season for the Florida State defense--a defense that has only allowed five rushing touchdowns all season.
"They are going to run the ball," Smith said. "I think when they try to throw the ball, it's more when there's more of a trick play or something like that. So (Nick Marshall) is a great quarterback, but we're going to go out there and play hard for 60 minutes."
So how will Florida State be able to slow down a rushing offense that put up big numbers against the SEC's top two rushing defenses?
"That's Alabama, that's Missouri," Smith said. "We're Florida State."
Fisher expects a great game from both the offense and defense from Auburn, a school where he coached quarterbacks at from 1993-1998.
"Auburn is a great program," Fisher said. "I've coached there, I know it. They're in a great league, they have great coaches...and it's going to be a great ballgame on Monday."
How Florida State will perform in a great, close game--something they have not had to experience for most of the season--has been a recurring question for Florida State's coaches and players in the buildup to Monday's title showdown.
When asked the familiar question Saturday, Winston lit up.
"We are going to play better!" Winston said. "We're looking for a football game, we're not looking for a game that we go out there and blow everybody out. Ain't nothing wrong with blowing everybody out, but we're looking for a football game--and we expect Auburn to give us one."
(01/05/14 12:21am)
After Auburn's 3-9 season in 2012 and a complete coaching staff change, the recruits who decided last February to send their National Letters of Intent to The Plains were not committing their futures to the most stable of situations.
Eleven months later, that celebrated 2013 freshman class is in Pasadena, Calif., preparing for the 16th and final BCS National Championship Game.
Auburn's true freshmen say they were expecting what head coach Gus Malzahn preached to them all during the offseason--that the Tigers were going to have the biggest turnaround in college football--but those dreams did not go much further than a winning season and a January bowl game.
"We imagined we were going to have a winning season," freshman cornerback Johnathan Ford said Saturday during Auburn's BCS National Championship Game Media Day session. "But now...wow. I'm just happy that in my freshman year, I get to go play for the national championship and maybe play in it."
For Ford, the chance to get minutes in the national title game came with a dramatic change. Like former starting quarterback Kiehl Frazier, Ford hopped from one backfield to the other, switching from running back to defensive back during Auburn's early-season injury crisis in the secondary.
"It's been so different from when I started the season at running back and when I moved to corner," Ford said. "Playing corner, a new position I had never played, and having an opportunity to progress and play in game--have pass breakups and stuff like that--it's a blessing."
Ford moved to cornerback, where he has rotated in as a non-starter for defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, but he had the chance to run the ball against Western Carolina.
In a modern age of college football where "ironman" players are rare, Ford has dreams of contributing on both sides of the field.
"It's been a blessing, really, to play two positions in college football--especially in the SEC," Ford said. "They say many people don't get that chance, period."
Freshman wide receiver Marcus Davis knows all about Ford's switch, as he has also experienced a position change from his high school days to the time he started suiting up for the Tigers.
Davis, a former high school quarterback, went from throwing passes to catching them--and he has made the most of his chances, grabbing 22 passes and emerging as a reliable target during Auburn's come-from-behind win against Mississippi State.
"(Auburn's coaches) told me if I came in here and worked hard, I'll be able to get those opportunities," Davis said. "They kept their word, and it is just an honor to be a part of such a special team."
Another player who few expected to get playing time this season was freshman quarterback Jeremy Johnson. After losing the early fall race for the starting job to Nick Marshall, the Montgomery native waited for his number to be called.
That time came against Western Carolina, when Johnson started for the injured Marshall in a memorable Homecoming rout of the lowly Catamounts.
"That game was just something for the fan base to see what the future was all about and show my coaches what I could do," Johnson said. "I think I did a spectacular job and my teammates kept me going. It was a fun moment."
Johnson would get significant minutes against Florida Atlantic later in the year, and the dual-threat quarterback has seen a few snaps in most of Auburn's SEC action this season.
"Coming from high school to a national championship is a big jump," Johnson said. "It's crazy. Right now, I'm taking it all in--developing, becoming a better leader, enjoying this moment."
Now preparing for a title game at the Rose Bowl, Johnson is continuing to "prepare like a starter" and wait for his chance.
"When my number is called, I'll have some jitters," Johnson said with a nervous laugh. "But after the first few plays or so, I'll be good. I'm real happy to be here, and (my team) is looking forward to taking a title back to Auburn."
(01/04/14 9:36pm)
It's an offensive attack that has left defensive coordinators frustrated, national analysts astonished and, most recently, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel speechless at the SEC Championship Game podium.
Yet with all of Auburn's success on the ground this season, the Tigers know there is still doubt surrounding them ahead of their matchup with No. 1 Florida State.
And they are feeding off of that doubt.
"People say we were just lucky, and we rushed for 323 yards against Georgia," junior center Reese Dismukes said Saturday at Auburn's BCS National Championship Media Day session. "They said we were just a lucky team heading into Alabama, and we rushed for 296 against them."
Dismukes, the leader of an offensive line that has paved the way for the nation's best rushing offense, sighed and propped his chin on his hand.
"People are going to say what they want to say. We're going to have the throw the ball at some point, but we're going to run the ball a lot, too. It's as simple as that."
Florida State will enter the Rose Bowl Stadium with one of the nation's best defenses from a statistical standpoint.
The Seminoles rank No. 3 in total defense and have only allowed five rushing touchdowns all season--just one more than running back Tre Mason had by himself against Missouri in Auburn's 59-42 SEC Championship Game victory.
"(Florida State's defensive players) are extremely fast and very dynamic across the board," said offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. "They get after you, and they recover better than anyone we've played...they really don't have any weaknesses. (Defensive coordinator) Jeremy (Pruitt) does a great job with the scheme, and we're going to have to play our best game by far."
That "best game" will have to come after a record-shattering performance against one of the nation's top front sevens.
The last time they took the field, the Tigers racked up rushing yards against Missouri at a video game-like pace.
When the confetti fell at the Georgia Dome, Auburn had a record-breaking 545 yards on the ground against the SEC's No. 2-ranked rushing defense.
"All we heard of Missouri was, 'Well, they've got the best box that we're going to play. They've got one of the best run defenses--how are you going to run the ball?'" said junior tight end CJ Uzomah. "Honestly, I think our offensive line took that as an insult. It was a slap in the face to them. No one talked about them and how well they had been doing."
As a former running back-turned-defensive back, freshman Johnathan Ford knows where to point when asked about the key to Auburn's ground attack.
"It's the front line," Ford said. "I give the credit to those guys. They push themselves in practice and keep us all going."
The key to Auburn's running back success this season has not just limited to Dismukes and the offensive line.
When Marshall, Mason or speedy running back Corey Grant bounce the run to the outside, Auburn's often-overlooked wide receivers become the difference makers.
"It's amazing to go out there and show that I can actually block and not just run down the field," said sophomore wide receiver Sammie Coates. "I just do what I got to do to go out there and help the team win, whatever it takes--it doesn't matter if it's knocking a guy on his back or running down field for a touchdown pass."
For several of Auburn's players, the SEC Championship Game performance was a testament to the offense's attitude from the entire season--one that they will carry into Monday's game against the favored Seminoles.
"We're the underdogs," said junior quarterback Nick Marshall. "We love being the underdogs. We just go out there and prove our point."
As Marshall's top backfield partner, Mason knows that the Tigers will not divert too much from their tried-and-true rushing attack, even against a team that has had great success in keeping opposing backs out of their end zone.
"We're going to keep doing what we're doing," Mason said. "People have doubted us all year, saying we couldn't run on certain teams. We ignore it. We're going to find a way to execute our offense.
"I don't care if you put 13 people on the field--we're going to find a way to get it done."
(12/19/13 6:03pm)
In their run to the BCS National Championship Game, the Auburn Tigers emerged victorious against the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, the 2013 Heisman Trophy runner-up and one of the highest rated pro quarterback prospects ahead of next year's NFL Draft.
But in Pasadena, the Auburn defense will take on a challenge different from Johnny Manziel, AJ McCarron and Aaron Murray when it faces 2013 Heisman winner and Hueytown native Jameis Winston.
"We have faced some dynamic quarterbacks," said head coach Gus Malzahn. "They are a little bit different, but have won a lot of games. Obviously we are playing the Heisman Trophy winner, the best player in college football, so we have our work cut out for us."
Winston became the second freshman to win the Heisman last weekend, dominating the national vote in spite of a sexual assault investigation toward the end of his spectacular freshman season. No charges were brought against Winston at the conclusion of the investigation.
In his first season as a starter in Tallahassee, Winston threw for 3,810 yards and 38 touchdowns. He led the nation in yards per completion and was second behind pass-heavy Fresno State's Derek Carr in touchdowns.
"He had a tremendous season," said junior safety Jermaine Whitehead. "Watching him on film, you can see he did a lot of great things. He makes his team better, and they play off his energy."
Although his rushing statistics are low, Winston brings a high level of athleticism to his game, which is something that has grabbed the attention of the Auburn defense.
"Jameis is probably a little bit of a mixture of Aaron Murray and Johnny Manziel," said senior defensive end Dee Ford. "He can really move around in the pocket. He can really move his feet, and he's got a rocket. But we've played some of the best quarterbacks consecutively this year, so we know what to do when we face a tough quarterback."
For a defensive lineman like Ford, getting pressure on the Heisman Trophy winner will be vital to Auburn's success in Pasadena.
"I think pressure makes any quarterback look pretty average," Ford said. "This is what you want to play. You want to play against top competition and show him the best of what you can do."
Another challenge for Auburn's defense will be Winston's top weapon at receiver, Kelvin Benjamin.
The 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore was a go-to guy near the end zone for Winston this season as 14 of his 50 catches were for touchdowns.
But tall receivers are not a new challenge for the Auburn secondary, which has faced Texas A&M's Mike Evans and Missouri's Dorial Green-Beckham this season.
"I guard a big receiver every game, so I've got to just go out there and play my game," said junior cornerback Jonathon Mincy, who is 5-foot-10. "I got to make sure I get my hands on them as soon as the ball is thrown and try to play the ball through the receiver's hands."
For Malzahn, slowing down Benjamin and the rest of the Florida State receivers will have to be a total team effort.
"It's not just receivers versus defensive backs," Malzahn said. "We need to find a way to put pressure on the quarterback. Everything works together, but the main thing is we need to keep away from the big play. That's the number one thing we've been preaching to our guys."
Malzahn has said all season that he believes his team will win if it can keep the game close until the fourth quarter. So when the Tigers face a Florida State offense that has been blowing out almost every team it has faced in 2013, staying fresh for all four quarters is important to Malzahn.
"Coach (Ryan) Russell first of all has done an outstanding job with our whole team as far as our conditioning," Malzahn said. "We've really performed well in the fourth quarter. Our defensive line coach, Coach Garner, has done a good job of keeping his guys fresh in the fourth quarter, especially against these top quarterbacks that can throw it so well."
(12/18/13 8:11pm)
In the past few weeks, members of the Auburn football program have won intense rivalry games, an SEC Championship, a berth in the BCS National Championship Game, numerous individual awards, a trip to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation and contract extensions.
On Wednesday, the Tigers sealed another important win -- one that could have a major impact on the future of their high-powered offense.
Head coach Gus Malzahn opened his Wednesday press conference by confirming Auburn's signing of three junior college prospects, including top-ranked wide receiver D'haquille Williams.
Auburn signed Williams, safety Derrick Moncrief and offensive lineman Xavier Dampeer on Wednesday morning, which was the start of the midyear junior college signing period.
Williams, who is considered the No. 1 junior college player in the country by several major recruiting services, had 51 receptions for 733 yards and nine touchdowns for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College this season. The 6-foot-3, 213-pound receiver was an NJCAA All-American as a freshman and will enroll at Auburn as a junior in January.
"He's a dynamic player," Malzahn said. "He can run, catch and do all the things it takes to be a great receiver."
Williams, a Louisiana native, was originally committed to LSU, but he flipped to Auburn this summer after an official visit. Even though doubts about his commitment to Auburn grew as the Tigers went with a run-heavy playbook in their march to Pasadena, Williams will be on The Plains next season.
Malzahn's famed Hurry Up, No Huddle offense has not always been as run-heavy as it has been in this title season, and the head coach believes a major signing like Williams can help balance the system.
"If you look back, we've had years where we throw it a lot," Malzahn said. "We're going to get more and more balanced next year. Anytime you got a dynamic guy like (Williams) coming, that's a really good thing."
Moncrief, a teammate of Williams' at Mississippi Gulf Coast, was named a 4-star recruit by 247Sports.com's Composite Rankings, which compiles several major recruiting services' rankings into one. A native of Prattville, Moncrief will bring more depth to an undermanned Auburn secondary.
"He's a big, physical guy who can tackle," Malzahn said. "He has very good cover skills as well."
Dampeer, Auburn's third junior college signing, is a 3-star offensive lineman from Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Dampeer committed to Auburn after the Tigers' 30-22 home win against Ole Miss.
"He's got the ability to play center and guard," Malzahn said. "He's just a big, strong kid."
When asked if the new signings would get to Auburn in time to be a part of national championship practice, Malzahn said the team was "working on it."
Malzahn's confirmation of the three junior college signings came during Wednesday's Media Day session at the Football Complex. Check back here Thursday and Friday for more coverage of Auburn's preparation for the BCS National Championship Game.
(UPDATE: Four-star defensive tackle DaVonte Lambert, who was committed to Tennessee, signed with Auburn on Wednesday afternoon. Lambert, who played at Georgia Military College, is Auburn's fourth junior college signing of the day.)
(12/09/13 11:10pm)
Almost 48 hours after receiving the SEC Championship Game MVP award from conference commissioner Mike Slive in Atlanta, Auburn running back Tre Mason is headed to New York City and the biggest award ceremony in college football.
Mason was named one of the six finalists for the 2013 Heisman Trophy on Monday evening, joining Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch, Boston College running back Andre Williams, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron in the final cut for college football's premier individual award.
This year's award ceremony in New York City will be the first since 1994 to feature more than four finalists.
Mason, who has 1,621 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns this season, is Auburn's first Heisman Trophy finalist since Cam Newton in 2010. His 2,137 all-purpose yards in 2013 are the most in Auburn and SEC history.
Mason shattered SEC Championship Game records against Missouri last Saturday, racking up 304 yards and four touchdowns against the nation's No. 11 rushing defense. The running back struck the famous stiff-arm Heisman pose after two of his rushing touchdowns against the Tigers from the SEC Eastern Division.
"You're looking at one of the top running backs in college football, and he proved it again (Saturday)," said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. "So, usually, the best players on the best teams have a chance at it, and you're looking at one of those guys right here."
The Palm Beach, Fla. native will look to become the program's fourth Heisman winner alongside Newton, Bo Jackson and Pat Sullivan.
"This is a personal goal of mine," Mason said after Auburn's SEC Championship victory. "Everyone has goals of their own. It was always a dream, you know, growing up, wanting to win the Heisman."
This year's Heisman Trophy will be awarded this Saturday, Dec. 14.
(12/08/13 4:00am)
The Auburn Tigers may be on their way to Pasadena, Calif., but junior running back Tre Mason would like to go on another cross-country trip before the BCS National Championship Game.
After a 304-yard MVP performance against the conference's second best rushing defense in the SEC Championship Game, Mason has his eyes on New York City and an invitation to the Heisman Trophy Presentation.
"This is a personal goal of mine," Mason said after Auburn's 59-42 title-clinching victory against Missouri. "Everyone has goals of their own. It was always a dream, you know, growing up, wanting to win the Heisman."
Mason celebrated a first-half touchdown, one of four on the day, by striking the famous Heisman pose in the end zone. His 304-yard total was a large chunk of Auburn's 545 rushing yards against a Missouri defense that entered the game allowing an average of 113 yards on the ground.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said he believed his star running back belongs in the race for college football's most prestigious individual award.
"You're looking at one of the top running backs in college football, and he proved it again today," Malzahn said. "So, usually, the best players on the best teams have a chance at it, and you're looking at one of those guys right here."
Mason's output on the ground was almost half of Auburn's 677 yards of total offense, which was the most against an SEC opponent and the fourth-most in school history. The Tigers had 712 yards at homecoming against Western Carolina -- and they were fewer than 50 yards shy of that season-high on their biggest stage of the season.
"Our offense is very versatile," Mason said. "There's so many different ways we can get players the ball... (Malzahn) finds us ways to get us the ball."
And Mason got the ball on Auburn's final drive. After the Auburn defense stopped Missouri on downs for the second straight time, the Palm Beach, Fla., native got the carries he needed to eclipse the 300-yard mark.
"Let's seal the deal," Mason said. "The game's not over, but we can find a way to make it be over. Put the nail in the coffin."
Mason did just that, and he celebrated the conference championship with his offensive linemen moments later.
"They work their tails off every day," Mason said. "Those guys open up some of the biggest holes I've ever seen and I've ever ran through. This is a blessing to have those guys in front of me and around me--and to have a coach like Coach Malzahn."
Auburn finished their final three games of the regular season -- the traditional "Amen Corner" stretch -- with a combined total of 1,214 rushing yards.
After the game, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel struggled to find an answer when asked how a team can stop Auburn's rushing attack.
"Everybody has problems with it," Pinkel said. "You know what? I'm the wrong person to ask, because I'd have stopped it if I could have."
Mason's performance set numerous individual records and helped Auburn break team records.
His 46 carries were most any Auburn player has ever had in a single game. He now has 22 rushing touchdowns this season, breaking Cam Newton's mark of 20 in the 2010 BCS National Championship season.
When asked what he thought about Mason surpassing Auburn legends Jackson and Newton, Malzahn gave high praise to his SEC Championship Game MVP.
"I'd say he's one of the better players to ever wear an Auburn helmet," Malzahn said.
(12/07/13 2:13am)
On the eve of the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, first-year head football coach Gus Malzahn has received a lengthy contract extension and pay raise with Auburn.
Malzahn, who has led the Tigers to an 11-1 season after their 3-9 record in 2012, has agreed to a six-year extension.
The extension raises his pay to $3.85 million for next season, and the contract will go up an additional $250,000 each year.
His pay raise will make him the 11th highest-paid coach in the country and sixth highest-paid coach in the SEC, ahead of veteran South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier.
"As I've said before, we want Coach Malzahn to be at Auburn for a long time," said Auburn director of athletics Jay Jacobs, who said Thursday he wanted to put Malzahn in the top-half of the conference in salary. "While this season has been remarkable, I'm equally excited about the future of our program under his leadership. The future of Auburn football is very bright."
University President Jay Gogue also voiced his support for the new contract extension in a statement.
"Jay [Jacobs] made a good recommendation, and I support it," Gogue said. "A lot of programs would love to have coach Malzahn, so this is a good move that allows him to continue taking Auburn football where our fans want it."
Gogue said he consulted with president pro tempore Jimmy Rane, who echoed Gogue and Jacobs.
"What began as a new day has turned into a great day for Auburn and the Auburn family," Rane said.
Malzahn's new contract comes after days of speculation about the head coach's future at Auburn. An anonymous source told Sports Illustrated columnist Pete Thamel that Malzahn's "dream job" was at the University of Texas.
Malzahn called Auburn his "dream job" during press conferences later in the week and added that he was "tickled to death" to be the Auburn head coach.
(12/02/13 5:29pm)
In less than one minute of game time Saturday night, Chris Davis and Nick Marshall helped Auburn turn a seven-point deficit into a legendary win against No. 1 Alabama.
On Monday, the SEC honored the duo with two of the final Player of the Week honors for what has been a wild regular season.
Davis won SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-winning missed field goal return of more than 100 yards. After a 57-yard field goal from the Crimson Tide fell short, Davis received the ball at the back of his end zone and raced to a touchdown.
"When I caught it, I knew I was going to have some running room," Davis said after the upset win. "I knew they had big guys on the field, so I tried to set it up one way and hit the other way, and that's what I did."
Marshall won SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the nation's top defensive unit in the 34-28 victory. The junior quarterback threw for 95 yards, ran for 99 yards and had two all-purpose touchdowns.
Before Davis' game-winning return, Marshall tied the game with a fake read option pass to Sammie Coates with 32 seconds left on the clock.
"Nick is a good leader," Coates said after the game. "He told us not to give up and not to worry about anything. He put the team on his back."
Monday marked the third time this season Marshall, a junior college transfer in his first year on The Plains, has won the conference's Offensive Player of the Week award. It was the second Special Teams Player of the Week award for Davis, who won the honor alongside Marshall for their performances against Tennessee.
(12/01/13 3:22am)
Reese Dismukes had heard it all week.
"Auburn is going to have a hard time running it against Alabama."
"They've got the No. 1 rushing defense in the country."
"Auburn must be able to throw the ball against Alabama to win the game."
After wading through the sea of orange and blue after the Tigers' 34-28 upset victory against No. 1 Alabama, Dismukes had a message to those who doubted Auburn's rushing attack.
"I think we just shot all those people in the face," Dismukes said. "Maybe we'll finally get some credit for running the ball."
Although Auburn's special teams game finished the game in style, the Tigers' success running the football set the table for a historic victory.
"First of all, they are a great run defense, but we felt like for us to win, we had to run it," said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. "Our mindset was to run the football. I didn't want to change anything -- I wanted to do what got us here."
Auburn ran for 296 yards and two touchdowns against the Alabama defense, which averaged allowing 91 rushing yards per game in their 11 straight victories to open their quest for a third consecutive BCS National Championship.
Quarterback Nick Marshall, who finished with 126 yards on 17 carries, opened the day's scoring with a 45-yard touchdown run through the heart of Alabama's defense. The dual-threat signal caller went untouched on the run, which was Auburn's first offensive touchdown against Alabama since Cam Newton's game-winning touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen in the 2010 Iron Bowl.
After Alabama tied the game early in the second quarter, the momentum went straight to Alabama thanks to a fumble by junior running back Tre Mason. The Crimson Tide scored again with the short field and registered another touchdown for 21 unanswered points.
"That was a mistake on my part, but I knew we had to bounce back," Mason said. "Get six. Find a way around somebody, through somebody -- just find a way."
The Tigers bounced back right before the second half. Marshall came close to a 16-yard score on a lightning fast, run-only drive, but he was ruled out at the one-yard line after a replay review.
It did not matter to the Auburn offense.
Mason pounded the ball in on the next play, and Auburn was able to tie the game early in the third quarter.
Auburn chalked up 296 rushing yards by the final whistle, which was the most given up by Alabama in Nick Saban's career in Tuscaloosa.
The Tide defense had not given up two rushing touchdowns in one game all season. The most rushing yards it had given up prior to the Iron Bowl was 165 against Arkansas -- a mark Auburn was three yards from at halftime.
"It was a statement," Dismukes said. "We were able to run it well against those guys. They came in only giving up 91 yards or something like that. We put up 296 on them. We just played their game, and it worked out for us."
For the Auburn running backs, the success on the ground against Alabama came with extra motivation.
Opelika native Corey Grant, who started his career at Alabama before transferring in 2011, got the first carry of the game for the Tigers. He was on the sidelines wearing crimson during Auburn's 2010 Iron Bowl victory in Tuscaloosa, and he was on the sidelines wearing navy during Alabama's two blowout wins in 2011 and 2012.
"It's a great feeling," Grant said. "With this being the year I could actually contribute to the team and actually play, it was a great feeling to win this one."
And Mason's father, a member of the rap group De La Soul, was in the stands for Auburn's miraculous victory. It was the first time all season that he was able to watch his son play live.
"I played for him tonight," Mason said. "I put on a good show for him. I ran angry and with passion. I ran with emotion and figured out a way."
(12/01/13 3:13am)
If you thought nothing could top the ending to Auburn's win against Georgia, think again.Two weeks after Ricardo Louis' "Miracle in Jordan-Hare" catch, Auburn cornerback Chris Davis returned a 56-yard, last-second Alabama field goal 109 yards for the game-winning touchdown in a Top-5 Iron Bowl showdown at Jordan-Hare Stadium.(Click here to listen to Auburn IMG Sports Network play-by-play man Rod Bramblett and color commentator Stan White's call of the final play.)
(11/26/13 8:30pm)
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn understands the hype heading into Saturday's Iron Bowl.
He has been interviewed multiple times by national media outlets on the game between No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide and his No. 4 Auburn Tigers, a game that will determine the SEC Western Division. He has fielded constant questions about Auburn's turnaround in his first year on The Plains.
So in the frenzy that is Iron Bowl Week, has Malzahn had time to reflect on how far Auburn has come this year? Thought about what could happen if Auburn wins this one?
Not a chance.
"Like I told our players, we've got a job to do," Malzahn said. "We'll pat ourselves on the back at the end of the year, but we can't let anything distract us. You can't let your mind go there.
"We're not going to hype up things. It's already big enough."
Malzahn's tried-and-true "one game at a time focus" continues to be the mantra of this Auburn team ahead of its biggest challenge of the season -- a Top-5 matchup against the defending national champions and bitter in-state rivals.
"Our team's goal was to get better every week, and I think we've done that," Malzahn said. "So for us to have a chance to win, we're going to have to play our best game."
Defensively, the Tigers will be tasked with slowing down an Alabama offense led by senior quarterback AJ McCarron, who is beginning to get Heisman Trophy considerations. McCarron will enter Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 36-2 career record and an offensive line that has allowed only two sacks in its last eight games.
"(Alabama has) an amazing offense," Malzahn said. "We've got to find a way to make them uncomfortable and slow them down."
According to junior defensive end Dee Ford, the Auburn defense is not focused on shutting down McCarron's Heisman campaign.
"We want to stop him," Ford said. "I'm not thinking about him not winning the Heisman. He's not going to come in here and just have his way."
On offense, Auburn faces an Alabama defense that ranks No. 1 in the country in scoring and rushing defense. While Malzahn's hurry up, no huddle offense has zoomed to the top of several conference charts this season, the Alabama defense leads the nation in allowing only 9 points and 91 rushing yards per game.
"(Alabama's defensive line) will be the best we've played all year," said junior center Reese Dismukes. "We're going to run the ball as we've been running the ball, or we're going to try to, and we're going to have to throw the ball too. We're just going to do what we do and that's move the ball down the field no matter how we have to do it, it's going to be alright."
Even with a 10-1 record and a high-powered offense, junior running back Tre Mason knows there are doubts surrounding Auburn's ability to succeed against Alabama's defense.
But to Mason, the doubt is only making the Tigers stronger.
"We've been pretty much fueled by doubt," Mason said. "We've been fueled by doubt all season. A lot of guys are fired up and we like being the underdog."
(11/18/13 5:30pm)
Auburn secured its seventh consecutive victory in miraculous fashion Saturday night against Georgia, and an unsung hero from the instant classic has extended the team's streak of SEC individual honors.
Junior center and team captain Reese Dismukes was named the SEC's Offensive Lineman of the Week on Monday after his performance in the Tigers' wild 43-38 win against the rival Bulldogs. Dismukes helped lead the Tigers to 566 yards of total offense, and the Spanish Fort native added to his team-leading knockdown mark with seven against Georgia.
Auburn's highly ranked rushing attack tallied 323 yards against the Bulldogs, which was 97 more yards than Georgia had given up to any opponent all season.
Dismukes' leadership on the offensive line has been a major factor in Auburn's turnaround this season, as the Auburn offense has doubled its rushing production and allowed only a third of the sacks it gave up all last season.
Dismukes joins running back Tre Mason and quarterback Nick Marshall as Auburn's offensive award winners during the seven-game winning streak.
Jeremy Johnson and Carl Lawson have combined for three SEC Freshman of the Week awards this season. Chris Davis picked up SEC Special Teams Player of the Week last weekend, and Robenson Therezie won SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
(11/14/13 7:00pm)
When you play one team 116 times, you definitely are going to get to know the other side well.
If students and alumni of Auburn University call themselves the Auburn Family, then those from the University of Georgia are definitely the in-laws.
Former Auburn head coach Pat Dye once called the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry a game between brothers.
"I don't think anybody who plays in that game can ever forget it," Dye once said. "It just doesn't matter much where it's played or what somebody's record is. It's so intense and tough, but at the same time, it's family."
Dye is not the only key figure in the rivalry who had experience at both schools.
Legendary Georgia head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley was an Auburn graduate who later was an assistant on The Plains under Ralph "Shug" Jordan.
Georgia hired Jordan to be an assistant football coach and head basketball coach before he came back to Auburn. Jordan called the rivalry game against Georgia his personal favorite during his time in Auburn.
A historian of the game, Jordan once told a story of the rivalry's early days, when Auburn's Cliff Hare and Georgia's Charles Herty were in charge of the schools' budding athletic programs.
"They would come to Dean Hare's house on Gay Street in Auburn after the game in Columbus to divide the money," Jordan said. "They would take the gate receipts out of an old cigar box, spread it on the kitchen table and say, 'a dollar for you and a dollar for us,' until the game proceeds were divided equally between the two schools."
While the money and popularity of college football has changed drastically since the days of Hare and Herty, the relationship between Auburn and Georgia has not.
Following in the footsteps of Dooley, Dye and Jordan, stars who played at one school became assistant coaches at the other.
Current defensive line coach Rodney Garner, a former offensive lineman for the Tigers, joined Gus Malzahn's staff this past offseason after 15 years on Mark Richt's staff at Georgia.
To add another element to the schools' SEC rivalries, Georgia graduate Will Muschamp was a defensive coordinator at Auburn -- and now is the head coach of the Florida Gators, a rival for both schools.
For more than a few of Auburn's current players, the rivalry carries an extra significance. Twenty-six of Auburn players are from Georgia, a state Auburn has heavily recruited in recent years.
"I feel for everybody from Georgia it's a personal game," said Auburn cornerback Jonathan Mincy, a native of East Atlanta. "Just being able to play against people you know, it's going to be a fun game and I'm excited to go out there and play."
And sometimes, like in the case of Mincy, players enter the game with extra motivation because the top dogs in their home state did not recruit them.
"It is just really going out there and showing them what they missed out on," Mincy said. "I was blessed with the opportunity to come here and play. I love being here. I'm just ready to go out there and pound up on (Georgia)."
With the shadows of giants like Dye and Dooley hanging over players like Wright and Mincy, the 117th meeting of these two college football powerhouses has all the makings of another memorable family feud.
(11/11/13 5:21pm)
In what has become a new tradition on The Plains this season, the SEC honored two more Auburn players Monday with Player of the Week Awards.
Junior quarterback Nick Marshall won his second SEC Offensive Player of the Week award for the season following his three all-purpose touchdown performance in the Tigers' 55-23 win against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Senior cornerback Chris Davis, who recorded an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown in Knoxville, became the first Auburn player this season to take home the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
Marshall averaged more than 15 yards per carry against the Volunteers, who entered Saturday's game with the worst rushing defense in the SEC. His 214 yards were a major part of the Tigers' 444 on the ground, which was a new school record against an SEC opponent.
"They really couldn't stop the run so we kept our foot on their throat and just ran it down their throat," Marshall said after Saturday's victory. "I am just blessed to have the offensive line I have. They opened big holes for us."
Davis broke a 13-13 tie with his 85-yard return, one that helped Auburn set a new all-time NCAA record for average yards per kick return in a single game. Although the return started with a muff, Davis was aggressive enough to keep the play alive and take it in for six.
"I just dropped it," Davis said. "I still had time to pick it up and run with it, though, and that's what I did. (Punt returners) have to be aggressive, even when you drop the ball...I mean, you see that in the (NFL)."
Read more: The Auburn Plainsman - Davis Grant pave the way for special win in KnoxvilleMonday marked the sixth consecutive week at least one Tiger has received SEC Player of the Week honors. Tre Mason won Offensive Player of the Week for his four-touchdown game against Arkansas last weekend, and freshmen Jeremy Johnson and Carl Lawson have combined for Freshmen of the Week honors this season.
(11/10/13 6:45pm)
It was not the best of starts for the Auburn special teams unit Saturday in Knoxville.
After hitting 90 consecutive extra-point attempts, Auburn kicker Cody Parkey's kick on the Tigers' opening touchdown was blocked by Daniel McCullers, a 6-foot-8 defensive tackle for the Volunteers.
But 51 minutes of game time later, that same unit was celebrating one of the best special teams performances in college football history.
After an 85-yard punt return from Chris Davis in the second quarter and a 90-yard kickoff return from Corey Grant to start the third quarter, the Tigers finished with 312 total return yards -- 65 yards shy of the all-time NCAA record. Davis and Grant's touchdowns marked the first time in school history the Tigers had a kick return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown in one game.
"Those (touchdowns) were big," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said after Saturday's win. "The punt return was a really good one because we blocked well at the point of attack. Corey Grant was able to cut it back across the field (on the kick return), and he has real speed. Our team did a great job with that today."
Malzahn attributed the Tigers' special teams resurgence against the Volunteers to the work of assistant coach Scott Fountain.
"Coach Fountain has worked extremely hard on the little things in these last couple of weeks," Malzahn said. "We felt like we were close in a couple of areas, and (Fountain) and his staff have done a really good job on focusing in. Those were two huge plays, and they helped us win the game."
Tre Mason's first rushing touchdown of the afternoon at Neyland Stadium tied the game up at 13, but the Volunteers still had momentum in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd.
But after the Auburn defense forced Tennessee specialist Michael Palardy to punt, Davis swung the momentum straight back to the visitors.
"It felt good to take one to the house," Davis said. "Punt returns are something I take pride in, but I have to give the touchdown to the 10 guys in front of me on that one. We worked hard on that technique this week."
Davis's 85-yard touchdown was Auburn's longest punt return since 1970 and the team's first punt return for a touchdown since 2008.
While Palardy made a touchdown-saving tackle on Davis's first return of the day, a 42-yarder that set up Nick Marshall's touchdown pass to C.J. Uzomah, Davis made sure he was not going to be caught on his second chance--even after he muffed the return.
"I just dropped it," Davis said. "I still had time to pick it up and run with it, though, and that's what I did. (Punt returners) have to be aggressive, even when you drop the ball...I mean, you see that in the (NFL)."
Although the Tigers led by two touchdowns heading into the locker room at the half, Marshall's pick-six toward the end of the second quarter gave the Volunteers a glimmer of hope.
Then, once again, a huge return changed the game.
Before all of the fans at Neyland Stadium could get settled into their seats for the second half, the speedy Grant raced past the Tennessee coverage for a 90-yard score.
"It was just a great return," Grant said. "The guys in front did their jobs blocking, and I saw that cutback open up. I decided to take that chance, and it turned into a big play."
Although Davis and Grant's performances in the return game took most of the spotlight in Saturday's win, punter Steven Clark made the most out of his two punts against the Volunteers.
The senior punter, who is a national semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, hit a 57-yard punt inside the Volunteers' 20 and a 37-yard punt that changed field position before Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs's third-quarter interception. Like most of his punts this season, neither were returned by the Volunteers, who finished with zero return yards against the Tigers.
According to several members of the Auburn team, a big day in the special teams game was on the cards because of how hard the team had been working in that area.
"We always preach about being big on special teams," said Robenson Therezie, Auburn's starting "star" against Tennessee. "Today was the first day we had a really big special teams game, so this one really feels good."