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(11/04/13 5:00pm)
Saturday night's performance against the Arkansas Razorbacks extended not one, but two significant streaks for the Auburn football team.
The Tigers captured their fifth consecutive victory Saturday night in Fayetteville, and they were awarded their fifth consecutive SEC Player of the Week award in as many games Monday.
Junior running back Tre Mason was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his four-touchdown performance in No. 9 Auburn's 35-17 road win against the Razorbacks. In his 32 carries, Mason ran for 168 yards and four touchdowns, including a 12-yard score on a wraparound draw to put the final nail in Arkansas's coffin.
"When we get down to the red zone, we're going to play hard-nosed football, and we're going to punch it in," Mason said after his record performance against the Razorbacks.
Mason now has 921 yards on the season, which ranks 13th-best in the nation and 3rd-best in the SEC. His 13 rushing touchdowns are third-best in the country, trailing Kapri Bibbs from Colorado State and Keenan Reynolds from Navy.
"When the ball is in my hand, I've got to be the one to make a play, and I try to make plays consistently," Mason told reporters after Saturday's win. "That's the identity of a playmaker, and I'm going to continue to do that."
Mason is Auburn's second playmaker to win SEC Offensive Player of the Week. Quarterback Nick Marshall, who completed a modest 7-of-8 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown against Arkansas, won the award two weeks ago for his performance in the Tigers' 45-41 upset of Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
Auburn players have also received SEC Freshman of the Week honors during this five-game winning streak. Defensive end Carl Lawson won the award for his performance against Ole Miss in the first game of the streak, and quarterback Jeremy Johnson received the honor twice following the Western Carolina and Florida Atlantic games.
(10/29/13 7:47pm)
For the Auburn men's basketball team, the semester's first round of tests begins in less than two weeks.
And according to head coach Tony Barbee, the Tigers have been spending extra time in a specific area -- raising their grade in chemistry.
"This group has really bought into sacrificing for the whole and giving up that individual glory," Barbee said after Auburn's season opener, a 109-67 exhibition win against Victory University. "They know that we have enough pieces in [the locker room] that if we will play for each other, a lot of special things can happen for this team."
With eight newcomers entering a program that only won nine games last season, developing solid team chemistry was a challenge for Barbee and his staff in the offseason.
Senior guard Chris Denson feels chemistry was an issue during his first three seasons on The Plains.
"We have had a lot of downs the last three years, and chemistry wasn't strong like it is this year," Denson said after his 21-point performance against Victory. "Three years ago, we weren't hanging out with each other. We really hang out with each other now, and that is a big part of winning."
Barbee said the focus on togetherness started in the summer, when the Tigers went on a preseason exhibition tour of the Bahamas.
"This summer has been really good for us," junior KT Harrell said at the end of the team's tour in August. "As a team we have gotten so much closer. This has been the best summer that I have been a part of as far as camaraderie and how close we have gotten. This trip has helped us a lot."
Harrell, a Montgomery native, was a part of the Auburn program last season after transferring from the University of Virginia. NCAA rules forced him to sit out from active competition last season, but he is widely expected to be a member of Barbee's regular starting lineup this season.
"It felt good to just go out there and do what I do and be a leader offensively," Harrell said. "I am an all-around player; it's not all about scoring. I try and do everything I can to help the team win."
Another newcomer poised to crack the first five is true freshman Tahj Shamsid-Deen. The three-time Georgia state champion got the start at point guard in the exhibition against Victory, but he sat out most of the first half because of early foul trouble.
Although he was disappointed at his lack of time in the opening 20 minutes against the visiting Eagles, Shamsid-Deen bounced back with an 11-point second half performance thanks to help from his teammates.
"I came back in the second half and my teammates kept me in it," Shamsid-Deen said after the win. "They said, 'Don't worry about [the early fouls].' My teammates really responded to me, and I depended on them."
Shamsid-Deen and Auburn's other new point guard, junior college transfer Malcolm Canada, exemplified a team-first mentality, according to Barbee. The two guards combined for 13 assists and only one turnover in the exhibition win.
"(Shamsid-Deen and Canada) are both unselfish," Barbee said. "They can both really pass the ball, and they are both very cerebral players so they know how to take care of the ball -- and they know what I want. You look at their assist-to-turnover numbers, that's unbelievable. We'll take that every night if we can get it."
Barbee said examples of the point guards' unselfish play is a characteristic of the entire team, a unit focused on moving past the struggles that plagued the head coach's three-year Auburn tenure.
"These guys love each other, they care about each other, and they want to see each man do really well," Barbee said. "They are worried about [each other] and are not worried about their own. I think that shows in up in how well we share the ball."
(10/29/13 3:04am)
On Monday night, the Auburn men's basketball team had a familiar start to the season while eyeing a different conclusion.
Auburn defeated the Victory University Eagles 109-67 in the first of two exhibition games to kick off the 2013-14 season. Senior guard Chris Denson led the way with 21 points for the Tigers, who had five players score double-digits.
"I thought we played extremely hard, and I thought we looked like we are having a ton of fun out there playing together," said head coach Tony Barbee after the game. "That's what this team is about."
Auburn kicked off last season with a 108-57 win against Victory, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. The Memphis-based school is coached by Scott Robinson, who was the head manager for the University of Memphis when Barbee was an assistant coach for current Kentucky head coach John Calipari.
The Eagles went 20-of-66 shooting on the evening and only scored 16 points in the paint. Victory sometimes played with five guards in the same rotation, and Barbee thought the Tigers could have done a better job defensively against the smaller Eagles.
"They have guys who can shoot it and spread you out and all five guys can drive," Barbee said. "We aren't going to see a lot of teams like that this year...defensively, we have got a ways to go."
The Tigers raced out to an early lead thanks to the consistent shooting of Chris Denson. The senior guard was 5-for-6 from the field and pulled down five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Auburn's aggressive defense held the visiting Eagles to 23 percent shooting in the first half, but the Tigers were whistled for 13 fouls.
Two of those early fouls were called on starting point guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen. The freshman was held out for most of the first half after picking up fouls under the new hand-check rules.
"I was getting comfortable," Shamsid-Deen said. "We can't get aggressive with the new rules. I came back in the second half, and my teammates kept me in it. They really responded to me, and I depended on them."
Auburn pulled away in the second half, and Shamsid-Deen took advantage of his opportunities, nailing three 3-point shots and a mid-range jumper.
Shamsid-Deen split time at point guard with fellow newcomer Malcolm Canada, a junior college transfer from Dallas. The two combined for 13 assists and just one turnover in the victory.
"Those two together, they play well off of each other," Barbee said. "They both bring something different to the floor. You look at their assist-to-turnover numbers, that's unbelievable. We will take that every night if we can get it."
The Tigers return to action Friday night for their second exhibition, a matchup against Paine College. The game tips at 7 p.m. at the Auburn Arena.
(10/28/13 4:34pm)
Although he was not the starter for last Saturday's game against the Florida Atlantic Owls, true freshman quarterback Jeremy Johnson garnered special attention once again from the SEC for his relief of injured starter Nick Marshall.
Johnson was named the SEC's Freshman of the Week on Monday for the second time in three weeks. The Montgomery native completed 10-of-16 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in Auburn's 45-10 victory over Florida Atlantic.
"The coaches tell me to prepare as a starter and to stay focused like a starter," Johnson said after the win. "That's all I did throughout this week and throughout the game. I just came out there and executed."
Johnson entered the game for Marshall, who injured his shoulder, early in the second quarter of Saturday night's win. While Auburn's offense up to that point in the game consisted of running plays and short passes, Johnson's first play from scrimmage was a 36-yard deep ball to receiver Sammie Coates for a touchdown.
The former Carver Wolverine showed off his arm strength later in the game, finding the speedy Coates for a 67-yard touchdown.
"We work on those shots every day in practice," Johnson said. "We work on seeing their angles, and wherever their angle is, that's where I put the ball."
Johnson's first SEC Freshman of the Week award came after his debut performance against Western Carolina two weeks ago. He completed 17-of-21 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the FCS-level Catamounts.
"When Jeremy was able to step right in, I felt like we didn't miss a beat," said offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. "I felt like he played well."
Johnson's latest Freshman of the Week award was the fourth consecutive individual recognition for the Tigers this season. Defensive end Carl Lawson picked up Freshman of the Week honors after the Ole Miss game, and Marshall was SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Auburn's upset win against Texas A&M.
According to Lashlee, Marshall should be healthy to practice this week for Saturday's game at Arkansas.
(10/22/13 11:50pm)
For many Auburn fans, the celebration following the Tigers' 45-41 upset victory at No. 7 Texas A&M continued through last Saturday night and into the beginning of this week.
A crowd of fans welcomed the Tigers when their plane landed in nearby Columbus, Ga. late Saturday night. An even bigger crowd welcomed them back to the athletic campus when they returned to campus minutes before midnight.
With all of the excitement surrounding the win against the Aggies and the rest of Auburn's season, head coach Gus Malzahn made it clear in his Tuesday press conference what his team was focusing on this week -- the Florida Atlantic Owls.
"We have Florida Atlantic this week," Malzahn said in his opening statement. "They are a very athletic team that can run. They have eight starters back on defense and seven on offense. They are definitely concerning."
When the questions quickly turned to Auburn's nationally televised upset three days ago, Malzahn said the team's celebrations ended quickly after its arrival back on The Plains.
"On Saturday, we enjoyed (the win)," Malzahn said. "I told our players and coaches, they worked hard and to enjoy it. Once Sunday got here, it is behind us."
College football coaches, analysts and even a few computers gave the Tigers even more love Sunday when the season's first BCS polls heralded them as the No. 11 team in the land.
So what did Malzahn think about the new ranking for his team, which was predicted to finish next-to-last in the SEC Western division?
"We're happy that people think that highly of us," Malzahn said bluntly. "But we're on to next week, and that's our only focus.
"There are areas that we need to improve on as a whole. We've not arrived yet. We're still making mistakes we need to correct in all areas."
Many fans and even a few coaches would be tempted to look past Auburn's matchup this Saturday against Florida Atlantic, a 2-5 team from the Conference USA.
But that is not how the Tigers are operating this season.
"We have to get back to doing what got us here and working hard, taking it one day, one practice and one game at a time," Malzahn said.
Malzahn has preached "one step at a time" since his first spring practice, and his players have repeated that mantra all season long.
For senior defensive end Nosa Eguae, blocking out the extra attention -- whether positive or negative -- has become second nature for the Tigers.
"We really don't listen to it," Eguae said. "We really just try to focus on us, focus on what our coaches are saying and what our coaches are telling us we need to improve and how to improve every day and get better."
According to several Auburn players, Malzahn continues to keep their feet on the ground, even after exceeding most of their preseason predictions just seven games into the 2013 campaign.
"(Malzahn) is the reason why we're successful, and he's got us and we've got him, we've got each other's back," said junior center Reese Dismukes. "It's just a mindset. I'm glad he's our head coach, and he's a heck of a coach."
(10/21/13 4:31pm)
For the third week in a row, the Southeastern Conference is delivering individual accolades to The Plains.
Quarterback Nick Marshall was named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Week for his standout performance in Auburn's 45-41 upset victory at No. 7 Texas A&M. Marshall threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, and he added 100 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground in the nationally televised victory.
Marshall became the second player in Auburn history to throw for multiple touchdowns and rush for multiple touchdowns in the same game. The last player to perform that dual-threat feat was Cam Newton during the 2010 game at Kentucky.
After struggling in the second and third quarters offensively, Marshall and the Tigers scored four touchdowns on their final five possessions, including the 75-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes at Kyle Field.
"I knew we were going to be the best conditioned team in the second half. And it showed in that last drive," Marshall said after practice Sunday night.
Marshall has now led the Tigers to two game-winning drives in his first season as Auburn's starting quarterback. Even after sitting out last weekend's blowout victory against Western Carolina due to a knee injury, Marshall played his best game of the season Saturday.
"(Nick Marshall) has a calmness about him," said offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. "He knows how to win. His teammates believe in him. I know he believes in them."
Marshall's replacement against Western Carolina, Jeremy Johnson, earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors last Monday. Johnson was the second consecutive conference Freshman of the Week for Auburn, as defensive end Carl Lawson received the honors two weekends ago for his breakout performance against Ole Miss.
(10/16/13 9:15pm)
Last season, head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy became the new face of Auburn women's basketball.
This season, Auburn fans will say hello to eight more newcomers for a program on the rise in one of the nation's toughest conferences.
"Right now, we look very young," Williams-Flournoy said during Wednesday's SEC Media Days in Birmingham. "There's a lot of teaching, patience and explaining in practice going on right now. The day (the players) figure out why we're doing what we're doing, then the light will go off for us."
But the eight newest Tigers -- six freshmen and two junior college transfers -- are not alone.
Auburn returns three starters from last season's team, which finished with a 19-15 record and a quarterfinal run to the Women's NIT. Senior Tyrese Tanner and junior Hasina Muhammad, who averaged 14 points each in Williams-Flournoy's first season, are joined by senior Peyton Davis as the core of this Auburn team.
"I'm looking forward to this season," Tanner said. "Our preseason was really good. I feel like we're conditioned enough to run our press for 40 minutes."
The press defense is a major part of Williams-Flournoy's coaching style, and new rules to women's college basketball could make a defense that broke a school steals record last season even more intimidating.
"It's not punishment for us to run and be in shape because that's how we play," Williams-Flournoy said with a chuckle. "We press all the time."
The "10-second rule" from men's college basketball and the NBA is now in the women's game. Offenses cannot control the ball in their own backcourt for more than 10 seconds, giving an advantage to pressing teams like Auburn.
"I was so excited when they changed (the rule)," Williams-Flournoy said. "It's not going to allow offenses that stand in there and pick our defense apart. It'll make teams play a little bit faster than they want to play against us."
While inexperience is a negative for Auburn's eight newcomers, they provide a welcome amount of depth for a team that is built to run full-speed for both halves.
"Their work ethic is high," Tanner said. "We didn't have as many players last year, and I expect a lot out of our freshmen this season. They showed a lot during pickup and workouts this summer."
After the departure of Najat Ouardad, Auburn is looking for a new starting point guard. Williams-Flournoy said newcomers Kiani Parker, Allina Starr and Meagan Tucker are stepping up in the battle to become the team's floor general.
"It's tough being a point guard in this league," Williams-Flournoy said. "And it's really tough being my point guard. Our expectations are really high -- we expect you not only to be great on the offensive end but on the defensive end as well."
Other newcomers at the guard position have shown promise in long-range shooting, an area that was dominated by Blanche Alverson. The four-year starter and former Miss Homecoming averaged 13 points for the Tigers last season, leaving another open area for Auburn's fresh faces to make their mark.
"[Freshman] Brandi Montgomery is really a sharpshooter," Williams-Flournoy said. "Katie Frerking, she's another freshman that can flat-out score. She's got a mid-range game, and she can attack the basket as well. Those two have shown that they can step up and become the offensive scorers we need."
Williams-Flournoy's up-tempo Tigers are predicted to finish eighth in the SEC, but Tanner says she as her eyes on the ultimate goal in her senior season.
"Just for my last year, I would like to play in the NCAA Tournament," Tanner said. "I felt like we could've gotten further in the SEC Tournament last year. But I think for this season -- with the new people we have and the added depth -- we can make it to the tournament."
(10/15/13 6:09pm)
If Nick Marshall was at "80 percent" for the Tigers' 62-3 Homecoming rout of Western Carolina last Saturday, the Auburn quarterback recovered the missing 20 percent over the weekend.
Head coach Gus Malzahn confirmed Marshall's status as starting quarterback for this weekend's game at No. 7 Texas A&M during his weekly press conference.
"(Marshall) practiced Sunday and looked good," Malzahn said Tuesday. "We didn't go crazy, we had a 12-period practice...and he's had another day of rest."
Malzahn dismissed any talk of a quarterback controversy after Saturday's blowout victory, which featured a standout debut from true freshman Jeremy Johnson.
"Nick Marshall is our starting quarterback," Malzahn said Saturday. "When Nick is 100 percent, he will be back."
Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee told reporters after Sunday's practice that the decision to rest Marshall during the Western Carolina game was about "getting him rested." Marshall did not practice late last week due to a knee injury suffered at the end of the Ole Miss game.
"He practiced [Sunday night] full speed and he looked good," Lashlee said Sunday night. "I wouldn't have known there was anything wrong with him."
Marshall's replacement in Saturday's victory, SEC Freshman of the Week winner Johnson, did not take over the job after his four-touchdown debut, but the former Carver Wolverine may have won some more playing time for the games ahead.
"We don't want to give all our secrets away, but he will be used from game to game," Malzahn said Tuesday. "We'll try to use him in different packages or in any way that will help us be successful."
In other news from Malzahn's press conference, freshman defensive tackle Montravius Adams and junior tight end C.J. Uzomah are expected to be ready for Saturday's game. However, "nothing has changed" on the status of suspended players Patrick Miller and Brandon Fulse, according to Malzahn.
(10/14/13 4:30pm)
For the second straight week, a member of Auburn's highly touted 2013 recruiting class is receiving top honors from the SEC.
Following defensive end Carl Lawson's breakout game against Ole Miss last weekend, quarterback Jeremy Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday morning.
The Montgomery native completed 17-of-21 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns in Auburn's 62-3 home rout of the Western Carolina Catamounts.
Johnson, the winner of Alabama's 2012 Mr. Football Award, was named Auburn's starting quarterback Friday afternoon in place of injured starter Nick Marshall.
"It was great," Johnson said after Saturday's win. "I enjoyed every bit of it. You never know when the opportunity will come."
Johnson's performance garnered the praise of his veteran teammates in Saturday's postgame interviews.
"He handled it all very maturely," said senior H-back Jay Prosch. "I remember starting when I was a true freshman. Even if it's not a huge game, you still get those jitters. I think he stepped up confidently and handled the offense like anyone else would have."
According to offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, Marshall was at 80 percent fitness for Saturday's Homecoming game. With Johnson taking most of the snaps as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart, Johnson was called into action for the first time in his collegiate career.
"We felt like he was ready," Lashlee said Sunday night. "He's been getting those reps behind Nick all season. We felt like the way the situation unfolded, it was a good game to let him play."
Auburn has not received multiple SEC Freshman of the Week honors in one season since 2009, when running back Onterio McCalebb won them twice. The last time a pair of Auburn freshmen received conference recognition was 2005, when running back Brad Lester and quarterback Blake Field were named Freshmen of the Week.
(10/07/13 4:55pm)
In just the fifth game of his Auburn career, freshman defensive end Carl Lawson showed Tiger fans Saturday night why he was one of the nation's top recruits coming out of high school.
On Tuesday, the Alpharetta, Ga. native earned his first national and conference honors for his breakout performance against No. 24 Ole Miss.
The College Football Performance Awards, the largest weekly honors organization in college football, named Lawson the National Defensive Line Performer of the Week. Lawson also received Freshman of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference.
"I'm so humbled," Lawson said after the Ole Miss win. "Words cannot express how excited I am."
Lawson more than doubled his season stat totals Saturday night with six tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. The freshman's final sack on Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace sealed the 30-22 upset victory for the Tigers.
According to defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, Lawson shone against the Rebels because he was able to use his elite physicality and aggression while staying in the defensive scheme.
"He's really starting to feel more comfortable with his assignments," Johnson said Saturday night. "He's able to play and turn himself loose. He's always been physical and reckless."
Lawson's performance was part of one of the best defensive line games in Auburn football history. The Tigers' six sacks were the most since the 11 sacks in the famous 2005 "Honk if You Sacked Brodie Croyle" Iron Bowl, and their 14 tackles-for-loss were the most since the undefeated 2004 Tigers' game versus Kentucky.
(09/21/13 5:41pm)
A new era for Auburn volleyball began with heartbreak Saturday as the Tigers fell in five sets to No. 17 Florida State.
In the first volleyball game at Auburn Arena, the Tigers (9-3) came close to their second upset of a nationally ranked team this season and their third in program history. All three of Auburn's losses this season have been in five-set matches.
Senior Camila Jersonsky led the way for the Tigers offensively, matching her career high of 18 kills. Freshman Stephanie Campbell had ten kills and six blocks against a Florida State front line that featured two 6-foot-5 players.
"It was an up-and-down game," head coach Rick Nold said after the match. "I thought that when we were the more aggressive team, things started going in our favor. I thought we showed some good things, but against a team like that, you've got to fight all the way to the end."
After Auburn opened up an early lead in the first set, the Seminoles had a pair of 6-0 runs. The Tigers cut FSU's lead to two points late in the set, but the visitors hung on for a 25-23 win.
The back-and-forth second set had to go past the usual winning total of 25 points, and Auburn's Katherine Culwell stepped up with three late kills in Auburn's 30-28 victory.
"We're not a terribly tall team, but we can attack in some different ways," Nold said. "The part we talk to our team about is that we want to be the aggressor, whether we're in system or out of system. When we were doing that, I thought we were very successful."
Both sides cruised to easy wins in the next sets. Auburn took advantage of nine Florida State errors in a critical fourth to set up the tie-breaking final set.
But Florida State made quick work of the Tigers in the fifth set, hitting at a .412 percentage to win 15-11 and wrap up their non-conference schedule with a victory.
Although the Tigers would have loved to kick off their Auburn Arena Era with a victory, Nold said Saturday was still an exciting moment for the program.
"I think for our program it's an exciting move for us," Nold said. "We would have like to have started off with a big win, which didn't happen, but it's a great venue for us. When you look long-term, in terms of recruiting, it's going to help us a lot. Hopefully next time we can come out and get a win."
Auburn will be back in action against No. 19 Kentucky on Friday night, Sept. 27. It will be the Tigers' first of eight SEC games at their new home.
(08/28/13 10:20pm)
With a little more than 72 hours left until the kickoff of Saturday's game against the visiting Washington State Cougars, head coach Gus Malzahn released his team's two-deep depth chart Wednesday afternoon.
Most of the names at the top of the depth chart are ones Auburn fans expected to see, but there were a few surprises on the first two-deep of the season.
Junior defensive end LaDarius Owens, who was recruited by Gene Chizik's staff to play linebacker, will start on the line this Saturday over senior Kenneth Carter and true freshman Carl Lawson. Owens will line up opposite senior end Craig Sanders, who is starting in place of the injured Dee Ford.
Another surprising starter is senior Chris Davis. The cornerback was expected to have a starting role in the secondary, but he has also received the nod at punt returner over junior wide receivers Quan Bray and Trovon Reed.
Other notable names that were confirmed as starters Wednesday include sophomores Josh Holsey and Patrick Miller. Holsey has made the move from cornerback to safety in Ellis Johnson's new defensive scheme, and Miller has emerged as the winner of the three-way battle for the starting right tackle.
Auburn has seven seniors listed as starters for Saturday's game. In terms of youth, the Tigers have 11 true or redshirt freshmen on the two-deep depth chart.
Here is the official depth chart from Auburn Athletics (Starters listed in CAPS):
(08/24/13 5:55am)
After an hour-and-a-half lightning delay and 110 minutes of action, nothing could separate the two teams of Tigers at the Auburn University Soccer Complex on Friday night.
Auburn goalkeepers Alyse Scott and Alicen Wright combined for eight saves in their squad's regular season-opening 0-0 tie with Clemson.
"Tonight was less about the result and more about what we learned," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said after the match. "I thought in the first half we were getting pushed around, and we had to learn to fight while playing against a top-notch opponent."
Redshirt freshman Scott made her first career start on Friday night, making two saves in a first half that the host Tigers struggled to get anything going on offense. Junior Wright kept the clean sheet through the second half and both golden goal overtime periods.
"I'm so proud of the way this team came up tonight," Wright said. "We're a young team, but we battled for 110 minutes. We dominated that second half and overtime, and I thought we were going to get (a goal)."
Hoppa said her young squad took the field with some jitters, which led to only one shot in the first half. However, after a much-needed halftime talk, Auburn started trading punches with their ACC foes.
"We felt like in the first half we had those opening night jitters, and we were frantic and panicked," Hoppa said. "Some of it was youth, but some of it was opening-night. We talked about calming down in possession and competing harder on 50-50 balls. I thought the girls did a fantastic job improving from the first half to the second half."
Forward Tori Ball led the rejuvenated Auburn attack in the second half and in overtime. The junior from Mobile put two of Auburn's three shots on goal, including a looping header that forced Clemson goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to make a save.
Auburn native Abby Jones had two of Clemson's shots on goal. The midfielder, who traded the royal blue of Auburn High School for the purple of Clemson, delivered a bending shot into the area late in the second half that almost got by Wright.
But the junior was able to hold onto Jones's slicing ball and the rest of the Clemson chances on goal, and the Auburn goalkeeping duo was able to open the season with a hard-fought shutout.
"We're really pleased with our goalkeepers," Hoppa said. "They've had a great battle throughout the preseason, and these two rose to the top. They both are playing so well, and we have got a lot of confidence in both of them.
"Neither one of them have separated themselves from the other, so we said, 'We're going to play both of them.' A little unorthodox, but they both deserve it."
The Tigers will make the quick turnaround for their next match, a Sunday showdown with the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.
(08/21/13 12:52am)
With Wednesday being the first day of classes on the 2013-14 academic calendar, the Auburn football team officially brought fall preseason camp to a close on Tuesday afternoon.
After a day off, the Tigers will go back to work on Thursday with one focus in mind--the Washington State Cougars, who visit Jordan-Hare Stadium a week from this Saturday.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said he was pleased with the team's progress through these last few weeks of preseason preparation.
"When I look back on our entire camp, I felt like we did improve," Malzahn said. "I felt like we were able to cover all of our situations, and we got a chance to evaluate everyone."
Malzahn said Tuesday's practice was a good one, especially for the offense. He felt the wide receivers closed camp with one of their best days, and the entire pace of practice definitely caught his eye.
"I told our offense at the end of this practice that this had the best rhythm that we've had since I've been back," Malzahn said. "We need to keep improving, but it looked like we knew what we were doing today. Our timing was very good."
Malzahn said the players will start to get in a better routine on Wednesday with the start of classes.
When they return to the practice field on Thursday, Malzahn said they will be "full force into Washington State."
The Cougars are an intriguing matchup for Auburn's season opener. While they run a hurry-up, spread offense like the Tigers, Mike Leach puts a lot more emphasis on putting the ball in the air than Malzahn.
"They're a throw-first, and we're a run-first," Malzahn said. "They beat Washington to end the year and they've got most of their starters coming back, so we're expecting a good team to come in here. We will have to play well."
Leach's air raid will present an interesting challenge to members of Auburn's defense, who are excited to start game-planning for the season opener.
"You've got to be patient against teams like Washington State," said Cassanova McKinzy, who has now moved full-time to will linebacker. "They're going to get their first downs, and they're going to try to get (the defense) off its feet."
For defensive lineman Angelo Blackson, the end of fall camp marks a welcome shift for a defense that has had more than its fair share of injuries.
"It's good to be able to focus on one thing," Blackson said. "Our minds were all over the place during camp. We're 20 days in now, and I think it's a good time now for us to just zoom in and prepare for what they are going to do."
The defensive line, which Blackson expects to feature highly touted pass rushers Elijah Daniel and Carl Lawson, will have an interesting matchup when the Cougars come to town on Aug. 31. Washington State will feature a few walk-ons on the offensive line, an oddity for most Division I programs.
But to defensive end Gabe Wright, Division I football players are Division I football players, and they all should be planned for equally.
"I guarantee no one is coming into Jordan-Hare and not expecting to win," Wright said. "So we have to have that mindset in preparation."
When asked about how long he has personally been looking ahead to Washington State, Wright paused and gave some insight into the mindset of a team desperately wanting to move past 2012.
"We've been waiting to get that bad taste out of our mouths," Wright said. "At the end of last season...as soon as we knew that Washington State was going to give us the next chance to get out in Jordan-Hare and hit somebody other than our teammates...that's it. That's where we're drawing our energy.
"That's our chance to put Auburn's pride on our backs."
(08/20/13 12:59am)
When it comes to coaching football, Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson says there are two things you cannot control--injuries and the weather.
"Thank goodness we have an unbelievable indoor facility," Johnson said after Monday's practice. "We have not missed a beat in terms of being able to practice."
While the Tigers have still been able to go to work during these last few days of heavy rain, the uncontrollable factor of injuries has taken its toll on the defense.
"We stalled out and hit neutral about a week ago with the loss of so many players that are in the starting picture," Johnson said. "At one point, we had our best pass rusher, our returning tackle leader, our third-best cornerback out...in fact, we practiced one day without three of our four best corners."
Johnson said the Tigers were also without four players on the defensive line in the past few days, including starting defensive end Dee Ford.
The veteran defensive coordinator says he is thankful most of those injuries were not too serious, but he says Ford will "definitely" miss Auburn's season opener against Washington State and "will miss an extended amount of time."
Ford, who led the team in sacks last season, has not practiced in over a week after suffering a knee injury.
Johnson also said cornerback Jonathan Jones, who is expected to be in the rotation this season, is out for an indefinite period of time after suffering an injury away from practice. The cornerback underwent surgery on his ankle on Monday.
"That was a heartbreaker because he was doing such a good time and was going to see a lot of playing time," Johnson said. "He turned (his ankle) on some wet steps, and it just snapped."
While Ford and Jones will miss Aug. 31's opener, Johnson expects defensive leader Justin Garrett to be available. A projected starter in the "star" position in the 4-2-5 defense, Garrett suffered a sprained foot in the Tigers' first scrimmage of fall camp.
"We're going to err on the side of caution with Justin," Johnson said. "We're going to make sure he has a full week of practice. He could have come back on it a day or two ago, but it's still a little tender."
Even with all of the depth issues on the defense, Johnson says he has been pleased with the defense's improvement over the last four practices.
"We've still got a long way to go, but we have seen some improvement," Johnson said. "We have gotten a little bit better each practice...guys are giving a lot of effort out there."
Johnson attributes some of that improvement to the reinforcements who have come from an unlikely source--Rhett Lashlee's offense.
Like former starting quarterback Kiehl Frazier did in his move to safety last week, freshman running back Johnathan "Rudy" Ford has voluntarily moved full-time to cornerback.
"We love Rudy, we feel like he's going to be a really good player for us," Lashlee said. "But at the end of the day, we've got to win. We have got to do what's best for the team.
"(Ford) came to us and said, 'Coach, I want to help the team win. I want to win now.' And right now, that's what's best for our football team."
Lashlee said the speedy Ford was most likely going to see some playing time on offense this season, but the secondary is an area of the team that needs a lot of help in depth given injuries and dismissals.
"He's a big time athlete," Lashlee said. "So to be able to be young and immediately prove yourself on offense...then go over and help us out on defense...that says a lot about his character, his toughness and his ability."
(08/18/13 3:53am)
The Auburn soccer team kicked off the 2013-14 athletics calendar in grand fashion on Saturday night with an exhibition win over a quality opponent.
Led by a number of underclassmen, Auburn defeated Memphis by a score of 4-1 at the Auburn Soccer Complex. The victory was the first official game for an athletic year that will be marked by new eras for several programs.
One of those teams in transition is this soccer squad, which lost six starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team and started eight freshmen and sophomores in Saturday's home win.
"I am really proud of the freshmen and the way they played tonight," Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said afterwards. "As young as we are, we really needed this game and coming out of it, I feel good about having another week of practice. We had a good match against an outside opponent, and we know some things we need to work on."
Sophomore Haley Gerken led the way for the host Tigers, netting the team's first and third goals. Her opener, which was assisted by senior Maddie Barnes, was a great example of team play--she beat Memphis's offside trap with a cutting run and slotted home Barnes's over-the-top pass.
"We have been working so hard in preseason," Gerken said. "I'm really impressed with the team, I feel so comfortable out there with everyone. I was able to put two away tonight, and everybody followed."
Gerken's opener came after a long stretch of pressure from the visitors. Memphis matched Auburn's 12 shots during the match, but the Tigers in orange were more clinical with their chances in front of goal.
True freshman Casie Ramsier netted Auburn's second goal, which came midway through the first half. Teammate Kala Faulkner's hard shot was stopped by an impressive diving save from Memphis goalkeeper Christa Strickland, but the young Texas native was waiting on the doorstep for the rebound.
"To put on this jersey and score a goal is just amazing," Ramsier said of her first career goal. "I couldn't have done it without my teammates--they have helped me improve each and every day. The ball from Kala was a great shot, and I was glad I could be there to finish it up."
Returning starter Chelsea Gandy-Cromer capped off Auburn's scoring in the 59th minute. The forward broke away down the center of the field and struck the unassisted shot past Strickland to make it 4-0.
The speedy forward tandem of Honeye Heydari and Christabel Oduro connected 12 minutes later to break up the Auburn clean sheet, but it would be a mere consolation goal on the hosts' rotating trio of goalkeepers.
"I thought all three of (the goalkeepers) did a great job," Hoppa said. "Alyse (Scott) started the game fantastically; she did what we needed her to do. Kelly (Neeb) did a really good job of handling everything that was presented to her in that middle 30.
"And Alicen (Wright) had the toughest job of them all in that last 30 with all those subs and lineup changes. She did a great job of securing the win for us."
Auburn returns to action on Friday, Aug. 23 for a home match against another group of Tigers--the Clemson Tigers. The team will travel to face another ACC opponent, the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles, two days later.
(08/13/13 12:13am)
And then there were two.
After Saturday's scrimmage, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn vowed the staff would start to "narrow down" the team's four-man race for the starting quarterback job.
Two days later, Malzahn narrowed it down to two contenders and announced a surprising position change.
On Monday evening, Malzahn said the two newest arrivals to The Plains, junior college transfer Nick Marshall and true freshman Jeremy Johnson, will receive most of the quarterback reps with the first-team offense this week.
"We really felt that they've done enough that we really needed to give them a chance to win the job," Malzahn said. "They have earned the right."
Malzahn said he has not completely ruled out returning starter Jonathan Wallace, but the signal caller that started Auburn's season last year will be moving full-time to a new position--Kiehl Frazier is now a safety for defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.
"He came to us and said, 'Coach, I want to move to safety,'" Malzahn said. "He practiced there today and did well."
Frazier played safety in high school, and he said on Monday evening that schools in the West Coast and in the Northeast recruited him to play there instead of quarterback.
The Arkansas native, who wore the No. 25 jersey at practice on Monday, officially made the move after learning from the coaches that the newcomers had taken the lead in the race.
"I'll be able to help the team at safety," Frazier said. "That will be my focus 100 percent. Something I'm fully going to embrace."
Frazier said he never contemplated a transfer and that his love for Auburn has never left, even after losing the starting job in a horrid 2012 season.
"I didn't play well last year, and that's something that's kind of set in stone," Frazier said. "I can't change that now. This will be best for me and the team for me to move to safety."
Frazier's move to safety ensures that Auburn will have its seventh different starting quarterback in seven consecutive seasons.
Malzahn said he and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee came to the decision on Johnson and Mrashall after reviewing film from Saturday's scrimmage. He said on Saturday that at this point in fall camp, the team could no longer handle rotating four players at the position.
"Both of them have extremely live arms," Malzahn said. "They both can run and both of them are athletic. It's just a matter of how quick they can get acclimated."
On Saturday, wide receiver Quan Bray spoke highly of both Marshall and Johnson. Bray said each quarterback tossed a deep touchdown pass in what was a good day for the Tigers' offense.
In non-quarterback news from Monday's press conference, safety Demetruce McNeal practiced for the first time this fall camp. The senior from College Park, Ga., has been out with an infection that required a surgical procedure.
Malzahn said Justin Garrett, who left Saturday's scrimmage in a walking boot, is day-to-day. The head coach expects the leader at the "star" position to be back later this week.
(08/12/13 10:04pm)
With less than three weeks left until the football season opener against the Washington State Cougars, Auburn athletics officially unveiled a number of changes to the gameday experience in and around Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Free parking spaces, new tailgating areas, five Momma Goldberg's at Jordan-Hare Stadium, 97 new flat-screen televisions and a ticket scanning system highlight a list of gameday improvements announced in a Monday afternoon press release.
"We've really made an effort to listen to our fans and respond with changes that we think make our entire gameday experience among the very best in college football," Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs said. "Our fans wanted more parking and tailgating opportunities, more choices at the concessions stand and better communication, so we are pleased to announce these improvements for the upcoming season."
The list of improvements is headlined by 2,000 new and free parking spaces around campus, which were announced in an open letter from Jacobs on June 28.
Auburn has moved or eliminated all temporary stakes along both sides of Donahue Drive. Stakes on the western side have been eliminated to allow curb parking, and stakes on the eastern side have been moved to create space for additional parking that will be available on 4 p.m. on Fridays before home games.
Starting at 8 a.m. on gamedays, fans will be allowed to park in new free lots located on the north end of the South Donahue hayfields and adjacent to the Medical Clinic on Lem Morrison Drive. Additional free parking with Tiger Transit access will also be opened up at the Facilities Division on West Samford Avenue.
New tailgating areas are also opening at the Intramural Fields and behind the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences building. The Intramural Fields spots can be reserved on a game-by-game basis starting Aug. 15, while the "Weagle Woods" area behind Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will be open to any tailgaters starting at 4 p.m. on Fridays.
Jacobs said in his open letter that the new parking and tailgating areas were "the beginning of (Auburn's) efforts to improve the gameday experience, not the end."
One of the new improvements is a new system that will allow fans to print tickets at home or transfer them to other fans. Instead of the traditional tear-off stubs, tickets will be scanned.
Auburn is asking fans to arrive at the gates early for the Washington State game, when the scanners will be used for the first time.
More improvements will be found inside the stadium, primarily in the area of concessions.
According to the release, a new Domino's Pizza kitchen has been built inside Jordan-Hare, and it will supply fresh-baked pizza to all permanent concession stands.
In addition to the new Pizza kitchen, food from Momma Goldberg's Deli will be featured at five different locations around the stadium.
Fans will find the updated concession offerings, which includes healthier options like chef salads and wraps, on the stands' new digital menu boards.
Those waiting in line at the concession stands or finding their way to their seats will be able to keep up with the on-field action on the stadium's new televisions. After years of smaller, old-style screens, Auburn has upgraded to 97 flat screens on the concourse.
(08/11/13 10:56pm)
Almost two years after his infamous Sunday collapse at Atlanta Athletic Club, former Tiger golfer and current Auburn resident Jason Dufner has gotten his hands on the PGA Championship.
Dufner, who graduated from Auburn in 2000 with a degree in economics, shot an impressive -2 final round on Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., to claim the final major golf tournament of the 2013 PGA Tour calendar. He finished with a two-shot advantage over runner-up Jim Furyk, who started the day with a one-shot lead.
Dufner is the first former Auburn golfer to ever win a major title.
"It's been a tough day, it's been a long day, and this is a tough golf course," Dufner said at the trophy presentation. "It probably just hasn't hit me yet. Can't believe this is happening to me...it's a great feeling to actually win one of these."
The PGA Championship is the first major title for Dufner, who was an All-American during his time on The Plains. It is also his first Tour win of the season and his third of his career.
Dufner made international headlines earlier in the week with a world-class second round. On Friday, the former Auburn golfer tied the all-time low round record in a major championship with a 63.
After surrendering his lead on Saturday to Furyk, Dufner rallied for four birdies and only two bogeys on Sunday. His -3 score on the front nine gave him a multi-shot lead over Furyk, and he held steady on the back nine for the victory.
"I decided that I was going to be confident and really put my best foot forward, be aggressive and try to win this thing," Dufner said afterwards.
His incredible weekend at Oak Hill comes close to the second anniversary of the most gut-wrenching round of his career. With a five-shot lead with just four holes to play at the 2011 PGA Championship, Dufner bogeyed three straight holes as Keegan Bradley rallied to force a playoff, which Dufner would lose.
But on Sunday, down by a stroke at the opening tee, Dufner's ball striking and clutch putting led him to the famous Wanamaker Trophy.
Dufner lists Auburn as his hometown and describes himself on his Twitter profile as a "PGA TOUR pro and avid Auburn University fan." He and his wife Amanda have made child hunger in Lee County a priority in their charitable foundation, which supports several feeding programs in the area.
(08/11/13 8:34pm)
After losing the battle with the offense in Saturday's scrimmage, the Auburn defense went back to work on Sunday afternoon.
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said he gave the younger players a lot of reps in Saturday's scrimmage, and mental mistakes were their undoing against a constantly improving offense.
"Overall, from the young guys, I thought it was very, very iffy," Johnson said on Sunday. "Right now, we are making so many mental mistakes and not enough good plays. We need to see good execution to find out who can play defense for us."
Johnson said the staff held out some key players on Saturday in an effort to find some more clarity in position battles. Although the execution was off, Johnson said there were some bright spots in the scrimmage.
"The effort was good, the tackling was a lot better," Johnson said. "We chart 'LOAFs,' or lack of finishes, missed assignments and any pre-snap or after the whistle penalties. And we improved on those a lot from the first scrimmage. Overall, in the big picture, we definitely improved...but we still have got a long way to go."
Johnson credits some of the mental mistakes to what he called "overloading" the defense with playbook installation during the first week of fall camp. During the Tigers' first few non-contact sessions, most of the defensive work was based on introducing new sets.
Because the defense has not had a chance to get reps with some of these new formations, mental mistakes abounded in Saturday's scrimmage. Johnson says the defense will focus on getting more reps and cutting down the errors during the upcoming week of practice.
While some young players struggled on Saturday, others managed to grab the attention of Johnson.
"The two ends, Elijah (Daniel) and Carl (Lawson), continue to show that they're capable of mixing it up at this level," Johnson said. "They haven't made any big plays yet, but they are physically playing well and holding their own in the box. I think they're coming along well enough that we're going to be able to play those guys and hopefully early."
Johnson also specifically mentioned cornerbacks Ryan White and Kamryn Melton as two more players who stepped up while the first teamers sat out.
In addition to his duties as defensive coordinator, Johnson also coaches linebackers, and he gave an update on those two position battles in his 4-2-5 defense.
Johnson said senior Jake Holland has improved since spring practice and "has an edge" over Kris Frost for the starting middle linebacker job.
"I feel like Jake Holland has had two really good scrimmages," Johnson said. "Everybody else has been inconsistent."
At the will linebacker position, Johnson highlighted Cassanova McKinzy as a leader, but he realistically wants to be able to rotate four or five players across the long SEC season.
"Cassanova continues to make the best linebacker plays and do some things we really can't coach," Johnson said. "There's still some good competition at the linebacker spots, and I think some of that over-installation is what's causing those mental mistakes that we're seeing."
Johnson closed his press conference with a pair of injury updates--Demetruce McNeal and Justin Garrett.
McNeal, who has not participated in fall camp due to an infection and subsequent surgery, is expected to be back on the field sometime this week.
Garrett, a leader in the race for Johnson's "Star" position--the extra defensive back in the 4-2-5, left Saturday's scrimmage with a walking boot on. Johnson says Garrett did not practice on Sunday, and he was unsure whether the injury could possibly be a serious one.