Sports

Team bonding takes center ice

By Erik Yabor / WRITER | November 11

The burgeoning Auburn ice hockey team has far exceeded the expectations of many in its inaugural season.After finding themselves as the only SEC school without a hockey team, co-captain Justin Nabors and James Florkiewicz worked diligently last semester to bring the sport back to Auburn after a 27-year hiatus.

Let's stay focused

By Nick Van Der Linden / ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | November 11

For those who forgot amidst all the Cameron Newton allegations, the Auburn Tigers face the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.

Sophomore Western rider Casey Fowler has been a key part of the Tigers' winning ways. (IMAGE CONTRIBUTED)

Fowler driven by desire to succeed

By Coleman McDowell / WRITER | November 11

While the football team attempts to secure a spot in the SEC Championship game by defeating Georgia this weekend, the women's equestrian team is looking for a win over the Bulldogs to further boost its chances to repeat as SEC Champions.

Sophomore guard Andre Malone takes a shot during Monday night's exhibition game against Columbus State. (Emily Adams / photo editor)

Tigers fall prey to Cougars of Columbus in exhibition

By Blake Hamilton / ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR | November 11

Late-game heroics weren't enough to salvage a win in Auburn's final exhibition game against Columbus State Monday night in the Auburn Arena.

Sophomore guard Josh Wallace races past a Columbus State defender Monday night. Auburn fell to the Cougars 54-52. (Emily Adams / Photo Editor)

Barbee prepares his team for season opener

By Nathan Kelly / WRITER | November 11

The highly anticipated basketball season in the new Auburn Arena will start Friday, Nov. 12 when the Tigers take on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at 8 p.m.

Taking to the mat with Rowland

By Jessie Sims / WRITER | November 11

New assistant gymnastics coach hopes to use idealism, experience to continue to build a successful program

Freshman safety Ryan Smith tackles wide receiver Brian Sutherland. (Elaine Busby / Assistant Photo Editor)

Auburn gears up for oldest rivalry

By Blake Hamilton / ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR | November 11

Will the West be won?Coach Gene Chizik asks this question in preparing for the 2010 edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry against Georgia.

Equestrian prepares to take on undefeated Georgia

By Darcie Dyer / WRITER | November 11

The Auburn equestrian team, now 6-8, rides against undefeated Georgia at 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Auburn University Horse Center.

Auburn Volleyball recap vs. Florida

By Jeremy Gerrard / WRITER | November 8

The volleyball team fell to the No. 1 Florida Gators in Auburn on Sunday afternoon in a hard-fought five-set match (23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 11-15).

Auburn rolls past Chattanooga in homecoming win

By Nick Van Der Linden / ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | November 6

The Auburn Tigers improve to 10-0 for the fourth time in school history after defeating Chattanooga 62-24 Saturday afternoon in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Homecoming and senior day.

Bringing honor to the Plains

November 4

Lovelace Hall of Honor relocates to the Auburn Arena with sports memorabilia, interactive displays and a wider audience appeal

Freshman Camila Jersonsky puts the ball past Kentucky defender Alexandra Morgan. (UK MEDIA RELATIONS)

Volleyball returns home for three-game stretch

By Nick Van Der Linden / ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | November 4

The volleyball team (16-10) returns home to continue the quest for its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.The Tigers will take on South Carolina (5-18) Friday, followed by No. 1 Florida (20-1) Sunday at the Student Activities Center.

Sophomore defender Christine Schweer, prepares to pass the ball downfield against Alabama Friday. (Christen Harned / Assistant Photo Editor)

Soccer keeps focus heading into postseason play against Georgia

By Peter McCaughan / WRITER | November 4

Auburn soccer wins SEC West and will play the University of Georgia in the first round of the SEC Tournament

Auburn's Terrell Zachery scores Auburn's last touchdown against Ole Miss Saturday. (Todd Van Emst / Auburn Media Relations)

Undefeated Tigers prepare for Chattanooga

By Blake Hamilton / ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR | November 4

Rolling off a 51-31 win over Ole Miss that saw junior quarterback Cam Newton collect his first receiving touchdown, No. 2 Auburn (9-0, 6-0 SEC) prepares for its 2010 Homecoming bout against Tennessee-Chattanooga (5-3, 4-2 Southern Conference).

Sophomore Blayne Barber chips the ball at the Bridgestone Collegiate in Greensboro, Ga. (Todd Van Emst / Auburn media relations )

Barber leads golf to glory on the green

By Eric Yabor / WRITER | November 4

Blayne Barber, Auburn's redshirt sophomore golfer, almost never made it to the Plains.Just a few years ago, he was at the University of Central Florida with no intentions of transferring.

Junior Cameron Payne fights for possession in Auburn's 3-2 win over Georgia Southern. (Contributed)

Soccer season a success despite no nationals bid

By Katie Brown / WRITER | November 4

While the season may be winding down for the men's club soccer team, the future remains bright."Although we did not make nationals like we expected to, I think this season has really shown some promise for the years to come," said junior forward Brian Boyett, president of the team.

Robbi Beauchamp, Relay for Life coordinator, wears a photo of her sister-in-law, whom she lost to breast cancer. (Maria Iampietro / Associate Photo Editor)

People of the Plains

By Mary Gillman / WRITER | November 4

Robbi Beauchamp turns grief into a battle against cancer in honor of her beloved sister-in-law

Anglers Shaye Baker and Jordan Lee celebrate after a third-place finish at the Southeast regional college fishing tournament. (Contributed)

Bass sports club places twice at regionals

By Emily Adams / Photo Editor | November 4

The bass sports club earned third- and 10th- place finishes at the Southeast regional championship in the National Guard FLW College Fishing Tournament Oct. 21-23 at Lake Monroe, Fla.

McGhee brings best out of women's basketball

By Rachel Shirey / WRITER | November 4

Assistant women's basketball coach Carla McGhee shoots to make a difference in the team both on and off the court.McGhee has been assistant coach for three seasons.Before coming to Auburn, she worked in the WNBA office and later coached for South Carolina.

Staying on track

By Nick Van Der Linden / ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR | November 4

Before the season started, I predicted the Tigers would go 10-2 with losses to either Arkansas or LSU at home and Alabama in the Iron Bowl, but fortunately, that's not the way it turned out.The Tigers are 9-0 and look to make a run at a conference, maybe even a national, title.Auburn convincingly beat Ole Miss 51-31, in a game which saw several big plays from players other than Cameron Newton.Demond Washington had a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown, Onterio McCalebb had a 68-yard touchdown run, and Michael Dyer had a 30-yarder to throw in the mix.Dyer led the Tigers with 180 rushing yards, making it the third game he's rushed for at least 100 yards or more.Dyer's 180 yards ranks third for most yards in a game by an Auburn freshman, and his 723 yards on the season trails Bo Jackson's freshman year running record by only 106 yards.Washington earned SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week and Paul Hornung's Most Versatile Performances of the Week honors after a great showing against the Rebels.Washington returned five kickoffs for 176 yards, including a 95-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter.His return for a touchdown was only the second of his career, while his 176 return yards are the third most in a game in Auburn history.Defensively, Washington had six tackles, intercepted a pass and had a pass break up.This performance showed the Tigers can still win even if teams contain Newton, something of importance if the Tigers want a shot at any title.Saturday marks the 97th observance and 84th homecoming game for Auburn.Auburn won its 18th straight Homecoming game last year, breaking the record for the longest streak in school history, which had been set from 1953-69.Auburn has scored 25 or more points in 23 of the last 27 Homecoming games.This week a 5-3 Chattanooga team is coming to the Plains.Second-year Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman has the Moc football program heading in the right direction after a 6-5 record his first year as coach.The performance marked the Moc's first winning season since 2005 and earned Huesman 2009 Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors.The Mocs are coming off a 49-35 loss against Elon, and things aren't looking any better this week.Auburn has the nation's second-best offense, averaging 496.2 yards per game and will most likely play most of the second half with freshmen and the second string.Key players for the Mocs include junior wide receiver Joel Bradford and freshman defensive back Kadeem Wise.Bradford ranks first among Football Championship Subdivision schools in receiving yards and is fourth in receptions.Bradford hauled in 66 passes for 1,027 yards and seven scores, while Wise is tied for second nationally with six interceptions.Auburn should easily win this one and get ready for the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.