Sam Butler | Sports Writer - The Auburn Plainsman

Sports

Offense comes alive late, evens series vs. South Carolina

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | May 2

Despite falling behind early, Auburn’s bats woke up in the later innings, scoring two each in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to win 6-2, and to tie the series against South Carolina in Columbia, where the Tigers have now won for the first time since 2009. Starter Rocky McCord had yet another solid start, holding the Gamecocks to only one earned run on four hits in seven innings. The Tigers couldn’t get anything going early, as South Carolina elected to use their closer, Taylor Widener, to start the game, and he pitched five shutout innings.

Sports

The play is at home: Phenix City native leads surging Tigers

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 29

Sitting just 30 minutes to the east of Auburn, Phenix City is known for being a blip on the road to Columbus.

Sports

Gillikin powers series win over Georgia

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 24

Don’t look now, but the Auburn Tigers are on a roll. After falling behind in the conference standings, the Tigers have now picked up consecutive SEC series wins against Ole Miss, and now rival Georgia. Auburn’s (28-16, 9-11) latest, a series-clinching 5-1 win on Friday night, was keyed by a strong pitching performance by Rocky McCord and a timely bases-clearing triple from Sam Gillikin. With the bases loaded and the score knotted at one in the fourth inning, Gillikin launched a rocket into the right field wall, and as he strolled into third, the crowd of 3,609 at Plainsman Park erupted. “That was a lot of weight off my shoulders,” Gillikin said.

Rhett Lashlee high-fives fans at Tiger Walk at Kansas State. (FILE PHOTO)

Sports

Lashlee: offense making 'good progress' in spring

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 21

One day after spring football practice concluded—and the day after Jeremy Johnson was named starting quarterback—Auburn’s offensive coordinator, Rhett Lashlee, discussed his impressions of the spring with members of the media. “Big picture, I thought we made good progress,” Lashlee said.

Sports

Johnson named starting quarterback for next season

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 20

Following an impressive spring practice season, rising junior Jeremy Johnson was named Auburn’s starting quarterback for the 2015 season Monday afternoon by coach Gus Malzahn, confirming what had been suspected for a few months. We just named Jeremy Johnson our starting QB for 2015.

Sports

Jeremy Johnson shines on A-Day

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 19

After two seasons of sitting behind Nick Marshall, Jeremy Johnson has had plenty of time to hone his skills behind closed doors. Fans got a chance to see how capable Johnson is of leading the offense in the first half against Arkansas in 2014, when Marshall was suspended, but Johnson was still always going to be the backup. Now as the presumed starter, Johnson will have no trouble at all leading the team if his play during A-Day is any indication. Johnson attempted 22 passes—all in the first half—and connected on 14, for 252 yards and a pair of scores, leading Team Auburn to a 24-14 win.

Roc Thomas runs the ball against Ole Miss. (File photo)

Sports

Three’s a crowd: backs vie for position

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 17

Gone are Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant, two senior running backs with NFL aspirations. Fighting for their places are rising sophomore Roc Thomas, junior Peyton Barber and junior JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson. Although Barber has the most experience in Gus Malzahn’s offense, Robinson is viewed as the frontrunner for the spot leading up to A-Day.

Sports

New face in backfield race: Robinson competes for running back

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 17

Although this will be Jovon Robinson’s first year playing football at Auburn, he is no stranger to the Plains.

Sports

Daniel Robert key to Tigers' sweep of Alabama A&M

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 15

Daniel Robert hadn’t pitched in a baseball game for nearly two years, dating back to his high school playoff game.

Sports

Tigers ready for National Championships

By Sam Butler | Sports Writer | April 14

On the day before the Auburn gymnastics team travels to Texas for the NCAA National Championships, the team had one final practice in the McWhorter Center on April 14, followed by a short conference with coach Jeff Graba, Caitlin Atkinson and Bri Guy. “There’s a lot of energy in the gym, a lot of excitement,” Atkinson said. After placing second in the NCAA Regional on April 4 in Auburn, the Tigers earned one of the 12 possible spots in the national championship, a feat the program hasn’t achieved since 2003. Despite reaching the national championship for only the third time in 22 years, the Tigers insist that the gravity of the situation won’t overwhelm them. “I think everyone expects us to just go in there and explode, to just collapse,” Guy said.