April 2016

Lyle's Corner

Thursday, April 28th, 2016

The Auburn equestrian team celebrated its second national championship in four years on Tuesday by rolling the new oak trees at Toomer's Corner - just as they did when they won the title in 2013 the day before the old oaks were removed.

Yes, the trees were different. The joyous feeling, however, was not.

"I don't think the town's people know how much it means," Auburn head coach Greg Williams said. "When the girls came down the street and they saw the people, it meant all the hard work, the 5:30 workouts, the long nights, and all the traveling goes away. We always talk about Auburn embodies family, and they feel it more than ever right now."

The Tigers clinched their fourth national title in school history by beating TCU in Waco, Texas on April 16th. Last week's scheduled Toomer's celebration was postponed due to rain. This time, however, Mother Nature smiled kindly on the team.

"This is one of the greatest feelings you can ever have, when you walk down this street with what feels like are 40 of your own daughters, and what you Auburn people mean to us and how you make us feel is absolutely incredible," Williams stated. "I've been dreaming of today since when we walked out here in 2013. It's such an unbelievable feeling."

"I hope we keep this string going. I know this group did everything in its power to help the coaches and help Auburn lay out a very successful program. We hope we can live up to that."

This team has more than a trophy to its name. It has 10 All-Americans, two all-time record holders, two all-time single-season win records, and became the first team to win the SEC and national championships in the same year.

Williams was sure to thank his seniors, and vowed that his team would return to Toomer's. "What you have left is an incredible legacy," he said. "These people are leaving a dynasty."

Senior Elizabeth Benson knows the feeling of such honors. She's an All-Americcan, an academic All-American, and a record holder. And as a senior, she's a two-time national champ.

"My freshman year we came in and we had an unbelievable group of seniors who tried to lead the way and show us the way it was done. This year we tried to duplicate that," Benson said.

Williams is certain the Tigers did just that. "There's a special chemistry that was happening to us."

In other news...

- Good news for Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis. The sophomore, who sat out Auburn's A-Day game with an injured finger, is in fine shape according to defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. The injury is minor, and won't require surgery. Steele said that Davis was held out of the spring game earlier this month to err on the side of caution.

"It's not a big deal," Steele said yesterday after a speaking engagement with the Montgomery Auburn Club. "It was a finger issue that if he had played and it got wrong, it could have required surgery."

Because of their decision to hold Davis out, Steele said the injury will heal naturally, helping Davis to avoid a surgical procedure.

Had the injury taken place in the regular season, however, things would have been quite the contrary. "He could have played if it was the fall," Steele said, "and he would have."

Davis, a projected starter at cornerback for the Tigers this coming season, had a splendid freshman campaign last season. He started the final nine games of 2015, tallying 56 tackles, two for loss. Plus, his three interceptions were an SEC-high among freshman defenders.

Thanks to those individual figures, Davis was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team by the league's coaches last December.

- With the NFL Draft getting underway tonight, offensive tackle Shon Coleman is almost certain to be the first Tiger who gets a call.

According to CBSSports.com, Coleman is the No. 8 offensive tackle and projects as a second-round pick. He is one of three former Tigers CBS predicts will be chosen in the draft.

Cornerback Jonathan Jones, who impressed everyone with his speed at the NFL Scouting Combine, is projected to go in the fourth or fifth round. Offensive tackle Avery Young is expected to go in the fifth round.

At least 10 players from Auburn's 2015 team - 11 if you count dismissed wide receiver Duke Williams - are expected to be late-round picks or free agents.

The first round of the draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. CT, and can be seen on ESPN.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Wednesday, April 27th, 2016

A late rally wasn't enough to prevent the Auburn baseball team from bowing to No. 23 South Alabama last night by a score of 8-5 at Plainsman Park.

Head coach Butch Thompson firmly thought that one USA player in particular was too much for the Tigers to handle.

"Randy Bell was the difference in this ball game," he said. "We pitched our same pitching game that we get in a rhythm of throwing, and Daniel Sprinkle did a great job for us. I give Randy Bell all of the credit. This was one of those nights where I felt our team didn't compete for nine innings. We did a little bit there when their guy runs out of steam and he was still able to finish the game. I think my responsibility now is to make sure that everybody is competing and playing hard, and I'm not sure that happened for a full nine innings tonight."

Sprinkle came in with one out in the third and two men in scoring position. He averted that conflict with two strikeouts. He only gave up one hit and struck out five.

A native of Pine Bluff, Ark., Sprinkle has pitched 6.1 straight scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He pitched three scoreless relief innings in this contest.

The Tigers caught fire in the ninth with five runs on three hits including a home run by Damon Haecker to right field, his first homer of the season. Also, Blake Logan scored on a sacrifice fly and Melvin Gray scored on a wild pitch to narrow USA's lead to three.

In the same inning, Jordan Ebert smacked his 12th double of the season.

South Alabama's Randy Bell surrendered just four hits in a complete game, and went to 4-1 on the season in the process. He recorded seven strikeouts and two walks. He held Auburn scoreless until its surge in the ninth.

Auburn quickly fell behind 2-0 in the first when South Alabama plated two. USA scored two more in the second to mount its advantage to 4-0 as the third got underway.

Auburn starting pitcher Andrew Mitchell only lasted 2.1 innings and gave up four runs (three earned). He slipped to 4-3 on the year.

Daniel Robert, in his first pitching appearance of the season, got two out in the eighth. It was the fourth pitching appearance of his career and the first since May 2015.

South Alabama added two more runs in both the eighth and the ninth to put the game out of reach.

USA improved to 31-11 on the season, while Auburn fell to 18-23.

The Tigers return to action on Friday when they open a three-game series against Kentucky. Friday's game is set for 6 p.m. CT, and is available on SECN+ (Internet).

In other news...

- All of the Auburn fans in attendance for Kenny Chesney's concert at Jordan-Hare Stadium last weekend had a great time, but Chesney left the field in ruins. The stadium grass took quite a pounding. The Auburn grounds crew isn't upset about it, though. They have stated that they will begin the restoration process in late May.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, April 25th, 2016

Senior left-handed softball pitcher Rachel Walters thrives on pressure.

That was the scenario she was in yesterday, and second-ranked Auburn topped No. 12 Georgia 2-1 at Jane B. Moore Field to sweep the weekend series. It was Auburn's 13th straight SEC victory and fourth consecutive series sweep.

In a fierce pitcher's showdown between the two best-hitting teams in the league, Walters pitched three near-perfect innings in relief of starter Lexi Davis. She only allowed two base runners, one on a walk and one on an error. She retired the last seven hitters she encountered.

"I really like high-pressure situations," Walters stated. "It's kind of what I feed off of. I focused on one pitch at a time and just always knew I was better than the batter."

Georgia took the lead 1-0 in the third when Alyssa DiCarlo smacked a solo homer off of Davis. It was the Bulldogs' third hit of the match. It would also be their last.

The Tigers came through in the sixth.

Kasey Cooper, Friday's walk-off hero, walked six times in seven trips to the plate over the last two contests, including to open the sixth inning. Carlee Wallace walked. After Jade Rhodes popped out on an attempted sacrifice bunt, Madi Gipson's drive fell just out of the grasp of diving center-fielder Sydni Emanuel. Cooper scored to tie the game. Courtney Shea grounded the first pitch she saw to shortstop to score what ultimately proved to be the winning run.

"I was ecstatic," Gipson lamented. "I was like, 'Please get down, please get down. Cooper can score on this.'" Both hopes became reality.

With the victory, Auburn improved to 45-5 overall, 15-3 in SEC action. Georgia, meanwhile, fell to 37-13 overall, 9-9 in the conference.

"It was two very good teams," Auburn head coach Clint Myers said. "It was a complete effort as far as what we need to do and they need to do. Wilkinson moved the ball in and out and changed speeds. We still outhit them 5-3, and they didn't get the bunt hits they got the first two days. That was huge. You keep the rabbits off the bases, that reduces their chance of scoring."

Walters got the victory for the Tigers, improving to 8-2 on the season. On the other side of the coin, Chelsea Wilkinson took the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up five hits in six innings to fall to 20-4.

Tiffany Howard, Cooper, Rhodes and Wallace all recorded singles for Auburn.

The Tigers return to action this Saturday when they travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by ESPN2.

In other news...

- The baseball team returns to action tomorrow when they host South Alabama at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be available on SECN+ (Internet). Yes, I know that they lost all three games to Ole Miss this past weekend, but I couldn't write about them due to a busy weekend.

- Good news on the basketball front. The Tigers have possibly landed their next starting point guard. Auburn Undercover confirmed today that Houston grad transfer Ronnie Johnson has committed to Auburn.

He will be eligible to play immediately.

Johnson was originally a four-star prospect in the 2012 class per the 247Sports Composite. An Indiana native, he stayed in-state to play for Purdue. As a freshman, Johnson started 28 games for the Boilermakers, averaging 10.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game.

The following year, he increased his scoring average to 10.8 points per game while also leading the team with 3.2 assists per contest. Johnson then transferred to Houston, where he had to sit out for the 2014-15 campaign due to NCAA rules.

This past season, he started 13 games for the Cougars, averaging 9.4 points a game. He also ranked fourth in the American Athletic Conference in free throw percentage, sinking 80 percent (55 of 66) of his shots.

Johnson was on Auburn's campus during the A-Day weekend earlier this month, taking part in the open gym session at Auburn Arena, which featured current players and prospective recruits playing against each other in short scrimmages.

At the time, Johnson said the main factor in choosing his next school would be joining a team that he felt could win immediately.

"I'm just looking to come in and be that fifth-year veteran leader," he said. "I want to go somewhere I'll step in right away and be able to have a big role."

- Finally, some bad news for a former Auburn running back. Cameron Artis-Payne of the NFL Carolina Panthers was arrested this past weekend for driving 102 mph in a 65-mph zone.

Artis-Payne, a fifth-round pick out of Auburn, rushed for 183 yards on 45 carries in his rookie season last year. As of this writing, it's unclear that Artis-Payne will face any potential discipline.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Friday, April 22nd, 2016

Linebacker T.J. Neal, a graduate transfer from Illinois, reported on his Twitter account yesterday that he has been accepted by Auburn's graduate school.

Neal was fairly blunt in this news, saying simply, "One degree down and another one to come!"

At Auburn, Neal will work toward obtaining a master's degree in adult education, according to his acceptance letter from the university.

Neal, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound middle linebacker who started 25 games at Illinois, opted to transfer during the winter. On Feb. 16th, he committed to Auburn during an official visit.

As a graduate transfer, he will be able to play immediately in 2016 - and is expected to contribute early and press for a starting spot.

Neal fills a major void at Auburn, which signed only one linebacker in the 2016 class after graduating players such as Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy. He is not only experienced but can certainly make his presence felt. Neal recorded 255 total tackles at Illinois. In 2015, he tallied 15 tackles for loss.

Neal told AuburnUndercover that he will arrive at Auburn on May 15th.

Aside from football news, don't forget that the baseball team kicks off a three-game series with Ole Miss in Oxford tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game is available at SECN+ (Internet).

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

The Auburn baseball team trounced Alabama State 11-2 at Plainsman Park last night. It was the Tigers' third consecutive victory.

Cody Nulph was the biggest highlight of the game, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

"We played really good offense and were very consistent up and down the lineup," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson stated. "Anfernee Grier and Melvin Gray at the top kept swinging the beat. Everyone had a pretty good night. "Damon (Haecker) had a couple and Keaton Weisz got out there to turn the double play to end the game. Same thing with the pitching staff. All in all, there are some construction cones around. We are getting some work in. We played good offense and won our third in a row."

Grier opened the bottom of the first inning with his eighth home run of the season. The Tigers tacked on three more runs on RBI doubles by Haecker and Blake Logan, respectively, and a sac fly from Jackson Burgreen to mount their lead to 4-0.

Grier's score was the first leadoff homer for Auburn since the Phenix City native accomplished the feat against LSU in May 2014.

In the second inning, Auburn increased its lead to 5-0 when Jordan Ebert nailed his second homer of the season. It was his 100th career RBI.

Alabama State got on the board in the third with two bases loaded passed balls to cut the Tiger advantage to 5-2.

Pitcher Izaac Yarbrough made the first start of his Auburn career. It was a stellar night for him, as he completed 2.1 innings and only surrendered two runs. He recorded three strikeouts and improved to 3-1 on the year in a split start.

In the bottom of the third, Auburn stretched its cushion to 7-2 on a two-run single by Nulph.

Gray got a score on an error in the fourth. Nulph and Grier tacked on RBI singles in the fifth to make it a 10-2 Auburn lead.

Grier finished the game with two hits and two stolen bases. Haecker, meanwhile, has been on base in his last 12 appearances at the plate.

Gabe Klobosits pitched two perfect innings out of the pen with five strikeouts to boot. Gordon Cardenas, Daniel Sprinkle, Andrew Mitchell, Ben Braymer and Marc Frazier also took on duties as relief pitchers.

JJ Shaffer smacked a pinch-hit double in the eighth that allowed Niko Buentello to score.

Alabama State starter Hunter McIntosh fell to 5-2 on the season. He gave up four runs in one inning.

Auburn improved to 18-19 on the season, while the Hornets fell to 23-14.

The Tigers open a three-game series with Ole Miss on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game is available on SECN+ (Internet).

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Sunday, April 17th, 2016

Niko Buentello smacked a go-ahead homer and Casey Mize pitched 6.1 innings out of the bullpen as the Tigers edged Tennessee at Plainsman Park yesterday by a score of 7-6, giving Auburn the series win.

Buentello's solo home run was his team,-best eighth this season, to right field with two outs in the eighth inning to put Auburn in front 6-5. Two batters later, Damon Haecker recorded an RBI single to increase the lead to 7-5.

The Tigers made a five-run comeback to overtake the Vols. It was the largest deficit Auburn has overcome this season.

Haecker led the Tigers, reaching base five times with two RBIs and a stolen base.

Meanwhile, Mize's 6.1 innings out of the bullpen marked his longest outing since a victory over Oral Roberts on March 12th. It was the longest relief outing of his career. He only gave up four hits and two runs while also posting four strikeouts.

Gabe Klobosits (2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K) completed the final two innings to earn the win for Auburn. He improved to 2-2 on the year.

With the victory, the Tigers improved to 17-19 on the year (5-10 in the SEC), while Tennessee fell to 20-16.

Auburn returns to action on Tuesday when they host Alabama State at 6 p.m. CT. The game is available on SECN+ (Internet).

In other news...

- One day after setting the school record for largest margin of victory in an SEC game, the Auburn softball team eclipsed that mark with a 23-0 drubbing of Arkansas at Bogle Park yesterday. The Tigers also tied a school record in winning their 15th consecutive game.

Senior Jade Rhodes achieved her own personal mark by going 5-for-5 in the contest to set the school record for hits in a game. Rhodes posted two home runs, three singles, six RBIs and four runs scored in her superb performance.

Kasey Cooper reached all four plate appearances going 3-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two RBIs.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Saturday, April 16th, 2016

Senior Justin Camp had a big night for the Auburn baseball team yesterday evening against Tennessee at Plainsman Park.

The right-handed pitcher threw his first career complete game, allowing the Vols only two hits to lead the Tigers to a  2-0 victory. It was the first shutout an Auburn pitcher had recorded since Dillon Ortman did so against Texas A&M in 2014.

Head coach Butch Thompson was very pleased with his team's superb defensive play.

"Our players came out tonight and played unbelievable defense," he said. "Our goal was to knock their guy out in the first inning and get Justin (Camp) some run support. Justin has had two unbelievable outings in a row and I couldn't be more proud of him. I thought he looked even more fresh in the ninth inning than he did at the start of the game. Our guys went out today and played arguably their best SEC game of the season."

Camp retired 13 in a row starting with the second out of the first inning until Max Bartlett hit a bunt single with two outs in the fifth. He tallied seven strikeouts on the evening and also recorded 14 ground-ball outs.

The stellar performance allowed Camp to improve to 3-2 on the year. He has now recorded 15 straight scoreless innings and has not given up an earned run in 17 innings.

Auburn scored two in the first on an RBI single by Blake Logan and a run-scoring fielder's choice by Damon Haecker. For Camp, that was all he needed.

Anfernee Grier led the Tigers with two hits. Chris Hall had the other hit for the Vols.

Tennessee starter Zach Warren took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings to fall to 4-4 on the season.

Auburn improved to 16-19 on the year, 4-10 in league play. Tennessee slipped to 20-15 overall, 4-10 in the conference.

The two teams will close out the series this afternoon at 1 p.m. CT, with the game available on SECN+ (Internet).

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Friday, April 15th, 2016

Auburn was dismantled by Tennessee last night by a score of 13-4 in an ugly one-sided affair.

Jordan Ebert recorded two hits on the evening to bring his career total to 225, but that was perhaps the lone bright spot in this one.

Head coach Butch Thompson was sure to credit Tennessee's dominant performance.

"Tennessee came out and threw three or four punches early," he said. "We didn't make enough pitches in the first, and we didn't make enough plays in the field. We were one pitch away from getting out of it in a couple of innings there, but we just couldn't make it happen. I thought that we really pressed tonight. Justin Camp had one of his best outings of the year last weekend, and we are going to need him to have a good start tomorrow."

The Vols came out steaming and jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, but the Tigers countered with an RBI double by Melvin Gray in the bottom portion of that inning to make it 4-1.

At game's end, Gray was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple. Also, Jackson Burgreen tallied two hits.

Auburn starting pitcher Ben Braymer saw just one inning of action. In that time, he gave up four runs.

Tennessee fattened its advantage to 7-1 in the fourth on three unearned runs courtesy of Auburn's Cole Lipscomb.

Lipscomb allowed four earned in 6.1 innings pitched. He posted one walk and six strikeouts.

The Tigers scored three in the eighth on an RBI groundout from Kyler Deese and a two-run double by Damon Haecker, who finished the game with two hits and two RBIs.

But the Vols squashed any hopes of an Auburn rally by scoring four in the eighth and two in the ninth.

Auburn and Tennessee continue the series tonight at 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised on the SEC Network.

In other news...

- Yet another Auburn football player has decided to part ways with the program. Word came out yesterday that offensive lineman Jordan Diamond will not play for the Tigers in 2016.

The senior posted a message on his Instagram account declaring that last Saturday's A-Day game would be his last in an Auburn uniform.

Diamond has been with the Tigers since 2012 but has rarely played due to injuries. He was expected to be a backup guard and tackle under new offensive line coach Herb Hand.

He has one year of eligibility left, but he didn't make it clear whether he plans to try to use it elsewhere.

"I've been fortunate enough and blessed to wear this historic Auburn Tigers uniform," Diamond wrote. I'm humbled and honored to have been here for 4 years. A-Day was the last time I will run through the smoke at Jordan-Hare Stadium."

"I would like to thank all of the coaches that has been in this program throughout the years," Diamond wrote.

"I want to thank Coach Malzahn for always having my back. I want to acknowledge and thank all of my great teammates for allowing me to be me. I wanna send thanks to Dr. (James) Andrews and the great training staff that we have. Thank you coach Russell and the strength staff as well. Last but not least I would like to thank my parents and my brother for being here for me every single step of the way, even when it seems like there was no hope, I could always count on y'all to be here for me. Also I can't forget about the Auburn Family and the greatest Fans in College Sports, you guys are absolutely amazing!

"I've been here since 2012 and one thing we all did was stick together. Off football Hopefully I have inspired you all to be the best person you can be. Throughout my years here, it's been some adversity for me, and hopefully I've impacted someone's life by being positive, motivated, hard working and most importantly grateful and humble. If I've impacted one life I've done my job. Just like the picture I did everything with a smile on my face: Auburn Thank you for all the great times, thank you for the good and the bad. Just know Auburn, a kid from the south Side of Chicago is getting a degree from Auburn University, that's something to be proud of. I want to send a special message to Auburn. You saved my life. Thank you and War D--- Eagle."

Whether it's on the football field or elsewhere, I wish Jordan nothing but the best in whatever path he chooses to take next with his life.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!



Thursday, April 14th, 2016

Today will be a rare instance when I will write about something that isn't necessarily definitive news, but is still a possibility nonetheless.

If the SEC considers realigning its divisions in the future, Auburn head football coach Gus Malzahn would apparently have no problem with his Tigers being moved from the West to the East.

Via a tweet from Chris Low, a college football writer for ESPN.com, Malzahn said he believes "there will be discussion" on Auburn potentially moving divisions. However, in a later tweet, Low emphasized that the only way the powers that be at Auburn and Alabama would give the green light to such a move would be if the Iron Bowl rivalry between the two schools was preserved.

That said, if Auburn does indeed switch to the East, that would mean that its annual showdown with Georgia- long known as the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry" - would become a divisional game each season. However, unless the conference adapts a nine-game league schedule, it would mean that Alabama would no longer play Tennessee every year, as Auburn would permanently become the Tide's cross-division rival.

But considering that the SEC has locked in its conference schedule through 2025, Low noted that, barring expansion, it's not likely the league would make any alterations to the existing divisions.

Then again, like the age-old saying goes, "Never say never." Especially considering all of the conference re-structurings that have happened in the country in recent years. God sure does work in mysterious ways, doesn't He?

In closing, don't forget that the baseball team plays at Tennessee tonight at 6 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on the SEC Network.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Wednesday, April 13th, 2016

Last night, Anfernee Grier posted a career-high five hits, but it wasn't enough to keep Auburn from slipping to Kennesaw State by a score of 6-5 at Stillwell Stadium in Atlanta. The Tigers, fell to 15-18 on the season, while the Owls improved to 15-19.

Jordan Ebert recored three hits and one RBI for the Tigers and reached base five times. Grier, aside from his five hits, also had two stolen bases.

Kennesaw State jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first, taking advantage of three hits of their own, as well as two walks by Auburn's Daniel Sprinkle.

The Tigers got on the board in the second, with Cody Nulph coming across on a wild pitch, but the Owls responded with one in the bottom portion of that frame to boost their lead to 4-1.

Two more KSU runs in the fourth mounted the count to 6-1.

Tony Dibrell got the win for the Owls to go to 1-3 on the season. He only allowed one run in five innings.

Ebert notched an RBI in the sixth win a run-scoring single to trim KSU's lead to 6-2.

Auburn starter Daniel Sprinkle allowed four runs in 1.2 innings pitched to drop to 1-1 on the year.

The Tigers scored three runs in the ninth on RBIs by Cody Nulph and Grier. Another run was tallied when Damon Haecker grounded into a double play.

Head coach Butch Thompson was relatively accurate in his explanation for the final outcome.

"We got off to a sluggish start, and I thought the difference in the game was the first inning and the fourth inning," he said. "With two outs, they knocked in their runs. The guys stayed in there. Izaac Yarbrough gave us a chance to get back in it. We really battled to get back in it."

Yarbrough pitched a career-long 3.2 innings in relief duties. During that time frame, he recorded a career-best five strikeouts.

Auburn returns to action tomorrow when it kicks off a three-game SEC series against Tennessee at Plainsman Park. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. (It's about time for that, if you ask me.)

In other news...

- Two days ago, word leaked out that a match with UAB could be on the horizon for Auburn football.

According to UAB athletic director Mark Ingram, Auburn is among a handful of schools that he has talked with about potential games since the university announced that it would restart its football program last year.

"I've had good conversations with Auburn," Ingram told a group of reporters Monday at the Associated Press Editors' southeast regional meeting, held on UAB's campus. "Jay Jacobs, their athletics director, is a dear friend of mine, and he and I talked about it. It's just about trying to get the right year when they're looking for somebody."

Auburn's non-conference schedule is in place through 2017, the same season the Blazers will return to the field. At this point, Ingram said there is mutual interest between the two.

"So it's just a matter of getting the guarantee right and getting the matchup right," Ingram stated, noting Auburn is interested in a one-game deal, which would be held at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

According to Ingram, the reason for Auburn's interest is pretty straightforward.

"Auburn wants to do that, just candidly, because they think they can beat us," he said. "So they basically are buying a win. That's the way they view that. So, would you rather play Virginia, who is a good team, and Virginia pays $800,000, or would you rather play Auburn and they're going to pay you $1.5 million? What's the difference, really?"

Ingram then continued to detail the theoretical situation.

"I guess Auburn is a better team in theory - depends on the year, right? - than, say, Virginia, but you don't know that when you set it up," he lamented. "So, if you're going to play one, you might as well get paid. You might as well get what you can get and that's been our view on it."

Auburn and UAB have faced each other only once before. That was in 1996, when the Tigers shut out the Blazers 29-0 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, April 11th, 2016

For the Auburn baseball team, the series finale against Missouri last Saturday night was one of those times when unwavering effort meant nothing.

Freshman Casey Mize recorded six strikeouts in 3.2 innings as a relief pitcher, but that didn't prevent the visiting Tigers from falling to Missouri by a score of 4-3, enabling Mizzou to take the series 2-1.

Despite the loss, head coach Butch Thompson openly praised his team's determination.

"We battled," he said. "Having a couple of guys out made it tougher to create offense today. We battled hard. It feels like this has happened a lot to us being on the short end, but our guys battled hard. I was proud of that."

Auburn made a strong surge in the ninth, scoring a run on an RBI single by Cody Nulph. The Tigers had two on with one out, but Anfernee Grier and Jonathan Foster both struck out to end the contest, and dash any hopes of a comeback win.

Mize entered the game in the fifth and stranded a pair without allowing a run. He didn't give up a score over the next 3.2 innings. In addition to his six strikeouts, Mize had no walks and only surrendered two hits.

Jackson Burgreen led Auburn with three hits. Jordan Ebert recorded two doubles to give him 11 on the year.

Mizzou got off to a quick start, scoring a run in the first and then increasing the count to 3-0 in the second on a two-run homer by Brett Bond.

Andrew Mitchell took the loss for Auburn, dropping him to 4-2 on the season. In 4.1 innings of action, he allowed three runs on four hits,. He also posted four walks and four strikeouts.

Auburn got on the scoreboard in the seventh when Kyler Deese scored an RBI ground out. The Tigers scored again in the eighth on a sac fly by Niko Buentello to cut Missouri's advantage to 3-2. It was his 38th RBI of the season - a team best.

That total equaled Daniel Robert's team-best figure in that category from last season.

Mizzou got a crucial run in the ninth to stretch its lead to 4-2.

Auburn fell to 15-17 on the year. Mizzou improved to 20-14.

Auburn returns to action tomorrow at Kennesaw State. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT, and the game will be available on ESPN3 (Internet).

In case you're wondering, Kennesaw State is located in Atlanta. Here's an interesting note: Remember when Regis Philbin hosted the original version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on ABC? I sure as heck do. I've been a game show buff all my life, so I watched it every day. The second contestant to ever make it to the Hot Seat was a professor from Kennesaw State named Hillary Daw. She won $16,000.

In other news...

- Two former Tigers are set to join the football staff as graduate assistants this coming season. According to a report from CoachingSearch.com, Jonathan Wallace and Craig Sanders will be coming on board.

Wallace was a player on the football team from 2012-15, spending time as a quarterback, special teams contributor, and wide receiver.

Meanwhile, Sanders played exclusively at defensive end from 2010-13.

A couple of other tidbits also came from the aforementioned website: Former defensive graduate assistant Brandon Wheeling has been promoted to defensive analyst, and former offensive graduate assistant Johnny Brewer has been promoted to offensive analyst.

I'm confident that all four of these guys will do a wonderful job in their new endeavors.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Sunday, April 10th, 2016

I'm going to try to be fairly brief with my insight regarding yesterday's A-Day game, in which the Blue team defeated the White team, 19-10.

Offense: First off, the passing game was average at best, as the two teams combined for 21-for-41 passing for 221 yards. Four different quarterbacks played, and Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III each threw a touchdown strike. There's still no clear-cut choice as to who will take the snaps for the Tigers, but it's hardly surprising to me at this time of year.

The running game, however, was quite the contrary. Auburn racked up 318 yards on the ground. Jovon Robinson was the leader, with 10 carries for 83 yards. However, H-backs Chandler Cox and Kamryn Pettway each broke a long run along the way as well.

The receiving corps still has room for improvement. Yes, Marcus Davis and Roc Thomas each had a TD reception, but there were also a couple of drops, most notably a long bomb that slipped through Darius Slayton's fingers.

The offensive line was OK, but they still need to work on protecting the quarterback. But when they cleared a path for the running backs, man, did they ever!

Defense: This, my friends, was the real story of the day. They did a good job of applying pressure to the QB, registering three sacks. The unit also forced two turnovers, both of which were lost fumbles. Plus, they only allowed one third-down conversion in 22 attempts. At this rate, new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele could have a monster growing.

Special teams: A nice day for this unit as well. Daniel Carlson remained his dependable self, nailing five field goals (two of which were in the 50+ range). The punting team also fared superbly, with Ian Shannon and Kevin Phillips doing most of the dirty work.

Injury report: Although there were no major injuries for the Tigers, there were two players who suffered minor shake-ups. First off, sophomore cornerback Carlton Davis injured his finger this past Thursday in Auburn's final practice before the spring game. He was held out as a precaution. Nonetheless, head coach Gus Malzahn assured that it's nothing major, and that he's had a good spring.

Second, early enrollee running back Malik Miller "tweaked his ankle" midway through the first quarter, according to Malzahn, and didn't return. At the time of his exit, he'd carried three times for 11 yards. Malzahn mentioned that Miller battled an ankle injury last week and he believes he tweaked his other. Still, he isn't alarmed, and hopes that Miller will be back soon.

The Tigers only have one practice left in spring, and that will take place on Tuesday. As of now, there are likely many questions lurking in the minds of Auburn fans (especially me). Who will win the quarterback race? Will he be reliable? Will the defense be improved? Will the Tigers be able to reverse their disappointing fortunes from the past two seasons? Will Gus Malzahn get himself some much-needed breathing room, or will he get the pink slip? All of those questions will be answered beginning Sept. 3rd when Clemson comes to town.

If all goes as planned, I'll write about the baseball team's series finale against Missouri (which was also played yesterday) tomorrow.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Saturday, April 9th, 2016

Sometimes, even your most valiant effort isn't enough.

Such was the case for Auburn senior Justin Camp yesterday evening at Missouri in the second of a three-game series. Camp pitched seven innings and didn't allow an earned run, but it was all for naught as Mizzou shut out the visiting Tigers, 2-0 at Taylor Stadium.

Auburn head coach Butch Thompson had plenty of good to say about Camp's gutsy showing.

"For [Justin Camp] to get through seven innings was big," he stated. "We showed a lot of trust in him. That's back-to-back days where we have told them we are really going to trust them. I think we have seen our guys relax and feel comfortable and make pitches. He created ground balls, mis-hits, and got it off the barrel and took the sting out of their swings and took us to the seventh inning and did a great job."

Missouri cashed in on a throwing error by Auburn in the first to take a 1-0 lead. But that was the only offense they could generate thanks to Camp's determined performance.

The Decatur, Ala., native allowed five hits and also posted three walks with three strikeouts in the longest SEC outing of his career. By game's end, he had thrown 107 pitches, tying a career high.

For Auburn's offense, it was a rough night. Missouri ace Tanner Houck allowed Auburn only four hits on the evening. He struck out 10 with one walk. In doing so, he improved to 4-2 on the season.

Niko Buentello led Auburn with two hits. Kyler Deese and Jackson Burgreen each had one apiece.

Izaac Yarbrough took over pitching duties for Auburn in the eighth, and allowed one run.

Shane Benes had two hits to lead Missouri.

Auburn and Mizzou close out the series this afternoon at 1 p.m. CT. The game can be found on SECN+ (Internet).

Aside from baseball, don't forget that the football team's annual A-Day game kicks off this afternoon at 3 p.m. CT and can be viewed on the SEC Network. As I close this writing, it's just over two hours away. I'll write about that game tomorrow, and about the baseball game on Monday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Friday, April 8th, 2016

Ben Braymer came through for Auburn when it counted.

With the Tigers trailing Missouri 9-8 in the fifth last night, Braymer struck out 11 in five scoreless innings as a relief pitcher, and Auburn rallied to overtake Mizzou 11-9 at Taylor Stadium, giving Auburn its first SEC road win of the season.

Braymer's 11 strikeouts were a career high and the most for an Auburn pitcher this season. In the process, he improved to 3-2 on the year.

"I'm just so proud of our guys," Auburn head coach Butch Thompson stated. "Ben Braymer had 11 strikeouts in five innings. There was never any need to get anyone up in the bullpen. That's some things we want to build on. Hopefully, we can build off tonight. "Our offense was tremendous against a great SEC pitcher. We were relentless."

"We needed this tonight. It's our first SEC win on the road. We have the chance to come out tomorrow and win the series and that's a big deal."

With the score deadlocked at 9-all in the eighth, Niko Buentello put Auburn in front 10-9 with a solo home run. It was his seventh homer of the season, tying him with teammate Anfernee Grier for the SEC lead. Grier later gave Auburn some much-needed insurance with an RBI triple in the ninth that increased the lead to 11-9. That concluded the scoring in this one.

With the victory, Auburn improved to 15-15 overall, 3-7 on the year. Missouri, on the other hand, fell to 18-14 overall, 2-8 in league play.

In the first inning, Auburn took advantage of a throwing error by Reggie McClain to take a 2-0 lead with Grier and Jordan Ebert crossing home plate. But Missouri battled back for two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to even the count.

Kyler Deese and Cody Nulph broke the tie in the second with RBIs. Melvin Gray added an RBI single in the third to make it a 5-2 Auburn cushion.

Gray recorded a career-high four hits on the evening, and tied his career high in runs scored with three. Ebert tallied three hits himself.

In the fourth inning, however, momentum took a perilous swing toward Missouri, as they scored seven runs to take a 9-5 lead, cashing in on two Auburn errors.

But Auburn bounced back in the fifth with three runs on RBIs by Damon Haecker, Deese and Gray to chop Mizzou's lead to 9-8. One inning later, Auburn tied the game again when Haecker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Auburn's Cole Lipscomb was charged with six earned (nine total) in 3.2 innings pitched.

The Tigers overcame Mizzou's starting pitcher, McClain, for a career-high 12 hits and eight runs in five innings.

Ian Nelson led Missouri with three hits. Trey Harris had three RBIs.

Cole Bartlett took the loss for Mizzou, giving up two runs in three innings. He slipped to 2-3 on the season.

Auburn and Missouri continue the series tonight at 6 p.m. CT in Columbia. The game can be seen on SECN+ (Internet).

In other news...

- With Auburn's A-Day game being played tomorrow afternoon, the football team got some bad news yesterday.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Queen will miss the remainder of spring practice after injuring his shoulder in the team's second spring scrimmage last Saturday.

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee assured that the injury isn't serious, but will keep Queen out of tomorrow's A-Day game.

"I think Tyler is going to be OK long term," Lashlee said. "He got dinged up last Saturday. He just fell on his AC (joint). I don't anticipate anything that would require surgery, but he'll be out through the rest of the spring."

Queen was redshirted last season and underwent surgery on his elbow. He had been somewhat limited early in spring practices, but Lashlee said he was starting to be on the mend.

"He'd been on a pitch count," Lashlee explained. "He never had to pull back or miss a day of practice. I think from a structural standpoint his old injury was good. It's tough coming back. You may be healthy and not hurt, but it just feels different. I think he was getting better as the spring went on. He wasn't where he wanted to be, but he was getting better. It's kind of a run of bad luck for him. It's a different injury. Obviously, he was disappointed. He was excited to play last Saturday and this Saturday and show he was improving."

I wish Tyler the best in his recovery process, and hope he'll be back in action soon.

While on the topic of quarterbacks, Lashlee said yesterday after practice that Jeremy Johnson, Sean White and John Franklin III will all get ample reps with the offense in tomorrow's game.

The way it will likely work, according to Lashlee, is that each of them will get a pair of possessions with both the first- and second-team offenses.

Lashlee also emphasized that all three have had good springs. Although he said they "probably won't be live Saturday," he is eager to see how they'll respond in front of what will obviously be an exuberant crowd.

"I think they've all gotten better," he said. "Until you get them in a game situation, you don't really know."

True. However, I'm equally interested in seeing how much progress we've made since spring practice began. Hopefully, this will begin a change in our football fortunes for 2016. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. CT tomorrow on the SEC Network.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Wednesday, April 6th, 2016

Freshman pitcher Daniel Sprinkle had an impressive outing last night, recording six innings pitched and eight strikeouts, both career highs, as Auburn defeated Georgia State 7-4 at Plainsman Park.

Sprinkle walked two and gave up only two runs on three hits to clinch the first victory of his collegiate career and go to 1-0 on the season.

Auburn head coach Butch Thompson believed one particular pitching strategy played a role in the Tigers' win.

"I just thought when we got to two strikes we elevated the fastball and they swung through it a lot," he said. "They really went for it more than other teams, but I think it was located better. That was big in the ballgame and it takes a little pressure off your defense when 15 of 27 outs are recorded that way."

Pitchers Sprinkle, Gabe Klobosits, and Casey Mize combined for an amazing 15 strikeouts on the evening. It was the most strikeouts for Auburn since a game against Binghamton on Feb. 13, 2015.

As for Mize, he also posted his first save of the season.

Freshman catcher Jonathan Foster had a career night himself with three hits - two doubles and two RBIs - including a bases-loaded double in the fifth that scored two runs. One batter later, Anfernee Grier's groundout gave Auburn a 4-2 advantage.

Joshua Palacios had two hits on the night, while Kyler Deese scored twice.

The Tigers fell behind 2-0 early, but got on the board in the fourth thanks to an RBI single by Blake Logan, his 10th RBI in the last five games.

Georgia State scored a run in the seventh, but Jordan Ebert countered with a big two-run single in the bottom half of that inning to put Auburn up 6-3.

Joey Roach smacked two homers for Georgia State. One was a two-run score in the third, and the other was a solo hit in the eighth.

Ryan Blanton had three hits of his own for GSU.

Garrett Ford took the loss for GSU, allowing six runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. He fell to 2-4 on the season.

Both teams are now 14-15 on the season.

Auburn returns to action on Thursday when it begins a three-game SEC series at Missouri at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

Moving on from baseball, I'd like to share a personal account with you.

I didn't watch the entire men's basketball championship between North Carolina and Vilanova, but I did watch a clip of the breathtaking ending on Yahoo yesterday morning. It was pretty exciting to see Kris Jenkins nail that trey at the buzzer to lift the Wildcats to a dramatic 77-74 upset of the Tar Heels.

Vilanova was Auburn's opponent in the first bowl game Auburn ever played in on Jan. 1, 1937. Also known as the Rhumba Bowl or the Cigar Bowl, it was a part of Cuba's National Sports Festival in Havana, Cuba. The Tigers took the lead when Billy Hitchcock scored on a 40-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats, however, later evened the score when Auburn attempted what was then known as the quick-kick, and Vilanova blocked it. Matthews Kuber recovered it for a TD, and William Christopher booted the PAT. The contest ended in a 7-7 stalemate.

I went to a game with my Mom during Auburn's undefeated season in 2004. While I don't remember the opponent, I do recall that Billy Hitchcock was the special guest that day on the Tiger Tailgate Show, the customary pre-game show on the Auburn Network. Billy was riding in a golf cart, but sadly, nobody really paid any attention to him.

However, I changed all of that. I walked up to Billy, shook his hand, and said, "Hi, Mr. Billy. I'm Lyle. I know something about you. You scored Auburn's only touchdown on a 40-yard run in their first-ever bowl game against Vilanova in Havana, Cuba."

As soon as I made that remark, Billy's face lit up with an indescribable joy. The Auburn Network crew could be overheard exclaiming things like, "Yeah! Yeah!" My Mom was especially proud of me for what I did, and I was equally proud of myself. A year and a half later, in April of 2006, Billy passed away at age 89. I'll never forget meeting Billy that day, and I'll always remember seeing Billy's face light up when I acknowledged one of his many notorious accomplishments as an Auburn Tiger. Rest in peace, Billy.

Let this be a lesson to you all: Never underestimate the power of a simple compliment. It can have a profound impact on any one person.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, April 4th, 2016

Statistics mean nothing. They are merely numbers on paper, and can be strongly deceptive.

Auburn, the second-best hitting team in the SEC, racked up a total of 19 runs in three games against LSU this past weekend. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to allow them to win the series, as LSU defeated Auburn 10-5 in the third and final match in the series yesterday afternoon at Plainsman Park to win the series two games to one.

Joshua Palacios nailed a homer and Anfernee Grier smacked three hits for the home-standing Tigers. But it didn't erase a very sluggish start by the team in this one. Auburn head coach Butch Thompson offered his best explanation for it.

"I wish we had done some things with these guys and helped them out with a pitch, with an arm slot, a little bit of something. We may be to the point where we have to do that," he lamented.

"We feel like we have to score to win. That goes back to being a little short on the pitching side, and that's just finding a little something with our guys."

Indeed, the Tigers will have to seriously search for that special something if they hope to get back on the winning track.

Thompson also noted that starting pitcher Andrew Mitchell started out promisingly enough. "When he came out of the ballgame, it was 3-3. You would have taken that," he said.

LSU went up 6-3 in the fifth inning. Auburn trimmed the margin to 6-5 in the sixth, but left the bases loaded. The Bayou Bengals scored three more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to secure the win.

LSU improved to 18-9 overall, 4-5 in conference play. Auburn, on the other hand, fell to 13-15 overall, 2-7 in the SEC.

Auburn's Blake Logan had two hits in yesterday's game and finished the weekend going 6-for-10 with six RBIs. Also, Palacios had a pair of home runs.

Mitchell took the loss for Auburn yesterday, falling to 4-1 on the season. John Valek III took the victory for LSU, going to 5-1.

Thompson isn't about to give up on his troops in his first season at the helm.

"I think our kids are still battling hard," he said. "Our staff, we've been here five months now, and we've got to do a better job. I have to do a better job of putting our guys in better position to have a chance to win an SEC series."

Auburn plays host to Georgia State tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT. The game can be found on SECN+ (online).

In other news...

- Marshall Taylor, a graduate transfer from Miami (Ohio), has committed to Auburn. He made his decision during his official visit on the Plains, which began on Friday and ended yesterday.

Taylor was quick to point out the key factor in his commitment.

"The family environment was important," he said. "They preached the family environment and I'm big on family. It was just a great visit. I felt they were honest and genuine with me. They showed me the most love."

Taylor is set to graduate from Miami next month and will arrive at Auburn shortly thereafter. He has one season of eligibility left and will be able to play immediately.

Taylor was recruited to play nickel and cornerback.

"Just see which one ends up being the best fit," he stated. "They didn't guarantee a starting spot. They told me if I work hard, I'll get on the field. If I come in and play to my abilities, and show what I can bring to the table, it should get me on the field.

Auburn secondary coach Wesley McGriff played a large role in this commitment. Taylor has known McGriff since he worked at Vanderbilt. "I know he's going to get me better," he said.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Taylor recorded three career interceptions at Miami - including two last season. One of those was returned for a touchdown. Another came against Wisconsin.

Taylor, a Cordele, Ga., native, attended Crisp County High. He said that he is standing firm in his commitment to the Tigers, and doesn't intend to make any more visits.

"I'm done. I'm a Tiger. I'm coming here for sure," he assured.

Taylor is the second grad transfer to join Auburn's program this year. Linebacker T.J. Neal, formerly at Illinois, will also arrive on the Plains this summer, and is expected to vie for a starting spot.

Defensive back Blake Countess, who transferred from Michigan, started for the Tigers last season and was one of the team's key players. Hopefully, Taylor will be able to achieve that status.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

Auburn and LSU were forced to play a doubleheader yesterday as part of their three-game series this weekend after Friday's match, which was scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, was postponed due to inclement weather in the Auburn area.

As things turned out, they split the two contests. In Game 1, the home-standing Tigers held on for an 8-5 win. However, in Game 2, the Bayou Bengals turned the tables with an 8-6 victory over Auburn.

Blake Logan drove in four runs for Auburn in the first match, which played a key factor in its victory. In the second game, Auburn made a four-run rally in the final inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome LSU's advantage. Cody Nulph drove in three runs for Auburn in that game.

Auburn head coach Butch Thompson aptly summed up his team's performance in Game 2 by saying, "We finished strong."

The series concludes with a 1 p.m. CT game at Plainsman Park this afternoon. It's currently in progress as I write.

Thompson noted that a 16-pitch at-bat by Kyler Deese in the eighth inning of Game 2 was a crucial showing in Auburn's perseverance.

"It forced their closer to get into the ballgame. I hope that gives us a chance to win the series," he stated.

By the end of the day, Auburn was 13-14 overall, 2-6 in SEC play. LSU, meanwhile, left the field 17-9 overall, 3-5 in the league.

Auburn kept up its resilience in the nightcap. With two outs and nobody on in the ninth of that match, the Tigers scored four times, ending the game with the potential winning run on base.

"I think we really did well in that last inning. It's something we can build off of," Logan said. He further emphasized that, "Winning the first game was big."

Very much so, especially since he drove in three with a double.

Auburn scored four times in the third of the first game, largely due to Logan's bases-clearing double. Joshua Palacios smacked a homer and drove in two, while Anfernee Grier drove in another. Logan scored his fourth run with a double in the seventh.

Justin Camp took the win for Auburn in Game 1, allowing two runs in five innings to improve to 2-1. Alex Lange took the loss for the home team in Game 2, slipping to 2-2 on the season.

Izaac Yarbrough clinched his first save of the season for Auburn.

The Tigers tried to complete their rally in the ninth of Game 2 with RBIs by Logan, Nulph, and Niko Buentello. In the end, though, Jared Poche' took the win for LSU, improving to 3-3 on the year. Cole Lipscomb fell to 1-3 for Auburn.

Coach Thompson, however, doesn't want his troops to be content with where they are right now. "All in all, we want more," he said.

If all goes as planned, I'll write about this afternoon's game tomorrow.

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Thursday, March 31st, 2016

The Auburn baseball team set a MAX Capital City Classic scoring record in a 10-1 shellacking of No. 21 Alabama on Tuesday night at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.

Blake Logan and Anfernee Grier both had homers for the Tigers. Auburn has now won seven of eight all-time meetings against the Crimson Tide in the MAX Capital City Classic.

The Tigers improved to 12-13 overall, 1-5 in conference action. Meanwhile, Alabama fell to 15-9.

Auburn came out steaming, jumping out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, with the key play coming on a three-run homer by Logan, who earned game MVP honors. It was the second home run of his career, and his first since 2014. He finished the evening 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, and three RBI.

Jordan Ebert added an RBI single of his own in the same inning. He recorded three hits on the night.

Pitcher Andrew Mitchell, after giving up a run in the second inning, regained his touch and completed six innings, while scattering six hits. He posted five strikeouts with just one run allowed.

Auburn finished the contest with 15 hits, thereby recording their 12th consecutive game with nine or more hits.

The Crimson Tide's Jon Keller (1-1) took the loss with six earned runs in two innings. Cobie Vance led Alabama with two hits.

After Alabama got on the board in the second inning, the Tigers responded with a run on a ground out by Joshua Palacios in the bottom half of the frame.

Cody Nulph and Kyler Deese each had RBIs in the third to stretch Auburn's advantage to 7-1.

In the fourth, Grier smacked his SEC-best seventh homer of the season for the Tigers.

Auburn returns to action this weekend with a three-game home series against LSU running from Friday through Sunday. The games will begin at 6 p.m. CT Friday, 3 p.m. CT Saturday, and 1 p.m. CT Sunday, respectively. They can all be seen on SECN+. (Internet)

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, March 28th, 2016

I hope you all had a happy and blessed Easter. I certainly did!

However, this past Friday, the Auburn family mourned the loss of a man who secured a legendary status in the school's football program.

Former Tiger James Owens, who made history by becoming the school's first African-American to be put on football scholarship back in 1970, died on Saturday after battling heart troubles for years. He was 65. Owens played for the Tigers from 1969-1972.

In an interview that ran on NCAA.com in January, Owens looked back on that special moment in his life when he gained a football scholarship.

"You would have thought there was a parade," he said, alluding to the cheers coming from the segregated bleachers in the southwest corner of Jordan-Hare Stadium. "Those black people cheered and hollered."

"I was their hero, and they were my heroes. I realized I was there for more than James Owens. I was there for a nation, and people were depending on me to succeed."

Reportedly, Owens spent four decades as a full-time minister before being hindered by his heart problems in his final years. "God called me to preach, and that's something you can't get rid of," he stated.

As an Auburn Tiger, James was especially known for his knack for returning punts and kickoffs long distances. I've seen footage of two of his returns that are particularly noteworthy. One was an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown against Florida in 1970. The Tigers stomped the Gators, 63-14.

Another big return of his came against Georgia in 1971, when he returned a punt 60 yards from Auburn's 20 to Georgia's 20 in the fourth quarter. The return set up Auburn's final touchdown on a 5-yard pass from Pat Sullivan to Dick Schmalz as the Tigers put the Bulldogs away, 35-20. The aforementioned punt return is especially etched in my mind, because I have the VHS of Auburn's Greatest Games which recounts this game. The video is one volume of a collection of Auburn's Greatest Games videos released in 1996 in which retired WSFA sports anchor/Auburn television broadcaster Phil Snow and former Auburn athletic director David Housel analyze and review memorable games in Auburn football history.

I know that we will all miss James very much, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's in a very happy place now. May God Bless him, his family, his friends, and his former teammates in their time of grief and sorrow. He will never be forgotten.

In other news...

- The baseball team didn't fare very well this past weekend in three straight contests against Arkansas on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, losing by scores of 3-2, 14-7, and 3-1, respectively. The Tigers slipped to 11-13 overall, 1-5 in the SEC. They will return to action tomorrow night at 7 p.m. CT when they go against Alabama in the Capital City Classic in Montgomery. The game can be found on SECN+.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!