​​Lyle's Corner

Friday, August 31st, 2018

Yes, I'm still out there. Unfortunately, terrible back pains have kept me away for the past few days. However, things are slowly but surely looking up. 

Sadly, my last post for this month regards a bit of bad news on the recruiting front. News broke this morning that four-star defensive end Andy Boykin, who had pledged to Auburn for the Class of 2020, has chosen to reopen his recruitment. Boykin, a Georgia native, currently plays for Troup County High School. He announced his decision via Twitter. 

​"After careful consideration, and discussions with my family and coaches, I have decided to re-open the recruiting process. At this time, I feel that I need to step back and make sure that my choice of schools is the right fit for me. Currently, I am focused on my classwork and the current season that my Troup High Tigers are playing. I realize there will be plenty of time ahead to determine what college is the best fit for me to continue my football career. For the foreseeable future, I will not be granting interview requests. You may contact my high school coaches for any information regarding my recruitment." 

According to the 247Sports Composite, Boykin ranks as the No. 12 strong-side defensive end in the Class of 2020 and the No. 19 overall recruit from the state of Georgia. He was a primary target for the Georgia Bulldogs before pledging to Gus Malzahn's troops last November, so it should be interesting to see if UGA goes back into the cards in the weeks and months ahead. 

As I finish writing this, we're just 28 hours and 15 minutes away from the 2018 season! This is getting serious, my friends! 

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

Sunday, August 26th, 2018

One of Auburn's top baseball players is in hot water with the law. Freshman All-American Edouard Julien was arrested Friday on charges of public intoxication and criminal littering. Julien was arrested by Auburn Police and booked at the Lee County Detention Facility at 11:32 p.m. CT on one count of public intoxication and one count of criminal littering. According to court records, each count came with a $500 bond. 

A native of Quebec, Canada, Julien led the Tigers with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs, surpassing Frank Thomas' freshman program record. His RBI total led freshmen nationally as well as the SEC. Julien hit .275 while guiding Auburn to  a 43-23 record and an appearance in an NCAA Super Regional against Florida. His home run total was tied for second among all freshmen nationally, and was third-most by an Auburn freshman in program history. He started 59 of the 62 contests in which he played last year. 

I, for one, can see some sort of punishment in Julien's future. Only time will tell his fate. 

In other news....

- A former Auburn safety has become a casualty of preseason roster cuts in the NFL. Stephen Roberts was hoping to make the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted rookie, but yesterday afternoon, word came out that Roberts had been placed on waivers.  

Roberts injured his ankle and left the field on a cart in the second preseason game against the New England Patriots on Aug. 16th, and didn't play in last Thursday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Last season, in his final year with Auburn, Roberts amassed 50 total tackles and a forced fumble en route to the Tigers' SEC West crown. 

 Oh, BTW: Who saw the Tampa Bay Bucs return a missed field goal 109 yards for a TD against the Detroit Lions last week? If Chris Davis saw it, I'd bet he was mighty proud. 

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





Saturday, August 25th, 2018

Today, I have two schedule-related stories to write about. I'll begin with the men's basketball team's SEC schedule for this upcoming season. 

Auburn will begin conference play on the road this year, playing four of its first six league games away from Auburn Arena, according to the schedule that was released by the SEC yesterday. The Tigers have yet to announce their complete non-conference schedule. Auburn opens conference action January 9th, 2019 at Ole Miss before returning home to play rival Georgia on Jan. 12th. 

​On the other side of the coin, major home games include Kentucky on Jan. 19th, Alabama on Feb. 2nd, Florida on Feb. 5th, Arkansas on Feb. 20th and Tennessee on March 9th. Auburn shared the regular-season SEC title with Tennessee last year. "I'm not sure we are worthy of the schedule that the conference has given us this year," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said in a press release. "To get an opportunity to play Kentucky and Mississippi State twice - two teams that will be picked in the top four or five of our league - that just doesn't happen for Auburn basketball." 

​"While I'm grateful, this schedule is all we want. It is one of the toughest in the country. There will be nine or 10 teams that have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament. It is going to be the team that is able to handle adversity, withstand the grind and get better throughout the season that is going to win the championship." Auburn is set to host Washington on Nov. 9th in what will likely be the Tigers' season opener. The contest is part of a home-and-home series that includes a return trip to Seattle for Auburn at a date to be determined during the 2019-20 campaign. 

​The Tigers are slated to play three games in the Maui Invitational starting with Xavier on Nov. 19th. The Tigers will also play either Duke or San Diego State and a third match against an opponent to be determined later in the tournament (Arizona, Iowa State, Gonzaga or Illinois). Auburn will travel to N.C. State for a non-conference game at the ACC school on Dec. 19th.  

​The Tigers' home-and-home SEC matches this season will be against Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Mississippi State. Auburn will travel to LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt for single-game matchups; single-game home matchups are scheduled against Arkansas, Florida, Missouri and Tennessee. Auburn is expected to be ranked in the top 15 nationally when polls are released in November. The team's 2018-19 SEC schedule is as follows: 


​- Wednesday, Jan. 9th: at Ole Miss

- Saturday, Jan. 12th: Georgia 

- Wednesday, Jan. 16th: at Texas A&M

- Saturday, Jan. 19th: Kentucky 

 - Tuesday, Jan. 22nd: at South Carolina 

- Saturday, Jan. 26th: at Mississippi State

- Wednesday, Jan. 30th: Missouri 

- Saturday, Feb. 2nd: Alabama 

- Tuesday, Feb. 5th: Florida 

- Saturday, Feb. 9th: at LSU

- Wednesday, Feb. 13th: Ole Miss

- Saturday. Feb. 16th: at Vanderbilt 

- Wednesday, Feb. 20th: Arkansas 

- Saturday, Feb. 23rd: at Kentucky 

- Wednesday, Feb. 27th: at Georgia 

- Saturday, March 2nd: Mississippi State 

- Tuesday, Mar. 5th: at Alabama 

- Saturday, Mar. 9th: Tennessee 

- Wednesday-Sunday, March 13th-17th: SEC Tournament (Nashville, Bridgestone Arena) 

In other news....

- While the 2018 football season is still a week away, Auburn fans can already mark their calendars for next spring's A-Day Game. That will come on April 13th, 2019 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The scrimmage is the only one open to fans and media. Fans are normally charged $5 to enter the stadium and watch the game. Auburn's 2018 A-Day drew a crowd of 28,033, the lowest output in the Gus Malzahn era. That low turnout on April 7th was partly blamed on unseasonably cool temperatures and wet weather. 

Three of the four best crowds in A-Day history have occurred during Malzahn's stint, including a record 83,401 in 2013, which included the final rolling of the original oak trees at Toomer's Corner. Next spring's A-Day roster figures to have a new quarterback, as Jarrett Stidham is expected to enter the NFL Draft should he have a successful season this fall. The Tigers will also lose three senior linebackers. Coach Malzahn signed a seven-year contract last December that will take him through the 2025 campaign. His average salary during the course of the contract is $7 million per year. 

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





Friday, August 24th, 2018

Today's top story is actually news that I wrote about last Friday that became official yesterday. This will likely benefit those who may not have read the original post. 

As Auburn fans know, the Tigers will square off with Washington in the 2018 football season opener a week from tomorrow. Now, it's been confirmed that a little over two months later, the two teams will also tangle on the basketball court. The Tigers announced Thursday that they have scheduled a home-and-home men's basketball series against the Huskies. Auburn will host the Pac-12 school on November 9th this year. Then, they will travel to Washington for a match at a date to be determined in 2019. 

"We have worked so hard to create an environment that is worthy of Power 5 conference teams being willing to come to Auburn," Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl said in a press release. "Auburn Arena has as good of an environment as there is in college basketball right now. For Coach (Mike) Hopkins and Washington out of the Pac-12 to be willing to get into a home-and-home series with us is huge."

The two squads have only faced off once before on the court, and that was just over seven decades ago.  The Huskies defeated the Tigers 59-29 during the 1947-48 campaign. Before conference play kicks off for the upcoming season, Auburn will also play N.C. State and take part in the Maui Invitational for the first time in program history. 

In other news.....

- Coach Malzahn announced yesterday that center Nick Brahms and defensive tackle Daquan Newkirk have both been cleared to participate in contact practices. "(Nick) Brahms and (Daquan) Newkirk have actually been through the regular practice," he pointed out. "They weren't limited in any capacity. I think they're coming along. We'll see as far as playing first game and all that, but the fact that they took their orange jerseys off and practiced, I think that's a positive thing moving forward." 

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

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018

Auburn football's latest commitment hails from the mid-Atlantic. Four-star defensive back Cam'Ron Kelly of Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith has pledged to the Tigers over programs such as Oklahoma, Penn State and Virginia Tech. He announced the news via Twitter. 

Kelly, at 6-feet-1, 190 pounds, ranks as the No. 13 athlete and the No. 177 overall recruit in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. Kelly said in a recent interview that the Tigers want him at cornerback. However, he has the body and versatility to line up anywhere in the secondary. He is Auburn's third commitment for 2019 in the past week. Defensive end Colby Wooden and cornerback Zion Puckett both pledged to the Tigers late last week.  

​Kelly, a former Virginia Tech commit, will be a mid-year enrollee. He visited Auburn for the first time in late July. He plans to return this fall for an official visit. "It's a very special place," he said. "I love the coaches. I love everything about it. ...If you want to come win a Jim Thorpe Award, this is the place to be. You go to the ACC and you can have the same stats as a dude from Auburn and you're up in the running against an SEC West team, you already know where the award is going."  

Unsurprisingly, Auburn secondary coach Marcus Woodson is Kelly's primary recruiter. Kelly is the 16th commit for the Tigers, who rose three spots to No. 8 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings with his pledge. This is Auburn's highest ranking in the 2019 recruiting cycle, but it still has about seven or eight spots left to fill.  

​For the Tigers, Kelly is the fourth pledge who could play in the secondary. He joins Puckett and Jaylin Simpson, both four-star corners, along with four-star athlete Jashawn Sheffield, in the Class of '19. 

Only 10 more days until the 2018 season gets underway. And as I write this, I'm watching a replay of the "Kick Six" game on the SEC Network, which has been running a string of classic SEC football games over the past couple of weeks. "There goes Davis!"

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




Sunday, August 19th, 2018

It's been long written in stone that Jarrett Stidham is set to be the Tigers' starting quarterback for a second straight year. Many even consider him a Heisman Trophy contender. But as fall camp neared, Auburn needed a backup QB, and players like Malik Willis, Joey Gatewood and Cord Sandberg, among others, were vying for the role.  

Today, head coach Gus Malzahn halted the uncertainty when he revealed that Willis had won the job and would serve as Stidham's primary reserve during the upcoming 2018 campaign. Willis went 6-of-7 passing with 45 yards and a touchdown last season while also adding 221 yards rushing and another score on 16 carries. 

Sandberg, Willis and Gatewood are all talented in their own rights, and when Stidham eventually moves on to the NFL (which many believe will happen after this season), it should be quite intriguing to see who will be handed the obviously daunting task of filling his shoes. Hey, just one more note: Only 13 more days until the season begins! It just can't seem to get here quickly enough! 

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

Saturday, August 18th, 2018

Auburn football hit the jackpot yesterday with a new member of the 2019 class. Zion Puckett, a four-star cornerback from Spalding High (Ga.), pledged to the Tigers yesterday afternoon over Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio State and others. According to the 247Sports Composite, Puckett ranks as the No. 104 recruit nationally and the 7th-ranked athlete. 

The 6-feet, 200-pound Puckett is Auburn's 15th commitment of '19, and his pledged enabled the Tigers to climb to No. 10 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings. "What I like most about Auburn is probably the family environment," he told Auburn Undercover. "Having a former player I have down there (offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm) is big. And I really like Coach (Marcus) Woodson."

Auburn went to the top of Puckett's list during his three-day visit to the campus in early June for Big Cat Weekend. Since then, his ties with the Tigers have only grown stronger. "I just wanted to commit early and worry about school and my team without any distractions," Puckett told Auburn Undercover. His senior season kicked off last night.  

For the Tigers, Puckett is the third commitment who could play in the secondary. He joined four-star corner Jaylin Simpson and four-star athlete Jashawn Sheffield, both of St. Simons Island (Ga.) Frederica Academy, in the class. Auburn continues to excel in the state of Georgia during this recruiting cycle. The Tigers now have three recruits ranked in the top 16 for the state committed - five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe (No. 3), Puckett (No. 11) and four-star offensive guard Keiondre Jones (No. 16). Three-star defensive end Colby Wooden of Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer pledged to the Tigers on Thursday. 

In other news....

- Former Auburn DB Robenson Therezie hasn't been on an active NFL roster since 2016, when he split time between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. Last year, he shared time with the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals, but didn't make an appearance for either squad. 

However, it looks like he'll be getting another shot this year in the last three games of the preseason, as word came out today that the Indianapolis Colts have signed Therezie to a contract. The Colts will face the Baltimore Ravens in their second preseason match this coming Monday night. While it's doubtful that Therezie will be in full swing by then, he'll still have two games left to make an impact.  

He recorded an interception and two passes defended, all occurring in 2015 with the Falcons. From my point of view, his two biggest plays as a Tiger came in 2013. One was a 78-yard pick-6 in a 30-22 win over Ole Miss. The other was a blocked field goal in the "Kick Six" Iron Bowl (one of four failed field goal tries by the Tide that night, including the famous final play). 

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

 


Friday, August 17th, 2018

​It may seem an eternity away, but Auburn football has scheduled two more Power 5 opponents for the future. Auburn announced yesterday that it will play home-and-home series with Baylor and UCLA, giving the Tigers a Power 5 opponent from 2025 through 2028. Auburn will hold its home-and-home series with Baylor in 2025 and 2026, with the Tigers traveling to Baylor in 2025 (in Waco, Texas) before hosting the Bears at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2026.  

Auburn will take a trip to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to square off with UCLA in 2027 before hosting the Bruins in 2028. The Tigers last played in the Rose Bowl in the final BCS National Championship Game in January 2014, losing to Florida State 34-31. The contests with Baylor are scheduled for Aug. 30th, 2025 and Sept. 5th, 2026, while the matches against UCLA are slated for Sept. 4th, 2027 and Sept. 2nd, 2028.

​Auburn and UCLA have never met on the gridiron. The Tigers last competed with Baylor in 1976, with the Bears squeaking by the Tigers 15-14. Auburn has filled its schedule with the SEC's requirement for at least one Power 5 non-conference game through the 2028 season. Yesterday's scheduling announcement emphasized Auburn's continual desire to schedule non-conference opponents at home in even years due to the league's schedule placing rivals Georgia and Alabama as the team's final two SEC road games in those same seasons. The SEC's current schedule rotation runs through 2025. 

The Tigers will play neutral-site games against Power 5 teams in each of the next three seasons, starting with this year's upcoming opener against 6th-ranked Washington on Sept. 1st. ​Auburn will open the 2019 campaign against Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, then travel to Atlanta to open the 2020 season against North Carolina in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

​Auburn will also play a home-and-home series with Penn State starting in 2021 and ending in 2022 with the Nittany Lions traveling to Jordan-Hare Stadium. Cal will do the same with Auburn in 2023 and 2024 in a series that has already changed dates once. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn's seven-year, $49-milion contract is scheduled to expire following the 2025 campaign. Malzahn is entering his sixth season at the helm after guiding his team to a 10-4 record and second appearance in the SEC Championship Game in his tenure. 

In other news...

​- The football program wasn't alone in scheduling future opponents this week. Auburn and Washington have agreed to a home-and-home series on the basketball court, according to Auburn Undercover. The series will begin this fall when the Huskies travel to Auburn on November 9th, a source confirmed. The Tigers will make a return trip to Washington in 2019-20.   

​Auburn is scheduled to play three games in the Maui Invitational starting on Nov. 19th against Xavier. The Tigers will also play either Duke or San Diego State and a third game against an opponent to be determined later in the tournament (Arizona, Iowa State, Gonzaga or Illinois). Auburn will later travel to NC State for a non-conference tilt on Dec. 19th. The Tigers enter the 2018-19 campaign coming off their third SEC title in program history and a second-place finish in the NCAA Tournament. 

- Former Auburn running back Kamryn Pettway's brief stint with the NFL Minnesota Vikings didn't play out very well, but he is now trying his hand at coaching. Pettway, 22, is now the running backs coach at Montgomery (Ala.) Park Crossing under first-year head coach Angelo Wheeler. 

"Things didn't turn out like I thought it would," Pettway told AL.com. "I couldn't sit around and wait on another opportunity, so I started working on my (coaching) career. If an NFL opportunity comes about again, I'll be ready for it. I'm still working out. When I'm coaching on the field, I still run through the drills when I show them an example. I'll be ready if the opportunity presents itself again." 

Wheeler and Pettway have been close since the latter played at Capital Heights Middle School. "He's always been a good coach, always pushed guys," Pettway said. "He'd always try to keep guys out of trouble by keeping them playing sports, keeping them active, and I felt like he was a father figure to a lot of guys who didn't have fathers. He was a good guy, and I want to help kids like he did." 

Pettway noted that coaching was always his ultimate dream and credits Auburn running backs coach Tim Horton for the boost to get there. Horton coached Pettway during the 2017 season. Since injury hindered Pettway's final season as a running back, it enabled him to spend more time behind the scenes to learn what goes into the daily life of being a coach. 

The former 247Sports three-star tailback flourished in his time at Auburn. He played in just five games last season as Kerryon Johnson dominated the SEC, but 2016 was a superb year for the 6-foot, 235-pounder. He rushed for 1,224 yards and seven touchdowns that season and closed out his Auburn career with 1,529 yards and 13 scores while averaging 5.4 yards a carry. 

Pettway's last game was last Oct. 21st at Arkansas, where he made 11 carries for 90 yards and three TDs. He sustained a fractured shoulder blade on his second-to-last carry. "I appreciate Kam Pettway's time at Auburn," head coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement in January earlier this year. "When healthy, he was a dominant running back. We'll be rooting for him moving forward and wish him nothing but the best." 

Pettway signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, but the team waived him a week later after time at rookie mini-camps in April. 

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




Thursday, August 16th, 2018

​Auburn football got its 14th commitment for the Class of 2019 today. Colby Wooden, a three-star defensive end from Archer High in Lawrenceville, Ga., just northeast of Atlanta, pledged to Gus Malzahn's troops. Wooden announced the news at his school, with family, teammates and coaches in attendance to share his excitement. He was down to Auburn and Clemson as his final two choices.

This is a big boost for the Tigers, who are in desperate need on the defensive front in the Class of '19. The 6-feet-4, 240-pound Wooden is the third defensive linemen to commit in this class, joining four-star Jaren Handy and three-star Jamond Gordon - both Mississippi natives. Wooden's pledge inched Auburn up to No. 15 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings. They may rise even higher later in the week, as four-star cornerback target Zion Puckett of Griffin (Ga.) Spalding is set to announce his pick between Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee tomorrow night. As of now, the Tigers are his official leader. 

When asked what stood out about Auburn, Wooden responded, "Just everything. I enjoy the atmosphere at the school. I enjoy the coaching staff. I connect with them all very well. I connect with the players, too." Wooden told 247Sports that he silently committed to Auburn during his most recent visit to the school on July 28th for the AU BBQ. 

Listed as a strong-side end, Wooden registered 11.5 sacks in 2017. In a scrimmage last week against Warner Robins (Ga.), he only played a half, but recorded three QB sacks and was in the backfield almost every snap. Aside from his athleticism, Wooden also appears to be successful in the classroom. He stated that he has a 3.5 GPA and plans to major in computer science. Welcome aboard, Colby! 

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




Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

The broadcast crew for Auburn's season opener against Washington has come to light. (Incidentally, the same holds true for all of the SEC games in Week 1.) Steve Levy will handle the play-by-play, with Brian Griese providing the color commentary, and Todd McShay as the sideline reporter. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 1st on ABC. 

Allow me to ramble on a bit just to make this post a little more interesting. One game that I still remember Levy calling was the 1999 Georgia game on ESPN2. (BTW, his partner that night was the late Todd Christensen. Only today did I find out via Wikipedia that Todd died at age 57 in November 2013 from complications following liver transplant surgery at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, near his home in Alpine. Reportedly, he had battled liver disease and related issues for about two years. But his son, Tory, stated that his liver problems began with a "botched" gall-bladder procedure 25 years earlier.)

Entering that contest, the Tigers were 4-5 in Tommy Tuberville's debut season as head coach. It had been a bumpy start for him. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, were 6-2, and ranked 14th in the country. We weren't given much hope of upsetting UGA, especially since we were playing on their home turf. But man, did we prove everyone wrong! Quarterback Ben Leard, a Hartwell, Ga. native, absolutely shredded the Georgia secondary, passing for 416 yards and four touchdowns (two to Ronney Daniels (59 and 78 yards), and one apiece to Markeith Cooper (10 yards) and Clifton Robinson (4 yards)). Leard also scored once himself on a QB sneak early in the third quarter. 

The Tigers led 31-0 at intermission. Georgia won the second half, but it was too little, too late for them, and we left Athens a 38-21 winner. Tuberville had his first trademark win for us. At one point in ESPN2's broadcast, Steve Levy alluded to a comment that Leard had made at some point prior to the game: "I hope to have Larry Munson (UGA's late legendary voice from 1966-2008) calling my name on some of the great highlights." At that point, they got a shot of Munson in the booth. It should come as no surprise that Leard had grown up listening to him. Eventually, I would come to listen and admire him myself. Well, I'd be willing to bet that on that night, Mr. Munson had plenty of praise to offer him.

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



Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

As any Auburn fan is well aware, the rivalry with Alabama is one of the most heated in all of sports. Unfortunately, that intensity can go too far at times. If you're not careful, it could even get you into trouble, as a former Auburn defensive lineman has discovered.

Yesterday, the NFL Miami Dolphins reported that they had released ex-Tiger Gabe Wright after he apparently got into a scuffle with former Alabama RB Kenyan Drake during a recent practice. As described by Barry Jackson of the ​Miami Herald, ​"Wright grazed Drake with an elbow to the back when Drake wasn't wearing a helmet. One Dolphins source said that Wright's shot was uncalled for." 

​Wright was a fourth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2015. The Dolphins, however, were his third team, as he spent the 2016 campaign with the Cleveland Browns before heading to Miami last season. Now, he'll be on the search for his fourth team in four years. Best of luck to him, and I hope he learns from this mistake. 



In other news....

​- Former Auburn wide receiver Myron Burton Jr. was arrested by Duluth, Ga. police last Friday on armed robbery charges. According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, Burton, who left the Tigers in 2015, was scheduled to appear in court yesterday. 

According to the report, Duluth police told WSB-TV that "Burton Jr. stormed into China Taste on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard on Tuesday, pointing a semi-automatic pistol at the owner while demanding cash. Police said he got away with $300." The Atlanta-Journal Constitution offered further details on the incident after obtaining a copy of the police report. 

​"An employee was at the sink about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday when Burton came in with what appeared to be a black semi-automatic pistol in his left hand," MYAJC.com said. Surveillance cameras captured the incident, and the gun used in the robbery was recovered at Burton's home during the arrest, the report stated. "He then called her up to the counter demanding money while pointing the gun in the employee's direction," Duluth police said in the report. "Fearing for her safety, (she) opened the register drawer, withdrew what she approximates to be $300 and handed it to the male, at which time he promptly fled the store on foot." 

Burton, 21, is a former three-star recruit out of Suwanee (Ga.) Peachtree Ridge in the Class of 2014. At Auburn, Burton was an MVP of the 2015 A-Day spring game, when he made seven catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. When the 2015 season rolled around, though, he was no longer with the program. "Myron Burton is no longer on the team," head coach Gus Malzahn said at the time. "It was a mutual decision." 

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



Monday, August 13th, 2018

The SEC Network has one sure-fire way to get even the most casual fan revved up for the 2018 college football season. A poll of fans recently voted for 16 classic SEC games, and the list that came out on top includes two games from this past season, and even dates back to the 1990s. 

The programming began on Saturday night with Missouri's 28-21 win over Texas A&M in 2013, and continued last night with Vanderbilt's 31-27 upset of Georgia that same season. A list of the remaining games follows.

- Monday, August 13th: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) - "The Game of the Century" - LSU vs. Alabama (2011): The Bayou Bengals knocked off the Tide 9-6 in overtime to cap a defensive tussle. LSU's Drew Alleman booted a field goal for the win. Neither team scored a touchdown all night. 

- Tuesday, August 14th: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) - "The Greatest Game Ever in the Swamp" - Florida vs. FSU (1997): The 10th-ranked Gators stunned top-ranked FSU 32-29 in this one.  

- Wednesday, August 15th: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) - Tennessee vs. Arkansas (1998): The top-ranked Vols rescued their season with a dramatic game-winning drive capped by a Travis Henry TD plunge in the final seconds to win 28-24. The drive was set up by Arkansas QB Clint Stoerner's fumble.

​- Thursday, August 16th: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) - Texas A&M vs. Alabama (2012): The 15th-ranked Aggies made their first-ever trip to Tuscaloosa a happy one with this 29-24 upset of the top-ranked Tide. 

​- Friday, August 17th: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) - Ole Miss vs. Alabama (2015): The 15th-ranked Rebels never trailed the second-ranked Tide all night in this mind-boggling 43-37 decision. 

- Saturday, August 18th: 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) - Auburn vs. Georgia (2013): "The Prayer at Jordan-Hare": Trailing 38-37 with 36 seconds left and facing 4th-and-18 on its own 27, Auburn's incredible season appeared to have fallen off the cliff. But Nick Marshall heaved  up a prayer that was deflected by two Bulldog defenders into the hands of sophomore receiver Ricardo Louis, who sped home for the improbable 73-yard TD to give the Tigers a 43-38 victory. 

​- Saturday, August 18th: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT): Alabama at South Carolina (2010): The Gamecocks clinched their first defeat of a top-ranked team in school history by upending Bama 35-21. 

​- Saturday, August 18th: 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT): Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M (2000 Independence Bowl): The Bulldogs won a 43-41 overtime thriller in a game that saw a snowstorm inundate Shreveport (a rare event for that area) just prior to kickoff. Many of the 36,974 fans headed home at halftime.  

​- Sunday, August 19th: 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT): LSU at Kentucky (2007): The Wildcats pulled off this 43-37 triple-overtime stunner of the top-ranked Tigers in Lexington, though LSU would still go on to win all the marbles.

​- Sunday, August 19th: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT): Georgia vs. Alabama (2018 CFP National Championship): Bama topped the Dawgs 26-23 in overtime.  

- Sunday, August 19th: 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT): LSU at Kentucky (2002): "The Bluegrass Miracle": As UK fans rushed the field celebrating an apparent upset win, LSU QB Marcus Randall launched a bomb that was deflected by four Kentucky defenders and caught by receiver Devery Henderson who sped home for the shocking 75-yard score to give the Bayou Bengals a thrilling 33-30 victory. 

- Monday, August 20th: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT): LSU vs. Arkansas (2007): In Houston Nutt's last hurrah as the Razorbacks' head coach, his squad knocked off the top-ranked Tigers 50-48 in this triple OT thriller. 

- Tuesday, August 21st: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT): Georgia vs. Oklahoma (2018 Rose Bowl): Sony Michel's 27-yard TD jaunt sent the Dawgs to the national title game in this 54-48 double OT roller coaster ride.  

- Wendesday, August 22nd: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT): Auburn vs. Alabama (2013): "The Kick Six." Chris Davis returned a missed field goal try by Bama's Adam Griffith 109 yards for a TD as time expired to give the Tigers an epic 34-28 win and send them to the SEC title game. Need I say more? 



Set your DVRs if need be, folks. 



In other news:

- Former Auburn wide receiver Quan Bray has already landed a new NFL home. The Houston Texans agreed to  a new deal with him yesterday, Bray's agent announced via Twitter. Bray, a fourth-year player, was waived by the Buffalo Bills last Monday after trading with the Cleveland Browns for WR Corey Coleman. Bray previously appeared in nine games for the Indianapolis Colts, but was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 7, 2017. The team released him the following month after reaching an injury settlement. 

For his career, which began as an undrafted free agent in 2015, Bray has caught six passes for 75 yards. He has made larger contributions as a return specialist. He has registered 48 total kick returns, including three of 40-plus yards. He has also returned 45 punts. 



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





Sunday, August 12th, 2018

​Auburn football clinched its fifth commitment for 2020 today. Damarjhe Lewis, a defensive tackle from Griffin (Ga.) just recently offered by the Tigers, pledged to Gus Malzahn's program this morning via Twitter. Lewis ranks as the No. 30 defensive tackle nationally in the 247Sports Composite, although he does not yet have a rating from 247Sports. 

"First, I'd like to thank God for blessing me with an opportunity to do something I love at the next level," Lewis wrote in his commitment Tweet. "Also, I'd like to thank my mom, my stepfather, my aunt, her husband, my grandma, my coaches and everyone else who helped and supported me over the years....I want to say thanks to all the coaches at other schools for recruiting me...I'm super excited to make this announcement that I'm committed to Auburn University. Extremely excited to play for Coach Rodney Garner."

​Auburn offered Lewis a scholarship on July 28th when he visited the school for the AU BBQ. His pledge is obviously a big boost for the Tigers, who now have the No. 4 recruiting class in America. Auburn is only surpassed by Miami (FL), Ohio State and Alabama. Lewis joins four four-stars on the commit list - defensive ends Andy Boykin and Quandarrius Robinson, receiver Kobe Hudson and linebacker Demouy Kennedy. The 2020 class is already well ahead unlike the pace the team had with the 2019 class. A year ago at this time, Auburn had just one 2019 pledge - receiver George Pickens. 

​When the Tigers offered Lewis, he pointed out, "I'm excited. ...Auburn just moved to the top." That was his second offer. Syracuse was his first. At the AU BBQ, Lewis got to spend plenty of time with defensive line coach Rodney Garner who, unsurprisingly, has made him an early top priority. "I love them -- I love Auburn," Lewis noted. "I love Coach Garner. He's cool."  That marked  Lewis's second visit to Auburn. The first time around, he attended a game at Jordan-Hare Stadium - the 2017 Iron Bowl, in which the Tigers upset then-top-ranked Alabama 26-14. "It was good, it was awesome," he said aptly.  

Lewis intends to return to Auburn numerous times this season. 



​Only 20 more days until kickoff. Can't you feel the excitement? That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

Thursday, August 9th, 2018

​Auburn football got a scare today when highly-touted right guard Calvin Ashley, who moved over from right tackle, injured his neck or head during the team's first scrimmage of preseason camp this morning, head coach Gus Malzahn said. He was seen moving his arms and legs after the injury. Ashley was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Thankfully, an update emerged shortly before 1:00 p.m. CT this afternoon that he had undergone a battery of tests that came back negative. Ashley was OK and was discharged from the hospital, according to a team spokesperson. 

Ashley was working as a second-team right guard behind Mike Horton, but was expected to possibly emerge as a starter as Horton split time between guard and center. Auburn's primary questions on the depth chart clearly lie in the offensive line, where the entire right side of the line, including center, is up for grabs in position battles. "They did some good things," Malzahn noted. "I've got to sit down and look at the details about the double teams and how much movement they got and everything that goes with that."  

The Tigers had hoped to settle on a starting lineup and rotation along the offensive line after the first scrimmage, but Ashley's injury will likely put that on hold until at least the second scrimmage of preseason camp next week. "There's good competition," Malzahn said earlier this week. "We've just got some guys that are a little inexperienced that need experience. That's why we did a whole bunch of 11-on-11 (Sunday) - not just for (Calvin Ashley), but for a lot of our young guys." 

Auburn returns only 20 combined starts among three players along the offensive line (left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho Jr., left guard Marquel Harrell and Horton). Tashawn Manning and Brodarious Hamm can rotate at left and right guard if necessary. Ashley's top competition at right guard was Manning. Malzahn noted that Horton split reps evenly between right guard and center during today's scrimmage. 

 UMass graduate transfer Jack Driscoll, a former two-star prospect, started 20 games at UMass and earned honorable mention All-America honors. Meanwhile, right tackle Austin Troxell was a highly-touted 4-star signee in the class of 2017. He sat out that season as a redshirt. Driscoll was a lightly-regarded two-star prospect, ranking No. 223 in the nation in 2015, according to the 247Sports Composite. On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said that the competition at tackle was "very close." 

"Both are awesome kids," Lindsey stated. "Very smart, intelligent guys. Both of them are tough, physical guys. They're kind of both technicians. They're very similar in my opinion. Now Jack is an older guy that's played some, obviously not at Auburn. Trox redshirted and now he's ready to go. I think those are two good players that are going to be here for a while." 

Hopefully, they will be just a part of the offensive line's success as time goes on. And thank God that Ashley's injury was apparently not as serious as it very well could have been. 



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

 

 

Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

​Like father, like son. Word came out yesterday that Allen Flanigan, son of Wes Flanigan, a former All-SEC Auburn point guard and current assistant coach for the Tigers, has committed to play for Bruce Pearl's troops. 

"My family is down there, my mom," Allen said. "Auburn is a great place to play. Coach Pearl lets his guys get after it and play ball. He plays the best five." Allen is entering his final season at Parkview High School in Little Rock, Ark., where he plays for legendary coach Alfred Flanigan, his grandfather and Wes's father. For Wes, this was something he dreamed of for a long time. Now, it's on the brink of becoming a reality.

​"One of the bad things about the business is you probably end up spending more time mentoring other people's kids than you do your own," Wes said. "You miss so much valuable time with them. It's a blessing that Coach Pearl is giving me and my son this opportunity." The 6-feet-5, 200-pound Allen got an offer from Auburn after standing out at the Fab 48 AAU event in Las Vegas. Other schools across the country expressed interest as well. Last season as Parkview, he averaged 13 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, but the eldest Flanigan expects those figures to climb in the coming season. 

​"We had three or four guys that were good," Alfred Flanigan stated. "He played his role...This year I'm counting on him getting about 21 a game." Allen's passion for basketball runs in his family. His uncle, Jason Flanigan, played at Ole Miss and is now a coach at Holmes Community College in Mississippi. His grandfather will conclude a Hall of Fame career after this season. Wes was a four-year Auburn letterman and winner of the Cliff Hare Award that goes to the top student in any sport. He was a graduate assistant when the Tigers won the SEC championship in 1999. 

According to his father and grandfather, Allen can be the best at the game. "He shoots the ball better than Wes," Alfred Flanigan said. "Wes was a dog when he was playing. Once he gets that dog in him where he wants to destroy somebody, he'll be better than Wes." Wes doesn't dispute that view. "That's something he's going to have to answer," he said. "He is going to definitely have the opportunity. He's as talented if not more talented than me and his uncle. He has size. He has skill. Obviously, we've already been through our process. He has his own road to take. I think the best is yet to come. If he keeps his head on straight and stays humble, anything is possible." 

Allen's journey through high school, however, has been a strange one. He missed his sophomore campaign due to a knee condition called osteochondritis dissecans. When he returned to action, he had grown some eight inches. "That's why he's kind of late-blooming," Wes explained. "That leg was immobilized and everything had to mend back. He grew seven or eight inches. When he came back, he was a whole different player because of his size and length." 

"It was almost like being a baby giraffe. His feet had gone from a 9 to a 14 and he was all of a sudden one of the taller players on the team. We look at him as a versatile guy. Coach Pearl loves versatility in his lineup. Before it's all said and done, I think he's going to be able to play four positions for us." Allen will sign in November, but he left yesterday to return to Little Rock, where he will live with his grandparents and play in the final season of his grandfather's career. 

"It's really special," Allen said. "We share an unbelievable bond. For me to be able to play and finish up in Little Rock playing for him means a lot." Then the time will come to play for his father. "It will probably be a little like it is playing for my granddad," Allen admitted. "He'll probably be a little harder on me, but that's OK." 



In other news...

- Former Auburn linebacker Cassanova McKinzy is getting another chance to restart his NFL career. The former three-year starter for the Tigers, who joined the professional ranks a year ago with the Tampa Bay Bucs, has signed a free agent agreement with the Washington Redskins, the team announced. McKinzy was a vital player for Auburn, amassing 258 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks in his college tenure.  

 During his time in the NFL, McKinzy has been with Tampa Bay, the L.A. Rams and Washington. A hamstring injury cut his time with the Bucs short, and this is his second stint with Washington as the roster spot was open after the team waived former Florida linebacker Alex McCalister. McKinzy has largely been a part of practice squads, and he was signed by the Redskins earlier this year. 



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

 

Saturday, August 4th, 2018

Auburn football has one less offensive lineman on its roster. News broke yesterday that backup lineman Tyler Carr has decided to leave the team after several seasons on the bench. 

Carr, a former 4-star prospect out of Gadsden, Alabama, graduates with his bachelor's degree today and, according to head coach Gus Malzahn, will "pursue his dream and he will no longer be with our team." Malzahn added that "He's a wonderful young man. He's brought a lot to his time here at Auburn." 

The Tigers have depth issues along the offensive line and have moved right tackle Calvin Ashley to right guard. Carr never started a game in his Auburn career. Malzahn said that he intends to pursue an internship in supply management. "He has been a wonderful teammate, a joy to coach and one of my favorites. ...We're rooting for him. He'll be very successful in life."  

​In three seasons with the Tigers, Carr played in 26 games. He was classified as a junior entering this season. He played a total of 48 snaps last season (less than four per game). It would have been tough for Carr to crack the starting lineup with Mike Horton and Marquel Harrell set to start at guard or elsewhere along the offensive front. Carr could have played tackle at his size, but it appears he was destined to remain at guard behind proven starters, thus prompting his decision to pursue other endeavors. 

​Carr was recruited by Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt while he attended Southside High in Gadsden. He was part of the 2015 recruiting class at Auburn. He sat out his first season as a redshirt. Auburn's first-team offensive line on Day 1 of preseason camp yesterday consisted of Prince Tega Wanogho Jr., Marquel Harrell, Kaleb Kim, Mike Horton and Austin Troxell. 

​The Tigers return to practice Sunday before donning full pads for the first time in preseason camp on Tuesday.  



In other news....

- Former Auburn linebacker Tre' Williams' dreams of playing in the NFL are currently on hold due to a nagging shoulder injury. But fear not. This season, he is joining Gus Malzahn's staff with a role in Auburn's recruiting office. Williams was at Auburn's first practice of preseason camp yesterday.  

​"Tre' is going to help us in a (recruiting) capacity," Malzahn stated. "He had surgery, and then he's going to go to the NFL next year. There's no doubt he would have had a great chance of making it this year, but he had an injury, got DQ'ed and then had surgery. So he's going to help us in  a recruiting role, and he'll do a super job. I really expect him to be in the NFL next year." 

​Williams injured an re-injured his right shoulder three times during the 2017 campaign, and missed three games because of it. Still, he finished the season with 50 tackles. He left the Tigers' 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship in the first half after re-aggravating the injury. He walked off the field with a towel draped over his head and later donned a sling on his right arm. 

He overcame a second aggravation of the injury the week before the Iron Bowl and managed to play in the 26-14 upset of then-No. 1 Alabama, the eventual national champions. "Man, it don't matter, around this time I'd play without one leg," Williams said at the time. "I'd give my arm to Auburn 'cause Auburn gave it all to me." 



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

 

Friday, August 3rd, 2018

With Day 1 of preseason camp in the books for Auburn football, you may be pleasantly surprised at the news that broke today. 

Injured receivers Eli Stove and Will Hastings were both confirmed to have participated in practice today. Hastings and Stove suffered torn ACLs in their left and right knees, respectively, in March and are not expected to be cleared to play in games until at least midway through the season. However, they took part in individual drills with their teammates today. Unsurprisingly, though, both were wearing orange non-contact jerseys, and aren't expected to participate in anything beyond early-practice drills with tackle dummies and the JUGGS machine, which throws balls to receivers. 

​Head coach Gus Malzahn said at SEC Media Days on July 19th that he expects Hastings to possibly be available midway through this season. "He's off to a very good start," Malzahn stated. "His rehab is going excellent. We're hoping we get him back by the middle of the season. Last year he had a great season. He's one of our go-to guys. He's an impact player. Eli Stove is another one that was a tough blow...Those two tough blows that we need other receivers to step up in their absence until we get them back." 

​Stove suffered his injury prior to spring break and underwent surgery March 13th. He was having a strong spring before apparently suffering the injury in Auburn's first contact practice on March 8th. Stove made 29 receptions for 265 yards last season, serving mainly as a quick option on screens. He was also used on jet sweeps, registering 30 carries for 315 yards and two touchdowns. He made 10 explosive plays of 20 yards or more for the Tigers in 2017. 

Hastings, a former walk-on kicker, switched to receiver and became one of Auburn's main targets in last season. He snagged 26 catches for 525 yards and four TDs while averaging 20.2 yards per reception, the second-best average among players on the roster. As a high school player, Hastings established himself as one of the top receivers in the state of Arkansas, catching 113 passes for 2,040 yards and 23 scores at Pulaski Academy, becoming only the second player in state history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark in receiving on the high school level. 

​He quickly leapt up the depth chart as a role player and later a starter at Auburn, where his teammates refer to him as "White Lightning." He holds several of the team's best times in agility drills during the offseason. 



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



Thursday, August 2nd, 2018

Auburn's 24-hour programming slot on the SEC Network's Takeover schedule is set to commence tonight, and the full schedule follows. 



- 11 p.m. (Thursday) - 2 a.m. Friday (CT): Men's golf 2017 SEC Championship. This was the team's first conference crown since 2002. 

- 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. (CT): Women's soccer vs. Florida, 2017. This marked Auburn's third straight triumph over the Gators and fourth in the past five meetings. 

- 4 a.m. - 5 a.m. (CT): "SEC Storied" documentary: Mighty Ruthie. ​Ruthie Bolton, an Olympic gold medalist and Auburn women's basketball legend, overcame domestic abuse to become an advocate for women.

- 5 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. (CT): Baseball - Auburn vs. Northeastern, 2018. Casey Mize's no-hitter led the Tigers to a 6-0 win on March 9th. 

- 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (CT): Men's basketball - Auburn vs. South Carolina, 2018. The Tigers clinched their third SEC title overall and first since 1999 with this 79-70 win over the Gamecocks on March 3rd. 

- 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (CT): Women's gymnastics - 2016 win over Alabama. 

- 11 a.m. - Noon (CT): "SEC Storied" documentary: Rowdy. This chronicles Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and Auburn swimming star. 

- Noon - 3 p.m. (CT): Baseball - 2018 NCAA Regional - Auburn vs. N.C. State. The Tigers dominated the Wolfpack 15-7 to clinch the Raleigh Regional and advance to a Super Regional for the first time in 19 years. 

- 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. (CT): Football - 2017, Auburn vs. Georgia. The Tigers obliterated the top-ranked Bulldogs 40-17 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

- 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (CT): Men's basketball - 2018, Auburn vs. Alabama. On Feb. 21st, the Tigers upended their in-state rival 90-71 despite missing starters Anfernee McLemore and Mustapha Heron.

- 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. (CT): Football - 2017, Auburn vs. Alabama. The Tigers captured their second upset of a top-ranked opponent in three weeks with a 26-14 win over the Tide. More importantly, they clinched the SEC Western Division title and a trip to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. 



There you have it, folks. Whatever truly captures your interest in this list, set your DVRs accordingly.



In other news..... 

 - Happy Birthday to former Auburn wide receiver Terrell Zachery. 



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



Wednesday, August 1st, 2018

It's a bit late as I write this, so I'll get straight to the point. Auburn football's preseason schedule was released today. It is as follows:



- Friday, August 3rd (First practice): 

  2:55 p.m. CT- 3:15 p.m.: Open to the media

  5:45 p.m. (CT): Gus Malzahn, selected players post-practice interviews



- Sunday, August 5th:

  No media viewing window

 5:45 p.m. (CT): Gus Malzahn, selected players post-practice interviews



- Tuesday, August 7th (First day in full pads):

  3:05 p.m.-3:25 p.m.: Open to the media

  5:45 p.m.: Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey post-practice interviews



- Thursday, August 9th:

  No media viewing window 

 11:45 a.m. (CT): Gus Malzahn, selected players post-practice interviews 



- Saturday, August 11th:

 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. CT: Fan Day presented by Golden Flake (Auburn indoor practice facility)

No player interviews, b-roll only (whatever that means)



- Monday, August 13th: 

 3:05-3:25 p.m. CT: Open to the media 

 6 p.m. CT: Selected players post-practice interviews 



- Wednesday, August 15th:

  No media viewing window

  11:30 a.m. CT: Gus Malzahn, selected players post-practice interviews 



- Thursday, August 16th:

11 a.m. CT: Assistant coach interviews (Rane Room) 



- Sunday, August 19th

No media viewing window

11:30 a.m. CT: Gus Malzahn, selected players post-practice interviews 



- Monday, August 20th

 First day of classes



The 20-minute media viewing periods usually involve stretching, individual drills and special teams drills. 



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