Thursday, December 31st, 2020

As is sometimes the case, I'm in "short and sweet" mode today for my last post of 2020. 

Auburn basketball hung tough with Arkansas in Auburn Arena last night, but the Razorbacks remained undefeated with a 97-85 decision over the Tigers. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl rightly described Arkansas as "fast and quick." That they were. But looking at the stat sheet, the killer, in my mind, was turnovers. The Tigers committed 19, while the Hogs had just 10. On top of that, the visitors had a 27-11 lead in points off turnovers. 

Jamal Johnson scored a career-high 21 points for the Tigers, but it wasn't enough to overcome sloppy defensive play. In a nutshell, Auburn kept the Razorbacks on high alert, but couldn't quite execute well enough to pull off a victory. The good news: The Tigers will have a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday with a trip to Texas A&M in College Station. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

In other news.....

- Don't forget: The football team will wrap up its 2020 campaign tomorrow in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando against Northwestern. Kickoff is set for noon CT on ABC. 

That's all for now. I pray that God's rich blessings will be upon all of you in 2021. I also pray that, be it according to His will, this new year will be a much, much better year! Until next time, Happy New Year, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

Wednesday, December 30th, 2020

I have three primary stories to cover today. The first two cover the football team, while the last focuses on men's hoops. 

- First off, bad news for the football team. Auburn will be without at least three key offensive players in Friday's scheduled Citrus Bowl against Northwestern. According to AL.com's Matt Zenitz, safety Jamien Sherwood, wide receiver Anthony Schwartz and defensive back Christian Tutt are not expected to participate in the game. Zenitz further notes that the trio has not taken part in bowl practices. 

​Sherwood is reportedly expected to declare for the NFL Draft. The junior defender is third on the team with 65 tackles. Meanwhile, the long-term plans of Schwartz and Tutt are not clear. Schwartz leads the team in receptions with 54. The junior speedster is second in receiving yards with 636, eclipsed only by Seth Williams' 688 yards (on 42 catches). Tutt, a junior, has 31 total tackles, as well as a fumble return for a touchdown, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup. 

Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is serving as interim head coach for the contest before Bryan Harsin takes charge. Barring any last-minute cancellation, the Citrus Bowl is set for noon CT on Friday in Camping World Stadium in Orlando, and will be televised by ABC. 

In other news.....

​- Running back Mark Antony-Richards, who entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month, will indeed be leaving the Plains, it was confirmed yesterday. "It's best for me to get a fresh start," Richards told Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover. Out of Wellington High School in south Florida, Richards was rated as a four-star running back, the No. 4 athlete, the No. 12 Sunshine State product and the No. 90 overall prospect nationally in the Class of 2019 in the 247Sports Composite. He waited until National Signing Day in February to sign instead of during the Early Signing Period in December. 

Richards chose Auburn over fellow finalists Florida and Miami. His brother Ahmmon played for the Hurricanes. Mark-Antony also visited Georgia and Penn State before reaching a final decision. LSU, Tennessee and Texas A&M were also among his 19 scholarship offers. At Auburn, injuries kept him sidelined for 2019. This past season, he amassed 76 yards on 20 carries. 

Niebuhr further reports that Richards has not spoken with new Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin. The redshirt freshman shared a farewell message to the Tigers. "One thing I want to say, I love that place honestly," Richards told Niebuhr. "I really did. It's just something I feel was best for me." 

- Lastly, don't forget that Auburn men's basketball opens SEC action tonight at 6 p.m. CT when it hosts Arkansas in Auburn Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN2. You can also listen to the Auburn Sports Network by any means necessary.

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

Saturday, December 26th, 2020

I hope you all had a safe and Merry Christmas, even in the midst of uncertain and frustrating circumstances that we've all dealt with this year.

Unfortunately, Auburn football had one less Christmas gift under its tree yesterday. Phillip O'Brien Jr., a three-star safety from Deerfield Beach, Fla., announced that he has flipped his commitment from the Tigers to Pittsburgh. The No. 40 safety in the Class of 2021, O'Brien originally committed to Auburn on Feb. 1st. He also had offers from Alabama, Georgia, LSU and a number of other top programs. 

O'Brien was recruited by Wesley McGriff and Larry Porter, two coaches who may not be on Bryan Harsin's staff. 

In other news.....

​- Just a reminder: Auburn men's basketball will return to action next Wednesday, December 30th when it hosts Arkansas in its SEC opener at Auburn Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. 

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

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020

After days of uncertainty, a string of names scratched off the list, and a seemingly endless struggle, Auburn has finally found its new head football coach. Athletic director Allen Greene announced yesterday evening that Bryan Harsin has been named the 28th head coach in Auburn's 127-year history. 

​"I'm incredibly excited and humbled for the opportunity to be at a place like Auburn University," Harsin said via the school announcement. "I knew it would take a special opportunity to get me out of Boise and Auburn is exactly that, the chance to compete at the highest level for one of the greatest programs in college football. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the coaches and players in the Southeastern Conference, but am ready to help build a foundation at Auburn where we can consistently compete for championships. I want our program to make Auburn proud both on and off the field with consistent excellence. I'm very grateful to Allen Greene and (President) Dr. (Jay) Gogue for this opportunity. Kes, our kids and I can't wait to meet the Auburn family and get to work! War Eagle!" 

Harsin spent the previous seven seasons at Boise State, compiling a 69-19 record while winning three Mountain West Conference crowns. "We are thrilled to welcome Coach Harsin to the Auburn family," Greene said in a statement. "He's a proven winner whose record speaks for itself. Coach Harsin impressed me with his detailed plan to lead Auburn to consistently compete for championships in the Southeastern Conference. I'm grateful to Gen. Burgess, Quentin Riggins and each member of our advisory committee for their commitment to Auburn during this process. We look forward to welcoming Bryan, Kes and their children to the Plains to introduce them to the Auburn family." 

​Gogue said that Harsin meets the two primary goals of the coaching search. "We started the search with two goals. We want a coach who will lead our team to consistently compete at the highest levels and to make Auburn proud on and off the field. We found both in Coach Harsin. Our search was diligent and thoughtful, and it is unfortunate that so much misinformation was spread in recent days about the process. I appreciate the leadership of Athletics Director Allen Greene and the hard work of members of our search advisory group. Welcome, Coach Harsin, to the Auburn family."

Need we say more?

In other news......

​- Auburn basketball appears ready to step into SEC play. The Tigers overcame a slow start to beat Appalachian State 67-53 in Auburn Arena yesterday afternoon. After the Mountaineers pulled to within two, Auburn used a 12-0 run late to put this one away. The Tigers have now won 33 regular-season non-conference home contests. Jaylin Williams led the Tigers with 15 points. Auburn out-rebounded Appalachian State 38-21. With the victory, the Tigers improved to 53-7 in non-conference play over the past five seasons, clinching the SEC's best record in that category since 2016-17. 

The Tigers can now enjoy the Christmas season before returning to action next Wednesday, Dec. 30th, for a home tilt with Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. 

​- Finally, a bit of bad news on the men's basketball front. Sophomore guard Tyrell Jones has reportedly entered the transfer portal. With Sharife Cooper out, Jones began the season as the starting point guard for Auburn, only to quickly be replaced by true freshman Justin Powell. This could possibly mean that Cooper, who has been held out due to eligibility concerns, may soon be back on the court. The five-star point guard returned to practice this past week for the first time in more than a month.

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

​Sunday, December 20th, 2020

​Auburn football's first game minus Gus Malzahn at the helm will be played in Orlando. 

Today, the Tigers were invited and accepted a bid to play in the Citrus Bowl against Northwestern on New Year's Day, 2021. Auburn closed out its regular season with a 24-10 win over Mississippi State in Starkville last week. Meanwhile, the Wildcats won the Big Ten West and sit at 6-2 after losing to Ohio State 22-10 in the Big Ten Championship Game yesterday. 

The two squads have only met once before. That came in the 2010 Outback Bowl, with Auburn clinching a thrilling 38-35 overtime decision. At the time, Gene Chizik was the Tigers' head coach, while the aforementioned Malzahn was their offensive coordinator. 

In other news.....

- Another time and TV network change is in the cards for Auburn men's basketball. The Tigers' next game against Appalachian State in Auburn Arena has been moved to 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday afternoon, and will be televised by the SEC Network. Make note of that, folks. 

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

Saturday, December 19th, 2020

I'm kind of wiped out as I write this, so I'm going to be pretty blunt. Auburn basketball crushed Troy 77-41 in Auburn Arena today, largely thanks to a brilliant first half. By intermission, this one was essentially already out of reach with the Tigers holding a commanding 43-10 lead. 

The win gave Auburn its 32nd straight regular-season non-conference home victory and left the Tigers as the only SEC team without a non-league home defeat in the past four seasons. Allen Flanigan posted 14 points, Jaylin Williams had 11 and J.T. Thor had 10 to lead the home squad. The Tigers shot 75 percent in the first 20 minutes, taking an 18-2 cushion in points off turnovers. Both teams were plagued by turnovers, with Troy committing 19 and Auburn 18. All told, 12 different Tigers scored, including walk-ons Chandler Leopard and Lior Berman, who each had treys to account for Auburn's final baskets. 

Auburn will play one more non-conference match next Tuesday against Appalachian State in Auburn Arena before stepping into SEC play. This game is set for 1 p.m. CT and will be available online at SECN+.

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

Friday, December 18th, 2020

Heads up, Auburn fans! The reasons behind this are anyone's guess, but Auburn's men's basketball game with Troy has been moved up to 11 a.m. Saturday morning. On top of that, it will be telecast after all, specifically by the SEC Network. This should give us all plenty to watch considering all of the SEC football that will be on the docket as well. As for this match with the Trojans, however, something tells me it's going to be a dandy.....especially since the Tigers' opponent is, of all schools, my college alma mater. Imagine that!

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

​Thursday, December 17th, 2020

​I'll start today's post with a list of Auburn football's early signees for 2021. The list consists of each player's name, position, height, weight, hometown and high school.

​- Dematrius Davis; QB; 6-0, 195; Houston, TX; North Shore

​- A.D. Diamond; DB; 5-11, 170; Mobile, AL; Blount High

​- Kamal Hadden; CB; 6-1, 185; River Rouge, MI; Independence CC

​- Ahmari Harvey; S; 6-0, 175; Tallahassee, FL; FS University School 

​- Lee Hunter; DT; 6-5, 300; Mobile, AL; Blount High

​- Landen King; TE; 6-5, 220; Beaumont, TX; Atascocita High

- Garner Langlo; OT; 6-7, 280; Inverness, FL; Trinity Catholic

​- Ian Matthews; DL; 6-5, 270; Columbus, GA; Pacelli High

​- Tobechi Okoli; DE; 6-5, 255; Kansas City, MO; Lincoln Prep

​- Hal Presley; WR; 6-3, 197; Mansfield, TX; Mansfield Summit

-  Marquis Robinson; DT; 6-4, 300; Milton, FL; Milton High

I could go into details about all of these players, but that would be rather fruitless. If you want to know more, go to auburntigers.com and click the link "Auburn football signs 12: 'they did not waver.'" Anyway, I have to move on to a couple of other bits of news. 

In other news.....

- On the strength of an 18-2 second-half run, Auburn men's basketball pulled away for an 80-63 victory over Texas Southern in Auburn Arena on Tuesday night. The offense had a season-low nine turnovers. Also, the trio of Allen Flanigan, Justin Powell and Jaylin Williams scored a combined 48 points for the Tigers. Auburn has now won 31 straight over non-conference foes in Auburn Arena. 

The Tigers will be at home once again on Saturday afternoon when they host Troy at 1 p.m. CT. The game will be available online for streaming at SECN+. 

- Redshirt freshman Mark-Antony Richards, one of the top-ranked players from Auburn's 2019 class, entered the NCAA transfer portal yesterday, AL.com confirmed. Richards, who missed last season due to an injury, finished this regular season with just 20 carries. The Florida native was rated as the fourth-best athlete and the 90th-best overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class within the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

Of the Tigers' top four ranked players from that 2019 class, two are no longer with the team - defensive lineman Charles Moore and now Richards. 

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

​Monday, December 14th, 2020

Even in the wake of Gus Malzahn's firing, Auburn football has clinched a new commitment. 

Jarell Stinson, a three-star junior cornerback from Opelika High (Ala.), verbally pledged to the Tigers today, one day after Malzahn was dismissed. The 5-feet-10, 160-pound Stinson is listed as the No. 45 corner nationally and No. 16 recruit in the state of Alabama for the Class of 2022 according to the 247Sports Composite. Stinson also had offers from other programs such as Nebraska, Kentucky and Tennessee. 

​"I've heard a lot of good stuff about (secondary) coach (Wesley) McGriff and it's always been a dream to play at Auburn," Stinson told Auburn Undercover. The Tigers offered him on Oct. 12th. "I felt like it was close," Stinson said the week he was offered. "They have kept sending me mail and I have been recruiting with the DB coach a lot. (Wide receivers) Coach (Burns) had sent me a message and he texted my dad. My dad got him on the phone with me." 

In October, Stinson said the Auburn offer was pivotal for him for several different reasons. "It's crazy because I grew up watching Auburn," he explained. "My room is decorated in Auburn. I used to have Auburn sheets on my bed. It's just crazy." Stinson further noted that he will likely be a December graduate next year. He registered 57 total tackles (24 solo) in 2020 with one interception. Stinson is Auburn's third commitment for 2022. All three are defensive backs, with Andre Stewart and Brian Dilworth as the other two. 

Back to Stinson's comment about his Auburn room. I don't want to brag or outrank him, but I just happen to have an Auburn room myself. 

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

Sunday, December 13th, 2020

I have a lot to cover this afternoon, so I'm going to be as brief as I possibly can. 

- First off, Auburn football clinched a bowl bid with its 24-10 win at Mississippi State in Starkville last night. Anders Carlson kicked three field goals, and Tank Bigsby was the catalyst of our offense. He churned out 192 yards on 26 carries. Had it not been for him, the Tigers would have certainly been doomed. But the defense was the real story. It forced two turnovers and got six quarterback sacks. State was held to 240 yards on the night (including just 19 rushing). Bottom line: It wasn't fantastic by any means, but Auburn has guaranteed that it won't have to miss the postseason. We'll have to wait until next week to find out where the Tigers end up. 

- Auburn basketball came out on top with a 74-71 victory over Memphis in a see-saw battle at Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta yesterday evening. Justin Powell led the Tiger offense with 26 points in 33 minutes of play. The defense, meanwhile, forced 18 turnovers. Auburn will return to action when it hosts Texas Southern on Tuesday night in Auburn Arena at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be available online at SECN+. 

- Finally, the big news. The Gus Malzahn era at Auburn is officially over. Word came out this afternoon that athletic director Allen Greene has fired Malzahn after eight seasons as the Tigers' head coach. Prior to that, he had served as Auburn's offensive coordinator from 2009-11. In his first season in charge, he guided his team to a dazzling 12-2 slate, including an SEC Championship and an appearance in the final BCS national title game. But since then, Auburn has lost at least four games every year. 

In eight years, Malzahn amassed a 68-35 record, including 39-27 in SEC play. The Tigers won an SEC West crown in 2017. Malzahn also pocketed three wins over Alabama, the first of which, of course, was the most memorable - the "Kick Six" in 2013. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will serve as the Tigers' interim head coach, and a national search for Malzahn's permanent replacement will begin immediately. 

In the eyes of many Auburn fans, this move was long overdue. As for me, though, I'm quite appalled. Yes, the Tigers haven't always been up to par under Malzahn's watch. However, I've seen and met Gus in person many times, and I can assure you that he is a class act with tremendous kindness, faith and integrity. More than that, he knows the Lord. I can only wish more people did. I hate to see this happen to him, and I will miss him and his services to Auburn greatly. I wish him, his wife Kristi, and their daughters, Kylie and Kenzie, nothing but the best in the future. God Bless each and every one of them. 

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

Friday, December 11th, 2020

I have quite a few key headlines to cover, but since it's late, I'm going to keep them as short and sweet as possible, 

- First off, Auburn men's basketball will play Memphis tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. CT in Atlanta for the Holiday Hoopsgiving event. The game will be televised on the SEC Network's Alternate Channel. (I've been told that Bruce Pearl requested that the tipoff time be changed so that the game wouldn't overlap with the football game.) 

- Speaking of the football game, I now know the broadcast team for our game with Mississippi State tomorrow in Starkville on the SEC Network. Tom Hart will handle the play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers will provide the color commentary, and Cole Cubelic will be the sideline reporter. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT. 

​- Senior linebacker K.J. Britt announced last night via his Twitter account that he's played his last game for the Tigers and will now focus on preparing for the NFL Draft. After sustaining an injury against Georgia in Week 2, he never saw the field again this season. 

- Big news for the TV landscape broke yesterday. The SEC announced a new 10-year TV deal with ESPN beginning in the 2024-25 athletic season that will allow college football and basketball to be telecast by ESPN or ABC. I can see and hear fans everywhere rejoicing that they'll no longer have to see or hear Gary Danielson by then. 

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

Wednesday, December 9th, 2020

The tipoff time and TV network for Auburn basketball's game with Memphis has been set. The two Tiger clubs will tangle on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta, Ga. The game will be televised on the SEC Network Alternate channel. 

From my point of view, this is perfect timing. As you all should be well aware, the football team will face Mississippi State in Starkville for its regular-season finale at 6:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. I was very concerned that the two contests would overlap, and that, consequently, viewers would have to switch back and forth between both of them. However, since basketball games generally last for just over two hours, that most likely won't be the case - assuming, of course, that the hoops game doesn't go into overtime. If it does, that may very well cause problems. Let's all hope beyond hope that that won't be the case. 

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

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

The SEC released the complete men's basketball TV schedule today. Naturally, you and I are only interested in Auburn's schedule. So here comes the list:

​- Dec. 30th: Arkansas at Auburn. 6 p.m. CT. ESPN2

​- Jan. 2nd: Auburn at Texas A&M. 7:30 p.m. CT. SEC Network

​- Jan. 6th: Auburn at Ole Miss. 8 p.m. CT. SEC Network

​- Jan. 9th: Alabama vs. Auburn. 11 a.m./1 p.m. CT. ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

​- Jan. 13th: Auburn at Georgia. 6 p.m. CT. SEC Network

​- Jan. 16th: Kentucky at Auburn. 1 p.m. CT. ESPN. 

​- Jan. 20th: Auburn at Arkansas. 8 p.m. CT. SEC Network

​- Jan. 23rd: Auburn at South Carolina. 11 a.m. CT. ESPN/ESPN2

​- Jan. 26th: Missouri at Auburn. 8 p.m. CT. ESPN/ESPNU 

- Feb. 2nd: Georgia at Auburn. 6 p.m. CT. SEC Network

​- Feb. 6th: Ole Miss at Auburn. 3 p.m. CT. ESPN2

​- Feb. 9th: Auburn at Vanderbilt. 7:30 p.m. CT. SEC Network

​- Feb. 13th: Auburn at Kentucky. Noon CT. CBS

​- Feb. 16th: Mississippi State at Auburn. 8 p.m. CT. ESPNU

​- Feb. 20th; Auburn at LSU. 3/5:00 p.m. CT. ESPN/ESPN2

​- Feb. 23rd: Florida at Auburn. 8 p.m. CT. ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

​- Feb. 27th: Tennessee at Auburn. 11 a.m. CT. ESPN/ESPN2

​- Mar. 2nd: Auburn at Alabama. 6 p.m. CT. ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

We shall see how far we can go in this schedule without COVID-related interruptions. 

In other news......

- The football program lost some depth at linebacker today as redshirt freshman O.C. Brothers reportedly entered the transfer portal. Ever since he had offseason shoulder surgery, Brothers has had a tough time getting back on the field. Brothers has appeared in one game this season - against LSU - and recorded one tackle. Last year, he played against Kent State and Samford and recorded two tackles. He was also named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. 

Brothers is a former 3-star linebacker out of Rockledge, Fla., who signed with the Tigers as part of their 2019 recruiting class. When he committed, according to the 247Sports Composite, he was the No. 59 outside linebacker in the Class of 2019 and the No. 106 overall recruit from the state of Florida. At the time, Brothers was the 22nd player in Auburn's 2019 class, which currently ranks No. 11 in the country and No. 6 in the SEC, per 247Sports.

Once a pledge to Central Florida, Brothers reportedly had 23 offers out of high school, and his decision apparently came down to Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Miami, as UNC was thought to be the other finalist. 

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

Monday, December 7th, 2020

The Tigers are down another defensive back. News broke yesterday that Devan Barrett has opted out of the 2020 season. "Devin, gosh, I guess it was a couple of weeks ago, opted out," head coach Gus Malzahn said. "So I'm not for sure if he's going to look at other schools or whatever." 

Barrett, a four-star running back from Florida, contributed as a true freshman in 2017 as a reserve tailback and returner. He had 112 yards on 24 carries and scored a touchdown against Arkansas on a four-yard pass from Malik Willis. The next year, he stepped up as a running back and a defensive back, having moved to wide receiver and then cornerback by the end of fall camp. Though Barrett had minimal experience on the defensive side of the ball since he was mainly an offensive player in high school, he said he wanted to help the team. 

​Barrett recorded three tackles that season in limited action. On special teams, he returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Alabama State. In 2019, he became a reserve defensive back who played in seven games. As the 2020 campaign neared, he was considered one of the top contenders for a starting corner spot opposite Roger McCreary. Jaylin Simpson ended up winning the spot, while Barrett was third on the depth chart behind McCreary and Matthew Hill. Once Simpson was injured, Nehemiah Pritchett stepped in.

​While Barrett saw the field in two games, he didn't record any stats, and then he stopped playing in games after the Week 3 contest against Arkansas. He didn't appear in any of Auburn's recent games, and then Malzahn announced last night that Barrett had opted out of the season. Hill, another offensive player who converted to defense, entered the transfer portal ahead of the Texas A&M game, making it two defensive backs who have left the team in recent weeks. Three other players - linebackers Chandler Wooten and Josh Marsh and defensive back Traivon Leonard - have also opted out of the season. They announced their decision before the season started. Marsh has also entered the transfer portal. 

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

Sunday, December 6th, 2020

Auburn football will get the primetime slot for its game against Mississippi State. The Tigers will take on the Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m. CT on December 12th in Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss. The game will be televised by the SEC Network. This is only Auburn's third night game of the season. The Tigers fell to 5-4 yesterday after a 31-20 loss to Texas A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Meanwhile, MSU was off. State is 2-6 on the year, with its only victories coming over LSU and Vanderbilt. 

While Auburn obviously won't have any championship aspirations at stake, it certainly hopes to win next Saturday in order to avoid missing the postseason. That would shed at least a bit of light on an up-and-down season. Hey, haven't we all been in that same boat? Let's just all hope that the game won't be called off because of COVID-19 issues - as was the case three weeks ago. (Just for the record, if memory serves me correctly, the time slot for the game's original date was exactly the same as it is now.) 

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

Saturday, December 5th, 2020

I'm going to keep this rather blunt today. Auburn's 31-20 loss to 5th-ranked Texas A&M in the Tigers' home finale left me drained and disappointed. The offense showed some life, but couldn't break through at gut-check time. It could be said that Auburn's three-and-out on the opening series of the game set the tone for the afternoon. Auburn amassed 340 total yards. Not terrible by any means, but not enough to pull off a win. 

However, the defense was undoubtedly the biggest problem. Kevin Steele's bunch turned in what may very well be its worst performance in his tenure on the Plains, as the Tigers allowed 509 yards to the Aggies. On an individual note, it had no response for Isaiah Spiller or Kellen Mond. There were a couple of stops, but when A&M moved the ball, it did so in a heartbeat. When you can't stop a quick-strike offense such as that, you can't expect to come out on top. 

Special teams was fine. Anders Carlson made two field goals, his kickoffs were excellent, and Aidan Marshall was solid in punting. On the whole, the Tigers looked unprepared and disjointed for the vast majority of the day. Now, they're faced with a tough dilemma: Either win at Mississippi State next week to qualify for a bowl, or lose and be confined to home for the holidays. Which will they choose? We'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully, we'll find out the TV network and kickoff time for that game sooner rather than later. Personally, I would only hope that it's later than today's was. 

In other news......

​- On the bright side, Auburn's men's basketball team sank a school-record (and tied a conference mark) 22 three-pointers in beating South Alabama 90-81 in Auburn Arena last night. To be honest, though, it wasn't that close. Seven different Tigers nailed shots from deep range, and six of them hit multiple treys. Auburn will return to action next Saturday against Memphis in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT. Hopefully, the TV network will be determined in due course - assuming it's televised at all. 

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

Friday, December 4th, 2020

The SEC broadcasting lineup for this week's games finally came out this morning, but of course, you and I are only concerned about the team covering Auburn's game against Texas A&M at 11 a.m. CT tomorrow on ESPN. Sean McDonough will handle the play-by-play, while Todd Blackledge and Todd McShay will provide the color commentary. Meanwhile, Allison Williams will serve as the sideline reporter. 

Random thought: Don't you agree with me that top-notch sportscasters are getting tougher and tougher to come by? I can't begin to tell you how many voices I miss hearing (radio or TV) these days, whether they're retired or deceased. Names like Keith Jackson, John Madden, Mike Patrick, Jim Fyffe, Rod Bramblett, Larry Munson......I could go on forever. But let's move on. 

In other news......

- Don't forget that Auburn men's basketball hosts South Alabama tonight in Auburn Arena for its home opener. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. After tonight, the Tigers won't return to action until next Saturday when they face Memphis for the Holiday Hoopsgiving event in Atlanta, Ga. The week-long gap in between games is presumably due to final exams. 

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

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020

​A wide receiver-turned cornerback may be moving on from Auburn. Christian Clemente of Rivals.com reported yesterday that Matthew Hill has entered the NCAA transfer portal. That may spell loss of depth in the Tigers' secondary. 

Hill has appeared in three games for Auburn this season, but hasn't recorded any stats. Over his first two seasons, during which he was a receiver, he had four carries for 30 yards and caught eight passes for 46 yards. However, during this past offseason, Hill switched to the defensive side of the ball. And while he hasn't made a huge impact in the secondary, the Tigers won't have quite as much depth if he decides to leave. 

​According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Hill was a 4-star recruit in Auburn's 2018 recruiting class out of Brookwood High in Snellville, Ga. 

In other news......

- Now let's move on to some injury news on the football team. Unfortunately, it's not positive. First off, head coach Gus Malzahn confirmed today that linebacker K.J. Britt will not play Saturday against Texas A&M. That's a pivotal loss for the Tigers as they take on one of the SEC's most balanced offenses. Britt hasn't played since a loss at Georgia in October. He had surgery after the game to repair torn ligaments in his thumb. 

​Additionally, running back Tank Bigsby, offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm and defensive back Jaylin Simpson are all limited heading into Saturday's match. Lastly, running back D.J. Williams, who has dealt with an ankle injury, is working his way back, but has still had a rough season when it comes to nagging issues. Malzahn hopes that he will return soon. 

Auburn and Texas A&M square off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium on ESPN. 

- One final reminder: The men's basketball team will host South Alabama in Auburn Arena on Friday night at 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

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

Tuesday, December 1st, 2020

A running back once committed to Auburn football is now back on the market. Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) phenom Armoni Goodwin announced last night that he was de-committing from the Tigers, having been pledged to the program since May 2019. 

"I was overwhelmed and think that I rushed into committing, without thinking that this is (the) biggest decision of my life right now," Goodwin said via Twitter. "Auburn University is still in my Top 3 (but) I just want to explore my options, during this short amount of time, to make sure I make the best decision for the rest of my life." Although Goodwin pointed out that Auburn was still in his Top 3, he did not mention the other two schools that were among his finalists. His most recent offer came from Florida State on Nov. 11th.

In addition to Auburn, Goodwin holds offers from a string of other SEC schools including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is the No. 5 running back in the nation, the No. 4 player in the state of Alabama and the No. 93 player nationally. 

In other news......

- Auburn men's basketball's finale of a three-game stretch in Florida did not turn out so happily, as the Tigers lost to Central Florida in Orlando 63-55 last night. The Tiger defense kept Auburn in the thick of it, as the visitors forced 19 turnovers, blocked five shots and held UCF to 37 percent shooting. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to cover a sputtering Auburn offense. The Tigers shot 32 percent (20-of-62) from the field and just 21 percent (7-of-34) from beyond the arc. They were just 8-of-22 from the free throw line. 

The lone bright spot for Auburn's offense was Jamal Johnson. The junior guard finished with a career-high 18 points and went 5-of-12 from beyond the arc. The Tigers will return home to host South Alabama on Friday night in Auburn Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

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

December 2020

​​Lyle's Corner