​​Lyle's Corner

Sunday, February 28th, 2016

 

Auburn's 65-57 loss to Alabama last night can best be summed up this way: The Tigers started out cold in the early going, then heated up as the game wore on, then cooled down again.

 

By game's end, the Tigers had fallen to 11-17 overall, 5-11 in SEC action. The Tide, meanwhile, improved to 17-11 overall, 8-8 in conference play.  

 

Auburn scored only one field goal in the game's first eight minutes and soon trailed by 10 points.Nonetheless, the Tigers kept scrapping, and thanks to the inside shooting of Bryce Brown, and the outside work of Horace Spencer, the team was only down 31-29 at the break. The team canned eight of its final 17 shots of the half, with Spencer scoring eight points and Brown adding two treys.

 

As the second half got underway, the Tigers seemed to pick up right where they left off, nailing their first eight shots to take a 46-37 advantage with 13:30 to go. 

 

But that's when the Yellow Brick Road stopped. Auburn went the next seven minutes without scoring a field goal and the Tide surged back to deadlock the count at 48-all with 6:20 remaining. Bama then took a 50-49 edge with 5:35 left. They never let up. 

 

Auburn was vying for its first regular-season sweep of Alabama since 2009, but it didn't pan out that way. 

 

Missed free throws were a large factor on both sides of the spectrum. Of the 56 attempts that were made, 27 were missed. The Tide finished hitting 11-of-22 free throws in the second half, while Auburn rang just 4-of-12 in that period. 

 

Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl was fairly concise about the final outcome. "Too many turnovers, too many missed free throws. We didn't make enough plays down the stretch and Alabama did," he said. 

 

Spencer had a career-best 10 points, while Brown, who hit four free throws, had a team-best 14 points. 

 

"Horace played great," Pearl stated. "They only gave him one block. I thought he had a couple of more blocks out there. He's good. Bryce is pretty good, too. Those two good young freshmen played well, but we didn't get it done."  

 

The Tigers' always-changing roster was modified again with the return of Tyler Harris, who missed the previous contest due to a concussion he suffered against Ole Miss. Determined not to miss the match against Alabamaa, he played 27 minutes and scored seven points.  

 

Pearl admired Harris' resilience. "A lesser mentally-tough person, a lesser physically-tough competitor probably would have gone through the concussion protocols and been out even longer. He took a pretty serious hit against Ole Miss," he said.  

 

Cinmeon Bowers contributed as well, scoring 12 points. Retin Obasohan led Alabama with 16.

 

Auburn will try to get back on the winning track when they host Texas A&M at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday night. The game will be televised by ESPNU. 

 

In other news...

 

- The football team's roster continues to dwindle down. Tight end Chris Laye announced via his Twitter account yesterday that he will leave the football team and transfer.

 

Laye, who would have been a redshirt sophomore, saw little action last season. He did not catch a pass. There is no word on what Laye's future plans are. Laye, from Cumming, Ga., was a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll last season.

 

Sophomore Jalen Harris is the only tight end who has played in a game. 

 

I wish Chris the best in whatever he decides to do next, and I hope he gets a chance to step up at another school. BTW, the Tigers kick off spring practice on Tuesday.  

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, February 25th, 2016

 

Last night against the Georgia Bulldogs, the Auburn Tigers proved that every cloud has a silver lining.

 

 The Tigers were forced to play without leading scorer Tyler Harris due to a concussion he suffered in last Saturday's game against Ole Miss. No problem at all. 

 

Jordon Granger, Horace Spencer, TJ Dunans and TJ Lang all had career nights, and Auburn held off Georgia 84-81 to improve to 11-16 overall and 5-10 in league play. It was their second triumph in the last three games.  The Bulldogs, meanwhile, slipped to 14-12 overall, 7-8 in the conference. 

 

The victory avenged a 65-55 loss to the Dawgs on Feb. 6th. It also enabled the Tigers to eclipse their regular-season SEC win total from a year ago. 

 

Lang scored a career-best 21 points, while Granger recorded his first college double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Spencer had a career-high nine points and eight rebounds. Dunans posted a career-best seven assists and Brown had a career-high six rebounds.

 

Harris' injury wasn't the only obstacle the Tigers faced. The dynamic Cinmeon Bowers only saw three minutes of action because of foul trouble.

 

But at this point, playing shorthanded is nothing new for this determined bunch.

 

"We're used to playing without players," Lang stated. "We've had so many players go out this year, it's just something where we've come together. We are what we've got." 

 

Auburn made the most of it, cruising to a 39-23 lead at the break, which was its biggest halftime lead this season. Crucial free throws made a difference as well, as the Tigers drained 10-of-12 free throws in the last 41 seconds.

 

"I told the team what last year's team didn't do," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Let's get our fifth regular-season (SEC) win."  

 

He also pointed out something that made the game even more special. "Georgia is our most fertile recruiting ground. It's an important game for us." 

 

Spencer sent an early statement that Auburn would not go down, scoring eight quick points to match his career-high. He also added eight rebounds and four blocks to his name. 

 

Coach Pearl commended Granger for doing well in place of Harris at power forward. 

 

"Jordon had to go back and play his old spot. He's probably better at it," he lamented. "But because we've been so banged up in the backcourt all year long, he's had to play the three. He's pretty good at the four (power forward). It's the position he trained for all summer. We turned a negative into a positive." 

 

Granger was up to the task. "I was used to playing the four," he said. "I'm used to playing two through five. Wherever I'm needed, I go." 

 

Coach Pearl further emphasized that Dunans, playing in just his second contest after missing 15 games due to a knee injury, "made a huge difference." 

 

"We don't win the game without him. Seven assists and one turnover in his second game back." 

 

Lang and Granger both concurred with Pearl's insight of Dunans. 

 

According to Lang, "He makes a huge difference. He's such a matchup problem for the defense. He can get to the rim at will."

 

Granger was more blunt in his description of Dunans. "He's an animal."

 

The Tigers return to action on Saturday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama. The game is set for 4 p.m. CT, and will be televised on the SEC Network.

 

In other news...

 

- Last night, I came across some bad news for the football team. Defensive lineman Gimel President has decided to enroll at Illinois as a graduate transfer to finish out his college career.

 

 President, who is set to graduate from Auburn in May with a degree in fitness, conditioning and performance, would be eligible to play immediately. He announced his intentions to transfer from the Tigers earlier this month. 

 

A member of Auburn's 2012 signing class, President appeared in 25 games over the past three seasons, starting 10 times. He recorded 45 tackles (seven for loss) and three sacks during his Auburn career. 

 

I wish him the best as a member of the Fighting Illini.

 

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

 

Thursday, February 18th, 2016

 

With the Tigers entering last night's contest at Arkansas on the heels of a seven-game losing skid, not to mention a short bench,  it's likely that most Auburn fans expected a routine blowout.

 

If that was the case, boy, were they wrong.

 

Largely with the help of a hot 3-point shot streak, Auburn pulled off a stirring 90-86 upset of the Razorbacks to clinch their first SEC road win of the season.  

In the process, the Tigers improved to 10-15 overall, 4-9 in conference play. Arkansas, meanwhile, slipped to 12-14 overall, 5-8 in the SEC.  

 

"It was very, very special," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "It took a tremendous effort from seven guys." That was just what he got, and then some.

 

Freshman Bryce Brown was the biggest contributor. He canned nine 3-pointers, scoring a career-high 27 points. He came within one trey of tying the single-game school record.

 

 Auburn was in desperate need of a reliable shooter after the team's leading scorer, Kareem Canty, was suspended and ultimately left the program. Brown said he was called to step up before the game as the Tigers tried to reverse their fortunes. 

 

"Coach Pearl and the assistant coaches said, 'We're a player short, a big scorer short, I have to get the ball and get open more and make shots.' They're asking a little bit more out of me. It's nothing I can't do." Brown said.   

 

Brown and TJ Lang combined to sink 14 of Auburn's 15 total 3-pointers. Lang's five treys helped him score a total of 17 points on the night. 

 

Tyler Harris, who's been hampered by a back injury in the last several weeks, scored 19. Cinmeon Bowers also had a stellar showing, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

 

"It showed we believe in each other and can win with each other," Brown said. "We did everything together today, we scored together and a great performance on defense and offense." 

 

The upset win was even sweeter when you consider that the Tigers had sported a dismal record of 2-19 at Bud Walton Arena heading into this one. "To say that our team needed that would be an understatement," Pearl stated. 

 

In the first half, Auburn had one of its hottest offensive outputs of the year en route to a 46-46 tie at intermission. 

 

In the second half, however, momentum appeared to take a perilous swing when Arkansas went on a 15-2 run to take a 61-52 lead with 13:45 remaining. Auburn fans grew uneasy, fearful that their Tigers were doomed to an eighth straight setback. 

 

But Auburn was not about to fold. Lang nailed crucial shots down the stretch as the Tigers went in front 83-79 with 1:28 to go.

 

During the post-game show on the Auburn IMG Sports Network, Coach Pearl stopped at nothing to go down the strange stat sheet for Brown.

 

"Nine 3s, no 2s, no free throws, no rebounds, no assists. Our guys are going to give Bryce a hard time," he said, laughing.

 

He was also sure to commend other players for their performances. "Horace Spencer seven blocks. Tyler Harris has 19 points. Welcome back. I'm so happy for Tyler. Bryce Brown, there might be a few freshmen in the country who can shoot better than him, but there are not a lot. I'm really happy for Bryce."

 

"Cinmeon almost has a triple-double. He almost has a quadruple-double. Fourteen points, 10 rebounds, six assists and he had five turnovers. Lang is 5-for-6 from 3, including two big ones in the second half down the stretch. Jonathan Walker gives us a couple of minutes. And Pat Keim gives us a couple of minutes. And Jordon Granger made a boatload of winning plays."

 

Both teams came out on fire. Brown sank six treys and led everyone in scoring with 18 points at the break.

 

In the early going, the Tigers sent everyone a message that they were there to win, hitting 6-of-8 treys in the first 10 minutes. By halftime, Auburn had gone 9-of-15 in that category. They had shot an impressive 60.7 percent from the field.  

 

The 46 points that Auburn amassed in the first half were just one more than they had scored in the entire game against Tennessee (Pearl's former team) just eight days prior.

 

"I want to thank the Auburn family for not quitting on us and understanding what we're going through," Pearl said.  

 

Indeed, that positive spirit plays a vital role in the final outcome of any game. 

 

Auburn returns to action on Saturday when they host Ole Miss at 4 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. We can only hope that their inspired performance against the Razorbacks carries over into this next match. 

 

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

 

 

Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

 

A long-held and beloved Auburn tradition will soon be back in full swing.

 

The brand new oak trees at Toomer's Corner that were planted last year to replace those poisoned by Harvey Updyke in 2010 are almost set for rolling.  

 

Auburn fans weren't able to take part in the ritual at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue last season, as the new trees were still settling and were held in place by straps. 

 

"It's gonna be like Auburn didn't miss a beat," Auburn professor of horticulture Gary Keever told ESPN. "Fans are going to relish the opportunity to get back out on that corner and enjoy the larger plaza. The temporary rolling of the cables across the intersection, that was fine for a short period, but the fans are really going to embrace the new trees." 

 

Rolling will begin in September - possibly after the season opener against nationally-ranked Clemson - through the Tigers' "Protect the Oaks" initiative.

 

In other news....

 

- The season-long eligibility issues concerning Auburn basketball freshman  forward Danjel Purifoy have finally come to an end. 

 

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Purifoy would not play this season and will take a redshirt instead. The news came in an official release from Auburn's athletic department. 

 

The NCAA informed Auburn about Purifoy's status. He has been enrolled in classes since the fall semester and has been practicing with the team. Purifoy will have four seasons of eligibility left once this one is over. 

 

From nearly the minute he stepped on campus, though, Purifoy's status with the Tigers looked bleak after his ACT score was flagged by the testing center after a  substantial increase on his second attempt. At different points in the season, head coach Bruce Pearl had expected a resolution, one way or the other.  

 

First was at the start of January 2015. Then, it was sometime last month. Despite the continued delay of a definitive ruling, Pearl stood firm that a decision would come to light soon. Yesterday, it finally happened.

 

But that doesn't undo what was a grating process for both Pearl and the team. Pearl has constantly stated that he believes Purifoy is the Tigers' best NBA prospect.

 

In a season hampered by injuries and other issues - including a one-game suspension of Cinmeon Bowers and the departure of leading scorer Kareem Canty last week - Pearl said it's difficult not to envision the difference Purifoy could have made.

 

"I try not to be an excuse maker," Pearl stated in December. "That doesn't mean I don't. I just try to look at things I can control and put the blame on myself and be more accountable, but occasionally that just creeps into your mind."  

 

According to the 247Sports Composite, Purifoy was a 4-star signee in the Tigers' 2016 class. He averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks per game at Hargrave Military Academy last season. Those figures built on his junior year at Bibb County, where he averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest.

 

I'm sure this waiting period will be tough for Purifoy, but I'm also sure the waiting will be worth it, and he'll get a chance to show what he's capable of next season.

 

Don't forget: The Tigers play at Arkansas tonight at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. 

 

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

 

​Tuesday, February 16th, 2016

 

The Tigers have landed a former Illinois linebacker. 

 

T.J. Neal, a Pennsylvania native, was looking for the right "feel and comfort" when pondering where he would continue his playing career. He has found just that on The Plains. 

 

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Neal, a middle linebacker, started 25 games for the Fighting Illini, but committed to the Tigers this morning during his official visit to the campus. He is eligible to play in 2016. 

 

Neal picked the Tigers over West Virginia. He fills a significant need for the Tigers, who signed only one linebacker in the 2016 class after players such as Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy graduated. 

 

He is not only an experienced player, but also a proven playmaker. He recorded 255 total tackles at Illinois. He posted 15 tackles for loss in 2015. 

 

Reportedly, Neal was not particularly happy about a plan to move him to outside linebacker for 2016, so he chose to take the graduate transfer route.

 

One of Neal's friends - Brennan Marion - played receiver for Gus Malzahn at Tulsa. Marion reached out to Malzahn and the Tigers, who liked Neal's game film. That set the wheels in motion. 

 

Neal already knows one Auburn player particularly well. Auburn 2016 signee Paul James, a defensive end from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, was a teammate of Neal at Illinois in 2013 and 2014. 

 

Currently, Neal still attends Illinois and is set to graduate with a degree in sports management in May. 

 

Neal was recently asked what he could bring to the Auburn program, and responded, "A lot of knowledge, a lot of experience. I'm very instinctive. I get downhill. I get to the line of scrimmage fast and make tackles for loss. I see myself as an impact player." 

 

Let's all hope that he indeed will be. 

 

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

 

Monday, February 15th, 2016

 

Dameyune Craig is out. Kodi Burns is in.

 

The news came to light last night that Craig, the Tigers' wide receivers coach, would be leaving to take the same capacity at a storied division rival: LSU.

 

I was quite surprised at this, and I'd be willing to bet that most Auburn fans were as well. According to Gridiron Now, Craig's decision lay in his concerns about the direction in which the offense was going, and his fit as a coach directing it. The aforementioned source reports the following:

 

 "Two sources close to the situation said Craig is leaving because of concerns about how the offense was being run and how he fit. Those concerns grew to a point that Craig believed he no longer fit the program and that it was time for him to leave." 

 

The report further notes that his choice was about the "big picture" and not based on a specific dispute with offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, although the two are reported to have not always been on the same page. 

 

In the wake of Craig's abrupt departure, however, it didn't take head coach Gus Malzahn long to find a successor. Burns, the former running backs coach at Arizona State, is returning to his alma mater to coach the receivers. As Tiger fans may recall, Burns won a national title during his playing career. 

 

Burns previously served as a graduate assistant under Malzahn in 2012 at Arkansas State and followed him to The Plains in the same role in 2013. He coached running backs at Samford in 2013 and receivers at Middle Tennessee in 2014 before heading to Arizona State in January of 2015. 

 

As a player at Auburn, Burns began his career as a quarterback. But he soon moved to receiver and found great success under then-offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. 

 

He finished his Auburn career with 2,299 total yards and 22 touchdowns. He caught a 35-yard TD pass in Auburn's 22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS National Championship game in January 2011.

 

I wish Craig well at LSU, and I welcome Kodi aboard with firm confidence that he'll do very well in his new venture with his alma mater.

 

However, I must openly tell you that all of these coaching changes in the past month or so are driving me crazy! 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, February 14th, 2016

 

Seven may be considered a lucky number for some people, but that wasn't the case for Auburn's basketball team against Vanderbilt yesterday evening. The Tigers lost to the Commodores 86-57, dropping their seventh straight contest. Auburn fell to 9-15 overall, 3-9 in the league, while Vandy went to 15-10 overall, 7-5 in SEC play.  

 

The team is clearly in disarray. The Tigers' leading scorer, Kareem Canty, left the team on his own terms last week. Their top pro prospect, Danjel Purifoy, remains in dire straits regarding his eligibility status. Their other point guard, Tahj Shamsid-Deen, is out for the season with a shoulder injury. The offense's most dynamic player, T.J. Dunans, remains sidelined with a knee injury. The squad's first game without Canty was anything but pleasant. 

 

"It's hard," Auburn sophomore guard T.J. Lang said. "Nobody ever wants to lose their best player, but then again...this is what we have."

 

For the record, the Tigers have eight available scholarship players, no true point guard and no genuine depth. That made life all too easy for the Commodores, who controlled the game for all but the opening minutes last night. 

 

It didn't really matter that Vandy had only three players in double figures. Ten different Commodores saw action for at least 11 minutes, while an 11th played for nine minutes. NO starter for Vandy was in for longer than 27 minutes as head coach Kevin Stallings emptied his bench for most of the second half. 

 

Stallings summed up Auburn's team status pretty well. "Obviously, they're short-handed," he said. "It's tough to lose your leading scorer and your point guard all in one swipe, so we certainly acknowledge that was not a team - I mean, it might be their full strength now, but it is not the team they went into the season thinking they would have."

 

Damian Jones led Vandy with 17 points and nine rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Matthew Fisher-Davis added 16 points in 27 minutes. The Commodores had a 13-point cushion at the half and quickly mounted it to 20 just 1:15 into the second half.

 

"Second half defensively, we have to become more aware," Lang stated. "We were down 13, I think, and they came out and they - we really didn't pressure the ball well and next thing you know it was a 20-point lead. We just got to stay focused coming out of halftime and keep that same energy and attention to detail."

 

It wasn't just defensive woes that troubled Auburn. While Vandy scored 49 points after intermission, they only committed six turnovers for the game - the fewest takeaways by Auburn this season, and shot 49.3 percent for the game, the Tigers' offensive struggles were once again the primary factor in the final outcome. 

 

For the 11th game in a row, Auburn shot below 40 percent. The futile string began at Missouri on Jan. 9th. Against Vandy, the Tigers shot 29 percent (18-of-62) and were only 8-of-32 from beyond the arc. "Give Vanderbilt credit; they're a good team," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl lamented. "The way they defend the three, they're the leading three-point field-goal percentage team in the country and we shot 25 percent. They lead the league in field-goal percentage defense, and we shot a terrible percentage. We've shot a poor percentage in the last four games against everybody. I think we're getting shots we can make. I do. If we're going to be competitive, and we're going to win, we've got to make those shots."

 

Such was hardly the case against the Commodores. Lang and Bryce Brown led the Tigers with 14 points each but shot a combined 8-of-28 from the field, including 6-of-18 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Cinmeon Bowers had his 10th double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds while posting five assists - but also had six turnovers. 

 

Aside from that, according to Pearl, "contributions are few and far in between" for Auburn right now. "I told our guys to try not to be discouraged, that there's a lot of opportunity out there and we got a couple guys who are taking advantage of the opportunity and a couple of guys that haven't yet," he said. "Cim had five baskets, he had five assists. We only had eight other baskets that he wasn't involved in either scoring or assisting on. I think in many ways he's really stepped up." 

 

Of course, it takes more than just one player to acquire success. Tyler Harris was just 1-of-8 from the floor and finished the night with four points and four rebounds while suffering tightness in his back. After the game, Pearl said that Harris is not 100 percent and that the 6-foot-10 forward has not practiced while classifying his back as "bad."

 

Unfortunately, as Lang has emphasized, the situation is beyond Auburn's control.

 

"It's tough as a competitor," he said. "Nobody on our team likes losing, so it's just something we're just going to have to keep learning on and building on. We have enough talent in the locker room to win games. We just have to put it all together, continue to get in the gym, make shots - and I mean, one of these games it will all come together, we'll all start making shots. I mean, we'll start playing better." 

 

Auburn fans can, at the very least, hope for that when the Tigers travel to Arkansas to face the Razorbacks on Wednesday night. The opening tip is set for 6:00 p.m. CT, with the game being carried on the SEC Network. 

 

I hope you all have had a wonderful Valentine's Day, and let everyone whom you hold near and dear to your hearts know just how much you love them, not just today, but every day. Life is precious, and you never know when you may never get that chance again. 

 

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

 

Wednesday, February 10th, 2016

 

The Auburn men's basketball team seems to have a dark rain cloud following them everywhere as of lately.

 

The Tigers' 71-45 loss to Tennessee in Knoxville last night was made even more bleak by the injury of Tyler Harris, the team's second-leading scorer, who left the game early in the second half with back pain.

 

This adds to a list of Tigers who have been unable to play for one reason or another. Leading scorer Kareem Canty was suspended indefinitely last weekend. Starting guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen is out for the season with an injury, and T.J. Dunans has missed the last 13.5 games due to injury. Plus, guard Danjel Purifoy has yet to see action because of an eligibility issue.

 

"We're missing a few pieces of the team, but that's no excuse," said shooting guard Bryce Brown. "We've got to do a better job from the start. It takes us a minute to get going."  

 

Perhaps "a minute" is putting it lightly.

 

Brown was the lone bright spot in an otherwise listless performance by Auburn. He drained four 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 18 points after playing a game-high 32 minutes.  

 

The Tigers sputtered at the start of both halves. They trailed 34-23 at intermission, and things only went south from there.   

 

"We're better than that," head coach Bruce Pearl stated. "Our roster has been decimated with injuries, ineligibilities, suspensions. It's really tough. You could see how challenged we are." 

 

Very much so. The Tigers shot a paltry 23.7 percent from the field. Despite that, Pearl was quick to commend Brown's performance. 

 

"I think you continue to see Bryce's ability," Pearl said. "He can make plays. He shot the ball well. Bryce Brown clearly belonged out there on the floor, and played like he belonged out there on the floor, acted like he belonged out there on the floor. Not everybody else did at times. That's tough."  

 

Brown said his "guards hit me in the right spots and I got open shots. It was a rough game, but I was still able to knock down some shots." 

 

Harris, who was unable to practice Monday because of back spasms, left after going 0-for-10 from the floor and scoring two points. Pearl said Harris was suffering back cramps Monday and was "probably questionable" for the game. Harris grabbed his back after being called for an offensive foul in the contest and, as Pearl put it, "I had to shut him down." 

 

Tennessee avenged its 83-77 loss to Auburn to start the SEC schedule on January 2nd. The Vols also denied Pearl a victory on his former home court. He served as Tennessee's head coach for six seasons. 

 

"I still have great friends and family here," he lamented. 

 

Pearl reached the Sweet 16 in each of his six seasons with the Big Orange. Sadly, last night's game was another misfortune for the short-handed Tigers. Center Horace Spencer didn't finish the game, either, fouling out with 8:32 remaining. 

 

Auburn fell to 9-14 overall, 3-8 in the conference. Tennessee improved to 12-12 overall, 5-6 in SEC play. 

 

The Tigers missed their first eight shots of the game, and didn't score until Cinmeon Bowers nailed a shot six minutes into the match. It took another two minutes to score a second field goal, but the Tigers seemed to rise up as they cut Tennessee's lead to 9-8 with 11 minutes left in the fist half.  

 

But the Vols gradually seized momentum, taking a 34-23 cushion into halftime. 

 

Auburn hopes to snap its six-game losing streak on Saturday when it plays host to Vanderbilt in Auburn Arena at 5 p.m. CT, with the game being televised on ESPN2. 

 

Aside from basketball, I was disappointed that Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. I'm sure everyone else who was rooting for his team felt the same way. 

 

However, I feel led to offer my two cents on Cam's premature exit from his post-game press conference. My insight is fairly blunt. 

 

Cam was brutally maligned for his actions, but it turns out that it wasn't because he was in a bad mood, being a spoiled sport, or whatever. Rather, it was because he overheard Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. reveal his team's game plan: "Load the box and force ya'll to throw the ball. Can you throw the football? That was the game plan." That's when Cam walked out, most likely because he didn't want to get into an argument with Chris. Had I been in Cam's shoes, I can't promise that I would have acted any differently.

 

Every sport has its moments when some of the game's greatest players prove they are human after all. Cam's performance in this game was certainly a reminder of that. Those who turn on players so quickly should stop and ask themselves, "Can I play any better than they can?" Cam is a tremendous player, with splendid talent, and is a great role model for kids. It just wasn't his night on Sunday. God has a plan for everyone and everything. I'm hopeful that Cam will get another chance at the Vince Lombardi Trophy before he calls it a career. 

 

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

 

Sunday, February 7th, 2016

 

While scoreboards and stat sheets are always very useful, they never, by any means, accurately illustrate exactly what unfolded on the playing surface. 

 

When Georgia hosted Auburn yesterday, the Bulldogs struggled offensively at times, and only had three scorers in double figures. They only shot 35.1 percent from the field and made only two of nine 3-pointers.  However, against a short-handed Tiger squad, that was still enough to come out with a dominating win.

 

J.J. Frazier scored 16 points for Georgia, which built a 25-point lead before defeating the Tigers 65-55, effectively handing Auburn an agonizing fifth consecutive defeat.

 

Auburn missed 18 shots in a row from the field as the Dawgs pulled away in the final 20 minutes.

 

One major factor that didn't help matters for the Tigers was the indefinite suspension of leading scorer Kareem Canty for conduct detrimental to the team. Canty, a junior point guard, has averaged 18.3 points per contest, and also leads the Tigers with 69 3-pointers, the most in the SEC, and 111 assists.

 

The suspension was announced before the game, though coach Bruce Pearl said the decision to suspend Canty was actually made earlier in the week. Canty was not with the team.

 

"Kareem's effort and his attitude and his frustration level over our team's lack of success have caused him to behave in a way that's unacceptable," Pearl stated after the game. "And, just like a parent, when they misbehave, you've got to punish them." 

 

Pearl said Canty will not practice with the team "right now." He further noted that Canty would "work on other aspects to get back." However, he declined to elaborate on how Canty can earn his return to the team.

 

The Tigers shot a season-low 25.9 percent from the field.

 

Canty's absence made life more difficult for freshman guard Bryce Brown, who scored 18 points in a loss to LSU last Tuesday. This time around, he scored nine points, as he was in foul trouble for most of the game.

 

Elsewhere, Cinmeon Bowers had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Tigers, while Tyler Harris scored 12 points. 

 

Georgia led 31-22 at the half. Horace Spencer scored on a hook shot to open the second half as Auburn then missed its next 18 straight shots from the field. Brown broke the futile streak by canning a trey with 8:56 to play. It was Brown's first field goal after eight minutes of play.

 

Yante Maten had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots for Georgia, which has won four of its last six games. Charles Mann also had 12 points. 

 

Auburn fell to 9-13 overall, 3-7 in conference play. Georgia improved to 13-8 overall, 6-4 in the SEC. 

 

The Tigers will try to get out of their slump when they travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee on Tuesday. The opening tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised on the SEC Network.

 

Now, it's time for me to wrap this post up and get ready to enjoy the 50th Super Bowl with some of my very close friends. I personally am rooting for the Panthers, mostly because former Auburn legend Cam Newton is their quarterback. Also, Cameron Artis-Payne is at running back. 

 

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

 

Thursday, February 4th, 2016

 

Well, another National Signing Day has come and gone. All told, the Tigers got 21 signees for the Class of 2016. A list of every one of them follows. They are alphabetized by last name, with some info on each one. So, sit back and read on:

 

1.  ​Woody Barrett- (QB: 6-3; 225; West Orange HS; Winter Garden, Fla.) - Strong-armed dual-threat quarterback. 2,018 yards passing, 20 TDs, with 1,413 yards rushing, and 23 TDs for Coach Bob Head at West Orange High, guiding the Warriors to the state semifinals. Class 8A all-state and Florida Dairy Farmers 8A player of year and Mr. Football finalist. Under Armour All-America game...Academy athlete of year. Top 10 QB prospect by 247Sports and ESPN. Rivals top 40 in Florida. 

 

2. John Broussard Jr.- (DB: 5-11, 163; Central HS; Phenix City, AL.) - ​Versatile cornerback with exceptional coverage skills. January enrollee in business.... defensive player of the year for coach Jamey Dubose at Central High, posting 35 tackles, 6 pass breakups and an interception as a senior. All-region, all-bi-city, and Class 7A all-state. Under-Armour All-America Game, Alabama-MIssissippi All-Star Game...ESPN (4), 247Sports (6), Rivals (18) top prospects in Alabama...USA Today all-state....also ran track. 

 

3. Derrick Brown - (DL: 6-4, 315; Lanier HS; Sugar Hill, GA.) - ​Extremely powerful athlete who is quick off the snap. 106 tackles, 42 TFL, 12 sacks as a senior for Coach Korey Mobbs at Lanier High...For career, 270 tackles, 81 TFL, 33.5 sacks. U.S Army All-American Bowl defensive player of year.  MaxPreps national player of year...GSWA player of year and Class 5A all-state...ESPN, Scout, 247Sports No. 9 national prospect...Rivals Top 20 and No.3 DT... USA Today All-American, state player of year...also a basketball letterman. Lanier Student Leadership Team. 

 

4. Marlon Character- (DB: 6-0, 175; Grady HS; Atlanta, GA.) - Rangy ​safety with plenty of size and outstanding ball skills. 57 tackles, five interceptions as a senior for Coach Earthwind Moreland at Grady High. First team GSWA Class 4A all-state. South Fulton all-metro and AJC all-city...Rivals, 250, Scout 300, Prep Star 350...also a track letterman.

 

5. Nick Coe- (DL: 6-6, 269; Asheboro HS; Asheboro N.C.)- Dominating defensive end prospect with great athleticism. 68 tackles, 15 TFL as a senior for Coach Owen George at Asheboro High. Took Blue Comets to second round of state playoffs. 34 career TFL, first team all-state. 247Sports and Rivals rank him among Top 12 prospects in North Carolina. USA Today all-state. State wrestling champion at 285 lbs. and won two NHSCA national titles.

 

6. Nate Craig-Myers (WR: 6-2, 205; Tampa Catholic HS; Dade City, FL.)- Receiver with speed and ball skills to rank among nation's best. 1,018 receiving yards, 16 TDs as a senior for Coach Mike Gregory at Tampa Catholic High. Under Armour All-America Game. Tampa Tribune all-Tampa area. Tampa Bay Times HomeTeam 100. Class 3A all-state. USA Today, MaxPreps all-America. Ranked among nation's Top 10 WRs by ESPN (2), Rivals (3), 247Sports (6), Scout (8). Among top 10 prospects in Florida.  

 

7. Marlon Davidson (DL; 6-3, 281; Greenville HS; Greenville, AL.) One​ of nation's top defensive prospects who makes impact plays. January enrollee in sports management. Recorded 65 tackles, 19 TFL, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, two INTs and two defensive TDs as a senior for Coach Josh McLendon at Greenville High. Under Armour All-America Game. Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. ASWA Super 12 and Class 5A lineman of year. Rivals Top 25 and No. 2 in Alabama. USA Today, MaxPreps All-America. Also a basketball letterman. Brother of former DL Ken Carter (2010-13). 

 

8. Kyle Davis (WR; 6-2, 208; Archer HS; Loganville, GA.) Athletic receiver who ranks among the most skilled nationally at that position. January enrollee in kinesiology. Career totals of 1,499 receiving yards and 18 TDs. All-county, all Gwinnett metro and all-state honoree for Coach Andy Dyer. Under Armour All-America Game. MVP of The Opening. Top 10 WR prospect by 247Sports and ESPN. Scout, Rivals Top 140. USA Today all-state. Also a track and basketball letterman. Peer leader at Archer High.  

 

9. John Franklin III (QB; 6-1, 174; East Mississippi CC; Scooba, MS; South Plantation HS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.) Big-time athlete who can impact every aspect of the offense. JUCO All-American. January enrollee in public administration. Passed for 733 yards (64-110) and seven scores and rushed for 451 yards and nine TDs at East Mississippi CC, helping Coach Buddy Stephens' Lions to a No.3 national ranking and the MACJC North title. Against Mississippi Delta, rushed for 172 yards (5 TDs of 65, 33, 29, 13, and 5 yards) on just 10 carries, and 10-16 passing for 119 yards and one TD, all in first half. Redshirted 2013 season at Florida State, winning offensive scout team player of the year honors. Member of ACC champion 4X100 relay team. Led Coach Doug Gatewood's Paladins to a 9-2 record. FHSAA 8A playoff berth at South Plantation (Fla.) High. Brian Piccolo Scholar-Athlete Award. State 4X100 relay champion and 100m runner-up as a senior. Also a basketball letterman. 

 

10. Brodarious Hamm (OL; 6-5, 322; Spalding HS; Griffin, GA.) Powerful offensive line prospect who can play guard or tackle. All-area lineman for Coach Nick Davis at Spalding High, leading the Jaguars to playoffs. Second-team Class 4A all-state as an offensive and defensive lineman. Scout top 15 offensive guard prospects. Top 40 recruits in Georgia by Rivals, ESPN, and 247Sports. MaxPreps All-American. AJC Elite Junior Classic best lineman. Also a basketball letterman. 

 

11. Antwuan Jackson Jr. (DL; 6-2, 308; Cedar Grove HS; Ellenwood, GA.) Often unblockable defensive tackle with strong credentials. January enrollee in kinesiology. Recorded 96 tackles, 52 TFL, 12 sacks for Coach Jermaine Smith at Cedar Grove High. Class AAA GSWA defensive player of year. All-state, all-metro, DeKalb County defensive player of year. U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Scout, Rivals, and ESPN rank him among top 10 defensive tackles. MaxPreps All-America. PrepStar Top 150. USA Today all-state. Also a baseball letterman.

 

12. Paul James III (LB; 6-4, 258; Copiah-Lincoln CC; Wesson, MS; Norland HS; Miami, FL.) Talented edge rusher who can make an impact. January enrollee in sociology. 47 tackles, 14 sacks (5th in NJCAA), 22 TFL at Copiah-Lincoln for Coach Glenn Davis. NJCAA Region 23 Most Valuable Defensive Player, MACJC Most Valuable Defensive Lineman, first-team all-state. Played 2014 season at Illinois, appearing in four games. All-Dade County, second-team Florida 5A all-state selection for Coach Daryle Heidelberg at Norland High, helping the Vikings to the 2012 state title. Also played baseball.

 

13. Tashawn Manning (DL; 6-4, 260; Wekiva HS; Apopka, FL.) Big-bodied defensive tackle prospect. All-conference defender for Coach Kenard Lang at Wekiva High. Florida Class 8A first-team all-state. Central Florida All-Star Game invite. 247Sports and ESPN top 75 defensive tackles. Also throws shot-put and discus. Father played football and mother played basketball at Marshall. 

 

14. Marquis McClain (WR; 6-2, 209; Crestview HS; Crestview, FL.) Speedy receiver with exceptional hands. All-panhandle performer for Coach Tim Hatten at Crestview High. Northwest Florida Daily News Dandy Dozen. Helped Bulldogs to a district title in basketball. Top 75 receiver by Scout, Rivals and 247Sports. Also a track letterman in sprints and jumps.

 

15. Malik Miller (RB; 5-11, 218; Madison Academy; Huntsville, AL.) Powerful running back with great downhill speed. January enrollee in biomedical sciences. All-state running back for Coach Eric Cohu, leading the Mustangs to three consecutive state titles. 713 yards rushing, 15 TDs in eight games as a senior. Second team 3A all-state. U.S. Army All-American Bowl nominee.Ranked among top 15 prospects in Alabama by Rivals, ESPN and 247Sports. Also a basketball letterman.  

 

16. Jayvaughn Myers (DB; 6-1, 185; Pasco HS; Dade City, FL.) Outstanding athlete who projects at cornerback. 18 tackles, two interceptions and a kickoff return for touchdown as a senior for Coach Tom McHugh at Pasco High. Under-Armour All-America Game. Tampa Bay Times HomeTeam 100. No. 23 corner prospect by Scout. Top 50 recruits in Florida by Rivals and 247Sports. Also ran sprints and long jumped.

 

17. Landon Rice (TE; 6-5, 246; Calhoun HS; Rome, GA.) Tight end with capable hands and strong run-blocking potential. January enrollee in agriculture. All-region and all-area for Coach Hal Lamb at Calhoun High. Yellow Jackets won 2014 AAA state title with a  12-0 record. Voted team captain at Under Armour All-America Game. GSWA first team all-state. Rivals, ESPN, 247Sports rank him a top 10 TE prospect. Also a basketball letterman. Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Brother Logan is an Auburn wide receiver.

 

18. Prince Sammons (OL; 6-8, 280; Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Clarksville, OH.) Impressive athletic lineman who excelled on both sides of ball in high school. 60 tackles, four sacks as a senior for Coach Eric Taylor. Cincinnati Enquirer all-area. Division V defensive player of year. MaxPreps All-America as junior and senior. Top 25 prospect at his position by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports. Top 10 in Ohio by ESPN and 247. USA Today all-state. Also played basketball.

 

19. Eli Stove (WR; 6-0, 175; Niceville HS; Niceville, FL.) Elusive receiver who ranks among the most athletic at that position.  Career receiving totals of 1,878 yards on 136 catches with 22 TDs for Coach John Hicks at Niceville High, helping Eagles to regional finals. 978 all-purpose yards and 11 TDs as a senior. Under Armour All-America Game. First team Class 6A all-state and NWF Daily News all-area and Dandy Dozen. Rivals and ESPN rank him among top 15 WR prospects. Also a track letterman.

 

20. Daniel Thomas (DB; 6-0, 190; Robert E. Lee HS; Montgomery, AL.) Speedy safety prospect witha  nose for the football. 87 tackles, 5 TFL, seven INTs, (two returned for TDs) and three punt return TDs as a senior for Coach Tyrone Rogers at Robert E. Lee High. First team all-metro. Second team ASWA Class 7A all-state. Top 100 position prospect by Scout, 247Sports.

 

21. Tre Threat (LB; 6-0, 246; Spanish Fort HS; Geneva, AL.) Hard-hitting tackler who can play inside or out. January enrollee in exercise science. Two-year all-county and second team all-state. Recorded 252 tackles, 26 TFL, 12 sacks, 29 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and two defensive TDs for Coach Ben Blackmon at Spanish Fort High. Toros went 15-0 and won 6A State title. Under Armour All-America Game. USA Today, MaxPreps All-America. Rivals ranks him in top 15 ILB. ESPN ranks him in top 20 OLB. USA Today all-state. Also a baseball and track letterman. Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

 

So, there you have it. I bet you're thinking, "This list is too long." Please don't complain. As I wind this up, I've spent about 3 hours and 10 minutes typing this, albeit for three five-minute breaks for stretches along the way.

 

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

 

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016

 

Yes, I know today is National Signing Day, but I will write about that tomorrow, if all goes as planned. Today, I will write about the basketball team's 80-68 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge last night. This was the Tigers' fourth consecutive loss. 

 

Auburn's Bryce Brown scored 18 points, all on 3-pointers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to overtake LSU, led by Ben Simmons, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds. 

 

Brown said the coaches advised him "to get in the gym more, and I did that."

 

"I looked at my numbers and I wasn't proud of it at all," he said. "I got up a lot of shots before this game, and I think that's the reason why I had my success." 

 

Unsurprisingly, Brown contended that containing Simmons was no easy feat. "It's an honor to play against him, but at the same time, you want to go at him as well," he stated. Brown has nailed at least one trey in 18 of Auburn's last 20 contests. 

 

Auburn drained 10 of its season-high 34 3-point tries. On the up side, the Auburn bench outscored the LSU bench, 33-21. "From a positive standpoint, it's the first time our bench has played this well," said head coach Bruce Pearl. 

 

Brown wasn't the only Tiger with double figures. Cinmeon Bowers had 15 points, while Kareem Canty had 14.

 

Auburn fell to 9-12 overall, 3-6 in the SEC, while LSU improved to 14-8 overall, 7-2 in league play.  

 

"The losing is tough. It's tough on everybody," Pearl said. "When you're not having success, it wears on them. It's wearing on all of us."  

 

The two teams combined to fire 66 shots in the first half. Auburn stayed in striking distance, finishing the half on a 5-0 run to cut LSU's lead to 38-31.  

 

But the Bayou Bengals pulled away in the second half, upping their lead to 24 with 7:56 to play, before Auburn cut the margin to 74-63 with less than two minutes to go. 

 

Auburn hopes to snap its futile streak on Saturday in a trip to Athens to face Georgia. The opening tipoff is at 4:30 p.m. CT, with the game being televised by the SEC Network. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

 

My first post of this month will be of the good news/bad news variety. 

 

First, the bad news. Safety Tray Matthews recently underwent surgery on his right shoulder to repair a recurring problem. Matthews missed three games with a shoulder injury and one with an ankle injury last season. This surgery will likely limit him in spring practice, but he is expected to be back full-speed when preseason camp rolls around in August. 

 

Matthews finished last season with 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two interceptions, one of which came on Auburn's first defensive play of the season against Louisville. He sat out the 2014 season after transferring from Georgia. 

 

Now, on to the good news. 

 

Former quarterback and receiver Jonathan Wallace recently reported on his updated Twitter account that he is now a graduate assistant for the football team. 

 

Coaching has always been Wallace's number one ambition. "I think it's a great career. I have played football for a very long time and I know the game," he said last spring. "I just want to give back to young people and help them and develop young men. That's something that Coach (Gus) Malzahn and this entire coaching staff  has inspired me a lot to want to do because they do a great job at it."

 

Wallace did not record any stats as a receiver this past season. He played quarterback in his first three seasons with the Tigers, starting the last four games of the 2012 season and posting a 2-2 record. He finished his career having completed 49 of 85 passes (57.6 percent) for 761 yards and four touchdowns. He also carried 60 times for 201 yards. 

 

Wallace was also selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team - which recognizes outstanding community service work - this past fall. 

 

As a closing reminder, don't forget that the men's basketball team hosts LSU tonight at 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised by the SEC Network. However, if, by any chance, you don't get the network, you can find   it online at ESPN3. If I can say so myself, this is a crucial game for the Tigers.

 

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

​