​​Lyle's Corner

June 2020

Tuesday, June 30th, 2020

​Bad news came to light today, as the SEC announced that it has postponed the SEC Media Days event. It was initially set to occur from July 13th-16th at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, but was later converted to a virtual format due to COVID-19 concerns. John Dalty of AL.com first reported the news today. 

​On top of that, Dalty also reported that the SEC Network has removed coverage of the 2020 SEC Media Days from its broadcast schedule. A new date for the event has yet to be determined. The conference announced its decision to move the event to a virtual format in early June. When that news became official, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey issued the following statement:

​"Conducting football media days in a virtual format will provide us the opportunity to manage the event in a healthy manner as we continue to be impacted by COVID-19, and will provide flexibility for our programs to adjust their preparation for the 2020 football season according to the preseason calendar that is expected to be expanded due to the cancellation of the spring football season. We look forward to returning to our traditional media days format in 2021." 

Sankey had previously expressed his desire to only hold the event in the immediate lead-up to the coming college football season. Today's news naturally adds to the uncertainty of what this will mean for the college football season. Time still ticks, and we still wait. 

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

Thursday, June 25th, 2020

Another Auburn football player is on the move. News broke last night that Jashawn Sheffield, who ran into off-the-field issues last month and was recently suspended from the team, has entered the transfer portal.

​Some sources state that Troy and Middle Tennessee could be two programs to watch out for. The Trojans are coached by former Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. Sheffield was signed as a receiver but was expected to contribute to the secondary full-time in 2020. After two arrests in Bulloch County, Georgia, last month, Sheffield was indefinitely suspended from the Tigers in late May. 

He was first arrested on May 9th for disorderly conduct and spent two days in jail in Statesboro. Then, he was arrested again a week later on May 16th for DUI-Less safe-alcohol and spent two more days in jail. Sheffield was a four-star recruit from Saint Simons Island (Ga.) Frederica Academy in the 2019 class. He was chosen to play in the All-American Bowl. 

He saw action in one game last season as a receiver for Auburn, carrying the ball two times for 30 yards in a victory over Samford. He was then moved to defense for bowl preparations and has been expected to make a run at playing time at the cornerback spot when the Tigers return to the field this fall. 

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

Friday, June 19th, 2020

It's been a while since I wrote about Auburn baseball, but some news on that subject broke yesterday. First baseman Conor Davis is entering the transfer portal. With his senior campaign cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis was granted another year of eligibility - and he has decided to close out his college career away from the Plains. He announced his decision via Twitter yesterday. 

​Davis described his last four years with Butch Thompson's program as "nothing short of a dream." Over the course of those four seasons, one of which only lasted 18 games, he played in 186 games, starting in 165. In his freshman season, he tallied the third-best batting average on the team, hitting .282, and by his junior year, he led in that department with a .290 average. He had 73 hits with 35 runs, eight home runs and 36 RBIs. Davis played in the SEC Tournament his freshman year, the NCAA Tournament his sophomore year and the College World Series his junior year. 

​In his abbreviated senior season, Davis hit .339 with 17 runs, six doubles and 14 RBIs. He led the Tigers in home runs with three, which were hit over three straight games. He was the first Auburn player since 2018 to homer in three straight contests. On the defensive side, he didn't commit a single error and helped turn 11 double plays. Auburn went 13-5 and was just about to open SEC play with a series against Texas A&M until college athletics were suspended for safety reasons. 

When the team met after the decision was made, Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said he could tell Davis was "having a moment." In his tweet, Davis said that the players and staff had been "nothing but great" to him and expressed love for everyone who made Auburn into a home for him. He said that his decision was about more than just baseball. 

We wish you well, Conor. Thanks for all you did for Auburn!

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

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Thursday, June 18th, 2020

Auburn men's hoops has set a return trip to Seattle to face Washington on Nov. 19th this coming season, the university announced yesterday. 

​The Tigers owe the Huskies a trip to Washington as part of a home-and-home agreement that started with Washington visiting the Plains in 2018. The second leg of the agreement was pushed back last year. The teams will now aim to play it out in November. Tipoff time, as well as a possible television broadcast, have yet to be determined. 

​Auburn beat Washington 88-66 on Nov. 9th, 2018. At the time of that contest, the Tigers were ranked No. 11 and the Huskies were ranked No. 25 in the AP - the first game between ranked opponents in Auburn Arena since it opened in 2010. In that game, Chuma Okeke scored 19 points, Samir Doughty tallied 18 and Jared Harper and Bryce Brown scored 13 apiece. Though it was only the Tigers' second regular-season game, it was also the first sign that that team could be a special one, and it was indeed, as they reached the Final Four that season. 

That was the first meeting between the two schools (in basketball, at least). This will mark the second. Auburn men's basketball has never played a game in the state of Washington. On the contrary, the women's basketball team has a vast history in the Seattle area, having made two Final Four appearances in the Tacoma Dome near Seattle in 1988 and 1989. 

All of this said, we can only hope and pray that the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic doesn't impede those plans. 

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

Monday, June 15th, 2020

​Auburn football's newest pledge is a Lone Star State native. Landen King, a 6-feet-5, 210-pound tight end from Humble, Texas, committed to Gus Malzahn's Tigers today. 

​King had previously committed to Texas on April 26th, but backed out of Tom Herman's program on May 22nd. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, he stands as a three-star prospect for the Class of 2021. The Atascocita High School star grabbed 53 passes for 815 yards and nine touchdowns during his junior season. 

King chose Auburn over offers from Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Penn State and Oregon. He is the Tigers' 10th commitment to the 2021 recruiting cycle. Given offensive coordinator Chad Morris's connections to Texas, he deserves some credit for helping Auburn land a playmaker like King. King stated that Auburn's coaching staff was the main factor in his decision. 

Let's hope that, if King gets a shot to play, Gus will utilize him as a crucial role in the blocking and receiving departments. 

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

​Wednesday, June 10th, 2020

The Tigers got a new commitment to their football program today, and it comes at a position in great need of depth - the quarterback. 

​Grant Loy, a graduate transfer from Bowling Green, announced via Twitter that he will close out his college career with Gus Malzahn's troops. The 6-feet-5, 223-pound Loy is a native of Ohio, and will be eligible to play right away. He will be a redshirt senior in 2020. 

Last season, Loy played in 12 games for Bowling Green, with seven starts. He passed for 1,137 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was also a solid runner, rushing for 427 yards and four TDs. With Loy on board, Auburn will have four scholarship QBs for this season - Loy, returning starter Bo Nix, Cord Sandberg and true freshman Chayil Garnett. Preferred walk-on transfer Caylin Newton (Auburn legend Cam Newton's younger brother), who played QB at Howard for two seasons, will work at quarterback and other positions (Auburn brought him in as an athlete). Additionally, the Tigers have another walk-on - true freshman Sawyer Pate. 

Loy may not be taking snaps right off the bat, but don't count him out by any standard. You never know when he may be called upon to lead the Tiger offense. If his stats are any indication, he could very well prove to be valuable down the road. 

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

Saturday, June 6th, 2020

Yes, I'm still out there (though it was admittedly pretty nice having a little break from writing). But today, I'm in the mood for another random trip down memory lane regarding Auburn football. 

Today, let's go back to October 14th, 2006. The Tigers were hosting unbeaten and second-ranked Florida at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn entered this one 5-1 overall, 3-1 in conference play. The week before, the then-No. 2 Tigers had been dealt a stunning 27-10 upset loss at the hands of Arkansas, which dashed the Orange and Blue's national title aspirations. Could they bounce back after such a discouraging outcome? 

Auburn got the opening kickoff and started out hot, driving 85 yards in 13 plays. However, the drive stalled at Florida's 5-yard line, and John Vaughn converted a 22-yard field goal to put the Tigers up 3-0 with 9:00 left in the opening quarter. The high-octane Gators, led by quarterbacks Chris Leak and Tim Tebow, countered with a 75-yard, eight-play march that also died at Auburn's five. Chris Hetland booted a 22-yard FG of his own to even the count at 3-all. That's where it stood at the end of one stanza. 

​Just 43 seconds into the second quarter, Florida found the end zone on a 15-yard TD pass from Leak to Dallas Baker. The Gators were now up, 10-3. On Auburn's next possession, it appeared destined to tie things up again, but tight end Tommy Trott fumbled at UF's 3-yard line, and the Gators' Derrick Harvey recovered, thwarting a golden opportunity. However, on the very next snap, the Tigers got a gift when UF left guard Jim Tartt was called for holding in his own end zone, giving Auburn a safety to cut the margin to 10-5. 

​The Tiger offense went back to work, driving 50 yards on 11 plays, but again settled for Vaughn's toe, this time a 31-yarder to make it 10-8 with 4:58 to go in the half. It only took three plays for the Gators to march 80 yards and retaliate. This time, Tebow dashed in on a 16-yard scamper. That widened the score to 17-8 with 4:10 left before intermission. Auburn closed out the half with one more effective drive, going 55 yards in nine plays. It was capped by Vaughn's third field goal of the night, a 34-yarder to trim Florida's lead to 17-11. That's how it stood at the break.

All things considered, the Tigers were hanging tough with the Gators. But Auburn's head coach, Tommy Tuberville, who was in his eighth season in charge, was very concerned with the defense's performance up to that point. Tuberville normally kept his composure very well, but this was not one of those times. He outright blasted the defense, wondering if they were "scared" of Florida. 

​Man, did his pep talk work! Over the final 30 minutes, the Gators could only muster 85 yards and five first downs. More than that, they didn't score another point. Just over four minutes into the second half, a huge special teams play by the Tigers shifted the momentum for good. Florida was forced to punt. Eric Wilbur mishandled the snap, and tried to regain control in order to make his kick. He couldn't. Auburn's Jerraud Powers and Tristan Davis roared through to block it, and Tre Smith picked up the loose ball and somersaulted into glory land from 15 yards out. The home-standing Tigers now had an 18-17 advantage - one they would never let disappear. That's how things stood with 15 minutes remaining. 

With just over nine and a half minutes left in the contest, Florida was knocking on Auburn's door again, facing a third-and-3 at the Tiger 6. Leak took the shotgun snap and dropped back to throw. As he got set to pull the trigger, though, Auburn's Tray Blackmon (who was playing in his first game of the year after serving a six-game suspension) batted the ball backward. It came loose. He scooped it up and returned it to the Tiger 38. Another excellent scoring chance had gone up in smoke. 

More than six and a half minutes later, Auburn forced another turnover. With the Gators on their own 29, Leak shot a deep bomb downfield. But there was safety Eric Brock to make the pick. He returned it from Auburn's 45 to Florida's 28. While the Tigers only moved six yards on the ensuing series, Vaughn came on to nail his fourth FG, a 39-yarder to increase Auburn's lead to 21-17. There were now just 32 seconds left in the game. And the Gators needed a touchdown to win. Could they get a miracle? 

No chance. From his own 20, Leak threw three incompletions, leaving UF with a fourth-and-10 with five seconds left. As time expired, he hit Baker over the middle. who lateraled to Jarred Fayson. When Fayson tried to toss it back to Leak, Leak fell down. The ball was on the ground. Auburn's Patrick Lee picked it up at the 20 and pranced in for another defensive score. Game over. The Tigers had dethroned the second-ranked Gators, 27-17. 

In the final stats, it's astounding that Auburn actually managed 315 total yards. The defense, of course, was the real story. It held UF to 279 yards, adding three quarterback sacks and three turnovers. Yes, Florida still went on to win the national title (the first of seven straight for the SEC), but on this night, the tenacious Tigers showed everyone who ruled Jordan-Hare-Stadium. The big "D" paid big dividends. 

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

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