​​Lyle's Corner

Thursday, November 30th, 2017

Defense was the highlight for Auburn basketball against Dayton last night. As the road team, the Tigers (5-1) held the Flyers (3-3) to shoot only 36 percent from the field and 30 percent from behind the arc to clinch a 73-60 victory. "It was a great win in a tremendous environment," head coach Bruce Pearl stated. "I told the team that these Dayton basketball fans are smart basketball fans - some have been here a long, long time - and they saw a really good Auburn team that played really hard, changed defenses and kept (the Flyers) off-balance."

Mustapha Heron led Auburn with a game-high 21 points on the night, marking his third straight game with 20-plus. The sophomore went 7-of-13 from the floor and also added seven rebounds. Anfernee McLemore turned in his first double-double this season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Defensively, he racked up five blocks. Chuma Okeke helped out as well, scoring 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds. "I think we came out and played well," Okeke said. "We just went with the game plan and what the coaches told us to do. We executed that plan and that helped us get the win."

Bryce Brown and Jared Harper rounded out Auburn's five players scoring in double figures, as they each amassed 11 points. As a team, the Tigers held a 38-32 lead in rebounding, marking the sixth straight game that they topped the opponent in that category. Auburn was also solid at the free throw line, going 19-of-24 in that department. In the early going, it looked as if the Tigers would turn this one into a blowout. They forced five turnovers and stormed out to an 11-2 lead. Brown converted a 3-pointer and got a slam dunk soon after to finish that run.

However, the Flyers woke up and went on a 13-0 run after a timeout to grab the lead. But the Tigers seized the momentum right back, going on a 24-9 run highlighted by 13 points from Okeke to take a 35-24 lead into the locker room at halftime. In the second half, Auburn was able to secure the victory, as Dayton cut the Tiger advantage to eight with just under two minutes to go, but could not pull any closer. Harper sank four free throws and Heron added another down the stretch for the final margin of 73-60.

Darrell Davis led Dayton with 18 points. Jalen Crutcher was close behind with 15 points and went 6-of-7 from the foul line. Auburn will return to action on Sunday when it hosts George Mason at 2 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena. The game will be available online at SECN+.

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

Wednesday, November 29th, 2017

The recruiting front continues to treat Auburn kindly. Yesterday evening, four-star linebacker Zakoby McClain from Valdosta (Ga.) picked the Tigers over LSU and West Virginia. He is verbal No. 18 for the 2018 class and is Auburn's fourth overall commit (and third for 2018) in the past week. Now, the Tigers only have seven vacancies left to fill. Auburn, which was outside the top 50 in June, has now climbed to No. 10 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings.

The 6-feet, 205-pound McClain ranks as the No. 16 outside linebacker nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He attended the Iron Bowl last weekend at Jordan-Hare Stadium. For awhile, this outcome seemed highly unlikely, as McClain went months without visiting Auburn. But when linebackers coach Travis Williams visited McClain's school this fall, things began to look up. They spoke before and after the Iron Bowl. "He was talking about how it is, how I like the school and what I wanted to do," McClain said.

McClain silently pledged to the Tigers last Saturday night, but went public on Tuesday. He is now Auburn's third linebacker commit, joining inside backer Michael Harris and buck/edge rusher Richard Jibunor. Jibunor committed last week. The Tigers project McClain as an inside backer. He plans to make his official visit to Auburn in December and sign with the Tigers on Dec. 20th, the first day of the new early signing period.

In other news....

- Auburn rose to No. 2 in the latest edition of the College Football Playoff rankings, which was released last night. Despite its upset of Alabama, the Tide remains in the hunt at No. 5. Meanwhile, Clemson has claimed the top spot after a dominating victory over South Carolina last Saturday. Oklahoma is No. 3, while Wisconsin stands at No. 4. On the other side of the coin, Miami, which fell victim to a stunning upset at the hands of Pitt last week, fell to No. 7.

While this is obviously a good position for Auburn to be in, it will mean nothing if we don't beat Georgia (again) this week in the SEC Championship. That comes first. The SEC Championship kicks off at 3 p.m. CT this Saturday on CBS.

- Auburn basketball plays at Dayton tonight at 6 p.m. CT. That game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

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

Tuesday, November 28th, 2017

I know this is a bit late, but today I'm going to write about the basketball team's win over Winthrop last Friday night. I was honestly just too busy to cover it until now.

Mustapha Heron scored a career-best 31 points and also had a season-high 10 rebounds as the Tigers dominated Winthrop 119-85. The 119 points that the Tigers (4-1) scored tied for the fourth-highest total in program history. Auburn had not posted that many points under Pearl since a win over Northwestern State on Nov. 27, 2015. That mark is also the highest since the Tigers amassed 141 points in a victory over Troy on Dec. 11, 1991.

"Winthrop was a bit short-handed tonight," Pearl said. "That's not the same Winthrop team that was in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. It was obviously good to see both Bryce Brown and Mustapha Heron relaxed offensively. I thought our 4-men played really well. I thought Desean (Murray) and Chuma (Okeke) played terrific on the frontline." Heron echoed Pearl's views. "We definitely ran (the offense) well," he said. "I think we were patient. We tried not to play the score too much and work on a few things. We had success."

Heron's team-best performances in both points and rebounds marked his fourth career double-double and eighth game of 20-plus points as a Tiger. Bryce Brown countered with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. He nailed the basket from behind the arc six times - all in the second half. Malik Dunbar tallied a career-high 13 points, while Desean Murray had 12 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Chuma Okeke recorded his third game with 11 points and also added five rebounds to his name.

As a team, Auburn canned a season-best 14 treys and shot 61 percent (46-of-68) from the floor. The Tigers led 22-13 by the halfway mark of the first half, but Winthrop (2-3) rallied to take a 29-26 edge with just under seven minutes left on the clock. However, the Tigers refused to back down, going on a 32-7 run highlighted by 12 points from Heron to take a commanding 58-36 lead into the dressing room at the break. They weren't about to ease up in the second half, leading by as much as 36 at 99-63 with six minutes to go in the game. Auburn put up 20 more points through that span until the final buzzer for the win.

The Eagles, not to be outdone, had five players in double figures, led by Jermaine Ukaegbu with 12 points and nine rebounds. Auburn returns to action tomorrow night when they travel to Dayton for a non-conference match. The opening tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised on the CBS Sports Network.

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

Monday, November 27th, 2017

The biggest question weighing on every Auburn fan's mind right now is whether Kerryon Johnson will be healthy enough to play in this Saturday's SEC Championship Game against No. 6 Georgia. The Tigers' star running back injured his shoulder without making contact on his 30th carry late in Auburn's 26-14 upset of then-No. 1 Alabama. However, head coach Gus Malzahn was vague in his update on Johnson's status yesterday.

"I'm not for sure he's going to be able to practice tonight or not," Malzahn stated Sunday afternoon. "We'll see. We'll check on him daily and see what his status is. Right now it's really hard to say." Johnson has become Auburn's workhorse in the backfield since former starter Kamryn Pettway was lost with a shoulder blade fracture against Arkansas in late October. Johnson has rushed for 100 yards or more against both No. 1 teams Georgia and Alabama. He racked up 104 yards and a touchdown against the Tide and also threw a TD pass to Nate Craig-Myers out of the Wildcat formation.

Malzahn commended Johnson's "courage" since returning from a hamstring injury he sustained in the first half of Auburn's season opener against Georgia Southern. He missed the vast majority of three games before returning to the lineup as the Tigers' primary running back. "I think probably everybody in the country has seen the courage he showed the last five (games) - really ever since he came back from his hamstring injury - his toughness, his courage and everything that goes with it," Malzahn said. "So I know that physically, if he can, he will (play). But I'm just - we're not ready to say that yet. We'll just have to wait later in the week on where he's at." Meanwhile, Johnson's teammates expect that he will be able to play Saturday, but obviously, the coaches and trainers know more about injuries than players do.

Unfortunately, Kamryn Pettway will yet again be out for this game, as he continues to battle his shoulder blade fracture.

"No, he's not going to be available," Malzahn stated. "He's still out." Auburn and Georgia will face off at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the game being televised on CBS. One last note that I neglected to point out yesterday. With the Tigers' victory over Alabama, Auburn is now the ninth team in the history of the AP poll to beat two top-ranked teams by double digits in the same season. Isn't that quite a feat?

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

Sunday, November 26th, 2017

Those who watched ESPN's College Gameday segment yesterday morning were well aware that nobody on the network's panel of hosts picked Auburn to upset Alabama in the Iron Bowl....that is, except for legendary Tiger basketball player Charles Barkley. To quote him, "I'm just going to say this - a few years ago, it was the Kick Six. Today, it's going to be the Kick A**!"

A few hours later, when the game clock expired, his prediction was validated. The Tigers knocked off the top-ranked Crimson Tide, 26-14, breaking a three-year Iron Bowl skid. Even more importantly, Auburn clinched its second SEC Western Division title in five years under head coach Gus Malzahn. The Tigers will now travel to Atlanta next week for a rematch with Georgia - another previously top-ranked team that was dethroned by the orange and blue two weeks ago.

For Alabama, this was their first loss since last year's national title game, first Iron Bowl loss since 2013, first loss by double digits since 2010, and first loss by more than 10 points to its cross-state rival since 1969 (a 49-26 Auburn win). With previously-second-ranked Miami (FL) having been stunned by Pitt this week, Auburn will certainly jump into the top five in the College Football Playoff rankings, keeping their dreams of a possible national title alive.

Offensively, the Tigers clicked on all cylinders all night long, banging out 25 first downs and 408 total yards (240 passing, 168 rushing). Another crucial factor was third-down conversions. Auburn was 9-of-18 on such situations. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham was impressive once again, going 21-of-28 for 237 yards. While he didn't throw a touchdown pass, he did score one himself on a 16-yard scamper with 12:49 left in the game that largely put this one out of reach. He lost a fumble inside Bama's 5-yard line at the end of the first quarter, but it became meaningless as the Tide was held to a three-and-out. Kerryon Johnson was effective on the ground game, with 104 yards on 30 carries. His biggest play, though, came with 4:38 to go in the first period. From the Bama 3-yard line, he took the snap out of the Wildcat and lobbed a jump pass (a la Tim Tebow) to a wide-open Nate Craig-Myers in the back of the end zone. Touchdown! Auburn had a 7-0 lead.

Receiver Ryan Davis placed his name in the record books, hauling in 11 grabs for 139 yards. Those catches gave him the single-season record for receptions with 69, eclipsing the previous mark of 60 set by Darvin Adams in 2009. There was only one downer on offense, as Kerryon Johnson went down without contact on a fourth-quarter carry. The Auburn trainers came to his aid for a few minutes, but he managed to walk to the medical tent on Auburn's sideline under his own power. All that's clear at this point in time is that Johnson injured his shoulder. Head coach Gus Malzahn said the extent of his injury won't be known until further notice. Kam Martin also got hurt after four carries for nine yards. If neither Johnson nor Kamryn Pettway can play against UGA next week, then Devan Barrett and Malik Miller will get some touches.

On defense, the Tigers bent at times, but certainly didn't break. They held the Tide to 314 total yards (211 rushing, 103 passing). Alabama QB Jalen Hurts felt the heat for most of the night, being sacked twice and hurried nine times. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 112 yards and a TD, but also lost a fumble. He had limited success running the ball, with just 82 yards on 18 carries. Since Bama was held scoreless in the first quarter, that broke a string of 49 straight quarters in which they had scored.  After the Tide took a 14-10 lead less than two minutes into the second half on a 21-yard scoring jaunt by Bo Scarbrough, they never scored another point the rest of the way. Also, the Tigers only allowed Bama to convert 3 of 11 third-down conversions. All three successful tries came in the final 15 minutes.

In the special teams department, Daniel Carlson was solid on kickoffs, although we did give up one long return. He nailed two field goals, including one on the final play of the first half to give Auburn a 10-7 lead at the break. Aidan Marshall had five punts with a 35.8-yard average. We still need to work on our special teams coverage, which has been one of our biggest trouble spots this year.

In my mind, two particular plays especially played a big part in Auburn's outcome. They both occurred late in the third quarter with Auburn holding a 20-14 lead. One came on a Jalen Hurts pass that was deflected in the end zone by Javaris Davis....only to be caught by Hale Hertges for an Alabama TD - or so we thought. Upon review, the truth came to light: The ball hit the ground before Hertges could pull it in. Incomplete pass. The other came on the very next play. Andy Pappanastos lined up for a 34-yard field goal try that would have cut the Tiger lead to three. Bama punter J.K. Scott doubled as Pappanastos' holder. He botched the snap from center, and the Tigers came pouring in on him. Forced to improvise, he completed an errant pass to Pappanastos, who was quickly swallowed up for a nine-yard loss. The Tigers had the ball back.

The thrilling upset win ignited a raucous celebration at Jordan-Hare Stadium that was reminiscent of the Kick Six four years ago. Fans and students stormed the field by droves, rendering it invisible. The stadium bushes were damaged quite a bit. Auburn was quickly fined $250,000 for its actions - but who cares? This is what makes college football so special. The fans enjoyed what you're supposed to enjoy with a victory like this. Auburn crushed its arch-rival's hopes of a conference or national title. Instead, the orange and blue will rematch with Georgia next week. This is the first time the Tigers and Bulldogs have faced off for the conference crown. Now, some people may feel led to write down this one as a  loss already just because Johnson and Martin are banged up, but I'm not going to be that way. I have confidence that we'll stay grounded and give the Bulldogs anything we can throw at them - and take anything they throw at us. A season that was once filled with doubt and uncertainty has suddenly turned into a very special one.

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

Saturday, November 25th, 2017

As I write this, the Iron Bowl is just six hours and 25 minutes away. That said, here's an update on injured players.

- Kamryn Pettway: Pettway will once again be held out today as he continues to battle the fracture in his scapula bone. Head coach Gus Malzahn described him as "doubtful" in recent weeks, but didn't officially rule him out until Tuesday. Pettway played in last year's Iron Bowl, but was very ineffective, with just 17 yards on 12 carries.

- Tre' Williams: Williams was in a lot of pain as he returned to the locker room in the second half of last week's game against ULM. A trainer held the linebacker's shoulder and neck up. Williams injured his right shoulder early in the season and has since re-injured it twice, forcing him to miss a total of three games. Thus far this season, the senior has amassed 40 tackles (20 solo) with 2.5 sacks. Although Darrell Williams expects his teammate to do all he can to see the field, Tre' Williams remains doubtful.

- Jeremiah Dinson: Dinson took a knee right to the head while making a tackle last week against ULM. Malzahn confirmed Dinson suffered a concussion on the play, putting his status for the Iron Bowl in serious jeopardy. The NCAA's concussion guidelines provide a checklist of steps that Dinson will need to go through in order to play today. Dinson has tallied 42 tackles (29 solo), a sack and three pass breakups this season. 

- As for other defenders, Jeff Holland, Deshaun Davis, Nick Coe and Chandler Wooten suffered injuries against ULM as well, but none of them are expected to miss today's game. Holland and Coe returned to the field last week, while Davis could have if the game was closer.

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

Friday, November 24th, 2017

Who says lightning never strikes twice? Auburn football gained another commitment on Thanksgiving Day. Seth Williams, a four-star receiver from Cottondale (Ala.) Bryant announced the surprising news on Twitter. The 6-feet-3, 212-pound Williams ranks as the No. 30 receiver and No. 154 overall recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite. Earlier in the day, Richard Jibunor, a four-star Buck linebacker from Athens (Ga.) Christian gave the Tigers his pledge.

Williams is Auburn's 17th commitment for 2018, although the Tigers still have eight spots to fill. Williams has been one of the Tigers' biggest targets for over a year now. Alabama, Florida State and Ole Miss also gave him offers. His commitment yesterday came out of nowhere, although AuburnUndercover has projected him to the Tigers for a while now. Williams has not attended an Auburn game thus far this season, but that will change as he intends to be at tomorrow's Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare Stadium. With his pledge, Auburn rose to No. 12 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings after having started the day at No. 14.

The Tigers now have three receiver commitments. Williams joins four-star Matthew Hill of Georgia and three-star Shedrick Jackson of Alabama. Jackson is the nephew of Auburn legend Bo Jackson. Although the Tigers could be done at receiver, they could very well tack on another if they view that prospect as elite. Anything is possible, especially when it comes to recruiting.

In other news...

- Auburn basketball hosts Winthrop at 6 p.m. CT tonight in Auburn Arena. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

- The Iron Bowl kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT tomorrow afternoon at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised by CBS. I, for one, am brimming with excitement. Aren't you?

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

Thursday, November 23rd, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

While most families and friends across the country are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and counting their blessings, the Auburn football team has something of its own to give thanks for - a new commitment. Richard Jibunor, a four-star Buck linebacker from Athens Christian (Ga.) pledged to the Tigers today over Florida, Tennessee, and numerous other offers. He will sign with Auburn on Dec. 20th, but is not an early enrollee.

"It's been a long time and a long process and I thank God for everything," Jibunor told AuburnUndercover.com. "The coaching staff has been really amazing and the program is moving forward in a very positive way. And it's a place that I feel like is the best place. Each time I visit the school I just feel at home. I enjoy it a lot. The atmosphere is good and the environment is awesome." The 6-feet-3, 206-pound Jibunor is Auburn's 16th commitment for 2018. He fills a crucial hole for the Tigers - that of a pass rusher.

"I've always felt it a little bit, but with all the schools coming in I really wanted to relax and make sure it was really something I wanted to go for 100 percent," he said. "Before the Georgia game, I was kind of feeling it. And when I went to the game I really enjoyed everything I saw there - even apart from the game. Just the environment. I like the school." Relationships were vital to Jibunor's decision. He said that he was closer to Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams than any person at any school recruiting him.

"I'm very close with T-Will," Jibunor stated. "He is someone who really likes hard work and I'm looking for someone who is going to really push me hard and bring out the best in me. As long as I'm willing to give him my best I believe he is the kind of person who will make me better." Also, Jibunor has strong bonds with offensive linemen Prince Sammons and Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. All three of them are natives of Nigeria.

Back in his home country, Jibunor's mother was especially elated about the school he chose. "My Mom is already planning (to visit) and she is very excited," he said. "She has done research on Auburn and she likes it. She feels it's the best place." Jibunor, a high-end athlete who needs to add weight, hopes to help the Tigers out in Year 1, but knows it won't be so simple. "By the grace of God," he said. "Right now, we're working on gaining size and getting stronger. Watching and learning and getting better."

Jibunor said he plans to attend the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. As a commit, he also intends to actively recruit for the Tigers. He had a very blunt message for other prospects. "Auburn is family. There's nothing sweeter than family." Well said, Richard....especially during the holiday season.

In other news....

- Auburn basketball hosts Winthrop tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

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

Tuesday, November 21st, 2017

Today's post will be of the "good news/bad news" variety. I'll start with the good news.

- First off, Auburn football landed its first commitment for the class of 2020 today. Defensive end Andy Boykin of LaGrange (Ga.) Troup County announced via Twitter this morning that he has pledged to the Tigers. Reportedly, Boykin silently committed to Auburn after the Tigers' win over Georgia two weeks ago, as he wasn't quite ready to go public at the time.

The 6-feet-3, 235-pound Boykin has attended multiple Auburn home games this season and has been siding with the Tigers for awhile. It should come as no surprise that Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner is Boykin's area recruiter. Troup County has multiple young players with Auburn offers, so that makes Boykin's pledge to the Tigers even more crucial. Boykin amassed 30-plus tackles for Troup County this season.

- Now for the bad news. Word came out today that two defensive leaders could miss the Iron Bowl this Saturday. Tre' Williams (shoulder) and Jeremiah Dinson (concussion) were both knocked out of Auburn's 42-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe last week. Dinson, who returned to full health in time to upset then-top-ranked Georgia two weeks ago, will be evaluated throughout the week and it will not be clear if he will play until Thursday. The defensive back has been called one of the most pivotal players on defense and is responsible for putting other DBs in position to make plays. He played a big role in the victory over UGA.

Meanwhile, running back Kamryn Pettway will sit out once more as he continues nursing a broken shoulder blade he suffered in late October at Arkansas. Six defensive players left the game against ULM at some point with injuries, although several of them returned to action. "I'd say everybody (else) has got a good chance of playing," head coach Gus Malzahn said.

No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) travels to No. 6 Auburn (9-2, 6-1) on Saturday, with the winner advancing to face Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, with the game being televised by CBS. On said network, Brad Nessler will provide the play-by-play, with Gary Danielson presenting the color commentary, and Allie LaForce serving as the sideline reporter.

Oh, and one final thought: If CBS intends to get any shots of offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey in the coaches' booth, let's all hope that they don't duplicate the same mistake that ESPN2 did last week by showing play-by-play man Rod Bramblett instead. Perhaps the "I am NOT Chip Lindsey!" sign that Bramblett held up last week when said network made that gaffe should become permanent. Would you agree?

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

Monday, November 20th, 2017

Will the third time be a charm for Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson?

Carlson was named one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award today, making him the first player in history to earn recognition as a finalist for the top award in the nation for a placekicker. However, Carlson has yet to win the award. The other two finalists are Matt Gay of Utah and Dominik Eberle of Utah State.

Carlson has made 19 of 25 field goals this season, and is tied for the second-most field goals ever in a college career with 88. He has scored 108 points thus far this season, which ties for third in the country. His career total of 460 points is an SEC record. This season, Carlson has hit four field goals of 50 yards or longer, which is tied for second nationally behind the aforementioned Gay. 

Carlson also owns the SEC record in successful extra point attempts with 191 straight makes. He is 4-for-7 on field goals of 50 yards or longer this season and has converted two 54-yarders. He had attempts from 48 and 52 yards blocked by Texas A&M. He nailed four field goals, including his long of 54 yards, in a 40-17 upset of then-No. 1 ranked Georgia. The winner of the Lou Groza Award will be announced Dec. 7th during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in Atlanta.

In the meantime, fans can vote for their favorite kicker at LouGrozaAward.com. The player with the most fan votes will earn one vote in their favor on the ballot. Best of luck to you, Mr. Carlson.

In other news....

- The Auburn men's basketball team topped Hofstra 89-78 last night in the final round of the Charleston Classic to move to 3-1 on the season. The team will return to action on Friday when they host Winthrop in Auburn Arena at 6 p.m. CT. That game will be televised by the SEC Network.

- Today is the late Auburn play-by-play man Jim Fyffe's 72nd birthday in Heaven. While his untimely passing on May 15, 2003 at the age of just 57 was incomprehensible to all of us at the time (including me), we all know that his booming voice and the words "TOUCHDOWN, AUBURN!" will forever resonate in our ears, hearts, souls and minds. Happy Birthday, Jim! You are forever loved and missed, and never forgotten! WAR EAGLE, my friend!

- On the flip side, today also marks the sixth anniversary of the passing of Larry Munson, Georgia's iconic play-by-play man from 1966-2008. He was 89 at the time of his passing. He was one of my biggest influences, without a doubt. He is forever missed as well. Memorable phrases such as "Run, Lindsay!", "Hobnail Boot" and "Look at the sugar falling out of the sky!" will always be treasured and cherished.

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

Saturday, November 18th, 2017

I'm going to try to be blunt and to the point in this post. Auburn's 42-14 win over ULM wasn't flawless by any means. In the first half, it was clear that the Tigers were in letdown mode following their upset of Georgia last week. The offense sputtered, although the defense had its moments. However, the second half was a whole different story.

Over the final 30 minutes, the Auburn defense forced three turnovers, and the offense converted them into 21 points. The second of those was the biggest: a 45-yard pick-six by Nick Ruffin to give the Tigers a 35-7 lead with 7:09 left. That largely locked this one up. The offense certainly had its share of highlights as well. Jarrett Stidham was 18-of-24 for 235 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. His first scoring strike was a 50-yarder to Darius Slayton with 1:27 remaining in the first half to give Auburn a real momentum swing going into the break. The ground game was equally effective, with 317 yards in that department. Kerryon Johnson led the way with 22 carries for 137 yards and a TD. Kam Martin complemented him with 12 carries for 83 yards and a score of his own. He later scored another TD in the receiving category, catching a screen pass from Stidham and prancing 41 yards for the score.

By the end of the day, Auburn had piled up 552 total yards, while holding ULM to 333. Yes, we did give up a few big plays to the Warhawks, but we did enough things right to avoid a humiliating upset. Daniel Carlson hit all seven PATs, and although not all of his kickoffs went out of the end zone, you really can't complain about that category either. Quite a few of our backups got action as the fourth quarter wound down, and they got a chance to grow and mature.

Overall, it wasn't entirely spectacular, but a win's a win. Now, the team can rest up and hopefully be ready to go back to business tomorrow in practice. We all know what's at stake next week in the Iron Bowl: A Western Division title and a trip to Atlanta. It can be done if we just stay grounded and avoid silly mistakes. Keep your fingers crossed, folks. This could still go down as one of the most thrilling Iron Bowls this storied rivalry has ever seen...especially since the Tigers are playing on their own home turf.

Auburn and Alabama will square off at 2:30 p.m. CT next Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS.

In other news....

- Auburn basketball was dealt its first loss of the season yesterday at the hands of Temple by a score of 88-74. Offensive troubles cost us in this one. Now, the Tigers will try to bounce back tomorrow night when they face Hofstra in the next round of the Charleston Classic. The opening tip is set for 6 p.m. CT, with the game being televised by ESPNU.

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

Thursday, November 16th, 2017

Auburn basketball clinched another blowout win today, dominating the Indiana State Sycamores 83-64 in the first round of the 2017 Charleston Classic. Desean Murray led the Tigers with 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, while Bryce Brown tallied a team-best 15 points. 

"I thought the kids executed extremely well," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We've been working on our defense, rebounding and our transition defense, and that's probably the best defense we've played against a good team." Indiana State's 64 points was a season-low. Auburn limited them to just 17-of-56 (30.4 percent) from the floor. The Tigers had not held an opponent to fewer than 20 field goals since 2015 when it allowed Georgia Southern only 19 made shots.

"I thought Bryce Brown in particular played well going up against Brenton Scott, who is a dangerous player," Pearl pointed out. "Bryce Brown took him and wouldn't give him to anybody else." That's an accurate description, as Scott, who entered the game averaging 24 points per match, was limited to just three points and also committed three turnovers. As for Murray, his double-double was the first time a player had accomplished that since Mustapha Heron did it against Missouri on March 8th of this year.

"It felt really good to get out on the court and just play as hard and good as we did," Murray said. "The coaches had us prepared and everybody was ready to play. We played great on the defensive end and it all starts with defense." Four Tigers scored in double figures. Chuma Okeke and Heron each had 11 points. Heron continued his impressive start to his career with his 33rd game with 10-plus points in 34 matches. Meanwhile, Okeke set a new career-high with his 11 points to go along with six rebounds and a team-high three steals. Elsewhere, Jared Harper scored nine points and tied a career-best with seven assists. 

In team stats, the Tigers had a season-best nine steals and tied its best mark of the season in blocks with nine. Auburn also held a commanding 38-20 lead over the Sycamores in points in the paint. All nine Tigers that played in the first half were responsible for scoring at least one point, and Auburn built a commanding 48-27 lead by halftime. Its largest lead of the day came with 9:42 left in the second half when Davion Mitchell sank two free throws to put the Tigers up 71-44.

Indiana State made a small comeback, but the outcome was largely never in doubt this time around.

This victory places Auburn in the semifinal of the Charleston Classic. The Tigers will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Old Dominion and Temple. Auburn will return to action tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. CT with the game being telecast by ESPN2.

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

Tuesday, November 14th, 2017

Persistence pays off. The story of Auburn's quest for its latest football commitment proves that. Today, four-star cornerback Christian Tutt of Thomson High chose the Tigers over Ohio State. As recently as a month ago, Tutt apparently wasn't even considering Auburn.

The 5-feet-10.5, 193-pound Tutt ranks as the No. 25 corner and No. 221 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite. He is also a U.S. Army All-American. When asked by AuburnUndercover.com about what endeared him to Auburn, his response was fairly blunt. "It was just the perfect fit," he said. Tutt is the Tigers' 15th commitment. With his pledge, Auburn has climbed from No. 19 to No. 14 in the 247Sports recruiting team rankings. At one time during the summer, the Tigers weren't even in the top 50.

For the past several months, most thought Tutt was destined for Nebraska. But a rocky season for the Cornhuskers opened up the door for Auburn. After vehemently striving to get Tutt on campus, he officially visited last weekend. Tutt arrived in Auburn late Friday night after his team's playoff game in Atlanta and stayed through Sunday. Not only did he watch the Tigers' 40-17 upset of previously-unbeaten Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but he got extensive tours of the campus and had lengthy meetings with the coaching staff. 

Tutt's father was among those who accompanied him on his visit. Auburn linebackers coach Travis Williams is Tutt's area recruiter, but secondary coach Greg Brown also played a pivotal role in this recruitment. Last week, Tutt told AuburnUndercover.com that he was pleased by Brown's resume, which includes time in the NFL. Tutt is Auburn's first cornerback commit for the Class of 2018. The Tigers could use one or two more.

Tutt graduates in December and will enroll at Auburn in January.

In other news...

- In the men's basketball department, Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, who have been held out since Nov. 2nd to avoid any possible eligibility issues, are not on the travel roster for Auburn's trip to Charleston, S.C. on Thursday to play Indiana State in the Charleston Classic. Head coach Bruce Pearl still has no clarity on whether or not that will change, but emphasized that it "could change at a moment's notice."

The decision to hold the two out came more than a month after recently-ousted assistant coach Chuck Person was arrested on federal bribery and corruption charges on Sept. 26th. Person allegedly gave the families of the two student-athletes $18,500 to secure the services of a financial advisor when they entered the NBA. While the players have practiced through the process - including spending much of their time with the scout team the last two weeks - they have missed the team's first two games (exhibition against Barry; season-opener against Norfolk State). They are allowed to attend home games as the investigation goes on, but aren't allowed to travel.

Auburn and Indiana State face off on Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. CT on ESPNU.

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

Monday, November 13th, 2017

The time and network for the Iron Bowl have been set.  News surfaced today that No. 1 Alabama and No. 6 Auburn will square off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Nov. 25th on CBS. The match at Jordan-Hare Stadium will determine which team will represent the Western Division in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. 

This marks only the second time in the rivalry's storied history that it will determine the SEC West winner. The first came with the all-too-famous "Kick Six" game in 2013. Hey, here's an interesting note: This past Saturday, in Auburn's 40-17 upset of then-top-ranked Georgia, the head referee was Matt Austin. In case you don't remember, he was the fellow who uttered the following proclamation at that "Kick Six" game:

"After review, the runner's foot touched out of bounds at the 39-yard line with one second on the clock. The clock will be reset to one second. It will be 1st-and-10." Sound familiar?

In other news....

- Three Auburn players garnered SEC Player of the Week honors today in the aftermath of the Tigers' shellacking of Georgia. Running back Kerryon Johnson (offensive player of the week), kicker Daniel Carlson (special teams player of the week) and center Casey Dunn (offensive lineman of the week) were honored by the league today with awards.

Johnson rushed for 167 yards and caught two passes for 66 yards, including a 55-yard TD, in the win last Saturday. On top of that, he had 96 yards after contact and broke six tackles. His 16 touchdowns in SEC games is tied with Cam Newton (2010) and Tim Tebow (2007) for the most since 2000.

In Carlson's case, he was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 54-yarder that gave Auburn its first points. Dunn, a former FCS All-American at Jacksonville State, graded with an impressive 91 percent, according to Auburn coaches, and had six blocks that led to first downs or touchdowns. Despite the obvious hype surrounding the upcoming Iron Bowl, we all know that first thing's first, and that's the Tigers' home showdown with non-conference Lousiana-Monroe this Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised by ESPN2. Auburn enters the game at 8-2 overall, 6-1 in SEC play.

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

Sunday, November 12th, 2017

I never saw this coming, and I'm sure not many others did either. I fully expected the 121st chapter of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry to be one of the fiercest that this storied series had ever seen. But as it turned out, my prediction was quite the contrary to what actually transpired.

Georgia took the opening kickoff and made it look effortless, driving 70 yards in eight plays and taking 3:39 off the clock. The drive ended with Nick Chubb plunging in from a yard out. From that point on, though, the Auburn Tigers completely outmatched and outplayed the Dawgs in every aspect. When the final buzzer had sounded, the scoreboard read Auburn 40, Georgia 17. With this rout, the Tigers ruined UGA's undefeated season, as well as its No. 1 standing in the CFP rankings. This game marked the fourth time that the two teams met while ranked in the top 10. The first three occurred in 1971, 1983 and 2004. Auburn won all four of them.

The Tigers outgained the Bulldogs 488-230 in total yardage. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham was on fire once again, going 16-of-23 for 214 yards. He accounted for four total TDs - three passing and one rushing. In my mind, the most notorious score was a 42-yard bomb to Darius Slayton with 4:09 left in the first half to give Auburn a 16-7 lead. It was one of the best catches I had ever seen in tight traffic, especially at the goal line.

In the case of the running game, Kerryon Johnson simply wore the Bulldog defense out, gaining 167 yards on 32 carries. Although he had no rushing touchdowns, he did turn a screen pass by Stidham into a 55-yard score with 6:13 left in the game. That was a dazzler. Defensively, the Tigers completely stymied Georgia's offense after the opening series. The Dawgs scored TDs on their first and last drives of the day, but over the course of their 10 possessions in between, they only generated 85 yards and went three-and-out five times.

Perhaps the biggest question entering this one was whether Auburn could slow down Georgia's superb running back duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Well, they sure as heck did. The two were limited to a paltry 48 yards on 20 carries, and the Dawgs finished with a season-worst 46 yards on the ground. The Tigers also made life miserable for opposing QB Jake Fromm, who was sacked five times on the day for -33 yards combined. It's no wonder many Bulldog fans were calling for Jacob Eason to be inserted in Fromm's place as the game progressed.

On special teams, Daniel Carlson hit four field goals of 54, 37, 30 and 37 yards. With the fourth kick, he surpassed former Georgia kicker Billy Bennett for the SEC record in career field goals made with 88. Carlson has also now made 185 straight extra points, a school and conference record. None of his kickoffs went into the end zone. Although that's unheard of, it was only because it was a windy day. However, the Tigers still need to improve return coverage, as they allowed Georgia 195 return yards. Of course, that fumbled punt that Auburn's Daniel Thomas recovered was a real momentum swinger.

Overall, this was arguably Auburn's most complete performance of the year. They totally dominated UGA in every phase. In the process, the Tigers clinched their first win over a top-ranked team since the 2013 Iron Bowl, and first over a top-two-ranked Bulldog squad since 1942. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart's description of this one was mighty accurate. "They were more physical than us up front," he said, referring to both sides of the line. "That's the bottom line. They punched us in the mouth and we didn't respond to it. It is what it is." Indeed. When the game ended, I just couldn't resist using one of the late UGA broadcaster Larry Munson's most famous calls to refer to the blowout: "We just stepped on their face with a Hobnail Boot and broke their nose! We just crushed their face!"

As hard as it is to do, the Tigers must now turn their attention to La. Monroe, in a game that should serve as a stress-free tuneup for the Iron Bowl in two weeks. If we stay grounded, then we can focus on the contest that will determine whether the Tigers or Tide will represent the Western Division in the SEC Championship. If my Tigers could pull off the upset (which I'm certainly not betting against at this point), it would be pretty interesting to have a rematch with Georgia, knowing that they've already clinched the Eastern Division crown. Regardless, yesterday's game was a mighty sweet way to break a three-game losing streak to those pesky Dawgs. Auburn will host ULM next week at Jordan-Hare Stadium at 11 a.m. CT. That game will be televised by ESPN2.

In other news....

- Auburn basketball convincingly won its season opener last Friday over Norfolk State by a score of 102-74. The Tigers travel to Charleston, S.C. to face Indiana State this Thursday in the Charleston Classic. The opening tip is set for 10:30 a.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPNU.

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

Friday, November 10th, 2017

Head coach Gus Malzahn offered some optimistic news regarding Auburn's injured players during his weekly radio show last night. He said he expects every player who was limited or held out of action last week against Texas A&M to be available against Georgia tomorrow. He expects them all to be at or near full strength.

First off, linebacker Tre' Williams has been hindered by a shoulder injury over the past month, and while he started in the Tigers' 42-27 win at Texas A&M last week, he only played for 22 snaps. However, Malzahn expects this week to be different. "Tre' Williams is as healthy as he's been since the very first of the season," he stated on Tiger Talk last night.

On the offensive side, Auburn's offensive line has not been set for the Georgia game due to injuries. Tackle Darius James and left guard Mike Horton played against the Aggies last week, but were benched because of ankle injuries they were still battling from previous weeks. "Darius gave a good run at it. We had to pull him out in the second quarter," Malzahn said. "He's healthier now."

Although Malzahn expects everybody to play, he also added that he's "not ready" to say who will start on the offensive line. Auburn has implemented multiple lineups this season, and Austin Golson has played all five spots on the line this season because of injuries and personnel changes. No. 10 Auburn (7-2, 5-1 SEC) hosts No. 1 Georgia (9-0, 6-0) in Jordan-Hare Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. The game will be televised on CBS. Interesting note: This marks just the fourth time in series history that both teams have met while ranked in the top 10. The previous three occurred in 1971, 1983 and 2004. The Tigers won all three of those (35-20, 13-7, and 24-6, respectively). Let's all hope that that trend will continue tomorrow.

In other news....

- Auburn basketball opens its season tonight when it hosts Norfolk State at 7 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena. It will only be available online at SECN+, but you can always listen to the Auburn Sports Network by any means necessary.

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

Thursday, November 9th, 2017

I've missed the heck out of this blog for the past few days, but I had a wonderful vacation in Orlando with my family, and now I've regained enough energy to write again.

With Auburn and Georgia set to square off for the 121st time this Saturday, word came out today as to who will be calling the action on CBS. Brad Nessler will handle the play-by-play, while Gary Danielson will provide the color commentary, and Allie LaForce will be the sideline reporter. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT as the network's "SEC Game of the Week."

The Bulldogs enter this contest as a 2.5-point favorite, but I strongly feel that that will give the Tigers extra motivation. Auburn has lost the last three straight since the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare" in 2013, as well as nine of the last 11 meetings. To say the least, both of these streaks desperately need to be broken! If we do enough things right, this could very well turn into one of the tightest showdowns that the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry" has ever seen.

In other news....

- Auburn basketball kicks off its season tomorrow night at 7 p.m. CT when it hosts Norfolk State in Auburn Arena. Unfortunately, as of today, Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy have not been cleared to play in the game. Head coach Bruce Pearl said he's getting daily updates on their status and they remain out indefinitely, although he clarified that they are allowed to practice.

The university is working to clear their eligibility as it relates to allegations that former assistant coach Chuck Person, who was fired earlier this week, gave their families $18,500. Purifoy was held out of the exhibition game against Barry last week, while Wiley was recovering from a "stress injury" in his left leg. Wiley has practiced all week, but the two players are rotating with the scout team.

"Every day we are going through this process, interviews and things like that," Pearl stated after Wednesday's practice. "It is moving along at a pretty quick pace, but right now there is no change to their status." Auburn and Norfolk State are set for a 7 p.m. CT opening tip tomorrow. The game is available online at SECN+, and you can also listen on the Auburn Sports Network.

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

Saturday, November 4th, 2017

The winning streak for the road team between Auburn and Texas A&M continues. Despite sputtering early on, the Tiger offense found its groove, and the defense, while not necessarily flawless, did make some key plays. By the end of the afternoon, Auburn was a 42-27 winner at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. It was a pleasing outcome that brought a happy ending to a brutal stretch of four straight road games over the past month.

In the early going, it was apparent that our offense was rusty after an open date. But when they came to life, they certainly made the plays when they had to. Auburn rolled up 24 first downs and 496 total yards. Jarrett Stidham had another great day, going 20-of-27 for 268 yards and three touchdowns, the longest of which was a 53-yard bomb to Darius Slayton. BTW, Slayton had another big play later, a 46-yard reception that set up another TD. Two catches for 99 yards is certainly nothing to sneer at. Ryan Davis had some nice catches as well, including one for a TD.

In the running game, Kerryon Johnson once again made life miserable for the opposition, rushing for 145 yards on 29 carries with a score. Kam Martin got a few touches as well, and made solid gains. In the fourth quarter, Auburn did itself a huge favor by chewing up 8:17 of the clock in a 96-yard drive that culminated in receiver Eli Stove's 4-yard score on a speed sweep. Read that drive's time length again. By the time that series was over, there was 5:08 left in the game and Auburn led 42-20. That largely dimmed any hope of a comeback for the Aggies. At game's end, the Tigers had an 11:26 advantage in time of possession - 35:44 to 24:16. Quite a comparison. Another plus - no turnovers.

Special teams was shaky at best. We gave up a long kickoff return to A&M running back Trayveon Williams in the final period. Plus, Daniel Carlson had a rare misfortune, getting two field goals blocked. The unit desperately needs to get those mishaps corrected - especially with top-ranked Georgia coming to The Plains next week. However, Carlson did nail all seven PATs, and his kickoffs were mostly excellent. Punter Aidan Marshall was pretty solid as well.

Defensively, we weren't too bad, although there is room for improvement there as well. We gave up 343 yards to the Aggies. However, we also forced numerous three-and-outs, which is always critical - especially on the road. We didn't force any turnovers. However, on the flip side of us having two field goals blocked, the Tigers blocked two punts by Texas A&M. The first of those came with just 20 seconds left in the first half. With the Aggies deep in their own territory, Shane Tripucka dropped back to kick from his own end zone. But Auburn's Nick Ruffin knifed his way through the line and blocked the punt. It bounded into the end zone, where a mad scrum of Tigers fought for it. Finally, backup running back Malik Miller fell on the ball for a big Tiger score that gave Auburn a 21-13 lead at intermission. That largely swung the momentum in the Tigers' favor.

Overall, Auburn struggled out of the gate, but got its act together as the game progressed, making key plays at key moments. As a result, they are now celebrating a big road win to go to 7-2 on the year. Now, they can turn their attention to the 121st edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry against Georgia next week. That game will kick off at either 2:30 p.m. CT or 6 p.m. CT. We'll know the answer after today's games are done. The best part - the Tigers will be back in their own ball park for the first time since Oct. 7th.

Aside from the game itself, I found out via Facebook about ESPN color commentator Anthony Becht's rather large gaffe while he called our game with Beth Mowins. The in-game trivia asked: When was the last time a team in the Eastern Division won the SEC Championship? (For the record, the answer was Florida in 2008, when they beat Alabama, 31-20.) Well, either Anthony misheard the question, or he honestly thought that Auburn is an East Divison squad. Whatever the case, he guessed that the answer was Auburn in 2010 behind QB Cam Newton. Man, did he catch it from quite a few people on Twitter and Facebook! Anthony, here's a word of advice: Next time you're assigned to call a game, how about taking a quick peek at the list of teams in each of their respective divisions before going on the air? That might help you out, buddy. Then, you won't have to catch any flak from viewers.

You know, like some people, I can't help but wonder how the heck some of these broadcasters have a job.

Before I wrap up this post, I need to bring something to your attention. Tomorrow, I will be leaving for a vacation in Orlando, Florida with my family. This will be our fifth visit there in my lifetime. (Our last trip there came in the spring of 2002 - 15 years ago.) I can tell you firsthand that anybody who goes there will have a memorable experience. There are so many rides, attractions and restaurants in the numerous theme parks. I won't be back until Wednesday. Consequently, I'll be taking a break from this blog until then. Don't worry - those three days will pass before you know it. Until then, I'll miss this baby, but I look forward to having a wonderful time on my trip, creating many pleasant memories in the process. Please pray for our safety to and from Orlando.

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

Thursday, November 2nd, 2017

First and foremost, word came out today as to who will call Auburn's game against Texas A&M at 11 a.m. CT Saturday on ESPN. Beth Mowins will handle the play-by-play duties, while Anthony Becht will provide the color commentary, and Rocky Boiman will be the sideline reporter.

Most people believe that listening to Mowins call a game is as enjoyable as a kick in the pants....and I'm afraid I have to concur. Thank God for radio, right? Rod Bramblett, Stan White and Ronnie Brown beat her any day.

In other news....

- Auburn men's basketball kicks off its 2017-18 campaign tonight with a home exhibition game against Barry University. (In case you're wondering, the opponent in question is a private Catholic university located in Miami Shores, Florida.) The opening tip will be at 7 p.m. CT. Although the game will not be televised, you can listen to the Auburn IMG Sports Network by any means necessary.

As a bizarre side note, the Tigers will be without two players, Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, as they are being held out to avoid any potential eligibility issues in the wake of the ongoing Chuck Person scandal. Yes, I'm well aware of that situation, but I have no desire to go into the details on it. There are so many other places to look for information on that.

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

Wednesday, November 1st, 2017

Auburn got some shocking news yesterday morning. Head coach Gus Malzahn reported that junior running back Kamryn Pettway will be out for an "extended" period due to a shoulder injury, and may miss the rest of the season. Pettway suffered a fracture in his scapula bone late in the Tigers' victory over Arkansas on Oct. 21st. Although Auburn officials realized that his shoulder was sore, they weren't aware of the extent of the injury until last Friday, when he underwent an X-ray on the injured shoulder.

"We thought it would get better and it didn't get any better," Malzahn stated. "I'm hoping we get him back before the end of the year." On the bright side, Pettway will not need surgery. The injury will likely sideline him for at least four weeks. In the meantime, Kam Martin and Malik Miller will be the next guys up in the running back rotation. "All those guys will be ready to go, if called upon," Malzahn assured.

Pettway entered the season as the starter but missed the season opener due to suspension and never lived up to his full potential as he also dealt with heel and ankle injuries. He seemed to return to full speed in the 52-20 rout of Arkansas, rushing for 90 yards and three scores. Apparently, he injured the shoulder on the carry prior to his third touchdown run in the third quarter. 

Pettway has appeared in five of eight contests this season. He surpassed the 100-yard mark once in a 24-10 win over Mercer on Sept. 16th, tallying 128 yards on 34 carries. He is averaging 4 yards per touch while amassing 305 yards and six touchdowns in those games. He led the SEC in rushing last season with 1,224 yards. Obviously, this injury was something the offense certainly couldn't afford. But let's not throw in the towel. The aforementioned running backs can step in and give the offense life as well.

No. 16 Auburn (6-2, 4-1 SEC) travels to Texas A&M (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

In other news....

- Here's some happier injury-related news: Injured offensive linemen Casey Dunn, Mike Horton and Darius James are expected to be healthy for Texas A&M this Saturday. Horton, the starting left guard, injured his left ankle against Ole Miss on Oct. 7th and was available against Arkansas two weeks later, but coaches held him out.

Dunn, the starting center, injured his left knee in the first quarter of Auburn's 27-23 loss to LSU on Oct. 14th and has yet to return, although he did dress out against Arkansas. "He's looked extremely, extremely well," Malzahn said. Meanwhile, James, the starting right tackle, is expected to return after hurting his left leg in the fourth quarter against Arkansas.

Horton practiced all last week and Sunday, James practiced Sunday and do-everything lineman Austin Golson appears set to play any position needed with the two players back in the lineup. While the Tigers have yet to determine exactly what the starting lineup will be in that area, the bottom line is simple: Everyone seems to be healthy again.

Auburn's most effective lineup this season, from left to right: Golson, Horton, Dunn, Braden Smith and James.

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