​​Lyle's Corner

Tuesday, October 31st, 2017

Happy Halloween, everybody!

While Auburn's primary focus this week is its upcoming trip to Texas A&M, word came out yesterday that the 121st edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry the following week will be played either in the afternoon or under the lights. The Tigers will host the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 11th at Jordan-Hare Stadium at a kickoff time to be determined at the conclusion of this Saturday's games.

The game will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS or at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. CBS exercised a six-day selection for its 2:30 p.m. CT game, narrowing the options to Georgia at Auburn and Alabama at Mississippi State. CBS will broadcast a doubleheader  starting with Florida at South Carolina at 11 a.m. CT.

This weekend, Georgia hosts South Carolina at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs blew Florida out 42-7 in Jacksonville last week, and are currently undefeated and ranked No. 2. Meanwhile, Auburn is coming off a bye week as the 16th-ranked Tigers prepare to travel to College Station to face the Aggies. Now, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but most people are already hoping that the Auburn/Georgia game will get the prime-time slot. That would be nice, but honestly, I'm not that picky. What concerns me the most is the fact that we need to break a three-game losing streak to UGA. They've given us no end of frustration ever since the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare", and we need to put a stop to it. But no matter what, Texas A&M comes first.

That's all for now. Again, Happy Halloween! For those who will go trick-or-treating tonight, stay safe, and have a great time! Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

Monday, October 30th, 2017

Auburn went back to work on Sunday to prepare for Texas A&M. Reportedly, the team was healthier and eager to return to business as usual. Entering the bye week, at least six starters were injured in some way, shape or form. However, things seem to be looking up in that department. 

"Everybody looked pretty fresh," receiver Ryan Davis said. "Everybody got that Day 1 energy back, like fall camp, so it was pretty good. Everyone was excited to get back out there. The energy's there. Everyone's running down the field fast, so it was good for us."  The definitive outlook on Auburn's health, however, is still uncertain. Head coach Gus Malzahn is expected to give an update tomorrow. Over the past three weeks, four defensive backs - Tray Matthews, Javaris Davis, Jeremiah Dinson and Carlton Davis - have battled injuries.

Elsewhere, linebacker Tre' Williams returned to the field before the bye week after missing three of four games with a shoulder injury. He thinks he's healthy enough to play in each regular-season game in November: a brutal four-game stretch that starts this week at Texas A&M and includes home contests against No. 2 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama. "We've got four more big games to play," Williams stated. "They understand that and we've got to take care of Texas A&M, so we came back with that mindset of we've got to do our job today and that's going to help us on Saturday."

Davis noted that during the open week, the Tigers concentrated on fundamentals and added "new wrinkles" to the offense and defense. Giving injured players time to heal after eight straight game weeks was imperative. "As far as I know, I think we're going to have everybody for Saturday," Davis predicted. Let's all hope that such is the case.

The 16th-ranked Tigers (6-2, 4-1 SEC) travels to College Station to face the Aggies (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. Now, from my point of view, I'm hoping that Auburn can stay grounded and focused without getting cocky. Yes, I watched A&M's game against Mississippi State last Saturday, and personally, I never saw the lopsided outcome in State's favor coming. I can't help but feel a bit uneasy after that, because the Aggies will be coming in hurting and wanting to vent the frustration. The Tigers had better be on their toes. Otherwise, it could get ugly. Remember what happened at LSU? The team and coaches should all use that as a case in point.

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

Thursday, October 26th, 2017

Three injured Auburn offensive linemen returned to practice yesterday in a "limited fashion," according to head coach Gus Malzahn. Right tackle Darius James went down with a leg injury against Arkansas last week and did not return. Fortunately, it does not appear to be serious. Center Casey Dunn and left guard Mike Horton also practiced yesterday after missing the Arkansas game due to injuries.

"This week, we're going to make sure they're healthy, make sure there are no tweaks and stuff like that," Malzahn said. "When we get to Sunday I'll know a lot more. So far so good, everybody is out there with their pads on and all that, but we're going to be extremely smart with them this week and then Sunday that's when we'll know more."

Dunn has missed most of the last two games after being injured against LSU on Oct. 14th. Horton was available to play in a reserve role against the Razorbacks if needed, but did not play. However, both starters are expected to return to action next week when the Tigers travel to College Station to face Texas A&M on Nov. 4th. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN. Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said he "feels good" about getting all three starters back on the field against the Aggies. The Tigers have used five different lineups on the offensive front thus far this season.

"If we get them back I definitely feel good about it," Lindsey stated. "The one positive is some guys have filled in and got some playing time, which provides more depth as we go down this stretch run. But yeah, I'm excited to get those guys back. Hopefully, they'll all be back and ready to go." Marquel Harrell made his first career start in place of Horton at left guard against Arkansas last week. Malzahn was very pleased with him.

"I think Marquel did a very good job for his first start," he said. "He executed well. This has been a pretty unique year from the standpoint that we've never had this many lineups up front and I think it's really a tribute to the guys up front and the depth that we're able to execute at a pretty high level with different lineups and combinations."

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

Wednesday, October 25th, 2017

Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey was asked about running back Kamryn Pettway's status last night. His response would widely be considered music to any Auburn fan's ears. "He's close to 100 percent, I'd say," Lindsey said. Pettway has battled heel and ankle injuries for most of the season, but should be fully healthy for the remainder of the year.

Pettway showed considerable improvement against Arkansas last week, rushing for 90 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-20 win over the Razorbacks. An open date this Saturday will allow Pettway to rest again before the No. 19 Tigers travel to Texas A&M on Nov. 4th. "I thought he was a little better last week than he had been," Lindsey stated. "He just moved around better. He wasn't near as tight and stiff. I think for the first time Saturday,...he felt more like himself, to be honest with you. I'm sure the next day he was pretty sore because he hadn't played that much in a while but I like his progress, for sure."

Pettway has missed numerous games and has yet to be fully healthy because of a heel injury (plantar fasciitis). The greatest benefit is that Auburn's offense will have both of its top running backs (Kerryon Johnson and Pettway) healthy at the same time for the first time since last season. "I've got a good idea of how I want to use both of them when they're both good," Lindsey pointed out. "I'm looking forward to getting them both healthy and both of them back together. We got a little glimpse of that the other night. Hopefully, we'll finish the season that way." 

Especially with Auburn's most crucial stretch of games (Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama (with a sure cakewalk against Louisiana-Monroe sandwiched in between the latter two)) looming on the horizon. One random note: Even though Auburn won't play this Saturday, Texas A&M will be hosting Mississippi State. Personally, I can see that one as a toss-up that could go either way. I'm going to make every effort to watch that one, and I hope some of you will, too. That should give the Tigers a good indication of what to look out for against the Aggies next week. Hopefully, the team will tune in to that match as well.

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

Monday, October 23rd, 2017

With Auburn on its bye week this week, I figured that we'd have to wait until this coming weekend's games had been played before we found out when Auburn and Texas A&M would face off in 12 days. Well, I figured wrong. The kickoff time and network for said game has just been confirmed. I'm sorry to say that it will be another dreaded morning game.

Auburn (6-2, 4-1 SEC) will travel to College Station on Nov. 4th to face the Aggies (5-2, 3-1) at Kyle Field at 11 a.m. CT (noon ET), with the game being televised by ESPN. The Tigers pummeled Arkansas 52-20 this past Saturday, while A&M had its open date. However, the Aggies have won two of their last three and caught the eyes of the nation by hanging tough in a 27-19 loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This Saturday, A&M hosts Mississippi State at 6:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Tigers and Aggies don't exactly have a special rivalry, as they've only met seven times since the first match in 1911. Fate hasn't been very kind to Auburn, as it has lost five of those seven. Since A&M joined the SEC in 2012, the visiting team has won every year, including a 29-16 Aggie victory over the Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium last year. This year's game has an interesting touch to it. Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham was recruited by A&M when he decided to leave Baylor. This upcoming game will mark Stidham's first game in his home state since leaving Baylor. (He hails from Stephenville, Texas.)

Regardless of the kickoff time, this will be a pivotal game for both head coaches. The big question, however, is this: Will Auburn be able to adjust to the early kickoff time and come out fully prepared, focused and energized? We can only hope so. Early games don't bode well for many fans at all (including myself).

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

Sunday, October 22nd, 2017

Heading into yesterday's match at Arkansas, Auburn fans were most likely concerned that their Tigers would still be hung over from last week's epic collapse at LSU. At intermission in Fayetteville last night, Auburn had a decent, yet hardly commanding, 17-6 lead. However, on Auburn's first possession of the second half, it became clear that, contrary to last week's second-half meltdown, they would be certain to keep their foot on the gas pedal this time around.

That drive culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run by Kamryn Pettway. Before the night was over, he would score twice more on runs of 38 and 11 yards. He finished the game with 90 yards on 11 carries. While those figures aren't exactly Earth-shattering, they're pretty satisfying for a guy who had tallied a paltry 17 rushing yards over his last 10 quarters played due to injury.

All told, Auburn outscored Arkansas 35-14 in the final 30 minutes, with 28 of those points coming in the third period alone. When the final whistle had blown, the Tigers had put a 52-20 drubbing on Bret Bielema's Razorbacks. It not only took the sting out of last week's heartbreak in Baton Rouge, but it also healed the pain of a 54-46 four-overtime loss to these same Hogs on Auburn's last visit two years ago.

Quarterback Jarrett Stidham had another solid performance, going 19-of-28 passing for 218 yards with an interception. Although he didn't throw a touchdown pass, he did run one in himself on a 15-yard scamper on the Tigers' opening series of the game. However, the best play of the game, at least in my mind, came with 4:13 left in the third period. Stidham took the snap and handed off to Kerryon Johnson, who promptly handed it to wide receiver Ryan Davis on what appeared to be a reverse for certain. Wrong. Davis stopped and heaved a bomb downfield to Darius Slayton, who caught it and pranced home to complete a 62-yard scoring play.

Defensively, the Tigers had another auspicious performance, forcing three turnovers, and holding the Razorbacks to 334 total yards. Even better, Auburn converted the turnovers into 21 points. Plus, Arkansas couldn't convert a single third-down situation in the first half. The Tigers also put steady pressure on backup QB Cole Kelley, recording five sacks. Jeff Holland led a pack of six Tigers who had at least 1.5 sacks.

Special teams was satisfactory, as Daniel Carlson nailed his lone field goal of the night, a 21-yarder. He also made all seven PATs. The one glaring flaw: The unit gave up a TD for the second straight week, allowing De'Vion Warren to return a kickoff 100 yards for an Arkansas score late in the third stanza. Plenty of work needs to be done in special teams coverage. And I mean plenty.

Still, on the whole, there's not much to complain about in this one. Auburn needed a road win desperately after last week, and they got it in a convincing fashion. It couldn't have come at a better time, as the Tigers now get to enjoy an open date next week, and will have two weeks to get ready for another road trip, this time to College Station to face Texas A&M. I can tell you without a doubt that, just like last night's contest, this will be a HUGE one for both head coaches involved. Let's all hope that Auburn can carry the momentum from this win into that next match. Also, it will allow plenty of time for any Tigers who are banged up in some way, shape or form to heal.

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

Friday, October 20th, 2017

Today, I have three bits of injury-related news to cover.

- First off, offensive guard Mike Horton could return to the starting lineup against Arkansas after missing most of the last two games. Head coach Gus Malzahn said on his radio show last night that Horton has practiced all week and "is still a possibility." He also noted that Horton has moved around pretty well during practice. Horton did not travel with the team to LSU last week. He re-injured an ankle midway through the third period of Auburn's 44-23 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 7th.

- Second, starting safety Tray Matthews will be a "game-time decision" against Arkansas, but he may not return to the field until Nov. 4th because of a hamstring injury. The senior suffered the injury in the first quarter of the Tigers' 27-23 loss to LSU last week. Matthews has had a series of hamstring issues dating back to his freshman year at Georgia. He transferred to Auburn after the 2013 season.

"He's questionable still," Malzahn said on his radio show last night. "Obviously, that's a big blow when you don't have him like we did last week. Probably be a game-time decision." Matthews has recorded 26 tackles and one interception this season. "He's one of our leaders," Malzahn said. "He likes to set the tone. He's had an outstanding season so far."

- Running back Kamryn Pettway is expected to get more carries against Arkansas than he has in recent games, Malzahn said last night. The former starter has been hampered by a heel and ankle injury for most of the season, but Malzahn thinks the former 1,200-yard rusher is "closer" to 100 percent this week than he has been. 

Pettway had another ineffective day against LSU with four carries for nine yards, with his longest run going for five yards. He averaged 1.8 yards per carry. Coaches had planned to give him 10 touches, but that wasn't the case. Pettway, a junior, has averaged 3.3 yards per carry this season, but has not seen extended action since Auburn's 24-10 victory over Mercer in which he carried the ball 34 times. 

No. 21 Auburn (5-2, 3-1 SEC) meets Arkansas (2-4, 0-3) tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. CT in Razorback Stadium. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.

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

Thursday, October 19th, 2017

With Auburn and Arkansas set to square off in an SEC West match-up on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network, word came out this morning as to who will call the action on said network. Tom Hart will handle the play-by-play duties, while Jordan Rodgers (a former Vanderbilt quarterback) will provide the color commentary, and Cole Cubelic (a former Auburn offensive lineman) will be the sideline reporter.

The Tigers are looking to rebound after blowing a 20-0 lead in what became a 27-23 loss to LSU last week, while Arkansas is hoping to turn its season around after losing four of its last five, with the most recent one coming on a 41-9 pummeling at the hands of Alabama last week.

A couple of interesting notes before I wrap up this post: First off, even though I prefer to mute the TV and listen to the radio during an Auburn game, it's becoming clear that, based on many posts from fans that I've read on social media, Jordan Rodgers has fallen into a common trap for most TV sportscasters these days: Making constant references to Alabama games. Unless Alabama is one of the two teams involved in the game you're calling, I strongly doubt that anyone is interested in them. Take that to heart.

Second, while I was reading the article regarding who will call Saturday's game on said network, I discovered a spelling error. The writer had accidentally written a "D" at the end of Tom Hart's last name instead of a "T." I brought the error to his attention via a polite post on his Facebook page, and he responded almost immediately with a gracious note of thanks for pointing that out to him, and for reading his articles. Little things mean a lot in the world of sports writing, folks. Live by that.

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

Wednesday, October 18th, 2017

Another Auburn football player has been sent packing - this time, it's one of the top receivers. Kyle Davis, a former 4-star recruit, was dismissed from the team yesterday for a violation of team rules. He had seven catches for 210 yards this season. He missed two games this season, neither of which were the result of injury. Davis practiced last week, but did not make the trip to LSU, where Auburn lost 27-23 after letting a 20-0 first-half lead vanish. Davis also missed all of spring practice for what head coach Gus Malzahn described as "personal reasons."

"We all love Kyle. That's our brother," receiver Nate Craig-Myers said. "We wish nothing but the best for him." Davis becomes the third player to leave the program this season. Backup quarterback Sean White, a former starter, was axed from the team following an arrest for public intoxication and defensive lineman Byron Cowart, a former five-star prospect, left the team early in the season.

"Anytime as a head coach a player has to be dismissed, that hurts," Malzahn stated. "But every situation is different. We've got a lot of great kids. Anytime that happens, it's just another opportunity for someone else. So that's the way I look at it." Davis leaves Auburn having recorded 19 receptions for 458 yards and two touchdowns in 18 career games. His dismissal only adds to an already long list of departures, as 14 players have been lost to dismissal, transfer or release since the end of the 2016 season.

Now, here's a big question: Will losing Kyle greatly impair Auburn's passing attack that it had aimed to establish throughout this season? Only time will tell.

In other news.....

- Now for some injury-related news. Coach Malzahn announced yesterday that backup center Casey Dunn, who started the last two games, will miss the Tigers' trip to Arkansas due to injury. Marquel Harrell stepped in at left guard with Dunn injured in the second half of last week's game against LSU. Austin Golson has had to play five different positions on the line, including center. 

"Casey's a tough guy," Malzahn said. "He was begging to go back in. We got him back in the game and he showed a lot of guts and a lot of courage. Just couldn't finish the thing, but he's a winner. He's a real tough guy."

- Malzahn provided several injury updates today as Auburn prepares to go to Arkansas. Starting left guard Mike Horton practiced Tuesday but was limited after missing the LSU game due to injury and "looked pretty good," Malzahn said. Defensive end Marlon Davidson was able to practice at full speed. "Both have a chance to be ready," Malzahn said. "Mike is kinda still day to day but it was good to see him practicing."

Linebacker Tre' Williams practiced "well" Tuesday after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury. Safety Tray Matthews was limited, but was expected to practice today. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Derrick Brown and linebackers DeShaun Davis and Darrell Williams practiced Tuesday and will play Saturday at Arkansas, Malzahn confirmed.

The 21st-ranked Tigers and the Razorbacks kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, with the game being televised by the SEC Network.

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

Tuesday, October 17th, 2017

Some encouraging news regarding Auburn basketball's starting center Austin Wiley came about yesterday. He did conditioning work off the side at yesterday's practice without the boot he'd been wearing for the last 10 days due to a "stress injury" in his lower left leg. Wiley's next step will be tossing the boot aside for good Wednesday when he starts rehabbing on the AltarG machine, an anti-gravity treadmill.

Head coach Bruce Pearl had provided an updated timeline for Wiley's return before Monday's practice, expecting him to be ready in "10 days to two weeks" based on the update Pearl had received from the team's training staff. It's about a week longer than the timeline Pearl had originally provided when he announced Wiley's injury on Oct. 6th. "There's a chance he'll be ready for the first exhibition," Pearl said. "Or at least be healthy enough. I don't know if we could play him or anything like that."

When asked about Wiley's status for Auburn's season opener Nov. 10th against Norfolk State, Pearl replied, "He'll be healthy. He should be healthy." The final step for Wiley will be clearing the same round of tests - X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans - he ran when the training staff was trying to pinpoint the problem. Wiley suffered a stress fracture in the same leg while playing for the U19 USA World Cup team during the summer.

Austin is a valuable asset to our team, so I do hope he's ready to step onto the court in less than a month.

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

Monday, October 16th, 2017

One of the worst feelings in life comes when you think you have a major goal within your grasp, but then, for one reason or another, it slips away like sand trickling through your fingers. The Auburn Tigers certainly experienced that feeling last Saturday at LSU. The visiting Tigers came out roaring and stormed out to a 20-0 first-half lead. All seemed right for the orange and blue. It looked for sure as if Auburn's losing streak in Baton Rouge, which dates back to 1999, would finally become a thing of the past.

But, alas, it didn't happen. The home Tigers rallied to cut Auburn's cushion to 23-14 at the half. In the final 30 minutes, things only got worse. Just 27 seconds into the fourth quarter, LSU's D.J. Chark fielded an Aidan Marshall punt at his own 25-yard line, cut to the far sideline and never looked back. His 75-yard journey to paydirt would essentially spell Auburn's doom. Two field goals by Connor Culp, the second of which came on a 36-yarder with 38 seconds left put this one away. Now, the streak in Death Valley will extend into a second decade. Auburn will have to wait until 2019 to get another chance at breaking it.

The visitors rolled up 290 yards of offense in the first half. In the second half, the unit became anemic, generating just 64 yards and four first downs. A 1-of-8 mark on third-down conversions and an 0-for-2 slate on fourth-down tries didn't help matters. Most significantly, though, zero points were produced. Personally, I have to agree with several fans that poor play-calling by the coaching staff in the second half hurt us tremendously. Most of the formations and plays were too conservative and predictable, and that allowed LSU's defense to adjust accordingly and make easy stops. Coach Malzahn and Chip Lindsey placed too much reliance on Kerryon Johnson to run the ball. Those errors need to be corrected - fast.

Defensively, we were OK, but not superb by any means. Auburn held LSU to 363 total yards on the day - including just 127 in the second half. Unfortunately, those 363 yards are the second-most the unit has allowed all year. Plus, the 27 points they surrendered are the most allowed in 2017. Although we did pretty well in limiting running back Derrius Guice's success (71 yards on 20 carries), it still wasn't enough. Kevin Steele's bunch has room for improvement.

Special teams had its ups and downs as well. Daniel Carlson remained true to form, nailing three field goals - two of which came from beyond 40 yards. His kickoffs were also superb. However, the punting unit was another story. Aidan Marshall has work to do, as he averaged just 26.16 yards on six punts. And as I've already noted, LSU's 75-yard punt return TD was essentially the nail in the coffin.

The coaching staff needs to strongly emphasize how bad of an idea it is to pay attention to the media. When it builds you up, you become cocky and fat-headed. Auburn now must turn the page and prepare for a trip to Arkansas this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. That game will be televised on the SEC Network. While it's a foregone conclusion that the Tigers will be heavily favored, they MUST stay grounded and clear out the cobwebs from last week. Otherwise, we could be in for another major letdown. You just never know what might happen....especially considering that Auburn was one of four Top 10 teams that were dethroned last week. Rankings, records and stats are merely numbers on paper, folks.

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

Saturday, October 14th, 2017

As I write this, Auburn's match with LSU is less than three hours away. Even so, the football program has just landed commitment No. 14 for the 2018 class, and it's a huge one.

Coynis Miller, a highly-touted defensive tackle who grew up an Alabama fan, pledged to the Tigers today, giving them another big in-state recruiting victory. The 6-feet-1.5, 300-pound Miller,  a four-star recruit, ranks as the No. 15 tackle and the No. 163 overall recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite. He will occupy a position of great need for Auburn, as two tackles have left the program in the past five months.

Miller is the Tigers' first public commit since late August, when four-star running back Asa Martin gave his pledge. Martin and Miller happen to be very close friends. Five of the top 16 recruits in the state of Alabama are now Auburn commits.

Miller picked Auburn over Alabama and Florida. Prior to his pledge, he had named the Gators his leader for over a month. But he has only visited Florida once during the recruiting process. Meanwhile, he has been to Auburn at least nine times since the Tigers offered him a scholarship in the summer of last year, including twice already for games this season.

"They've got a family atmosphere," Miller stated. "The team already treats me like one of their players. That's a good feeling." For Auburn's metro-Birmingham recruiter, defensive line coach Rodney Garner, this is his biggest victory for the class of 2018. The Tigers now have two defensive line commits (the other is Daquan Newkirk of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College). It would be beneficial for them to get three more.

At Auburn, Miller will be reunited with former teammate Tadarian Moultry, a freshman linebacker.

With that news out of the way, my personal keys to victory for Auburn today are quite simple: Offensively, we must move effectively, and avoid turnovers and penalties. Defensively, we must slow down LSU's great running back, Derrius Guice. We're aiming to break a futile streak, as we haven't won in Baton Rouge since 1999. If it's in God's will, then that streak will FINALLY be broken.

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

Thursday, October 12th, 2017

With the so-called "Tiger Bowl" between Auburn and LSU set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT this Saturday, it's been designated as the SEC's "Game of the Week" on CBS. With that in mind, Brad Nessler will be handling the play-by-play duties, with Gary Danielson providing color commentary and Allie LaForce serving as the sideline reporter. Auburn enters the game favored by a touchdown. (That said, I sincerely hope that the team is not paying one bit of attention to it.)

If anyone out there is unaware, Brad Nessler took over for Verne Lundquist, who retired from calling college football at the end of last season after 18 years at the helm with the network (although he does intend to continue calling college basketball and The Masters for the foreseeable future). Yes, I fully realize that not everyone out there is exactly crazy about him, and to each his/her own. That said, I personally miss his coverage, because his passion and enthusiasm for the game was certainly genuine in my mind. Another note: He's said many times that his all-time favorite game is the "Kick Six" game in the 2013 Iron Bowl. While his call of that EPIC play certainly won't hold a candle to that of Rod Bramblett and Stan White, it's still definitely one of the best television calls I've ever heard. What particularly stuck out in my mind was the fact that Verne and Gary remained silent for a minute and five seconds after the play unfolded merely for the sake of letting the picture tell the story. I still play the call on YouTube quite often, and will continue to.

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

Tuesday, October 10th, 2017

A change may be looming on the horizon for Auburn's offensive line. Left guard Mike Horton's ankle injury is being closely monitored every day. Horton re-aggravated the injury in the third quarter of Auburn's 44-23 win over Ole Miss last Saturday.

"Mike Horton will give it a shot in practice today," head coach Gus Malzahn stated. "We'll see how he does. He definitely wants to play." Malzahn went on to say that he will know more about Horton (and every injured player) on Thursday. However, Auburn has not totally ruled him out for the LSU game. "He's got a chance to (play)," Malzahn said.

If Horton is indeed unable to take the field, the Tigers' offensive line will be as follows, from left to right: Prince Tega Wanogho Jr., Austin Golson, Casey Dunn, Braden Smith and Darius James.

Since this news broke on Facebook, the link to its article has exploded with comments and, generally speaking, they aren't very friendly. I won't be specific, but what I will do is give the line a fair chance if indeed the ball bounces that way. No matter what happens, one thing's for sure: This week's game is pivotal for Auburn. It's even more so when you consider that we haven't won in Death Valley since the turn of the millennium.

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

Monday, October 9th, 2017

As any faithful Auburn fan should know, running back Kerryon Johnson has made his presence felt thus far this season, scoring 12 touchdowns in just four games (11 of which came over three SEC contests). However, he also missed two games earlier this year due to a  hamstring injury and hasn't become fully healthy yet.

Fortunately for the Tigers, Johnson told Brandon Marcello of 247Sports that he's feeling fine and anticipates being at 100 percent for Auburn's trip to LSU this weekend. "I think I'll be 100 percent (against LSU)," Johnson said. "I think I'll be fully back to normal. I did some things (against Ole Miss) that gives myself some confidence in my hamstring in terms of making people miss, making cuts, getting up to a faster speed. I think I'll be back to 100 percent."

If that's indeed the case, it will clearly benefit the Tigers, as a game at Death Valley is no cake walk, even with the recent issues LSU has had on both sides of the ball. Auburn is currently at 3-0 in conference play, and Johnson will need plenty of touches if the visiting Tigers expect to keep their SEC record clean. Auburn and LSU will square off in Tiger Stadium this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CBS, marking Auburn's first appearance on that network this season.

In other news....

- Although the LSU game is first and foremost in Auburn's mind, the game times and channels for Week 8 were released today. Auburn's road game against Arkansas, set for October 21st, will kick off at either 6:15 p.m. CT or 6:30 p.m. CT. It will be televised by either ESPN or the SEC Network. Obviously, we'll know the definitive details once this week's games are set and done. When they do come about, you can bet that I'll write about them.

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

Sunday, October 8th, 2017

Auburn and LSU will square off in the afternoon next week.

It was announced today that kickoff in Baton Rouge is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. Auburn (5-1, 3-0 SEC) which inched up two spots to No. 10 in the newest AP poll, is seeking its first win in Tiger Stadium since 1999. Auburn pocketed its fourth straight victory of the season yesterday with a 44-23 dismantling of Ole Miss. Meanwhile, LSU rebounded from a stunning upset loss to Troy by winning a 17-16 squeaker over Florida in Gainesville yesterday.

This week's game will mark Auburn's first appearance on CBS this season.

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

Saturday, October 7th, 2017

Maybe Auburn's trend of inept performances in morning games is disappearing. The Tigers stormed out of the gate against Ole Miss today, cruising to a 35-3 halftime lead and going on to defeat the Rebels 44-23 to move to 5-1 on the season. Interesting note: With the 44 points, this marks the first time in school history that Auburn has scored 40 points or more in three straight SEC games.

The offense yet again hit on all cylinders, piling up 561 total yards (326 rushing, 235 passing). Another key note: No turnovers. Defensively, we played lights out in the first half, but eased up considerably in the second half (although certainly not enough to put our lead in danger). By the end of the day, we had given up 429 yards to Ole Miss. QB Shea Patterson was every bit as sharp as I expected him to be. Special teams also had a good day, as Daniel Carlson was excellent on kickoffs, and also nailed three field goals. (On that note, he is now the SEC's all-time leader in scoring with 413 points, surpassing the mark set by former Georgia kicker Blair Walsh. Carlson also holds 12 school records for kicking and scoring.) Meanwhile, walk-on punter Aidan Marshall was equally efficient, with three punts for 123 total yards and a 41.0-yard average. His longest boot was 43 yards, and one of them went for a touchback.

Individually, Jarrett Stidham was once again on the money, going 14-of-21 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, he was only sacked once. The scoring strikes were certainly highlight-reel worthy, with the more notorious one (in my mind) coming on a routine screen pass that Ryan Davis turned into a 75-yard score. His journey downfield reminded me of Chris Davis' "Kick Six" return in that he cut toward the sideline, then headed back to the wide side of the field with plenty of room to spare.

Our ground game was just as damaging, as Kerryon Johnson gained 204 yards on 28 carries with three scores. (Reportedly, Kamryn Pettway dressed out for the game, but didn't play. We can only hope he'll return soon.) Kam Martin also saw action with 50 yards on nine touches. Malik Miller also got a few carries late, finishing with 21 yards on eight carries.

Unfortunately, one player did get injured: Offensive lineman Mike Horton. The last report I heard from Rod Bramblett on the Auburn Sports Network was that Mike wasn't putting much weight on his left leg. That's usually a bad sign. I'm sure we'll know more about the extent of his injury in the coming days. Overall, however, we got the win that we needed, one way or the other. Now, we have a week to clear out the cobwebs and prepare for a brutal three-game road stretch. It starts next week when we take a trip to the Bayou to face LSU. We haven't won there since 1999. Only time will tell if that futile streak is finally broken. The kickoff time and network should be determined either late tonight or tomorrow. Once it becomes official, I'll write about it here.

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

Thursday, October 5th, 2017

First off, here are the announcers who will describe the action of Auburn's game against Ole Miss on the SEC Network on Saturday. Tom Hart will handle the play-by-play duties, while Jordan Rodgers (former Vanderbilt QB) will provide the color commentary, and former Auburn offensive lineman Cole Cubelic will serve as the sideline reporter.

The Tigers are a three-touchdown favorite against the Rebels. However, all that said, I don't want to jinx them, but here are a couple of tidbits that I read in an article concerning the Tigers' outcomes in morning games over the past decade. First off, Auburn is 14-13 in such games in that span of time up to this point. That's not an impressive slate, especially since seven of those contests were against non-Power 5 opponents. The figures only get worse in league play. The Tigers are 6-11 in SEC games over the last 10 seasons. Auburn's last three home SEC victories have been far from a cake walk, as it has outscored Vandy, Mississippi State and Ole Miss by a 97-70 margin.

Even non-conference games have been unsettling in recent years. The Tigers needed overtime to top FCS  Jacksonville State in 2015 by a score of 27-20. (In truth, the Gamecocks should have duplicated their thunder-shocking upset of Ole Miss from 2010 that day.) Also, in 2011, Auburn needed a late surge to beat Utah State 42-38. That rally culminated in a 1-yard TD plunge by Michael Dyer in the closing seconds.

Will Auburn be able to break the morning streak of futility? Will they come out motivated and energized and take care of business in the process? Only time will tell. One thing's for sure: A win would give the Tigers plenty of confidence as they continue working through a brutal SEC slate.

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

Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

Today, I have some good news in the injury department to write about. Head football coach Gus Malzahn reported that two of Auburn's more solid receivers should be OK heading into Saturday's home showdown with Ole Miss. Receiver Nate Craig-Myers suffered a right leg injury in the first half of the Tigers' 49-10 thrashing of Mississippi State last week and didn't return. But his outlook for this week is more encouraging. "Yeah, he'll play," Malzahn said.

The news comes in the wake of Malzahn confirming yesterday that receiver Eli Stove, who injured his left leg in the third quarter against the Bulldogs last week, is also in fine shape. "I think he got rolled up on that one tackle, that speed sweep that he almost broke, but he'll practice today," Malzahn stated Tuesday. Stove dashed 30 yards on a speed sweep shortly after hauling in a 57-yard heave from Jarrett Stidham, which Stidham had thrown from his own end zone.

Thus far this season, Stove has caught 10 passes for 145 yards, while Craig-Myers has recorded six receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown. Twelfth-ranked Auburn will face Ole Miss this Saturday at 11 a.m. CT in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be telecast on the SEC Network.

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

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

Bad news for Auburn men's basketball. Sophomore center Austin Wiley missed yesterday's practice due to a lower left leg injury. Wiley suffered the injury during a players-only practice last Saturday afternoon. He attended the Tigers' second preseason practice, but wore a boot on his left leg. Even so, he did do some shooting and helped his teammates during drills.

According to a team spokesperson, there is no timetable for Wiley's return, although he is set to get treatment this week.

The injury is on the same leg he hurt over the summer (stress fracture) playing on the USA U19 World Cup team, but according to the team official, the injury is "lower down" on his leg. Wiley averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds after enrolling two months into the season. The then-freshman started 22 of 23 games after reclassifying to Auburn's 2016 signing class.

The Alabama native stayed absent from basketball activities for six weeks after winning a bronze medal for the World Cup team. Although he traveled on the team's summer trip to Italy, he didn't take part in any of the scheduled international exhibition games.

In other news....

- When Auburn and LSU battle each other in Baton Rouge on October 14th, the game may kick off in the afternoon or in prime-time. The SEC is currently deciding among three games with three time slots: 2:30 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. CT and 6:15 p.m. CT, and Auburn's trip to Tiger Stadium is one of them. The game could be televised on CBS, ESPN or ESPN2. A final kickoff time and network will be confirmed on Oct. 7th. Auburn is seeking its first win in Baton Rouge since 1999. LSU, meanwhile, is coming off a stunning 24-21 upset loss to Troy.

In the meantime, though, Auburn hosts Ole Miss this Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.

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

Monday, October 2nd, 2017

The SEC announced late this past Saturday evening that Auburn's home contest with Ole Miss will kick off at 11 a.m. CT this Saturday, and will be televised by the SEC Network. The Tigers certainly seem to be turning a corner after their 49-10 walloping of Mississippi State last weekend. Ole Miss, on the other hand, was smothered by Alabama 66-3.

On paper, this could be one heck of a showdown, as the Tigers and Rebels both have potent offenses. As for the kickoff time, it obviously won't sit well with most Auburn fans. However, if it's any consolation to you, Georgia and Vandy will start their match at the very same time on ESPN.

While I'm on topic, here are a couple of notes I forgot to mention from last Saturday's win. First off, it's not common for a player playing mop-up duty to make a big play in a game, but backup quarterback Malik Willis did just that with an electrifying 64-yard TD jaunt with just over three minutes to go against MSU. I have to agree with Auburn play-by-play man Rod Bramblett that the play indeed served as "a glimpse of the future." Second, with two consecutive blowout wins in the bag, Auburn has now outscored its last two opponents by a 100-24 margin (as Bramblett noted himself at the end of the MSU game).

Aside from football, however, I'd like to put all of this into perspective. This morning, news broke that a horrific shooting massacre unfolded at a concert in Las Vegas. As of this writing, the attack killed over 50 people and injured over 400 others. The gunman later took his own life and died at the scene. I urge all of you to pray for everyone involved in this terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we can't stop all of the violent acts that are committed around the world, but we can pray for God to give everyone affected His strength and peace. As my favorite author, the late Mattie Stepanek, famously said, "Peace is possible."

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

Sunday, October 1st, 2017

Most people expected that Auburn's tangle with Mississippi State would be a very difficult one. However, it turned out to be quite the contrary. The Tigers trounced the Bulldogs, 49-10. With a 51-14 blowout of Missouri already in the bag, this marks the first time since 1987 that Auburn has won consecutive SEC games by 30 points or more.

The Tiger offense was again on fire all night, generating 511 total yards (244 rushing, 267 passing). Quarterback Jarrett Stidham was once again everything the media indicated, going 13-of-16 for 264 yards and two TDs. His longest completion was a 57-yard strike to Eli Stove while throwing from his own end zone to begin Auburn's first series of the second half. His only miscue came on a lost fumble in the first half. Through the first four weeks of the season, State had not allowed a QB to pass for more than 205 yards.

Auburn's running game was equally effective. Kerryon Johnson led the way with 116 yards on 23 carries with three scores. His longest run was a 59-yard scamper on the Tigers' first possession of the night. Meanwhile, Kamryn Pettway, who was still recovering from an injury, was ineffective with just six yards on five touches. Hopefully, Pettway will be back to his old form soon.

On the defensive side, Kevin Steele's bunch remained its stingy self. They shut down MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, limiting him to just 56 yards on the ground, and a less-than-impressive 13-of-33 mark through the air. The Tigers also forced two turnovers, both interceptions. Tray Matthews had the first. The other came courtesy of Javaris Davis, and he returned his 37 yards for a pick-6 in the final period. At game's end, the Bulldogs had amassed 351 total yards. Not anemic, but not explosive either. Auburn has now held its fifth straight opponent to 14 or fewer points, becoming the only team in the country to do so.

In the special teams department, Daniel Carlson misfired on a 51-yard field goal try, his fourth miss of the year. Despite that, he did nail all seven PATs. He has now set a new SEC record in that area with 162 straight makes. Aidan Marshall also had a decent showing in his first meaningful action at punter, averaging 36.3 yards on three boots. Hopefully, he can better that if called upon again.

On the whole, I'm beginning to feel cautiously confident in this team after two straight dominant performances. If we continue at this pace and stay grounded, this season could turn into something pretty darn special. After the tough loss to Clemson and the lackadaisical win over Mercer, many were beginning to raise red flags. However, at this point in time, it certainly seems as if any such doubts have begun to disappear.

Now that I've given my insight on Auburn's rout of MSU, let me get a little off topic. If you read my "About Lyle" page, you know that I am a Troy University graduate. While I must confess that I was never able to attend a football game, I HAVE kept up with the Trojans every week during football season by means of reading the newspaper, listening to the games on the radio (when able) and watching the games on TV (although, alas, those are very infrequent).

Well, after Auburn's game ended last night, I watched the last few minutes of Troy's showdown with LSU in Baton Rouge. We were desperately clinging to a 24-21 lead (after having led 24-7 at one point) and trying to prevent the Tigers from stealing an upset win from us. Sure enough, we did! Blace Brown's interception with seven seconds left ended LSU's last threat. The Bayou Bengals had not lost a non-conference game at home since falling to UAB in 2000. As for the Trojans, this marked their first victory over a ranked team in the AP since topping Missouri in 2004. I was just as excited and proud as anyone else connected to Troy was! This one will be cherished for a long time to come! Go Trojans!

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