​​Lyle's Corner

Wednesday, September 30th, 2015

This news may seem a bit outdated to you, but I just came across it on Facebook a few minutes ago, plus the article was posted the day before yesterday, so I personally find it noteworthy enough to write about. 

It seems that sometimes, when potential recruits visit a university, a team's performance can leave a very bad taste in their mouths. 

In the wake of Auburn's 45-21 loss at LSU nearly two weeks ago, the nation's top junior college defensive back decided against donning the orange and blue. Four-star prospect Jamarcus King, out of Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, announced on his Twitter account his intentions to re-open his recruitment. His tweet, in part, read as follows: 

"After a long talk with my family, I am officially decommitting and opening my recruitment back up." 

The 6-1, 180-pound native of Eight Mile, Alabama, is also being recruited by Arizona State, Baylor, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri, to name a few.

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

 

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

Here are a few pointers from Gus Malzahn's weekly press conference today:

"There was some bright spots that we can build upon...Defense played well....Really took a step in the right direction." 

"Sean (White) gave the offense a good spark. He will start again this week. I felt like that first drive with a new QB he did some good things. There's a lot of things he can build upon." Sidestepping a question on whether or not the QB situation will be named on a week-to-week basis, he said, "Sean is our quarterback this week." Would he like to play Jeremy Johnson, too? "Sean White's our quarterback this week, just like he was last week." 

On the receivers: "We need to find a way to not only get the ball to (Duke), but there's three or four other guys we need to get the ball to also." 

On identity of offense: "When you change QBs, there's going to be some transition. That's kinda been slowing the process down." He further added that Ricardo Louis was limited last week against Mississippi State because he was "banged up." Said he's hoping to get him healthy in a hurry. "Minor issues." 

On offensive strengths: "I feel like we can run the football. We need to be more consistent with that." He also said that "Achilles heel has been explosive plays." 

On running backs: "It's starting to get a little more clear...Things are starting to become clear. Each week it will clear itself up." Incidentally, he confirmed that Peyton Barber will start at RB against San Jose State on Saturday. However, Roc Thomas will also be ready to go this week. Malzahn also emphasized that Jovon Robinson's lack of playing time has been partly due to his lingering ankle injury.

On offensive struggles: "We take great pride in scoring points around here, and we haven't done that. We need to be a little more creative to get the wide receivers open." Unsurprisingly, he declined to elaborate on long-term quarterback plans. 

On sustained drives before red zone stalls: "I still feel very confident that we can be a good offense." 

In other news...

- One day after his dismissal as Auburn's head baseball coach and indicating that litigation would be on the horizon, Golloway's attorney, John Saxon, released a statement regarding his client's firing - which athletics director Jay Jacobs said yesterday was "with cause." 

"For Coach Sunny Golloway to be fired by Auburn is outrageous," Saxon said in a statement originally acquired by AL.com. "The allegations against him are pretextual. Coach Golloway has made no mistakes. If some, who want him gone, say mistakes were made, they are the mistakes of others, who have conspired to make him the victim. If it is necessary in the coming days to air these matters, folks from Jay Jacobs on down - but not Sunny Golloway - will be the ones wishing Auburn had handled this differently. As for President (Jay) Gouge, he does not know the facts. If he did, he would not have acquiesced in this decision." 

Golloway was fired Sunday afternoon, two years into his five-year contract signed June 14, 2013. He was hired away from Oklahoma to replace John Pawlowski to revive a struggling Auburn baseball program. Unfortunately, things didn't exactly go as planned. Questions arose, both on and off the field, regarding his coaching ability and handling of the program as well as his personal character. The Tigers went 64-54 in his two years and clinched a regional berth last year. 

The contract that Golloway signed two years ago had him set to earn $650,000 annually. The base salary was set at $250,000 a year, with both academic and athletic incentives. The contract also had a buyout clause in the event that Golloway was fired without cause. Had Jacobs dismissed Golloway without cause on Sunday, the former Tigers coach would receive a $1 million buyout. 

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

 

​Monday, September 28th, 2015

At a most peculiar point in time, Auburn has ended its relationship with its head baseball coach. 

Yesterday, athletic director Jay Jacobs announced that he had fired Sunny Golloway, who had coached the Tigers for the past two seasons. His tenure was not exactly a bed of roses. He came under fire after his first season amid accusations of mistreating players. Jacobs hired former basketball assistant Randall Dickey as a "student-athlete advocate" in the baseball program.

Those days have come to an end. After Golloway's first season, Auburn officials investigated numerous complaints and were on the brink of making a change. But Jacobs wouldn't buy into it and hired Dickey. However, another inquiry started in recent weeks. While it is unclear exactly what issues were involved, that inquiry led to yesterday's announcement. 

From the start of his first season, Golloway frequently clashed with players and their families. Last season, he was involved in a heated, profanity-filled confrontation with an Alabama coach. On the field, the Tigers struggled mightily in SEC play. In Golloway's two seasons, Auburn went 62-50 overall and 23-37 in the league, finishing last in the Western division in 2014 and fifth in 2015. 

Despite losing seven of their last nine SEC games, the Tigers were the No. 3 seed in the Tallahassee regional last season. Jacobs did not lay out a plan for finding Golloway's replacement. Golloway had previously served as head coach of Oklahoma for nine seasons, guiding the Sooners to eight NCAA regionals and a College World Series. It's unfortunate that he wasn't able to duplicate that success in his time on the Plains. 

I wish Sunny nothing but the best in the future, but this serves as proof that, no matter what your profession, your temper can cost you your job if you're not careful. If longtime Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes were still alive, you could ask him. 

In other news...

- Sophomore linebacker Tre' Williams wasn't able to practice yesterday evening, less than 24 hours after injuring his knee against Mississippi State. However, the outlook is promising for him. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said he expects Williams to return to the field when the team reconvenes for practice on Tuesday. 

"He's going to be fine," Muschamp said last night. "He did not practice tonight, but we expect him back Tuesday. I think he'll be fine. We fully expect him back this week." Williams made his first start of the season this past Saturday against the Bulldogs and recorded three tackles on the night, including one for loss. However, he left the game early in the third quarter after injuring his left knee. He was helped off the field and was later seen on the sideline with a brace on his knee. 

- After starting the first three games at cornerback opposite Jonathan Jones, Blake Countess has been moved to safety. He started at field safety against Mississippi State, and finished with a team-high nine tackles, including a team-high seven solo stops and one tackle for loss. He also recorded two pass breakups. The move to safety was part of personnel changes made by Coach Muschamp. 

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



Sunday, September 27th, 2015

Last night's game against Mississippi State is one that Auburn fans will only be able to reflect on and play an endless mind game of "What could have been?" What if the Tigers had been able to record more than nine points on the night? What if they had been able to slow down Dak Prescott? And most importantly, what if the offense had been able to capitalize on four red zone possessions? Let's break this down, folks:

Offense: The Tigers generated 389 yards on the evening (201 rushing, 188 passing). Also, Sean White had a solid showing in his first start as a college quarterback, going 20-of-28 passing for 188 yards with an interception. So, what doomed the offense, you may ask? Blown red zone opportunities, that's what. In four total series that ended up inside State's 20-yard line, these were the results: Interception, missed field goal, field goal, field goal. It's been 31 games since the Tigers failed to score an offensive touchdown (the last being the 2012 Iron Bowl, a 49-0 loss to Alabama). Being unable to reach paydirt is not something the Tigers are used to, especially under Gus Malzahn, and it will certainly not allow you to bring home a victory (unless you have an ultra-stubborn defense). Following the game, Malzahn said that there's no definitive starter at quarterback for next week's home match against San Jose State. However, don't be shocked if both White and Jeremy Johnson take turns fielding the snaps. That will open the door for a starter to be chosen when Auburn returns to conference play in a road match against Kentucky on Thursday, October 15th.

Defense: Honestly, there was some improvement on this side of the ball. The Tigers only surrendered 326 yards of offense to the Bulldogs, including just 56 rushing. They also forced a turnover in the 3rd quarter on a fumble that was recovered by Jonathan Jones. The problem, however, was that Dak Prescott had his usual field day against Auburn, completing 29-of-41 passes for 270 yards and two scores. The Tiger secondary was once again exposed, and plenty of improvement needs to be made. Personally, I find it a wonder that we only gave up 17 points. 

Special teams: Daniel Carlson was 3-for-4 on field goals, including a 51-yarder late in the final quarter, but missed a chip shot from 26 yards out in the second quarter. He accounted for all of Auburn's points. Plus, punter Kevin Phillips did his thing, with five kicks on the night for a 41.4 yard average. Unfortunately, there were also two kickoffs that went out of bounds (one that was questionable at the start of the second half, and the second of which was a disastrous onside kick that would have given us a chance to tie the ballgame with a TD and two-point conversion in the last minute of the fourth quarter). 

Coaching: My personal concern on this aspect is on offense. First off, we really need to put a stop to throwing so many screen passes. Yes, sometimes they work, but more often than not, they go horribly awry. As the game wore on, State read those plays like a book. We need to let the QB throw deeper balls from time to time so as to keep the opposing defense honest and on its toes. Maybe the defense is coming around, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. In football, there are few things worse than being predictable in play-calling. 

Overall: Yes, we did show some improvement last night, but still didn't do enough things right to get the result we wanted. When you get to the red zone, you've got to be able to score touchdowns. Field goals aren't always enough, and turnovers can be fatal. The defense needs to be more physical and be able to tackle in the right manner, not to mention put increased pressure on the opposing quarterback. One thing's for sure: If we don't get things in order soon, this season is going to turn into a living nightmare. Auburn needs to regroup and get ready for next week's home game against San Jose State. While that seems like a shoe-in on paper, we still need to correct the errors from bottom to top. Otherwise, we'll be in for a scare identical to the one we got against Jacksonville State. 

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

 

​Saturday, September 26th, 2015

As I write this, Auburn's SEC home opener against Mississippi State is three hours and 47 minutes away. If the Tigers want to clinch a victory that could turn their season around, the keys to victory in my eyes are relatively simple:

1. Protect Sean White: Although our new starting quarterback has no previous game experience, he still got some reps during fall camp, and few people realize that he was pushing Jeremy Johnson for the starting job in the spring. Plus, while he may not have the dual-threat ability that Johnson has (particularly since he's five inches shorter than Johnson), his stats from high school are eye-popping. I won't go into all of them, but it's clear to me that he has a cannon of an arm and excellent accuracy. Of course, the receivers have to honor their side of the deal by being on the same page. 

2. Stop Dak Prescott: If I were to use just one word to describe Mississippi State's senior quarterback, it would be "elusive." He can run and throw at will, and has given the Auburn defense fits in the past two meetings between these squads. The Tigers have struggled miserably on that side of the ball thus far this year, and Will Muschamp has placed most of the blame on his shoulders for not preparing the players as well as he should. This week, he emphasized that the team was changing the culture a bit in an effort to prepare better and play better. Some issues on that side of the ball have included eye control, but perhaps the most glaring has been miscommunications at linebacker and safety. That has been a problem since the spring. Muschamp said that there will likely be personnel changes for tonight's game, probably at linebacker and safety. For instance, Cassanova McKinzy could shift to Buck linebacker with Carl Lawson still sidelined due to his hip flexor. On the plus side, Sam linebacker Justin Garrett will be back on the field tonight after sitting out last week with a quad strain that he had suffered in the season opener. Regardless, the defense needs to get the kinks worked out fast, or things will be just as bad as they were last week against LSU...or worse. 

3. Avoid turnovers and costly penalties. Need I say more? These are other entities that have plagued the Tigers thus far this season. We can't let that trend continue. 

In other news...

- The Auburn basketball team has gained a huge commitment. Today, ​Austin Wiley, a five-star prospect for the Class of 2017 who had been pursued by the country's top basketball programs, announced his commitment to the Tigers. He plans to sign with Auburn in November of 2016. The 6-foot-9, 233-pound Wiley is entering his junior season at Spain Park High School. His parents, Vickie and Aubrey, played for Auburn and excelled. Vickie was a two-time All-American and led the Tigers to two national championship games, while Aubrey anchored the Tigers' inside game and led the SEC in rebounding in 1994. 

Personally, I'd like to believe that Austin will be a welcome addition to the team as they look to change the fortunes of Auburn basketball. 

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

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015

The decision has been made: Auburn will have a new starting quarterback in its home opener against Mississippi State this weekend. 
 
Redshirt freshman Sean White will be taking the snaps for the Tigers on Saturday in his first career start. "He's in a good spot," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said today. "He's practiced well and we've got confidence in him."

Malzahn said that he came to the conclusion this morning that White would start. "We just feel like he needs a shot right now," he stated. White replaces junior Jeremy Johnson, who started the first three games for the Tigers this season. In that span, Johnson completed 59.7 percent (43-for-72) of his passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, he also struggled with turnovers, throwing six interceptions and losing a fumble. Malzahn said that Johnson handled the news this morning with grace. 

Can White provide the spark the Tigers are desperately seeking on offense? Can Auburn turn a corner, and turn the season around? Only time will tell. 

Aside from the quarterback change, Malzahn also reported that defensive end Carl Lawson's hip flexor injury that forced him out of the season opener against Louisville is a bit more serious than previously anticipated. Lawson will therefore miss an extended period of playing time. However, Malzahn is hopeful that Lawson will be able to return to action before the season's conclusion. Let's all hope so, because without him, the defense is clearly suffering. 

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

Sunday, September 20th, 2015

Head coach Gus Malzahn's post-game remark following Auburn's 45-21 loss to LSU yesterday in Baton Rouge said it all: "We got our rear kicked." The first half was as dismal as a cold, rainy winter day. In the second half, Auburn showed some spark, but not enough. Let's take a look at just what went wrong:

Offense: The orange and blue just couldn't get their offense in gear in the first half. In the second half, things looked up, but by then, the damage had been done. Auburn finished the afternoon with just 260 total yards, the fewest they have accumulated under Malzahn. It was the Tigers' lowest offensive output since the 2011 Iron Bowl (163 total yards). Jeremy Johnson had yet another mediocre performance, completing 11-of-19 passes for 100 yards, with two touchdowns, and a dazzling 65-yard TD run to boot. However, that wasn't enough to atone for an interception (his sixth on the year) and two fumbles, one of which he lost, another on which an attempted backward pass went horribly awry. Perhaps the lone bright spot on offense was freshman running back Kerryon Johnson, who accounted for 129 all-purpose yards (14 rushing, 17 receiving, 98 in kickoff returns). But when you don't click when it counts, you don't win. 

Defense: Atrocious with a capital "A." The Tigers surrendered 485 yards of total offense to the Bayou Bengals, 228 of which came from sophomore running back Leonard Fournette. This past week, Auburn safety Jonathan "Rudy" Ford made a statement that slowing Fournette down "shouldn't be that difficult of a challenge." Boy, was he wrong. Fournette went over, under, around and through Auburn defenders all day and made their lives miserable, scoring three touchdowns in the process. 

Auburn has now given up over 400 offensive yards to its last 10 FBS opponents since its 41-7 rout of LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium last season. Of course, having Carl Lawson out with his injured hip flexor certainly didn't help matters. Unfortunately, Lawson is out indefinitely, although Malzahn is hopeful that he will return to action before the end of the season. Time will only tell. If he doesn't, that could very well spell doom for an already thin Auburn defense. 

Special teams: This was the only unit that had a good day. Kevin Phillips averaged 50 yards on his six punts, pinning two inside the 20. Two others were touchbacks. Daniel Carlson didn't allow any returns on all of his kickoffs, and both return units were solid as well. 

Coach Malzahn said after the game that the Tigers intend to "re-evaluate everything" during this coming week. That's a very good idea, as Auburn has a home match against Mississippi State coming up next week. Their biggest task will be containing State's elusive senior quarterback, Dak Prescott. Personally, I'll be very glad to see him go after this season. A change in Auburn's quarterback might also make sense. If the Tigers want to erase the sour memory of last year's 38-23 loss in Starkville, they must dig VERY deep and do some serious cleaning up. Otherwise, a season that started with so much promise, hype and enthusiasm could be going into a tailspin, and the Tigers could be staying at home during bowl season.

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

 

Saturday, September 19th, 2015

Yes, I'm still alive. I just had a VERY busy week these past few days, particularly because I got to go see "The Price is Right Live" in my area. I've been a lifelong game show buff, so to put it bluntly, that was a SPECTACULAR experience for me that I will always cherish. 

 

Now, let's talk football. Today, the "Tiger Bowl" is upon us. Auburn vs. LSU. It's a rivalry where, as former ESPN broadcaster Ron Franklin rightly said, "Something unusual always happens." Truer words were never spoken. This series has played host to earthquakes (1988), incredible comebacks (1994), magic (1995), fire (1996), cigars (1999), hurricanes (2004), and risky decisions (2007). After all of that, what could possibly happen next? I don't know for sure, but it will likely be something out of the ordinary. 

 

Needless to say, Auburn has its work cut out if they expect to upset the Bayou Bengals. Offensively, the Tigers must move the ball consistently, avoiding turnovers and penalties at all costs. I may be off of my rocker in saying this, but I personally saw some improvement in quarterback Jeremy Johnson last week. Yes, he threw two picks, but he also made better reads at times, and knew when to throw, and when to throw it away. That said, he could likely only get by with one interception today...if that. And of course, the receivers have to be on the same page with him. 

 

On the ground, Peyton Barber must continue to pile up the yards, as he continues to establish himself as the go-to guy in Auburn's running attack. However, coach Gus Malzahn said that there's a decent chance that we'll also see Roc Thomas, Jovon Robinson (who was hurt last week), and Kerryon Johnson on the field. 

 

Defensively, Auburn's biggest task will be slowing down LSU's sophomore running back, Leonard Fournette, who is nothing short of powerful. They must bottle him up at every opportunity, and force quarterback Brandon Harris to throw, as he has not been a factor to the offense up to this point. But perhaps the most crucial factor is getting off the field on third down situations. We clearly could not do that last week against Jacksonville State, and if such is the case today, it will definitely be a long afternoon. 

 

Injury report: Carl Lawson (hip), Justin Garrett (quadricep), and Tray Matthews (shoulder) have all been considered day-to-day, according to coach Malzahn, but could return to action today. On the downside, though, senior defensive back Joshua Holsey is out for the rest of the year due to a torn ACL in his left knee (the same knee that forced him to miss 2013). On the flip side, junior defensive back T.J. Davis, who suffered an ACL injury in spring practice, could return next week when Auburn hosts Mississippi State. 

 

Since these two squads kick off at 2:30, this might prevent the LSU fans from being sloshed (if you know what I mean) as heck come game time. Tiger Stadium is a hostile environment, and although I've never gone there (nor do I ever intend to), I've heard plenty of less-than-pleasant accounts from my friends about their experience there. Regardless, this game is where we truly begin to find out if the 2015 Tigers are something special. 

 

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

 

Sunday, September 13th, 2015

 

Yesterday was a rough day for the SEC. Kentucky surprised South Carolina in Columbia. Toledo shocked Arkansas in Little Rock. LSU had to survive a valiant rally by Mississippi State in a game that came down to the final play. Oklahoma rallied from a 17-3 deficit to defeat Tennessee in a double-overtime thriller in Knoxville. Yes, there were quite a few victims. Thankfully, Auburn was not one of them at the hands of Jacksonville State.

 

However, it was close to being different. Painfully close. 

 

In the first half, Auburn's offense was as flat as a basketball without air. All the Tigers could muster were two Daniel Carlson field goals. The defense, meanwhile, was having fits in trying to stop dual-threat Gamecocks quarterback Eli Jenkins, and their big-play receivers Josh Barge and Ruben Gonzalez. At intermission, the stat sheet showed Auburn with a paltry 152 yards of offense. On the contrary, JSU had 225. 

In the third quarter, a 51-yard touchdown strike from Jeremy Johnson to Roc Thomas gave the Tigers a 13-10 lead, and things appeared to be looking up. But the Gamecocks deadlocked the count at 13-13 early in the fourth quarter, and then grabbed the lead back at 20-13 with 5:38 remaining on a 5-yard TD scamper by Troymaine Pope. 

On the Tigers' ensuing drive, they were determined to tie the game again. But then....disaster. Roc Thomas fumbled at the JSU 13, and the Gamecocks claimed it. One of the most unthinkable upsets in college football history appeared to be coming true. "That's kind of what put us in the position we were in, the fact that we kind of took them lightly, that we weren't playing with enough energy to take them out, and that showed on the field," senior wide receiver Ricardo Louis said. 

 

Very much so. But then, the Tigers got a major gift from JSU. The defense held, and forced a punt. A punt that went all of 17 yards to put Auburn in contention at the Gamecocks' 31 with 2:01 to go. Now, the War Eagles had a chance. A real chance. And they made the most of it. Five plays later, it was third-and-7 at the JSU 10. Johnson rolled out, and found Melvin Ray in the right corner of the end zone for the clutch score. Daniel Carlson converted the PAT. Tie game. Bring on overtime. 

 

The Tigers got the ball first, and wasted no time. They drove down to the 4-yard line, where Peyton Barber powered his way in to the end zone to put Auburn in front. But the defense now had to keep the Gamecocks out of the end zone. They were up to the task. Linebacker Cassanova McKinzy came through with a key sack of Jenkins on third down to push JSU back to the Auburn 21. Fourth down. One more stop, and the Tigers could exhale. Jenkins had time, and flung a bomb to Barge in the far right corner of the end zone against two Auburn defenders. He caught it....but was out of bounds. Instead of a potential tying TD, the game was over. The Tigers could now breathe a sigh of relief. 

 

Let's take a look at the ups and downs of this game:

 

Offense: By the end of the day, the Tigers had amassed 401 total yards. Yes, you read that correctly. That's a mighty astounding figure when you consider how inept they were for much of the game. They also committed three turnovers, the last of which could have been the final nail in the coffin. Jeremy Johnson had another subpar performance, completing 21-of-32 passes for 236 yards, with two scores and two picks. He's the first Auburn QB since 2009 to throw five INTs in his first two games. Despite that, coach Gus Malzahn solidly defended him after the game. He's behind him all the way, but he also emphasized that he needed to help Jeremy more. I'm sure that he will. However, Peyton Barber again made his presence felt on the ground, with 125 yards on 23 carries, including his game-winning TD in OT. Simply put, the offense was not entirely on par, but came through in the clutch situation. 

 

Defense: Almost a mirror image of the offense. The Tigers simply could not stop Eli Jenkins, whether he was using his arm or his legs. The same held true for the secondary, who couldn't contain Josh Barge and Ruben Gonzalez. However, two of its highlights were a Rudy Ford interception in the end zone, as well as McKinzy's big sack on third down in OT. Of course, having Carl Lawson and Tray Matthews out due to injuries didn't help matters. At game's end, the Tigers had given up 434 yards to the Gamecocks. Those numbers simply won't be tolerable when Auburn enters SEC play at LSU next week. 

 

Special teams: Daniel Carlson nailed both of his field goal attempts, and Kevin Phillips had a great day punting. Honestly, this is currently the only aspect of the game that is excelling. 

 

In a nutshell, a game that seemed to be a shoe-in on paper turned into a horror show. Auburn needed a pivotal break at a pivotal moment to save themselves from humiliation....and they got it. But man, did they have to fight for it. Sweat for it. The offense sputtered most of the day, and the defense was confused and disoriented, often guessing wrong on JSU's zone-read plays. 

It's quite likely that the early kickoff was a factor. I know that there are many things in life you can't control, but I will openly tell you that I'm never fond of morning games. The crowd is often smaller than usual, and the players just don't seem to be fully energized and prepared. The fans at the stadium have to rush like crazy in order to get to their seats. It can be hectic. Also, the coaching staff really needs to bear down on their players in order to get the errors fixed. 

It's difficult to find a definitive answer for Auburn's stagnant performances in its first two games, but one thing's for sure: If we don't get the kinks worked out in a hurry, this season may very well become one that Auburn fans would prefer to forget. They were incredibly fortunate to come out of this match unscathed. 

 

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

 

Friday, September 11th, 2015

 

I will be appearing (via telephone) on a radio show in Mobile, Alabama called "Turf Talk" at 10:00 PM CT tonight to talk about Auburn's game against Jacksonville State tomorrow. Here's how to listen live if you're not in the Mobile area:

 

Go to www.fmtalk1065.com and you should be able to hear the live audio stream instantly. 

 

Aside from that, it was on this day 14 years ago that America changed forever. I thank God every day for giving me this precious life, and my heart goes out to all the families and friends of the thousands who lost their lives that day. I'm so thankful and blessed to have so many family members and friends around me, and I love them dearly! Life is not always magical, but it's precious, and you never know which day will be your last. Never take this life for granted! God Bless America!

 

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

 

 

Wednesday, September 9th, 2015

 

​Even though a few Tigers were shaken up last weekend in Auburn's 31-24 win over Louisville, head coach Gus Malzahn still expects all of them to be healthy. That means that defensive lineman Carl Lawson, running back Roc Thomas, JUCO-transfer running back Jovon Robinson, and safety Tray Matthews should be able to return to action. 

Senior defensive back Joshua Holsey has also been back at practice and should be able to see the field in Auburn's home opener against Jacksonville State this Saturday. As for who will start at running back, Coach Malzahn would not state who would get the nod, but did say that he wants to get freshman Kerryon Johnson involved as soon as possible, despite the fact that he was banged up last week as well. 

 

Unfortunately, there is also a bit of bad news in the injury department. Third-string quarterback Tyler Queen underwent surgery yesterday to mend his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the season. Queen was injured while playing baseball as a junior at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga. 

Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery, initially thought that the injury would heal without surgery, but problems persisted. In Queen's absence, senior Jonathan Wallace, who was moved to wide receiver last year, will step in as the third-string quarterback behind Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. As fans may recall, Wallace was the starting quarterback during portions of the dismal 2012 campaign, and, in my books, was fairly respectable. Time will only tell if he will get another chance to use his arm. 

 

In other news....

 

- It looks like the SEC Championship football game will continue to be held in Atlanta for many years to come. 

According to a report by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the SEC and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons have reached an agreement to play the conference title game in the Falcons' new stadium. The agreement was expected to be publicly announced yesterday at the College Football Hall of Fame. 

The conference championship game has been played at the Georgia Dome since 1994, and the new deal calls for the game to be moved to the new Mercedes-Benz stadium beginning in 2017, and running through 2026. According to a draft of the contract obtained by the aforementioned newspaper, the SEC will also have the option of extending the agreement for two additional five-year periods - which means the game could remain there until 2036 without a new agreement being signed. 

 

While I obviously can't predict the future, I strongly believe that it would be a thrill to see Auburn play for the conference crown in that new stadium (although I must admit that I haven't actually seen what it looks like, mainly because I'm not an NFL follower). 

 

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

 

 

Sunday, September 6th, 2015

 

Well, the Tigers got their 2015 season started off on the right foot yesterday with a 31-24 win over the Louisville Cardinals at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. However, that final score is very deceptive. In the first half, it looked like a lopsided affair was in the works. Then, in the second half, Louisville made a valiant rally, while Auburn had to sweat it out to bring home the victory. Let's take a look at what I liked and didn't like about every facet of the game:

 

Offense: The running game made the Tiger offense click all game long. Peyton Barber was the workhorse on the ground, tallying 115 yards on 24 carries. It's a good thing, too. Quarterback Jeremy Johnson had a shaky day in his debut as Auburn's full-time starter, completing 11-of-21 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers would be OK, except that he also threw three interceptions (and nearly a fourth). Auburn had not had three passes picked off since a 24-7 loss to Arkansas in 2012. He also threw a 56-yard TD strike to Jason Smith, but that was cancelled by a holding penalty. He rightly placed most of the blame on himself for his mistakes. He made bad decisions at times when flushed out of the pocket. Two of his picks were thrown right to the defender, while the third was thrown into triple coverage. The coaching staff isn't concerned for the long run, but it's clear that Johnson still has plenty of room for improvement. He obviously had first game jitters, but those can be overcome with time. In sports, even the worst of days can serve as motivation. Auburn finished the day with 327 total yards, which is uncharacteristic in Gus Malzahn's no-huddle, up-tempo attack. That won't cut it when the Tigers get into the real meat of the schedule. 

 

Defense:  For the first 30 minutes, it was apparent that this was a renewed unit. Tray Matthews' interception on the game's first play largely set the tone. The Tigers finished the day with nine tackles for loss and four sacks. Also, Justin Garrett returned a fumble 82 yards for a TD following a botched handoff by Cardinals quarterback Reggie Bonnafon. It was Auburn's longest fumble return for a score since 1969. However, they took a sharp plunge south in the second half, especially due to losing Carl Lawson and Matthews to injury. They simply couldn't slow down Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, who torched them for 106 yards on 16 carries and a score. Without Lawson, the Tigers got tired, and it showed in missed assignments, misalignments and a lack of effort at certain points. In the second half, Auburn surrendered 24 points and 241 yards to Louisville.  

 

Special teams: Daniel Carlson was superb in his place-kicking, nailing a 56-yard field goal (breaking his personal best) and smacking his kickoffs out of the back of the end zone. The return team didn't have much of a chance to contribute, but it didn't matter in this one. Punter Kevin Phillips averaged 47 yards per kick. Impressive. 

 

Coaching: There were ups and downs. Coach Malzahn obviously knew who was showing effective performances, and kept them in the game. Muschamp also gave his defense a sense of urgency (at least in the first half). However, we also had an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that cost the Tigers 30 yards. Those could have easily spelled trouble for us. 

 

Injury report: 

 

- DE Carl Lawson left the game early due to irritation in his hip flexor and was seen moving back and forth from the training table, walking with a noticeable limp. Although he was cleared to play, he stayed out the rest of the game as a precaution. By all accounts, the injury seems minor. Let's hope so. 

 

- Running back Roc Thomas came out of the game in the second quarter with an undisclosed leg injury. He finished with six carries for 27 yards. We can only hope that the injury is not serious so that he can get a chance to post bigger numbers. 

 

- RB Jovon Robinson was also seen limping to the sideline after only getting two touches. No word yet on the extent of both running backs' injuries. Hopefully, we'll know more in the coming days. 

 

- Defensive back Tray Matthews, a transfer from Georgia, came out of action late in the fourth quarter after falling awkwardly during a tackle. As trainers tended to him on the sideline, it appeared that it could have been a shoulder injury. Whatever the case, it was apparent that Matthews was in great pain. We can only pray that he will heal soon enough. 

 

On the whole, the important thing is that Auburn got the win. However, it was far from a thing of beauty. The spark was there in the first half, but things took a nosedive in the second half. The Tigers play their home opener next Saturday against Jacksonville State. While that seems like a stress-free tuneup for the real nit and grit in the schedule, be warned: This is the same team that shocked Ole Miss some five years ago on the Rebels' own home turf in double overtime in the 2010 opener. The Rebels' season was never the same. If Auburn doesn't want the Gamecocks to duplicate that feat, they have a lot of sloppiness to rectify. 

 

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

 

 

 

Saturday, September 5th, 2015

 

​Even on game day, it's never a bad idea to report on a new commitment. 

 

Five-star defensive end Marlon Davidson committed to Auburn yesterday, choosing the Tigers over arch-rival Alabama. Davidson is ranked as the 24th-best overall player in the nation by 247Sports.com, as well as the No. 2 strongside defensive end. 

Davidson is a 6-4, 268-pound lineman out of Greenville High School (Ala.). He had also considered Florida, Georgia, Clemson, LSU, Michigan and FSU. He is Auburn's 13th commitment for the 2016 class and plans to enroll early. 

Davidson was fairly blunt after making his announcement. "It's so much tradition, so much family," he said.  

Auburn has five-star commitments from each of its recruiting classes since 2013: Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams (2013), Roc Thomas and Tre Williams (2014), and Byron Cowart (2015). 

Davidson's decision shouldn't be considered totally unexpected. His older brother, Kenneth Carter, played on the defensive line for Auburn and is presently on the Tigers' coaching staff. Let's all hope that Marlon will get a chance to show what he's made of down the road.

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

 

Friday, September 4th, 2015

Here are five players that the Tigers must keep their eyes peeled for when they take on Louisville at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta tomorrow:

1. Quarterback Reggie Bonnafon: Cardinals head coach Bobby Petrino, a brilliant offensive mastermind, is keeping Auburn and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp guessing as to who will be Louisville's starting quarterback. Petrino has four co-starters at quarterback on his depth chart before Saturday's opener: Reggie Bonnafon, Kyle Bolin, Will Gardner or Lamar Jackson. However, the vast majority of media following the program think that Bonnafon will take the snaps. He played solidly at times (less so at others) as a true freshman last year, completing 50.8 percent for 864 yards, five TDs and four picks. He also rushed for 164 yards and five TDs. Bonnafon seemed to gain the upper hand on former starter Gardner this spring as Gardner was rehabbing an ACL tear that ended his 2014 campaign in November. 

2. Running back Brandon Radcliff: In his redshirt sophomore season last year, Radcliff was the Cardinals' leading rusher with 737 yards and 12 scores while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He displayed his superb power running ability, especially on third-down situations. Don't be surprised to see him give the Auburn defense the same test. 

3. Wide receiver James Quick: Louisville lost a big playmaker in receiver DeVante Parker, a 2015 first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins. Despite missing a few games last year, Parker still hauled in 43 passes for 855 yards and five TDs. Quick, a former high school sprint champion, has the most experience of any returning Cardinal receiver. He was second or third on the team in most receiving categories last year after posting 36 catches for 566 yards and three touchdowns. No other returning wideout had more than seven catches.

4. Defensive end Sheldon Rankins: The senior was named to the 2015 preseason All-ACC first team. Last season, Rankins started every game, racking up 53 tackles and team-highs with 8.0 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. He also grabbed two interceptions. He was voted a third-team All-ACC selection by the coaches and media. He has also spent some time at defensive tackle. 

5. Linebacker James Burgess: He is a three-year starter and was also a 2015 preseason All-ACC first-team pick. A senior from Florida, Burgess finished third on the team in tackles last year with 71, while adding 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and three INTs. Unfortunately, the Louisville defense has lost six starters from a unit that finished last season ranked sixth nationally in total defense, so Burgess will clearly be the most reliable guy on that side of the ball this season. 

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

 

Tuesday, September 1st, 2015

​Although junior receiver Marcus Davis was informed by special teams coordinator Scott Fountain that he would be Auburn's starting punt returner this season, the Tigers may take a different approach regarding kick returners. 

The official depth chart was scheduled to be released today for the opener against Louisville, but head coach Gus Malzahn said yesterday evening that the team may handle kick returns by committee early on (in much the same manner as for the starting running back), with sophomore running back Roc Thomas, redshirt freshman receiver Stanton Truitt and junior safety Rudy Ford as the leading candidates. 

"We'll try out some different guys early on and see who steps up, but we've got some good options," Malzahn stated last night during his weekly appearance on the radio show Tiger Talk. Thomas and Ford both gained experience returning kicks last year, although they weren't the Tigers' primary return options. Thomas fielded just three kicks with a 14.3-yard return average, and Ford returned one kick for 18 yards. Truitt, meanwhile, saw limited action early in the year before redshirting due to a season-ending injury. 

With all three likely to get chances to field kicks against Louisville, or at least early on in the season, what precisely is Malzahn looking for in the go-to guy - apart from being able to catch a kick in the first place, of course? 

"Somebody who's got courage, somebody who will hit it," Malzahn said. "It takes a lot of courage; there's guys flying around and you're looking up for the ball. Somebody that can catch it, hit it and get positive yards, not dance around." 

The phrase about "dancing around" in the latter part of Malzahn's remark is quite coincidental in my case. I attended all but one Auburn home game from 1999-2011. During those 12 years, one of my standard refrains when a kick/punt returner struggled to find daylight after fielding a kick was "This is a football field, not a dance floor!" 

In other news...

- Unfortunately, the Tigers will be down one receiver this season. According to AL.com, receiver Myron Burton Jr. has decided to leave the team. Burton Jr. was named the Tigers' offensive MVP in the A-Day game after catching seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. He was expected to make an impact this season, and he looked effective during fall camp, even hauling in a 43-yard TD reception from Jeremy Johnson while working with the starters during a scrimmage. 

No details were provided as to what drove Burton Jr. to his decision to leave the squad. We can only guess, and wish him the best in whatever comes his way next. 

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