Archive for the ‘Syndicate Feed’ Category
Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in an eight-part series highlighting Auburn starters who don’t exactly generate many headlines, but make irreplaceable contributions in a game that goes beyond “the stars.”
Since they began their respective auditions in March, one has gotten bigger, the other smaller.
One has learned an entirely new position, the other a slightly modified version of his old spot on the field.
Both Brandon Mosley and Roszell Gayden have gone through major transitions since they collectively arrived on campus in January. Their paths toward winning the one open spot on Auburn’s veteran-heavy offensive line, right tackle, have certainly differed, but their presence alone has set up the Tigers for the 2010 season better than it would be without them.
No one, in my opinion, does it better than Paul Myerberg does at his extensively thorough college football blog, PreSnapRead.com. I can only dream of having that much college football knowledge to rank the entire BCS, 120-1.
I’m not that good, nor do I claim to be. So I’m going to stick to the SEC and not be nearly as thorough. And this year, I’m only going to do the top eight teams because, well, there was that many days until practice started when I decided to start this thing.
No one, in my opinion, does it better than Paul Myerberg does at his extensively thorough college football blog, PreSnapRead.com. I can only dream of having that much college football knowledge to rank the entire BCS, 120-1.
I’m not that good, nor do I claim to be. So I’m going to stick to the SEC and not be nearly as thorough. And this year, I’m only going to do the top eight teams because, well, there was that many days until practice started when I decided to start this thing.
Editor’s note: This is the second in an eight-part series highlighting eight Auburn starters who don’t exactly generate many headlines, but make irreplaceable contributions in a game that goes beyond “the stars.”
If anything, former tailback Ben Tate was one of Auburn’s more honest players over the past few seasons.
Prompted about players, or coaches, he didn’t think deserved praise, Tate often pleaded the fifth or let his Cheshire cat grin tell you how he truly felt.
That never happened last season whenever Eric Smith’s name popped up.
Georgia punter Drew Butler defended his position and its subsequent effect on the game with gusto at last week’s SEC Media Days.
Sure, the first punter to represent his team in Media Days history is a little biased, but his coach, Mark Richt, had his back.
“It truly is a third of the game,” Butler said of special teams. “If you can win that aspect, and you can win offense or defense, you have a leg up on the competition.”
OK, so punting is probably one-sixth. And when it’s considered that field-goal kicking puts actual points on the board and can truly decide wins or losses, it might get bumped to one-eighth.
Of the hundreds of high school players that converged on Auburn’s practice fields Saturday for the summer’s final camp, only one left newly committed to the Tigers.
Leroy wide receiver Sammie Coates, however, had to say goodbye to Southern Miss first.
Coates, a three-star speedster who formerly teamed up with Auburn reserve quarterback Clint Moseley on the 2007 and 2008 2A state champion Bears, told multiple Auburn scouting services Saturday that he had de-committed from the Golden Eagles to commit to the Tigers.
ATHENS, Ga. – A group of Auburn current and former swimmers opened day one of the USA Swimming Sectionals in Athens, Ga., Thursday, at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia. Former Tiger Cesar Cielo and rising senior Robert Looney each earned individual wins at the long course meet.
Cielo took first in the 50 free in a time of 21.73, beating out teammate Fred Bousquet in second (22.01). Tyler McGill, who recently concluded his senior season at Auburn, took third in the event in 22.78.
After nearly two years of construction, the Auburn Arena, the new home of Auburn University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, is nearing completion. A university spokesman said the $92.5 million structure should be up and running by the end of July, and that most of the arena’s premium season tickets are sold out.
Check out Vasha Hunt’s photo slideshow from the tour here, and video here.
Auburn backup cornerback D’Antoine Hood has transferred to Alabama State, according to published reports.
Hood, the former Central-Phenix City High standout and cousin of former Auburn and current NFL defensive back Roderick Hood, played in 22 games in his two years on the Plains, recording 22 tackles.
The 5-foot-10, 192-pound junior-to-be, played mostly on special teams, starting only two games in the defensive backfield.
Because Alabama State is a FCS school, Hood is eligible to play this season and does not have to sit out a year.
Like Auburn, Ole Miss has their own junior-college transfer quarterback who has the potential to do wonderful things.
The big difference?
Cameron Newton arrived on Auburn’s campus in January, put together a strong spring and will carry the QB1 title into fall practice.
Randall Mackey, the National Junior College Player of the Year at East Mississippi Community College, didn’t enroll at Ole Miss until June.
Rebels coach Houston Nutt doesn’t expect Mackey to make up for lost time. Replacing Jevan Snead, who left after an unimpressive junior season only to go undrafted, will likely come down to Nathan Stanley, the current No. 1, and former Auburn commitment, Raymond Cotton.
