Congratulations, Rod Hood

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090202&sportCat=nfl

9:13 -- Automatic first down on a defensive pass interference by Rod Hood. Great porn name.

Proof!

http://wireroadandshug.blogspot.com/2009/01/supermodel-marisa-miller-takes.html

Bammer of the Week

Chizik: Tigers Targeting Nation's Prime Recruits

"We're at Auburn. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country - no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it," Chizik said after talking to the Alabama Football Coaches Association meeting in Montgomery. "We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year - including this one."

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1233306986206530.xml&coll=2

Strike Out Cancer at Auburn on February 14th

Strike Out Cancer 5K Run sponsored by the Diamond Dolls in honor of Mary Louise Pawlowski

Saturday, February 14, 2009

http://www.au4mlp.com/

http://www.mlpfoundation.org/

Supermodel Marisa Miller Takes Courtside Visit To Vols

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090129/SPORTS0601/901290376/1002/SPORTS

Tuberville Joins ESPN, Plans Return To Coaching

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20090129/SPORTS0402/901290330/1002/sports

JJ's Response To My A-Day Email

Thanks for the email and for your suggestions. My staff has recently been discussing all the issues related to A-Day and ways we can boost attendance and make it a more enjoyable experience.

We will continue to discuss ways to do just that, and we are always glad to hear constructive criticism from Auburn men like you.

God bless, and War Eagle!

Jay

Jay Jacobs '85 '88
Athletics Director
Auburn University
athldir@auburn.edu
334-844-9891

Kevin Greene Hired By Green Bay Packers

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Pack-hires-Kevin-Greene-to-coach-outside-linebac?urn=nfl,136991

Pack hired Kevin Greene to coach outside linebackers

The Green Bay Packers have agreed to terms with one of defensive coordinator Dom Capers' most productive players to join their staff.

Former Pittsburgh and Carolina outside linebacker Kevin Greene has been hired to coach the outside linebackers, a club source said. No contract has been signed yet but the club is expected to announce his addition in the next week or so.

Greene, who led the NFL in sacks in 1994 with the Steelers and 1996 with the Panthers, has mostly been out of football since his career ended, but he has worked six summer coaching internships while maintaining a career in business. A dynamic and outgoing personality, Greene was a staple of Capers' 3-4 defensive scheme.

Coach Mike McCarthy and Capers both felt Greene would be able to teach the team's outside linebackers the new scheme.

With Greene's hiring, assistant head coach Winston Moss' title will now be inside linebackers coach.

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Why Does Auburn Charge For A Ticket To A-Day?

I sent this email to Jay Jacobs earlier today. What do you guys think? I think AU should do whatever it takes to get as many people into A-Day as possible. Sure can't hurt.

Mr. Jacobs-

I have a question regarding A-Day. Why does Auburn charge people to buy a ticket to this game? Wouldn't it be in AU's best interests to get as many people to Auburn and in the stadium as possible? If they gave away tickets, more people would come which means more money spent on cokes and hot dogs in the stadium, not to mention buying a t-shirt at Anders or buying some lemonade at Toomer's or buying gas within the city. Florida and Alabama don't charge admission to this game. Do the benefits of having more people coming to Auburn not outweigh a smaller number of people paying $5 to see a glorified exhibition?

Let's pack the stadium and do whatever we can to create another good reason to come to Auburn.

10 Family-Friendliest Football Programs

http://cfblive.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-09-ncaa-football-family-atmosphere.html

They definitely aren't talking about the fans b/c if any SEC fans made a family friendly list, they can go to C-USA (or hell, whichever is worst).

This Is A "Smokescreen" For The Real Violation...

(shameless excuse to show a photo of Mrs. Kiffin)

...having Mrs. Kiffin make in-home visits to recruits.

UT Reporting Possible Secondary Violation

UT is reporting a possible secondary violation involving the simulation of a game experience for recruits on an official visit.

According to UT spokeswoman Tiffany Carpenter, coaches used smoke machines as recruits entered the field from the tunnel inside Neyland Stadium when the Vols hosted prospects on official visits earlier this month.

UT does not use any special effects as players enter the field on gameday, leaving the line a little blurry as to whether using smoke during a recruiting visit actually consitutues the simulation of a game experience.

"They reported it just to be safe," Carpenter said.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/jan/26/ut-reporting-possible-secondary-violation/

Bammer Wedding

Gottfried And His Terrible Red Jacket Fired At SPUAT

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3862038

My favorite memory of the Mark Gottfried era is the 94-40 beatdown in 1998 when he started yelling at the student section going into the locker room at halftime. Jackass.

I Got A Broken Face

I can't believe Arizona's bench didn't bum rush this kid. Lute Olsen was even thinking of pulling a "Reverse Artest".



Here's some Pixies...

Big Weekend For AU Basketball

I'm not telling you anything you don't already know but both of AU's teams are looking good.

The AU women beat the defending national champs and had over 12,000 in attendance. Amazing. This time is on track for getting a #1 seed in the tournament but have to come down from this high as they go to Athens and Baton Rouge their next two games. They are down this year but have been Final Four teams in recent years so they won't be easy games. If they can follow up the win over UT with wins on those two home courts...watch out!

The men went into Fayetteville and beat the Hogs by 22. Teams don't beat Arkansas on their home court very often, especially like that. Standing at 2-3 in the conference and with 4 of their next 5 conference games at home, Auburn should be at .500 or better at the end of that stretch in SEC play.

Bammer of the Week

Hell, he's the early leader for Bammer of the Year.

Vote For Change

Mickey and James Willis. A Cro-Magnon Man Era Conversation Followed

He said, "Hello." I said, "James?" He said, "Yeah." I said, "Man, what are you thinking?" He said, "Who is this?" I just told him I was real disappointed. He kept asking, "Who is this?" I said, "Daniel." He said, "Who?" I got scared and hung up.

Durst Leaves AU Football Team

http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/2009/01/clinton_durst_tigers_starting.html

Really? Not enough scholarships to give one to one of the best punters in the country?

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

I don't know who to blame for Coach Willis leaving for the enemy. I have given Jay Jacobs a pass because Coach Chizik was putting together a great staff and maybe I was wrong about JJ. Maybe he did know what he was doing. But maybe he didn't or did Chizik not really want a Tuberville holdover but felt he had to retain him because he was an Auburn player or because of his contacts in Mobile. We'll probably never know. I do have faith that Chizik will hire a good coach in his place but this still stings.

I can't believe Willis could ever leave AU for SPUAT. But why did he? Why wasn't he given a raise comparable to the other new assistants before it got to this point? Supposedly Auburn told him they would match any other offer and would take care of him eventually but Willis never went back to AU after SPUAT offered. It shouldn't have taken JJ weeks to give Willis a bump to $400K or whatever the number is. And don't give me this "Willis gets the title of Associate Head Coach". Whatever, that title is meaningless. I blame him for letting it get to this point but I blame Willis for not showing a little loyalty to his school and to the players he was recruiting. But why should he show loyalty? He was told he would be retained, he was fired, did not have a job for days, rehired at his same salary and then saw newcomers to AU making twice as much as him. See this quote from Terrance Coleman...

"He told me a story," Coleman says. "He told me that he was going to be at Auburn when I came there. He was sitting in my living room two nights ago and told me that. He also told me some not so nice things about Alabama so I am not happy about this. I didn't know he was like that."

Terrance, coaches will tell you anything to get you to come to your school. Their only loyalty is to the paycheck. I believe Pat Dye once said something to that effect. And I know I've heard the Sabear say that if it was up to him, he'd take less money if there weren't any fans in the stands and it was just football. Remember that, Bammers, next time he says "RTR" or that he loves Alabama. Know that he doesn't and never will, it's just what he has to say to keep the cash rolling. Tommy Tuberville, Gene Chizik, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Tracy Rocker, James Willis, all of them love the paycheck and not the school. And if Notre Dame comes at Saban with more money that SPUAT can't match, he'll leave in a heartbeat. And if SPUAT matches it he'll stay. Not because the Capstone was tugging at his heartstrings or Mama called or whatever, only because it was best for his career. And if Texas or whomever comes at Chizik in three years with a busload of cash, Chizik will leave his "dream job" faster than you can say "5-19".

But what makes me sick is I think it's written in UAT contracts to use the word tradition because Willis has already used it. Was it a shot at Auburn or just what he's supposed to say? I'm going with the latter.
This had to be a hard decision for Willis. It comes at a bad time for Auburn two weeks before signing day. According to Terrance Coleman, Willis was bad-mouthing SPUAT no more than two days ago all the while knowing he was sleeping with the enemy. This is another reason I never blame a player for going pro early, get money, get paid while you can. This is further proof that recruits need to look at the school and not the coaches because they will leave your ass in a heartbeat while you are stuck at a school that maybe you didn't want to go to but you bought into whatever the coaches were saying they could do for you when really, they want you for what you can do for them.

Auburn will survive this. They will find a good coach to replace Willis and move on. They will get recruits from Mobile in the future. This does not guarantee SPUAT a MNC or Auburn last place in the SEC West next year. It's a blip in the overall big picture of the schools but it does guarantee that loyalty in college athletics is officially dead and it is a professional league without professional players.

Bammer of the Week

Looks like he's getting ready to "fist" Saban.

Must Win Game?

You may or may not know it but UAT and Auburn play basketball this weekend. Auburn is 0-2 in the SEC and coming off a horrible shooting performance (though not many people were there so I don't know who saw it) and UAT is 1-1 coming off a loss to Mississippi State. The yearly rumblings about Mike Gottfried have started extra early this year and it's likely that nothing short of an NCAA tournament appearance will save his job. The patience fans have for Jeff Lebo is almost out and he'll need a major turnaround to save his job. With Auburn moving into a new arena next season, they need butts in the seats and Auburn fans have proven that they'll fill the stadium with a winner. But nothing short of that will bring them out. Better start tomorrow against the Tahd.

Dirty Sanchez

Is USC QB Mark Sanchez leaving for the NFL really THAT big of a deal? He has been on ESPN non-stop. He's only started 16 games in his career and never played in a MNC game. Only Brettfavre gets more face time on ESPN when he's leaving. Or staying. Or leaving. Or not sure what he's going to do. Or holding teams hostage.

Pete Carroll's Thoughts on "Dirty" leaving...

"It's Just Hell Under Hell On Earth"

Our intrepid reporter for Jim Beam and Mountain Dew News said the above once about Tuscaloosa and he just might be on to something...

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2009/01/lance_thompsons_move_to_rocky.html

I don't get why all these coaches are leaving SPUAT, especially to Tennessee. I mean, isn't Tuscaloosa the Mecca for all coaches? I know I've seen people praying towards it in Jasper.

AU Grad Taking Over Apple While Steve Jobs On Injured Reserve

http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/Business/Detail?contentId=8256035&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=4.1.1

"We Ain't Worried 'Bout Football, We Worried 'Bout A Cat."

Chuck Finally Gets That B.J.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/charles_barkley_finally_gets_that

Final Vote For The New Wildcat Formation Name

Wild Thing

Eagle Claw

Crouching Tiger, Spread Eagle

Spread Eagle

Super Mario (this one won my initial poll but I'm not sure we should name it after a player who may not run it every time)

Reason #195,804 Why Sausage Is Good But You Don't Want To See It Made

http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/2009/01/chaz_ramsey_and_his_future.html

WJOX Is Making Me Nauseous

What is going on with them the past couple of days? Why do they always have to get into these religious discussions that don't go anywhere and just irritate people? Couldn't they be talking about Tracy Rocker or the NFL playoffs or Florida winning the MNC? I almost called in to ask how long I should stop listening before they start talking about sports again? Tony Kurre rambling on and on about how religion shouldn't be a part of sports talk for 2 days was a little counterproductive to his point and it's just as bad when Jay Barker-Evans and Dawson and people of their ilk use sports radio as a pulpit. Give me a break.

McCalebb Enrolling at AU

http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2009/01/mccalebb_enrolling_in_auburn_r.html

McCalebb enrolling in Auburn, ready to run

Posted by Charles Goldberg, Birmingham News
January 12, 2009 5:59 PM

Running back Onterio McCalebb, the last of three Auburn signees eligible to enroll this spring, will be in school this week and be available for spring practice.

A big-time Auburn signee out of high school in Fort Meade, Fla., McCalebb is coming from Hargrove Military Academy as the No. 1 prep school running back in the nation, according to Rivals. He's the No. 4 prep school player overall. AuburnSports.com reported McCalebb's eligibility Monday afternoon.

McCalebb joins junior college defensive lineman Nick Fairley and junior college linebacker Eltoro Freeman as mid-year qualifiers. McCalebb has all four years of eligibility remaining because prep school play doesn't count against college eligibility. Fairley and Freeman each have three years remaining. Auburn had tried to persuade offensive lineman Jermaine Johnson to follow the same path, but he went to the University of Miami.

A-Day Scheduled

A-Day has been scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m.

Spring practice is tentatively scheduled to start on March 24.

Welcome Back, Rocker

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/01/tracy_rocker_agrees_to_join_au.html

Barkley Taking Leave Of Absence From TNT

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3821676

Police: Tests show Barkley legally drunk

PHOENIX -- Charles Barkley is taking a leave of absence from the broadcast booth.
The announcement by Turner Sports came Friday, hours after police said the 45-year-old former NBA star was legally drunk when police arrested him Dec. 31 on suspicion of drunken driving in Scottsdale, Ariz. Test results show Barkley had a blood-alcohol level at .149, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 in Arizona. Barkley will be off the air for a minimum of several weeks and no return date has been set, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it. "I have spoken with Charles Barkley regarding the incident. .. and I understand he has hired a lawyer to represent him regarding this matter," said David Levy, president of TNT Sports, in a statement. "When I spoke with Charles, he was apologetic for the events that transpired and it was obvious he understands the significance of the situation. This is an important time for Charles as he deals with the legal and personal issues that confront him. Charles is a valued part of the Turner Sports organization and we are concerned for his well-being." A Gilbert officer working a regional DUI task force stopped Barkley shortly after he left a popular nightclub at about 1:30 a.m. He failed field sobriety tests but was cooperative. Barkley was booked and released at a field command post and later issued a statement saying he was disappointed he put himself in that situation. Barkley's attorney wasn't immediately available for comment Friday.

How Much Football Have You Coached?

Ignore the "worthless Auburn fan" and picture that is obviously a Bammer and focus on how riled up Brando gets. Obviously, Gary isn't the first one to call Brando out or his fuse wouldn't be so short. Also, Gary wasn't anonymous (like so many Bammer lurkers who follow this blog) as he said his name and that he was an AU grad.

Bammer of the Week (tie)

Too bad Andre Smith wasn't in New Orleans last Friday night to help pick John Sarah Jessica Parker Wilson off the turf one last time. Nor will he be around next year to pick up whomever SPUAT trots out at QB.

Attention All Auburn Co-eds

It might be cold in Auburn but we need you to get your jogging/exercise clothes out and hit the streets of Auburn this weekend. Work off those holiday pounds by running between JHS, Sewell Hall and the athletic offices. Well, pretty much anywhere on campus. Auburn needs you.

The Onion Bowl Game Highlights

Including the Sugar Bowl...

http://www.theonion.com/content/infograph/2008_bowl_game_highlights

WRAS Exclusive

John Parker Wilson was partying in New Orleans a couple of nights before the Sugar Bowl according to my future Bammer father-n-law.

Stafford and Knowshon...

... Soulja Boy their way on out of Athens. You will be missed.

GMAC Bowl Thoughts

ESPN's camera work sucked last night. It seemed like half of the plays had already started by the time the camera got around to let us know there was a game going on.

Tulsa's offense was impressive. They run the ball with the running backs and every now and then the QB. I like that. The offensive line gets in a run stance and they come off the ball fast and the RBs run north-south. I also liked it when they mixed in a little of the option. One thing that I hadn't thought about is the new pistol formation, where the QB is in a 1/2 shotgun formation with the RB behind him. Then he receives the snap and just turns around to hand it to the RB who is already running towards the line. Seems quicker than being under center and going back 2-3 steps and then handing off.

CFN on Auburn's New Coaches

http://cfn.scout.com/2/828015.html

The Maualuga-Andrews Dance Video Is Back!

http://wireroadandshug.blogspot.com/2009/01/rey-maualuga-celebrates-rose-bowl-win.html

Gus Malzahn on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly

http://www.sportstalkwithbo.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=6&id=20&Itemid=34

Listen to Hour 2 on January 5th.

This Is A Start...

...but I want more from Finebaum, ESPN, etc. And lastly I want Charles Barkley to apologize to Auburn.

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfb/entries/2009/01/06/garner_searels.html

http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/kscarbinsky.ssf?/base/sports/123123334322320.xml&coll=2

Chiziked?

http://hitithardeveryyard.blogspot.com/

Texas Tailgate

If you didn't see the mullet on the player from UT last night in the Fiesta Bowl, watch this video.

I am so glad this is the last year that Fox is broadcasting the BCS games. They are terrible. Their analysts don't watch college games all year, they are NFL guys, and then they bring them in for one game and they don't know what they are talking about. The play by play guy, whomever he was, said that the BCS ramifications for Utah were huge depending on the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl. How exactly? The BCS is required to give the winner of the National Championship Game the trophy. Game over, whether Texas, Utah, Ohio State or Cincinnati wins has no effect on the BCS National Champion. The only legitimate body that can give Utah a national championship is the AP poll and if those guys knew anything they would know that the AP is not part of the BCS. I'll say this for ESPN, they get on my nerve sometimes with their over-promoting of themselves but at least they are dedicated to college football and don't half ass their coverage of it.

Rey Maualuga Celebrates Rose Bowl Win With Erin Andrews

Woke Up This Morning...

http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/2009/01/luper_trooper_land_in_auburn.html

This looks like a scene where Tony, Paulie, Silvio, Christopher and Bobby Bacala are planning to go whack Big Pussy (played by Nick Saban).

Utah, Get Me Two!

Hey, at least SPUAT won the last 3 quarters, right?

And Another Thing!

http://wireroadandshug.blogspot.com/2008/12/enough-is-enough.html

Virginia Tech calls their version the "Wild Turkey". Now that is a good name for it.

Barkley Speeding For Sex

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/83573-report-barkley-cites-sex-as-reason-for-speeding?eref=fromSI

From The Smoking Gun: "...Charles Barkley told Arizona cops that he ran a stop sign because he was in a hurry to pick up a girl who had "given him (oral sex) one week earlier," which the former NBA star described as "the best one he had ever had in his life." According to a Gilbert Police Department report." No reaction to the whole shmear yet from his employers at TNT. Because of the New Year's holiday, the network doesn't have its usual Thursday night doubleheader scheduled. Nor have the good people of Alabama who may someday see his name on the ballot in the race for governor weighed in.

Dallas Morning News

Bammer of the Week

My future Bammer Father-in-law received this book from one of his daughters for Christmas (thankfully not my fiancee') signed by CNNSI.com writer, Stewart Mandel. So much for his unbiased journalistic integrity. I may never read another article by him again.

Is This Guy Sen's Agent?

Marks said he believed he would be a Day 1 pick, but acknowledged that he was making his decision before receiving any feedback from the NFL advisory committee.

http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/2008/12/family_prayer_convinces_marks.html

I never begrudge a player for leaving college early when that type of money is on the table but I'm not sure what Sen'Derrick is thinking here. Not that he's leaving early but how could he not get feedback from the NFL before making his decision? That seems a little foolish to me. That service is there for players, take advantage of it.

WRAS Exclusive: The Napkin Andre Smith Used To Sign With An Agent

Cadillac Tears Pateller Tendon In His Other Knee

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80dc09c0&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

Sen'Derrick Marks Going Pro

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3799449

Can You Say "Antonio Langham"?

http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2008/12/smiths_suspension_possibly_lin.html

Once a bunch of cheaters, always a bunch of cheaters.

Auburn Is Prejudiced Against People Without A "Z" In Their Name

As you already know, Gus Malzahn has been hired as Auburn's new offensive coordinator. I love this hire. Before Coach Tuberville was firesigned, I hoped that Malzahn would be the guy brought in as OC. Tulsa ran more than they threw the ball and Malzahn has proven he can win in the SEC and adapt his scheme to the current players, which is something Tony Franklin was unable to do. Malzahn will run with the running backs while Franklin wanted the QB to be the primary ball-carrier.

I will say though that I am surprised by the hire. I guess with Coach Chizik's statements that Auburn would get back to being a smashmouth running football team and with former Pat Dye players popping up as candidates, I never expected this. It looks like Chizik wants to be a run-first team for the 21st century.

And now Auburn gets the guy who started the "Wildnutt" formation trend. Ironic after the post I made the other day. Looks like we'll have to change the name to "Wildgus". Thanks, AUbarnie.

The GMAC Bowl Just Got A Lot More Interesting

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/sports/1230545749314450.xml&coll=3

Bammer of the Week

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20081218/NEWS/81218011&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Enough is Enough

Football needs to come up with an official name for the Wildcat formation. I was watching the TCU-Boise State game last night and TCU was running the Wildfrog. Please. I've heard Wildhog, Wildfrog, Wildcat, Wildflash, Wildrebel, and who knows what else. Auburn called it something else but I can't remember what. Miami probably even calls it the Wilddolphin.

It's not like teams that run the wishbone, shotgun, spread or whatever change the name to incorporate the team's nickname into it. Can't we just come up with one name for this phenomenon? I'm going to start calling it the Wildnutt in honor of Houston Nutt since he started this thing and a coach on his staff went to the Dolphins and now it's everywhere.

Wildnutt it is.

Oklahoma Doesn't Stand A Chance Against Florida

I mean, with sorority girls like this, how can they? You think any Gator co-eds cry like this? Hell, they don't even wear underpants.

I Had A Dream...

...last night that Patrick Nix was named Auburn's new OC. Or was this premonition a nightmare? I'm conflicted.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

I especially like the quote regarding Rhoads' "familiarity with our institution".

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3783455

Auburn's defensive coordinator replaces Chizik at Iowa State
Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa State hired Paul Rhoads as its football coach on Saturday, giving the Auburn defensive coordinator and former Cyclones assistant a five-year deal worth $5.75 million.

Rhoads spent last season with the Tigers after serving as Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator from 2000 to 2007. A native of nearby Ankeny, he was an assistant with the Cyclones under Dan McCarney from 1995 to 1999.

"Paul Rhoads is an outstanding and intelligent football coach, a highly successful national recruiter and has nearly 10 years of experience as a BCS coordinator," Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said in a statement on Saturday. "He was the one candidate that clearly demonstrated both extensive experience and an extreme passion for and familiarity with our institution.

"In addition, and most importantly, he also has a comprehensive plan for how to be successful at Iowa State."

Iowa State said Rhoads' contract also includes incentives that could increase his salary. The school will hold a news conference later Saturday to introduce Rhoads, 41.
Former Cyclones coach Gene Chizik was introduced as Auburn's head coach on Monday. Chizik was technically Rhoads' boss for about a week.

"In my two face-to-face meetings with Paul this week, it was obvious that his enthusiasm, energy and warm personality would be well-received by our players, fans and university community," Pollard said. "He has a presence with a 'look-you-in-the-eye' style that makes you feel comfortable."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Webber Must Not Be Happy About Barkley's Comments Either

Auburn Talks To UGA O-line Coach Searels

http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/12/19/georgia_searels_auburn.html

By Tim Tucker
The Atlanta Journal-Consitution
Friday, December 19, 2008

Athens — Auburn has received permission from Georgia to talk with Bulldogs offensive line coach Stacy Searels about a position on new coach Gene Chizik’s staff.

“They’re talking to him,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said today. “So we’ll see [what happens].”

Searels is in his second season on Georgia’s staff after coaching the offensive line at LSU for four years. He is a graduate of Auburn, where he was an All-American lineman for the Tigers in 1987.

“We’d hate to lose Stacy,” Richt said. “We’d hate to lose anybody.”

Searels, who does not talk to the media, has been often praised by Richt and others for his work with Georgia’s young, injury-depleted offensive line this season.

There also have been rumors that Auburn might pursue Rodney Garner, Georgia’s defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, for a spot on Chizik’s staff. However, Bulldogs defensive tackle Jeff Owens, who announced Thursday he will return to Georgia next season rather than enter the NFL draft, said Garner told him he’s staying.

This Will Get You Fired Up

Eltoro Freeman from Inside the Auburn Tigers

"I committed to Auburn coming out of high school," Freeman tells Inside The Auburn Tigers. "Auburn University stood behind me when I was at a down point in my life (after not qualifying). They have continued to stick behind me.

"I know Auburn is down right now," he adds. "I have decided to stick behind them. A lot of people have talked about Coach Chizik, a lot of Auburn fans maybe didn't want him as a head coach because of his Iowa State record. I believe in Auburn University. I believe they hired the right guy. He was in a situation of rebuilding Iowa State. When I heard Iowa State was giving him a two-year contract it just answered all the questions I had about him. I"m 110 percent behind him."

Freeman is familiar with Chizik from his coaching days at Auburn when he was part of an undefeated season in 2004. The linebacker says Chizik's past tells you all you want to know about what kind of coach he is and what he gets out of his players.

"I already know he was a great defensive coach with Auburn and Texas," Freeman says. "I also know he's coached three (Jim) Thorpe Award winners. I'm here to tell you right now he's getting ready to coach a Butkus Award winner. To all the people that decommitted or don't want to come to Auburn, good. If we can't get ya we'll beat ya. I'm going to Auburn and I can't wait to get down there and help Coach Chiz and the Auburn family get things turned around."

Bammer of the Week

Auburn's Newest Sociology Major?

Carver lineman Brandon Moore from Inside the Auburn Tigers

“He came by the school today,” says. “At first I thought as a coach he was kind of shaky, but he explained to me why he left Auburn and went to Texas and why he left Texas and went to Iowa State, and then why he left Iowa State and went to Auburn.

“He told me when he was at Auburn they had one of the top five defenses in the country and then had the number one defense in the country,” Moore adds. “Then he left and went to Texas and he was the assistant coach of the year and they won a national championship.”

Because of Auburn’s struggles and the coaching change the Tigers had fallen down Moore’s list with schools such as Alabama, Florida, Miami, Tennessee and Clemson prominent on his radar, but he notes that Chizik’s visit has put Auburn right back in play with him.

“At first they were a little shaky,” Moore says. “Then they were real shaky. Then they were really shaky. Now they are back to ground level.

Contact WJOX

http://www.wjox690.com/contactus.asp

Paul Finebaum is using the AU coaching situation and controversy to fuel his ratings and get his bald head on ESPN as much as he can and he knows it. He knows what he is saying isn't true but that isn't stopping him.

Contact WJOX and ask them why they don't have an African-American or female personality on air? Shouldn't they? Are there not qualified candidates out there?

The Media Is Coming

Updated SEC Coaches Ranking & Tony Barnhart

According to The State in South Carolina...

http://semerson.thestateonline.com/?p=273

Tony Barnhart weights in on the new Auburn coach...

http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfb/entries/2008/12/16/did_race_play_a.html

And So It Begins

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3770769

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3769005

Some Of The Text Messages I Received Yesterday

Please tell me we are not about to hire f****** Chizik? We will be the biggest joke of college sports.

The end of AU football is upon us.

What can we do about this?

We need to overthrow the powers that be at Auburn. We are a joke!!!

Let's go kidnap Turner Gill and take him to the press conference and see what happens.

Chizik??? For serious???

Don't think we made a good hire...may give up the season tickets...there were better choices out there.

It's Lowder, Rane, McWhorter, Dye and Jacobs we should be mad at.

You buying tickets this year?

WTF?!

The only game I'm going to next year is the WVU game. I want to get back at those m***** f******.

Gonna take a whole lotta bourbon and some luck to fix this.

This is the worst coaching hire by an SEC team since Ole Miss hired Orgeron. Looks like Bobby and the BoT got their "yes" man.

Guess who is Gene Chizik's agent?

Jimmy Sexton.

This is a great hire. A really positive step for Auburn and couldn't possibly be anything but a decision made with honesty, integrity and the University's best interests in mind.

Tim Tebow for Heisman

I'm Drained

Will We Replace WDE with BMF?

I've relapsed and have been listening to Birmingham radio this week. Though I knew it would be okay because there wouldn't be much Auburn bashing since everyone feels so sorry for us right now. Al Del Greco and Jay Evans were talking about how an outlet in Mobile and ESPN were saying that Will Muschamp could be named head coach today.

Do I think Turner Gill is the best candidate? Yes. Can I get on board with Muschamp? Yes. I've said all along if it wasn't Gill, Muschamp or Paul Johnson, I would be disappointed. Do I still think Muschamp is the most likely candidate to leave for a better job? Yes, and that worries me.

Another interesting note from this morning's WJOX show was that they actually brought up Al Borges' name in connection with AU's offensive coordinator and also at Iowa State under Gene Chizik. I could live with Al and Will getting the band back together a la Jake and Elwood Blues.

Blog...The Case for Turner Gill

http://cfn.scout.com/2/820060.html

Check out my above CFN blog piece on Turner Gill.

The Coaching Merry-Go-Round

Jimbo?
Muschamp?
Butch?
Spurrier?
Johnson?
Gill?
Hoke?!
Dooley?!?
Garner?!?!
Nix?!?!?
Graham?!?!?!

Come on, Jay Jacobs, do the right thing and hire Turner Gill. Auburn needs to rock the college football world and send a message. Quit doing everything in your power NOT to hire him with these token interviews to Pat Nix and Rodney Garner. If recruiting is one of your main concerns, then hire Gill. He will be able to keep the majority of the committed players in the fold. Not to mention increase Auburn's footprint to Texas, the midwest and the northeast. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he'll put people on his staff who are familiar with the southeast. But take a look at Buffalo's roster and you'll see there are a lot of kids from Florida and Texas on it. He recruited them to Buffalo!!!!! The coldest place ever. You think he can't get good kids to come to Auburn?

I don't see anyone else beating down Garner, Nix, Graham, Hoke or Dooley's door to hire them as their head coach. Jimbo isn't leaving FSU and Muschamp will leave to go back to Texas in 5 years. Spurrier is past his prime and will he have the patience to turn around AU's roster before he wants to retire? He is 65 years old after all. Paul Johnson and Butch Davis aren't leaving their cushy ACC jobs. And you say you want a head coach with SEC experience, Todd Graham doesn't have any.

Hire the best candidate. Hire Turner Gill.

Not to mention the added good publicity Auburn will receive nationwide. People will be talking about Auburn and this hire for the next couple of months. Pushing Alabama to the backburner. National media love Turner Gill and hate Nick Saban, give them added fuel to their fire. Get Tom Osborne in your corner. All of these things will just be a bonus added on top of getting the best coach available. If you don't, Jay Jacobs, someone else will and that football program will be the better for it.

Comment If You Want Turner Gill As Head Coach

Auburn Students Plan Protest

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3757771

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/12/auburn_students_plan_protest_o.html

Students at Auburn University are planning a protest over Tommy Tuberville's departure as football coach.

Planners say hundreds of students are expected to march from the center of campus to the president's mansion today. They say Tuberville was wrongly forced out after 10 years that included an undefeated season and a conference championship.

An organizer of the demonstration, Taylor Jones, says many people believe Tuberville was fired despite the university's claim that he resigned. They're pointing to the school's agreement to pay Tuberville more than $5 million he wouldn't have been due unless he was fired.

A university spokeswoman says Auburn is standing by its statement that Tuberville resigned.

Congratulations, Carnell

One of my all-time favorites is looking more and more like the rookie of the year he was in 2005 each week. He had a great touchdown run last night where he ran right into a linebacker and pushed him back 5 yards for the touchdown. Looked a little like Bo versus the Boz.

Gogue and Jacobs' E-mail Addresses

athldir@auburn.edu Jay Jacobs
jgogue@auburn.edu Jay Gogue

For The Change We Need

What Happened To The Gatorade Shower?

Hugh Nall Is Doing What?

http://blog.al.com/goldmine/2008/12/auburn_searches_heads_to_new_y.html

One Auburn assistant coach isn't an assistant coach, anymore. Tuberville's offensive line coach for 14 years -- one Hugh Nall -- is out of coaching. He's now the Chief Operating Officer for Southern AG Carriers of Albany, Ga.

WRAS Exclusive: The Napkin JJ Is Using To Conduct The Coaching Search

You Get What You Ask For

If Auburn got rid of Tommy Tuberville for Houston Nutt, then JJ and BL are dumber than I thought. I will not buy season tickets next year if Bobby Petrino is hired and am inching closer to the same thing if they hire Houston Nutt.

FORE!

The Puppet Speaks

Don't look at the man behind the curtain with his hand up JJ's ass...

Auburn AD Jay Jacobs on Tuberville, coaching search

Worst. Season. Ever.

So I'm sitting there last night drinking out of my Tommy Tuberville souvenir stadium cup, watching The Story of the 2004 Auburn Tigers and periodically pulling tissues from a Kleenex box when it hits me: this is the worst season in Auburn football history.

We were one of the worst offenses in the country and never played one good football game.
We won a game 3-2 and were laughed at because of it.
We lost to Vanderbilt.
We fired our offensive coordinator halfway through the season.
We lost to Bobby Petrino.
We lost in Morgantown and almost got Auburn fans killed in the process.
We lost to Houston Nutt (again).
We lost for the first time ever in Tuscaloosa.
We had the 6-game winning streak snapped.
We suffered the worst Iron Bowl loss since the 1960s.
We broke our 8-year bowl game streak.
We got rid of Tommy Tuberville.
We watched SPUAT go 12-0.

Metaphorically Speaking...

...is Tuberville the penguin and the BoT are the killer whales?

Truer Words Have Never Been Written

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3743358

Auburn split with Tuberville echoes other SEC changes

By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com

Updated: December 3, 2008

Tommy Tuberville Out As Auburn Head Coach

You're Auburn University and your cross-state rival Alabama, after lying dormant for a decade, has become formidable again. You've had a mediocre season and you won't play in a bowl game for the first time in nine years. But you're OK. You have a coach who has been the model of stability in an unstable business.

You've had Tommy Tuberville for 10 seasons. That became the longest tenure of any coach in the Southeastern Conference once Tennessee fitted Phillip Fulmer with a pair of cement coaching shoes. Even after going 5-7, your coach has won nearly 70 percent of his games against everyone (85-40, .680), and exactly 70 percent (7-3!) against the hated Crimson Tide.
Tuberville has won one SEC and five Western Division titles and been unbeaten one season. That 2004 team performed well enough to play for a national championship. Too bad the BCS ripped you off.

Having a coach like that is good. The last thing you want to do when facing Nick Saban Inc. is call in the moving vans and start over. Only someone with an athletic death wish would trade in a coach with 10 years of recruiting ties throughout the Southeast for a staff that might not be able to find 6A finalist Hoover High with a pack of bloodhounds and a Garmin.

You're Auburn, and you're too big, too sure of yourself to panic every time someone in Tuscaloosa raises a trophy. Once upon a time you panicked. Remember five years ago, when the university president led a secret delegation to interview Bobby Petrino at Louisville? That president and the genius boosters who egged him on forgot that Auburn still employed a football coach. They also proved to be about as clandestine as Inspector Clouseau.

Tommy Tuberville coached the Tigers to an 85-40 record during his Auburn tenure.The media mocked you for months, and you looked even dumber when Tuberville took the team to a 13-0 record a year later.

Good thing that president is long gone. You've got a new athletic director, too. Surely they wouldn't be stupid enough to make the same mistake and run off Tuberville. During games, he barely has a pulse. They call him the Riverboat Gambler for his play-calling guts. And big games? Not only is he 7-3 against Alabama, he has won nine of his past 14 games against top-10 teams.

Off the field, his players don't get in trouble. They go to class, too. In 2007, 20 players had at least a 3.0 GPA.

It's like they say on Wall Street. When the masses are selling, the smart guys are buying. The SEC masses are selling. Tennessee is starting over with 33-year-old Lane Kiffin. Mississippi State forced out Sly Croom. You want to know what not to do? LSU fans are grumbling about Les Miles one year after he held the crystal football!

That leaves Ole Miss and Arkansas, and if you're worried about them, you're not the Auburn you claim to be.

Sure, Tuberville doomed this season to mediocrity the minute he hired that offensive coordinator, the high school guru who promised to install the spread offense. Turns out that knowledge-wise, the guy had outkicked his coverage. Tuberville fired him a month into the season, admitted his mistake, and tried to minimize the damage. He didn't pawn off the responsibility on anyone else. He took the blame and promised to fix the problem.
Yeah, those boosters, the ones who embarrassed you over Petrino, are still unhappy, but you're Auburn. You're bigger than that. No coach is going to win in the SEC every season. Tuberville has delivered for you for 10 years. Surely that engenders some loyalty from you to him.
Besides, you signed a contract that promised him $6 million if you let him go after the 2008 season. In these economic times, with people everywhere trying to hold on to their jobs and their mortgages, you surely aren't stupid enough to spend $6 million paying a guy not to coach. No one could be that insensitive to the message that would send. Talk about misplaced priorities.

What's that?

You let him go?

You're going to pay him $6 million not to coach?

And start over from scratch? Against Nick Saban?

You're kidding, right? Is there something about Tommy Tuberville that causes you to make agonizingly stupid decisions?

Forget I ever brought it up. Good luck finding a coach better than the one you just forced out.

Whoever he is, give him a message:

Hoover High is just south of Birmingham.

Say A Silent Prayer For Al Del Greco

I stopped listening to Bammerham radio propaganda back in October nor have I clicked on articles written by obvious Bammers, but people have been keeping me updated.

These last few months must have been hard for Al to come to work every day. Trying to squeeze by Tony Kurre's nose and oversized ego into the WJOX booth, being blinded by Jay Barker-Evans' mystic tan and having to look at the clothes that Sara Evans laid out for him.

Now comes this week and he probably just wants to take a 2-iron to everyone around him.

Meetings, Schmeetings

Why does Auburn do this song and dance routine every year with Coach Tuberville? Auburn's coaches, players, recruits, employees and fans hang in limbo while the powers that be decide what to do. All the while Tennessee is hiring one of the hottest young coaches (not as hot as his wife though) in football, Texas and Florida State name former Auburn assistants coaches-in-waiting and Washington has flown Mike Leach in to Seattle to talk about their vacancy. They know whether or not they want to keep Tuberville and there is no way in hell Tuberville is quitting and paying his part of the buyout. So come out and say it and end this madness. I'm sure they are talking about the assitants, most of which I don't expect back in 2009. Tuberville is not the problem, he deserves to be back and I think he will. The problem is Jay Jacobs and the meddling Board of Trustees. They have to go, Auburn and Tommy Tuberville deserve better than this.

At Least Spell His Name Right, Bammers!

I get these emails from Pleasure is All Wine (though this will be the last one as I'll never shop there again) and here is today's, as requested by Nick Sabin...

NEW CORK TIMES

"Removing snobbery from wine, one cork at a time."

ROLL TIDE ROLL

AS REQUESTED BY NICK SABIN... WE HAVE POSTPONED OUR SIDEWALK SALE TO SATURDAY DECEMBER 13TH 10am to 6pm Free Wine Tastings, Door Prizes, Live Music & More!!! GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR CHRISTMASGourmet Gift Baskets Wine of the Month Club Membership Gift Cards Specialty Wine ItemsGourmet Food 205-985-4760

THIS FRIDAY....DECEMBER 5 @ 6:00 pm PLEASURE'S TREASURE'S TASTING!!!

Just in time for your Christmas gatherings...great wines for great value!

Our Largest Tasting of the Month!! Pleasure's Treasures "exceptional wines for exceptional value" all wines are under $15. We are tasting 25-30 wines from our Treasure Chest! $10 plus tax ($5 back with the purchase of a wine/s tasted at the event of a value of $14.99 or greater) includes sampling Pleasure's gourmet goodies! Don't forget.....10% off all cases! Call and reserve your place as we have to limit the number of guests at this event to ensure everyone attending can taste through the wines. 205-985-4760

Pleasure Is All Wine 200 Bowling Lane, Suite 210 Pelham, AL 35124
205-985-4760 http://www.pleasureisallwine.com/
(Located up the hill from McAllister's and down from Oak Mt. Bowling Lanes)

But is she hotter than Fulmer's wife?

You be the judge.