Link me

Plenty of happenings on the Plains and beyond yesterday. Here are some links for your early-morning procrastination.

Athletic director Jay Jacobs, in a written statement, endorsed embattled coach Tommy Tuberville yesterday. The story gives you a brief synopsis of where we are and where the Tigers could be a month from now.

Back on the field—yes, these Tigers still play football—Zach Clayton has been doing a heckuva job filling in at each position on the defensive line. It’s something he’s been doing for a while now. Also, a number of Tigers are banged up, but only Neiko Thorpe is assuredly out for Saturday’s tussle at Ole Miss.

In women’s hoops news, freshman Sierra “CeCe” Sims, who went missing for a day in late September, has left the team.

Outside the OA-News spectrum, a few other outlets are talking Tigers.

In his weekly mailbag, SI’s Stewart Mandel calls Auburn the biggest disappointment in college football this season.

Here are a couple stories from the Jackson Clarion-Ledger’s Ole Miss beat writer, David Brandt. Former Auburn linebacker Patrick Trahan will be taking on his old team Saturday. Also, Ole Miss’ cornerbacks have been working overtime. Sounds like a similar situation Auburn has at the moment.

Parrish Alford of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal writes that Rebels quarterback Jevan Snead is looking for the longball more often.

Ole Miss’ seniors are looking for a little love, writes Paul Katool of the Daily Mississippian—the official student newspaper at Ole Miss.

Weekend Picks, Week 10

There are numerous games this week in which I have virtually no idea. Should be fun. As always, AP Top 25 and SEC games

Last week: 17-7
Overall: 153-47

Today
No. 24 South Florida at Cincinnati
I was beginning to get a bit high on the Bearcats before they got pantsed at Connecticut last week. South Florida 28, Cincinnati 14

Saturday
No. 1 Texas at No. 6 Texas Tech
I don’t really want to pick them here, but when you think of the variables: Texas playing the last of a daunting stretch of games, Texas Tech playing its biggest game ever at home, Mike Leach being pretty good at night ambushes, and the fact that the Red Raiders come in pretty fresh, I’m reluctantly calling for the upset. Texas Tech 65, Texas 59 (couple of OTs)

Arkansas State at No. 2 Alabama
If the Tide wants to be sure it holds off Penn State they can’t even appear to struggle here. And Saban will know that and make sure of it. Alabama 42, Arkansas State 16

Nebraska at No. 4 Oklahoma
This rivalry just isn’t what it was (and not just because they don’t play every year). Oklahoma 45, Nebraska 21

No. 5 Florida vs. No. 8 Georgia (at Jacksonville, Fla.)
There are a lot of reasons to like Florida and not like Georgia here, but I think when it comes down to it this game will be won in the trenches, and I don’t know if Florida can win a game physically. Georgia 28, Florida 24

No. 7 USC at Washington
Willingham’s finally gone. USC 55, Washington 14

Iowa State at No. 9 Oklahoma State
THE FIGHTIN’ CHIZIKS ARE IN TROUBLE. OKLAHOMA STATE 44, IOWA STATE 14

No. 10 Utah at New Mexico
This could be a bit tricky for the Utes, especially with their showdown with TCU looming next Thursday. Utah 31, New Mexico 23

No. 11 Boise State at New Mexico State
New Mexico State will pass for lots of yards and lose handily. Boise State 38, New Mexico State 21

No. 12 TCU at UNLV
See: Utah at New Mexico; TCU 27, UNLV 7

No. 14 Missouri at Baylor
Baylor’s frisky. Missouri 49, Baylor 28

Tulane at No. 15 LSU
I maintain that LSU should’ve committed to about five games in a row in this series in the Superdome. LSU 37, Tulane 3

No. 16 Florida State at Georgia Tech
FSU appears to be moving back. But, given their track record, I don’t like them against a team like this on the road. Georgia Tech 24, Florida State 17

No. 17 BYU at Colorado State
The Rams aren’t very good. BYU 34, Colorado State 10

No. 19 Tulsa at Arkansas
The Hogs get Houston Nutt one week and Gus Malzahn the next! (This is one of several games I’m picking one way because I’m horrified of not doing it) Tulsa 35, Arkansas 28

Northwestern at No. 20 Minnesota
Mr. Gopher’s Wild Ride ends here. Northwestern 30, Minnesota 24

Wisconsin at No. 22 Michigan State
The Badgers may or may not be on the way back, and the Spartans will definitely have some letdown potential after finally dispatching Michigan. Michigan State 17, Wisconsin 16

No. 23 Oregon at California
I don’t like either of these teams, but Cal is only on its second quarterback, and not its 13th. California 37, Oregon 31

Auburn at Ole Miss
I hate this game. Ole Miss isn’t a particularly good team, but is playing well. Auburn should be a pretty good team, but is terrible. While the record is at 5-5, you could say that Houston Nutt owns Tommy Tuberville (Tubs should probably lead 7-3 or 8-2). Ole Miss can set itself up nicely to get to a bowl, but Auburn needs this just to get to one. And there’s always the chance that the Auburn team that should’ve been here all along will show up. I’m going with the Rebels just because I’ll kick myself less than if I picked Auburn. Ole Miss 21, Auburn 20

Kentucky at Mississippi State
Another game I hate. The Wildcats are banged up though, and the Bulldogs will take it to them. Mississippi State 13, Kentucky 10

Tennessee at South Carolina
Hate hate hate. Tennessee is terrible, but South Carolina really is, too. But I’ll take the Ball Coach here, I guess. South Carolina 21, Tennessee 14

Women’s basketball: Sims leaves team

Freshman Sierra “CeCe” Sims has left the Auburn women’s basketball team.

“CeCe Sims has some personal issues that she’s working through at this time,“ coach Nell Fortner said in a statement through associate director of media relations, Matt Crouch. “She has our support as she works through them.“

Sims was reported missing for almost 24 hours in late September. She had been last seen at her dorm at 3 a.m. September 29 before being found later that night.

She was not harmed in any way and the case was closed.

Sims, who hails from Brentwood, Tenn. and attended Brentwood High School, led her team to District, Sectional and Regional titles last season, making the All-District and All-Region Tournament teams. In her junior season, she averaged 7.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists as the team’s point guard.

Everybody’s injured, only one assuredly out

Coach Tommy Tuberville said backup cornerback Neiko Thorpe is likely a week away from returning to the field, rendering him doubtful for Saturday’s game at Ole Miss.

Thorpe, a true freshman, rolled his ankle on a successful on-side kick attempt in the first half of last week’s loss at West Virginia. He did not return at any point in the game.

Starting corner Jerraud Powers, who has missed time with a sore hamstring and played through pain in the second half against the Mountaineers, has a “good shot” of playing Saturday at Ole Miss, Tuberville said.

True freshman D’Antoine Hood will get the start if both Thorpe and Powers are unable to play.

Defensive end Antoine Carter (ankle), who has sat out Auburn’s last two games, has been practicing this week and should play Saturday, Tuberville said.

“It’s good to have him back because he’ll take a little pressure off the rest of the guys,“ Tuberville said.

Defensive tackle Tez Doolittle (groin) “practiced some” Wednesday after being held out of Sunday’s and Tuesday’s practice. Doolittle suffered his injury against the Mountaineers.

Moving down the defensive line, Tuberville said Sen’Derrick Marks (ankle) is “not quite 100 percent,“ but should be in “about a month.“ Marks said Tuesday that he will Saturday.

Left end Michael Goggans (ankle) hasn’t missed any practice, but “isn’t quite as quick as he will be in a couple weeks.“

Right end Antonio Coleman, who leads the SEC in tackles for loss and sacks, is nursing a sore shoulder, but vowed to play Saturday.

“I mean, I’m just gutting through it. We have no depth, really,“ Coleman said. “There’s nothing really that can hold me out of playing.“

Jacobs: Tuberville’s evaluation to comprise ‘body of work’

In the wake of comments from a member of Auburn’s board of trustees and the Tigers’ continued struggles, Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs affirmed his support for coach Tommy Tuberville.

“As I do with every coach, I evaluate their job performance based on the body of work, Jacobs said Wednesday evening in a released statement. “That being the case, we will continue to support coach Tuberville and the program as we always have, and are looking forward to the next four games.“

Paul Spina, president pro tempore of the Auburn Board of Trustees, offered support to Tuberville in published reports Wednesday. He said he would “fight” to have Tuberville remain Auburn’s head coach, though “others like to tear things down.“

“I’m a builder. So is Tommy,“ Spina told the Birmingham News. “His body of work over 10 years is more important than three or four ballgames. 

“I think Tommy is good for Auburn. Given the opportunity, I think he can continue to be good for Auburn.“

Tuberville is 84-37 in his time at Auburn. The Tigers have been SEC West co-champions four times and SEC champions once during his tenure. Auburn went 13-0 in 2004, but ultimately finished second in the BCS rankings.

Spina did say, however, that Tuberville has “made a couple staff mistakes.“

Tuberville fired Al Borges and hired spread-offense guru Tony Franklin as offensive coordinator before Auburn’s appearance in the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl in hopes of rejuvenating an offense that had become stagnant over the past two seasons. Six games into the 2008 season, with Auburn’s offense moving downward in the rankings by the week, Tuberville abruptly fired Franklin.

He has since admitted that hiring Franklin was his mistake.

Tuberville was aware of Spina’s comments after Wednesday evening’s practice.

“You look at it and appreciate it,“ Tuberville said. “You just have to do your job. Just keep going and work at it and try to get better.

“You always look for support, obviously. I know we just have to keep trying to get better and win games.“

Auburn currently sits at 4-4, in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Tigers need two wins in their next four games just be bowl-eligible, which could prove difficult. Auburn’s final two games are against No. 8 Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium and at No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The last time Auburn didn’t make a bowl appearance was 1999, Tuberville’s first year with the program.

Rumors swirling around the 10-year coach are nothing new to the Plains.

Amid rumors that he had agreed to become the new coach at Arkansas shortly after the 2007 regular season ended, Tuberville signed a two-year contract extension, which included a $200,000 annual raise. The extension elongated his contract through 2013 and included a buyout that will be at $6 million in 2008, $5 million in 2009 and $4 million after that if Tuberville leaves for another job or is fired. 

Last Monday, in an unprompted opening statement at his weekly press conference, Tuberville lashed out against a number of rumors that have swirled about his health, his desire to coach and whether or not he had met with Jacobs and university president Jay Gogue to renegotiate his contract.   

“Listen, I’m not a quitter,“ Tuberville said. “I don’t know where stuff like that gets started.

“I’ve been here 10 years. I plan on being here 10 more. I’m looking forward to it … I’m 10 years an Auburn man and I’m 10 years more of an Auburn man than most because I put my heart and soul in this thing and we ain’t going to stop now.“