Jeff Grimes speaks

Your new offensive line coach Jeff Grimes is pretty tall, pretty large and, well, pretty dangerous looking.

We wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.

But the former Colorado Buffaloes’ O-line coach, a true Texan at heart, came into the Rane Room today with a sizable shiner under his right eye. No, Grimes didn’t mix it up with Tracy Rocker earlier this week.

When he was back at home in Colorado this weekend, Grimes got knocked in the face by his dog, a 130-pound Mastiff, while trying to carry it down the stairs.

Sorry if we built up a little bit of drama when there really was none.

Here are the highlights from his chat.

What are your thoughts about Gus’ wacky offense?
What we’re doing here now is different than most of the places I’ve been and most of the places in the country. No. 1, is just the tempo that we’re going to move at. Being able to operate at a fast pace is something a lot of people don’t want to do. I have done that at a couple of places I’ve been but not to this extent and not that consistently. That’s the biggest difference.

Give us the state of the offensive line.
I think we’re in good position right now. I think we have several guys that have some ability, and even more importantly, I think we have some guys that can create some competition. One of the worst things that can ever happen with any position, I think especially in the offensive line because there’s five of them, is to wind up with a situation where you don’t have competition. I can rip their fanny all I want but if they know they’re going to be on the field because they’re the best guy, in some cases, it’s not going to make a difference what I say or not the kind of difference we’d like to see.

The last O-line coach wasn’t a big fan of two-point stances and, in turn, neither were his players. What’s going to make it different this time around?
I think whether you’re playing a two-point stance or three-point stance, I’ve done both and we’re do both in various situation here. To me, that’s not a big difference. The biggest question is your mindset. Whether you’re going to be willing to play as hard as you possibly can until the whistle blows.

The way I’m going to coach this deal is that we’re going to be physical on every stinkin’ play. It doesn’t matter if it’s an inside run, an outside run, screen or drop-back pass. Our job is to be physical and finish every play to the whistle regardless of what it is.

Ryan Pugh. What’s his role?
He’ll be center unless something changes.

Is it wide open right now or do you have an idea of what the starting five will be?
I would say somewhere in between. I think the way you have to approach it anytime, particularly if you’re a new staff, you have to come in and say guys will have an opportunity to earn something. And that gives a guy maybe who hasn’t had a level of success he’d like to a fresh start. Guys all of a sudden have a renewed mindset because they get a clean slate so to speak.

You guys are really low on numbers. That needs to be fixed, right?
We don’t have enough number-wise, and, yes, it’s an urgent priority. We would have liked to have signed more last year. It just didn’t work out that way. We’d like to have at least 15, and preferably 17, offensive linemen on scholarship at all times. So we’re at 10 right now, and signed two. We’re not near where we need to be because, typically, you’re not going to have guys coming in and playing a lot as true freshmen. That’s not the way you’d like for it to be.

Grimes said Auburn would be looking at a couple of junior-college players for next season.

What’s your ideal lineman?
The No. 1 thing I’m looking for is a guy’s toughness. Without question, our offense will be as tough as our offensive line is. Our team will be as tough as our offensive line is. Auburn is known for playing a tough, physical brand of football. I think without question that starts with the offensive line. The No. 1 thing I’m looking for is tough guys.

Jay Boulware speaks

One thing was learned today in the liberal media’s chat with tight ends coach/special teams extraordinaire Jay Boulware.

Don’t be late. He’ll call you out.

We’ll leave it at that, as some things are best left with few details. We can assure you, though, that we were punctual.

We hope Jay appreciates that.

Here are the highlights from a longer-than-expected chat with the youngest coach on Gene Chizik’s staff.

When did you know you were coming to this special place they call Auburn?
When (Chizik) called.

Umm, Jay, we need a little more than that.
Obviously, I know Chiz. When he called, I don’t remember the exact date, but he said, you know ‘You’re in.’ So, I’m here. I’m here and I came on with him. I don’t remember the exact timetable. He just called me up and said ‘You’re in.’ So I got on a plane and came down.

How has the coaching staff meshed?
Awesome. Awesome. Absolutely awesome.

Boulware went on to tell the media about the first time he met Chizik. Chizik was trying to “steal” Boulware from Utah. With the Super Bowl playing in the background, Boulware and Chizik talked for 10-12 hours.

What do two men talk about for 12 hours?
Ball. Ball, baby. Ball. Every single aspect.

Was there progress being made at Iowa State? Five-and-19 is pretty bad.
We most definitely were. There’s a reason why those kids were upset that Gene left. Those kids were crushed. Not because of, obviously, we had a losing record that season, but because we brought a lot of great players to Iowa State – we had a really good recruiting class.

We were just really young. Any time you start nine or 10 true freshman, you’re in trouble. You’re in trouble, so you better strap it up. They say you lose two games for every true freshman that you start and we didn’t have 18 games to play.

How was Chizik during all that losing?
Awesome. Awesome. Obviously, he didn’t like the fact that we were losing games, so he had to find solutions to it. But he was awesome.

Do you think your special teams unit will be just as awesome?
If you ask me what will I be known for here, it’s probably something none of you guys will ever see, but the kids will know that they will be coached and well-prepared for the next level. That’s what we’ll leave them with. They’ll know how to get off a press-man if they’re a gunner. They’ll know how to cover a kick. They’ll know how to hold up on a punt return. They’ll know how to execute an assignment on kickoff return. They’ll be very good at it.

We heard this Philip Lutzenkirchen guy was pretty good.
Phenomenal athlete. Phenomenal athlete. Tremendous hands. We plan on Philip being a big part of what we’re doing next season. I think Philip is exactly what we’re looking for and I look forward to coaching him. I like his attitude. I like his demeanor. I like everything about the kid right now.

How’s Tommy Trott doing?
Tommy’s busting his tail right now trying to get himself healthy to come back. No one’s more teed off, per say, than he is right now because he wants to be out there and he wants to be a part of it. It’s his senior year coming up and he’s looking to have a big year. I don’t think he’ll be able to participate, but I’m not sure.

End Scene

Auburn blows out Lipscomb, 17-4

A sore back prevented Hunter Morris from taking any hacks against Lipscomb on Tuesday.

The rest of the Tigers’ lineup responded by doing their best to make the sophomore slugger jealous.

Auburn belted four home runs and beat up on the Bison with three four-run innings in its 17-4 victory Tuesday at Plainsman Park.

“We were hot tonight,” rightfielder Ben Jones said. “We had a really efficient offense.”

All of the Tigers’ hitters reached base and all but two (Brian Fletcher and Casey McElroy) had at least a hit. The Bison also had a large hand in Auburn’s biggest scoring effort of the now-four-game season, as their pitchers combined four eight walks and seven hit batsmen.

And it could have been much worse. The Tigers (2-2) left 11 runners on base.

“Looking up and down the lineup, we had several guys that had multiple hits and walks,” coach John Pawlowski said. “I thought it was a very good offensive performance.”

Jones had the best of the bunch, going 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs.

One of the few senior hitters on Auburn’s roster, Jones had yet to start this season and came into the game with just one career home run.

He doubled that total two pitches into Tuesday’s game, belting a Charles Williams‘ pitch deep over the fence in right field to plate Joe Sanders and stake the Tigers to an early 3-0 lead.

Jones followed with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the fourth inning and another RBI single in the sixth. By then, the Tigers were already up double-digits.

“The guy stepped up and had a great game for us,” Pawlowski said. “I thought that was key for us.”

Catcher Tony Caldwell hit two solo home runs and first baseman Kevin Patterson added a first-inning solo-shot to give the all-of-a-sudden slugging Tigers 10 home runs in four games.

That power wasn’t enough to prevent back-to-back bullpen meltdowns against Elon this past weekend. But Tuesday was different, though, as true freshman Dexter White pitched as if the game were nip-and-tuck.

The Colorado Springs, Colo. native went six innings in his collegiate debut and allowed just two runs on five hits.

He kept the Bison scoreless through his first five innings of work before allowing the first three hitters to reach base in the sixth. He retired the next three in order to minimize the damage and easily walk away with the first victory recorded by an Auburn starter this season.

“I definitely feel like this was my chance to prove myself,” Smith said. “Hopefully I’ll get a chance next weekend or some time coming up.”

The games this weekend promise to be more difficult than Tuesday’s. Auburn travels to No. 5 Florida State for games Thursday and Friday before returning home to host the Seminoles on Saturday and Sunday.

Pawlowski said he hopes to have Morris back for the four-game, home-and-home series. He said Morris, who was scratched Tuesday after batting practice, tweaked his back lifting weights.

“It’s a good feeling going into a very tough weekend,” Pawlowski said. “That’s what the SEC is all about going into that type of environment. It will be a good test for us.”

(Photo credit: Todd Van Emst)

Loachapoka’s boys in Birmingham

I’m here at the BJCC for the Class 1A boys state semifinal matchup between Loachapoka (20-8) and No. 2 Phillips (31-4).

This is the Indians’ first trip to the Final Four since 1997, and coach Terry Murph said his players are still a little psyched about it. But they also better be ready to play.

The Bears handed the No. 3 team in the state a 31-point loss at the Northwest Regional last week, and have 6-foot-7 Andy Pounders to give Poka’s post players some nightmares. Pounders, who is four inches taller than anyone on the Indians’ roster, averages 19 points and nine rebounds per game this year. So Poka better brush up on its double- and triple-teaming.

But if they do, the Bears can also hurt them outside. Guard Trent Williams has, in the words of Murph, “unlimited range,“ and averages 14.1 points per game. Point guard Adam McCarley likes to penetrate and dish, averaging eight assists per game to go along with his 12.8 points.

Tommy White, fresh off his Central Regional MVP honors, will be one of the main guys guarding Pounders, along with Marvin Hunter. White is averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game this season, but most of his energies will probably be devoted to defense tonight.

If he’s not an offensive threat, the Indians still have Jontavius Willis (15 ppg), Quindravius Richardson (11 ppg) and Patrick Moore (10 ppg) to deal with.

The preceding girls’ game just ended, so we’re about 10 minutes to tip. No word on whether Anthony Williams is in the house.

5:46 p.m.: End of the first here and Poka leads 17-12.

Phillips is packing its zone inside and daring Poka to make outside shots. And Richardson and WIllis are obliging. They’ve combined for 10 points and White has worked hard inside for 5.

Pounders hasn’t been much of a factor yet. That could change…

5:51 p.m.: 5:26 to go in the half and Poka leads 22-18.

Phillips got off to a 6-0 run to take the lead, as Poka started turning the ball over. But a Willis 3 and a Richardson steal and transition score has the Indians up 4 again. They’re got to cut out those TOs, though.

5:54 p.m.: 4:07 to go and Poka is up 29-18.

The Indians were content to play the Bears’ slow style for the first 13 minutes, but now they’re pushing the pace and running Phillips to death. That’s a 12-0 run in two minutes, if you’re keeping track.

6:01 p.m.: Halftime here and Poka still leads 31-24.

The Indians have played a very odd mixture of uptempo, ball-pressure basketball and walk-up, passive-zone basketball. It seems like they’re choosing their spots to run and at other times, sitting back and letting the Bears come to them.

Poka has done a good job fronting Pounders so far. He’s got 6 points and six rebounds, but the Indians have also forced a couple of turnovers on tipped interior passes. Pounders does have three blocks, so Poka players might be a little more careful venturing into the lane in the second half.

Willis and White each have 9 points and four boards for the Indians, Richardson has 8 points and five rebounds and Moore has 3 points and six assists. But he’s also had a couple of pretty egregious turnovers, five in the first half.

McCarley has 11 to lead the Bears.

The buzzer here at the BJCC is so loud it’s sinus-clearing. I’m a trooper, but I might be deafened to death by the end. On to the third…

6:14 p.m.: 6:06 to go and Poka has pushed its lead out to 38-24. That’s a 7-0 run in the first 1:46 for the Indians.

Willis swished another 3, Moore stole the ball and hit a layup, then Willis got a defensive board and pushed it up the floor, ending in a nice little scoop. Here’s that running we saw at the Acadome.

6:27 p.m.: End of the third here and Poka leads 47-36.

The Indians got a lead as big as 16, but the Bears have cut it back down. And Poka big man Marvin Hunter, who had been doing a good job on Pounders, picked up his fourth foul.

Eight minutes until the finals…

6:32 p.m.: 5:36 to go and Poka’s up 51-40.

The Indians are taking forrrrrrever on their offensive possessions, milking that clock. One thing is worrisome: both of their bigs - Hunter and White - have four fouls.

6:39 p.m.: 4:22 to go and the lead is up to 58-42.

Unless there’s a little catastrophe, I’m thinking I’ll see these Indians again Thursday night.

Willis is having a game, with 21 points and six rebounds. The Indians have just seemed so in control from very early on. Kind of hard to believe this is an unranked team that is about to have knocked off the top two teams in the state.

6:47 p.m.: Willis just came off the floor to a big applause with 2:30 to go and Poka up 65-46.

He deserves it after this line: 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting (5-of-7 from 3), eight rebounds and three assists.

6:53 p.m.: 36 seconds to go and Poka’s up 74-49.

The Indians fans are singing nah nah nah nah hey hey hey goodbye. I would have to agree.

6:55 p.m.: Final score: Poka 77-52. And it never looked in doubt.

That’s No. 1 down. That’s No. 2 down. Can’t get much better.

Hilliard’s knee OK, freshman questionable for Sunday

Chantel Hilliard’s knee injury looked uglier than it actually was.

An MRI today revealed that Hilliard did not suffer a tear in her left knee in Auburn’s 65-59 victory over Georgia, according to an Auburn spokesman. The nature of her injury is not being divulged by the Auburn training staff, but it is not expected to be season-ending. The Biloxi, Miss. native is listed as questionable for Sunday’s regular-season finale against Arkansas at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

Obviously, this is outstanding news for the Tigers, who have been short on depth since Jordan Greenleaf went down with a torn ACL in December.

“She is not out of the woods yet as far as playing with the team,” coach Nell Fortner said. “It was good to hear that there was no tear or anything and we are excited to have her back as soon as she can join us.“

Hilliard has emerged as a reliable option off the Tigers’ bench. She averages just 3.3 points per game, but has gained more confidence from Fortner of late. She had 8 points in an SEC-high 21 minutes Sunday before she went down with her injury.

“I thought she was outstanding tonight,“ Fortner said. “I thought she was a huge difference maker for us. I think she gives us a glimpse of what she is capable of in the future.“

Hilliard went down late in the action Sunday during a Georgia possession where bodies were seemingly flying all over the court. One of the few players standing at that moment, Hilliard went down when an unknown player rolled into her left knee.

She was in obvious pain, as she slammed her right leg up and down while receiving attention from Auburn’s medical staff. She was promptly carried off the floor, her head buried in the shoulder of a staff member.

In other news, voters of the Associated Press did not take kindly to Auburn losing Thursday at Vanderbilt. The Tigers dropped four spots to No. 7 in the nation, though they still have the second-least amount of losses in the country with just two. Three teams ahead of Auburn (Stanford, Maryland and Baylor) have four losses.

(Photo credit: Cliff Williams)