All this talk about Souljah Boy has gotten me to thinking. What five songs would I least want to hear on repeat for an entire week?
Here’s my top 5:
5. Kid Rock - All Summer Long - I’m sorry Alabamians, but this song is a complete insult to Lynard Skynard’s megahit. Come on, this guy grew up in the suburbs of Detroit.
4. Buckcherry - Crazy B**** - Not only is this song completely degrading to women, who ironically make up the largest demographic of people that like this song, but it’s triggered the largest outbreak of random barflies screaming in your ear since Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.“ That song, by the way, would hit the list at No. 6.
3. Guns & Roses - November Rain - I like this song so much and have for so long that I wouldn’t dare risk ruining it.
2. Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up - If you listened to Top 40 radio on your way to work this summer, you can commiserate with what Auburn players are going through right now.
1. Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl - Simply put, I wouldn’t like it.
I can’t give you five reasons to read tomorrow’s notes today, but let’s settle for three, OK?
Tigers bring back three, lose two more Tommy Tuberville said Auburn will be the healthiest it has been in nearly a month when it takes on Georgia this weekend.
And that was after he announced at his weekly press conference Tuesday that two new players to the rotating list of injured Tigers would be doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Senior linebacker Merrill Johnson will likely be on the sidelines for his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium because of a broken hand. Wide receiver Montez Billings is also doubtful because of a broken nose.
Tuberville said both have a chance to play in the Nov. 29 Iron Bowl.
“It’s just been one of those years,” Tuberville said.
Johnson has flopped with senior Chris Evans all year at the starting role at weak-side linebacker, but each has seen plenty of time on the field. Tuberville said true freshman Spencer Pybus and redshirt freshman Adam Herring will see more action at the position Saturday.
As for Billings’ opening, Tuberville was less certain. He said all of Auburn’s receivers have taken reps at each position, which could allow him to have Rod Smith and Chris Slaughter – previously Smith’s backup – on the field at the same time.
Aside from Billings and Johnson, though, Tuberville was in good spirits about the likely returns of defensive linemen Antonio Coleman, Sen’Derrick Marks and Tez Doolittle. The last time Auburn was as healthy as it is now, Tuberville said, was the first quarter of Auburn’s 14-13 loss at Vanderbilt on Oct. 4.
Both Marks (ankle) and cornerback Jerraud Powers (hamstring) sustained injuries in the game’s second quarter.
“You lose two guys that are a major part of your front seven and your secondary and you have a little bit of a problem,” Tuberville said. “Players had to play some
positions that they weren’t used to and it cut back on our execution.”
Auburn to wear commemorative helmet sticker
In memory of Virgil Starks, the former Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Support Services who died Saturday night of cardiac arrest, the Tigers will wear a commemorative sticker on their helmets the rest of the season.
The sticker will have Starks’ initials underneath a blue mortarboard with an orange tassle.
“I think that these guys will play for Virgil,” Tuberville said. “I think in the long run once they settle in and understand when they are in academic meetings and study halls and all those, he’s not around and that stern voice is going to be missed.
“I think that is going to be a tremendous effect on all the athletes, not just our football players.”
Starks’ memorial service will be held today at First Baptist Church in Auburn at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Tigers Unlimited Foundation in memory of Virgil Starks. All donations will benefit Starks’ passion, the academic and life-skills enhancement of Auburn student-athletes, according to a news release.
Add Coleman to the list
Coleman, a junior right end, was one of 33 players named Tuesday to the Mid-Season Watch List for the 2008 Ted Hendricks Award, which is presented annually to college football’s top defensive end.
Coleman is tied for second in the SEC with six sacks, while his 10.5 tackles for loss is tied for third best. He leads Auburn with 12 quarterback hurries, and has 40 tackles.
The award’s list will be shortened to five or six finalists in the final weeks of the season, with the final votes being cast Dec. 3. The winner will be announced the following week.
Don’t walk into the Tigers’ training room this week unless you want to get cranked.
The repeat button on the in-house stereo has been stuck all week on Souljah Boy’s “Crank That (Souljah Boy).“ Auburn—specifically strength and conditioning coach Kevin Yoxall—has opted to use that as a motivation of sorts to be fully aware of what went down in Athens last year against the Bulldogs.
In case you’re in the dark about this (wait, you’ll see the pun), Georgia, for the first time in school history, shocked the world and stormed onto the field in black jerseys (and there it is). The blackout was in full effect, but Auburn was hanging with the Bulldogs and actually held a 20-17 lead midway through the third quarter.
But then, Auburn got Super-manned…oh?
The Bulldogs rattled off 28 unanswered points to complete the 45-20 drubbing. Before the start of the fourth quarter, with the Bulldogs already in control, 31-20, the Sanford Stadium’s PA person (we’re gender conscious here) cranked up that volume button and blared Souljah Boy’s Grammy-nominated single over the loudspeakers. Many Georgia players opted to perform the special dance that goes along with it…as seen below.
CBS’ Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson also joined in on the fun, but I’ll spare your eyes.
Anyways, not much fuss was made right after the fact, but apparently Georgia’s two-step didn’t sit well with certain Auburn players. Here’s what a few have had to say this week.
Wide receiver Rod Smith That’s been on my mind for the whole year. That got to me. It’s just another opportunity to try to get them back for what they did to us last year. I’ve definitely been looking forward to this game. This is the game that’s been marked on my calendar since last year.
It was a hurtful feeling in my heart to be on the sideline and to see those guys dancing. It was hurtful. We have an opportunity to get those guys back…Maybe we can talk to Coach Tubs and maybe we can play some music.
Fullback/kick returner Tristan Davis I’ve got something for them. Don’t let me get in the end zone. If I score on a kickoff return against Georgia…I’m going to let it be known. They might want to get me right now.
Tailback Brad Lester You can’t blame those guys with how they beat us and they were in their home stadium and they were having fun and having excited. We can’t blame them for doing that and they can’t get mad if we do the same this year.
Cornerback Walter McFadden Um, there won’t be no more Soulja Boy. That’s all I can tell you.
UPDATE 10:52 PM CST: Forgot the Cal-Oregon State score. Woops
So yeah, I can’t even call it the weekend picks thanks to Ball State playing tonight. Thanks guys. And, oddly enough, no ranked teams are playing on Thursday. Your midweek game of choice this week might actually be Wednesday’s Central Michigan at Northern Illinois showdown on ESPN2. Thank me later. As always, AP Top 25 and SEC picks.
Last week: 19-4
Overall: 179-55
Today
No. 14 Ball State at Miami (OH)
The Redhawks aren’t very good. This is the Cardinals’ last tuneup before their showdown with Central Michigan. Ball State 44, Miami (OH) 10
Friday
No. 22 Cincinnati at Louisville
Louisville just lost to Syracuse for the second year in a row. SYRACUSE. Cincinnati 35, Louisville 27
Saturday
Mississippi State at No. 1 Alabama
I look for the Tide to do just enough to win this. Alabama 20, Mississippi State 7
No. 24 South Carolina at No. 3 Florida
Urban Meyer will make a point of making an example of his predecessor here. Not sure how the Gator faithful will feel about that. Florida 48, South Carolina 14
No. 4 Texas at Kansas
So as it turns out Kansas isn’t very good. Texas 42, Kansas 17
No. 6 USC at Stanford
The Trojans will have their sweet, ugly revenge on the Fightin’ Harbaughs. USC 38, Stanford 7
Indiana at No. 7 Penn State
The Nittany Lions are the vastly superior team here, but I’m not entirely sure how they’ll react to getting beat. Penn State 30, Indiana 10
No. 8 Utah at San Diego State
Ugly. Utah 34, San Diego State 7
No. 9 Boise State at Idaho
Uglier. Boise State 58, Idaho 0
No. 10 Ohio State at Illinois
Unless the Zooker has some magic trick up his sleeve, this one will be a loss. Ohio State 26, Illinois 16
No. 11 Oklahoma State at Colorado
The Cowboys take out their frustrations. Oklahoma State 45, Colorado 20
No. 12 Missouri at Iowa State
Lot of Top 25 teams going to win big on the road this week. Missouri 49, Iowa State 10
No. 13 Georgia at Auburn
The Dawgs make it three in a row in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Georgia 31, Auburn 10
No. 16 BYU at Air Force
You know what? I’m calling the upset. Air Force 34, BYU 31
No. 17 North Carolina at Maryland
This season’s trends would indicate the Terps win this one in a blowout. And it might happen. But Carolina is playing really well right now. North Carolina 24, Maryland 20
Troy at No. 19 LSU
Troy will keep it close. LSU 27, Troy 20
Boston College at No. 20 Florida State
I kinda think FSU might lose this one, but I don’t have the guts to pick it. Florida State 24, Boston College 17
California at No. 23 Oregon State
The Beavers get knocked off and USC fans and the Rose Bowl committee and ABC breathe a huge sigh of relief. California 33, Oregon State 27
Houston at No. 25 Tulsa
Pack a lunchpail for this one. You’ll be there awhile. Tulsa 49, Houston 42
Louisiana-Monroe at Ole Miss
Just 364 days after knocking off Alabama the Warhawks get another shot at the SEC. An Ed Orgeron-coached Ole Miss team would almost certainly lose this game under the same circumstances, but I’ll go with the Right Rev. Nutt here. Ole Miss 33, Louisiana-Monroe 17
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
I’m not sure why anyone would want to watch this. But it’s on ESPN2 if you do. Kentucky 14, Vanderbilt 7
Sorry about the lack of a blog update last night. Nothing really developed in the “case,“ but I do have a few things to add. I’ll copy and paste the story Katie Stallcup and I threw together after we pretty much got no answers last night. Here’s a link to the actual article if you’re sick of looking at my face in the left-hand corner.
Several University of Tennessee-Martin football players lost more than the football game against Auburn University Saturday - they lost their belongings.
Someone gained access to the visitors’ locker room at Jordan-Hare Stadium during Saturday’s game and took $1,986 worth of small electronics and cash belonging to 10 UTM players, according to Auburn police reports.
The valuables were taken between 3 and 5:45 p.m. Saturday, according to the reports.
AU Athletics Media Relations Director Kirk Sampson said there was no forced entry to the locker room.
The room is locked, and a key is given to the visiting team, Sampson said. Event Operations Group is the contracted security company, and there was security at the locker room doors.
UTM Coach Jason Simpson said through UTM Athletic Communication Director Joe Lofaro, “I’m disappointed something like that would happen, but we’ll let the people in charge investigate and hopefully get the belongings back. It’s one of those unfortunate things that happen.”
Lofaro said he was in the locker room when the players realized their belongings were missing, and they informed security.
Auburn police Capt. Tom Stofer said in his 17 years of working AU home football games, “to my knowledge, this is the first time something like that’s ever happened.”
The football players reported the following stolen:
And, on another note, I covered the singles final of the $50,000 USTA Women’s Professional Tennis Tournament (say that five times fast) on Sunday at the City of Auburn/Auburn University Yarbrough Tennis Center (say that five times fast, too).
It was my first time attending, much less covering, a competitive tennis match, so it was pretty interesting. Both players were supremely skilled, and they were “just” the 94th and 107th best in the world, respectively, according to the USTA rankings. And both had competed in a few majors earlier this year, so it must have been sort of interesting for them to be there, too.
And while talking to Edina Gallovits, a Romanian native who can speak - colorfully - in at least three or four languages that a few other spectators and I could identify, I got one of the more charming quotes I’ve gotten in a while.
You can see it there at the end of the story, but she talked about how interested she was in the rolling of Toomers Corner following Auburn’s win over UT Martin. I explained to her that it’s a tradition at Auburn, and she thought that was one of the funniest things she’d ever heard.
Don’t say this blog never gave you a dose of multiculturalism.
