5 things to watch for Saturday against Furman

By Andrew Gribble
Auburn University Beat Reporter
Published: November 6, 2009

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- Demond Washington – The sophomore junior-college transfer will be making his first-ever start in an Auburn uniform and his first-ever appearance at safety in his entire life. Filling Zac Etheridge’s shoes will certainly be intimidating, and it’s not expected by anyone that he puts up the tackle numbers that Etheridge did. Washington’s best-case scenario is to not be noticed at all, simply blending in as if nothing happened to one of the Tigers’ biggest leaders. Again, that’s a tall task, but a test-run against the Paladins will be beneficial.

- The post-tackle antics – It seems like Auburn has a new gimmick every week, doesn’t it? The Tigers unveiled the “Shhh…” campaign last week against Ole Miss, and considering the end result, it’s likely that it’s here to stay until they lose. Also, expect Tiger players to flash four fingers in the air whenever possible, an ode to Etheridge.

- Travante Stallworth – Auburn’s freshman class as a whole has been a bit lackluster this season, but Stallworth, one of the least heralded members, has emerged as a reliable option for Gus Malzahn. Stallworth has looked smooth running the ball on speed sweeps and has shown he can catch the ball whenever the opportunity presents itself. Expect big minutes for him when the game gets out of hand.

- The second half – Yeah, sure, no one stays for the second half of Homecoming. So many parties and tailgates, so little time. But this year’s second half should provide a sneak preview of sorts for what’s to come from Gene Chizik’s team. Does Neil Caudle have what it takes to compete for the starting job next year? Can Mario Fannin be an every-down back? Will Jonathan Evans ever emerge as a reliable linebacker? Is Dee Ford the next Antoine Carter? If you stick around, you might get the answer to one of these questions.

- Max and Chris – Furman isn’t your everyday FCS team. The Paladins have two major celebrities on their roster. Rover Max Lerner is one of the Paladins’ leading tacklers. He was also “Max” from MTV’s Two-a-Days. Backup quarterback Chris Forcier’s claim to fame was the press release he distributed when he left UCLA for the Paladins, citing 18 “facts” for why he made his decision. Hang out by the team bus and you just might get their autograph.

(Photo credit: AP)