AU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: McFadden, Coleman honored by SEC

Gene Chizik started with his seniors when he doled out praise following Saturday’s upset victory over Ole Miss.

The league followed up two days later by recognizing two of them for their contributions in one of the Tigers’ best defensive efforts of the season.

Cornerback Walt McFadden was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and Antonio Coleman took in Defensive Lineman of the Week honors Monday.

McFadden hauled in two big interceptions in the second half, the first of which he collected off a funny bounce, tiptoed on the sidelines and ran back 29 yards for his second career touchdown. His second came late in the fourth quarter, clinching Auburn’s first victory since Oct. 3.

McFadden’s two interceptions, which gave him four on the season and seven for his career, made all the highlight reels, but he also collected five tackles, tying a career high.

Coleman, who went without a tackle in back-to-back games to start October, was a menace all game, collecting four tackles for loss, two sacks and four quarterback hurries. His biggest play of the game resulted in points, when he blocked an Ole Miss PAT
right into the arms of Demond Washington, who took it all the way back for a 2-point conversion.

“He played with a lot of energy,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said Saturday. “He did a good job leading our kids on the sideline.
He was very, very productive. I’m happy for him and our seniors.”

One more late kick
Auburn’s Nov. 14 game at Georgia’s Sanford Stadium will kick off at 6 p.m. (Central) on either ESPN or ESPN2, the league announced Monday.

The network will make a decision on an exact station after this week’s games. The Alabama-Mississippi State game will air on whichever channel doesn’t get the Auburn game.

It will mark Auburn’s eighth night game of the season, tying the record set in 2007. The Tigers are 1-1 in road night games and 5-2 overall under the lights this season.

A positive sign
Eltoro Freeman didn’t have an ideal start to Saturday’s game, as he played a part in allowing Ole Miss’ Brandon Bolden to rip off a 43-yard gain on a short pass through his area of the field.

Freeman spent some extra time on the bench during the first quarter before returning to his regular rotation schedule as Auburn’s starting weakside linebacker.

He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including a quarterback hurry that brought quarterback Jevan Snead down before he finished his three-step drop.

“I think that’s a big deal, and I think that was a major, major step for him (Saturday),” Roof said of Freeman, who briefly left the team because of frustration that came as a result of his lack of production.

“In the past when he would make a mistake he’d really get down on himself. Part of it is growing up and understanding that we’re all going to make mistakes, but it’s not if you make them, it’s how you handle them.”

On the run
Quarterback Chris Todd often will throw the ball out of bounds before tucking and running up the field, but, lately, he hasn’t had much of a choice.

Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has drawn up a few designed runs for the quarterback who does not claim to be fleet of foot.

“I think that anytime you can add a little wrinkle and be able to keep defenses honest in some certain areas, I think that’s important,” Todd said. “We’ve been able to add different wrinkles throughout the season and I think that’s just another thing that we can add to help out.”

The runs have drawn mixed reviews among his peers in the film room.

“Some people are excited that I’m running. Some people think I look goofy,” Todd said. “It’s really depending on the day and what it looks like.”

| 737-2561