AUBURN NOTEBOOK: Primetime game has its drawbacks, too

Playing on a Thursday night as the only college football game on national TV certainly comes with its fair share of perks.

But it can also be a bit of a headache, coach Tommy Tuberville said.

Ever since Auburn lost to Arkansas and headed into its open week with Thursday’s primetime kickoff at West Virginia looming on the horizon, the calendar’s been a bit askew for Tuberville and the Tigers.

“It’s just your consistency of what you normally do,” Tuberville said. “Tuesday was Monday, yesterday was Wednesday, today’s Thursday.

“You try to keep it all the same, but it’s really hard to do that.”

The last time Auburn played on a Thursday was in 2006, when it beat South Carolina, 24-17, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

Like that trip, Auburn’s trip to West Virginia will also pose class conflicts.

Tuberville said players will miss a half-day of classes today, a full day Thursday and another half-day Friday.

“That’s tough to do that,” Tuberville said. “But we like to do it every once in a while.”

Tuberville had no trouble rattling off the Thursday-night perks. Whether it’s to recruits, other college coaches and players or fans across the country, the exposure is tough to beat.

“All the players talk about it because everybody’s going to watch them,” Tuberville said. “It’s a great opportunity to sell your program.”

Powers to play
Cornerback Jerraud Powers (hamstring) will play Thursday night, Tuberville said.

Powers participated in full practices Monday and Tuesday and ran around “really good.”

“I’m not going to say he’s full speed, that’s up to him,” Tuberville said. “But we’re not going to put him out there if he’s not ready.”

Tuberville also said wide receiver/punt returner Robert Dunn (high ankle sprain) is completely healthy and will return punts against West Virginia.

“He had a great start to year in punt returns, then people started kicking away from him,” Tuberville said of Dunn, who returned a punt for a touchdown in Auburn’s season-opening win over Louisiana-Monroe. “Hopefully he’ll have some more opportunities.”

Pantomime White
Scout-team defensive back T’Sharvan Bell played like a Heisman candidate in practice this week.

The true freshman, who will redshirt this season, played the role of West Virginia quarterback Pat White against Auburn’s first-team defense.

Bell played on both sides of the ball at Osceola High School in Florida, doubling as a cornerback and athletic quarterback. At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, the speedy athlete served as the closest resemblance to the Mountaineers’ heralded quarterback.

“He really gave us a good look. He’s quick and can run,” Tuberville said. “We’re going to have to do a good job in the open field on both the quarterback and running back (Noel Devine.)”

This and that
The last time West Virginia lost on a Thursday night at home was Nov. 25, 1926, when it fell to Washington & Jefferson, 13-3. ... Auburn is 6-1 all-time in Thursday night games, including a 3-0 mark under Tuberville. ... Thursday’s game will mark the first time in school history West
Virginia takes on an opponent from the state of Alabama. ... Auburn is 5-2-1 all-time against teams that currently comprise the Big East. ... West Virginia is riding a four-game winning streak against teams from the SEC.

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