What CTT did right first.

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Tigers grade just as highly in classroom

Thursday, October 21, 2004

CHARLES GOLDBERG

News staff writer

AUBURN -- Walk into the Auburn athletic building, take a few steps and look a little bit to your left.

There you'll find photos of Jason Campbell, Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown.

So? So they're not pictured throwing a pass or running around a tackle.

They are pictured for their smarts.

Campbell, Williams and Brown are three of 10 Auburn football players honored for the highest academic standing in their most recent semester. Campbell and Brown have already graduated. Williams is on track to do so.

For three guys who could have taken it easy, who could have had turned their attention to the NFL rather than the books, their academic achievements are as impressive as Campbell's record-setting passing day last Saturday, or the attention the trio has received as Auburn has risen to No.3 in the AP poll.

Auburn plays Kentucky at 1:30 p.m. Saturday as a full-blown teacher's pet, the underdog-turned-top-dog that has attracted the attention of the national media. ESPN's GameDay will be calling for the Georgia game. That circus hits town Nov.6. Newspapers will tell you Auburn is No.3 and has a 7-0 record. ESPNews will go on and on about Auburn being ranked fourth in the first Bowl Championship Series standings. That means the Tigers have a shot at the national title.

The attention has paid other dividends, the kind coach Tommy Tuberville can endorse. A high school senior who committed to Florida now wants to visit Auburn. Two players who have committed to Tennessee are showing interest in Auburn. One of the top running backs in the country has added Auburn to a list that had been limited to Miami and Florida State. Other high school seniors have called Auburn, too.

It doesn't stop there. People now hide in the athletic department parking lot looking for autographs. Professional autograph seekers are frowned upon, to say the least. And what about the fact that Campbell, Williams and Brown now have to be escorted out of the stadium just so they can get home?

All those things make good headlines. The inside story is this:

Auburn has seven players who have already graduated, which is tops in the SEC and the fourth-best total in the nation. Now, in a month, a new athletic academic building will open. It's no coincidence that it was built about 10 feet from the athletic building.

Campbell, whose statistics rival those of some highly publicized Heisman Trophy candidates, says having his degree has helped him this season.

"It's been easier, especially for the quarterback position, because you have a chance to be more relaxed and focus on football and watching film," he said. "You don't have to be up until 1 or 2 in the morning doing homework."

That's not to say Campbell and Brown, defensive end Bret Eddins, center Jeremy Ingle, kicker Philip Yost, offensive tackle Rich Trucks and defensive back Donnay Young are just coasting through the season.

They have to take 12 credit hours, whether it's in the classroom or courses with an internship.

Tuberville wanted the academic building to make sure his players get college degrees, that they stay eligible, that they stay the course under the NCAA's new, tougher academic rules.

The seven who graduated, five of whom are starters, could lead by example.

[aumoore 0]

I like it when Campbell said, "You don't have to be up until 1 or 2 in the morning doing homework."

Brings back old memories and makes me proud to have athletes that take pride in getting an education. I never would guess that Campbell’s past problems were because he put Studies first. This kid has his priorities right.

[sportwareagle 0]

That makes me feel soooo good. I have been in classes with a couple of them for hte past couple of years and they always are there, paying attention, answering questions, and asking for help if they don't understand.

Tubs knows what he's doing and I hope everyone else around the university realizes that as well.

[BustemBigBlue 176]

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Yes, but we can read it again!

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SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY! :blushbig: