12/14/22 Auburn Articles

[aubiefifty 19,090]

Teen charged in deaths of Rod, Paula Bramblett back in jail

Published: Dec. 13, 2022, 5:50 p.m.

3–4 minutes

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1. News

Teen charged in death of Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett, wife, back in jail on probation violation

By

• Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.com

The teenager who was charged in the 2019 crash that killed Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, is back in the Lee County Jail for a third time, records showed.

Johnston Edward Taylor, now 19, was jailed Tuesday in the Lee County lockup on a probation violation, according to jail records.

It marks the second time in six months that Taylor is behind bars in the Lee County Jail and the third time overall since he was charged with manslaughter in the Brambletts’ deaths.

In June, Taylor was arrested on felony warrants charging him with six counts of possession of child pornography.

It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed.

Taylor -- then a 16-year-old Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling south in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo.

The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light.

The Jeep struck the Brambletts’ SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest.

The Brambletts’ vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb.

Taylor’s “blood sample contained THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, and is indicative of recent usage of marijuana at the time of the collision,” records state. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries.

Rod Bramblett, 52, who was the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury.

At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couple’s SUV.

A judge in April of 2021 granted Taylor youthful offender status in the manslaughter cases.

Lee County Circuit Judge P.B. McLauchlin, a retired judge handling the case, in his order said, “At the time of the accident the defendant was a 16-year-old teenager with no prior criminal history, who had smoked or used marijuana and had been diagnosed with marijuana use disorder,’’ McLauchlin wrote. “None of this justifies what happened; however, it does lend itself to treatment as a Youthful Offender.”

The youthful offender status eliminates a jury trial, if there is a trial, and the range of punishment goes from two to 20 years had he been tried as an adult to zero to three years maximum.

Youth offender cases are sealed, so the outcome of that case is not made public.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

[aubiefifty 19,090]

Mike Leach’s memorable moments, including eloping, candy corn, pirates and mascot fights

• Updated: Dec. 13, 2022, 9:24 a.m.|
• Published: Dec. 13, 2022, 9:09 a.m.

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach talks to reporters after the team's 30-6 loss to Alabama in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP

 

NEW!

 

By

• Mark Heim | mheim@al.com

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach died after complications from a heart condition, Mississippi State said Tuesday. He was 61.

Leach was known for his pass-happy offenses, wide-ranging interests — he wrote a book about Native American leader Geronimo, had a passion for pirates, taught a class about insurgent warfare — and rambling, off-the-cuff news conferences.

RELATED: Mike Leach on cargo shorts

It was his time behind a podium or on the mic that had people on the edge of their seat, waiting to see in which direction the coach would go.

Here are some of the more popular Leach moments.

On Pac-12 mascots

 

 

In 2019, while at Washington State, Leach did a deep dive into which Pac-12 mascot would win in a fight.

• Arizona: “I’m going to say the Wildcat is out.”
• USC: “The Trojan, does he have a horse or is he on foot? Does he have a bow and arrow or just his sword?”
• UCLA: “The Bruin, definitely formidable.”
• Cal: “Another bear up at Cal.”
• Stanford: “The tree, I bet that tree is going to get chopped down. Unless we’re going to go with a bird and somebody might get pecked or something, I don’t know.”
• Oregon: “The Duck might lose interest and just fly away and get out of there, which may be good advice under the circumstances.”
• Washington: “The Husky, no chance.”
• Oregon State: “The Beaver, we’ll see how long that beaver can hold its breath.”
• Utah: “The Ute, we’re back to — is he on horseback? Does he have a bow and arrow? Did he trade for a rifle? Because if that Ute has a rifle, there’s some definite problems.”
• Arizona State: “You’d have to get one of those Harry Potter activists to read up on how you kill a Sun Devil, because there’s a lot of outside stuff there.”
• Colorado: “Just as far as a beast alone, a Buffalo is going to be pretty hard to tangle with.”
• Washington State: “Butch (The Cougar) is going to have to be clear-minded and crafty. Butch will find a way, no question.”

Pirates or Vikings?

 

 

“Some player comes frantically to the sideline, ‘Okay, they did this. Well, okay they did this. The cheerleader ran around the stadium three times and then the Shetland pony came out and ate a hot dog on the 50-yard line, so now what do I do?’”

“Tracked a raccoon one time in the snow. I was in a neighborhood, and I was curious where this raccoon lived. There was fresh raccoon tracks. He’d been digging in somebody’s garbage. I followed the tracks, and I don’t even know if these people know it, but he lives right in the back of their house. ...”

Eloping vs. a wedding

Leach had some thoughts in response to SEC Network sideline reporter Alyssa Lang who was planning a wedding.

“We’ll keep a close eye on it, but whatever you and Trevor decide, I would kind of keep it on the down low, which you failed to do that,” Leach said. “Trevor was probably planning to, but you didn’t, so go ahead and don’t say anything else about it, but as soon as the season’s over, or even an off week, go elope. Trust me on that. Go elope, because basically every female in the family is gonna terrorize you guys until it’s over. Once it’s over, I mean, they’ll be upset for a few days, but it’ll be over and then you can cruise along and have a happy marriage, have a happy life.

“Trevor, unless he’s crazy, is totally on my side,” Leach said. “Trust me on this. If Trevor doesn’t have the sense to do that, tell him to call me. I’ve told all my kids, ‘I’ll give you $10,000 extra if you elope.’ So far, they haven’t done it, but I would, too.”

Fat little girlfriends

 

 

“If you get into a fight, don’t take your helmet off...We’re looking for smart football players, not dumb ones. In the interest of time, don’t get into any more fights today.”

“I’ve always liked Lane — and I know you’re not supposed to like anything from Ole Miss — but I’ve always liked him, kind of an entertaining guy.”

Candy corn

 

 

Leach had some strong opinion on candy corn but didn’t shy away from some of his favorites in this on-field interview.

On the weather

 

 

“My favorite weather pattern happens to be when it rains mud.”

What?

Yeah, watch the clip.

On wedding planning

 

 

“Stay out of the way.”

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.

Edited December 14, 2022 by aubiefifty

[aubiefifty 19,090]

Auburn flips 2023 offensive line recruit

River Wells

1–2 minutes

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Coach Hugh Freeze has flipped another recruit his way.

Three-star interior offensive lineman Connor Lew announced on Twitter Tuesday that he intended to de-commit from Miami and to commit to Auburn. Lew’s flip comes after Freeze had already gotten other recruits to flip and come to the Plains in recent days.

Buy Tigers Tickets

Lew is listed as a four-star by 247Sports’ own rankings, but composite has him at a three-star. Lew went after Auburn during his initial recruitment, with his last visit coming on June 17. He eventually committed to the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 5, but that didn’t stop Auburn from pursuing him —
Lew took an unofficial visit to the Plains on Dec. 10 and committed three days later.

Lew hails from Acworth, Georgia, and is 247Sports’ 16th-rated interior offensive lineman. Lew played center in 2021 during his junior year and is likely to play that position at the college level. The Tigers currently have the No. 40 class in the nation for 2023 as it stands after Lew’s flip.

[aubiefifty 19,090]

apologies guys there is just very little out there at the moment other than recruiting and i think that is zeeks baby. i will check through out the day and post anything i find.

[aubiefifty 19,090]

Auburn set to honor Frank Thomas with statue at Plainsman Park

Taylor Jones

2–3 minutes

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When college sports fans associate legends with Auburn University, their minds usually go to the three B’s… Bo, Barkley, and the Big Hurt.

Bo Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, has a statue at the entrance of Jordan-Hare Stadium alongside the program’s other two winners, Pat Sullivan and Cam Newton.

Soon after Jackson’s statue was unveiled, a statue was constructed to honor Charles Barkley. That statue now welcomes scholarship donors to Neville Arena on Auburn Basketball game days.

The only statue missing is one honoring Frank Thomas. Those days are now numbered.

Thomas, who played baseball and football at Auburn in the late 1980s before enjoying an MLB career that spanned from 1990-2008, will have a statue unveiled at Plainsman Park in his honor on April 8, 2023, according to officials with Auburn Baseball.

Thomas was selected No. 7 overall by the Chicago White Sox during the 1989 Major League Baseball draft and would play for the White Sox from 1990-2005. He spent the final three seasons of his career with the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays.

During his 19-year career, Thomas hit 521 home runs and drove in 1,704 runs while batting .301. He was also a five-time all-star and a two-time winner of the Most Valuable Player award. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in 2014, and remains the SEC’s lone member.

Auburn Baseball head coach Butch Thompson says that Thomas’ statue is a testament to the strong history of the program.

“I think it just gives another degree and shows how good our history is with Auburn baseball,” Thompson said in a recent interview with Auburn Undercover. “There are so many other players that I’m not mentioning, but none are bigger than Frank Thomas. For him to get our first statue, I think it’s in line with the other amazing Auburn men and women that have gotten statues.”

Thomas’ statue will be unveiled during a crucial SEC weekend for Auburn Baseball. The Tigers welcome fellow 2022 College World Series participant, Texas A&M, from April 6-8, and the statue reveal will be the icing on the cake.

List

Sonny DiChiara shines in professional debut

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

[AUINSY 2,486]

2 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Teen charged in deaths of Rod, Paula Bramblett back in jail

Published: Dec. 13, 2022, 5:50 p.m.

3–4 minutes

---

1. News

Teen charged in death of Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett, wife, back in jail on probation violation

By

• Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.com

The teenager who was charged in the 2019 crash that killed Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, is back in the Lee County Jail for a third time, records showed.

Johnston Edward Taylor, now 19, was jailed Tuesday in the Lee County lockup on a probation violation, according to jail records.

It marks the second time in six months that Taylor is behind bars in the Lee County Jail and the third time overall since he was charged with manslaughter in the Brambletts’ deaths.

In June, Taylor was arrested on felony warrants charging him with six counts of possession of child pornography.

It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed.

Taylor -- then a 16-year-old Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling south in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo.

The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light.

The Jeep struck the Brambletts’ SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest.

The Brambletts’ vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb.

Taylor’s “blood sample contained THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, and is indicative of recent usage of marijuana at the time of the collision,” records state. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries.

Rod Bramblett, 52, who was the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury.

At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couple’s SUV.

A judge in April of 2021 granted Taylor youthful offender status in the manslaughter cases.

Lee County Circuit Judge P.B. McLauchlin, a retired judge handling the case, in his order said, “At the time of the accident the defendant was a 16-year-old teenager with no prior criminal history, who had smoked or used marijuana and had been diagnosed with marijuana use disorder,’’ McLauchlin wrote. “None of this justifies what happened; however, it does lend itself to treatment as a Youthful Offender.”

The youthful offender status eliminates a jury trial, if there is a trial, and the range of punishment goes from two to 20 years had he been tried as an adult to zero to three years maximum.

Youth offender cases are sealed, so the outcome of that case is not made public.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

This kid needs to spend at least several years in prison, a minimum of 5-10, he's caused enough chaos and havoc on the Plains. 

[naildawg 168]

9 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

Teen charged in deaths of Rod, Paula Bramblett back in jail

Published: Dec. 13, 2022, 5:50 p.m.

3–4 minutes

---

1. News

Teen charged in death of Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett, wife, back in jail on probation violation

By

• Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.com

The teenager who was charged in the 2019 crash that killed Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett and his wife, Paula, is back in the Lee County Jail for a third time, records showed.

Johnston Edward Taylor, now 19, was jailed Tuesday in the Lee County lockup on a probation violation, according to jail records.

It marks the second time in six months that Taylor is behind bars in the Lee County Jail and the third time overall since he was charged with manslaughter in the Brambletts’ deaths.

In June, Taylor was arrested on felony warrants charging him with six counts of possession of child pornography.

It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2019 when the Brambletts were killed.

Taylor -- then a 16-year-old Lee Scott Academy student -- was traveling south in the outside lane on Shug Jordan Parkway approaching West Samford Avenue in his Jeep Laredo.

The Brambletts, in a 2017 Toyota Highlander, were stopped in the southbound outside lane of Shug Jordan parkway at a traffic light.

The Jeep struck the Brambletts’ SUV to the right of center, according to the crash report. The impact caused the Jeep to hit a pedestrian and a traffic light pole before coming to a final rest.

The Brambletts’ vehicle was pushed into the intersection and through the opposing lanes of traffic before coming to a final rest on the curb.

Taylor’s “blood sample contained THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, and is indicative of recent usage of marijuana at the time of the collision,” records state. The teen was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Paula Bramblett, 53, was airlifted from the scene but had to be diverted to East Alabama Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room from multiple internal injuries.

Rod Bramblett, 52, who was the driver of the Highlander, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where he later died from a closed head injury.

At the time of the deadly crash, Taylor was driving 89 mph in a 55-mph zone, under the influence of marijuana, and still accelerating, authorities said, when he rammed into the back of the couple’s SUV.

A judge in April of 2021 granted Taylor youthful offender status in the manslaughter cases.

Lee County Circuit Judge P.B. McLauchlin, a retired judge handling the case, in his order said, “At the time of the accident the defendant was a 16-year-old teenager with no prior criminal history, who had smoked or used marijuana and had been diagnosed with marijuana use disorder,’’ McLauchlin wrote. “None of this justifies what happened; however, it does lend itself to treatment as a Youthful Offender.”

The youthful offender status eliminates a jury trial, if there is a trial, and the range of punishment goes from two to 20 years had he been tried as an adult to zero to three years maximum.

Youth offender cases are sealed, so the outcome of that case is not made public.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

A pot smoking junior pedo snuffs out an AU legend. What a tragedy