7.10.23 Football Articles

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

usatoday.com

 

Think your SEC school's football traditions are the best? Think again. We ranked 'em all

 

6–7 minutes

---

With the college football season set to kick off in just a few short weeks, there will soon be plenty of on-field matters to discuss regarding your favorite school’s team.

But we’ll get to that in due course. For now, let’s turn our attention to a subject that always fuels debate, like which programs have the best traditions.

Of course, we can state unequivocally that these rankings will receive nothing but whole-hearted agreement from across the country, and that there will be absolutely zero complaints or disputes about any opinions expressed herein. That will be especially true in the first league we’ll cover, the SEC, where football fans never argue about anything.

OK, all kidding aside, these tiers are not intended as a way of choosing one fan base or a particular school’s traditions over another’s. So don’t read your team’s placement as an affront. Well, unless you’re Vanderbilt.

Tier 1 – Pregame preparations

Every school’s fans have their specific rituals to gear up for game time. Some are more iconic and identifiable with a particular program than others.

Alabama

The Walk of Champions – It’s a brief opportunity for the Crimson Tide players to interact with their supporters as they debark from their team bus upon arrival at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The short pregame greeting also serves as a reminder of just how the Tuscaloosa community is wedded to the success of the Crimson Tide.

Texas A&M

The Midnight Yell – Nothing like a group primal scream at the witching hour before a football Saturday to fire up the faithful in College Station. Actually, there’s a little more to it than that. The yell leaders, elected by the Aggies’ student body, lead the band and fans in what amounts to a late-night pep rally at Kyle Field. No worries though – the kids always seem to have plenty of energy left for Saturday.

Tennessee

The Vol Navy – There’s tailgating at nearly every stadium, of course, but there aren’t many where it is commonplace to arrive by boat. Neyland Stadium’s location near the bank of the Tennessee River creates one of the sport’s more unique pregame atmospheres.

Mississippi

The Grove – But when it comes to tailgating in style, the Grove in Oxford is a southern tradition wrapped in old world charm. But make no mistake – the fancy dress and formal tableware does not mean the tents aren’t festive.

South Carolina

Sandstorm – If you don’t recognize the title of this electronic instrumental by Finish deejay Darude, you’ve undoubtedly heard it blasted over the speakers at just about any game you may have attended. It is most closely associated with the Gamecocks’ program, made popular when Steve Spurrier helped fire up the crowd to this tune.

Tier 2 – Mascot participation/entrances

Every school has a mascot, of course, but some are more readily identified with their institution than others. We also admit to being somewhat partial to the live ones.

Georgia

Uga – Sure, there are lots of bulldogs out there. But Uga never fails to ignite the Georgia faithful between the hedges when he leads the team on to the field.

Auburn

War Eagle – It’s a chant and not the school’s nickname, but when the cheer is augmented by the pregame arrival of a genuine eagle swooping over Jordan-Hare Stadium, things understandably get noisy on the plains. The current bird, War Eagle VIII, is a resident of the Auburn Raptor Center.

LSU

Mike – Mike the Tiger no longer rides to LSU games in a trailer cage, but fans can still go see him. Mike VII has a habitat not far from the stadium, and his social media team makes sure he always has a game day message to get Tiger fans hyped up – not that they especially need extra motivation.

Missouri

Truman’s Taxi – Truman, Mizzou’s tiger mascot, is not an actual feline, but he nevertheless has a nice ride. He generally arrives at home games in a vintage firetruck.

Tier 3 – Fan trademarks

Whether it’s a certain gesture, a signature cheer, or a particular method of creating noise, these items are inseparable from the fan base that made them famous – or infamous.

Florida

The Gator Chomp – The chomp is the most readily identifiable visual show of allegiance in the conference, at least until Texas arrives with its flashing horns. The denizens of the Swamp have perhaps been a bit less vociferous since being overtaken by the hated Georgia Bulldogs of late, but the chomp remains.

Arkansas

Hog Call – You almost certainly have to be a native-born Razorback to do it justice, but you’ll definitely recognize the “Woooo pig sooie!” incantation when you hear it. It’s given with a bit more fervor when the Razorbacks are good, which they have been since Sam Pittman took charge.

Mississippi State

Cowbells – If you’re flipping channels on a college football Saturday and happen upon a home game in Starkville, the metallic din of thousands of cowbells in the stands is unmistakable. You might want to wear earplugs if you attend a Bulldogs’ home contest in person.

Tier 4 – When does basketball/baseball season start?

Kentucky

We do have football, darn it – Mark Stoops doesn’t want to hear this, especially when John Calipari says it, but there’s no getting around the fact that UK is historically more associated with another sport. The program has enjoyed a recent run of winning campaigns on the gridiron, but when your university’s athletic department has to implore fans to create new football game-day traditions, it clearly isn’t a priority.

Vanderbilt

Anchor Down – We totally understand. Keeping up with the conference’s powerhouse programs is tough for the SEC’s smallest school. Kudos to the Commodores for carving out a niche for its baseball program that has claimed two national titles in recent years, but when your best-known football tradition is the unintentionally ironic act of planting an anchor at midfield, it doesn’t instill confidence that the program is on the rise.

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

247sports.com

 

Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column

Jason Caldwell

~4 minutes

---

One week from SEC Media Days

It’s hard to believe it, but we’re just a week away from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opening SEC Media Days in Nashville and talking about the future of the league with Oklahoma and Texas coming in next year.

There will be plenty of talk around that subject, but there’s no question that Auburn is going to create much more buzz than the program has had in years because of the addition of Hugh Freeze and heading into his first season with the Tigers.

It will be really interesting to see who Auburn takes to Nashville as player representatives. I will be really surprised if Luke Deal isn’t one of them. The senior tight end has been a leader for the team since the end of last season and would be great in front of cameras if given the opportunity.

After that, I’m not really sure where Auburn could go with the next two players because there are so many options. Usually it’s reserved for seniors, but with this team I could see an underclassman or two make the trip to Nashville. 

What’s interesting is that this is a roster where you could see a player head to SEC Media Days that has never played a game in an Auburn uniform because of the addition of so many transfers. I don’t think we’ll see a guy like Payton Thorne in Nashville, but Dillon Wade, Gunner Britton, Avery Jones, Elijah McAllister or Rivaldo Fairweather are all guys that I could see representing the program next week on the big stage.

Behind the scenes of Blocton’s decision

This is one of those decisions that I felt like Auburn was in good shape with for a long, long time, but Texas made a strong push until the very end. One of the most interesting things for me was talking with his trainers from Madhouse on Saturday. These are guys I have known for a long time and they all rave about Blocton and his upside as a player and a person. I have been around him for three years and have known him since he was a freshman, but these are the guys that see him daily in workouts and have watched him grow and develop. They believe he’s going to be a guy on the level of Marlon Davidson before he’s done at Auburn. If that’s the case, this is a pickup that is going to look even better in a few years.

Disappointing, but not unexpected night for Auburn baseball in MLB Draft

For the last six months, all signs had been pointing towards Auburn baseball signees Colt Emerson and Kevin McGonigle being selected on day one of the MLB Amateur Draft. That became a reality on Sunday night when Emerson went in the first round to the Seattle Mariners and McGonigle was taken 37th overall by the Detroit Tigers.

While it’s disappointing for Butch Thompson and his staff, what it shows is just how well they are at their jobs. Both players committed three years ago, during the summer of 2020. Back then, both were coming off their freshman seasons and weren’t even close to becoming the physical players they are today. Auburn saw two players that were going to grow into what they believed would be elite prospects. I’m not sure the Tigers saw first rounders with either guy this early, but there’s no question this staff has an elite eye for scouting talent. 

Even though neither player is likely going to make it to campus, it’s just more proof of what this staff is building at Auburn because of what they are doing on the recruiting trail.

[aubiefifty 17,100]

auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

Where Hugh Freeze lands in CBS Sports' SEC head coach rankings

Taylor Jones

2–3 minutes

---

Auburn has found the right guy to run its football program in Hugh Freeze.

Freeze comes to the Plains with plenty of experience, and is already starting to show signs of that in recruiting and building team morale. It seems as if his return to the SEC is shaping up to be an exciting one.

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All that is left to do now is for him to prove his worth on the field. Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports believes that Freeze can rebuild the Tigers program after the setback caused during the Harsin era. Sallee places Freeze at No. 8 in his SEC head coaches rankings ahead of the 2023 season.

Freeze enters his inaugural campaign on the Plains looking to revitalized a program that fell on hard times during the Bryan Harsin debacle. Freeze was 39-25 at Ole Miss from 2012-16 with New Year’s Six bowl appearances in 2014 and 2015. He led Liberty to eight or more wins in each of his four seasons (2019-22) and played a big role in the Flames’ move to Conference USA.

Considering that Freeze is returning to the SEC after being away for six years, being listed in the middle tier is a respectable nod.

Here’s a complete look at Sallee’s SEC head coach rankings:

1.	Nick Saban (Alabama)
2.	Kirby Smart (Georgia)
3.	Bryan Kelly (LSU)
4.	Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)
5.	Josh Heupel (Tennessee)
6.	Mark Stoops (Kentucky)
7.	Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M)
8.	Hugh Freeze (Auburn)
9.	Shane Beamer (South Carolina)
10.	Sam Pittman (Arkansas)
11.	Billy Napier (Florida)
12.	Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri)
13.	Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)
14.	Zach Arnett (Mississippi State)

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

sports.yahoo.com

 

Auburn football cracks Phil Steele’s top 25 power poll

Taylor Jones

2–3 minutes

---

It appears to be an understanding across the board that Auburn football will go through a transition season in 2023, as new head coach Hugh Freeze will look to rebuild a program that was mishandled over the last several seasons.

Recruiting and overall morale have amplified on the Plains, which is enough reason for one publication to put some respect on Auburn’s name heading into the season.

Phil Steele, a college football expert that has published a preseason magazine every year over the last 25 seasons, has revealed his top 25 power poll ahead of the 2023 season. In a surprising move, Steele has placed Auburn in the No. 25 slot.

On3’s Andrew Graham shared his take on each team that made the top 25 and says that this season at Auburn could be different than the previous two seasons.

With a new head coach and quarterback, it seems Auburn is poised to stop underachieving as it had under Bryan Harsin. The Tigers had a few paltry seasons with Harsin and then under interim Cadillac Williams, but have since hired offensive maven Hugh Freeze.

Another factor in this ranking is the addition of quarterback Payton Thorne from the transfer portal. The Michigan State transfer led the Spartans to 11 wins in 2021 and could experience similar success at Auburn.

And one of Freeze’s biggest moves since getting the job is luring former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne to The Plains. Thorne has two-years of Big Ten starting experience under his belt and was MSU’s starting quarterback for their 11-win campaign in 2021. If Thorne plays like he’s shown he can, Auburn can play to a Top 25 level.

Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, and Georgia are other notable programs on Steele’s list.

More Football!

Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 15 Keldric Faulk

Where Hugh Freeze lands in CBS Sports' SEC head coach rankings

Twitter reacts to Auburn landing 4-star DL Malik Blocton

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

auburnwire.usatoday.com

 

What is Auburn getting in Malik Blocton?

Taylor Jones

2–3 minutes

---

Auburn football ended the week on a high note by landing its second commitment of the week in four-star defensive lineman Malik Blocton.

Blocton chose the Tigers over Texas on Saturday, in what will go down as a solid win for Hugh Freeze. Blocton is determined to contend for early playing time, and with the Longhorns’ lack of depth at the position, it speaks volumes to Auburn’s recruiting ability that they were able to keep Blocton close to home.

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Before we look into Blocton’s measurements and high school stats, here’s a look at where he ranks across all recruiting outlets:

Outlet	State	National
247Sports	24	43
On3	31	67
Rivals	14	21
ESPN	23	22

Across the board, Blocton is considered one of the state of Alabama’s top overall prospects for 2024, and he is seen as a top 50 defensive lineman in all but one instance. Why is that? Look no further than his ability to make players at the line and beyond.

Last season, his first at Pike Road High School, Blocton reached a career-high in tackles with 54 in 11 games played. It was also his best season at reaching the quarterback, as he recorded six sacks.

His high school head coach, Granger Shook, tells Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover that he has high expectations for Blocton at the next level.

“He’s the real deal,” Shook said. “He’s as good as any I have ever coached and I have been blessed to be at some pretty successful places. He’s definitely an SEC-caliber player and if he keeps progressing like I know he can, he’ll be able to play even past that. He’s coachable. He’s a hard-working young man. He’s a joy to coach.”

With Blocton’s commitment, Auburn has now climbed to No. 48 in the 2024 247Sports recruiting rankings. The Tigers now have 10 commitments for the 2024 cycle, seven of which are four-star rated.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

[aubiefifty 17,100]

 

Auburn football ranks last among Power Five teams in offensive line continuity

Taylor Jones

Sun, July 9, 2023 at 3:00 PM CDT

 

 

Out of all units that Auburn football will trot out onto the field in 2023, the offensive line will see the most changes.

It comes with good reason, as the Tigers’ line allowed 32 sacks last season, and they were only able to help their offense gain just 378 yards per game. Most of that was due to inconsistency within snap counts.

According to Pro Football Focus, only two offensive linemen were on the field for more than 700 snaps, Killian Zierer and Brandon Council. The next player on the list was Austin Troxell, who played in 482 snaps over eight games.

If those facts sound crazy, that is because they are. Auburn’s continuity rate among offensive linemen was super low last season. So low, that it was the worst among Power Five teams.

 

College Football Graphs recently shared its list of offensive line continuity, and Auburn ranks No. 69 among Power Five programs with a rate of 35.6%.

While only three players played more than 400 snaps on the offensive line last season, a total of six were able to play 345 or more snaps last season. Among the nine players who shuffled through Auburn’s offensive line last season, only three return to the 2023 roster: tate johnson, Jalil Irvin, and Jeremiah Wright.

Hugh Freeze hopes to increase Auburn’s continuity rate in 2023 by sending several of his experienced transfer portal finds to pick up the slack. Several names that should contribute heavily to Auburn’s line this season are Avery Jones, Gunner Britton, Dillon Wade, and Jaden Muskrat.

[WarTim 3,457]

2 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

 

usatoday.com

 

Think your SEC school's football traditions are the best? Think again. We ranked 'em all

 

6–7 minutes

---

With the college football season set to kick off in just a few short weeks, there will soon be plenty of on-field matters to discuss regarding your favorite school’s team.

But we’ll get to that in due course. For now, let’s turn our attention to a subject that always fuels debate, like which programs have the best traditions.

Of course, we can state unequivocally that these rankings will receive nothing but whole-hearted agreement from across the country, and that there will be absolutely zero complaints or disputes about any opinions expressed herein. That will be especially true in the first league we’ll cover, the SEC, where football fans never argue about anything.

OK, all kidding aside, these tiers are not intended as a way of choosing one fan base or a particular school’s traditions over another’s. So don’t read your team’s placement as an affront. Well, unless you’re Vanderbilt.

Tier 1 – Pregame preparations

Every school’s fans have their specific rituals to gear up for game time. Some are more iconic and identifiable with a particular program than others.

Alabama

The Walk of Champions – It’s a brief opportunity for the Crimson Tide players to interact with their supporters as they debark from their team bus upon arrival at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The short pregame greeting also serves as a reminder of just how the Tuscaloosa community is wedded to the success of the Crimson Tide.

Texas A&M

The Midnight Yell – Nothing like a group primal scream at the witching hour before a football Saturday to fire up the faithful in College Station. Actually, there’s a little more to it than that. The yell leaders, elected by the Aggies’ student body, lead the band and fans in what amounts to a late-night pep rally at Kyle Field. No worries though – the kids always seem to have plenty of energy left for Saturday.

Tennessee

The Vol Navy – There’s tailgating at nearly every stadium, of course, but there aren’t many where it is commonplace to arrive by boat. Neyland Stadium’s location near the bank of the Tennessee River creates one of the sport’s more unique pregame atmospheres.

Mississippi

The Grove – But when it comes to tailgating in style, the Grove in Oxford is a southern tradition wrapped in old world charm. But make no mistake – the fancy dress and formal tableware does not mean the tents aren’t festive.

South Carolina

Sandstorm – If you don’t recognize the title of this electronic instrumental by Finish deejay Darude, you’ve undoubtedly heard it blasted over the speakers at just about any game you may have attended. It is most closely associated with the Gamecocks’ program, made popular when Steve Spurrier helped fire up the crowd to this tune.

Tier 2 – Mascot participation/entrances

Every school has a mascot, of course, but some are more readily identified with their institution than others. We also admit to being somewhat partial to the live ones.

Georgia

Uga – Sure, there are lots of bulldogs out there. But Uga never fails to ignite the Georgia faithful between the hedges when he leads the team on to the field.

Auburn

War Eagle – It’s a chant and not the school’s nickname, but when the cheer is augmented by the pregame arrival of a genuine eagle swooping over Jordan-Hare Stadium, things understandably get noisy on the plains. The current bird, War Eagle VIII, is a resident of the Auburn Raptor Center.

LSU

Mike – Mike the Tiger no longer rides to LSU games in a trailer cage, but fans can still go see him. Mike VII has a habitat not far from the stadium, and his social media team makes sure he always has a game day message to get Tiger fans hyped up – not that they especially need extra motivation.

Missouri

Truman’s Taxi – Truman, Mizzou’s tiger mascot, is not an actual feline, but he nevertheless has a nice ride. He generally arrives at home games in a vintage firetruck.

Tier 3 – Fan trademarks

Whether it’s a certain gesture, a signature cheer, or a particular method of creating noise, these items are inseparable from the fan base that made them famous – or infamous.

Florida

The Gator Chomp – The chomp is the most readily identifiable visual show of allegiance in the conference, at least until Texas arrives with its flashing horns. The denizens of the Swamp have perhaps been a bit less vociferous since being overtaken by the hated Georgia Bulldogs of late, but the chomp remains.

Arkansas

Hog Call – You almost certainly have to be a native-born Razorback to do it justice, but you’ll definitely recognize the “Woooo pig sooie!” incantation when you hear it. It’s given with a bit more fervor when the Razorbacks are good, which they have been since Sam Pittman took charge.

Mississippi State

Cowbells – If you’re flipping channels on a college football Saturday and happen upon a home game in Starkville, the metallic din of thousands of cowbells in the stands is unmistakable. You might want to wear earplugs if you attend a Bulldogs’ home contest in person.

Tier 4 – When does basketball/baseball season start?

Kentucky

We do have football, darn it – Mark Stoops doesn’t want to hear this, especially when John Calipari says it, but there’s no getting around the fact that UK is historically more associated with another sport. The program has enjoyed a recent run of winning campaigns on the gridiron, but when your university’s athletic department has to implore fans to create new football game-day traditions, it clearly isn’t a priority.

Vanderbilt

Anchor Down – We totally understand. Keeping up with the conference’s powerhouse programs is tough for the SEC’s smallest school. Kudos to the Commodores for carving out a niche for its baseball program that has claimed two national titles in recent years, but when your best-known football tradition is the unintentionally ironic act of planting an anchor at midfield, it doesn’t instill confidence that the program is on the rise.

uat, nor ANY other SEC school, can’t come close to Auburn pre game. None…..and everyone but redneck homers know it. 

[AUwent 3,778]

Not sure if this belongs here but...maybe this is an indicator? Are they ever going to finish that investigation?

https://twitter.com/BradLester1/status/1678431219346731008

[aubiefifty 17,100]

48 minutes ago, AUwent said:

Not sure if this belongs here but...maybe this is an indicator? Are they ever going to finish that investigation?

https://twitter.com/BradLester1/status/1678431219346731008

i would be shocked if he did not play. he might sit out one game or a half game. i just assume this tho.............

[AUpreacherman22 3,892]

7 hours ago, WarTim said:

uat, nor ANY other SEC school, can’t come close to Auburn pre game. None…..and everyone but redneck homers know it. 

Right!!!  That stupid “walk of chumps” in turd town is a lame plagiarism of Tiger Walk. 
Our tailgating is the best (maybe second to the grove)

And no one comes remotely close to the Eagle flight.   
 

AU Gameday is the best experience in college sports.  
And Im not biased at all.  😁