All In: Auburn's Run to the National Championship

ALL INAuburn’s Run to the National Championship

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Auburn’s Run to the National Championship

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Copyright © 2011The Ledger-Enquirer • TD Publishing

All rights reserved. Except for use in review, no part of this publicationmay be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, elec-tronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, including xerog-raphy, photocopying, recording, and in any information storage andretrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

Publishers: Todd Walker & David KaselGraphic design by Christina Greenwalt-TestaCover design by Christina Greenwalt-Testa

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-0-615-43257-1

This book is available in quantity at special discounts for your groupor organization. For further information, contact:TD Publishing6725 Pond Rd.Cumming, GA 30040404-429-8720 or309-530-1761

Ledger-Enquirer Staff:President and Publisher: Rodney MahoneVice President and Executive Editor: Joe KietaVice President/Marketing: Heather WilliamsPhoto Editor: Mike HaskeySports Editor: Kevin PriceAuburn Beat Writer: Andy BitterPhotographer: Robin Trimarchi(All Photographs courtesy of Robin Trimarchi unless otherwise noted)

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer is published daily byColumbus Ledger-Enquirer, Inc.,17 W. 12th St., Columbus GA 31901-2413.

2 All In: Auburn’s Run to the National Championship

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Sports Editor Kevin Price — [email protected] — 706-571-8590 ledger-enquirer.com

SportsSECTION B

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2010FALCONS PLAY BUCS

PAGE B5

INSIDE: CSU cross country runner comes in second at national championship B3

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP | AUBURN 56, SOUTH CAROLINA 17

WON’T BE DENIED

ROBIN TRIMARCHI/[email protected] quarterback Cam Newton sits on the shoulders of offensive lineman Byron Isom and other teammates after the Tigers’ 56-17 win over South Carolina for the SEC championship.

INSIDEWR Darvin Adams sets new SEC title game record, B9

Commentary: S.C. has long way to go, B10

AU defense plays first complete game, B8

By ANDY [email protected]

ATLANTA — As the final sec-onds ticked o� of Auburn’s 56-17 rout of South Carolina in the SEC championship game, o�en-sive linemen Mike Berry and Byron Isom hoisted quarter-back Cam Newton upon their shoulders for an impromptu victory parade through a cas-cade of confetti falling from the Georgia Dome ceiling.

For once, Newton’s team-mates were carrying him.

Newton, the star quarterback who has spent the last month embroiled in a recruiting scan-dal, was as masterful as ever Saturday, accounting for 408

yards and six touchdowns to earn the contest’s MVP award as Auburn (13-0) secured a spot in the Bowl Championship Se-ries national title game Jan. 10 against Oregon.

“A wise man told me, if God is with me, who can be against me?” Newton said during the tro-phy presentation, his first pub-lic comments since Nov. 9.

Flanked by Newton at the postgame press conference, Auburn coach Gene Chizik didn’t hold back his praise of the player who transformed the Tigers from a team on the rise to national title contend-er in less than a year.

Embroiled in a recruiting scandal, Newton leads Tigers into BCS national title game

SEE AUBURN, B8

ATLANTA —

Jay Jacobs stood on the platform on the Geor-gia Dome floor Saturday

night, soaking in a steady rain of confetti and paper streamers. He smiled con-tentedly, savoring every blessed moment of his first SEC football championship as Auburn’s athletic director. Jacobs watched the Auburn players and coaches celebrate their 56-17 drubbing of South Carolina, satisfied to stay in the background.

A more vengeful man might have allowed himself a moment of personal privi-

lege and, yes, even vindi-cation. That would seem justifiable for one who was, at best, ques-tioned and, at worst, vilified for turning over the foot-ball program to a coach, Gene Chizik, who had won five games in the previous two seasons.

But Jacobs, the epitome of class and a Southern gentle-

COMMENTARY

Jacobs got it rightMY OPINION

Guerry Clegg

SEE CLEGG, B8


Sports SECTION B

INSIDE: Cottonmouths knock o� Knoxville in shootout. B3CORRECTIONHigh school athletics: Aportion of the All-Bi-City story in Thursday’s sports section was omitted. The full story is inside today on B8.

By CHRIS [email protected]

For weeks, Carver coach Dell McGee has eased run-ning back Isaiah Crowell from injury back to his start-

ing job.On Friday, he finally cut

him loose.Crowell rushed for five

touchdowns and 305 yards on 20 carries as No. 1 Carv-er (13-0) defeated Thomas-ville (9-4) 40-14 in a Geor-gia High School Association Class AA quarterfinal match-up at A.J. McClung Memo-rial Stadium.

Crowell said he tried to

become a more vocal lead-er in recent weeks, and be-fore the game he told his teammates he was ready to break out if they could give him just a little help.

“I was telling my o�en-sive line that it starts with them,” Crowell said. “If you block well, we’ll be fine be-cause I’m going to do my part every game.”

Carver advances to the

semifinals to play No. 3 Cal-houn, which defeated No. 8 Fitzgerald 31-13. Representa-tives from Carver and Cal-houn will meet today to flip a coin to determine which of the top-seeded teams will host the game.

Regardless of which team wins the toss, Friday marked Carver’s final appearance at

CARVER 40, THOMASVILLE 14

Crowell’s 305 yards lifts TigersCoin flip today to pick home team for state semifinal

JOE PAULL/[email protected]’s Isaiah Crowell is brought down by the Bulldogs.

By SETH [email protected]

ATHENS, Ga. — There have been few positive, feel-good stories on this year’s Geor-gia football team.

But Kris Durham is one.The player whom fellow

receivers now in the NFL used to call “White Light-ning” will play his final game at Sanford Stadium on Sat-urday. He may deserve the most rousing Senior Day ovation from fans, consid-ering his production and how long he waited for this kind of year.

Durham missed all of the 2009 season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Injuries also held him back in 2008, after he showed promise as a freshman and sophomore.

“He’s very underrated as a player,” Georgia tight end Aron White said. “And I think if he had stayed a lit-tle healthier … he’d be more of a household name here around Georgia.

Durham’s name recogni-tion may have been bolstered among at least one important group: NFL scouts.

The 6-foot-5 always had the size for the next level and a good dose of speed, too; he qualified for the state track and field meet in five di�erent events in high school.

The problem was Dur-ham wasn’t getting much of a chance to show he could catch passes and make plays. That changed this year, when A.J. Green’s suspension shift-ed Durham into the featured receiving role the first four games.

Durham’s production tailed o� a bit when Green returned but not too much. Durham settled into the No. 2 receiv-ing role and still had some big games and catches — the biggest one, coming on national television at Au-burn, when he wrestled a long pass away from a Ti-gers cornerback.

That play caused a ruck-us on Twitter among ex-Bull-dogs watching the game. Mohamed Massaquoi, now with the Cleveland Browns,

GEORGIA FOOTBALL

Durham’s senior season is stellarNFL scouts have noticed senior WR

NEXT GAMEGEORGIA TECH

AT GEORGIA

When: 7:45 p.m. Saturday

TV: ESPN, 7:45 p.m.

Radio: WGSY-FM 100.1, 3:45 p.m.; WAGH-FM 101.3, 5:45 p.m.

SEE UGA, B4


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Au-burn has had its share of stunning comebacks this year, erasing double-dig-it deficits in wins against South Carolina, Clemson and Georgia.

They all pale in compar-ison to Friday’s.

The No. 2 Tigers rallied from a 24-point first-half deficit to pull out a 28-27 win against No. 11 Alabama, ending the Crimson Tide’s 20-game unbeaten streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“That was a game that will certainly go down in history,” Tigers coach Gene Chizik said, with no hint of hyperbole.

Auburn (12-0, 8-0 SEC) kept its national title hopes alive in the process, with an SEC title game match-up against South Car-olina next week in At-lanta all that separates the Tigers from a date in Glendale, Ariz., for the BCS title game.

Although Auburn has come from behind in eight of its 12 victories this season, the 24-point deficit was the largest comeback in school history.

“We’ve been like situa-tions like this all the time,” linebacker Eltoro Freeman said. “We never point fin-gers. We never do none of that, man. We just stick to-

IRON BOWL | AUBURN 28, ALABAMA 27

A COMEBACK FOR THE AGES

BUTCH DILL/Associated PressAuburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen (43) celebrates with offensive lineman Ryan Pugh (50), quarterback Cam Newton, and offensive lineman Mike Berry after scoring what proved to be the winning touchdown during the fourth quarter Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Auburn keeps title hopes alive with second-half rally

ONLINE TODAYTalk about Friday’s game

with beat writer

Andy Bitter in his blog at www.ledger-enquirer.com/auburn

ONLINE ONLY

injury in the game.

Auburn QB Cam Newton.Read more at ledger-enquirer.com/sports

SEE RALLY, B7

SEE CROWELL, B9

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2010


SportsSECTION B

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2010GAMECOCKS CLAIM EAST

PAGE B9

INSIDE: Cottonmouths to honor 3rd Brigade, give discounts for military B2

Columbus High won

its second Class

AAA title in three

years with a stunt-

filled, high-flying

routine. Carrollton

finished second,

and Carters-

ville took third place.

DARRELL ROADEN/Special to the Ledger-Enquirer

Blue Devils’ season of work pays o�

By LILY GORDONSpecial to the Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus High School earned its second Georgia High School Association Class AAA state cheerleading title in three seasons Saturday at the Columbus Civic Center.

“Words can’t describe this,” said Columbus senior Morgan Brooks moments after being handed the first-place tro-phy. “We’ve worked so hard

this season. We had two-a-days every day and we just worked really hard and I’m just so glad we won.”

It was a two-minute and 30-second routine packed with high-flying stunts that clinched the title for the Blue

Devils. “They did exactly what they

were supposed to,” Columbus coach Merrimore McDonald said. “They hit every stunt and I couldn’t have asked for anything else.

‘I’m extremely proud,” Mc-Donald continued. “The dif-ficulty was there, the stunts were there. It was their day. They shined.”

Columbus landed in the top six in their class follow-ing a tough day of competi-tion. Just nine points separat-edthem from the second-place

GHSA STATE CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Columbus regains state championship

DARRELL ROADEN/Special to the Ledger-EnquirerNorthside finished fourth in Saturday’s Class AAAA competition.

SEE CHEER, B10

ROBIN TRIMARCHI/[email protected] quarterback Cam Newton dives over the line for a 1-yard touchdown to seal a 49-31 win over Georgia on Saturday in Auburn, Ala.


AUBURN, Ala. —The Jordan-Hare Sta-dium crowd didn’t budge following No. 2 Auburn’s 49-31 win against Georgia, saluting the new SEC West champions in an elaborate post-game celebration that included video highlights, sing-a-longs and a lap around the field by the seniors.

For a moment, it was as though the Cam Newton cloud didn’t hover over the program.

The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 SEC) clinched their first berth in the SEC title game since 2004 in typical fashion, roaring back from an early deficit with a de-fense that made just enough plays and an overwhelming rushing attack that topped 300 yards for the sixth straight SEC game.

“We have goals at the beginning of the year,” said Auburn coach Gene Chizik, who is 19-5 in two years on the Plains after going 5-19 at Iowa State. “And this was the first one.”

South Carolina, which beat Flori-da Saturday to clinch its first SEC title game berth, will be Auburn’s opponent in Atlanta on Dec. 4.

But the Tigers took Saturday’s post-game to cherish what they had just ac-complished. The seniors lingered on the field afterward, knowing it was

their last game in the stadium. They eventually took a victory lap, cheered on by their adoring fans.

The celebration was partly for win-ning the West — a long road back from the disappointing 5-7 season two years ago that ended Tommy Tuber-ville’s tenure.

But the Tigers’ veterans were well aware they vanquished rival Georgia (5-6, 3-5) for the first time since 2006,

AUBURN 49, GEORGIA 31

ON TOP OF THE WESTAuburn comes back from 21-7 deficit to beat Bulldogs; Tigers win SEC West

DAVE MARTIN/Associated PressGeorgia coach Mark Richt reacts following an Auburn score in the first half during Saturday’s game in Auburn, Ala.

MORE INSIDE

B7.

No circumstantial evidence

B6.

ONLINE TODAY

ledger-enquirer.com/sports.

ledger-enquirer.com/auburn

ledger-enquirer.com/uga.

“Our goal when we came here was to win a championship. And we haven’t done that yet.”

Gene Chizik, Auburn coach

DAVE MARTIN/Associated PressAuburn quarterback Cam Newton dumps a cooler on coach Gene Chizik following a 49-31 win over Georgia on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

SEE AUBURN, B6

ALABAMA 30, MISSISSIPPI STATE 10

BUTCH DILL/Associated PressAlabama tight end Michael Williams is pushed out of bounds by Mississippi State defensive back Johnthan Banks after catching a pass for a first down during the first half of Saturday’s game.

Bama totals 452 yards, 183 of them on 3 plays

By MICHAEL CASAGRANDESpecial to the Ledger-Enquirer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —None looked like much to start.

Each ended with points.Using three innocent-looking

plays, Alabama steam-rolled past Mississippi State 30-10 on the same evening Auburn’s win o�cially knocked the Crimson Tide out of the SEC title hunt.

Combining the three big plays — an out-route, screen pass and end-around — Alabama netted 183 of its 452 total yards while keep-ing the No. 17 Bulldogs from do-ing any real damage with its com-plex running game.

“We’ve got some guys who can make some explosive plays so we want to get the ball in their hands,” coach Nick Saban said. “We made some that were really big in terms of us being able to score enough points to be successful. Getting ahead of these guys early was im-portant as well so those big plays helped us do that.”

Early on, neither side could stop the opposing o�ense until it reached scoring territory. Mississippi State controlled the line of scrimmage with its read-option plays while Al-abama found success through the air with McElroy finding his usual suspects for seven first downs.

When it came time to punch it in the end zone, the engines broke down and three field goals left Al-abama (8-2, 5-2 SEC) leading 6-3 after one quarter.

The Bulldogs, losers for the first time in seven games, had some suc-cess running the ball in the first possession, gained 40 yards on the first seven plays before Rob-

Big plays fuel Tide’s win over Miss. St.

SEE ALABAMA, B5

Please notice our interactive pages.Find the Tag boxes throughout the book and see and hear postgameinterviews on your smart phone! To use, simply download a FREEcode scanner app to your smart phone! To get the TAG READER visithttp://gettag.mobi on your mobile phone browser. Then simplyactivate the app, and hold phone over the corresponding box, take apicture and instantly access post game video.


004.005.EditorsNote:Layout 1 1/3/11 9:05 PM Page 1

A Note From The Editor...

It wasn’t long after I arrived as the new executive editor of the Ledger-Enquirer in late August when locals started askingme one question: “Do you like college football?” Before I’d be able to answer, the questioner always would add a “you’dbetter.”

Thankfully, I’ve followed the college game since my youth in Ohio, and I have a deep understanding and appreciation for thesport’s passion and pageantry. It was a given that coverage of Auburn University football was important to readers of theLedger-Enquirer. What I didn’t know at the time was the kind of season that was in store for a team ranked 23rd in thepreseason Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Auburn’s electrifying perfect run through a murderous Southeastern Conference football schedule – and the emergence of alittle-known quarterback named Cameron Newton to Heisman Trophy-winning prominence -- proved to be as exciting tocover as it was for longtime Auburn fans to witness.

If college football is a religion in this part of the country, then this year undoubtedly will have a special chapter reserved inthe Deep South’s football Bible. This Auburn team overcame doubts and adversity at almost every juncture, andLedger-Enquirer reporters and photographers were there to document each twist and turn.

Beat writer Andy Bitter is the star of this book. Andy joined the Ledger-Enquirer in September of 2008, just in time tochronicle the end of the Tommy Tuberville era as head coach and the beginning of Gene Chizik’s.

In addition to providing game stories and roundups for the printed Ledger-Enquirer (which are reprinted in this book), Andyproduces daily updates on his highly popular blog at www.ledger-enquirer.com. He joined us from the News and Advance ofLynchburg, Va., where he covered University of Virginia athletics.

On the photo side, photographer Robin Trimarchi covered all Auburn home games as well as the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa andthe SEC championship game in Atlanta. Robin is a 14-year veteran of the newspaper and has photographed Auburn athleticsduring that time.

Expertly coordinating Andy’s and Robin’s work were longtime Ledger-Enquirer sports editor Kevin Price and photo editorMike Haskey.

We’re thrilled to preserve this remarkable story through this keepsake book, which we hope will keep the 2010 season’s spiritalive for generations.

Joseph W. KietaExecutive Editor, Ledger-Enquirer

Joseph W. KietaExecutive Editor,Ledger-Enquirer

Mike HaskeyPhoto Editor,Ledger-Enquirer

Kevin PriceSports Editor,Ledger-Enquirer

Andy BitterAuburn Beat Writer,Ledger-Enquirer

Robin TrimarchiPhotographer,Ledger-Enquirer

004.005.EditorsNote:Layout 1 1/3/11 9:06 PM Page 2

006.007.Contents:Layout 1 12/31/10 9:11 AM Page 1

CONTENTSPre-Season ..................................................10

Auburn vs. Arkansas State ........................ 12

Auburn vs. Mississippi State .................... 20

Auburn vs. Clemson.................................... 26

Auburn vs. South Carolina ........................ 34

Auburn vs. Louisiana Monroe.................... 44

Auburn vs. Kentucky .................................. 50

Auburn vs. Arkansas .................................. 58

Auburn vs. LSU .......................................... 68

Auburn vs. Mississippi .............................. 78

Auburn vs. Chattanooga ............................ 86

Auburn vs. Georgia .................................... 92

Auburn vs. Alabama - Iron Bowl.............. 100

Auburn vs. S Carolina - SEC .................... 116

Awards ...................................................... 132

Auburn vs. Oregon - BCS .......................... 146

006.007.Contents:Layout 1 12/31/10 9:11 AM Page 2

AUBURN, Ala. - When the weather changed for theworse at an Auburn football practice last week, widereceivers coach Trooper Taylor fully expected to move

to the more restrictive indoor facility.

Instead, head coach Gene Chizik pulled a rain plan from hispocket and quickly began directing players to differentstations on the outside fields.

“I’m going, ‘Who does that?’” Taylor said. “He never ceasesto amaze me when it comes to that.”

Chizik has had a plan for four years as a head coach, onefrom which he hasn’t deviated. But his won-loss record haschanged.

Two years after his hire from Iowa State, where a 5-19 recordprompted an overwhelming outcry from Auburn fans onInternet message boards and airport tarmacs, Chizik haswon over the Auburn fan base.

He has flipped his record, going 19-5 on the Plains andleading the Tigers into the national title game this season --a quicker turnaround than even the most optimistic Auburnbackers could have envisioned.

“He’s one of those coaches who’s been through probably alltypes of seasons you can go through,” center Ryan Pugh said.“He’s won national championships. He’s been undefeatedand been left out of the game. He’s had some tough years.

“Everyone knows that, so, whenever he speaks and tells youabout things, you take it to heart, because you know he’sbeen through those things and he’s experienced everythingyou can imagine. He gets us prepared every week.”

That preparation is based on precision. Everything underthe coach’s watch is regimented. Taylor thinks that comesfrom the military background of Chizik’s father.

“I’ve just always been someone who believes the devil’s in thedetails,” Chizik said. “You become better or worse based onthose details and try to impress those on our team. We try toimpress that mentality in everything that we do.”

“It’s full-go every time,” cornerback T’Sharvan Bell said.

“Everything might not be full speed, but he wants you here,here, here. It’s a grind.

“What you do now is what you’re going to do on the field.If you’re not giving it now, he’s not going to put you out onthe field.”

While it has worked at Auburn, it didn’t produce nearly thesuccess at Iowa State. Hired as an up-and-coming defensivecoordinator who had perfect seasons on his resume atAuburn and Texas, Chizik made the decision to overhaul theCyclones’ program.

But there were growing pains. With a large number ofunderclassmen playing prominent roles, Iowa State went 3-9his first year and 2-10 the next.

“There’s things you’ve got to do to stay on track and bepatient for the right results,” Chizik said. “There’s noquestion that we were going to be on track to get the rightresults. It was just going to take a little bit longer.”

Auburn came calling before Chizik could reap the benefitsof the youth movement. His successor, Paul Rhoads, hasgone 12-12 in two years, progress Chizik can claim to be atleast partially responsible for (in the same vein that TommyTuberville recruited most of the juniors and seniorscurrently thriving for Auburn).

Chizik’s plan didn’t differ much at Auburn, although itcoalesced more rapidly, thanks to an aggressive, well-paidcoaching staff, a more talented group of upperclassmen anda wider recruiting base to replenish the team’s ranks.

He also has benefited from an offensive revival, elevated bycoordinator Gus Malzahn’s inventive schemes and juniorcollege quarterback Cam Newton’s otherworldly talents --luxuries Chizik never enjoyed at Iowa State.

As a result, Chizik has gone from national punch line toSEC and national Coach of the Year candidate in two years,even though his methods remain the same.

“A guy asked me the other day what’s the difference in hiscoaching from last year to this year,” Taylor said. “And theanswer is nothing.”

AubuAuburnrn's's CChizik DoesDoesn'tn't CChangehange HiHis Waysays ButBut Turnsns AroundoundHis Coaching Record In Only Two Seasons

Gene Chizik had a 5-19 record at Iowa State after two yearsBy ANDY BITTER

008.009.Chizik:Layout 1 12/30/10 3:52 PM Page 1

AP Images

008.009.Chizik:Layout 1 12/30/10 3:53 PM Page 2

AuAuburnburn QBQB CamCam NNewton: “We're“We're NotNot Beingeing Menentioned AsWe Should Be”

By ANDY BITTER

Auburn might be ranked heading into the season, butquarterback Cam Newton said the Tigers still feel likeunderdogs.

"No doubt," Auburn's starting quarterback said. "Any timeyou turn on the TV or turn on the sports talk radio show oranywhere, they're talking about the other team."

Newton was referring to Alabama, which enters the seasonranked No. 1 in the country after winning last season'snational championship. Auburn, which went 8-5 in GeneChizik's first year, is ranked No. 22 in the preseasonAssociated Press poll and No. 23 in the USAToday Coaches'

poll.

"Of course we know that they're an excellent team as well,"Newton said. "We feel like we're not being mentioned as weshould be."

Newton didn't have an answer for why he thinks that is. Buthe's not concerned about it.

"We're just going to do what we're coached to do, and ourNo. 1 thing to do is win," he said. "And I guess if you wingames, you'll silence all the critics."

010.011.PreSeason:Layout 1 12/29/10 10:48 AM Page 1

WhaWhatt DoDo TheThe PolPolllststersers ThinThinkk OOff AubAuburnurn??

By ANDY BITTER

CamNewton's comments got us to thinking: just howis Auburn perceived by the national media headinginto the season? The Tigers are No. 22 in the

Associated Press poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches'poll, but what about the specifics?

Thankfully, the AP makes its ballots public. They're all onPollspeak.com, an interesting site if you have some time tokill. Since Auburn is off today and there isn't much footballnews, let's look at the Tigers' breakdown:

Auburn was on 41 of 60 ballots. The voter who has Auburnthe highest is Joe Giglio of the Raleigh News &Observer. Hehas the Tigers 7th. If you take a look at his ballot, he hasmany extremes (like Boise State No. 1, which I support).

He's the only one who has the Tigers in the top 10. Bill Cole,Coley Harvey, Desmond Conner, Bob Condotta, JackBogaczyk and Kirk Herbstreit have Auburn in the top 15.

Interestingly, Herbstreit picked Auburn to win the West onSportsCenter last night. He still has Alabama ranked No. 1,however, so his ballot is more of an indication ofaccomplishment than predicted future success.

A couple other SEC writers of note have Auburn pretty high:

Kyle Veazey (Mississippi State beat writer for theClarion-Ledger in Jackson) has the Tigers 16th.

Chip Cosby (Kentucky beat writer for the LexingtonHerald-Leader) has them 17th.

Randy Rosetta (LSU beat writer for the Advocate of BatonRoute) has them 17th.

Wes Rucker (Tennessee beat writer for the ChattanoogaTimes Free Press) has them 18th.

Alabama has two voters. Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa Newshas Auburn ranked 20th. Jon Solomon of the BirminghamNews has the Tigers unranked.

What does all this mean? Well ... nothing. The polls usuallyare completely different looking after three or four weeks.Furthermore, none of it is factored into the BCS rankings, soa berth in a major bowl game doesn't ride on them anymore.

As for the national publications, there's nothing too out ofthe ordinary there. The Sporting News, Phil Steele, ESPN's

Blue Ribbon and Game Plan pick Auburn to finish secondin the SECWest. Everybody else has Auburn third or fourth,except for one outlier, the Football Outsiders, who pick theTigers to finish fifth.

What is the blog's conclusion? That the season can't get herequick enough so we don't have to write anything more aboutthis stuff.

Auburn Ranked No. 23 InPreseason Coaches' Poll

Auburn is one of six SEC teams to make the poll. Here's thefull poll (first place votes in parentheses, records are from lastyear):

1. Alabama (55), 14-02. Ohio State (4), 11-23. Florida, 13-14. Texas, 13-15. Boise State, 14-06. Virginia Tech, 10-37. TCU, 12-18. Oklahoma, 8-59. Nebraska, 10-410. Iowa, 11-211. Oregon, 10-312. Wisconsin 10-313. Miami (Fla.), 9-414. Penn State, 11-215. Pittsburgh, 10-316. LSU, 9-417. Georgia Tech, 11-318. North Carolina, 8-519. Arkansas, 8-520. Florida State, 7-621. Georgia, 8-522. Oregon State, 8-523. Auburn, 8-5

24t. Utah, 10-324t. West Virginia, 9-4

010.011.PreSeason:Layout 1 12/29/10 10:49 AM Page 2

012.013.ArkState:Layout 1 12/29/10 11:37 AM Page 1

AUBURNARKANSAS STATE9.4.2010 | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

AP RANK

22 52

26



TTigersigers' NewNew QuQuarterbarterbackack CaCamm NewtonNewton LLivesives UpUp ToTo HypeHypeBut Defense Doesn't In 52-26 Season-Opening WinAgainst Arkansas State

By ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — Cam Newton’s long-awaited returnto the Southeastern Conference couldn’t have gonemuch better.

Newton, who hadn’t played in an SEC game since the 2008opener for Florida, dabbled in a bit of everything in hisunveiling Saturday night as No. 22 Auburn beat ArkansasState 52-26 in the season opener.

The junior college transfer dazzled a Jordan-Hare Stadiumcrowd of 83,441 with a big, accurate arm and nimble feet,accounting for 357 total yards and five touchdowns — threein the air and two on the ground.

“Being his first football game, I couldn’t be prouder of whathe did,” Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said.

Newton showed all the abilities that made him thetop-ranked junior college quarterback recruit last year,completing 9-of-14 passes for 186 yards and running 15times for 171 more. He broke the school’s 36-year-oldsingle-game quarterback rushing record of 160, set by PhilGargis against Georgia in 1974.

“He was a little bit more mobile this game than I’ve everseen,” Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes said. “You get him inpractice, they blow the whistle real fast. To finally see themnot blow the whistle and let him run, I think it was amazing(Saturday).”

Auburn finished with 608 yards of offense, but it took theTigers a while to get out of the blocks. Down 6-0 midwaythrough the first, Newton sparked them with a 15-yard drawon third down. After a 36-yard run by Onterio McCalebb,Kodi Burns scored out of the wildcat formation to giveAuburn its first lead at 7-6.

The Tigers didn’t look back. Newton hit running backMario Fannin for a 36-yard touchdown pass on the first playof the next drive.

Then the quarterback showed off his athleticism,sidestepping five would-be tacklers in the backfield on oneplay and escaping for a 15-yard gain.

“I think it changes the way defenses play you,” offensivecoordinator Gus Malzahn said of Newton’s mobility. “Imean, you’ve got to really be aware, because he’s got somebig-play ability and can make things when the play breaksdown.”

Malzahn opened up the playbook on the next snap, puttingthird-string quarterback Neil Caudle in the game as a widereceiver and lateraling him the ball. Caudle fired 42 yards toDarvin Adams to the 2, setting up a touchdown run byNewton to make it 21-6.

Next up was the deep ball. Newton put the perfect touch ona 48-yard lob that dropped perfectly into Quindarius Carr’sarms for another touchdown, making it 28-13.

He rounded out his first-half showcase with a 71-yard runon a quarterback draw along the sideline, almost effortlesslyseparating himself from the Arkansas State defenders. It wasthe second-longest run by a quarterback in school historyand gave Auburn a 35-16 halftime lead.

“It was really a busted play,” Newton said. “I saw it open uplike the Red Sea and just took off.”

Despite the offensive outburst, it wasn’t all smooth sailingfor the Tigers. The defense didn’t look too much differentthan the unit that surrendered a school-record 358 pointslast season.

Using an up-tempo offense similar to Auburn’s, ArkansasState racked up 366 yards. Red Wolves quarterback RyanAplin picked apart the Tigers’ secondary with a variety ofunderneath routes, going 28-for-42 for 278 yards and atouchdown.

After Auburn fumbled the opening kickoff of the secondhalf, Arkansas State capitalized, getting an 8-yardtouchdown run by Derek Lawson that cut the lead to 35-23.

“When you go into league play, we are not good enough tobeat anybody doing that,” Chizik said.

But the Tigers stiffened on defense. Although they didn’t


AllAll In:: AuAububurnrn’ss RRunun toto ththee NNaatitiononal CChhamampionpionshshipip 1515

force a turnover, the Tigers sacked Aplin four times andlimited Arkansas State to 43 rushing yards on 35 carries. TheRed Wolves were only 5-for-19 on third-down conversions.

Newton gave Auburn some breathing room midway throughthe third quarter, hooking up with Fannin for a 38-yardtouchdown pass to make it a three-score game again at42-23.

Freshman Michael Dyer led the Auburn running backs with95 yards on 14 carries, including his first career touchdown,a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.

McCalebb ran for 76 yards on nine carries. Strangely, No. 1back Mario Fannin got only three carries for 17 yards,fumbling once, although he thrived in the passing game.

“We’ve got so much work to do,” Chizik said. “Our wholefootball team understands that we have not arrived yet.”

“Being his (Cam Newton)first football game, Icouldn’t be prouder of whathe did,” Auburn HeadCoach Gene Chizik said.



Quarterback Cam NewtonNamed SEC Offensive Player OfThe Week After Impressive Debut

Cam Newton's impressive debut caught the eyeof the SEC. The quarterback was named theleague's Offensive Player of the Week after a

five-touchdown effort in a 52-26 win againstArkansas State in the opener.

Newton ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns andcompleted 9 of 14 passes for 186 yards and threetouchdowns. His 357 total offensive yards and fivetouchdowns were SEC highs in the first week.

Newton is the first Auburn player to be named SECOffensive Player of the Week since Kenny Ironsearned the award in 2006, and the first Tigerquarterback to receive the honor since JasonCampbell in 2004.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound junior college transfer broke Auburn's single-game quarterback rushing record of 160 set by PhilGargis in 1974.

Newton's rushing total was the most in a debut by a Tigers player since Rudi Johnson went for 174 against Wyoming in2000.Running back Mike Dyer also got a nod from the SEC as an honorable mention. The freshman ran 14 times for 95 yardsand a touchdown in his debut

AUBURN

TEAM 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH FINAL

ARKANSASSTATE

14 21 10 7 52

6 10 7 3 26

1ST QUARTERASU Frampton 10 yd pass from Aplin (Davis kick blocked) 5:18

AU Burns 3 yd run (Byrum kick) 3:27

AU Fannin 36 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 1:00

AU Newton 2 yd run (Byrum kick) 9:43

ASU Robertson 13 yd run (Byrum kick) 6:46

AU Carr 48 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 5:59

ASU Davis 26 yd field goal 3:04


2ND QUARTER

ASU Lawson 8 yd run (Davis kick) 13:16

AU Fannin 38 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 8:07

AU Byrum 24 yd field goal 0:00

3RD QUARTER

AU Dyer 2 yd run (Byrum kick) 9:11

ASU Davis 41 yd field goal 4:16

4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 22 23

RUSHES-YARDS 35-43 49-367

PASSINGYDS (NET) 323 241

PASSES ATT-COMP-INT 49-33-0 16-11-0

PUNT RETURN-YARDS 1-7 5-47

KICKOFF RETURN-YARDS 8-147 6-131

INTERCEPTION RETURNS-YDS 0-0 0-0

PUNTS-AVG. 8-38.6 4-39.2

FUMBLES-LOST 1-0 2-2

PENALTIES-YARDS 5-28 7-60

TIME OF POSSESSION 34:23 25:37

3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS 5 of 18 5 of 10

4TH DOWN CONVERSIONS 1 of 3 0 of 0

RED-ZONE SCORES-CHANCES 4-4 4-5

STATISTICS ASU AU

016.017.ArkState:Layout 1 1/3/11 8:59 PM Page 1

RUSHING

Newton 15-171

Dyer 14-95

McCalebb 9-76

Hooper 5-15

Fannin 3-14

Burns 2-2

Zachery 1 (-6)

PASSING

Newton 9-14-0-186

Caudle 1-1-0-42

Trotter 1-1-0-13

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS ARKANSAS STATERECEIVING

Fannin 4-65

Carr 2-87

Adams 2-58

Winter 1-13

Dyer 1-9

Zachery 1-9

RUSHING

Lawson 16-45

Robertson 7-20

Aplin 12-(-22)

PASSING

Aplin 28-42-0-278

Butterfield 5-7-0-45

RECEIVING

Frampton 8-74

Stockemer 6-58

Muse 4-80

Henderson 4-22

Robinson 3-24

McCants 2-20

Smith 2-19

Lawson 2-17

Murry 2 -9

Auburn defensive lineman Nick Fairleyapplies pressure to Arkansas Statequarterback Ryan Aplin.

016.017.ArkState:Layout 1 1/3/11 9:00 PM Page 2

Auburn sophomore running back,Onterio McCalebb rushes pastArkansas State defenders.


Auburn Inching Up BothMajor Polls

Auburn's win against Arkansas State gave it amodest bump in both major polls. The Tigersjumped three spots in the latest USA Today

coaches' poll, from No. 23 to a tie for No. 20. Theymoved up one spot in the Associated Press poll to No.21.

The Tigers had 371 points in the coaches' poll aftergetting 260 the first week. They're tied with Utah atNo. 23, moving ahead of Pittsburgh, North Carolinaand Oregon State, who all lost in their openers.

Auburn is one of seven SEC teams in the rankings,joining No. 1 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, No. 15Arkansas, No. 16 LSU, No. 19 Georgia and No. 25South Carolina.

In the AP poll, Auburn had 362 points, just behindUtah at no. 20 and ahead of Georgia at No. 22.

Coaches' poll snapshot:19. LSU (1-0) 384 points, LW: 21

20. Utah (1-0) 365 points, LW: NR

21. Auburn (1-0) 362 points, LW: 22

22. Georgia (1-0) 353 points, LW: 23

23. West Virginia (1-0) 226 points, LW: 25

AP poll snapshot:18. Florida State (1-0) 500 points, LW: 20

19. Georgia (1-0) 458 points, LW: 21

20. Auburn (1-0) 371 points, LW: 23

20. Utah (1-0) 371 points, LW: t24

22. West Virginia (1-0) 185 points, LW: t24


AP Images

020.021.MissState:Layout 1 12/29/10 11:34 AM Page 1

AUBURNMISSISSIPPI STATE9.9.2010 | Davis Wade Stadium | Starkville, MS

AP RANK

21 17

14


AuAuburn'burn'ss DefeDefensnsee StepsSteps UpUp,, HoldsHolds OnOn TToo BeatBeat MMississippiississippiState 17-14

By ANDY BITTER

STARKVILLE, Miss. — With its All-SEC left tackleand starting running back sidelined by injuries,Auburn’s offense had plenty of issues, even before it

took into account the deafening noise of 55,000 constantlyclanging cowbells.

It’s a good thing the Tigers’ much-maligned defense came tothe rescue.

No. 20 Auburn’s defense silenced its critics with an inspiredperformance in the SEC opener, holding Mississippi Satescoreless for the final 24 minutes of the Tigers’ 17-14nail-biter of a victory Thursday night at Davis WadeStadium.

“There are a lot of experts out there,” oft-criticized Auburndefensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “I was really proud ofhow hard they fought together and hung together. It wasn’t

AP Images

Auburn running back OnterioMcCalebb picks up some toughyardage against theMississippi State defense.

022.023.MissState:Layout 1 12/29/10 12:01 PM Page 1

always pretty, but to hold them to 240 yards, I’m reallyproud of that.”

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the offensive star forthe second straight week, throwing for two first-halftouchdowns and accounting for 208 total yards. But whenGus Malzahn’s high-octane offense stalled after halftime,Roof ’s beleaguered defensive unit saved the day.

The Bulldogs (1-1, 0-1 SEC) trimmed the Tigers’ lead tothree, 17-14, with 8:55 left in the third quarter, but Auburn’sdefense allowed only 73 yards the rest of the game, thwartinga potential game-winning drive in the closing seconds.

Mississippi State got as close as Auburn’s 41-yard line in thefinal minute but couldn’t get in field-goal range. Widereceiver Leon Berry dropped a pass on third-and-10 thatwould have gotten the ball inside the Tigers’ 15.

On fourth-and-10, quarterback Chris Relf threw a deep passwhile Berry cut short his route. As the ball fluttered to theground, Auburn’s sideline broke out in celebration.

“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to coach Roof,” Auburn headcoach Gene Chizik said. “He had a great game plan goingon. He worked hard on getting the right players in the rightspot. They played as hard as I’ve seen them play.”

Auburn (2-0, 1-0) has won 17 of its last 18 SEC openers.

“That’s what you get in the SEC: Road games and dogfights,” Fairley said.

The Tigers got all of their offense in the first half, building a17-7 lead. Newton continued to show he’s a dual threat,throwing touchdown passes to Emory Blake and DarvinAdams and getting 59 of his 70 rushing yards before thebreak.

But things bogged down. Left tackle Lee Ziemba left in thesecond quarter with a right knee injury and watched thesecond half in street clothes. In the fourth quarter, runningback Mario Fannin suffered a stinger to his shoulder after ahard collision near the sideline.

Auburn gained 133 yards but failed to score in the secondhalf.

MSU seized momentum, marching 63 yards in just under sixminutes to start the second half, pulling within 17-14 on

Vick Ballard’s 1-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs thencaught Auburn napping with an onside kick as the cowbellnoise reached a fever pitch.

But the Tigers’ defense, which came under fire after allowing366 yards and 26 points to Arkansas State in the opener,clamped down.

Auburn forced three straight three-and-outs and allowed 25yards on the fourth drive before linebacker Josh Bynessniffed out a shovel pass on third-and-4, stuffing BrandonHenderson for no gain and forcing a punt.

The Tigers had three sacks and four hurries of MSU’squarterback rotation of Relf and Tyler Russell, whocombined to go 16-for-35 for 129 yards.

Fairley was all over the field, intercepting a pass, falling on afumble and finishing with 1.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss andthree quarterback hurries.

“We said it was going to be man against man,” Fairley said.“We had to man up.”

The Bulldogs had one final chance after they blocked a37-yard Wes Byrum field goal that would have given Auburna touchdown lead with 2:19 to play.

Aided by a pass interference call against Neiko Thorpe, MSUmoved 39 yards to the brink of field-goal range, before theTigers made their final stand, forcing four straightincompletions.

“Th“That’at’ss wwhahatt youyou gegett iinnththee SSEC:EC: RoadRoad gagammesesandand dogdog ffiighghts,”ts,” FairlFairleyeysasaidid..

All In: Auburn’s Run to the National Championship 23

022.023.MissState:Layout 1 12/29/10 12:02 PM Page 2

Auburn 15th In Coaches'Poll, 16th In AP Poll

Auburn moved up five spots in both major pollsSunday, coming in 15th in the latest USA Todaycoaches' poll and 16th in the Associated Press

poll.

The Tigers were tied for 20th last week in the coaches'poll. Auburn (2-0, 1-0 SEC) is one of six SEC teams inthe top-16, joining Alabama (1), Florida (7), LSU (12),Arkansas (13) and South Carolina (16).

Auburn was 21st last week in the AP poll. It is the lowestranked of the six SEC teams by the media, followingAlabama (1), Florida (10), Arkansas (12), South Carolina(13) and LSU (15).

Clemson, the Tigers' opponent Saturday, is the first teamin the others receiving votes category of the coaches' poll.Clemson is 37th in the AP voting.

Coaches' poll snapshot:13. Arkansas, 2-0, 738 points, LW: 1514. Utah, 2-0, 625 points, LW: 20 (tie)15. Auburn, 2-0, 618 points, LW: 20 (tie)16. South Carolina, 2-0, 527 points, LW: 2517. Miami (Fla.), 1-1, 417 points, LW: 12

AP poll snapshot:14. Utah, 2-0, 627 points, LW: 2015. LSU, 2-0, 595 points, LW: 1916. Auburn, 2-0, 538 points, LW: 2117. Miami, 1-1, 530 points, LW: 1218. Southern California, 2-0, 481 points, LW: 16

Since receiving a one-year window to prove it can clangits cowbells with discretion, Mississippi State has urgedits fan to ring responsibly.

Thursday night’s game against Auburn will be the first majortest to the SEC’s new guidelines.

The SEC revisited a 36-year ban on artificial noisemakers atthe league meetings in Destin, Fla., last spring, coming upwith a cowbell compromise that allows Bulldogs fans to ringthem at specific times during a football game.

“That’s just one of the things that makes a place unique,”Auburn left tackle Lee Ziemba said. “It’s one of the theirtraditions, just like we have traditions. You have to look pastit. It’s out of our control. You just have to play through it.”

Fans may ring the bells before the game, at halftime, duringtimeouts and after scores.Violations of those guidelines could result in the schoolreceiving escalating fines: $5,000 for a first offense, $25,000for a second and $50,000 for a third. No in-game penaltywill be assessed.

Unauthorized cowbell use surged last year as Dan Mullenreinvigorated the program, prompting the SEC to revisit thesituation in the offseason.

Although Bulldogs fans followed the rules in a 49-7 winagainst Memphis last Saturday, Thursday night’s matchup— an ESPN game that is the SEC opener for both schools— figures to be a more lively atmosphere.

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik didn’t sound concerned.The Tigers usually have one practice before road games theydesignate as a “noise day” in order to prepare for hostilecrowds.

“In my opinion, every place is really, really loud in the leagueand every place has its challenges,” Chizik said. “We don’treally think of that any different with the noise factor. We’lljust prepare like we always do.”

From a player’s perspective, however, it’s hard not to noticethem.

“Those cowbells, I’m glad they put those rules on them,”linebacker Josh Bynes said. “They used to ring them every

three seconds.”

Does Bynes think the MSU fans will respect the rulesThursday?

“Naw,” he said with a laugh.

More Cowbell? Auburn Expects To Hear The BellsA-Ringin' In Starkville

By ANDY BITTER



RUSHING

Newton 18-70

McCalebb 12-68

Dyer 9-48

Fannin 5-6

Smith 1-0

PASSING

Newton 11-19-1-136

Burns 1-2-0-22

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS MISSISSIPPI STATE

RECEIVING

Zachery 4-32

Adams 3-38

Blake 2-39

Newton 1-22

Fannin 1-14

Smith 1-13

RUSHING

Bumphis 3-27

Reilf 14-26

Hanrahan 3-21

Elliott 4-14

Ballard 5-13

Perkins 3-10

Hemphill 1-6

PASSING

Relf 12-26-0-110

Russell 4-9-1-19

RECEIVING

Bumphis 5-34

Clark 2-28

Smith 2-21

Heavens 2-6

Ballard 1-22

Green 1-11

Hanrahan 1-4

Elliott 1-3

Henderson 1-0

AUBURN


MISSISSIPPISTATE

7 10 0 0 17

7 0 7 0 14

1ST QUARTERAU Blake 39 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 11:22

MS Jackson fumble recovery in the end zone (Brauchle kick) 2:30

AU Adams 12 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 8:37


2ND QUARTER

MS Ballard 1 yd run (Brauchle kick) 8:55

3RD QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 21 16






INTERCEPTION RETURNS-YDS 1--1-0 1-0-0

PUNTS-AVG. 39.2 41.6






RED-ZONE SCORED-CHANCES 2-3 2-2

STATISTICS AU MS


026.027.Clemson:Layout 1 1/3/11 9:13 PM Page 1

AUBURNCLEMSON9.18.2010 | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

AP RANK

16 27

24


Auburn Rallies, Wins In Overtime Over ClemsonClemson’s overtime field goal goes wide left to preserve Auburn’s comeback win

By ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — It wasn’t as gut-churning as lastseason’s Outback Bowl overtime thriller, but Saturdaynight’s win might have been just as satisfying for No.

16 Auburn.

The Tigers rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit andsurvived an overtime session at Jordan-Hare Stadium,coming away with a 27-24 overtime victory against Clemsonto remain unbeaten.

Wes Byrum made a 39-yard field goal for Auburn (3-0) tostart overtime.

Clemson’s Chandler Catanzaro couldn’t match, hooking a32-yarder wide left into the blue-clad Auburn studentsection that erupted in celebration.

“We just want to make it exciting, that’s for sure” saidAuburn coach Gene Chizik, who has two overtime victoriesin his last four games. “I couldn’t be more proud of just theway they responded.”

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was 7-for-14 for 203yards and two touchdowns but threw two interceptions, partof a hit-or-miss night for the Tigers’ offense, which gained308 of its 424 yards and scored 24 of its points in the secondhalf and overtime.

Onterio McCalebb ran for 81 yards, Mike Dyer 69 andNewton 68.

Darvin Adams caught five balls for 118 yards as Auburn dugout of a deep first-half hole, the team’s biggest comeback winsince erasing a 17-point deficit against Syracuse in a tripleovertime 2002 win.

“You are always trying to figure out who your football teamis,” Chizik said. “And you never know until you get intosituations where you’ve basically embarked on unchartedterritory, which is where we were tonight.”

It didn’t have as many twists and turns as the Outback Bowl,which was prematurely declared over on two occasions, butSaturday’s game was thrilling nonetheless.

Auburn got the ball first in overtime but couldn’t get a firstdown. After two short runs, Newton’s pass to Adams in the

end zone fell incomplete, setting up Byrum’s 39-yarder thatsplit the uprights.

Clemson (2-1) got to the Auburn 8 on its possession beforestalling out, narrowly missing a game-winning touchdownpass when Kyle Parker, rolling out to his right, led a wideopen Jaron Brown by too much in the end zone.

It set up a 26-yard field goal that Catanzaro made, but theplay was whistled dead for motion up front. Clemson’splayers pointed as though Auburn had jumped offsides,which might have given the visiting Tigers a first downinside the 5-yard line.

After a brief meeting, the officials ruled an illegal snapagainst Clemson’s Matt Skinner, backing the ball up 5 yards.

It made a difference. Catanzaro’s second kick started left andstayed there.

The way things started, overtime seemed like a longshot.Clemson proved its 2-0 start was no fluke, racing to a 17-0lead behind Parker’s two first-half touchdown passes toJamie Harper. Parker finished 21-for-35 for 227 yards.

Auburn managed only a fraction of that in the first half,continuing an offensive funk that carried over from ascoreless second half at Mississippi State nine days ago.

The Tigers had 78 yards in the first half, not getting a firstdown until midway through the second quarter. Theymanaged a 35-yard field goal by Byrum as the clock expiredthat ended a 64-minute, 29-second scoreless streak.

Newton, in particular, was off his game, going 1-for-7 for 23yards and an interception before the break.

“I said we are not changing our body language,” Chizik said.“We are not changing what we do.”

Auburn looked like a different team in the third quarter,out-gaining Clemson 258-46 and scoring 21 straight points.

McCalebb tip-toed the sideline for a 12-yard touchdownrun, before Newton completed an 8-yard touchdown pass toAdams just inside the pylon to tie the game.



Auburn went big on its next drive, with Newton and TerrellZachery hooking up on a 78-yard stop-and-go route up thesideline for a touchdown and 24-17 lead.

Not to be out-done, Clemson answered with a 77-yard drivecapped by Andre Ellington’s 2-yard touchdown run that tiedthe game at 24. Ellington had 22 carries for 140 yards.

“It was a sloppy win,” Chizik said. “There were things that weare going to look back and not like. … We can’t win gamesconsistently doing that, but we can win games if we play witha lot of heart.”

“We just want to make it exciting,that’s for sure” said Auburn coachGene Chizik, who has two overtimevictories in his last four games. “Icouldn’t be more proud of just theway they responded.”

Auburn’s strong safety ZacEtheridge and Auburn’s defensiveback Neiko Thorpe bring downClemson’s running back JamieHarper.

AllAll InIn:: AuAububurnrn’ss RRunun toto ththee Natitiononalal CChhamampionpionshshipip 2929


RUSHING

McCalebb 10-81

Dyer 16-69

Newton 17-68

Reed 2-8

Zachary 2 (-5)

PASSING

Newton 7-14-2-203


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS CLEMSON

RECEIVING

Adams 5-118

Zachery 1-78

Smith 1-7

RUSHING

Ellington 22-140

Harper 19-44

Brown 1-6

McNeal 1-(-1)

Parker 4(-2)

PASSING

Parker 20-34-0-220

RECEIVING

Allen 5-66

Ellington 4-48

Jones 4-19

Harper 3-48

Dye 2-27

Mcneal 1-8

Brown 1-4

AUBURN

TEAM 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH OT FINAL

CLEMSON

0 3 21 0 3 27

7 10 0 7 0 24

1ST QUARTERCU Harper 8 yd pass from Parker (Catanzaro kick) 8:59

CU Catanzaro 42 yd field goal 8:19

CU Harper 24 yd pass from Parker (Catanzaro kick) 1:14


2ND QUARTER

AU McCalebb 12 yd run (Byrum kick) 8:24


AU Zachery 78 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 1:03

3RD QUARTER

CU Ellington 2 yd run (Catanzaro kick) 12:36

4TH QUARTER

STATISTICS CU AU

AU Byrum 39 yd field goal in overtime 15:00

OVERTIME

FIRST DOWNS 27 17







PUNTS-AVG. 7-41.3 6-40.2







030.031.Clemson:Layout 1 1/4/11 9:23 AM Page 1


Bynes Named SEC Defensive Player Of The WeekBy ANDY BITTER

For the second straight week, an Auburn player nabbedSEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Linebacker Josh Bynes earned the award Monday, after astrong performance in Auburn's 27-24 win against Clemsonon Saturday night.

The senior from Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., made 11 tackles,had two tackles for a loss and made a pass deflection. The 11tackles are the most for a Tigers player this year.

It was Bynes' fifth double-digit tackle effort of his career. Hismost was 12 against West Virginia last year.

Bynes leads Auburn and is ninth in the SEC with 23 tackles.

Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who won the award last week,got an honorable mention after finishing with seven tackles,a sack and four quarterback pressures.

030.031.Clemson:Layout 1 1/4/11 9:25 AM Page 2

Auburn kick returnerDemond Washingtonreturns a kick for Auburn.

Mixed Reviews: AuburnUp One Spot To 14th InCoaches' Poll, Down OneSpot To 17th In AP Poll

The voters had mixed feelings about Auburn's27-24 win against Clemson.

The Tigers moved up one spot in the latest USAToday coaches' poll to 14th but dropped one spot inthe Associated Press poll to 17th.

The Tigers are the fifth highest SEC team in thecoaches' poll, behind Alabama (No. 1), Florida (8),Arkansas (11) and LSU (12) and just ahead of thisweek's opponent, South Carolina (15).

They're sixth in the AP poll, behind Alabama (1),Florida (9), Arkansas (10), South Carolina (12) andLSU (15)

Auburn moved past Iowa in the coaches' poll. TheHawkeyes dropped from 10th to 18th following aloss at Arizona.

But the Tigers got passed by Arizona and Stanford inthe AP poll. The Wildcats made a 10-spot jump from24th to 14th. The Cardinal went from 16th to 19th.

Coaches' poll snapshot:12. LSU (3-0), 801 points, LW: 1213. Utah (3-0), 693 points, LW: 1414. Auburn (3-0), 655 points, LW: 1515. South Carolina (3-0), 612 points, LW: 1616. Arizona (3-0), 610 points, LW: 18

AP poll snapshot:15. LSU (3-0), 654 points, LW: 1516. Stanford (3-0), 606 points, LW: 1917. Auburn (3-0), 600 points, LW: 1618: Iowa (2-1), 482 points, LW: 919: Miami (Fla.) (1-1), 472 points, LW: 17


034.035.SCarolina:Layout 1 12/29/10 1:16 PM Page 1

AUBURNS CAROLINA9.25.2010 | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

AP RANK

17 35

27AP RANK

12


3636 AllAll In:In: Auburn’Auburn’ss RRunun toto thethe NationalNational ChampionshipChampionship

Tigers Find Successful Formula In Comeback VictoryOver South CarolinaBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn lived dangerously againSaturday night, digging itself into a deep first-halfhole against a talented team from the Palmetto State

for the second straight week.

Somehow, it’s been a successful formula.

The No. 17 Tigers overcame a 13-point deficit against No.12 South Carolina, using a strong second half to pull out a35-27 win before a near-capacity Jordan-Hare Stadiumcrowd.

Quarterback Cam Newton accounted for 334 total yards

and five touchdowns, and the defense forced four turnoversin the fourth quarter to help Auburn (4-0, 2-0 SEC) escapevictorious in its third straight nail-biter.

“We are a special bunch,” Newton said. “I’m just blessed tobe on a team like this, with guys who want to get better eachweek and who aren’t getting up on each other no matter thesituation.”

Auburn has won its past three games against MississippiState, Clemson and South Carolina by a combined 14points. It needed two fourth-quarter defensive stands and amissed field goal in overtime to finish September with a


All InIn: Auburn’s Run to the National Chhamampionship 37

“Our guys responded,” Chizik said. “It’s notalways pretty. But these guys are fighting,clawing, scratching, trying to find a way to winevery week.”

perfect record for the second time under coach Gene Chizik.

“Our guys responded,” Chizik said. “It’s not always pretty.But these guys are fighting, clawing, scratching, trying tofind a way to win every week.”

The Tigers out-scored the Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 SEC) 21-7in the second half, leaning heavily on Newton and aball-hawking defense that rattled South Carolina’squarterbacks.

Auburn forced two fumbles by USC quarterback StephenGarcia in the fourth quarter, both in Gamecocks territory.

Newton threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to PhilipLutzenkirchen after the first to give the Tigers a 28-27 lead.He hit Emory Blake with a screen pass after the second for a12-yard score and 35-27 lead with 6:23 to play.

“You just read Cam’s numbers and they speak forthemselves,” Chizik said. “He was a huge reason we won thefootball game.”

The defense took it from there. South Carolina coach SteveSpurrier benched Garcia for backup Connor Shaw. He threwinterceptions on his only two possessions. Linebacker JoshBynes snagged the first one deep in Auburn territory.Cornerback Demond Washington grabbed the second in theend zone on a tipped ball in the final minute to preserve thewin.

Auburn had forced only two turnovers the first three games.

“They’re a mystery,” Chizik said. “Sometimes you can’t getone for eight or nine quarters, then you’ll get four in a half,like we did tonight.”


38 All In: Auburn’s Runun to the National Championship

Auburn’s defensive game plan was to stop freshman phenomMarcus Lattimore, a former Tigers recruit who entered theday second in the league in rushing, averaging 111 yards pergame. Lattimore carried the ball 14 times Saturday for 33yards and a touchdown, averaging only 2.4 yards per carry.

“We stopped the run early,” Chizik said. “That, in ouropinion, was the key to them throwing the football and ushaving a chance at turnovers.”

But Auburn still found itself in a hole early. After trailingClemson 17-0 in the first half last week, the Tigers foundthemselves down 20-7 in the second quarter Saturday.

Garcia was sharp early, hooking up with receiver AlshonJeffery for touchdowns of 30 and 6 yards. Garcia threw for158 of his 235 yards in the first half. Jeffery, the SEC’sleading receiver, had eight catches for 192 yards.

But Auburn managed to stay close, going on a 12-play,76-yard drive just before halftime that ended with a 3-yardrun by Newton to cut the deficit to 20-14.

The Tigers broke through against the weary South Carolinadefense in the second half.

Auburn ran 49 plays after the break, compared to SouthCarolina’s 22, dominating the time of possession battle bynearly 10 minutes.

Newton ran for a career-high 176 yards, but he finally gotsome help. Freshman Mike Dyer, the game’s other highlytouted freshman running back, overcame a first-half fumbleto get 23 carries for 100 yards. He was the first Tigersrunning back to top the century mark in a game this season.

Auburn finished with 334 rushing yards against a SouthCarolina defense that had allowed only 179 rushing yards itsfirst three games, a mark that led the SEC and was sixthnationally.

“When we got them tired, I thought we could run thefootball more,” Chizik said.

The performance came after Chizik publicly challenged hisoffensive line to be more physical at the point of attack.

“They got a beating from coach Chizik, to say the least,”Newton said. “They did what they were coached to do, andit showed.”

Auburn 10th In AP Poll,11th In Coaches' Poll

Auburn continued its upward mobility in the polls,moving up seven spots in the Associated Press pollto No. 10 and three spots in the USA Today

coaches' poll to No. 11.

Auburn, which beat South Carolina 35-27 Saturday, isthe third highest-ranked SEC team in the AP poll,behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 7 Florida.

The Tigers haven't been ranked in the AP top-10 since

Auburn defensive end MichaelGoggans reacts after a key tackle.


AllAll InIn: AuAububurnrn’’ss RRunun toto ththee NNaatitiononalal CChhamampionpionshshipip 3939

the Sept. 14 poll of 2008, when they were 3-0 and the No.10 team in the country.

They are the fourth-highest SEC team in the coaches' poll,behind No. 1 Alabama, No. 7 Florida and No. 10 LSU.

South Carolina dropped 12th to 19th in the AP poll and15th to 22nd in the coaches' poll.

Auburn leapfrogged a number of teams in the AP poll,jumping Arkansas, Arizona, Utah, LSU and Wisconsin. Ofthose teams, only the Razorbacks lost.

The Tigers moved past Utah, Arkansas and Texas in thecoaches' poll.

Coaches' poll snapshot:9. Wisconsin (4-0), 989 points, LW: 1010. LSU (4-0), ,896 points, LW: 1211. Auburn (4-0), 828 points, LW: 1412. Utah (4-0), 790 points, LW: 1313. Stanford (4-0), 744 points, LW: 17

AP poll snapshot:8. Oklahoma (4-0), 1,095 points, LW: 89. Stanford (4-0), 891 points, LW: 1610. Auburn (4-0), 852 points, LW: 1711. Wisconsin (4-0), 852 points, LW: 1112. LSU (4-0), 804 points, LW: 15


AUBURN


SOUTHCAROLINA

7 7 7 14 35

14 6 7 0 27

1ST QUARTERAU Newton 54 yd run (Byrum kick) 8:50

SC Jeffery 30 yd pass from Garcia (Lanning kick) 5:32

SC Lattimore 1 yd run (Lanning kick) 1:04



2ND QUARTER


SC Gurley 3 yd pass from Garcia (Lanning kick) 4:45

3RD QUARTER

AU Lutzenkirchen 7 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 13:35

AU Blake 12 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 6:23

4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 20 29


PASSING 305 158

ATT-COMP-INT 29-19-2 21-16-0

PUNT RETURNYARDS 0-0 1-10

KICKOFF RETURN YARDS 6-123 5-114


PUNTS-AVG. 3-48.0 2-34.0







STATISTICS SC AU

040.041.SCarolina:Layout 1 1/4/11 9:16 AM Page 1


RUSHING

Newton 25-180

Dyer 23-100

McCalebb 7-56

Fannin 1-5

PASSING

Newton 16-21-0-158

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS S CAROLINARECEIVING

Zachery 4-49

Adams 4-45

Blake 3-33

Lutzenkirchen 3-22

Smith 1-6

Fannin 1-3

RUSHING

Lattimore 14-33

Garcia 10-21

Maddox 2-13

Shaw 2-12

PASSING

Garcia 15-21-0-235

Shaw 4-8-2-70

RECEIVING

Jeffery 8-192

Gurley 4-36

Lattimore 3-28

Maddox 2-27

Dimarco 1-11

Sanders 1-11

040.041.SCarolina:Layout 1 1/4/11 9:19 AM Page 2

Cam Newton For Heisman? Gene Chizik Thinks The QB'sNumbers Grab People's Attention

By ANDY BITTER

Cam Newton's Heisman candidacy was brought up during today's teleconference with Auburn coach Gene Chizik.Surprisingly, Chizik didn't dodge the question.

"I’m not going to act like I’m an expert on that, but I think his numbers certainly grab people’s attention," Chizik said. "Inthat regard, I don’t know where they’ll go with that, but I think he’s played really well."

Newton has put up Heisman-worthy stats in leading the No. 10 Tigers to a 4-0 start. He leads the SEC and is 11th nationally,averaging 121.3 rushing yards per game.

As a passer, the junior is second nationally in passing efficiency (182.5) and is the first quarterback in Auburn history to throwfor at least two touchdowns in each of his first four games.

Newton, who is second in the SEC in total offense (292.0 ypg) has accounted for 14 touchdowns this year (9 passing, 5rushing).

"He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do," Chizik said. "And the people who make that decision won’t be me. But he’splayed really well."


AllAll InIn:: AuAububurnrn’’ss RRunun toto ththee NNaatitiononalal CChhamampionpionshshipip 4343

QBQB CaCamm NewtNewton,on, DDTTMiMikeke BBlalancnc EEarnarn SSECECPlayPlayerer OOff ThThee WeekWeekHonHonorsors

ByBy ANDANDYY BIBITTERTTER

For the second time in a month, Auburnquarterback Cam Newton was named theSEC's Offensive Player of the Week.

Newton accounted for 334 yards and fivetouchdowns in Auburn's 35-27 victory againstSouth Carolina last Saturday, the second timehe's been involved in five touchdowns in a gamethis season.

Defensive tackle Mike Blanc was also honored asthe Defensive Lineman of the Week. The seniorhad a career-high seven tackles (three solos) and a fumblerecovery against South Carolina. He was part of the Tigers'defensive line that held the Gamecocks to 79 rushing yards,119 below their season average.

Newton ran for a career-high 176 yards and threetouchdowns. He now has the second- and third-highestsingle-game rushing totals by a quarterback in school history.

Newton also completed 16 of 21 passes for 176 yards andtwo touchdowns. He's the first Auburn quarterback to throwfor at least two touchdowns in each of his first four games.

He leads the SEC and is 11th nationally in rushing (121.3ypg) and is atop the the conference and fourth nationally inpassing efficiency (182.46). He's also second in the leagueand 18th nationally in total offense (292.0 ypg).

Newton is the first Auburn player to earn SEC OffensivePlayer of the Week honors twice in the same season sinceKenny Irons in 2005.

It's never too early to begin the Heisman hype.

And just for comparison's sake, here's how Newton stacks upthrough four games against Tim Tebow's Heisman Trophy2007 season:

Tebow: 65-95 passing, 1096 yards, 68%, 10 TD; 70 rushes,368 yards, 7 TD (played Western Kentucky, Troy, Tennesseeand Ole Miss, record: 4-0)

Newton: 43-68 passing, 683 yards, 63%, 9 TD; 75 rushes,485 yards, 5 TD (played Arkansas State, Mississippi State,Clemson and South Carolina, record: 4-0).

Tebow had a little bit better numbers (especially passing),although he had an extra creampuff opponent in there. Thepoint is, you put up good stats on an SEC team that lookslike it's going to finish pretty high in the standings, andyou've put yourself in a good position to be a contender. Andnow that Auburn is in the top 10 -- and if it can stay there --Newton will get plenty more national recognition thanbefore.

Of course, as Ryan Mallett learned, that also meansperforming your best when the nation is watching. SoNewton will undoubtedly need big games against Arkansas,LSU, Georgia and Alabama to warrant serious consideration,which is asking a lot.

Is this premature? Probably. Then again, it'sLouisiana-Monroe week. Got to write about something.


044.045.Monroe:Layout 1 12/29/10 1:59 PM Page 1

AUBURNLOUISIANA-MONROE10.2.2010 | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

AP RANK

10 52

3


4646 AllAll In:In: Auburn’Auburn’s RRunun toto thethe NationalNational ChampionshipChampionship

BlBlowoowoutut Off Louisiana-Monrooee Gives Tigerers's' FansFans,, StartersAA BreBreakak

Tigers take care of business without dramaBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — After giving its fans heartpalpitations for three straight weeks, Auburn allowedthem to rest easy Saturday.

The No. 10 Tigers didn’t need a huge comeback,fourth-quarter defensive stand or a fortuitous field-goal missin an easy 52-3 win against Louisiana-Monroe atJordan-Hare Stadium.

“It was a very bizarre feeling, very bizarre,” said Auburncoach Gene Chizik, who’s grown accustomed to nail-biters.“But I will take it every time.”

Auburn (5-0) got everything it wanted out of its finaltune-up before getting to the heart of the SEC schedule,building an early lead and getting the backups plenty ofwork.

Sixty-eight players got in the game for the Tigers, giving thestarters down time. Quarterback Cam Newton threw for245 yards and three touchdowns in 2 1/2 quarters.Defensive end Antoine Carter didn’t play a snap.

The second team took over midway through the thirdquarter, and the third team finished off the fourth, animportant note as Auburn heads into what Chizik called a“brutal” four-game stretch at Kentucky, home againstArkansas and LSU and on the road at Mississippi.

“There are guys who we felt like are bumped and bruisedup,” Chizik said. “We have to watch out. It is a long roadhere before we get any week off. We are just trying to be veryprudent on how we proceed.”

The Tigers produced 505 yards of offense, avoiding the slowstart that led to 17- and 13-points deficits against Clemsonand South Carolina. Onterio McCalebb raced around theedge for a 50-yard touchdown on the game’s second play,scoring after only 32 seconds had elapsed.

Auburn went up 14-0 on its next drive when Newton founda wide-open Emory Blake for a 94-yard touchdown that wasthe longest play from scrimmage in school history.“We never want to let a team get hope and string it out

through all four quarters,” offensive coordinator GusMalzahn said. “When we had time to make plays, we madethe plays.”

Mike Dyer’s 3-yard touchdown run and Quindarius Carr’s16-yard touchdown catch gave Auburn a 31-3 halftime lead.

Newton completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight endPhilip Lutzenkirchen at the 6:09 mark of the third quarterbefore exiting.

The dual-threat quarterback showed off only half his skills.Newton, whose 121.3-yard rushing average led the SECentering the day, didn’t have a designed run all afternoon,finishing with -11 yards rushing after being sacked once.

“There’s no reason to take hits when he doesn’t need to,”center Ryan Pugh said.

“I think it just speaks for itself that I didn’t need to run theball,” Newton said. “A couple of guys picked up the torchand ran with it.”

Senior tailback Mario Fannin, who has been slowed by ashoulder injury and a fumbling problem, got the most work,running for 89 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. Hegot 10 carries, the first time he has reached double digitssince his sophomore year.

“I think his confidence is getting back up there,” Chiziksaid.

Nine players had at least one carry and nine more had atleast one reception. Backup quarterbacks Barrett Trotter andClint Moseley made an appearance, although Trotter cameout after being shaken up at the end of an 18-yardtouchdown run.

Defensively, Auburn allowed 232 passing yards but notmuch else. ULM quarterback Kolton Browning went25-for-33 by completing quick, short passes, but the Tigersdidn’t give up anything big and limited the Warhawks (1-3)to 38 rushing yards on 33 carries.



“We really wanted to come in and make a statement,”cornerback T’Sharvan Bell said. “No matter what the scorewas, we just wanted to play hard and do a good job. Theyonly got three. We’re happy with that.”

Auburn forced four turnovers for the second straight week.Safety Zac Etheridge intercepted a pass on a fake field goal,and the reserves recovered three fumbles in the second half.

The Tigers are 5-0 for the second straight season, althoughlast year’s team went into an October nose dive, losing threestraight.

“This year’s team is very special and is very capable of takingthat extra step rather than taking a step back,” Newton said.

Said Chizik: “Our best game is still lurking out there.”

“This year’s team is veryspecial and is very capableof taking that extra steprather than taking a stepback,” Newton said.

Auburn strong safety ZacEtheridge intercepts a passon a fake field goal attempt.

AP Images


DT Nick Fairley Earns SEC Defensive Lineman Of TheWeek Honors For The Second Time This YearBy ANDY BITTER

Another week, another award for Auburn. Defensive tackle NickFairley was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for hisperformance against Louisiana-Monroe.

It's the second time Fairley has won an SEC award. He won SEC DefensivePlayer of the Week after Auburn's victory against Mississippi State.

The Tigers have been honored by the SEC on offense or defense six times infive weeks (Cam Newton twice, Fairley twice and Josh Bynes and MikeBlanc once each).

Fairley, a junior, dominated the Warhawks, despite playing barely any snapsin the second half. He had four tackles, getting three tackles for a loss of 16yards. One was a sack of eight yards.

Fairley leads the SEC in sacks (5) and tackles for loss (11.5). He is tied forsixth nationally in sacks and tied for third in TFLs.

Asked yesterday if he had taken his game to another level this year, Fairleysaid, "A little bit. I'm not saying I've gotten all the attention. The guysaround me have helped me, for real. If it weren't for Antoine Carter a couple of times, the quarterback would have beenstepping out of the pocket. ...

"Working together as a unit. A unit thing. That's basically helping me out, allowing me to make plays."

Auburn Up To No. 8 In AP,Coaches' Polls

Auburn came in at No. 8 in both major polls thisweek. The Tigers moved up two spots in the latestAssociated Press poll to No. 8, its highest ranking

since November of 2006. They moved up three spots in thecoaches' poll.

The Tigers (5-0) jumped Florida and Stanford in the APrankings after beating Louisiana-Monroe 52-3 on Saturday.They hopped Florida, Wisconsin and LSU in the coaches'poll.

Auburn is the second highest ranked SEC team after No. 1Alabama. The Tigers are one of six SEC teams in the APpoll, joining Arkansas (No. 11), LSU (No. 12), Florida (No.14) and South Carolina (No. 19).

Coaches’ poll snapshot:1. Alabama (5-0), 1,449 points, LW: 1 --> 57 first-place votes2. Ohio State (5-0), 1,377 points, LW: 2 --> 1 first-place vote

3. Oregon (5-0), 1,300 points, LW: 44. Boise State (4-0), 1,276 points, LW: 35. TCU (5-0), 1,187 points, LW: 56. Nebraska (4-0), 1,176 points, LW: 67. Oklahoma (5-0), 1,132 points, LW: 88. Auburn (5-0) 988 points, LW: 119. LSU (5-0), 930 points, LW: 1010. Utah (4-0), 868 points, LW: 12

AP poll snapshot:1. Alabama (5-0), 1,497 points, LW: 1 --> 58 first-place votes2. Ohio State (5-0), 1,401 points, LW: 2 --> 1 first-place vote3. Oregon (5-0), 1,379 points, LW: 44. Boise State (4-0), 1,341 points, LW: 3 --> 1 first-place vote5. TCU (5-0), 1,250 points, LW: 56. Oklahoma (5-0), 1,183 points, LW: 87. Nebraska (4-0), 1,1,72 points, LW: 68. Auburn (5-0), 1,045 points, LW: 109. Arizona (4-0), 898 points, LW: 1410. Utah (4-0), 860 points, LW: 13

048.049.Monroe:Layout 1 1/4/11 9:07 AM Page 1

RUSHING

Fannin 10-89

McCalebb 4-56

Trotter 2-29

Dyer 7-22

Zachery 1-17

Mosley 2-8

Burns 1-3

Newton 1- (-11)

PASSING

Newton 14-19-1-245

Trotter 3-5-0-27


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS LA-MONROE

RECEIVING

Zachery 4-50

Lutzenkirchen 4-41

Blake 2-101

Adams 2-25

Carr 1-16

Benton 1-15

Winter 1-15

Fannin 1-12

Kitchens 1- (-3)

RUSHING

Donald 9-27

Sanders 2-10

Wells 1-9

Ambrose 2-7

Goodin 5-6

Rhodes 1-3

Munoz 1 (-11)

Browning 12 (-13)

PASSING

Browning 25-33-0-203

Wells 4-8-1-29

RECEIVING

Ambrose 7-56

Maye 6-45

Edwards 4-26

Sanders 3-27

Leonard 2-34

McCall 2-15

Goodin 2-13

Russell 1-7

Steed 1-6

Lovett 1-3

AUBURN


LOUISIANA-MONROE

17 14 7 14 52

3 0 0 0 3

1ST QUARTERAU McCalebb 50 yd run (Byrum kick) 14:28


ULM Jabour 35 yd field goal 4:31



AU Carr 16 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 2:41

2ND QUARTER

AU Lutzenkirchen 5 yd pass from Newton 6:09

FIRST DOWNS 20 22







PUNTS-AVG. 4-38.0 1-22.0







STATISTICS ULM AU

3RD QUARTER

AU Fannin 2 yd run (Byrum kick) 14:55

AU Trotter 18 yd run (Byrum kick) 8:46

4TH QUARTER

048.049.Monroe:Layout 1 1/4/11 9:09 AM Page 2

050.051.Kentucky:Layout 1 12/29/10 2:22 PM Page 1

AUBURNKENTUCKY

10.9.2010 | Commonwealth Stadium | Lexington, KY

AP RANK

8 37

34



TTigersigers KeepKeep FindFindinging WaWaysys ToTo WinWin,, RemRemaainin UUndefeatedndefeatedWWithith VicVicttory OveOver KKentuctuckyky

Byrum’s 24-yard field goal lifts Tigers to 6-0By ANDY BITTER

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After Wes Byrum’s most famousfield goal, the Auburn kicker broke out the Gatorchomp, gleefully mimicking Florida’s signature clap as

he ran down the field in Gainesville as a freshman three yearsago.

After making a 24-yarder to lift the No. 8 Tigers to a crazy37-34 win against Kentucky on Saturday night, the seniorhad a more subdued reaction.

Byrum’s first walk-off winner in three years helped Auburn(6-0, 3-0 SEC) survive its fourth nail-biter, finally puttingaway a scrappy Kentucky team that trailed by 17 points ontwo occasions.

“We are finding interesting ways to end the games, but weare 6-0 and that is all that matters,” Auburn coach GeneChizik said. “I am so proud of our football team findingdifferent ways to win the game at the end.”

Byrum lined up for a 24-yarder, not much more than anextra point, with three seconds on the clock and drilled itdead center. Auburn players poured onto the field for asomewhat restrained celebration, considering the situation.

“I actually thought the offense was going to punch it in thereand score, and it was going to be the end of it,” Byrum said.“The defensive guys came up to me and I told them I wasgoing to knock this through for them because they had beenfighting the whole game.”

Tigers quarterback Cam Newton turned in another brilliantperformance, accounting for 408 yards. He got 198 of themon the ground and ran for four touchdowns, all in the firsthalf.

But his work on Auburn’s 19-play, 86-yard drive — a clockkiller that spanned 7 minutes, 22 seconds and set upByrum’s chip shot — was the most impressive part.

It almost never happened. After Kentucky tied the game at34, the Tigers narrowly averted disaster twice, recoveringDemond Washington’s fumble on a kick return at their 7

and watching as a Terrell Zachery fumble on a reverse tooka fortuitous bounce out of bounds.

When the ball was in Newton’s hands, Auburn didn’t have toworry. The junior methodically guided the drive, running10 times for 48 yards and helping Auburn convert threethird downs. He hit Darvin Adams on a crossing route onceand got to the markers with his legs on two other occasions.

“He’s a competitor,” Chizik said. “When the game’s on theline, he wants the ball in his hands.”

Newton’s last third-down conversion run, a 4-yard gainwhen the Tigers needed two, put the ball at the Kentucky11. After a run and a kneel down positioned the ball in themiddle of the field, Byrum drilled the game-winner.

“We feel very confident that when we put the ball in areasonable range, he’s going to hit it,” Chizik said.

It was his Byrum’s fifth career game-winning field goal andthe 51st of career, breaking the school record of 50 held byJohn Vaughn.

“It’s just a really cool thing,” Byrum said. “It’s humbling tobe up there with the names of the people that are with me.”

The way things started, it didn’t seem early like the gamewould even be close. Auburn stormed to a 31-14 lead in thesecond quarter, mostly thanks to Newton. He led four drivesthat spanned 78 yards or longer, finishing each with atouchdown.

Newton scored on runs of 16, 8, 5 and 3 yards in the firsthalf, tying Phil Gargis’ single-game quarterback record forrushing touchdowns set against Florida State in 1976.

Kentucky (3-3, 0-3) scored the next 17 points, however.Craig McIntosh made a 29-yard field goal as the halftimeclock expired.

Quarterback Mike Hartline and do-it-all receiver RandallCobb took over from there, picking up the slack with


running back Derrick Locke sidelined by a shoulder stinger.

Hartline completed 23 of 28 passes for 220 yards and atouchdown, a 16-yarder to Cobb on a slant pattern that cutthe lead to 31-24.

Cobb, who dabbled at receiver and quarterback, gave theTigers fits with his mobility, just like last season’s upset atJordan-Hare. The senior had ran for 47 yards, caught seven

passes for 68 yards and completed his only pass for a 6-yardtouchdown to tight end Jordan Aumiller.

He waltzed in for a 1-yard touchdown run out of the wildcatformation in the third quarter to tie things at 31.“It is obviously not where we want to be defensively,” Chiziksaid. “But at the end of the day, I think the defense steppedup and made some plays when they needed to.”

Auburn wide receiver DarvinAdams grabs one of his fivecatches for 101 yards in thegame.


RUSHING

Newton 28-200

Dyer 9-59

Fannin 8-50

McCalebb 5-12

Zachery 1-0

PASSING

Newton 13-21-1-210


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS KENTUCKY

RECEIVING

Adams 5-101

Zachery 3-34

Fannin 2-7

Burns 1-33

McCalebb 1-23

Lutzenkirchen 1-12

RUSHING

Cobb 11-47

Russell 9-32

Locke 5-31

Sanders 4-2

Hartline 1-(-2)

PASSING

Hartline 23-28-0-220

Cobb 1-1-0-6

RECEIVING

Cobb 7-68

King 5-49

Locke 5-47

Russell 2-19

Matthews 2-18

Aumiller 2-13

Roark 1-12

AUBURN


KENTUCKY

14 17 0 6 37

7 10 14 3 34

1ST QUARTERUK Cobb 2 yd run (McIntosh kick) 11:51





UK Aumiller 6 yd pass from Cobb (McIntosh kick) 4:52


UK McIntosh 29 yd field goal 0:00

2ND QUARTER

UK Cobb 16 yd pass from Hartline (McIntosh kick) 8:18

UK Cobb 1 yd run (McIntosh kick) 4:03

3RD QUARTER


UK McIntosh 35 yd field goal 7:31


4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 27 24






INTERCEPTION RETURNS-YDS 0-0 1--2

PUNTS-AVG. 2-34.0 3-44.3







STATISTICS AU UK

Lexington Herald Leader


054.055.Kentucky:Layout 1 1/4/11 8:44 AM Page 1

Lexington Herald Leader

054.055.Kentucky:Layout 1 1/4/11 8:46 AM Page 2

5656 AllAll In:In: Auburn’Auburn’ss RRunun toto thethe NationalNational Championship

Kicker Wes Byrum Wins Weekly SEC Award

By ANDY BITTER

Wes Byrum's fifth career game-winning field goalhelped him win SEC Special Teams Player of theWeek honors.

Byrum, a senior, made a 24-yard field goal as time expired tolift Auburn to a 37-34 victory at Kentucky last Saturday. Healso had field goals of 38 and 19 yards.

Byrum has game-winning field goals in three of Auburn'slast seven games (Northwestern in the Outback Bowl andClemson).

It was his second game-winner as time expired. His first,famously, came against Florida in 2007.

Byrum's 51 field goals are first on Auburn's all-time list,breaking the mark of 50 set by John Vaughn (2003-06).

It is the seventh time this season an Auburn player hasreceived an SEC weekly award. Here are the others:

QB Cam Newton: Offensive POTW against ArkansasState, South Carolina

DT Nick Fairley: Defensive POTW against MississippiState, D-line POTW against Louisiana-Monroe

LB Josh Bynes: Defensive POTW against Clemson

DT Mike Blanc: D-line POTW against South Carolina



New Polls Out

The polls are out. Auburn is seventh in both of them,up one spot from last week.

Here's a glance at each:

USA Today coaches' poll snapshot:1. Ohio State (49), 6-0, 1,455 points, LW: 22. Oregon (6), 1,388 points, LW: 33. Boise State (1), 5-0, 1,335 points, LW: 44. Nebraska (2), 5-0 1,272 points, LW: 65. TCU (1), 6-0, 1,213 points, LW: 56. Oklahoma, 5-0, 1193 points, LW: 77. Auburn, 6-0, 1,060 points, LW: 88. Alabama, 5-1, 1,029 points, LW: 1

AP poll snapshot:1. Ohio State (34), 6-0, 1,453 points, LW: 22. Oregon (15), 6-0, 1,427 points, LW: 33. Boise State (8), 5-0, ,1,395 points, LW: 44. TCU (1), 6--0, 1,304 points, LW: 55. Nebraska, 5-0, 1,246 points, LW: 66. Oklahoma (2) 5-0, 1,225 points, LW: 77. Auburn, 6-0, 1,104 points, LW: 88. Alabama, 5-1, ,1,021 points, LW: 19. LSU, 6-0, 999 points, LW: 12

Auburn kicker Wes Byrum’s fifth career game-winning field goal and the 51st of hiscareer, breaking the school record.


058.059.Arkansas:Layout 1 12/29/10 2:54 PM Page 1

AUBURNARKANSAS10.16.2010 | Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

AP RANK

7 65

43AP RANK

12


6060 All In: Auburn’Auburn’ss Runun to the National Championship

TTigersigers 'Refu'Refussee TToo Lose'Lose' InIn 665-45-433 WinWin OvOverer ArkansasArkansasRazRazorbacbacksks

Force 3 straight 4th-quarter turnovers to break open tight gameBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — Injured, exhausted and exposed,the Auburn defense looked overmatched Saturday,giving up 43 points and 566 yards to an impressive

Arkansas offense.

Somehow, that defensive group was also the difference in thegame.

The No. 7 Tigers forced turnovers on three straightfourth-quarter possessions, each leading to a touchdown toturn a tightly contested track meet into a runaway 65-43win against No. 12 Arkansas before a sellout Jordan-HareStadium crowd.

“I sound like a broken record, but we refuse to lose,” Auburnquarterback Cam Newton said. “The closer the game gets,the closer the team gets.”

It is the most points the Tigers (7-0, 4-0 SEC) have scoredin an SEC game, topping the 63 they produced in a winagainst Florida in 1970.

The Tigers, who should move up in the national pollsfollowing losses by Nebraska and Ohio State, remain one oftwo undefeated teams in the SEC. The other is anotherimperfect unbeaten: LSU, which comes to Jordan-HareStadium next Saturday with the Western Division lead atstake.

“We know we didn’t play well all night,” Auburn coach GeneChizik said. “For all of the things that we didn’t do well as ateam, we beat an extremely good football team tonight.That’s the bottom line.”

The game was billed as a match up between potentialHeisman Trophy quarterbacks. Newton didn’t disappoint,adding to his SEC rushing lead by carrying it 25 times for188 yards and three touchdowns. He added 140 passingyards and another score.

His Arkansas counterpart, however, didn’t make it throughthe second quarter. Ryan Mallett, the SEC passing leader,left in the second quarter with a concussion after taking a

hard hit near the goal line from defensive tackle Nick Fairley.“To me, it’s just a normal hit I put on any quarterback,”Fairley said. “It just so happened he landed awkward onsomething.”

Mallett’s backup didn’t miss a beat, however. SophomoreTyler Wilson, who got plenty of reps in the spring whenMallett had a foot injury, threw for 332 yards and fourtouchdowns as a replacement, shredding an Auburn defenseranked 91st nationally against the pass.

Tigers defensive coordinator Ted Roof has experiencedsomething similar in the past.

“One year, we knocked the guy at Clemson out and incomes a guy named Woody Dantzler,” the former GeorgiaTech defensive coordinator said. “So, yeah, I’ve hadexperience with backup quarterbacks.”

The last of Wilson’s touchdown tosses, a zipped 23-yarder toGreg Childs on a slant pattern one minute into the fourthquarter, gave Arkansas (4-2, 1-2 SEC) a 43-37 lead.

Auburn answered with a 68-yard drive, capped by aNewton-to-Emory Blake touchdown pass that made it44-43 Auburn.

That’s when the defense arrived. Linebacker Craig Stevensand defensive tackle Mike Blanc chased down running backBroderick Green on a run near the Auburn sideline. Justbefore Green hit the ground, the ball squirted loose.

Safety Zac Etheridge picked it up and high-stepped 47 yardsfor a touchdown upheld after a review of the instant replay.The Tigers’ first defensive touchdown this year made it51-43.

“I felt like once we got the fumble, that just turned themomentum over and strengthened our defense, gave us alittle bit of confidence out there,” Stevens said. “You know,we were able to turn one turnover into two, two into three.I just felt like that helped get the ball rolling for us.”


Wilson, who was sharp his first two quarters, threwinterceptions to linebacker Josh Bynes on each of Arkansas’next two possessions. The first set up a 3-yard touchdownplunge by Newton, the second a 38-yard run by tailbackMike Dyer.

On an otherwise forgettable defensive day, the turnoversmade everything all right.

“We try not to let how we play be based on thecircumstances around us,” Chizik said. “You can be playingvery poorly, but if you let that beat you twice then you aregoing to have a problem. …

“We just felt like if we kept playing, kept playing and justkeep chopping wood, something eventually has to happengood.”Combined, the SEC’s top two offenses generated 108 points— the most in a regulation SEC game — and 1,033 yards.

The wild game prompted a similar question to many players:Have you ever played in a game quite like this?

Newton flipped around the query:“The question is, have y’all ever seen a game like that?”

“The question is,have y’all ever seena game like that?”

- Cam Newton


AUBURN


ARKANSAS

7 20 10 28 65

7 14 14 8 43

1ST QUARTERAR Stumon 7 yd pass from Mallett 7:54



AR Green 1 yd run (Hocker kick) 9:43



AR Childs 34 yd pass fromWilson (Hocker kick) 1:06


2ND QUARTER


AR Wingo Jr. 37 yd pass fromWilson (Hocker kick) 5:40


AR Adams 24 yd pass fromWilson (Hocker kick) 3:20

3RD QUARTER

AR Childs 23 yd pass fromWilson 14:09


AU Etheridge 47 yd fumble recovery (Byrum kick) 9:44



4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 30 25


PASSING 428 140


PUNT RETURNYARDS 0-0 2-2

KICKOFF RETURN YARDS 10-179 5-221


PUNTS-AVG. 3-31.0 2-39.5







STATISTICS AR AU

062.063.Arkansas:Layout 1 1/4/11 8:36 AM Page 1


RUSHING

Newton 25-188

Fannin 14-60

Dyer 6-53

McCalebb 4-29

PASSING

Newton 10-14-0-140

Burns 0-1-0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS ARKANSASRECEIVING

Fannin 3-36

Adams 2-34

Burns 2-33

Blake 2-28

Zachary 1-9

RUSHING

Davis 14-91

Green 8-28

Wingo Jr. 2-17

Adams 1-12

Wilson 3 (-10)

PASSING

Wilson 25-34-2-332

Mallett 10-15-0-96

RECEIVING

Childs 9-164

Adams 7-87

Wingo Jr. 4-53

Wright 4-51

Williams 4-20

Davis 3-22

Hamilton 2-18

Stumon 1-7

Ray 1-6

062.063.Arkansas:Layout 1 1/4/11 8:38 AM Page 2

QB Cam Newton, DT Nick Fairley Nab SEC Honors, KeepAuburn's Yearlong Streak Alive

By ANDY BITTER

Auburn's streak continues. Quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley earned SEC player of the weekhonors for their performances in a 65-43 win against Arkansas.

The Tigers have had at least one player honored by the league every week this year.

Newton earned co-Offensive Player of the Week honors with Kentucky's Mike Hartline. Newton ran for 188 yards and threetouchdowns and added 140 passing yards and another score.

Newton became the first payer in school history to run for 170 or more yards in three straight SEC games and only thesecond player to rush for 170 or more yards four times in the same season. Bo Jackson who did it in 1985, his HeismanTrophy year.

It's the third time Newton has earned the award. He got it after Auburn's wins against Arkansas State and South Carolina.

Fairley was named Defensive Lineman of the Week after making a career-high eight tackles, five of which were solo stops.He had one tackle for a loss and two quarterback hurries, one of which ended in a hard hit that knocked Arkansas quarterbackRyan Mallett out of the game.

Fairley, who has won two previous SEC awards earlier this year against Mississippi State and Louisiana-Monroe, leads theSEC in tackles for a loss with 13.5 and is tied for second in sacks with five.


AllAll In:: AuAububurnrn’’ss RRunun toto ththe Naatitiononalal CChhamampionpionshshipip 65

Auburn Cracks Top 5 InPolls, First Time Since2006

BBoth polls are out and the Auburn Tigers are backin the top-five for the first time in four years.

Auburn, which beat Arkansas 65-43 Saturday, movedup two spots, coming in fifth in both the AssociatedPress and USA Today coaches' polls.

It's the highest the Tigers have been in the either pollsince being No. 5 in both rankings in the Nov. 5 poll of2006.

Auburn (7-0, 4-0 SEC) earned one first-place vote inthe coaches' poll, something that hasn't happened sincegetting one vote Oct. 1 in 2006.

Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (42) 6-0, 1,452 points, LW; 22. Boise State (11), 6-0 ,1,385 points, LW: 33. Oklahoma (4), 6-0, 1,334 points, LW: 64. TCU (1), 7-0, 1,300 points, LW: 55. Auburn (1), 7-0, 1,238 points, LW: 76. LSU, 7-0, 1,132 points, LW: 97. Alabama, 6-1, 1,085 points, LW: 88. Michigan State, 7-0, 1,037 points, LW: 119. Utah, 6-0, 1,004 points, LW: 1010. Ohio State, 6-1, 936, LW: 1

AP poll snapshot:1. Oregon (38), 6-0, 1,471 points, LW: 22. Boise State (15), 6-0, 1,433 points, LW: 33. Oklahoma (3), 6-0, 1,355 points, LW: 64. TCU (3), 6-0, 1,340 points, LW: 45. Auburn, 7-0,, 1,279 points, LW: 76. LSU, 6-0, 1,132 points, LW: 97. Alabama, 6-1, 1,121 points, LW: 88. Michigan State, 7-0, 1,062 points, LW: 139. Utah, 6-0, 1,019 points, LW: 1110. Wisconsin, 6-1, 920 points, LW: 18


6666 AllAll In:In: Auburn’s Run toto thethe NationalNational ChampionshipChampionship

Auburn Football: Cam Newton Goes Viral As LeadingHeisman Trophy Candidate

Humorous video another example of buzz about QBBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — The TMZ cameras caught PeterBerg at an interesting moment.(www.camnewtonheisman.com)

The “Friday Night Lights” director, put delicately, appearedto be enjoying some night life in Hollywood recently whenthe paparazzi caught him on the sidewalk.

The subject turned to college football, and Berg, colorfullyand somewhat slurred, encouraged the group to keep an eyeon Auburn’s quarterback.

“Right now, I watch a dude, Cal What’s-His-Name.” he saidemphatically and erroneously, adding to the video’s viralcharm.

Yes, it seems like every college football fan is talking aboutAuburn quarterback Cal … er … Cam Newton these days.

And why not? Multiple publications have declared him thewinner of the halfway Heisman, a fictional midseason poleposition for the sport’s highest honor. Newton’s numberssuggest it isn’t a pipe dream that he could be the first Auburnplayer to take home that hardware since Bo Jackson in 1985.

In his first year with Auburn, Newton is already challengingschool and SEC records. He leads the league in rushing with862 yards, the only player other than Jackson in schoolhistory to rush for at least 170 yards in four games.

Newton is on pace to shatter the SEC’s single-seasonquarterback rushing record of 1,006 yards, set in 1963 byAuburn’s Jimmy Sidle, who was also the last quarterback tolead the league in rushing.

But Newton is a passer too. He is second in the SEC in passefficiency and has accounted for 25 total touchdowns (13passing, 12 rushing), which, with five regular-season gamesyet to play, is one shy of Pat Sullivan’s school record.

“No. 2 is one spectacular football player, and I am not oneto go out on a limb, but everybody in the world sees it,”Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. “It’s not like I’m tellinganybody anything new.”

No, but the hype is just starting to catch up to hisproduction. Although Newton has sidestepped repeatedquestions about the Heisman — “You can throw that outthe window,” he said recently — Auburn has subtly made apush for its star quarterback.

Newton participated in a first-of-its-kind Mondayteleconference this week geared toward national media,repeating his redemption story on a broader platform.

ESPN, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports posted Internetarticles that chronicled Newton’s untimely departure fromFlorida, re-branding at rural Blinn (Texas) CommunityCollege and reemergence at Auburn.

Auburn fans have joined in on the Newton push. Tri-coloredsigns have appeared at games with the Obama-like phrase“Yes We Cam” affixed to Newton’s smiling mugshot.

A fake Twitter account — @CameronNewton — toutinghyperbolic “facts” about the quarterback has risen inpopularity, mirroring the Chuck Norris Internet meme.(Did you know as a child, Superman was asked who hewanted to be when he grows up … and he said “CameronNewton”?)

Mainstream media aren’t immune to putting Newton in adifferent class. ESPN’s Joe Schad tweeted during theArkansas game that the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Newton “lookslike the kid parents complain is too big to be the same age.”

Even coaches are flummoxed at how to stop him. LSU’s LesMiles suggested invisible 12th defenders.

“If I could have a spy no one could see, a guy on the fieldthat didn’t count, that would be a great answer,” he said.

Newton has evoked all sorts of comparisons, from OhioState quarterback Terrelle Pryor to former Texas standoutVince Young to his one-time mentor at Florida, Tim Tebow.It’s the final one Newton likes the most. Like Tebow,Newton has a palpable connection with the crowd.

After beating Arkansas, Newton finished a TV interview and


All In: Auburn’s Run to ththee National Chhamampionship 67

bounded toward the sideline and the remaining Jordan-HareStadium faithful, waving a white towel while standing on thebrick wall surrounding the field.

“That’s just something that you give and you get,” Newtonsaid. “You feed the crowd, and the crowd gives you this typeof energy that gives you the ability to feel like you can doanything.”

So far, it seems like he can.

“No. 2 is one spectacularfootball player, and I amnot one to go out on alimb, but everybody in theworld sees it,” Auburncoach Gene Chizik said.“It’s not like I’m tellinganybody anything new.”


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Tigers from the Plains prevail over LSU in battle of unbeatens for first place in SEC WestBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — Cam Newton’s final run Saturdayleft him exhausted, sprawled on his back for amoment as he stared at the darkening sky.

The 10-yard scamper sealed No. 4 Auburn’s 24-17 winagainst previously unbeaten No. 6 LSU, establishing theSEC’s indisputable frontrunner.

After the final seconds ticked off, Auburn’s quarterbackfound a second wind, sprinting toward the visitor’s sidelineand leaping a 3-foot guard rail to celebrate with thestill-cheering Jordan-Hare Stadium crowd.

“I think the adrenaline was still pumping,” Newton saidwith a smile.

Big wins will do that for you. Auburn (8-0, 5-0 SEC)emerged with a one-game lead on the pack in the highlycompetitive SEC West with three conference gamesremaining.

Borrowing a phrase from Auburn coach Gene Chizik, hasthis team gone from good to great?

“I don’t know that you can make that claim until the end ofthe year to figure out exactly where you land,” Chizik said.“I think we’ve gone from good to better.”

Auburn did it with its bread and butter, grinding out 440rushing yards, the fifth-most in school history and its mostagainst an SEC foe.

Considering the opponent, the achievement was even moreimpressive. LSU(7-1, 4-1 SEC) entered the game with theNo. 1 rushing defense in the league, allowing 83.6 yards pergame. The Bengal Tigers had allowed 402 rushing yards totheir first four SEC opponents combined this year.

“I think it’s a lot of hard work paying off,” Auburn centerRyan Pugh said. “That defense is as good as you’ll play everyyear. Those guys are athletic. They’ve got NFL talent all overthe field.”

Newton, the Heisman Trophy favorite — yes, it’s safe to sayit at this point — did most of the work, running 28 timesfor a career-high 217 yards and two touchdowns. He added

86 passing yards.

“Plain and simple, he’s the best quarterback in the country,”LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard said.

Newton broke two records in the process: the SEC mark forsingle-season rushing yards by a quarterback (1,077) and PatSullivan’s 40-year-old school record for touchdownsaccounted for (27) in a season.

But Newton wasn’t alone in punishing LSU’s formidablefront. Mike Dyer ran for 100 yards, the second time he hasreached the century mark in his career. Despite a balky rightknee, he gave Auburn an edge inside, churning his legs as heand his line moved the pile 5 yards at the end of a play.

“I heard the crowd,” Dyer said. “I felt the guys behind mejust pushing it. I felt like we were all in it together.”

Speedster Onterio McCalebb wasn’t left out, sprinting freeup the left sideline on a sweep play for a 70-yard touchdownthat broke a 17-all tie with 5:05 to play.

“Once I got around the corner, I wasn’t going to let anybodycatch me,” McCalebb said.

Auburn out-gained LSU 526-243 but couldn’t put the gameaway. After going into halftime tied at 10, Newton scored ona 49-yard run, weaving through the LSU defense beforepowering his way over All-American cornerback PatrickPatterson for the touchdown.

“There’s a want in every football player to take someone on,and that’s what we did,” LSU coach Les Miles said.“Sometimes, when that person is 250 pounds, it can be alittle much.”

It was a Heisman-worthy highlight.

“It’s just a play that is in my job description to make,”Newton said.

LSU hung around, mostly because of its special teams.Punter Derek Helton pinned Auburn inside its 2-yard lineon three occasions, twice in the third quarter.


All In: Auburn’s Run to the Nationalal Championship 71

But LSU couldn’t do anything with the field position.Juggling between quarterbacks Jordan Jefferson and JarrettLee, the Bengal Tigers managed only 29 yards of offense inthe third, getting nothing out of drives that started at its own44, 44 and 47-yard line.

“We were just fighting, clawing and scrapped our way toplaying well today,” Chizik said of the defense.

Miles, ever the gambler, took it out of his quarterback’shands in the fourth quarter. He called for a lateral to runningback Spencer Ware, who lobbed a 39-yard pass to RuebenRandle after the Auburn defense bit. The touchdown tiedthe game at 17 with 12:16 to play.

But Auburn kept grinding out yards on the ground. Afterfailing to convert a fourth down in LSU territory, Auburngot the ball back at its own 10.

Three plays later, McCalebb was racing down the sideline forthe winning touchdown, the latest in a season’s worth ofgames decided in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t know what makes team chemistry,” Chizik said. “Ihave no clue. I only know that in my heart of hearts that wehave it.”

“I don’t know what makesteam chemistry,” Chiziksaid. “I have no clue. I onlyknow that in my heart ofhearts that we have it.”



RUSHING

Newton 28-217

Dyer 15-100

McCalebb 4-84

Fannin 3-29

PASSING

Newton 10-16-0-86


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS LSU

RECEIVING

Adams 3-33

Zachery 3-27

McCalebb 1-17

Lutzenkirchen 1-6

RUSHING

Jefferson 16-74

Ridley 12-37

Shepard 1-9

Ware 1-2

Murphy 2-2

Ford 2-1

Lee 3- (-10)

PASSING

Lee 8-14-0-43

Jefferson 7-14-1-46

RECEIVING

Randle 6-73

Shepard 5-20

Toliver 3-25

Peterson 1-7

Murphy 1-3

AUBURN


LSU

7 3 7 7 24

3 7 0 7 17


LSU Jasper 48 yd field goal 1:47


LSU Jefferson 2 yd run (Jasper kick) 0:15

2ND QUARTER


FIRST DOWNS 18 25







PUNTS-AVG. 6-50.0 3-37.3







STATISTICS LSU AU

3RD QUARTER

LSU Randale 39 yd pass fromWare (Jasper kick) 12:16


4TH QUARTER


Auburn running back Mario Fanninruns for daylight.


Auburn Ranked No. 3 InBoth Polls, Tigers No. 1 InBCS Rankings

Auburn moved to No. 1 in the new BCS rankings.That's what some ESPN projections say could hap-pen.

In the meantime, the Tigers continued to climb the pollsafter their 24-17 win against No. 6 LSU.

Auburn is ranked third in the USA Today coaches' poll andthe Associated Press poll, up two spots. It jumped Okla-homa, which lost to Missouri, and TCU, which beat AirForce.

The Tigers earned three first-place votes in both polls.

It's the highest Auburn has been ranked since it was No. 2in October of 2006.

Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (50), 7-0, 1,463 points, LW: 12. Boise State (5), 6-0 1,383 points, LW: 23. Auburn (3), 8-0, 1,350 points, LW: 54. TCU (1), 8-0, 1,308 points, LW: 45. Michigan State, 8-0, 1,175 points, LW: 86. Alabama, 7-1, 1,152 points, LW: 77. Utah, 7-0, 1,091 points, LW: 98. Missouri, 7-0, 1,060 points, LW: 169. Wisconsin, 7-1, 973 points, LW: 1110. Ohio State, 7-1, 966 points, LW: 10

AP poll snapshot:1. Oregon (44), 7-0, 1,480 points, LW: 12. Boise State (11), 6-0 1,419 points, LW: 23. Auburn (3), 8-0, 1,376 points, LW: 54. TCU (2), 8-0, 1,354 points, LW: 45. Michigan State, 8-0, 1,175 points, LW: 86. Alabama, 7-1, 1,173 points, LW: 77. Missouri, 7-0, 1,121 points, LW: 198. Utah, 7-0, 1,098 points, LW: 99. Wisconsin, 7-1, 1,022 points, LW: 1010. Ohio State, 7-1, 931 points, LW: 11


Auburn Ranked No. 1 InLatest BCS Rankings

Auburn’s meteoric rise has taken it to the top of theBowl Championship Series rankings for the firsttime in school history.

The Tigers (8-0, 5-0 SEC) vaulted three teams to get tothe top spot in the second week of the BCS rankings,jumping Oklahoma, Oregon and Boise State after their24-17 win against previously No. 6 LSU on Saturday.

Auburn had never been higher than second in the13-year history of the BCS, which takes into accounttwo polls and an average of four different computerrankings to determine the top teams in college football.

The top two at the end of the year play for the nationalchampionship.

“It means a lot, especially for the guys that have beenhere for the five-win season and everything,” linebackerCraig Stevens said. “But coach always says you can’tfocus on that, because once you start to do that you startto backslide, because you begin to think you’re betterthan what you really are.”

NeNewton,wton, FaiFairleyrley HonoredHonored ByBySESECC ForFor FouFourthrth TiTimeme

Inwhat's becoming a weekly tradition, Auburn quarterbackCam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley were bothhonored by the SEC on Monday.

Newton was named Offensive Player of the Week, whileFairley was tabbed Defensive Lineman of the Week. It's thefourth time each has been honored this year.

Newton cemented his Heisman Trophy contender status witha career-best 217 rushing yards and two touchdowns inAuburn's 24-17 win against No. 6 LSU. He also threw for 86yards.

The junior led a rushing attack that ran for a school record 440yards. LSU, the league's former top-ranked rushing defense,was allowing 83.6 yards per game on the ground.

Newton broke the SEC's single-season rushing record by aquarterback and now has 1,077 yards this year.

Newton became the fourth Auburn player to earn four SECOffensive Player of the Week awards in the same season. BoJackson was the first to do it in 1985, while Brent Fullwoodaccomplished the feat the next season. Carnell Williams wonfour awards in 2003.

Fairley added to his impressive totals with six tackles, 3.5tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. The latter two were both careerhighs.

Fairley leads the SEC in tackles for a loss (17) and is second insacks (7) to Georgia's Justin Houston.

Auburn has had at least one SEC award winner every week thisseason.


Auburn was first, followed by Oregon, Boise State, TCU andMichigan State.

Missouri, Alabama, Utah, Oklahoma and Wisconsin roundout the top 10.

Tigers head coach Gene Chizik has tried to minimize theoutside distractions that come with the lofty ranking.

“I can only control how we proceed in this building,” Chiziksaid. “We just had a team meeting and we talked about beingvery grounded and understanding that every week is aanother new week and another opportunity. It probablysounds to them the same old sad song every Sunday, but that’swhat we do.”

It might be easier said that done. Within seconds of newsbreaking Sunday night that Auburn was No. 1, safety ZacEtheridge’s phone started ringing. It wouldn’t stop as heprepared to do interviews with reporters.

“Yeah, everybody’s tweeting about it right now,” the seniorsaid, putting his ringer on mute. “As a team, we don’t eventhink about it. That’s something to get our fans excited. Westill got to go out each week and play. There’s just a number1 in front of Auburn when it’s on TV.”

The Tigers, who are ranked third in both the coaches’ andHarris polls, are the only team in the rankings with four wins

against teams in the BCS Top 25 — No. 12 LSU, No. 19Arkansas, No. 20 South Carolina and No. 21 MississippiState.

Auburn rode the strength of the computers to the top spot,finishing first in three of the six rankings, second in two andthird in the other.

It’s music to the ears of fans who suffered through the 2004debacle, when the Tigers finished the regular season 12-0 butwere left out of the national championship game for SouthernCalifornia and Oklahoma, who led them in the rankingsfrom the start.

Auburn hasn’t been ranked No. 1 in any poll since 1985.

The Tigers know the perils that come with it. In the last threeweeks, a No. 1 team in the country has lost on the road.

Alabama lost at South Carolina and Ohio State lost atWisconsin while atop the Associated Press and coaches’ polls.Oklahoma, the initial BCS No. 1, lost at Missouri onOctober 23, 2010.

Auburn travels to Ole Miss on Saturday night. The Rebels are3-4 this year, with a 1-3 SEC record.

“You don’t take no one lightly,” left guard Mike Berry said.“Everybody’s trying to win.”



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AuAuburnburn ShruShrugsgs OOffff NNo.o. 11 CurCursese ToTo BeaBeatt OOlele MMississ

By ANDY BITTER

OXFORD, Miss. —The Bowl Championship Series’No. 1 team certainly looked the part Saturdaynight.

Auburn showed no letdown in a 51-31 win at Mississippi,six days after rising to the top spot in the BCS rankings forthe first time in school history.

The Tigers (9-0, 6-0 SEC) avoided the top-ranked curse,doing what Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma couldn’t inthe past three weeks — win a conference road game with aNo. 1 ranking next to their school’s name.

“We plugged our ears to the media when it came to everyweek the No. 1 team has fallen short of a victory,”quarterback Cam Newton said.

On a day when Michigan State and Missouri fell from theranks of the unbeatens, Auburn had no such trouble,building an insurmountable lead to silence the 61,474 inattendance at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the fifth-largestcrowd in Mississippi history.

Newton showed off his passing chops (and his potential as a6-foot-6 receiver), the Tigers scored on several explosiveplays, and the defense did a serviceable job of containingRebels quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in a runaway win thatshould silence some of Auburn’s critics.

“I don’t know what they’re going to see when they watch us,”head coach Gene Chizik said. “But we’ve got a good footballteam.”

Auburn finished with 572 yards of offense and 51 points,the most it has scored against Mississippi.

“For us, that’s not much of a shock,” Auburn offensivecoordinator Gus Malzahn said. “It probably is for theoutside world.”

The Rebels devoted their resources to stopping Newton, theSEC’s leading rusher, from beating them with his legs. Hedid it with his arm instead.

After showing off his receiving skills with an athletic 20-yardtouchdown catch on a fade pattern in the first quarter, theHeisman Trophy candidate threw for 188 of his 209 yards inthe first half. Newton completed a season-high 18 of 24passes, spreading the ball around.

Often forgotten receivers Darvin Adams, Emory Blake andTerrell Zachery combined for 16 catches, 189 yards and twotouchdowns.

“I think it is good, because I hear a lot of people say thatwe’re a one-dimensional team and all we can do is run theball,” Blake said. “But we’re aware we have talent on theperimeter, and we know what our ability is.”

The Tigers took a 34-17 lead into halftime, getting a95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from DemondWashington and a 35-yard field goal fromWes Byrum in thefinal 2 1/2 minutes.

They switched gears in the second half to put awayMississippi (4-4, 1-4). Auburn got 203 of its 343 rushingyards in the second half, topping the 300-yard mark for thefifth straight SEC game.

“You rush for the yards that we rush for in this league, youroffensive line has to be doing some great things,” Malzahnsaid.

Freshman tailback Mike Dyer continued to establish himselfas the Tigers’ go-to back, rushing 21 times for a career-high180 yards and a touchdown.

“Mike seemed to be the catalyst tonight,” Chizik said.

Onterio McCalebb added 99 yards, 68 coming on afirst-quarter touchdown run, and Newton, who had 4rushing yards by the half, finished with 45 in his lightestrushing load in weeks.

Although the Tigers allowed 31 points — the sixth time theyhave allowed 24 or more in a game this year — theygenerally corralled Masoli, a dangerous dual-threatquarterback in the same vein as Newton. The senior threwfor 189 yards and a touchdown, but Auburn limited him to29 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Auburn’s defense shut down any comeback thoughts,holding the Rebels to no yards in six plays on their first twosecond-half drives.

The Tigers got a 30-yard touchdown run from Dyer and aseason-long 48-yard field goal from Byrum to start thesecond half, putting the game out of reach at 44-17.



The win puts Auburn a step closer to its goal of winning theSEC West and possibly more.

DemoDemondnd WasWashhingtoington,n, MikeMike DyerDyer EaEarrnn SECSEC HonorsHonorsByBy ANDANDYY BIBITTERTTER

The Tigers have at least one backer on the Mississippisideline. After the game, a Rebels assistant approachedNewton with a simple request: “Go win it all.”

DDemond Washington and Mike Dyer got in on theweekly SEC award bonanza Monday.

Washington earned co-Special Teams Player of the Weekhonors after Auburn's 51-31 win at Ole Miss, while Dyerwas one of three players to share the Rookie of the Weekaward.

Washington, a senior from Tallassee, Ala., returned fivekickoffs for 176 yards, including a 95-yarder for atouchdown, the second of his career.

He broke Auburn's single-season kickoff return yardagerecord set by Tristan Davis in 2006. Washington has 806

kick return yards this season.

He also made six tackles and intercepted a pass.

Dyer, a freshman from Little Rock, Ark., ran for acareer-high 180 yards on 21 carries against the Rebels. Hescored on a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

He shared the award with Florida's Trey Burton and SouthCarolina's Marcus Lattimore.

Auburn has had at least one SEC award winner every weekthis season.

AP Images



RUSHING

Dyer 21-180

McCalebb 9-99

Newton 11-45

Fannin 2-16

Zachary 1-14

Trotter 1-2

Caudle 1 - (-13)


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS OLE MISS

PASSING

Newton 18-24-0-209

Burns 1-1-0-20

RECEIVING

Adams 6-75

Blake 6-88

Zachery 4-26

Burns 2-20

Newton 1-20

RUSHING

Scott 9-134

Bolden 6-32

Masoli 14-29

Summers 1-20

Thomas 1-3

PASSING

Masoli 20-33-1-189

RECEIVING

Harris 5-45

Summers 4-66

Logan 4-46

Grandy 3-17

Neat 2-6

Bolden 1-9

Herman 1-0

AUBURN


MISSISSIPPI

14 20 10 7 51

14 3 0 14 31

1ST QUARTERUM Scott 83 yd run (Rose kick) 14:33

AU Newton 20 yd pass from Burns (Byrum kick) 12:04


UM Summers 29 yd pass from Masoli (Rose kick) 5:14



UM Rose 32 yd field goal 2:41

AU Washington 95 yd kickoff return (Byrum kick) 2:26


2ND QUARTER



3RD QUARTER

UM Bolden 20 yd run (Rose kick) 12:28


UM Bolden 5 yd run (Rose kick) 1:53

4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 28 17







PUNTS-AVG. 1-36.0 5-40.2







STATISTICS AU UM

AP Images



Auburn quarterback Cam Newtoncatches a 20-yard touchdown passfrom Kodi Burns.

AP Images


Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (51), 8-0, 1,464 points, LW: 12. Auburn (4), 9-0, 1,384 points, LW: 33. Boise State (3), 7-0, 1,361 points, LW: 24. TCU (1), 9-0, 1,292, points LW: 45. Alabama, 7-1, 1,213, LW: 6

Harris poll snapshot:1. Oregon (92), 8-0, 2,823 points, LW: 12. Auburn (10), 9-0, 2,683 points, LW: 33. Boise State (12), 7-0, 2,635 points, LW: 2

4. TCU, 9-0, 2,529 points, LW: 45. Alabama, 7-1, 2,346 points, LW: 6

AP poll snapshot:1. Oregon (49), 8-0, 1,487 points, LW: 12. Boise State (7), 7-0 1,403 points, LW: 23. Auburn (2), 9-0 1,396 points, LW: 34. TCU (2), 9-0, 1396 points, LW: 45. Alabama, 7-1, 1,228 points, LW: 6

Auburn Moves Up In Polls, Drops To Number 2 In BCSRankings

Auburn jumped Boise State to No. 2 in the coaches' and Harris polls, but the Tigers lost their No. 1 BowlChampionship Series ranking.

Auburn was jumped by Oregon for the No. 1 BCS spot, a week after the Tigers moved to the top of the rankings.

Auburn moved up to No. 1 in the BCS rankings for the first time in school history last week largely on thestrength of its computer ranking, which was tops in the country.

The Ducks, who are No. 1 in both polls, were eighth in the computer rankings last week. They stand to move upconsiderably after beating Southern California and watching previously unbeaten Missouri and Michigan Stateboth lose. The Tigers and Spartans were ranked second and third, respectively, in the computer rankings lastweek.

Auburn still improved its standing in the polls, however. The Tigers jumped Boise State in the coaches' poll andHarris Poll to No. 2. Those rankings make up two-thirds of the BCS formula.

Auburn gained 34 points in the coaches' poll, getting four first-place votes (one more than last week) to movepast Boise State by 23 points. The Broncos were 33 points ahead of the Tigers last week.

In the Harris poll, Auburn got 10 first-place votes, four more than last week. The Tigers went from 57 points be-hind Boise State to 48 points ahead.

The Tigers closed the gap in the Associated Press poll, despite staying at No. 3. Auburn cut Boise State's leadfrom 43 points to seven. The AP poll does not factor into the BCS formula.



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CoachCoach GeneGene ChiChizikzik CallsCalls QuarterbacQuarterback CCamam NewtoNewtonn 'AAPhenomenal Young Man' After Tigers' Romp OverTennessee-Chattanooga

Chizik defends Newton after Mocs couldn’tBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — Unable to comment specificallyabout the recruiting controversy that has ensnared hisquarterback’s name, Auburn coach Gene Chizik

allowed himself to be more open when a question was askedabout a potential hit to Cam Newton’s reputation.

“Let me tell you something: This is a great kid,” Chizik said,his voice rising. “I can speak intelligently on that one. …

“This is a great kid, and he’s been a great kid at AuburnUniversity every day he’s been around me, this staff and histeammates. I don’t know what’s out there, and I don’t knowwhat hits you’re talking about, but I can assure you this: Thisis a phenomenal young man. Make no mistake about that.”

Newton finished with 341 total yards and five touchdownsin one half of No. 2 Auburn’s 62-24 dismantling ofChattanooga at Jordan-Hare Stadium, moving the Tigers to10-0 for the fourth time in school history.

The win, coupled with Alabama’s loss at LSU, meansAuburn needs to beat only Georgia or Alabama to clinch itsfirst berth in the SEC championship game since 2004.

It was of little interest after the game Saturday. Questionsquickly centered on allegations that went public Thursdaythat a man claiming to represent Newton’s family askedMississippi State for $180,000 to secure the quarterback’ssignature on a letter of intent during his recruitment lastyear.

The man, identified by ESPN.com as former MississippiState player Kenny Rogers, denied any wrongdoing Friday.Rogers works for a company that matches recruits withschools.

Newton apologized for not being able to comment aboutthe allegations Saturday but reiterated that he did nothingwrong.

“I love Auburn. That’s all I’ve got to say,” he said. “God isblessing me right now. … When God be blessin’, the devilbe messin’.”

Newton was asked whether he feels different after what hashappened the past 48 hours.

“I feel 10-0,” he said, drawing laughsfrom reporters.

Auburn has continued to try to clear itsname in the matter. Friday night, theAssociated Press, citing an anonymoussource in Auburn’s compliance office,reported the school has reviewedpersonal and church bank records ofNewton’s dad, Cecil, in addition tophone and e-mail records of the Tigers’football staff.

The source is “extremely confident therewas no wrong doing” on Auburn’s part.

Chizik said he addressed the matter in ateam meeting but declined to disclosewhat he said.

Asked whether the program’s perceptionhas been changed, Chizik said, “It hasn’tin terms of the way I see it and the wayour players see it and certainly not theway our fans see it.”

Newton didn’t let the accusations affecthis public mood. The junior was hisnormal boisterous self Saturday, smilingand interacting with fans.

His play didn’t suffer either. Newtonthrew for a career-high 317 yards andfour touchdowns as the Tigers built a47-14 halftime lead against the Mocs(5-4), a team from the FootballChampionship Subdivision. He didn’ttake a snap in the second half.

Newton, who increased his SEC-leading


rushing total to 1,146 yards, completed 15 of 21 passes,enjoying an afternoon as a more traditional quarterback.

“I am a quarterback,” he said. “That’s what I’m supposed todo. That’s in my job description.”

The Tigers finished with 628 yards of offense, getting 303 onthe ground and 325 in the air.

“It’s good,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “We’regoing to need to be able to throw and run the football heredown the stretch.”

Newton has 19 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing

touchdowns this year, getting closer to the 20/20 club.Florida’s Tim Tebow became the first player in NCAAhistory to accomplish the feat during his 2007 HeismanTrophy season.

The allegations about Newton are sure to persist until theNCAA issues its ruling, but Chizik said the Tigers haven’ttaken an us-against-the-world mentality.

“That’s not how we live our life; that’s not who we are,” hesaid. “Whatever is out there is out there. We’re going to stayfocused, and we’re going to do what we are supposed to doto be a better football team. That’s all that matters.”

AP Images


Auburn Jumps To No. 2 InAssociated Press Poll,Matches Ranking InCoaches', Harris Polls

Auburn jumped to the No. 2 spot in the Associated Presspoll today, matching its ranking in the USA Todaycoaches' and Harris Interactive polls. The Tigers trail

Oregon in all three polls.

Auburn, which beat Chattanooga 62-24 Saturday, was third inthe AP poll last week but jumped Boise State, which fell tofourth. TCU is third (five points behind Auburn) and LSUfifth.

The top two remained the same in the coaches' poll. TCUjumped Boise State for third. Wisconsin came in fifth.

Auburn received four first-place votes from the coaches, twofrom the AP and seven from the Harris voters.

Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (50), 9-0, 1,463 points, LW: 12. Auburn (4), 10-0, 1,389 points: LW: 23. TCU (2), 10-0 1,340 points: LW: 44. Boise State (3), 8-0, 1,330 points, LW: 35. Wisconsin, 8-1 1,184 points, LW: 7

Harris poll snapshot:1. Oregon (92), 9-0, 2,820 points, LW: 12. Auburn (7), 10-0, 2,684 points, LW: 23. TCU (5), 10-0 2,620 points, LW: 44. Boise State (9), 8-0, 2,585 points, LW: 35. Wisconsin 8-1, 2,229 points, LW: 7

AP poll snapshot:1. Oregon (49), 9-0, 1,484 points, LW: 12. Auburn (2), 10-0, 1,396 points, LW: 33. TCU (2), 10-0, 1,391 points, LW: 44. Boise State (7), 8-0, 1,366 points, LW: 25. LSU, 8-1, 1,196 points, LW: 12


AUBURN


CHATTANOOGA

27 21 7 7 62

0 14 7 3 24

1ST QUARTERAU Adams 30 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 14:30



AU Adams 39 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick failed) 3:00


UTC Sutherland 98 yd kickoff return (Veres kick) 13:30


UTC Hughes 23 yd pass from Coleman (Veres kick) 1:19


2ND QUARTER

UTC Williams 1 yd run (Veres kick) 10:26

AU Fannin 13 yd run (Parkey kick) 8:46

FIRST DOWNS 22 26







PUNTS-AVG. 6-34.0 2-28.0







STATISTICS UTC AU

3RD QUARTER

UTC Veres 37 yd field goal 7:55

AU Fannin 42 yd run (Parkey kick) 7:26

4TH QUARTER RUSHING

Fannin 8-96

Dyer 4-76

McCalebb 2-55

Caudle 1-35

Newton 8-24

Zachary 1-10

Morgan 2-7

Hooper 2-2

Burns 1-2


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS CHATTANOOGA

PASSING

Newton 15-21-0-317

Trotter 1-2-0-8

RECEIVING

Zachery 7-148

Adams 4-106

Blake 3-45

Burns 2-26

RUSHING

Awuah 7-32

Williams 7-31

Wynn 6-31

Jackson 6-10

Burns 1-3

Green 1-2

Sutherland 1- (-2)

Coleman 1- (-5)

PASSING

Coleman 20-39-0-210

Nichols 3-4-0-23

RECEIVING

Sutherland 10-97

Burns 4-48

Bradford 4-38

Anthony 2-21

Hughes 1-23

Pitchford 1-7

Jackson 1- (-1)


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How The West Was Won: Auburn Tops Georgia, ClinchesFirst SEC Title Game Berth Since 2004

By ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — The Jordan-Hare Stadium crowddidn't budge following No. 2 Auburn's 49-31 winagainst Georgia, saluting the new SEC West

champions in an elaborate post-game celebration thatincluded video highlights, sing-a-longs and a lap around thefield by the seniors.

For a moment, it was as though the Cam Newton clouddidn't hover over the program.

The Tigers (11-0, 7-0 SEC) clinched their first berth in theSEC title game since 2004 in typical fashion, roaring backfrom an early deficit with a defense that made just enoughplays and an overwhelming rushing attack that topped 300yards for the sixth straight SEC game.

"We have goals at the beginning of the year," said Auburncoach Gene Chizik, who is 19-5 in two years on the Plainsafter going 5-19 at Iowa State. "And this was the first one."

South Carolina, which beat Florida Saturday to clinch itsfirst SEC title game berth ever, will be Auburn's opponentin Atlanta on Dec. 4.

But the Tigers took Saturday's post-game to cherish whatthey had just accomplished. The seniors lingered on the fieldafterward, knowing it was their last game in the stadium.They eventually took a victory lap, cheered on by theiradoring fans.

The celebration was partly for winning the West — a longroad back from the disappointing 5-7 season two years agothat ended Tommy Tuberville's tenure.

But the Tigers' veterans were well aware they vanquishedrival Georgia (5-6, 3-5 SEC) for the first time since 2006,snapping a four-game losing streak.

"It's a great feeling," Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes said. "Itreally ain't even set in on me yet. It hit me, but it ain't likeslapped the crap out of me yet. I'm just taking it in."

Newton, whose eligibility has come into question afterreports that his father, Cecil, discussed a pay-for-play planwith Mississippi State during the recruiting process last year,suited up and started. He showed exactly why his status was

such a hot topic all week.

The quarterback had a career-high 30 carries for 151 yardsand two touchdowns, headlining an Auburn rushing attackthat finished with 315 yards against the SEC's second-bestrushing defense.

Newton was efficient in the air too, completing 12 of 15passes for 148 yards and two more scores.

"He had a great game," said Georgia wide receiver A.J.Green, no stranger to NCAA investigations. "It's hard tofocus when you're a quarterback and you've got all that stuffsurrounding you. He's a great guy and I feel like he handledthe show in a professional way."

Newton became the first SEC player and the eighth inNCAA history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000yards in the same season.

With three more touchdown runs, he'll join Florida's TimTebow as the only other player in NCAA history to have 20rushing and 20 passing touchdowns in the same season.

"I'm a blessed individual on a blessed team," said Newton,who was off limits to the media but provided quotes in arelease from the school. "Everybody is doing their job in thesystem and it is a great feeling when it all comes together."

The win wasn't easy by any means. Georgia, which needs tobeat rival Georgia Tech to be bowl eligible for a 14th straightseason, stormed to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter thanks tothree touchdown passes by freshman Aaron Murray, whofinished with 273 passing yards.

Showing a poise beyond his years, Murray picked onAuburn's 95th nationally-ranked pass defense, twicehooking up with Green on first quarter touchdowns passes,one for 31 yards and one for 40. Green had nine catches for164 yards.

But Auburn stormed back to tie the game at 21 beforehalftime on Onterio McCalebb's 4-yard touchdown run andPhilip Lutzenkirchen's 18-yard touchdown catch.

The Tigers seized momentum with an onside kick to start


All InIn:: AuAububurnrn’’ss RRunun toto ththee NNaatitiononalal CChhamampionpionshshipip 9595

the second half and never relented. Auburn had foursecond-half possessions and scored four touchdowns,finishing with 463 yards and converting 10 of 14 thirddowns.

"We just couldn't stop them," Georgia coach Mark Richtsaid. "That was the biggest difference."

The teams traded blows until the end of the third quarter.McCalebb scored his third touchdown to put the Tigers upseven but Georgia couldn't answer, settling for a 28-yardBlair Walsh field goal that only trimmed Auburn's lead to35-31.

The Tigers' offense kept churning out points, adding 14more in the fourth quarter on Luzenkirchen's second

touchdown catch and another Newton scoring plunge.

The defense that looked so inept early on finally stiffened,holding Georgia to 19 yards in the fourth quarter. Auburn'spass rush took its toll, finishing with four sacks and 12pressures and knocking Murray out of the game late.

Although the Tigers allowed themselves to celebrateafterward, they knew their focus would soon be on theirremaining games. They play at Alabama the day afterThanksgiving before heading to Atlanta the following week.

"Our goal when we came here was to win a championship,"Chizik said. "And we haven't done that yet."


RUSHING

Newton 30-151

McCalebb 12-71

Dyer 13-60

Zachery 1-31

Fannin 1-2

PASSING

Newton 12-15-1-148

Burns 0-1-0-0


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS GEORGIA

RECEIVING

Blake 3-64

Adams 3-30

Lutzenkirchen 2-31

Zachery 2-14

Fannin 2-9

RUSHING

King 9-53

Ealey 6-44

Smith 1-0

TEAM 1-(-1)

Murray 6-(-4)

Mason 1-(-11)

PASSING

Murray 15-28-0-273

Mason 0-0-0-0

RECEIVING

Green 9-164

Charles 3-56

Durham 1-28

Ealey 1-16

Chapas 1-9

AUBURN


GEORGIA

7 14 14 14 49

21 0 10 0 31


GA Green 31 yd pass from Murray (Walsh kick) 8:21

GA Chapas 9 yd pass from Murray (Walsh kick) 6:20

GA Green 40 yd pass from Murray (Walsh kick) 1:00



2ND QUARTER


GA Ealey 7 yd run (Walsh kick) 7:54


GA Walsh 28 yd field goal 0:00

3RD QUARTER



4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 17 28







PUNTS-AVG. 2-39.0 2-42.5







STATISTICS GA AU



Auburn No. 2 In Polls,Closing Gap On Oregon

Auburn is still No. 2 in the Associated Press, USAToday coaches' and Harris Interactive polls, but it'sclosing the gap on top-ranked Oregon.

The Tigers, who beat Georgia 49-31 Saturday, movedwithin 42 points of the top-ranked Ducks in the AP poll.Last week, the gap was 88.

Auburn got 12 first-place votes this week, up from two.Oregon, which narrowly beat California 15-13, watchedits first-place vote total drop from 49 to 38.

The Tigers' had less of a gain in the coaches' poll, trim-ming the Ducks' advantage from 74 points to 60. Auburnhad six first-place votes, up from four last week.

Boise State jumped TCU in both polls for the No. 3 spot.LSU is fifth in the AP poll. Wisconsin is fifth in thecoaches' poll.

Auburn is second in the Harris poll, getting 35 first-placevotes out of 114. It trails Oregon by 55 points.

The AP poll is not a part of the BCS formula. Thecoaches' and Harris polls are.

Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (46), 10-0, 1,457 points, LW: 12. Auburn (6), 11-0, 1,397 points, LW: 23. Boise State (5), 9-0, 1,329 points, LW: 44. TCU (2), 11-0, 1,318 points, LW: 35. Wisconsin, 9-1, 1,197 points, LW: 5

Harris poll snapshot:1. Oregon (65), 10-0, 2,788 points, LW: 12. Auburn (35), 11-0, 2,733 points, LW: 23. Boise State (11), 9-0, 2,591 points, LW: 44. TCU (3), 11-0, 2,583 points, LW: 35. Wisconsin, 9-1, 2,268 points, LW: 5

AP poll snapshot:1. Oregon (38), 10-0, 1,469 points, LW: 12. Auburn (12), 11-0, 1,427 points, LW: 23. Boise State (9), 9-0, 1,377 points, LW: 44. TCU (1), 11-0 1,361 points, LW: 35. LSU, 9-1, 1,220 points, LW: 5


102 All In: Auburn’s Runun to the National Championship

Auburn Completes A Comeback For The AgesTo Keep Its National Title Hopes Alive

Auburn wins with second-half rally

By ANDY BITTER

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Auburn has had its share ofstunning comebacks this year, erasing double-deficitsin wins against South Carolina, Clemson and

Georgia.

They all pale in comparison to Friday’s.

The No. 2 Tigers rallied from a 24-point first-half deficit topull out a 28-27 win against No. 11 Alabama, ending theCrimson Tide’s 20-game unbeaten streak at Bryant-DennyStadium.

“That was a game that will certainly go down in history,”Tigers coach Gene Chizik said, with no hint of hyperbole.

Auburn (12-0, 8-0 SEC) kept its national title hopes alive inthe process, with an SEC title game matchup against SouthCarolina next week in Atlanta all that separates the Tigersfrom a date in Glendale, Ariz., for the BCS title game.

Although Auburn has come from behind in eight of its 12victories this season, the 24-point deficit was the largestcomeback in school history.

“We’ve been in situations like this all the time,” linebackerEltoro Freeman said. “We never point fingers. We never donone of that, man. We just stick together. We’ve been in thissituation before.”

Well, not quite like this. The three double-digit comebacksearlier this year all happened in the cozy confines ofJordan-Hare Stadium, before a friendly crowd in temperateweather.

Friday’s was by far the most daunting -- Auburn trailed 24-0after 22 minutes -- took place in chilly, sometimes drizzlingweather, and happened before a Bryant-Denny Stadiumcrowd of 101,821 that Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC) hadn’t lostin front of since 2007.

It was all Crimson Tide early.Quarterback Greg McElroy threwfor 315 of his career-high 377passing yards by halftime,completing two touchdownpasses. Receiver Julio Jones, whohad 199 receiving yards, got lostbehind a confused Auburnsecondary on a broken coverageon one of them for a 68-yardscore.

Jeremy Shelley’s 20-yard fieldgoal made it 24-0 at the 8:01mark on the second quarter.

But the Tigers didn’t crack.

“The strength of this group isthe team,” defensive coordinatorTed Roof said. “That’s whatmakes it so fun. They care abouteach other, and they play foreach other.”

Auburn’s defense got timely turnovers when Antoine Carterand Nick Fairley forced fumbles near their own end zone,preventing the Tide from putting the game away in the firsthalf.

The Tigers’ offense couldn’t solve Alabama early -- “Theywere whipping our butts early,” offensive coordinator GusMalzahn said -- but finally got in gear midway through thesecond quarter.

Quarterback Cam Newton engineered the comeback. Hecompleted a 36-yard touchdown pass to Emory Blake to cutthe halftime lead to 24-7, then had a 70-yard hookup for ascore with Terrell Zachery on the second half ’s second play.

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AllAll InIn:: AAububuurnrn’s’s RuRunn toto thethe NaNationaltional ChamChampiopionnshishipp 110303

A 1-yard touchdown plunge by Newton cut the lead to24-21 before another Shelley field goal, following a fumbledpunt by Quindarius Carr, pushed Alabama’s lead back to27-21.

It was but a mere hiccup in the comeback. On the ensuingpossession, Auburn faced a fourth-and-3 at the Alabama 47with 13:49 remaining. After a timeout, the Tigers lined upin a pooch punt formation, but Newton dropped back andfired a 9-yard pass right on the sideline to Darvin Adams forthe first down.

“We came here to win the game,” Chizik said. “We did notcome here to tie. We didn’t come here with our hat in ourhand. We came here to win the game. Sometimes you haveto make those calls.”

Five plays later, Newton threw back across the field to tightend Philip Lutzenkirchen for a 7-yard touchdown. WesByrum’s extra point gave the Tigers their first lead at 28-27with 11:55 left.

Newton didn’t have eye-popping stats but finished with 216passing yards and three touchdowns and 39 rushing yardsand another score.

“He’s a special player,” Malzahn said. “He found a way tolead us to victory.”


The lead held up. Auburn allowed only 62 yards in the secondhalf. T’Sharvan Bell’s cornerback blitz resulted in a sack thatpushed the Tide out of field-goal range on its second to lastdrive, knocking McElroy out.

Alabama got the ball back with 51 seconds left, but backupquarterback A.J. McCarron threw four straight incompletionsto give Auburn the win.

“That’s the thing about this team,” linebacker Josh Bynes said.“We fight adversity. They had all the momentum in the world,but we know how to fight back.”

The victory puts Auburn one step away from the nationalchampionship game. Chizik was asked afterward about theBCS national title game, and whether a one-loss SEC teamshould be considered.

He didn’t get into hypotheticals, boiling it down to thesimplest terms.

“If we’re lucky enough to win the SEC championship,” he said,“then we’ll be playing for it.”

“Th“Thatat waswas aagamgamee tthhatat wwiillllcertcertaiainlynlygogo downdown ininhishisttory,ory,””

-- TigeTigersrs CCoaoachchGeGenene ChChiziizikk



Auburn All-American offensivelineman Lee Ziemba providingprotection for quarterbackCam Newton.

up as though they would pooch punt it, but Newton took the snap,surveyed the field and fired a 9-yard pass to Darvin Adams nearthe sideline for a first down. Auburn capitalized by scoring theeventual game-winning touchdown five plays later.

“Sometimes it’s not just that you win, it’s how you win. That gametonight was not just a win, it was how we won.”

- Auburn coach Gene Chizik

7-1

24

4

A A ClosCloser LoLook At Th At The e 2010 2010 IronIron Bow Bowll

Cam Newton didn’t have the stats that most are accustomed toseeing, but the quarterback still had a hand in all four of Auburn’stouchdowns. The junior threw for 216 yards and threetouchdowns and ran for 39 yards and another score.

It happened early and didn’t seem like it would be a major factor-- Auburn trailed 21-0 at the time -- but defensive end AntoineCarter hustled all the way on a 41-yard reception by Alabama’sMark Ingram, catching the running back after a lengthy sprint andknocking the ball loose and through the end zone.

Down 27-21 and facing a fourth-and-three from the Alabama 47with 13:49 remaining, Auburn chose to go for it. The Tigers lined

Auburn’s record all-time in Tuscaloosa.

Points the Tigers rallied back from for the win. It was thelargest deficit Auburn has overcome in school history.Game-best tackles by Auburn’s T’Sharvan Bell.

Double-digit comebacks for Auburn this season. The Tigershadn’t come back from more than two double-digit deficitsin the same season since 1970.



“The leprechaun dance,”- Left Tackle Lee Ziemba

“It looked like a River-dance to me,”- Right Guard Byron Isom

TTighightt EndEnd LuLutztzenkenkircirchenhenDances Into SpotlightBy ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. — The catch will be replayed foreternity in Iron Bowl circles.

Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen slipped pastAlabama’s defenders, catching a wide open throwback passfrom Cam Newton for a 7-yard touchdown that lifted theTigers to a 28-27 victory last Friday.

Then came the dance. Teammates still can’t quite decide howto describe it.

“The leprechaun dance,” left tackle Lee Ziemba said.

“It looked like a Riverdance to me,” right guard Byron Isomsaid.

“I asked him: ‘What was that?’ ” offensive coordinator GusMalzahn said. “He said he was excited. Wow. We’ll give himthat one since that was such a big play. We’ll let it go that onetime.”

Lutzenkirchen has come into his own of late. The 6-foot-4,258-pound sophomore’s role has largely been as a blockerthis year, a major step forward for the tight end, who wasprimarily a receiver/H-back at Lassiter High in Marietta, Ga.

“He’s had to learn to block and learn to do different thingsfor us offensively other than catch the football,” head coachGene Chizik said. “And I think he’s really come a long wayin that regard. … It’s been good to watch him evolve, andhe’s been a big part of our offense.”

Lutzenkirchen said he’s done a 180 in his blocking from highschool, adding a physical mindset that has helped AuburnSEC-leading running game.

But he’s made the highlights for his receiving skills, especiallyas a red zone target.

“Sometimes he’s in the backfield. Sometimes he’s a 3-pointstance, hand-on-the-ground guy,” Chizik said. “But nomatter where he is … he’s got good hands and can catch it.”

Although he has only 12 receptions this year, five have gonefor touchdowns. Three have come in the last two games,

once he returned from a stinger that kept him out of thebetter part of two weeks.

“He kind of gets lost,” Malzahn said. “He’s got great hands.He runs very good routes. It’s a tribute, too, to our otherplaymakers that he can get lost. He’s really made some bigplays at some big times this year.”’

Friday’s was the biggest. Newton faked a handoff and movedto his right in the pocket along with nearly everyone in theformation. Lutzenkirchen, who lined up on the right handside, acted like he was going to block, then released into aroute on the left side of the field.

Alabama lost track of him and Newton lobbed thegame-winner back to Lutzenkirchen at the goal line.

What ran through his mind?

“Don’t drop it,” he said. “Everything kind of slows down andyou’ve really got to focus in and make sure you see the ballinto your hands and pray that you don’t drop it.”

He didn’t. What happened next was unplanned. In aoutburst of joy, Lutzenkirchen waltzed toward the back ofthe end zone, kicking his legs out to the side in a little jig.

“I’ve been getting so much grief for that,” he said. “Just oneof those things where I was so excited I really didn’t knowwhat I was doing. I’ve got nothing to say about that.”

“I asked him what he was thinking,” Isom said, laughing.“He said he just blacked out.”

It’s spawned a dance -- Google “Teach me how to Lutzie” tosee -- and gained him YouTube fame for a second time (hebatted a pass back to a teammate for a touchdown whilefalling out of the end zone in high school).

After all the grief he’s taken from his friends, does he thinkthe dance will catch on?

“I hope it doesn’t,” Lutzenkirchen said coyly. “I really hopeit doesn’t.”


AUBURN


ALABAMA

0 7 14 7 28

21 3 3 0 27

1ST QUARTERUA Ingram 9 yd run (Shelley kick) 3:26

UA Jones 68 yd pass from McElroy (Shelley kick) 0:37

UA Hanks 12 yd pass from McElroy (Shelley kick) 5:08

UA Shelley 20 yd field goal 2:14


2ND QUARTER



UA Shelley 32 yd field goal 1:35

3RD QUARTER


4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 17 23







PUNTS-AVG. 7-38.7 4-33.8







STATISTICS AU UA

“Sometimes it’s not just that youwin, it’s how you win. That gametonight was not just a win, it washow we won.”

- Auburn Coach Gene Chizik



RUSHING

McCalebb 8-50

Newton 22-39

Dyer 9-27

PASSING

Newton 13-20-0-216

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS ALABAMARECEIVING

Blake 3-39

Zachery 2-79

Burns 2-32

Adams 2-29

McCalebb 2-24

Lutzenkirchen 1-7

Fannin 1-6

RUSHING

Ingram 10-36

Richardson 10-24

Jones 1-12

Maze 1-7

McElroy 8-(-10)

PASSING

McElroy 27-37-0-377

RECEIVING

Jones 10-199

Hanks 5-39

Ingram 4-91

Dial 3-26

Richardson 3-9

Maze 2-13



GGueuerryrry ClCleggegg CoCommmenmentatary:ry: There'sThere's NoNo QuitQuit IInn TheseTheseTigers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --

Keep pursuing. Keep pursuing.

That’s all Antoine Carter would allow himself to consider.

Alabama’s Mark Ingram, the reigning Heisman Trophywinner, had caught a short pass from Greg McElroy and hadturned a modest gain into yet another huge play for theCrimson Tide. Bama started the second quarter the way itended the first -- completely dominating undefeated Auburn21-0 in perhaps the most stunning first quarter in Iron Bowlhistory.

On the fifth play of the second quarter, Ingram broke atackle and kept rumbling toward the north end zone. NickFairley gave chase but couldn’t keep up. But he was closeenough to see Carter relentlessly pursuing Ingram.

“He’s a little slimmer than me, so he’s a little faster,” Fairleysaid.


Quitting was not an option.

Finally, Ingram stumbled, and Carter caught up just enoughto reach out and poke the football loose at the 18-yard line.That was the first miracle. The second miracle was that theball kept tumbling end over end until it rolled through theend zone.

Touchback. Auburn ball at its 20.

“We talk to our kids about not having a change of speed,”said defensive coordinator Ted Roof. “We play at one speed-- full speed. That was the beginning of the comeback. Thatwas it. There were a lot of plays, but that sparked it.”

The history books will display the final score -- Auburn 28,Alabama 27. The recap will state that the Tigers won onCam Newton’s touchdown pass to Phillip Lutzenkirchenearly in the fourth quarter. Further detail will note thatAuburn remained undefeated and in the nationalchampionship hunt.

But it all began when Carter refused to give up on a play

early in the second quarter. The scoreboard read Alabama21, Auburn 0. The stat sheet was even more ominous. Bamahad run 23 offensive plays for 206 yards. Auburn: nineplays, eight yards. Or, how’s this for perspective. That’s twofewer yards than McElroy had just run for on one play.

“It’s just in me,” Carter said. “Coaches, since Day One, theytalked about finishing, even if it’s five yards or two yards,two inches to the line, just finishing the play.”


That’s all the Tigers would allow themselves to consider.They had been in this position before. They were dominatedin the first quarter by Clemson in much the same fashion.Yet they won. The very next week, they were down to SouthCarolina. Yet they won again. Arkansas and Georgia.

“We talked about blindfolding them before the game,” Roofsaid, “and telling them when they ran onto the field that itwas the second half.”

Yeah, they’d been here before figuratively … but not HEREliterally -- not at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with 101,821 fansand only a few thousand of them wearing orange and blue.The unwelcoming began before the game, when the SteveMiller Band’s “Take the Money and Run” blared over theloudspeakers.

It was a swipe at Newton and the allegations that hisminister-father, Cecil, demanded money for his son’sservices. That was conveniently followed by “Son of aPreacher Man” … and, a few minutes later, a public serviceannouncement calling for sportsmanship.

But Newton had bigger problems than a breakdown ofdecorum. There was the breakdown of his pass protectionand a case of dropsies by his receivers. Auburn had NEVERcome back from 24 points down to win.


But even as the Tigers kept fighting, Alabama had a chanceto put the game away. The Tide led 24-7, and McElroy hadthem back inside the Auburn 10 with a minute left in thefirst half A field goal would have made it a 20-point game.A touchdown might have put it out of reach.

It was Fairley’s turn.


“I figured the quarterback was going to take a three-stepdrop,” Fairley said. “He did, and I just timed it right.” Fairleydrove McElroy to the turf, separating him from the ball andhis senses.

“I thought the play was over because the offensive linemanwas helping him up,” Fairley said. “I saw the ball on theground and just fell on it.”

Fifty-six seconds into the second half, the Tigers had newlife. Newton hit Terrell Zachery on the left sideline. Hebroke a tackle and scored, making it a 10-point game.

“From that point forward,”Auburn offensivecoordinator Gus Malzahnsaid, “we really felt like wewere going to win the game.That’s the way this team hasdone all year. No matterwhat the score is, they justbelieve. We’ve got some greatleaders on this team.”

The Tigers were just asdominant in the first 20minutes of the second half asAlabama had been in thefirst. Newton plunged intothe end zone to make it athree-point game. The Tigersopened the fourth quarterwith their fourth touchdowndrive to cap the greatestcomeback in Iron Bowlhistory. The drive included afourth-and-three play, whichAuburn converted.

“I like that,” Malzahn said.“Chiz is a very aggressiveguy. He’s a winner. He cameto win.”

Statistically, this was not awork of art for Newton. Hewas held to 39 yards rushing.Yet this just might havesolidified his Heismanlegitimacy.

Alabama took him out of hiscomfort zone, yet he stillfound a way to win.

Likewise, this win just might sway some of Auburn’s fewremaining doubters, who have written the Tigers’ success offto one great player and a convenient schedule.

“Cam’s a great player,” Roof said. “But the strength of ourteam IS the team. As a coach, that’s a very, very special thingto say.”

-- Guerry Clegg is an independent correspondent. You canwrite to him at [email protected]

Auburn defensive end Antoine Carter stripsAlabama running back Mark Ingram. Thisplay proved to be the turning point in thegame.


112 AllAll In: Auburn’s Run to the National Championship

IIronron BoBowlwl:: AuAububurnrn DefensDefensee Stepsteps Up InIn SecoSeconnd HHalfalf ToTo SStoptopTideTigers held Alabama to just 62 second-half yardsBy ANDY BITTER

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For one half against Alabamaon Friday, the Auburn defense looked like theAchilles’ heel everyone has made it out to be all

season.

The Tigers shocked some people the rest of the way.

Auburn’s defense, which was blistered for 379 first-halfyards, allowed only 62 in the second half and held Alabamato three points in the final 38 minutes in a 28-27 win atBryant-Denny Stadium.

“We were just saying: it’s time for us to step up,” linebackerEltoro Freeman said. “Forget all the excitement. Forget allthe jumping around. What you’re going to do and this andthat. Now it’s time to play. Ain’t no more talking. So that’swhat we did.”

The Tigers were a mass of confusion throughout the firsthalf. A coverage breakdown between safety Mike McNeiland cornerback T’Sharvan Bell allowed receiver Julio Jonesto sprint past them for an easy 68-yard touchdown receptionthat made it 14-0.

“We had to get a flavor for what they were doing becausethey were doing a bunch of new things that they had notshown before,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said.

On the next drive, Auburn appeared to push the Tide out offield-goal range on a third-down sack by tackle Nick Fairley.But Fairley was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct afterthe play, allowing Alabama to convert a first down and laterget a touchdown catch from Darius Hanks that made it21-0.

The SEC appeared to have its eye on Fairley after Georgiasubmitted complaints to the league office two weeks ago forwhat it thought were flagrant hits on his part. The tackle’scelebration was modest by most standards (and was nearquarterback Greg McElroy) but resulted in a flagnonetheless.

“I just got a little excited after the play,” Fairley said. “I justhave to calm down, keep my composure some more.”

SEC coordinator of officials Rogers Redding released astatement afterward that said the flag was for a rule that

prohibits “any delayed, excessive, prolonged orchoreographed act” in which a player directs attention tohimself.

Coach Gene Chizik didn’t criticize the officials afterward.“I never blame the officials,” Chizik said. “It’s our problem.We’ve got to fix it.”

Auburn eventually got everything under control.

The Tigers continued to give up yardage but forced two bigturnovers before halftime that prevented the game fromgetting out of hand.Defensive end Antoine Carter chased down Mark Ingramfrom behind on a long pass play, knocking the ball loose andthrough the end zone for a touchback.

“That was a huge play in the football game,” Roof said. “Itmay get lost with what happened in the second half, but,looking back, that was a critical, critical piece to this thing.”

Just before halftime, Fairley sacked quarterback GregMcElroy in the red zone, knocking the ball loose and fallingon it to keep the score at 24-7.

Fairley finished with four tackles, two sacks and two tacklesfor a loss.

“That’s Nick Fairley,” Roof said. “Your big-time players haveto make plays when you need them the most.”

Auburn cracked down in the second half. The Tigers limitedto the Tide to only 69 rushing yards, holding Ingram to 36yards on 10 carries for the game.

Defensive linemen Michael Goggans and Mike Blancreturned after serving a one-half suspension for throwingpunches at the end of the Georgia game, allowing the Tigersto up their defensive pressure.

Auburn finished with five sacks of Greg McElroy. The last,by T’Sharvan Bell on a cornerback blitz, knocked McElroyout of the game with a concussion and effectively ended anycomeback bid by the Crimson Tide.

“We’ve known for the longest time we have heart,” Fairleysaid. “We’ve got that dog in us. We’re going to always fight.”

“sf


“We’ve known for the longest time we have heart,” Fairleysaid. “We’ve got that dog in us. We’re going to alwaysfight.”


Auburn played in the two most-watched games in thecountry this season and three of the top six.

The Tigers' Iron Bowl win against Alabama on Nov. 26 waswatched by 12.52 million people.

Their Dec. 4 SEC championship game against SouthCarolina was watched by over 10 million.

Auburn's Nov. 13 game against Georgia was sixth on the list,with 8.262 million viewers.

The Tigers should have another entry on the list by the endof the season: the BCS title game against Oregon on Jan. 10.Last year's BCS title game between Alabama and Texas hadover 30 million viewers.

Here's the full list, courtesy of theSEC:

11/26 - CBS - Auburn vs. Alabama -12,520,000 viewers

12/4 - CBS - SEC Championship: Auburn vs. SouthCarolina - 10,093,000 viewers

9/6 - ESPN - Boise State vs. Virginia Tech - 9,888,000viewers

12/4 - ABC - Big 12 Championship: Nebraska vs.Oklahoma - 8,981,000 viewers

10/2 - CBS - Florida vs. Alabama - 8,595,000 viewers

11/13 - CBS - Georgia vs. Auburn - 8,262,000 viewers

9/25 - CBS - Alabama vs. Arkansas - 8,138,000 viewers

11/26 - ESPN - Arizona vs. Oregon - 7,787,000 viewers

10/9 - CBS - Alabama vs. South Carolina - 7,662,000viewers

AuAuburnburn PlaPlayedyed InIn TwTwoo MoMost-Watchedst-Watched GGamameses OnOnTelTelevievisiosionn TThihiss SeSeasasononByBy ANDANDYY BIBITTERTTER


AubAuburnurn Gainsins FirFirstst-Plac-PlaceeVoVotes, Stiillll SSecondecond BehindBehindOregon In All Three PollsBy ANDY BITTER

Auburn's win against Alabama netted it somefirst-place votes, but it remained No. 2 behindOregon overall in the Associated Press, USA Today

coaches' and Harris Interactive polls.

The Tigers got 10 first-place votes in the coaches' poll, upfrom four a week ago, but they still trail the Ducks by 40points in the poll. Last week the gap was 61. Oregon got46 first-place votes.

In the AP poll, Auburn got 23 first-place votes, up from 13last week. Oregon, which was in the No. 1 spot by 19points, got 36 first-place votes.

Auburn got 42 first-place votes in the Harris poll, up from31 last week.

All three polls have the same top five: Oregon, Auburn,TCU, Wisconsin and Stanford.

The highest-ranked SEC team behind Auburn is Arkansas,which is eighth in all three polls.

The coaches' and Harris polls makes up two-thirds of theBowl Championship Series rankings.

Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (46), 11-0, 1,459 points, LW: 12. Auburn (10), 12-0, 1,419 points, LW: 23. TCU (3), 12-0 1,343 points, LW: 44. Wisconsin, 11-1, 1,282 points, LW: 55. Stanford, 11-1, 1,233 points, LW: 8

Harris poll snapshot:1. Oregon (70), 11-0, 2,804 points, LW: 12. Auburn (42), 12-0, 2,769 points, LW: 23. TCU (2), 12-0, 2,621 points, LW: 34. Wisconsin, 11-1, 2,441 points, LW: 55. Stanford, 11-1, 2,417 points, LW: 7

AP poll snapshot:1. Oregon (36), 11-0, 1,475 points, LW: 12. Auburn (23), 12-0, 1,456 points, LW: 23. TCU (1), 12-0 1,383 points, LW: 44. Wisconsin, 11-1, 1,289 points, LW: 55. Stanford, 11-1, 1,283 points, LW: 7

NewtNewtonon,, FFaairirleyley nanamedmed SSECECplayers of the week; New-ton, Ziemba named AFCAAll-AmericansBy ANDY BITTER

Auburn dominated the SEC Player of the Weekrundown one final time Monday.

Quarterback Cam Newton was named SEC Offensive Playerof the Week after the regular season finale, while defensivetackle Nick Fairley earned co-Defensive Lineman of theWeekhonors.

It's the sixth time this season Newton has gotten the award.Fairley has been honored by the league five different times.

Newton completed 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards and threetouchdowns in Auburn's 28-27 come-from-behind win atAlabama. It gave him 24 passing touchdowns this season,breaking Chris Todd's school record set last year.He also ran for 39 yards and another touchdown, his schoolrecord 18th rushing touchdowns this year. Bo Jackson (1985)and Carnell Williams (2004) had the previous record.

Fairley finished with four tackles and two sacks againstAlabama. He forced a fumble and recovered it at Auburn's8-yard line when the Crimson Tide was poised to score beforehalftime.

Fairley leads the SEC with 20 tackles for a loss this year (aschool record) and has 9.5 sacks, which are second-most inthe conference.

UPDATE: In other award news, Newton and left tackle LeeZiemba were both named to the AFCA All-America Team.Ziemba, a senior, has started all 50 games of his Auburncareer, a school record. He's anchored an Auburn offensiveline that has paved the way for a rushing offense that leads theSEC and is sixth nationally, averaging 291.3 yards per game.


116.117.SEC:Layout 1 12/29/10 7:01 PM Page 1

AUBURNSOUTH CAROLINA

12.4.2010 | Georgia Dome | Atlanta, Georgia

AP RANK

1 56

17AP RANK

19

SECCHAMPIONSHIP

GAME



SEC Championship Game: Cam NewtonLeads The Way As Auburn Punches BCSTitle Game Ticket

By ANDY BITTER

As the final seconds ticked off of Auburn's 56-17 rout of South Carolina in the SECchampionship game, offensive linemen Mike Berry and Byron Isom hoistedquarterback Cam Newton upon their shoulders for an impromptu victory parade

through a cascade of confetti falling from the Georgia Dome ceiling.

For once, Newton's teammates were carrying him.

Newton, the star quarterback who has spent the last month embroiled in a recruitingscandal, was as masterful as ever Saturday, accounting for 408 yards and six touchdownsto earn MVP honors as Auburn (13-0) secured a spot in the Bowl Championship Seriesnational championship game on Jan. 10.

"A wise man told me, if God is with me, who can be against me?" Newton said duringthe post-game trophy presentation, his first public comments since Nov. 9.

Flanked by Newton at the post-game press conference, head coach Gene Chizik didn'thold back his praise of the player who transformed Auburn from a team on the rise tonational title contender in less than a year.

"He can't get too big of a head with one game left," Chizik said, "but I can say he'sprobably the best football player I've ever seen."

Newton did nothing to dissuade the argument Saturday. The junior, who grew up notfar down the road in College Park, beat South Carolina (9-4) in every way imaginable,throwing for a career-high 335 yards and four touchdowns and adding 73 yards and twomore scores on the ground.

"I've coached some great quarterbacks, but talent-wise, he's tough to top," offensivecoordinator Gus Malzahn said.


“Honestly, it hasn't even sunk in rightnow,” Newton said. “I've just been livingthe dream this whole year.”



His month-long gag order lifted, Newton read from a prepared statement after the game, thankinghis teammates, family and coaches for their support throughout the ordeal.

"It means a lot to me to be on this team and be a part of the Auburn family," he said. "As I saidbefore, I've done nothing wrong."

He concluded by saying he would only answer questions about football-related matters. Asked if hisdad, whose access to the program was limited in the NCAA's ruling, would be present at next week'sHeisman Trophy presentation, Chizik interjected with a testy response.

"We're going to stay away from those questions right now and stay football related, please, with alldue respect," Chizik said.

Newton and Auburn answered every question about their national title worthiness on the field,however.

The quarterback came out firing, leading a 21-point first quarter blitz, the most points scored in theopening quarter of an SEC title game.

Onterio McCalebb scored on a 12-yard catch, Newton on a 5-yard run and Darvin Adams on a54-yard reception as Auburn built a 21-7 lead. Adams finished with 217 receiving yards, an SECtitle game record.

But South Carolina appeared to seize all momentum back just before halftime. After Wes Byrummissed a 36-yard field goal, the Gamecocks drove the length of the field in less than two minutes,getting a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stephen Garcia to Alshon Jeffery with 16 seconds remaining.

The Gamecocks left too much time. A squib kick and short pass gave the Tigers one last chance. Onthe half's final play, Newton rolled to his right and heaved a Hail Mary downfield. South Carolina'sDeVonte Holloman tipped it at the goal line, right into the arms of Adams for 51-yard touchdownand 28-14 halftime lead.

Just how Malzahn drew it up, right?

"Well ... no," he said with a laugh. "It worked out like we wanted it to. Let's put it that way."

The outcome was never in doubt after that. The Tigers outscored the Gamecocks 28-3 in the secondhalf. Newton added a 1-yard touchdown run and a 6-yard scoring pass to Emory Blake. His sixtouchdowns accounted for tied Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel's SEC title game record set in1996.

Newton also joined the 20-20 club, with 28 touchdown passes and 20 rushing touchdowns thisseason. In college football history, only Tim Tebow (2007) had accomplished that feat.

Both Wueffel and Tebow won the Heisman Trophy those years. Newton, the unquestionedfrontrunner for the award, will likely claim his next Saturday.

A perfect record, a national title game berth, the Heisman — Newton couldn't ask for a betterseason.

"Honestly, it hasn't even sunk in right now," he said. "I've just been living the dream this wholeyear."


DefDefenensese DeliDelivers Full GamemeFor SEC Championship

Tigers play steady, then make big playBy CHRIS WHITE

ATLANTA -- Before the Southeastern Conferencechampionship game, Auburn linebacker Josh Byneswondered just what No. 1 Auburn could do if its

defense played an entire game with the same fervor it had inthe second half throughout the season.

Saturday, he found out as the Tigers limited No. 19 SouthCarolina to a pair of first-half touchdowns and afourth-quarter field goal in a 56-17 victory.

“I knew that if we play like that in the first and secondquarters, we could be the most dominant defense, the mostunbeatable team in the nation,” Bynes said. “It showedtoday.”

Auburn held South Carolina to 193 passing yards, the leastthe Tigers have allowed since an Oct. 30 victory overMississippi. The Gamecocks’ running game didn’t fare muchbetter, and the Tigers’ 39-point victory was the most lopsidedin the SEC title game’s history.

“I thought we played well, I thought we played hard, and Ithought we played for four quarters,” Auburn defensivecoordinator Ted Roof said.

“It wasn’t always pretty at the start there, but, I tell you, theyresponded and did a real nice job. They were physical andresilient like they’ve been all year.”

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore had 84 ofthe team’s 156 rushing yards, and each of the Gamecocks’ twotouchdowns came on first-half Stephen Garcia passes.

“Our game plan was shutting down the run; that’s first andforemost,” Bynes said. “If you let them run the ball, it opensup passes, play action, all sorts of things.”

After the ground game was contained, Auburn set to work onpressuring Garcia and eventually forced him into a bad pass.

When that happened, Auburn cornerback T’Sharvan Bell wasthere to make him pay.

Auburn’s Craig Stevens broke through the South Carolina

line to hurry Garcia, who backpedaled deep into theGamecocks zone before throwing up a pass that Bellintercepted and ran back 10 yards for a third-quartertouchdown.

“When it happened, I knew right then we were going to win,”Bell said. “I thought, ‘This is just going to be the type ofgame we’re having.’ ”

Auburn defensive lineman Nick Fairley said he could senseSouth Carolina’s chances deflating as Bell returned theinterception.


“That was a real big play,” Fairley said. “We could feel the aircome out of them then.”

Early on, however, there were moments that gave Auburn’sdefense a scare.

South Carolina answered Auburn’s opening scoring drivewith one of its own, going 75 yards on seven plays andending with a 25-yard Patrick DiMarco touchdown catch.And the Gamecocks made it 21-14 on their final possessionof the first half with a 1-yard Alshon Jeffery touchdownreception.

Several Auburn players chalked up the scores tomiscommunication in the secondary, which they patched inthe second half to hold South Carolina to a field goal.

“We held our ground defensively and went out there andmade stop after stop after stop,” Bynes said. “And that’s whywe’re the SEC champs.”

“We held our ground defensivelyand went out there and made stopafter stop after stop,” Bynes said.“And that’s why we’re the SECchamps.”


124 AllAll In:In: Auburn’Auburn’ss Runun toto thethe NationalNational ChampionshipChampionship

Wide Receiver DarvinAdams Sets SECChampionship GameRecord

His 217 yards all come in first halfBy CHRIS WHITE

ATLANTA -- There was time for only one thought asAuburn wide receiver Darvin Adams watch a deflectedHail Mary pass float his way as time expired in the

first half of Saturday’s Southeastern Conferencechampionship game.

“Just catch the ball,” Adams said. “That’s it. That’s all that’sgoing on.”The 6-foot-3 junior leaned over a South Carolina defender

and snagged the football as he fell to the ground in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game.The catch sent No. 1 Auburn to halftime leading No. 19South Carolina 28-14. Adams set a new SEC championshipgame record for receiving yards with 217.

In that instant, a play typically used in desperation marked adominant one as Auburn built on the momentum takenfrom that halftime lead for a 56-17 victory.

“That was a huge momentum booster for us to just take itdown there and score right before the half,” Auburnoffensive lineman Lee Ziemba said. “I’m just glad we hadcoaches that were aggressive enough to try something likethat.”

By the end of the first quarter, Adams had 140 yards on fourcatches, including a 62-yarder and a 52-yard touchdownplay, on which he blazed by a South Carolina defender afterfaking a cut inside. At halftime, he had seven catches for 217yards, more than his next two biggest games of the seasoncombined.

Auburn wide receiver Darvin Adams makesa first-quarter reception in front of SouthCarolina’s Stephan Gilmore to set up theTigers’ first touchdown.


The old record of 171 receiving yards, set by Florida’s ReidelAnthony, had stood since 1996.

Adams didn’t catch a pass in the second half, but by then hehad done his damage and earned a new reputation. Severalteammates said he was as well-known for his blocking as hisbig catches before Saturday’s game, and Auburn quarterbackCam Newton said he was pleased to see Adams’ abilitieshighlighted on such a big stage.

“Darvin is the definition of a complete football player,”Newton said. “He blocks. He catches. And whatever Coach(Gene Chizik) asks him to do, he’s willing to do it. And thatjust goes to show you, what he did today, just the little thingsthat we see every single day out of Darvin Adams.”

Adams downplayed his own role in the game, offering creditto Newton, to his line and to the Auburn defense. But it wasthat tipped touchdown pass at the end of the first half thathis teammates and Chizik cited as the largest shift ofmomentum in the game.

“I was just trying to make my catches,” Adams said. “It’s justmy job to catch it when they throw it to me.”

On the Hail Mary play, the Gamecocks got little pressure onNewton before he fired it about 50 yards in the air. Therewere several Auburn receivers and USC defenders in the areaand DeVonte Holloman was able to get a hand on the ball.

He tipped the ball in the air instead of knocking it down andAdams reached over a falling Stephon Gilmore and grabbedthe ball for the score.

Gilmore was in front of Adams, but lost his footing.

“It was just a good play by them,” Gilmore said. “They threwit up and DeVonte tried to tip it down, but he ended uptipping it back. He was just in the right place at the righttime. I was going down.”

Defensive tackle Travian Robertson blamed the breakdownon the entire defense.

“I was inside and Newton rolled out,” Robertson said.“Devin (Taylor) went inside and we didn’t have contain. Wedidn’t have a threat on him. He just threw the ball up andwhen I turned around all our guys were in position to makea play on it. We could have batted it down or caught it foran interception, but we choose to bat it and their guy was inthe right position to make the catch.”

Holloman wanted to knock the ball down, but it sohappened to go the other way.

“He (Newton) chucked one deep and I tried to knock itdown, but it ended up popping up instead of down,”Holloman said. “I guess no one was really ready for it exceptfor (Adams). He was sitting there waiting for it. We shouldhave gone in down by seven but instead we go in down by14. That was a big difference.”

Darvin Adams broke the SEC championship game record forreceiving yards by halftime, but it’s hard to overlook quarterbackCam Newton, who, as he has all season, did it all. The junioraccounted for 408 yards and six touchdowns, earning gameMVP.

South Carolina seized momentum before halftime, pulling within21-14 on a 1-yard Alshon Jeffery touchdown catch with 16seconds left. It was too much time for Auburn. On the half’s finalplay, Newton rolled to his right and heaved a Hail Mary, whichgot tipped by Gamecocks cornerback Devonte Holloman rightinto the arms of Adams for a 51-yard touchdown with no timeon the clock.

Auburn is a run-first team, but offensive coordinator GusMalzahn saw a weakness in the Gamecocks’ 99th nationallyranked pass defense and exploited it. Newton had 281 yards athalftime, more than he had against any SEC foe in an entiregame this season. All of Adams’ seven catches and 217receiving yards came in the first half. By the end, the Tigers had348 passing yards, a season high.

“They never gave us a chance, baby. That’s what makes it sosweet.” -- Auburn cornerback T’Sharvan Bell, as he walked intothe locker room.

0

2

9

408

Times South Carolina sacked Auburn quarterback CamNewton despite hurrying him 11 times.

Number of missed field goals by South Carolina’s SpencerLanning, who came up empty on attempts from 51 and 42yards to finish 1-for-3 on field goal attempts.

Game-best tackles by Auburn’s T’Sharvan Bell.

Total yards of offense by Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.

AllAll In In:: A Aububuurnrn’s ’s RuRunn to to the the NaNational Chamtional Champiopionnshiship p 125


AUBURN


SOUTHCAROLINA

21 7 14 14 56

7 7 0 3 17

1ST QUARTERAU McCalebb 12 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 13:20

SC DiMarco 25 yd pass from Garcia (Lanning kick) 9:53





2ND QUARTER


AU Bell 10 yd interception return (Byrum kick) 7:23

3RD QUARTER


SC FG Lanning 33 yd 7:48


4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 28 20


PASSING 351 193

COMP-ATT-INT 18-29-0 20-33-2

PUNT RETURNYARDS 10 0

PUNTS-AVG. 1-36.0 3-50.0




STATISTICS AU SC



RUSHING

Newton 14-73

Dyer 14-64

Trotter 2-37

McCalebb 3-30

Fannin 6-28

Zachery 1-3

Burns 2-3

PASSING

Newton 17-28-0-335

Trotter 1-1-0-16

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS SOUTH CAROLINARECEIVING

Adams 7-217

Blake 5-63

Smith 2-23

Lutzenkirchen 1-18

Winter 1-16

McCalebb 1-12

Zachery 1-2

RUSHING

Lattimore 16-84

Shaw 6-49

Garcia 7-18

Maddox 1-5

PASSING

Garcia 16-28-2-170

Shaw 4-5-0-23

RECEIVING

Jeffery 4-36

Lattimore 3-36

Gurley 3-32

Moore 3-30

Sanders 3-9

DiMarco 2-38

Triglia 1-9

Miles 1-3


BeBestst QQuouoteses FroFromm ThThee SECSECChampionship Game

“It’s not even sunk in. I’vejust been living the dream.”

- Auburn Quarterback CamNewton

“You can’t tackle him. He’salmost a one-man show butthose guys really help andtheir receivers are reallygood. With that offensiveline and him, it’s hard tostop him.”

- South Carolina CoachSteve Spurrier

I don’t like to put anybody at the top. He’s certainlyone of the best quarterback runners probably to evercome through college ball. It will be interesting towatch him in pro ball because he dodges people. Hedoesn’t take hard hits with a helmet. They can’t doit.”

- Steve Spurrier

“Darvin is the definition of acomplete football player. Heblocks. He catches. And what-ever Coach (Gene Chizik) askshim to do, he’s willing to do it.And that just goes to show you,what he did today, just the lit-tle things that we see everysingle day out of DarvinAdams.”

- Cam Newton

“We can still tell recruits you can be on that firstSoutheastern Conference championship team. I canstill say that. Going into my seventh year, I can stillsay that. We’ll make it happen one day.”

- Steve Spurrier

“I was just trying to make mycatches. It’s just my job to catch itwhen they throw it to me.”

- Darvin Adams


“When you look at the 13-gamespan, I’ve never seen anything likeit. It’s running the ball. It’sthrowing the ball. Usually greatquarterbacks do one or the otherbetter. What God has blessedCameron with is the ability to bereally, really good at both.”

- Auburn Coach Gene Chizik


AuAuburnburn JuJumpmpss OregoOregonn ToTo No.No.1 In Final AP Poll, Still SecondBehind Ducks In Coaches' Poll

By ANDY BITTER

Auburn and Oregon both staked claims to the No. 1 spot inthe polls this week, a difference they'll settle on the field inthe Bowl Championship Series title game in Glendale,

Ariz., on Jan. 10.

The Tigers jumped the Ducks for the No. 1 spot in the AssociatedPress poll after their SEC championship game rout of SouthCarolina on Saturday. Auburn got 36 first-place votes to Oregon's23. Those numbers were flipped last week.

It's the first time the Tigers have been No. 1 in the AP poll since1985.

Auburn has six victories this season against teams ranked in theAP Top 25. Outside of the SEC West, no other team has morethan two.

The Ducks remained No. 1 in the USA Today coaches' poll,although the Tigers closed the gap. Auburn gained 14 first-placevotes, bringing its total to 24. Oregon had 34 first-place votes andmaintained a 13-point lead in the poll.

Coaches' poll snapshot:1. Oregon (34), 12-0, 1,450 points, LW: 12. Auburn (24), 13-0, 1,437 points, LW: 23. TCU (1), 12-0, 1,348 points, LW: 34. Wisconsin, 11-1, 1,276 points, LW: 45. Stanford, 11-1, 1,239 points, LW: 5

AP poll snapshot:1. Auburn (36), 13-0, 1,473 points, LW: 22. Oregon (23), 12-0, 1,462 points, LW: 13. TCU (1), 12-0, 1,379 points, LW: 34. Wisconsin, 11-1, 1,289 points, LW: 45. Stanford, 11-1, 1,283 points, LW: 5

130130 AllAll In:In: Auburn’Auburn’ss RRunun to thethe NationalNational ChampionshipChampionship


AN AWARDWINNING

YEAR


Cam Newton Wins Walter Camp AwardCam Newton kicked off his awards night with a win: he was the recipient of the Walter Camp Award as the nation's bestplayer Thursday night.

Newton is the 44th recipient of the award. He is the third Auburn player to win the award, joining Pat Sullivan (1971)and Bo Jackson (1985).

The award is voted on by the nation's 120 FBS head coaches and sports information directors.

Newton beat out Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck and Oregon running back LaMichael James for the award.

Auburn left tackle Lee Ziemba and defensive tackle Nick Fairley were also named first-team Walter Camp All-Americans.

CamCam NNewewttonon WinsWins DaveyDaveyO'O'BrBrieienn AAwwardardCam Newton's award haul kept growing, when hewas named the Davey O'Brien winner as the nation'stop quarterback at the ESPN College Awards Showon Thursday night.

He beat out Stanford's Andrew Luck and BoiseState's Kellen Moore for the honor.

Newton was named Walter Camp National Player ofthe Year earlier in the night.

He is also up for the Maxwell Award as the best all-around player.

Newton Takes Home Maxwell Award, TooAuburn quarterback Cam Newton earned his third award Thursday, taking home the Maxwell Award, which is given to thenation's best all-around player.

Newton earlier won the Walter Camp Award (national player of the year) and the Davey O'Brien Award (top quarterback).

"Just a blessed individual," Newton said afterward. "No guy would be able to do it without a great supporting cast."

Newton is the first Auburn player to win the Maxwell Award.

Up next for the quarterback is a trip to New York, where he's expected to be the third Tiger to win the Heisman Trophy.

134.135.Awards:Layout 1 12/29/10 8:29 PM Page 1

“Be strong, represent and just keep going, doing yourthing.” - Jackie Newton, message to Cam

“Just a blessed individual,” said Newton. “No guy wouldbe able to do it without a great supporting cast.”

AP Images



Cam Newton Wins HeismanTrophyBy Andy Bitter

NEW YORK — Auburn's Cam Newton won theHeismanTrophy on Saturday night the same way heplayed all season — running away from the compe-

tition.

The prohibitive favorite, New-ton, a 6-foot-6 quarterback wholed the Tigers to a 13-0 record,SEC championship and spot inthe BCS national title gameagainst Oregon, officiallyclaimed college football's highestindividual honor at the Best BuyTheater near Times Square inthe 76th annual presentation ofthe award.

"I'm a living testimony that any-thing is possible," Newton saidafterward, getting choked upduring his acceptance speech.

Newton was voted first on 729 of926 ballots cast (78.7 percent),the third highest percentage inthe history of the award behindOhio State's Troy Smith (2006)and Florida State's CharlieWard (1993).

Newton finished with 2,263points, well ahead of the compe-tition. Stanford's Andrew Luck was a distant second with1,079. The 1,184-point difference was the 11th largest in thehistory of the award.

Oregon's LaMichael James finished third with 916 points andBoise State's Kellen Moore fourth at 635.

Newton joined Pat Sullivan (1971) and Bo Jackson (1985) asAuburn's only Heisman Trophy winners. The Tigers are theninth school to have three or more winners of the award.They are tied with Florida for the most by an SEC school.

“This is a phenomenal young man,” Auburn head coach GeneChizik said. “He’s different on the field and he’s different offthe field. He’s a great kid. We get much joy and much satis-faction out of seeing our own get the benefits and see the

fruits of his labor, which are many. It’s very well deserved, noquestion about it. Everything he gets he’s worked for and hedeserves every bit of it."

The quarterback, who signed with Auburn last Decemberafter playing at Blinn College in Texas, is the fifth junior col-lege transfer to win the award, joining Navy's RogerStaubach (1963), USC's O.J. Simpson (1968), Ne-braska's Mike Rozier (1983) and Ward (1993).

"You have good ideas of what you'd love them to be," Chiziksaid. "But I can’t say a year ago that I thought we’d be sitting

here."

If not for the recruitingscandal that doggedhim in the last month,Newton's win couldhave been historic.

He was left off 105 vot-ers' ballots. Of the vot-ers who did includeNewton, 93 percent ofthem had the quarter-back first. Smith set therecord by getting 86percent of the first-place votes in 2006.

Newton's awards haulthis postseason has beenimpressive. Earlier thisweek in Orlando, Fla.,he swept three major na-tional awards: theWalterCamp (national player ofthe year), DaveyO'Brien (top quarter-back) and Maxwell (best

all-around player). He was also named SEC Offensive Player ofthe Year by both the coaches and Associated Press.

A dual-threat quarterback, Newton had one of the most sta-tistically impressive seasons in recent memory. He threw for2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns, ran for 1,409 yards and 20more scores and even caught a touchdown pass.

He is one of three players in NCAA history to throw for 20touchdowns and run for 20 touchdowns in the same season,joining Florida's Tim Tebow (2007) and Nevada's ColinKaepernick (2010).

Newton became the first player in SEC history to pass for2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season.

AP Images

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AP Images

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Newton Named SportingNews Player Of The Year;Fairley Also Makes All-America First Team

The Sporting News named Auburn quarterback CamNewton its player of the year Wednesday, while de-fensive tackle Nick Fairley also made the first team.

The Tigers were one of four schools with two representativeson the Sporting News’ first team, joining LSU, Oregon andWisconsin.

Newton and Fairley both made four of the five lists theNCAA uses to determine consensus All-Americans.

Newton was a first-team choice by the American FootballCoaches Association, the Walter Camp Football Foundationand the Associated Press. He was left off by the Football Writ-ers Association of America.

The Heisman Trophy winner was previously named WalterCamp Player of the Year.

Fairley was a first-team selection byWalter Camp, the FWAAand the AP, failing to make the AFCA list.

Left tackle Lee Ziemba is Auburn’s other consensus All-Amer-ican candidate, being selected to the AFCA, Walter Campand FWAA teams.

It’s the most All-Americans Auburn has had since 2004, whenfour players — Carlos Rogers, Junior Rosegreen, CarnellWilliams and Marcus McNeill — received recognition fromat least one outlet.

McNeill was Auburn’s last consensus All-American in 2005.

The Dec. 20 issue of Sporting News magazine will featureNewton on the cover.

Here's the full Sporting News All-America team:

OffenseQB Cam Newton, Jr., AuburnRB LaMichael James, Soph., OregonRB Jordan Todman, Jr., ConnecticutWR Justin Blackmon, Soph., Oklahoma StateWR Ryan Broyles, Jr., OklahomaTE Lance Kendricks, Sr., WisconsinOL Jake Kirkpatrick, Sr., TCU

OL Rodney Hudson, Sr., Florida StateOL Chase Beeler, Sr., StanfordOL Gabe Carimi, Sr., WisconsinOL Nate Solder, Sr., ColoradoK Josh Jasper, Sr., LSUKR Eric Page, Soph., Toledo

DefenseDT Nick Fairley, Jr., AuburnDE Ryan Kerrigan, Sr., PurdueDE Da’Quan Bowers, Jr., ClemsonDT Stephen Paea, Sr., Oregon StateLB Luke Kuechly, Soph., Boston CollegeLB Greg Jones, Sr., Michigan StateLB Vontaze Burfict, Soph., Arizona StateCB Patrick Peterson, Jr., LSUCB Prince Amukamara, Sr., NebraskaS Rahim Moore, Jr., UCLAS Robert Sands, Jr., West VirginiaP Chas Henry, Sr., FloridaPR Cliff Harris, Soph., Oregon

UPDATE: In other award newsWednesday, Auburn runningback Mike Dyer was named a second-team Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballnews.com. Dyer was previouslynamed to the SEC All-Freshman team.


Nick Fairley, Lee ZiembaNamed To FWAA All-Amer-ica Team; Cam Newton LeftOff

TwoAuburn Tigers made the Football Writers Associa-tion of America's All-American team, but the one whowill win the Heisman Trophy tonight wasn't one of

them.

Defensive tackle Nick Fairley and left tackle Lee Ziemba bothmade the team, while quarterback Cam Newton was beatenout for the quarterback spot by Boise State's Kellen Moore.

Here are Auburn's writeups on Fairley and Ziemba:

Fairley leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally with aschool record 21 tackles for loss, and also ranks second in theleague with 10.5 quarterback sacks. Fairley, who was namedSEC Defensive Player or Defensive Lineman of theWeek fivetimes this season, is fifth on the team with 55 tackles this year,and has also recovered two fumbles, forced one fumble, in-tercepted a pass and has 21 quarterback hurries. He wasnamed the winner of the Rotary Lombardi Award as the na-tion’s top collegiate offensive or defensive lineman.

Ziemba has started all 51 gamessince arriving at Auburn duringhis true freshman year, setting aschool record for total starts andconsecutive starts. This seasonhe helped Auburn's record-set-ting offense lead the SEC inscoring offense (42.7), total of-fense (497.7), rushing offense(287.2) and first downs (24.3).The Tigers rushed for morethan 300 yards against six con-secutive SEC opponents for thefirst time in school history, andhave scored at least 50 points aschool-record six times this sea-son.

Here's the full team:OFFENSEQB Kellen Moore, Boise State6-0 191 Jr. Prosser, Wash.B LaMichael James, Oregon 5-9 185 So. Texarkana, Texas

B Denard Robinson, Michigan 6-0 188 So. Deerfield Beach,Fla.WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State 6-1 207 So. Ardmore,Okla.WR Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma 5-11 183 Jr. Norman, Okla.WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina 6-4 233 So. St. Matthews,S.C.OL Gabe Carimi,Wisconsin 6-7 327 Sr. Cottage Grove,Wis.OL Rodney Hudson, Florida State 6-2 282 Sr. Mobile, Ala.OL Nate Solder, Colorado 6-9 315 Sr. Buena Vista, Colo.OL Lee Ziemba, Auburn 6-8 319 Sr. Rogers, Ark.C Mike Brewster, Ohio State 6-5 293 Jr. Orlando, Fla.

DEFENSEDL Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson 6-4 275 Jr. Bamberg, S.C.DL Wayne Daniels, TCU 6-2 250 Sr. Kilgore, TexasDL Nick Fairley, Auburn 6-5 298 Jr. Mobile, Ala.DL Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue 6-4 263 Sr. Muncie, Ind.LB Justin Houston, Georgia 6-3 258 Jr. Statesboro, Ga.LB Greg Jones, Michigan State 6-1 240 Sr. Cincinnati, OhioLB Luke Kuechly, Boston College 6-3 235 So. Cincinnati,OhioDB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska 6-1 205 Sr. Glendale, Ariz.DB Mark Barron, Alabama 6-2 210 Jr. Mobile, Ala.DB Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State 6-0 190 Sr. Clermont, Fla.DB Patrick Peterson, LSU 6-1 222 Jr. Pompano Beach, Fla.

SPECIAL TEAMSK Josh Jasper, LSU 5-11 171 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.P Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State 6-1 194 So. Mansfield, TexasRS Cliff Harris, Oregon 5-11 180 So. Fresno, Calif.



AuAuburn'burn'ss CamCam Newton,on, NickNickFairley Are First-Team APAll-AmericansAlabama, Georgia players on 2nd team

By ANDY BITTER

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn’s top two players were rec-ognized as such when the Associated Press released itsAll-America team Tuesday.

Quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley,the AP’s SEC offensive and defensive players of the yearearned first-team All-America recognition from the news serv-ice.

Newton and Fairley are now consensus All-Americans, havingbeen named to three of the five lists used by the NCAA todetermine the such recognition.

The Sporting News is the only one of the five yet to name itsAll-America squad. It will do so Dec. 20.Auburn is one of five teams to have two players make the AP’sfirst team, joining Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Oklahomaand Nebraska.

Nineteen SEC players made one of the three AP teams, withfive getting first-team honors. Kentucky wide receiver RandallCobb is an all-purpose selection, while LSU cornerbackPatrick Peterson and Florida punter Chas Henry also madethe first team.

Newton, who won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, ac-counted for a nation-best 49 touchdowns this season, settingAuburn single-season records for touchdowns passing (28)and rushing (20). He also was named a first-team All-Amer-ica by the American Football Coaches Association and theWalter Camp Foundation.

Fairley, who won the Lombardi Award as the nation’s top line-man, led the SEC in tackles for a loss (21) and sacks (10.5).He made the Walter Camp and Football Writers Associationof America first teams.Newton and Fairley also made Sports Illustrated’s All-Amer-ica team, joined by left tackle Lee Ziemba, who was a second-team AP pick. Auburn center Ryan Pugh is a third-team APselection and an honorable mention on the SI team.

Alabama had four players make the AP teams. Wide receiverJulio Jones and safety Mark Barron are second-team selec-

tions; guard Barrett Jones and defensive tackle Marcell Dareusmade the third team.

Barron also is a second-team pick on the SI team. Quarter-back Greg McElroy was an honorable mention.

Georgia has two players on the AP’s second team: linebackerJustin Houston and punter Drew Butler.

Houston, wide receiver A.J. Green, Butler and place-kickerBlair Walsh were SI honorable mentions.

ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-AMERICA TEAMSFIRST TEAMOFFENSEQuarterback -- CamNewton, junior, 6-foot-6, 250 pounds,Auburn.Running backs -- LaMichael James, sophomore, 5-9, 185,Oregon; Kendall Hunter, junior, 5-9, 200, Oklahoma State.Tackles -- Gabe Carimi, senior, 6-7, 327, Wisconsin; NateSolder, senior, 6-9, 315, Colorado.Guards -- Rodney Hudson, senior, 6-2, 282, Florida State;John Moffitt, senior, 6-5, 323, Wisconsin.Center -- Chase Beeler, senior, 6-3, 285, Stanford.Tight end -- Michael Egnew, junior, 6-6, 235, Missouri.Wide receivers -- Justin Blackmon, sophomore, 6-1, 205,Oklahoma State; Ryan Broyles, junior, 5-11, 183, Oklahoma.All-purpose player -- Randall Cobb, junior, 5-11, 186, Ken-tucky.Kicker -- Alex Henery, senior, 6-2, 175, Nebraska.

DEFENSEEnds -- Da’Quan Bowers, junior, 6-4, 275, Clemson; RyanKerrigan, senior, 6-4, 263, Purdue.Tackles -- Nick Fairley, junior, 6-5, 298, Auburn; StephenPaea, senior, 6-1, 311, Oregon State.Linebackers -- Luke Kuechly, sophomore, 6-3, 235, BostonCollege; Greg Jones, senior, 6-1, 240, Michigan State; VonMiller, senior, 6-3, 243, Texas A&M.Cornerbacks -- Patrick Peterson, junior, 6-1, 222, LSU;Prince Amukamara, senior, 6-1, 205, Nebraska.Safeties -- Tejay Johnson, senior, 6-1, 212, TCU; QuintonCarter, senior, 6-1, 200, Oklahoma.Punter -- Chas Henry, junior, 6-3, 222, Florida.

SECOND TEAMOFFENSEQuarterback -- Andrew Luck, sophomore, Stanford.Running backs -- JordanTodman, junior, Connecticut; MikelLeshoure, junior, Illinois.Tackles -- Lee Ziemba, senior, Auburn; Derek Sherrod, sen-ior, Mississippi State.Guards -- StefenWisniewski, senior, Penn State; Justin Boren,senior, Ohio State.



Center -- Jake Kirkpatrick, senior, TCU.Tight end -- Lance Kendricks, senior, Wisconsin.Wide receivers -- Alshon Jeffrey, sophomore, South Carolina;Julio Jones, junior, Alabama.All-purpose player -- Damaris Johnson, junior, Tulsa.Kicker -- Dan Bailey, senior, Oklahoma State.

DEFENSEEnds -- J.J. Watt, junior, Wisconsin; Jeremy Beal, senior,Oklahoma.Tackles -- Drake Nevis, senior, LSU;Jared Crick, junior, Nebraska.Linebackers -- Tank Carder, junior,TCU; Justin Houston, junior, Geor-gia; Lavonte David, junior, Nebraska.Cornerbacks -- Jayron Hosley, soph-omore, Virginia Tech; Cliff Harris,sophomore, Oregon.Safeties -- Mark Barron, junior, Ala-bama; Ahmad Black, senior, Florida.Punter -- Drew Butler, junior, Geor-gia.

THIRD TEAMOFFENSEQuarterback -- Kellen Moore, junior,Boise State.Running backs -- Vai Taua, senior,Nevada; John Clay, junior, Wiscon-sin.Tackles -- Anthony Castonzo, senior,Boston College; Nate Potter, junior,Boise State.Guards -- Barrett Jones, sophomore,Alabama; Caleb, Schlauderaff, senior,Utah.Center -- Ryan Pugh, senior,Auburn.Tight end -- D.J. Williams, senior,Arkansas.Wide receivers -- Greg Salas, sopho-more, Hawaii; Titus Young, senior,Boise State.All-purpose player -- Denard Robin-son, sophomore, Michigan.Kicker -- Dannny Hrapmann, junior,Southern Mississippi.

DEFENSEEnds -- Adrian Clayborn, senior,Iowa; Sam Acho, senior, Texas.Tackles -- Billy Winn, junior, Boise

State; Marcell Dareus, junior, Alabama.Linebackers -- Mason Foster, senior, Washington; Nate Irv-ing, senior, North Carolina State; Akeem Ayers, junior,UCLA.Cornerbacks -- Reggie Rembert, senior, Air Force; StephonGilmore, freshman, South Carolina.Safeties -- Rahim Moore, junior, UCLA; Eric Hagg, senior,Nebraska.Punter -- Kyle Martens, junior, Rice.


ChChizik Named AFCAA RRegionegion 2 Coach Of The Year

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik is up for the EddieRobinson National Coach of the Year Award today,but he won a regional honor Monday afternoon.

Chizik was named American Football Coaches AssociationRegion 2 Coach of the Year.

Chizik led the Tigers to a 13-0 record this year and a berthin the BCS title game. He is 21-5 in two years with Auburn.

The AFCA recognizes five regional coaches of the year in eachdivision. The winners will be recognized at the 2010 AFCAConvention in Dallas on Jan. 11, when the AFCA Coach ofthe Year will be announced.

ChChizizikik hashas alalreareadydy earearnedned$600K$600K iinn bbonuonusesses,, cancanmmakeake $$757500KK mmororee byby enendd ofofsseaseasonon

AAuburn head coach Gene Chizik is adding quite a haulof bonuses to his $2.1 million annual salary. Ahh,the beauty of a performance-based contract.

Chizik has already added $600,000 to his annual salary.Here's a breakdown:$150,000 — Season with 13 victories$100,000 — Playing in SEC championship game$200,000 —Winning SEC championship game$50,000 — Playing in an BCS bowl game$100,000 — Being named SEC Coach of the Year

He might not be done yet, though. Chizik has a chance toadd $750,000 more in bonuses by the middle of January.Here's a look at what he can still earn:$50,000 — Additional money for reaching 14 victories$100,000 — Being ranked in the top-five in the either pollafter BCS title game$100,000 — Being named National Coach of the Year$500,000 —Winning a national championship

Chizik is also eligible for a bonus of $25,000, $50,000 or$75,000 based on the team's Academic Progress Rate. Thoseare released in June. He can also earn a performance-basedbonuses "to be awarded at the University's discretion," ac-cording to his contract.

I'm guessing once all is said and done this season, both heand Auburn will probably look at renegotiating the wholething.

142.143.Chizik.Malzahn:Layout 1 12/30/10 2:29 PM Page 1

MalMalzahzahnn WinsWins BBroroylesyles AwarAwarddAs Top Assistant

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was named the 2010winner of the Frank Broyles Award, given annually to the nation'stop assistant coach.

He received the award at a luncheon in Little Rock, Ark., this afternoon.

Malzahn's Tigers are seventh nationally in total yards (497.7 ypg), sixthin rushing (287.2 ypg) and sixth in scoring (42.7 ypg).

Malzahn is Auburn's second winner of the award. Current head coachGene Chizik won the award in 2004 as the Tigers' defensive coordina-tor.

Malzahn's Meticulousness Pays Off For TigersOffensive guru has already helped Auburn set school record for points in a season

By Andy Bitter

AUBURN, Ala. -- His system is fast, but on the fieldduring the pre-game, Gus Malzahn is slow and metic-ulous.

Auburn’s second-year offensive coordinator is in his own lit-tle world as he walks every inch of the field, pacing up anddown the yard lines while inspecting each blade of grass, athousand football thoughts no doubt racing through his head.

“His football mind doesn’t have an off switch,” offensive linecoach Jeff Grimes said. “His mind is always on. That’s one ofthe things that makes him great. He’s so driven toward successand so focused in his approach.”

Once derided for his recent background as a high schoolcoach, Malzahn, one of the hottest coaching commoditiescurrently in the college game, is not hearing those kind of in-sults now.

The system many said would never work against the athleticdefenses of the SEC currently ranks sixth nationally in totalyards.

With three games remaining, Auburn has already set theschool record for points in a season (471) and is poised to beonly the fourth SEC team in the last decade to average morethan 40 points a game for a season.

Malzahn, the man in charge, has been called a number ofthings: a guru, a mad scientist, a wizard as an offensive game-planner.

But there’s no magic to his success. It’s grounded in prepara-tion -- tedious, mind-numbing, exhaustive preparation.

“We do more walkthroughs than anybody in America, to thepoint where the players probably get a little burnt out,” widereceivers coach Trooper Taylor said. “They know what to do.He takes pride in alignment, assignment and effort. Thosethree things we hammer home to our guys. They go into eachgame prepared.”

Even the so-called gadget plays Malzahn runs aren’t done hap-hazardly.

The reverses, the double passes, the flea flickers, the wrap-around handoffs -- Auburn practices them exhaustively, tothe point that they become routine, even if Malzahn only usesthem once a month.

“He studies the game,” head coach Gene Chizik said. “He’s ashard a worker as I’ve ever been around. … That’s why he isvery successful: a lot of attention to details and things thatmatter.”

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Pg 144: couple- Brooks Forehand, Priorities- Jeremy Feltracco, Team Huddle- Brooke Mansfield, Two girls- Sparkler Cottage Photography, Two small girls- Robin TrimarchiPg 145: little boy looking over field-Marcy Carter, Flags-Marcy Carter, Boy with All In- Lori DAuria McBride, Boy in front of van- Michele Hardesty Strickland, Marching band- Tony Walker

145.FanPhotos:Layout 1 1/12/11 8:33 AM Page 1

Auburn running back Michael Dyeroutruns Oregon defender Zac Clark ona key play in the fourth quarter

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AUBURNOREGON

1.10.2011 | University of Phoenix Stadium | Glendale, AZ

AP RANK

1 22

19AP RANK

2

BCSCHAMPIONSHIP

GAME


148148 AllAll In:In: Auburn’Auburn’ss Runun to thethe NationalNational ChampionshipChampionship

BCSNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Perfect Ending For Auburn As Tigers WinTheir Second National ChampionshipWes Byrum’s 19-yard field goal clinches victory over OregonBy ANDY BITTER

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Auburn’s 53-year wait is finallyover.

The Tigers ended a half century national championshipdrought Monday night, ironically enough in the desert,when place-kicker Wes Byrum split the uprights with an19-yard field goal as time expired, lifting No. 1 Auburn to a22-19 win against No. 2 Oregon before 78,603 at Universityof Phoenix Stadium.

Orange and blue confetti rained from the ceiling as Auburn’splayers and coaches poured onto the field to celebrate theschool’s 14-0 season and first national championship since1957.

“Fifty-three years, baby! This is for you,” Tigers coach GeneChizik shouted to fans afterward. “War Eagle!”

Byrum’s kick capped the program’s remarkable turnaroundunder Chizik, who took a downtrodden team that went 5-7in Tommy Tuberville’s final season to the top of the collegefootball world in two short years.

It also ended three decades of frustration for Auburn fans,who experienced several near championship seasons. The1983 team went 11-1 but was voted No. 3 behind one-lossMiami and Nebraska. The Tigers went undefeated in both1993 and 2004 but were denied their shot at the playing forthe national title, the first time because of NCAA sanctions,the second due to a BCS snub.

This year’s team removed all doubt about who was No. 1,running the SEC gauntlet and emerging as the conference’sfifth straight BCS national champion.

“Anything is possible,” said Heisman Trophy-winningquarterback Cam Newton, who played through a backinjury to finish with 265 passing yards, 64 rushing yards and

two touchdown passes. “Iguarantee that five or six monthsago nobody would have said thatAuburn University is going towin the national championship.Now, on Jan. 10, 2011, we cansay we did it.”

Auburn’s win is sure to be talkedabout for years, and not just forits thrilling finish. The Tigers’championship will undoubtedlycome under fire as a result of theNewton recruiting scandal thatdominated headlines for close toa month.

Although both he and Auburnwere cleared of wrongdoing,Newton knows the Tigers won’tgarner much sympathy.

“Throughout this year, ain’tnobody feel sorry for Auburn,” said Newton, who swoopedin from junior college a year ago to become the 14th playerto win the Heisman and national title in the same season.“And we got the last laugh.”

In typical fashion, the Tigers didn’t decide things until thevery end. Oregon (12-1) looked left for dead late in thegame, its high-powered offense, like Auburn’s for most of thenight, looking oddly out of sorts in what turned out to be anunexpected defensive battle.

The Ducks, who led the nation scoring 49.2 points pergame, finished 30 points below their season average.Oregon’s vaunted rushing attack was held to only 75 yardsafter averaging 303.5 during its first 12 games.


AllAll InIn: AAububuurn’s’s RuRun toto thethe Nationaltional ChamChampionshishipp 1149

Auburn tackle Nick Fairley, who took defensive MVPhonors after finishing with three tackles for a loss and aforced fumble, thought it was about time the defense got itsdue.

"Our defense, we showed America everything we done eachand every Saturday out there on the field," he said. "We justwent unnoticed throughout the year."

But, trailing 19-11 and having just punted back to Auburn,Oregon got the break it needed. With 4:50 remaining,Ducks linebacker Casey Matthews popped Newton on arunning play, jarring the ball loose for teammate Cliff Harristo fall on at the Auburn 40. It was Newton’s second lostfumble all season.

Eight plays later, LaMichael James, the nation’s leadingrusher, scored on a 2-yard run. Quarterback DarronThomas’ two-point conversion pass to Jeff Maehl tied thegame at 19 with 2:33 on the clock.

But it was too much time to leave the Tigers, who revved uptheir version of a the two-minute offense in a moment’snotice. Newton started the drive with a 15-yard pass toEmory Blake before freshman running back Mike Dyerreeled off a 37-yard run, keeping his balance near the line ofscrimmage by propping himself up on a Ducks defender,then racing down the field.

“At the time I wasn’t really sure (if I was down),” Dyer saidof the play, which was upheld by replay. “All I knew was thewhistle wasn’t blowing and my coach was saying, ‘Go.’

Auburn players celebrateafter winning the nationalchampionship by defeatingOregon 22-19


Dyer, who ran for 144 yards to earn MVP honors despite notplaying in the first quarter, nearly put a touchdown capperon the game, busting up the middle for a 17-yard run thatended up with him in the end zone with only 10 secondsremaining. Replay showed that he was down at the 1.

After a kneeldown took the clock down to two seconds, oncame Byrum, who famously did the Gator chomp after agame-winning kick at Florida as a freshman. He has an everbetter tale to tell now, capping his college career with hissixth game-winner.

“We know without question when the game comes down tothe end, wherever we put that ball within reason, he is goingto make it,” Chizik said. “And there was no question in ourmind today.”

Afterward, Chizik was still taking in the entire night.

“I’m not sure if 15 weeks ago anyone believed that we coulddo this except us,” he said.

“We said that we wanted to go from good to great. And I cansit here tonight and I can tell you that the Auburn Tigers arethe best football team in the United States.”

Darvin Adams, left, and Michael Dyer, right, celebrate afterDyer carried the ball to the 1-yard-line to help set up theirfinal field goal

Auburn's Zac Etheridgecelebrates after comingup with an interceptionin the first half


Kodi Burns runs into the end zoneto score Auburn's first touchdown



AuAuburn'burn'ss WinWin OneOne ForFor TheThe AgesAgesBy GUERRY CLEGGSpecial to the Ledger-Enquirer

GLENDALE, Ariz. --

As they have done 13 times before this season, the AuburnTigers stormed down toward their student section Mondaynight moments before the fourth quarter. It’s obviouslybecome a good luck charm of sorts, for each time it led tovictory.

The message to the fans is clear: The fourth quarter belongsto us.

This time, though, it took on new meaning:

Just fifteen more minutes to victory.

Just fifteen more minutes to ending 53 years of waiting.

Just fifteen more minutes to claim their first nationalchampionship since Eisenhower was president. Most of theplayers’ parents probably weren’t even born the last timeAuburn won a national championship - 1957.

Just fifteen more minutes?

No, fifteen long, agonizing, torturous minutes.

The Tigers clung to an eight-point lead over Oregon in thisBCS national championship game. But fifteen minutes is aneternity against these Ducks, who need a play clock like theyneed more uniforms.

Hurry-hurry-hurry.

Faster-faster-faster.

Tempo-tempo-tempo.

This wasn’t just football. It was fastbreak basketball on grass.Auburn and Oregon push the ball downfield at 4G speed.Maybe AT&T and Verizon should have bought out Tostitosas title sponsors.

Speed-speed-speed.

Who’s running the controls for these teams, any way -Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin? No, wait. At least they

take pit stops. Auburn and Oregon don’t pit stop. They justslow down just long enough to look to the sidelines for thenext play.

Go-go-go.

The first half might have disappointed those wanting 80points in the first 30 minutes. A scoreless first quarter can bethanked for that. But the pace was every bit as frenetic asexpected. The four scoring drives totaled - TOTALED! -eight minutes and one second. That’s one drive for mostteams.

And it only got faster and faster as the game blurred on.

The game’s first scoring possession, resulting in an Oregonfield goal, took an eternal three minutes and six seconds.

Auburn needed a mere 2:13 to answer with a touchdown.

Oregon said, “Eh, that’s nothing. Watch this.”

Sixty-two seconds, touchdown.

It’s somewhat ironic that Auburn decided to slow thingsdown a bit, grinding out 68 yards over seven minutes andnine seconds. Yet it resulted in nothing, as Eric Smithdropped a low pass from Cam Newton in the end zone.

But the Tigers did produce another touchdown drive, thisone in 1:40. So that’s three touchdown drives in less thanfive minutes.

Yet, this was not the desert shootout everyone expected oftwo teams that came into the game averaging 90 points andmore than 1,000 yards between them. But the pace wasevery bit as frantic as advertised. One thing the Tigerscouldn’t hurry was the clock. A fumble by Cam Newton -who for once this season seemed human - gave Oregon theball at its 45 yard line with just under five minutes.

Quickly - of course - the Ducks were standing 11 yards fromthe end zone, needing a touchdown and two-point play totie it. Just as quickly, LaMichael James squeezed into thecorner of the end zone for a touchdown to make it 19-17.The Ducks had already gone for two and made it earlier inthe game. This time, they had no choice. Darron Thomasran right and threw back over the middle of the end zone


and hit Jeff Maehl for the tyingscore.

Now, time stood still. TheTigers had just two and halfminutes to go the length of thefield for a chance. Then cameperhaps the most bizarre play inBCS championship gamehistory. Michael Dyer ranaround right end and was metby Oregon’s Eddie Pleasant. Butas Pleasant tried to make anarm-tackle, Dyer rolled overPleasant and never touched theground. He sprang up, listenedfor a whistle, then took off.Thirty-seven yards down to theOregon 23. Another Dyer rungave Auburn first-and-goalfrom the 1 with 10 seconds toplay.

Fifty-three years reduced to 10gut-wrenching seconds.

Would it be a bad snap? Abotched hold? A block? Ashank.

Every catastrophic scenarioimaginable undoubtedlycrossed the minds of the 40,000or so Auburn fans who madethis pilgrimage to witnesshistory.

Wes Byrum’s 19-yard field goalpierced the uprights as timeexpired. Suddenly, the clockdidn’t matter any more. Theonly numbers on thescoreboard that mattered nowwere the ones in the leftcolumn:

AU 22O 19

Auburn kicker Wes Byrum reactsafter kicking the winning fieldgoal


AUBURN


OREGON

0 16 3 3 22

0 11 0 8 19

ORE Beard 26 yd field goal 14:13

AU Burns 35 yd pass from Newton (Byrum kick) 12:00

ORE James 8 yd pass from Thomas (Beard, rush) 10:58

AU Blanc Safety 3:26


2ND QUARTER


3RD QUARTER

ORE James 2 yd pass from Thomas (Maehl pass from Thomas) 2:33


4TH QUARTER

FIRST DOWNS 23 28



PASSES COMP-ATT-INT 28-41-2 20-35-1

PUNT RETURN-YARDS 3-6-0 0-0-0

KICKOFF RETURN-YARDS 4-65-0 5-92-0

INTERCEPTION RETURNS-YDS 1-22-0 2-1-0

PUNTS-AVG. 5-36.8 5-40.4







STATISTICS ORE AU

“I guarantee that five or six months agonobody would have said that AuburnUniversity is going to win the nationalchampionship. Now, on Jan. 10, 2011, wecan say we did it.” - Cam Newton

Auburn cornerback T'SharvanBell celebrates Auburn's safetyin the first half

154.155.BCSStats:Layout 1 1/12/11 8:14 AM Page 1

All InIn:: AAubuurnrn’s’s RuRunn toto thethe NaNationaltional ChamChampiopionnshishipp 115555

RUSHING

Dyer 22-143

Newton 22-64

McCalebb 6-47

PASSING

Newton 20-34-1-265

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS AUBURN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS OREGONRECEIVING

Zachery 6-48

Adams 4-54

Blake 4-54

Lutzenkirchen 2-48

McCalebb 2-10

Burns 1-35

Fannin 1-16

RUSHING

James 13-49

Barner 11-32

Thomas 8-(-6)

PASSING

Thomas 27-40-2-363

Rice 1-1-0-11

RECEIVING

Maehl 9-133

Davis 6-60

James 4-39

Tuinei 3-75

Paulson 3-48

Barner 2-8

Johnson 1-11

Auburn quarterback Cam Newtonthrows a pass early in the thirdquarter

154.155.BCSStats:Layout 1 1/12/11 8:15 AM Page 2

AuAuburn'burn'ss DefeDefensnsee StepsSteps ToTo AnAnotherother LLevelevelBy ANDY BITTER

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Josh Bynes felt slighted.Auburn's whole defense did.

The buildup to Monday's BCS national championshipgame focused almost completely around the twohigh-powered, fast-paced offenses.

"They hadn't shown one defensive highlight throughout theweek," Bynes said. "So what does that tell us as a defense?We got to play at another level."

Auburn showed exactly what it was capable of at Universityof Phoenix Stadium, turning in its best effort of the year ina 22-19 win against Oregon.

The Tigers held the Ducks to 30 points below their seasonaverage of 49.2, which led the nation entering Mondaynight. It was only the second time all year Oregon scoredfewer than 37 points.

"I cannot be more proud of our defense," Auburn coachGene Chizik said. "For one month our defense was boundand determined to show up here tonight and and play thebest game of their life."

It started by stuffing the running game. The Ducks averaged303.8 yards per game entering the night, fourth most in thecountry. But Auburn's rushing defense — no slouch itself,ranked 11th nationally — was up the challenge, holdingOregon to just 75 yards on the ground.

"They came up, had agood plan for us," saidDucks quarterbackDarron Thomas, whothrew for 363 yards butfinished with minus-6rushing yards. "Theymixed it up a lot.Sometimes thedefensive end wascrashing or sitting onit, but they came outwith a good plan. Hatsoff to their defense."

Oregon's LaMichaelJames, the nation'sleading rusher andDoak Walker Awardwinner, finished with49 yards on 13 carries,averaging only 3.8yards per carry.

His backup, KenjonBarner, finished withonly 32 yards, gettingstuffed onfourth-and-goal fromthe 1-yard line midwaythrough the thirdquarter.

Auburn did it by living

Auburn defensive tackleNick Fairley sacks Oregonquarterback DarronThomas in the first half


For Good Luck, FamilyTakes Special Keepsake ToChampionship GameBy JIM MUSTIAN

For Nancy Weekley and her family, Auburn winningthe national championship has a familiar ring to it -one they think could bring good luck as the Tigers

take on the Oregon Ducks in Glendale, Ariz.

Weekley’s late husband, Columbus native Jeff Weekley,played for the Tigers in 1957 and earned a championshipring after the team went undefeated. After battling a rarecancer for 14 years, Jeff Weekley died in 1987, and hisfamily donated the ring to the university’s museum, where ithas remained on display.

In 2007, the Weekley family received a commemorative ringfrom the university to celebrate the 50th anniversary of thechampionship team, said Jeff Weekley’s daughter, NanKonze.

From that point on, Nancy Weekley wore the ring aroundher neck to each home game. The family began the traditionof rubbing the ring before kickoff, and even fans insurrounding rows have partaken in the ritual.

But for Monday’s game, the family has turned to the realMcCoy.

“While visiting Auburn on Thursday, I asked if I could getthe ring from the display and take it with our family to theBCS game,” Konze said in an e-mail. “They were thrilled toshare it, and our family will now wear it in Arizona.”

Instead of rubbing the replica, fourmembers of the Columbus family willtake turns wearing the ring - each forone quarter.

“We’ve got deep Auburn ties,” NancyWeekley said. “It would be wonderfulto bring home another ring.”

in Oregon's backfield. The Tigers had 11 tackles for a loss,getting pressure up the middle mostly from its defensiveline, which kept up with the Ducks' smaller but nimbleoffensive line.

The Tigers negated the advantage with tireless preparation,which included extra conditioning sessions and getting itsscout team to rattle off plays as quickly as nine secondsbetween snaps.

"I think (defensive line) coach (Tracy) Rocker did a great jobwith the D-line getting ready for this tempo with the get offsand the jump ropes we all practiced," defensive tackle NickFairley said. "We probably did like 2,000 jump ropes thewhole time we was off. They were tired, I was tired. We werejust going to see who hit who in the mouth last."

Fairley, who might have played his final game at Auburn,certainly left a lasting legacy, finishing with three tackles fora loss and forcing a fumble to earn defensive MVP honors.

"They got a great front four," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said."Nick Fairley proved he was the best defensive lineman inthe country. It was a tough matchup for us."

How good was Auburn's defense? The Ducks had been heldscoreless in only five quarters all season. Auburn held themscoreless in two quarters Monday night.

For a defense that has long been criticized as not beingnational championship worthy, it was a sweet ending.

"You talk about the word respond," Chizik said. "Theyresponded today. One of the reasons we will be able to wearthat ring is because of how well they played, these guys righthere."


20102010 AubAuburnurn FFoooottbaballll RRostostererNo. Name Pos. Ht./Wt. Year Hometown (Last School)1 Trovon Reed WR 6-0/181 FR Thibodaux, La. (Thibodaux)2 Cam Newton QB 6-6/250 JR College Park, Ga. (Blinn College)2 Aairon Savage DB 5-11/200 SR Albany, Ga. (Westover)3 DeAngelo Benton WR 6-2/201 SO Bastrop, La. (Bastrop)4 Shaun Kitchens WR 6-3/217 FR College Park, Ga. (Banneker)4 Zac Etheridge SS 6-0/213 SR Troy, Ala. (Charles Henderson)5 Michael Dyer RB 5-9/215 FR Little Rock, Ark. (LR Christian Academy)5 Jake Holland LB 6-0/231 FR Pelham, Ala. (Pelham)6 Jonathon Mincy S 5-10/180 FR Decatur, Ga. (Southwest DeKalb)6 Antonio Goodwin WR 6-1/173 FR Atlanta, Ga. (Booker T. Washington)8 Anthony Morgan DB 5-9/185 SO Brantley, Ala. (Brantley)9 Quindarius Carr WR 6-1/186 JR Huntsville, Ala. (Huntsville)9 Ryan White DB 5-10/186 FR Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln)10 LaDarius Owens LB 6-2/236 FR Bessemer, Ala. (Jess Lanier)11 Chris Davis CB 5-10/182 FR Birmingham, Ala. (Woodlawn)12 Demetruce McNeal DB 6-1/176 FR College Park, Ga. (Banneker)13 Craig Sanders DE 6-4/248 FR Clio, Ala. (Ariton)14 Barrett Trotter QB 6-2/211 SO Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian)14 Demond Washington DB 5-9/182 SR Tallassee, Ala. (Mississippi Gulf Coast JC)15 Neiko Thorpe DB 6-2/186 JR Tucker, Ga. (Tucker)15 Clint Moseley QB 6-3/223 RS FR Leroy, Ala. (Leroy)16 Ikeem Means DB 6-0/204 SO Wetumpka, Ala. (Wetumpka)17 Josh Bynes LB 6-2/235 SR Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (Boyd Anderson)17 Ryan Shoemaker P 6-0/177 SR Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain)18 Kodi Burns WR 6-2/207 SR Fort Smith, Ark. (Northside)18 Wes Byrum K 6-2/216 SR Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)19 Neil Caudle QB 6-3/198 SR Hoover, Ala. (Spain Park)20 Drew Cole DB 5-11/190 JR Picayune, Miss. (Picayune Memorial)21 Eltoro Freeman LB 5-11/225 JR Alexander City, Ala. (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC)22 T'Sharvan Bell DB 6-0/180 SO Kissimmee, Fla. (Osceola)23 Onterio McCalebb RB 5-10/171 SO Fort Meade, Fla. (Fort Meade/Hargrave Military Academy)23 Jordan Spriggs DB 5-9/168 FR Mobile, AL (Murphy)24 Ryan Smith S 6-1/183 FR Cordova, Ala. (Cordova)25 Daren Bates LB 5-11/203 SO Memphis, Tenn. (Olive Branch (Miss.)26 Mike McNeil S 6-2/208 JR Mobile, Ala. (W.P Davidson)27 Mario Fannin RB 5-11/228 SR Hampton, Ga. (Lovejoy)28 Wade Christopher LB 6-1/223 JR Vestavia Hills, Ala. (Vestavia Hills)28 Anderson Mack WR 5-11/185 FR Atlanta, GA (Martin Luther King, Jr.)29 Chandler Brooks K 6-0/180 JR Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom)30 Steven Clark P 6-5/232 FR Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill)30 Twun Bonner CB 5-10/180 FR Adamsville, Ala. (Minor)31 Trent Fisher DB 6-0/184 FR Nashville, Tenn. (Christ Presbyterian Academy)32 Eric Smith RB 5-10/240 JR Seffner, Fla. (Armwood)33 Jessel Curry LB 6-1/214 FR Buford, Ga. (Buford)35 Jonathan Evans LB 5-11/230 SO Prichard, Ala. (Mattie T. Bount)35 Dimitri Reese WR 5-10/160 FR Birmingham, AL (Clay-Chalkville)35 Jacob Kerby FB 6-1/222 RS FR Demopolis, Ala. (Demopolis)36 Cody Parkey K 6-0/184 FR Jupiter, Fla. (Jupiter)37 Ladarious Phillips FB 6-0/291 FR Roanoke, Ala. (Handley)38 Jawara White LB 6-1/243 FR Troy, Ala. (Charles Henderson)38 Sam Brown WR 6-1/202 JR Birmingham, AL (Hewitt-Trussville)39 Ralph Spry WR 5-10/173 JR Auburn, Ala. (Minnesota)40 Chris Humphries LB 6-2/224 JR Somerville, Ala. (Brewer)40 Chris Otersen TE 6-3/212 JR Springfield, Va. (Robert E. Lee)41 Robert Cooper TE 6-4/226 RS FR Mobile, Ala. (Daphne)42 Philip Pierre-Louis WR 5-8/150 SO Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)43 Philip Lutzenkirchen TE 6-4/258 SO Marietta, Ga. (Lassiter)44 Patrick Lymon RB 5-10/176 FR Harvest, AL (Sparkman)45 Davis Hooper RB 6-0/207 JR Montgomery, Ala. (Trinity Presbyterian)45 Antoine Carter DE 6-4/256 SR Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard)46 Craig Stevens LB 6-3/229 SR Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln)47 Joey Caldwell LB 6-1/226 SO Five Points, Ala. (Handley)47 Nathan Taylor WR 5-10/188 JR Fredericksburg, VA (Massaponax)48 Woody Parramore DB 5-8/183 SR Montgomery, Ala. (Trinity Presbyterian)48 Dakota Mosley TE 6-4/259 FR Little Rock, Ark. (LR Christian Academy)49 Michael Goggans DE 6-3/261 SR Alexander City, Ala. (Benjamin Russell)50 Ryan Pugh OL 6-4/297 SR Hoover, Ala. (Hoover)51 Watson Downs LB 6-0/215 SO Dothan, Ala. (Houston Academy)5252 JustinJustin DelaineDelaine DEDE 6-5/6-5/232232 FRFR Linden,Linden, Ala.Ala. (Li(Linden)nden)5353 BartBart EddinsEddins OLOL 6-4/6-4/304304 SRSR MoMonntgtgomomereryy,, AlAla.a. (Trin(Trinitityy PresPresbbyteyterianrian))5454 JeffreyJeffrey WhitakerWhitaker DTDT 6-3/6-3/308308 FRFR WWararnerner RobinsRobins,, GaGa.. ((WarnerWarner RRobins)obins)

No. Name Pos. Ht./Wt. Year Hometown (Last School)55 Corey Lemonier DE 6-4/227 FR Hialeah, Fla. (Hialeah)56 Ashton Richardson LB 6-0/190 JR New Orleans, La. (St. Michael)57 Byron Isom OL 6-3/302 SR Jonesboro, Ga. (Lovejoy)58 Harris Gaston LB 6-1/231 SO Birmingham, Ala. (Bessemer Academy)60 Eric Mack OL 6-3/361 FR St. Matthews, S.C. (Calhoun County)61 Donnie Riggins OL 6-8/275 SO Wetumpka, AL (Holtville)61 Josh Harris DS 6-1/230 JR Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton)62 Chad Slade OL 6-5/316 FR Moody, Ala. (Moody)63 Blake Burgess OL 6-2/278 RS FR Vestavia Hills, Ala. (Vestavia Hills)64 Chase Seals OL 6-7/300 FR Auburn, AL (Lee Scott Academy)64 Forrest Hill DS 6-1/238 FR Morrow, Ga. (Morrow)65 Tunde Fariyike OL 6-2/330 FR Thomaston, Ga. (Upson-Lee)65 Jake Lembke DS 6-0/234 RS FR New Lenox, Ill. (Providence Catholic)66 Mike Berry OL 6-3/316 SR Antioch, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy)67 Bobby Ingalls OL 6-7/320 JR Gardendale, AL (Gardendale)68 Ed Christian OL 6-4/277 FR Valdosta, Ga. (Lowndes)69 Ryan Preston OL 6-1/278 FR Oxford, AL (Oxford)70 Andre Harris OL 6-3/318 RS FR Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy)71 John Sullen OL 6-6/312 SO Auburn, Ala. (Auburn)72 Andrew Parmer OL 5-10/267 SO Dalton, Ga. (Dalton)73 Lee Ziemba OL 6-8/319 SR Rogers, Ark. (Rogers)74 Jamar Travis DL 6-0/288 SO Brewton, Ala. (W.S. Neal)75 Brandon Mosley OL 6-6/299 JR Jefferson, Ga. (Coffeyville J.C.)76 Jorrell Bostrom OL 6-3/322 SR Nampa, Idaho (Bakersfield C.C.)77 A.J. Greene OL 6-5/291 JR Madison, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy)78 Roszell Gayden OL 6-6/315 JR New Hope, Minn. (College of Sequoias JC)79 Jared Cooper OL 6-4/300 JR Brewton, Ala. (W.S. Neal)80 Emory Blake WR 6-1/192 SO Austin, Texas (Stephen F. Austin)81 Terrell Zachery WR 6-1/210 SR Wadley, Ala. (Wadley)83 Cameron Groce TE 6-3/213 FR Gardendale, AL (Gardendale)84 Codey Frederick WR 6-4/186 FR Hamilton, AL (Hamilton)85 Travante Stallworth WR 5-9/188 SO Leesville, La. (Leesville)87 Derek Winter WR 6-0/208 JR Tampa, Fla. (Plant Senior)89 Darvin Adams WR 6-3/185 JR Canton, Miss. (Harrison)90 Nick Fairley DL 6-5/298 JR Mobile, Ala. (Copiah-Lincoln JC)91 Joel Bonomolo DE 6-3/245 JR Metairie, La. (Fullerton Community College)92 Kenneth Carter DT 6-5/281 FR Greenville, Ala. (Greenville)93 Mike Blanc DL 6-4/297 SR Pompano Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach)94 Nosa Eguae DE 6-2/258 RS FR Mansfield, Texas (Summit)95 Dee Ford DE 6-4/240 SO Odenville, Ala. (St. Clair County)97 Derrick Lykes DL 6-2/286 SO Clanton, Ala. (Chilton County)98 Zach Clayton DL 6-3/296 SR Opelika, Ala. (Opelika)

Coaches

Gene Chizik - Head Coach

Jay Boulware - Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends

Jeff Grimes - Assistant Coach/Offensive Line

Phillip Lolley - Assistant Coach/Secondary

Curtis Luper - Assistant Coach/Running Backs

Gus Malzahn - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Tracy Rocker - Assistant Coach/Defensive Line

Ted Roof - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

Trooper Taylor - Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers

Tommy Thigpen - Assistant Coach/Secondary

Wayne Bolt - Director of Football Relations

Scott Fountain - Football Operations Coordinator

Chad Lunsford - Football Operations Dir. of Scouting

Ben Thomas - Director, Player Development

Brent Thomas - Football Video Coordinator

Kevin Yoxall - Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

Rev. Chette Williams - Team Chaplain

Dr. James R. Andrews - Orthopaedic Surgeon

Dr. Michael D. Goodlett - Team Physician

Clark Pearson - Head Football Athletic Trainer

David Walsh - Director of Plainsman Park Physical Therapy

158.159.Roster_Coaches:Layout 1 1/12/11 8:21 AM Page 1

Gene Chizik, HHeadead CoaCoachchIn his first year at Auburn, Gene Chizik lead the Tigers to an 8-5record and a victory over Northwestern in the 2010 OutbackBowl. The first coach in Auburn history to lead his team to a bowlgame in his first year. The two previous seasons, Chizik servedas the head coach at Iowa State where he was in the midst of arebuilding process, directing the Cyclones to a 5-19 mark. Chizikwas a co-defensive coordinator at Texas for two seasons after athree-year stint as Auburn’s defensive coordinator. Prior to hisarrival at Auburn, Chizik was the defensive coordinator at CentralFlorida for four seasons after overseeing the linebackers andsecondary while at Stephen F. Austin. Chizik earned his B.A.

degree in education from Florida and his M.A. in guidance and counseling from Clemson.

TTrrooooperer Taayloylor,r,AsAsssistanistantt HeaHeadd Coach/Coach/WWiidde ReRececeiveiversrsTrooper Taylor is in his second season as assistant head coachand wide receivers coach at Auburn. Prior to coming to Auburn,Taylor was the co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach atOklahoma State. Taylor was receivers and running backs coachat Tennessee from 2004-2007. He came to Tennessee aftercoaching receivers at Tulane. Taylor played defensive back atBaylor from 1988-91 and finished his career as the school’sleader in kickoff returns (53) and return yardage (1,063). Hegraduated from Baylor in 1992.

Gus Malzahn,Offensive Coordinator/QuarterbacksGus Malzahn is in his second season as offensive coordinatorand quarterbacks coach at Auburn. Prior to coming to Auburn,Malzahn was the offensive coordinator at Tulsa for two seasons.During Malzahn’s one season at Arkansas in 2006, theRazorbacks finished with a 10-4 record and were SEC WestDivision Champions. In 14 seasons as a high school head coach,Malzahn led seven teams to the state championship game andwon three titles.

Jeff Grimes,Assistant Coach/Offensive LineJeff Grimes is in his second year as offensive line coach atAuburn. Prior to coming to Auburn, Grimes served as theassistant head coach, running game coordinator, and offensiveline coach at Colorado for two seasons from 2007-08. A 17-yearcoaching veteran, Grimes came to CU from Brigham YoungUniversity where he coached the offensive line for threeseasons. Prior to his stint at BYU, Grimes was the offensive linecoach and running game coordinator at Arizona State andoffensive line coach at Boise State. A native of Garland, Texas,

Grimes began his coaching career in 1993 as a high school coach at Riverside High School inEl Paso. His first full-time position was as offensive line coach at Hardin Simmons. Grimesgraduated from the University of Texas-El Paso in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in education.He was in training camp with both the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL and the San AntonioRiders of the World Football League before entering coaching.

Curtis Luper,Assistant Coach/Running BacksCurtis Luper is in his second season as running backs coach andrecruiting coordinator at Auburn. Prior to coming to Auburn,Luper served as Oklahoma State’s running backs coach from2005-2008 and as the assistant head coach for playerdevelopment during his last two seasons with the Cowboys.Prior to his arrival at OSU, Luper was the running backs coach atNew Mexico from 2002-04 and the secondary/assistant headcoach at Texas A&M Commerce from 1999-01. Luper began hisplaying career at Oklahoma State, where he played from

1984-87, but his stay was interrupted from 1988 to 1992 when he served as an air trafficcontroller for the United States Army. He completed his eligibility at Stephen F. Austin as asecond-team all-Southland Conference running back in 1993 when he led the team in rushingand scoring.

Jay Boulware,Assistant Coach/Special TeamsCoordinator/Tight EndsJay Boulware is in his second season as special teamscoordinator and tight ends coach at Auburn. Prior to coming toAuburn, Boulware served as running backs coach and specialteams coordinator at Iowa State for two seasons from 2007-08,and has also coached at Texas, Northern Illinois, Arizona,Stanford and Utah. He now has six years experience serving asa special teams coach, having previously overseen units at Iowa

State and Utah for two years and Arizona for one season. A native of Irving, Texas, Boulwarewas a two-year letterman at offensive line while playing for the University of Texas. He beganhis coaching career at Texas, first as a student coach (1994-95) and then as a graduateassistant (1996).

Ted Roof,Defensive Coordinator/LinebackersTed Roof is in his first second as defensive coordinator atAuburn, and also coaches the Tigers' linebackers. A 23-yearcoaching veteran, Roof came to Auburn after serving as thedefensive coordinator at Minnesota in 2008. Roof coached atDuke for six seasons prior to his stint at Minnesota, includingfour as the head coach and two as the defensive coordinator. Heserved as the interim head coach at Duke for five games at theconclusion of the 2003 season before being named head coachin December of 2003. From 1998-2001, Roof coached at his

alma mater, Georgia Tech, where he was nominated in 2000 for the Broyles Award, givenannually to the nation's top assistant coach. Roof was on the staff at Massachusetts for threeseasons (1994-96) and then served one season as defensive coordinator at Western Carolina(1997) before moving on to Georgia Tech. Roof, who was enshrined into the Georgia TechAthletics Hall of Fame in 1998, earned a bachelor's degree in Management in 1987.

Tracy Rocker,Assistant Coach/ Defensive LineFormer Auburn All-American Tracy Rocker is in his secondseason as the defensive line coach at Auburn. Rocker, who wonthe 1988 Outland and Lombardi Trophies while playing forAuburn, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame bythe National Football Foundation in December, 2004, in New YorkCity, and was inducted into Alabama's state Sports Hall of Famein the summer of 2005. Rocker spent the 2008 season as thedefensive line coach at Ole Miss and previously served in thesame capacity at Arkansas for five seasons. Rocker, 42, joined

Arkansas' staff after one year at Cincinnati where he helped the Bearcats win a share of the2002 Conference USA title. Prior to his stint at Cincinnati, Rocker spent five seasons as thedefensive line coach at Troy State University in Troy, Ala. A third-round pick of the WashingtonRedskins in the 1989 NFL Draft, Rocker went on to play two seasons with the Redskins andwas selected to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1990.

Phillip Lolley,Assistant Coach/ SecondaryA member of the Auburn staff since 1999, Phillip Lolley is in hissecond season as cornerbacks coach under head coach GeneChizik. Lolley previously served as a secondary coach at Auburnfrom 2002-03, and was the Tigers' Director of NFL Relations forfive seasons from 2004-08. A 22-year high school coachstandout in the state of Alabama, Lolley served as head coach atthree schools, including North Jackson High School, where heled the program to the 1993 4A state championship. A native ofButler, Ala., Lolley spent 10 years at North Jackson from

1988-98, where his teams advanced to the state playoffs each season. Lolley began hiscoaching career at South Choctaw Academy in 1977 before becoming the head coach atWarrior Academy in Eutaw, from 1978-82. He also served as defensive coordinator atDemopolis High School (1982-84) and head coach at Stevenson High School (1984-87). Priorto his coaching stint at Auburn, Lolley was a strength and conditioning coach on the Plainsfrom 1999-00. Lolley, 56, received a bachelor's degree from Livingston in 1977 and a master'sdegree in 1981.

Tommy Thigpen,Assistant Coach/SecondaryTommy Thigpen is in his second season as the safeties coach atAuburn. Prior to coming to Auburn, Thigpen coached thelinebackers at North Carolina for four seasons from 2005-08. Aformer All-ACC linebacker at North Carolina himself, Thigpentutored UNC's leading tacklers in each of his four seasons atChapel Hill. Thigpen coached for two years at Illinois, serving asthe cornerbacks coach in 2003 and the linebackers coach in2004. A four-year letter winner at North Carolina from 1989-92,Thigpen was a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference

linebacker, earning first-team honors in 1991. He was co-captain of the 1992 team that went9-3 were Peach Bowl champions. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science fromCarolina. Thigpen played professionally for the New York Giants in 1993-94 and the BarcelonaDragons in 1995-96.

Information From Auburn University

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Auburn’s Run to the National Championship

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All In: Auburn's Run to the National Championship

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