2016 A-Day

The defense dominates in a 19 to 10 score.  Daniel Carlson kicks 5 field goals in a windy stadium.   He should be the best placekicker in the country.  Jovon Robinson has one long run.  Kamyrn Pettway has a good run.  Malick Miller has a long run.  The consistent passing isn't there.  If this offense is going to dominate like Malzahn teams in the past somebody has going to step forth at QB and we've got to throw the football better even if the power running is there behind a good offensive line.  I see no clarity in the quarterback situation.  The fact that the QBs have on non-contact orange shirt is a factor so we didn't to see what John Franklin III can do on the zone read, but I see nothing to indicate he can be an effective passer.  The starting quarterback against Clemson will either be Franklin or Jeremy Johnson.  The latter has good moments and bad moments.  I see the same quarterback that I saw last season.  The defense should be solid with depth.  I'd rather have a solid defense than a solid offense to start with.  Anyway, it is what it is.

The Big O

Word comes that James Owens, Auburn's first black football player, has passed away.  I remember James Owens well as he was there when I was a student.   I remember him being called "The Big O."  He had a kind of plodding, stomping way of running the football.  How difficult it must have been for him during those days to break the football color barrier.  He was a good Auburn man.

Lady Tigers are Dancing

Spring So Far

Excepting the girls softball team which has lost only one game, it's been a lousy spring so far.  The basketball team is getting worse.  We beat Alabama at home, we beat Kentucky, and we beat Arkansas on the road.  Other than that, it's been awful  The baseball team can't hit  They have gone 17 innings in a row without a run.  Oh well!

Football Coaching Changes

I was shocked to see that Dameyune Craig is leaving for LSU.  I don't like to see one of our own leaving.  No doubt he's a great recruiter.  Those 4 receivers that are coming have to be a good sign.  We've lost 5 coaches since the bowl game.  Muschamp and Robinson I can understand.  Kevin Steele for Lance Thompson is one I do not understand.  The change in offensive line I don't know enough to understand wither.   I was so impressed with our defense in the bowl game.

Yet I am not sure about the on-the-field coaching of our wide receivers.   Overall our receivers haven't been that good in action.

Of course only time will tell what will happen now.  Maybe Kodi Burns will be great.  Who knows?

Auburn Defeats Alabama in Gymnastics For First Time since 1979

BY Walt Austin
College and Magnolia
12 February 2016

117 matches. Just shy of 37 years. That's how long it's been since Auburn Gymnastics defeated Alabama.

Tonight, in front of the second sellout crowd this season and only the third in Auburn Gymnastics history, the streak ended.

I can't do justice to what this means to those girls. I'll let Megan Walker do that for us as soon as she's able to write something. Here's what she had to say in her preview of the meet for tonight. This should at least give you a great idea of just what this victory means in terms of the direction of the program and how it will increase the national perception and prowess of the team.

It was such an intense match-up of two very excellent squads. They were giving their all throughout the whole night and it came down to the wire. Auburn needed a 9.925 on the final floor exercise to steal the victory. With something like that on the line there's no one better than Caitlyn Atkinson for Auburn. The senior pulled it out right on the money earning a 9.925, the All-Around Title, and the victory for Auburn Gymnastics. The final score was a razor thin margin of 197.275 - 197.250.

The trajectory Coach Graba has this team on is amazing. When a national powerhouse like Florida turns to one of his assistants to take over their program, you know he's doing things right. He took the team all the way to the Super 6 last year. Tonight he earned a win even bigger in the eyes of the Auburn Family. He ended just over three and a half decades worth of watching The Streak increase every year.

It's over. These ladies gave their heart and soul tonight to see it happen. WAR. DAMN. EAGLE.

They'll next be back in action at home on the 26th against Missouri. Let's make it two sellouts in a row!

Recruiting

Another recruiting cycle ends. Another day of hoopla about 17 year-olds. Besides getting Derrick Brown, I don't see much newsworthy. Now I can return to ignoring the incessant recruiting banter.