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247sports.com Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column Jason Caldwell 35–44 minutes Every hire and promotion on the college football carousel An up-to-date list of every hire, promotion and firing on the FBS coaching carousel during the 2023-24 cycle. Below is a list of every hiring and firing 247Sports has confirmed during the 2023-24 coaching carousel seasons. Between 500 to 600 coaches change jobs every year in the FBS. Roughly 509 coaches, including 24 head coaches, changed jobs in the 2022-23 cycle, according to 247Sports' data. COACHING CAROUSEL: Click here for live updates and intel on the latest coaching moves across the FBS. 2023-24 COACHING CAROUSEL Akron In: Taylor Housewright, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Montana State, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks); J.D. Brookhart, receivers Out: David Gilbertson, receivers (Nevada, quarterbacks); Billy Fessler, offensive coordinator (UCLA, quarterbacks) Alabama In: Kalen DeBoer, head coach (Washington, head coach); Kane Wommack, defensive coordinator (South Alabama, head coach); Maurice Linguist, co-defensive coordinator (Buffalo, head coach); Ryan Grubb, offensive coordinator (Washington, offensive coordinator); Scott Huff, offensive line (Washington, offensive line); JaMarcus Shephard, receivers (Washington, receivers); Nick Sheridan, tight ends (Washington, tight ends); Colin Hitschler, TBD (Wisconsin, safeties) Out: Nick Saban, head coach (retired); Kevin Steele, defensive coordinator (retired); Coleman Hutzler, special teams and outside linebackers (Mississippi State, defensive coordinator); Holmon Wiggins, receivers (Texas A&M, receivers); Eric Wolford, offensive line (Kentucky, offensive line); Joe Cox, tight ends (Ole Miss, tight ends) Appalachian State In: Eric McDaniel, defensive line (Troy, defensive line) Out: Victor Cabral, defensive line (West Virginia, outside linebackers) Arizona In: Brent Brennan, head coach (San Jose State, head coach); Bobby Wade, receivers (Arizona State, analyst); Danny Gonzales, special teams coordinator and linebackers (New Mexico, head coach); Zo Carter, TBD (San Jose State, running backs); Dino Babers, offensive coordinator (Syracuse, head coach) Out: Jedd Fisch, head coach (Washington, head coach); Johnny Nansen, defensive coordinator (Texas, linebackers); Jimmy Dougherty, quarterbacks (Washington, quarterbacks); Jordan Paopao, tight ends (Washington, tight ends); Brennan Carroll, offensive coordinator (Washington, offensive coordinator); John Richardson, cornerbacks (Washington, cornerbacks); Scottie Graham, running backs (Washington, running backs); Jason Kaufusi, defensive line (Washington, defensive line) Arizona State In: Diron Reynolds, defensive line (Michigan State, defensive line); Marcus Arroyo, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks Out: Beau Baldwin, offensive coordinator (fired); Vince Amey, defensive line (Arizona State, analyst) Arkansas In: Bobby Petrino, offensive coordinator (Texas A&M, offensive coordinator); Eric Mateos, offensive line (Baylor, offensive line); Ronnie Fouch, receivers (Missouri State, co-offensive coordinator) Out: Dan Enos, offensive coordinator (fired); Cody Kennedy, offensive line (Mississippi State, offensive line); Kenny Guiton, receivers (Wisconsin, receivers) Army In: Cody Worley, offensive coordinator (Army, quarterbacks) Out: Darren Paige, running backs (fired) Auburn In: Charles Kelly, defensive backs (Colorado, defensive coordinator); Kent Austin, offensive coordinator (Auburn, analyst); Derrick Nix, offensive coordinator and running backs (Ole Miss, receivers) Out: Philip Montgomery, offensive coordinator (fired); Ron Roberts, defensive coordinator (Florida, linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator); Zac Etheridge, defensive backs (Houston, TBD); Cadillac Williams, running backs (resigned) Ball State In: Jeff Knowles, defensive coordinator and inside linebackers (Butler, defensive coordinator); Jeff Beckles, running backs (Middle Tennessee, running backs) Out: Adam Morris, defensive line (Buffalo, defensive line); Tyler Stockton, defensive coordinator (Boise State, co-defensive coordinator and safeties); Joey Hecklinski, running backs (Goshen, Indiana High School) Baylor In: Jake Spavital, offensive coordinator (Cal, offensive coordinator); Khenon Hall, running backs (SMU, running backs); Chris Kapilovic, offensive line (Michigan State, offensive line); Jarrett Anderson, tight ends (UTSA, analyst) Out: Jeff Grimes, offensive coordinator (fired); Eric Mateos, offensive line (Arkansas, offensive line); Shawn Bell, tight ends (Houston, quarterbacks) Boise State In: Spencer Danielson, head coach (Boise State, defensive coordinator and interim head coach); Stacy Collins, special teams coordinator (Penn State, special teams coordinator); Tyler Stockton, co-defensive coordinator and safeties (Boise State, defensive coordinator) Out: Andy Avalos, head coach (fired); Kane Ioane, safeties (Nevada, defensive coordinator) Boston College Out: Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs (Maryland, co-defensive coordinator) Bowling Green Out: Julian Campenni, defensive line (Rutgers, defensive ends) Buffalo In: Pete Lembo, head coach (South Carolina, special teams coordinator), Dave Patenaude, offensive coordinator (Virginia, analyst); Ray Pickering, running backs (Norfolk State, offensive coordinator); Joe Bowen, defensive coordinator (Miami [Ohio], linebackers); Adam Morris, defensive line (Ball State, defensive line); Tyler Hancock, special teams coordinator (Baylor, quality control) Out: Maurice Linguist, head coach (Alabama, co-defensive coordinator); Robert Wright, defensive coordinator (Syracuse, linebackers); Bryan Applewhite, running backs (fired); Kevin Corless, linebackers (fired) BYU In: TJ Woods, offensive line (Georgia Southern, offensive line) Out: Steve Clark, tight ends (fired); Darrell Funk, offensive line (fired) Cal In: Sterlin Gilbert, quarterbacks (Ole Miss, analyst); Mike Bloesch, offensive coordinator (Cal, offensive line) Out: Jake Spavital, offensive coordinator (Baylor, offensive coordinator) Central Michigan In: B.T. Sherman, receivers (Morgan State, offensive coordinator) Out: Paul Petrino, offensive coordinator and receivers (resigned) Charlotte In: Tim Brewster, tight ends (Colorado, tight ends); Jason Barnes, receivers (Charlotte, analyst); Ty Greenwood, cornerbacks (North Carolina, analyst) Out: Kyle De Van, offensive line (Oregon State, offensive line); Mike Hartline, receivers (fired); Rod Ojong, cornerbacks (Indiana, cornerbacks) Cincinnati In: Tyson Veidt, defensive coordinator (Iowa State, linebackers) Out: Bryan Brown, defensive coordinator (Ole Miss, secondary) Clemson In: Matt Luke, offensive line; Chris Rumph, defensive ends (Minnesota Vikings, defensive line) Out: Thomas Austin, offensive line (fired); Lemanski Hall, defensive ends (fired) Colorado In: Phil Loadholt, offensive line (Oklahoma, analyst); Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Colorado, quarterbacks); Jason Phillips, receivers (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, receivers); Vincent Dancy, defensive ends and outside linebackers (Colorado, analyst) Out: Sean Lewis, offensive coordinator (San Diego State, head coach); Tim Brewster, tight ends (resigned); Nick Williams, defensive ends (Syracuse, defensive ends); Darian Hagan, running backs (San Diego State, running backs); Bill O'Boyle, offensive line (San Diego State, offensive line) Colorado State In: Chuka Noulue, defensive line (New Mexico State, defensive line) Out: Buddah Williams, defensive ends (Indiana, defensive ends) Duke In: Manny Diaz, head coach (Penn State, defensive coordinator); Jonathan Brewer, offensive coordinator (SMU, quarterbacks); Jeff Norrid, offensive line (Louisiana, offensive line); Jonathan Patke, defensive coordinator (Texas State, defensive coordinator); Rick Lyster, safeties (Penn State, analyst); Gabe Infante, special teams coordinator and defensive tackles (Penn State, analyst); Willie Simmons, running backs (Florida A&M, head coach); V'Angelo Bentley, cornerbacks (New England Patriots, assistant) Out: Mike Elko, head coach (Texas A&M, head coach); Adam Cushing, offensive line (Texas A&M, offensive line); Ishmael Aristide, cornerbacks (Texas A&M, cornerbacks); Trooper Taylor, running backs (Texas A&M, running backs); Lyle Hemphill, safeties (James Madison, defensive coordinator); Patrick Dougherty, special teams coordinator (Texas A&M, special teams coordinator) ECU In: John David Baker, offensive coordinator (Ole Miss, tight ends); Matt Mattox, offensive line (Ronald Reagan High School); Damon Magazu, safeties (UNLV, safeties) Out: Donnie Kirkpatrick, offensive coordinator Florida In: Gerald Chatman, defensive line (Tulane, defensive line); Ron Roberts, linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator (Auburn, defensive coordinator); Will Harris, secondary (Los Angeles Chargers, assistant secondary) Out: Corey Raymond, secondary (fired); Sean Spencer, defensive line (fired); Jay Bateman, inside linebackers (Texas A&M, defensive coordinator) FAU Out: Corey Bell, secondary (Mississippi State, secondary) FIU Out: DeMarcus Van Dyke, cornerbacks (USF, cornerbacks) Georgia In: Donte Williams, defensive backs (USC, cornerbacks); Travaris Robinson, co-defensive coordinator and safeties (Alabama, cornerbacks) Out: Fran Brown, defensive backs (Syracuse, head coach); Will Muschamp, co-defensive coordinator safeties (Georgia, analyst) Georgia Southern In: Zach Lankford, offensive line (Western Kentucky, offensive line); Darius Safford, cornerbacks (Kennesaw State, defensive backs) Out: Kevin Whitley, cornerbacks (fired); TJ Woods, offensive line (BYU, offensive line) Georgia Tech In: Kyle Pope, TBD (Memphis, defensive line); Jess Simpson, TBD (Duke, defensive line); Tyler Santucci, defensive coordinator (Duke, defensive coordinator) Out: Travares Tillman, defensive backs (Georgia Tech, analyst); Andrew Thacker, safeties (Georgia Tech, analyst) Hawaii In: Anthony Arceneaux, running backs (Nevada, receivers); Dennis Thurman, defensive coordinator (Colorado, quality control director); Dan Morrison, quarterbacks (Hawaii, advisor); Jeff Reinebold, defensive tackles (Hamilton Tiger-Cats, special teams coordinator) Out: Ian Shoemaker, tight ends (fired); Eti Ena, defensive tackles (fired); Steve Irvin, cornerbacks (fired) Houston In: Willie Fritz, head coach (Tulane, head coach); Shiel Wood, defensive coordinator (Tulane, defensive coordinator); Derrick Sherman, receivers (Tulane, receivers); James Ross III, inside linebackers (Tulane, analyst); Josh Christian-Young, defensive backs (Tulane, defensive backs); Kevin Barbay, offensive coordinator (Mississippi State, offensive coordinator); Shawn Bell, quarterbacks (Baylor, tight ends); Jordy Joseph, running backs (Southern Miss, quarterbacks); Zac Etheridge, TBD (Auburn, defensive backs) Out: Dana Holgorsen, head coach (fired); Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (USC, defensive backs); Daikiel Shorts Jr., receivers (Kentucky, receivers) Illinois In: David Gibbs, defensive backs (UCF, co-defensive coordinator and secondary) Out: George McDonald, receivers (Ole Miss, receivers); Antonio Fenelus, defensive backs (fired); Andy Buh, linebackers (fired) Indiana In: Curt Cignetti, head coach (James Madison, head coach); Bryant Haines, defensive coordinator (James Madison, defensive coordinator); Mike Shanahan, offensive coordinator (James Madison, offensive coordinator); Tino Sunseri, quarterbacks (James Madison, quarterbacks); Grant Cain, special teams (James Madison, special teams and tight ends); Pat Kuntz, offensive line (James Madison, offensive line); Ola Adams, defensive backs (Penn State, analyst); Buddah Williams, defensive ends (Colorado State, defensive ends); Rod Ojong, cornerbacks (Charlotte, cornerbacks); John Miller, running backs (James Madison, running backs) Out: Tom Allen, head coach (fired); Walt Bell, offensive coordinator (fired); Chad Wilt, co-defensive coordinator (fired); Matt Guerrieri, defensive coordinator (Ohio State, safeties); Paul Randolph, defensive line (Oklahoma State, defensive line) Iowa In: Tim Lester, offensive coordinator (Green Bay Packers, analyst) Out: Brian Ferentz, offensive coordinator (fired); Kelton Copeland, receivers (fired) Iowa State Out: Tyson Veidt, linebackers (Cincinnati, defensive coordinator) Jacksonville State In: Brandon Napoleon, safeties (Rhode Island, secondary); Luke Olson, defensive coordinator (TCU, analyst) Out: Zac Alley, defensive coordinator (Oklahoma, defensive coordinator) James Madison In: Bob Chesney, head coach (Holy Cross, head coach); Dean Kennedy, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Holy Cross, offensive coordinator); Drew Canan, special teams coordinator and tight ends (Holy Cross, special teams coordinator); Anthony DiMichele, safeties (Holy Cross, recruiting coordinator); Sam Daniels, defensive line (Delaware, defensive line); Justin Harper, receivers (Old Dominion, receivers); Lyle Hemphill, defensive coordinator and Nickels (Duke, safeties); Zach Spraber, linebackers (Duke, analyst); David Sims Jr., running backs (Penn, running backs) Out: Curt Cignetti, head coach (Indiana, head coach); Bryant Haines, defensive coordinator (Indiana, defensive coordinator); Mike Shanahan, offensive coordinator (Indiana, offensive coordinator); Tino Sunseri, quarterbacks (Indiana, quarterbacks); Grant Cain, special teams and tight ends (Indiana, special teams); Pat Kuntz, offensive line (Indiana, offensive line); John Miller, running backs (Indiana, running backs) Kansas In: Jeff Grimes, offensive coordinator (Baylor, offensive coordinator) Out: Andy Kotelnicki, offensive coordinator (Penn State, offensive coordinator) Kansas State In: Conor Riley, offensive coordinator (Kansas State, offensive line); Matt Wells, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Oklahoma, analyst) Out: Collin Klein, offensive coordinator (Texas A&M, offensive coordinator) Kent State In: Mark Carney, offensive coordinator (Kent State, tight ends); Clay Patterson, tight ends (USF, tight ends) Out: Matt Johnson, offensive coordinator (San Diego State, quarterbacks); C.J. Cox, cornerbacks (UAB, safeties); Colin Ferrell, defensive line (Rutgers, defensive line) Kentucky In: Daikiel Shorts Jr., receivers (Houston, receivers); Eric Wolford, offensive line (Alabama, offensive line) Out: Scott Woodward, receivers (fired) Louisiana In: George Barlow, secondary (South Florida, secondary); Steve Farmer, offensive line (Syracuse, offensive line); Scott Stoker, inside linebackers (Tarleton State, safeties) Out: Jeff Norrid, offensive line (Duke, offensive line); Jeff Burris, cornerbacks (Louisiana Tech, safeties); Luke Paschall, special teams coordinator (Middle Tennessee, special teams coordinator) Louisiana Monroe In: Bryant Vincent, head coach (New Mexico, offensive coordinator); Davern Williams, defensive line (Kennesaw State, defensive ends); Alec Osborne, inside linebackers (Baylor, quality control); Earnest Hill, defensive coordinator (UAB, Nickels); Taylor Dupuis, quarterbacks (UAB, analyst); Brady Vincent, tight ends (New Mexico, analyst); Cam Blankenship, offensive line (New Mexico, analyst); Sammy Joseph, cornerbacks (Memphis, strength and conditioning); Jamaal Fobbs, receivers (Miles College, offensive coordinator) Out: Terry Bowden, head coach (fired) Louisiana Tech In: Jeremiah Johnson, defensive coordinator (Northern Iowa, defensive coordinator); Keelon Brookins, cornerbacks (Northern Iowa, defensive backs); Jeff Burris, safeties (Louisiana, safeties); Lorenzo Joe, receivers (Oklahoma State, analyst) Out: Scott Power, defensive coordinator (fired); Myles Carelock, defensive backs (fired); Nate Johnson, defensive backs (fired); Jake Brown, receivers (UTEP, offensive coordinator and receivers) LSU In: Blake Baker, defensive coordinator (Missouri, defensive coordinator); Bo Davis, defensive line (Texas, defensive line); Kevin Peoples, EDGES (Missouri, defensive line); Corey Raymond, defensive backs (Florida, secondary); Jake Olsen, safeties (Missouri, analyst); Joe Sloan, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (LSU, quarterbacks); Cortez Hankton, co-offensive coordinator and receivers (LSU, receivers) Out: Mike Denbrock, offensive coordinator (Notre Dame, offensive coordinator); Matt House, defensive coordinator (fired); Robert Steeples, cornerbacks (fired); Kerry Cooks, safeties (fired); Jimmy Lindsey (fired) Marshall In: Seth Doege, offensive coordinator (Purdue, tight ends); Aaron Dobson, receivers (Marshall, analyst); Bob Shoop, safeties (Marshall, analyst); Cody Crill, offensive line (D.C. Defenders, tight ends) Out: Clint Trickett, offensive coordinator (fired); Jovon Bouknight, receivers (fired); Bill Legg, offensive line (fired); Shannon Morrison, linebackers (fired) Maryland In: Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, co-defensive coordinator (Boston College, co-defensive coordinator) Memphis In: Jordon Hankins, defensive coordinator (Memphis, linebackers); Lou Esposito, defensive line (Western Michigan, defensive coordinator) Out: Matt Barnes, defensive coordinator (Mississippi State, safeties); Kyle Pope, defensive line (Georgia Tech, defensive line) Miami (Ohio) Out: Jacob Bronowski, special teams coordinator (Pitt, special teams coordinator and tight ends); Joe Bowen, linebackers (Buffalo, defensive coordinator) Michigan In: Sherrone Moore, head coach (Michigan, offensive coordinator) Out: Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Los Angeles Chargers, head coach); Chris Partridge, linebackers (fired) Michigan State In: Jonathan Smith, head coach (Oregon State, head coach); Jim Michalczik, offensive line (Oregon State, offensive line); Keith Bhonapha, running backs and co-special teams coordinator (Oregon State, running backs); Blue Adams, defensive backs (Oregon State, defensive backs); Brian Lindgren, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Oregon State, offensive coordinator); Diron Reynolds, defensive line (Michigan State, defensive line); Joe Rossi, defensive coordinator (Minnesota, defensive coordinator); Brian Wozniak, tight ends (Oregon State, tight ends); Legi Suiaunoa, defensive line (Oregon State, defensive line); Chad Wilt, rush ends and co-special teams coordinator (Indiana, linebackers); Demetrice Martin, cornerbacks (Oregon, cornerbacks) Out: Mel Tucker, head coach (fired); Chris Kapilovic, offensive line (Baylor, offensive line) Middle Tennessee In: Derek Mason, head coach; Kendall Simmons, offensive line (Auburn, analyst); Cornelius Williams, receivers (New Mexico, receivers); Brian Stewart, defensive coordinator (Houston Roughnecks, defensive coordinator); Bryce Lewis, secondary (Oklahoma State, analyst); Joe Ganz, tight ends (Northern Iowa, receivers); Bodie Reeder, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Northern Iowa, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks); Luke Paschall, special teams coordinator (Louisiana, special teams coordinator); Calvin Lowry, running backs (Penn State, analyst); A.J. Reisig, linebackers (Houston Roughnecks, linebackers); Vernon Hargreaves, defensive line (Howard, defensive line and special teams coordinator) Out: Rick Stockstill, head coach (fired) Minnesota In: Corey Hetherman, defensive coordinator (Rutgers, linebackers); Eric Koehler, tight ends (Minnesota, analyst); Bob Ligashesky, special teams coordinator (Syracuse, special teams coordinator) Out: Andrew Sowder, tight ends (resigned); Joe Rossi, defensive coordinator (Michigan State, defensive coordinator); Rob Wenger, special teams coordinator (resigned) Mississippi State In: Jeff Lebby, head coach (Oklahoma, offensive coordinator); Jon Cooper, tight ends (North Texas, offensive line); Cody Kennedy, offensive line (Arkansas, offensive line); Coleman Hutzler, defensive coordinator (Mississippi State, special teams and outside linebackers); Anthony Tucker, running backs (Indiana, receivers); Matt Holecek, quarterbacks (Oklahoma, analyst); Matt Barnes, safeties (Memphis, defensive coordinator); Corey Bell, secondary (FAU, secondary); Cliff Odom, special teams coordinator (New Mexico State, cornerbacks) Out: Zach Arnett, head coach (fired); Tony Hughes, running backs (retired); Kevin Barbay, offensive coordinator (Houston, offensive coordinator) Missouri In: Corey Batoon, defensive coordinator (South Alabama, defensive coordinator) Out: Blake Baker, defensive coordinator (LSU, defensive coordinator); Kevin Peoples, defensive line (LSU, EDGES) Navy In: Drew Cronic, offensive coordinator (Mercer, head coach); Jay Guillermo, offensive line (Mercer, offensive line); David Cole, tight ends (Mercer, tight ends) Out: Ashley Ingram, offensive line (Carson-Newman University, head coach); Grant Chestnut, offensive coordinator (fired); Marcus Thomas, slot backs (San Jose State, running backs) Nebraska In: Glenn Thomas, quarterbacks (Pittsburg Steelers, assistant) Nevada In: Jeff Choate, head coach (Texas, linebackers); Mike Lynch, running backs (Syracuse, running backs); Kane Ioane, defensive coordinator (Boise State, safeties); David Gilbertson, receivers (Akron, receivers), David Gilbertson, quarterbacks (Akron, receivers); Matt Lubick, offensive coordinator and receivers (Kansas, analyst); Joey Thomas, defensive backs (Texas, analyst); Parker Henry, special teams coordinator and linebackers (Portland State, assistant) Out: Ken Wilson, head coach (fired); Jalen Ortiz, cornerbacks (New Mexico State, cornerbacks); Anthony Arceneaux, receivers (Hawaii, running backs); Al Luphuaho, defensive line (San Jose State, inside linebackers) New Mexico In: Bronco Mendenhall, head coach; Charles Mack, secondary (VMI, safeties); Jason Beck, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Syracuse, offensive coordinator); Kirk Garner, running backs (East Tennessee State, running backs); Micah Simon, receivers (Northern Colorado, receivers); Famika Anae, offensive line (Campbell, offensive line); Matt Johns, tight ends (William & Mary, quarterbacks); Nick Howell, defensive coordinator (Vanderbilt, defensive coordinator); Shane Hunter, linebackers (BYU, graduate assistant); Donte Wilkins, defensive line (Lafayette, defensive line); Jan Jorgensen, Edges (BYU, analyst); Shane Hunter, special teams coordinator (BYU, graduate assistant) Out: Danny Gonzales, head coach (fired) New Mexico State In: Tony Sanchez, head coach; Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford, offensive coordinator (New Mexico State, running backs); Henry Fernandez, safeties (Texas, analyst); Jalen Ortiz, cornerbacks (Nevada, cornerbacks); Joe Morris, defensive coordinator (Sam Houston State, defensive coordinator); David Cob, running backs (New Mexico State, director of scouting); Ronnie Regula, tight ends (Notre Dame, analyst); Ronnie Regula, tight ends and special teams coordinator (Notre Dame, analyst) Out: Jerry Kill, head coach (resigned); Cliff Odom, cornerbacks (Mississippi State, special teams coordinator); Tim Beck, offensive coordinator (Vanderbilt, offensive coordinator); Melvin Rice, safeties (Vanderbilt, TBA); Chuka Noulue, defensive line (Colorado State, defensive line); Nate Dreiling, defensive coordinator (Utah State, defensive coordinator) North Carolina In: Ted Monachino, defensive line (North Carolina, analyst); Geoff Collins, defensive coordinator Out: Gene Chizik, defensive coordinator (resigned); Tim Cross, defensive line (resigned) North Texas In: Cutter Leftwich, offensive line (Oregon, graduate assistant) Out: Jon Cooper, offensive line (Mississippi State, tight ends) Northwestern In: David Braun, head coach (Northwestern, interim head coach); Tim McGarigle, defensive coordinator (Northwestern, linebackers); Zach Lujan, offensive coordinator (South Dakota State, offensive coordinator); Bill O'Boyle, offensive line (San Deigo State, offensive line); Paul Creighton, tight ends (Washington, analyst) Notre Dame In: Mike Brown, receivers (Wisconsin, receivers); Mike Denbrock, offensive coordinator (LSU, offensive coordinator) Out: Chansi Stuckey, receivers (fired); Gerad Parker, offensive coordinator (Troy, head coach) Ohio State In: Matt Guerrieri, safeties (Indiana, defensive coordinator); Bill O'Brien, offensive coordinator (New England Patriots, offensive coordinator) Out: Perry Eliano, safeties (fired); Parker Fleming, special teams coordinator (fired) Oklahoma In: Seth Littrell, co-offensive coordinator (Oklahoma, analyst); Zac Alley, defensive coordinator (Jacksonville State, defensive coordinator) Out: Jeff Lebby, offensive coordinator (Mississippi State, head coach); Ted Roof, defensive coordinator (fired) Oklahoma State In: Paul Randolph, defensive line (Indiana, defensive line) Old Dominion In: David Weeks, tight ends (Tennessee, analyst); JJ Laster, receivers (Western Carolina, receivers) Out: Justin Harper, receivers (James Madison, receivers) Ole Miss In: George McDonald, receivers (Illinois, receivers); Bryan Brown, secondary (Cincinnati, defensive coordinator); Joe Cox, tight ends (Alabama, tight ends) Out: John David Baker, tight ends (ECU, offensive coordinator); Derrick Nix, receivers (Auburn, offensive coordinator and running backs) Oregon In: Brian Michalowski, inside linebackers (Oregon, analyst) Out: Demetrice Martin, cornerbacks (Michigan State, cornerbacks) Oregon State In: Trent Bray, head coach (Oregon State, defensive coordinator); Ryan Gunderson, offensive coordinator (UCLA, quarterbacks); Kyle De Van, offensive line (Charlotte, offensive line); Thomas Ford, running backs (Idaho, special teams coordinator and running backs); Ilaisa Tuiaki, defensive line (N/A); AJ Cooper, inside linebackers (Sacramento State, assistant); Jon Boyer, tight ends (Oregon State, analyst); Keith Heyward, defensive coordinator (Las Vegas Raiders, quality control) Out: Jonathan Smith, head coach (Michigan State, head coach); Jim Michalczik, offensive line (Michigan State, offensive line); Brian Wozniak, tight ends (Michigan State, tight ends); Keith Bhonapha, running backs (Michigan State, running backs); Blue Adams, defensive backs (Michigan State, TBA); Brian Lindgren, offensive coordinator (Michigan State, offensive coordinator); Legi Suiaunoa, defensive line (Michigan State, defensive line) Penn State In: Andy Kotelnicki, offensive coordinator (Kansas, offensive coordinator); Tom Allen, defensive coordinator (Indiana, head coach); Justin Lustig, special teams coordinator and tight ends (Vanderbilt, special teams coordinator and tight ends) Out: Mike Yurcich, offensive coordinator (fired); Manny Diaz, defensive coordinator (Duke, head coach); Stacy Collins, special teams coordinator (Boise State, special teams coordinator) Pitt In: Kade Bell, offensive coordinator (Western Carolina, offensive coordinator); Jacob Bronowski, special teams coordinator and tight ends (Miami Ohio, special teams coordinator) Out: Frank Cignetti Jr., offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (fired) Purdue In: Chris Petrilli, special teams coordinator (Purdue, analyst) Out: Seth Doege, tight ends (Marshall, offensive coordinator) Rutgers In: Colin Ferrell, defensive line (Kent State, defensive line); Julian Campenni, defensive ends (Bowling Green, defensive line) Out: Corey Hetherman, linebackers (Minnesota, defensive coordinator); Marquise Watson, defensive line (Rutgers, analyst) San Diego State In: Sean Lewis, head coach (Colorado, offensive coordinator); Darian Hagan, running backs (Colorado, running backs); CJ McGorisk, safeties (Washington, analyst); Eric Schmidt, defensive coordinator (Washington, EDGEs and special teams coordinator); Rob Aurich, EDGES (Idaho, defensive coordinator); Lanear Sampson, receivers (Austin Peay, receivers); Zach Barton, special teams coordinator (Kansas, analyst); Matt Johnson, quarterbacks (Kent State, offensive coordinator); Mike Schmidt, offensive line (Mississippi State, tight ends) Out: Brady Hoke, head coach (retired) San Jose State In: Ken Niumatalolo, head coach (UCLA, tight ends); Craig Stutzmann, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Texas State, receivers); Marcus Thomas, running backs (Navy, slot backs); Mike Judge, tight ends; Greg Burns, cornerbacks (UCLA, analyst); Josh Irvin, outside linebackers (UCLA, analyst); Kevin McGiven, receivers (San Jose State, offensive coordinator); John Estes, offensive line (Houston Roughnecks, running backs); Al Luphuaho, defensive line (Nevada, defensive line); Bojay Filimoeatu, inside linebackers (San Diego State, defensive line) Out: Brent Brennan, head coach (Arizona, head coach) SMU In: D'Eriq King, quarterbacks (SMU, analyst); Sam Dunnam, EDGEs (SMU, analyst) Out: Khenon Hall, running backs (Baylor, running backs); Jonathan Brewer, quarterbacks (Duke, offensive coordinator) South Alabama In: Major Applewhite, head coach (South Alabama, offensive coordinator); Jason Onyebuagu, offensive line (Jackson State, offensive line and co-offensive coordinator); Will Windham, defensive coordinator (South Alabama, linebackers) Out: Kane Wommack, head coach (Alabama, defensive coordinator); Antonio Bradford, running backs (fired); Gordon Steele, offensive line (fired); Michael Smith, receivers (fired); Will Windham, linebackers (fired); Landius Wilkerson, defensive line (Tulane, defensive line); Corey Batoon, defensive coordinator (Missouri, defensive coordinator) South Carolina In: James Coley, receivers (Texas A&M, tight ends); Marquel Blackwell, running backs (Texas A&M, running backs); Joe Decamillis, special teams coordinator (Texas, analyst) Out: Montario Hardesty, running backs (fired); Jody Wright, tight ends (Murray State, head coach), Pete Lembo, special teams coordinator (Buffalo, head coach) Southern Miss In: Chip Long, offensive coordinator (Louisville, analyst); Clay Bignell, defensive coordinator (Eastern Illinois, defensive coordinator); Micheal Spurlock, running backs (Western Kentucky, receivers); Jack Walker, quarterbacks (Southern Miss, graduate assistant) Out: Dan O'Brien, defensive coordinator (fired); Brandon Lacy, defensive line (fired); Cayden Cochran, tight ends (fired); Mark Criner, outside linebackers (fired); Jordy Joseph, quarterbacks (Houston, running backs) Syracuse In: Fran Brown, head coach (Georgia, defensive backs); Elijah Robinson, defensive coordinator (Texas A&M, defensive line); Nick Williams, defensive ends (Colorado, defensive ends); Jeff Nixon, offensive coordinator (New York Giants, running backs); Ross Douglas, receivers (New England Patriots, receivers); Robert Wright, linebackers (Buffalo, defensive coordinator); Dale Williams, offensive line (Louisville, analyst); Joe Schaefer, defensive backs (Texas A&M, analyst); Devin Redd, TBD (Delaware State, receivers); James Vollono, special teams coordinator (Troy, analyst) Out: Dino Babers, head coach (fired); Mike Lynch, running backs (Nevada, running backs) Temple Out: Jafar Williams, receivers (fired) Texas In: Johnny Nansen, linebackers (Arizona, linebackers); Kenny Baker, defensive line (Miami Dolphins, assistant defensive line) Out: Jeff Choate, inside linebackers (Nevada, head coach); Bo Davis, defensive line (LSU, defensive line) Texas A&M In: Mike Elko, head coach (Duke, head coach); Sean Spencer, defensive line (Florida, defensive line); Adam Cushing, offensive line (Duke, offensive line); Ishmael Aristide, cornerbacks (Duke, cornerbacks); Collin Klein, offensive coordinator (Kansas State, offensive coordinator); Trooper Taylor, running backs (Duke, running backs); Jay Bateman, defensive coordinator (Florida, inside linebackers); Holmon Wiggins, receivers (Alabama, receivers); Tony Jerod-Eddie, defensive line (Texas A&M, analyst); Wes McGriff, defensive backs (Auburn, defensive backs); Patrick Dougherty, special teams coordinator (Duke, special teams coordinator) Out: Jimbo Fisher, head coach (fired); Bobby Petrino, offensive coordinator (Arkansas, offensive coordinator); Elijah Robinson, defensive line (Syracuse, defensive coordinator); Marquel Blackwell, running backs (South Carolina, running backs) Texas State In: Chad Morris, receivers Out: Jonathan Patke, defensive coordinator (Duke, defensive coordinator); Craig Stutzmann, receivers (San Jose State, offensive coordinator) TCU In: Andy Avalos, defensive coordinator (Boise State, head coach) Out: Joe Gillespie, defensive coordinator (fired) Troy In: Gerad Parker, head coach (Notre Dame, offensive coordinator); Dontae Wright, defensive coordinator (West Virginia, safeties); Re'quan Boyette, running backs (ECU, running backs); Chris Boone, outside linebackers (Samford, defensive coordinator); Kevin Reihner, tight ends and offensive tackles (Notre Dame, analyst); Caleb Carbine, offensive line (Notre Dame, analyst); Justin Manning, defensive line (Austin Peay, defensive coordinator); Nathan Burton, inside linebackers and co-defensive coordinator (Kennesaw State, defensive coordinator); Sean Reagan, offensive coordinator (West Virginia, quarterbacks coach) Out: Jon Sumrall, head coach (Tulane, head coach); Greg Gasparato, defensive coordinator (Tulane, defensive coordinator); Tayler Polk, inside linebackers (Tulane, inside linebackers); Brock Hays, running backs (Tulane, running backs); Evan McKissack, TBD (Tulane, tight ends); Joe Craddock, offensive coordinator (Tulane, offensive coordinator); Joe Bernardi, offensive line (Western Kentucky, offensive line); Bam Hardmon, defensive line (Tulane, defensive line) Tulane In: Jon Sumrall, head coach (Troy, head coach); Greg Gasparato, defensive coordinator (Troy, defensive coordinator); Tayler Polk, inside linebackers (Troy, inside linebackers); Brock Hays, running backs (Troy, running backs); Evan McKissack, offensive line (Troy, tight ends); Joe Craddock, offensive coordinator (Troy, offensive coordinator); Landius Wilkerson, defensive line (South Alabama, defensive line); Bam Hardmon, defensive line (Troy, defensive line) Out: Willie Fritz, head coach (Houston, head coach); Slade Nagle, offensive coordinator (Houston, offensive coordinator); Shiel Wood, defensive coordinator (Houston, defensive coordinator); Derrick Sherman, receivers (Houston, receivers); Gerald Chatman, defensive line (Florida, defensive line); Josh Christian-Young, defensive backs (Houston, defensive backs) UAB In: C.J. Cox, safeties (Kent State, cornerbacks) Out: Earnest Hill, Nickels (ULM, defensive coordinator) UCF In: Ted Roof, defensive coordinator (Oklahoma, defensive coordinator); Tim Harris, co-offensive coordinator and receivers (Miami, running backs); Trovon Reed, cornerbacks (Auburn, director football and recruiting relations) Out: David Gibbs, defensive backs (UCF, co-defensive coordinator and secondary) UCLA In: Ikaika Malloe, defensive coordinator (UCLA, defensive line and outside linebackers); Billy Fessler, quarterbacks (Akron, offensive coordinator); Tony Washington Jr., defensive line (Oregon, graduate assistant) Out: D'Anton Lynn, defensive coordinator (USC, defensive coordinator); Ryan Gunderson, quarterbacks (Oregon State, offensive coordinator); Jeff Faris, tight ends (Austin Peay, head coach); Ken Niumatalolo, tight ends (San Jose State, head coach) UNLV In: Nicco Fertitta, safeties (UNLV, analyst) Out: Damon Magazu, safeties (ECU, safeties) USC In: D'Anton Lynn, defensive coordinator (UCLA, defensive coordinator); Matt Entz, linebackers (North Dakota State, head coach); Doug Belk, defensive backs (Houston, defensive coordinator); Eric Henderson, defensive line (Los Angeles Rams, defensive line) Out: Alex Grinch, defensive coordinator (fired); Donte Williams, cornerbacks (Georgia, defensive backs) USF In: Jack Taylor, tight ends (USF, analyst); DeMarcus Van Dyke, cornerbacks (FIU, cornerbacks) Out: Clay Patterson, tight ends (Kent State, tight ends); George Barlow, secondary (Louisiana, secondary) Utah State In: Nate Dreiling, defensive coordinator (New Mexico State, defensive coordinator) Out: Joe Cauthen, defensive coordinator (fired) UTEP In: Scotty Walden, head coach (Austin Peay, head coach); JJ Clark, defensive coordinator (Austin Peay, defensive coordinator); Jared Kaster, offensive line (Austin Peay, offensive line); Joe Pappalardo, special teams coordinator (Austin Peay, special teams coordinator); Jajuan Dulaney, tight ends (Austin Peay, tight ends); Aaron Foster, cornerbacks (Austin Peay, defensive backs); Seth McDonald, Bandits (Austin Peay, outside linebackers); Jourdan McNeill, running backs (Austin Peay, running backs); Chris Jones, defensive line (Austin Peay, defensive line); Jake Brown, offensive coordinator and receivers (Louisiana Tech, receivers); Kelvin Sigler, co-defensive coordinator safeties (Jacksonville State, defensive coordinator) Out: Dana Dimel, head coach (fired) UTSA In: Galen Scott, linebackers (Louisiana, inside linebackers) Vanderbilt In: Tim Beck, offensive coordinator (New Mexico State, offensive coordinator); Melvin Rice, safeties (New Mexico State, safeties); Chris Klenakis, offensive line (Kennesaw State, offensive coordinator); Jeff LePak, special teams coordinator and tight ends (Vanderbilt, analyst) Out: Nick Howell, defensive coordinator (New Mexico, defensive coordinator)); Joey Lynch, offensive coordinator (fired); Dan Jackson, defensive backs (demoted); AJ Blazek, offensive line (Wisconsin, offensive line); Justin Lustig, special teams coordinator and tight ends (Penn State, special teams coordinator and tight ends) Washington In: Jedd Fisch, head coach (Arizona, head coach); Jimmy Dougherty, quarterbacks (Arizona, quarterbacks); Jordan Paopao, tight ends and special teams coordinator (Arizona, tight ends); Brennan Carroll, offensive coordinator (Arizona, offensive coordinator); John Richardson, cornerbacks (Arizona, cornerbacks); Scottie Graham, running backs (Arizona, running backs); Jason Kaufusi, defensive line (Arizona, defensive line) Out: Eric Schmidt, EDGEs and special teams coordinator (San Diego State, defensive coordinator) West Virginia In: Victor Cabral, outside linebackers (Appalachian State, defensive line); Tyler Allen, quarterbacks (West Virginia, analyst) Out: Dontae Wright, safeties (Troy, defensive coordinator); Sean Reagan, quarterbacks coach (Troy, offensive coordinator) Western Kentucky In: Joe Bernardi, offensive line (Troy, offensive line); Will Friend, offensive coordinator and offensive line (Mississippi State, offensive line); Zak Mizell, receivers Wyoming In: Jay Sawvel, head coach (Wyoming, defensive coordinator); Aaron Bohl, defensive coordinator (Wyoming linebackers); Jay Johnson, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks (Michigan State, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks)

al.com How much will Auburn pay new coordinators Charles Kelly and Derrick Nix? Updated: Jan. 29, 2024, 3:55 p.m.|Published: Jan. 29, 2024, 3:26 p.m. 6–7 minutes Auburn released copies of the contracts for recent hires Charles Kelly as co-defensive coordinator and Derrick Nix as offensive coordinator on Monday through a public records request made by AL.com. Both hires were made in January after the firing of former offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and the departure of former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. Montgomery also served the role of quarterbacks coach. Former running backs coach Cadillac Williams resigned from Auburn in January as well. He has not yet been hired elsewhere. Former Auburn defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge resigned as well and took a defensive backs coach job with Houston. The contacts do not state official titles for any of the hires. Titles listed in this story are from previous press releases. Auburn still has one available on-field coaching spot to hire for. Below is a breakdown of each new coach’s contract. Co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly Kelly’s contract, which runs through Jan. 31, 2027, has a total starting salary of $875,000 annually. That breaks down into a $250,000 base salary paid in monthly installments as well as $312,500 in an endorsement rights payment and $312,500 in a personal appearance payment. On Feb. 1, 2026, Kelly’s first contracted pay raise comes with a $75,000 increase on Feb. 1, 2026, to bring his total salary to $950,000. Auburn will provide Kelly with a university vehicle. Roberts received a $1.4 million salary for his one year at Auburn before his January departure. It is still unclear if Auburn will make Kelly the full-time defensive coordinator or hire a co-coordinator. Kelly’s contract includes the following bonuses which are in in line with Auburn’s other assistant coaches. A $218,750 bonus should Auburn win the national championship (25% of his salary) A $175,000 bonus should Auburn finish as the national runner-up (20% of his salary) A $140,000 bonus should Auburn make a national semifinal game (16% of his salary) A $105,000 bonus should Auburn make the 12-team College Football Playoff (12% of his salary) A $70,000 bonus should Auburn make the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, ReliaQuest Bowl or the Citrus Bowl (8% of his salary) A $52,500 bonus should Auburn make the Music City Bowl, Texas Bowl or the Mayo/Las Vegas Bowl(6% of his salary) A $35,000 bonus should Auburn make the Birmingham Bowl, Liberty Bowl or Independence Bowl (4% of his salary) A $30,000 bonus should Auburn win the SEC Championship Game A $15,000 bonus should Auburn play in, but lose the SEC Championship Game Should Kelly be fired, Auburn owes him a 100% buy-out for the remainder of his contract at that point in time. Should Kelly seek to break his contract he will owe 100% of his salary if he does so before the final regular season game of the 2024 season, 50% if he does it before the final regular season game of the 2025 season and 25% of his salary if he does it before the final regular season of the 2026 season. Kelly will not owe Auburn a buy-out if he leaves Auburn if he accepts a Divison I head coach position, play-calling coordinator position or NFL coaching position. Offensive coordinator Derrick Nix Nix’s contract, which runs through Jan. 31, 2027, has a total starting salary of $800,000 annually. That breaks down into a $250,000 base salary paid in monthly installments as well as $275,00 in an endorsement rights payment and $275,000 in a personal appearance payment. Nix will receive a $100,000 raise on both Feb. 1, 2025, and Feb. 1, 2026. Nix will also receive a $100,000 retention bonus on July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, should he remain employed by Auburn. His total salary could reach $1.2 million by the 2026 season. Auburn will provide Nix with a university vehicle. Montgomery received a $1 million salary for his one year at Auburn before his January firing. Nix’s contract includes the following bonuses which are in in line with Auburn’s other assistant coaches. A bonus equal to 25% of his current salary should Auburn win the national championship A bonus equal to 20% of his current salary should Auburn finish as the national runner-up A bonus equal to 16% of his current salary should Auburn make a national semifinal game A bonus equal to 12% of his current salary should Auburn make the 12-team College Football Playoff A bonus equal to 8% of his current salary should Auburn make the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, ReliaQuest Bowl or Citrus Bowl A bonus equal to 6% of his current salary should Auburn make the Music City Bowl, Texas Bowl or the Mayo/Las Vegas Bowl A bonus equal to 4% of his current salary should Auburn make the Birmingham Bowl, Liberty Bowl or Independence Bowl A $30,000 bonus should Auburn win the SEC Championship Game A $15,000 bonus should Auburn play in, but lose the SEC Championship Game Should Nix be fired, Auburn owes him a 100% buy-out for the remainder of his contract at that point in time. Should Nix seek to break his contract before Dec. 20, 2024, he will owe Auburn $2 million. He will owe $1 million if he breaks his contract before Dec. 20, 2025. He will owe $500,000 if he breaks his contract before the last regular season game or conference championship game during the 2026 season. Nix will not owe Auburn a buy-out if he leaves Auburn if he accepts a Divison I head coach position, play-calling coordinator position or NFL coaching position. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com

auburnwire.usatoday.com Four-star WR Travis Smith Jr. enjoys an 'amazing' visit to Auburn JD McCarthy ~2 minutes After hosting several impressive Junior Days this month, Auburn took a different route this weekend with just one unofficial visitor. Four-star wide receiver Travis Smith Jr. made the trek from Atlanta to the Plains and it left quite an impression on him. “Today was amazing. Being the only on here for this unofficial visit was very fun,” Smith Jr. told Auburn Undercover. “Seeing their new facility for the first time, it was fun. It was great getting to know Coach (Hugh) Freeze and Coach (Marcus) Davis and Coach (Derrick) Nix. Having those conversations, they showed me the true them and what this program holds.” It was his second visit to Auburn and allowed him to spend plenty of time with Freeze and learn more about his history of developing wide receivers. “It was great,” Smith Jr. said. “Coming in I didn’t know his history on receivers, but just knowing that he produced A.J. Brown and guys like DK Metcalf, I’m sure he can definitely produce a guy like me. That was great to hear.” Smith is the No. 196 overall player and No. 25 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. The 6-foot-4, 191-pounder is also the No. 27 player from Georgia. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15

he has had health issues. i have no idea if it effected his coaching or not.

i was given ambien once and i took one and gave them back to my doc at the time. i enjoy getting high but i could not handle that mess. i was big on bill back in the day but now i got nothing for him. i guess drugs are everywhere. i have read several times about soldiers in iraq chewing caffeine pills to help keep them sharp. i know bush got high there and camp david but as a song and not pres. and i believe willie was invited by one of the presidents and he said he got high there.

Opinion The Trump White House was hopped up on Air Force "go pills" because of course it was Rae Hodge Mon, January 29, 2024 at 4:30 AM CST·5 min read 1k White House Getty Images/Marc Dufresne I bet the best part of working in the Trump White House was the drugs. We’re talking about the headquarters of the most powerful man on earth, here — the political wildlife preserve that operates with near-perfect impunity and has its own in-house unlicensed pharmacy. And we’re not talking about the Carter administration, either. The joint was under the rule of a geriatric, not-quite-strongman with a spray tan, who peaked in the ‘80s like some kind of John Hughes movie villain and appeared in live presidential debates with what looked like a classic snow-drip sniffle. So you gotta think: Who’s going stop you from getting ungodly high, on whatever you want, whenever you want, in a place like that? D.C.’s second ward has always been a speed-fueled judicial Twilight Zone where badge-flashing gentry slither through legal-immunity loopholes from K Street to Federal Triangle while simultaneously inventing new reasons weed can’t be legal. So I’m sure those in the Beltway are wondering why any American would be shocked about the Defense Department Inspector General’s latest report. Sure, it documents how the White House Medical Unit’s pill mill was slinging premium-grade uppers, pro bono, to random staff with the festive abandon of a Cancun DJ firing a “Spring Break 2018” t-shirt cannon at a bunch of topless undergrads. But, come on. The Beltway crowd are also probably wondering the same thing you and I are: What did people think was going on in there when they saw random midnight tweets from POTUS that looked like bad English translations of Ambientoxicated nightmare scripts? How did people think a staff of about 370 kept the executive branch’s lights on 24 hours a day, while still cleaning up the constant FEMA-level aftermath created by Blunder-cane Don? Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. Besides, even those who didn’t already know about D.C. dealers got an earful in 2018 when a bunch of staffers grew sick of White House physician Ronny Jackson being called “candy man” just because he was slinging unprescribed Pez packets like everyone else. The inspector general’s new investigation confirms that earlier report, and tracks the pill trail through White House records from 2017 through 2019. And they didn’t go for the cheap stuff, either. “We concluded that, over a three‑year period, the White House Medical Unit spent an estimated $46,500 for brand name Ambien, which is 174 times more expensive than the generic equivalent. Over the same period, the White House Medical Unit also spent an estimated $98,000 for brand name Provigil, which is 55 times more expensive than the generic equivalent,” the report said. Trump’s White House staff would not be the first to burn the midnight oil by getting lit on the mother-of-all-uppers, that premium twitch fuel called modafinil — or its brand-name version, Provigil. God knows those West Wing walk-and-talks don’t happen without a little methylphenidate magic, but the Air Force “go pill” moda’ (as its called) is the cleanest, most surreal upper you can get if you’re looking for something that stays conveniently stocked. (There’s a reason it’s prescribed for narcolepsy.) This stuff was tested on Black Hawk helicopter and F-117 fighter pilots, and hits harder than a Shawshank prison guard. It probably didn’t help matters that, as far as the historical list of prominent names is concerned, a lot of Trump’s appointees didn’t exactly have to be Obama-grade Brain Trust material or have Air Force ASVAB scores to get a gig shuffling Don’s paperwork — so long as they kept the donors coming and the Boogaloo Boys hard. “Dr. [redacted] asked if I could hook up this person with some Provigil as a parting gift for leaving the White House,” said one of the 70 witnesses interviewed for the report. “I’m not sure if it was okay as far as, like, what’s medically allowed. But in the unit, it was authorized for us to do that kind of stuff.” You’re pulling an all-nighter drafting policy notes for Small Hand Nuke ahead of his 3 a.m. phoner with Moscow? Modafinil’s got you. You’re stuck in your sweat-stained Brooks Brothers button-down for 18 hours while juggling three cell phones and getting crop-dusted by the football team who just ate a cold banquet of McDonald’s in the Oval? Modafinil for that, too. You’re spinning the latest military fiasco into publicity gold before the press gets wind of it, while schlepping a dozen boxes of classified intelligence documents into a tacky Florida condo and hoping your face isn’t recorded by the FBI? Praise the Lord, and pass the Provigil. “We would normally make these packets of Ambien and Provigil, and a lot of times they’d be in like five tablets in a zip‑lock bag. And so traditionally, too, we would hand these out. ... But a lot of times the senior staff would come by or their staff representatives... would come by the residence clinic to pick it up. And it was very much a, 'hey, I’m here to pick this up for Ms. X.' And the expectation was we just go ahead and pass it out," said another witness. A witness? Or an angel? You decide. As far as I’m concerned, a handful of team-no-sleep interns and bureaucratic nerds are probably the only reason this country stayed running some nights. And if they hadn’t had the blessing of a tidy little Ziploc baggie and a blind-eye kindly turned, those noble few would have no doubt had to take more desperate measures. How else could anyone of conscience survive the Pennsylvania Avenue fish bowl during a four-year demolition derby of the country, which then climaxed with a literal attempted coup? Those desperate measures would have undoubtedly been even more expensive and manic. And, sweet merciful maker, you can bet your baggies that White House cocaine hits harder than a Honduran hanger-brick hits the California coastline. But don’t take my word for it — just ask Oliver North. An earlier version of this article originally appeared in Salon's Lab Notes, a weekly newsletter from our Science & Health team.

Auburn suffers substantial drop in latest USA TODAY Sports’ Coaches Poll Taylor Jones Mon, January 29, 2024 at 2:00 PM CST·2 min read It was a rough week for the Auburn Tigers to say the least. Their 11-game win streak was snapped on the road last Wednesday to rival Alabama, and their bad luck continued last Saturday as the Tigers dropped its second consecutive game in a defensive battle to Mississippi State. As one can imagine, the polls were not kind to Auburn as they suffered one of the week’s biggest drops. After losing two straight games, the Tigers are now No. 16 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, falling ten places. A win over Auburn has pushed Alabama back into the poll at No. 22, which brings the SEC’s representation to four teams in the latest update. Tennessee remains at No. 5 after earning a convincing win over Vanderbilt on Saturday. Kentucky drops two places to No. 8 after suffering a 79-62 road loss to South Carolina last Tuesday. Auburn’s 10-spot drop was surprisingly not the biggest of the week. Oklahoma fell 11 places to No. 24 after losing to Texas and Texas Tech last week. The Tigers look to return to the win column this week by hosting Vanderbilt on Wednesday and hitting the road on Saturday to meet with Ole Miss. Auburn has a win over both teams so far in the young SEC season. A look at the full Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports: Rank Team Record Points Change 1 UConn 18-2 766 (23) – 2 Purdue 19-2 746 (8) – 3 North Carolina 17-3 710 – 4 Houston 18-2 680 – 5 Tennessee 15-4 658 – 6 Wisconsin 16-4 593 +4 6 Duke 15-4 512 +5 8 Kentucky 15-4 510 -2 9 Kansas 16-4 503 -1 10 Marquette 15-5 454 +5 11 Iowa State 16-4 408 +7 12 Arizona 15-5 405 -3 13 Creighton 16-5 367 +3 14 Illinois 15-5 359 -3 15 Texas Tech 16-3 340 +6 16 Auburn 16-4 331 -10 17 Utah State 18-2 258 +3 18 Baylor 14-5 188 -4 19 Dayton 16-3 166 -2 20 New Mexico 18-3 162 +5 21 BYU 15-5 153 -2 22 Alabama 14-6 147 +4 23 Florida Atlantic 17-4 122 +1 24 Oklahoma 15-5 106 -11 25 TCU 15-5 99 +5 Schools Dropped Out No. 22 Memphis; No. 23 Colorado State; Others Receiving Votes San Diego State 67; Ole Miss 57; South Carolina 46; Gonzaga 38; Memphis 26; Northwestern 23; Colorado State 14; Indiana State 13; Texas 11; Grand Canyon 9; Saint Mary’s 5; Virginia 4; McNeese State 4; App State 4; Seton Hall 2; Cornell 2; Princeton 1; Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__ Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

i had an old Birmingham Barons jersey many years ago. i had a chance to get a satchel page baseball card at a decent price and it sold while i was trying to make my mind up.

Hugh Freeze talks staff changes at Auburn, offers update on defensive coordinator search Published: Jan. 29, 2024, 11:15 a.m. ~4 minutes AUBURN, AL - December 20, 2023 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze speaks to the media during a press conference on National Signing Day at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin PerrymanAustin Perryman After a notable staff shakeup within Auburn’s football program, head coach Hugh Freeze finally broke his silence Friday afternoon during an appearance at the Alabama Football Coaches Association Convention in Montgomery. Caught in the lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel by WSFA 12′s Seth Carpenter, Freeze offered up a few words about Auburn’s offseason full of staff changes, first addressing his decision to bring aboard former Ole Miss associate head coach and wide receivers coach Derrick Nix as Auburn’s next offensive coordinator and running backs coach. “My history with D-Nix goes back to our Ole Miss days,” Freeze said. “He’s an incredible man, No. 1, and he’s an incredible recruiter. Excited about having someone who knows our system to be able to add great value to our offense.” Freeze and Nix previously worked together at Ole Miss, where Nix served as the Rebels’ running backs coach throughout Freeze’s five-year tenure in Oxford. The hiring of Nix was announced on Jan. 17, just six days after the shocking resignation of former Auburn associate head coach and running backs coach Cadillac Williams, and 12 days after Freeze announced he wouldn’t be retaining offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery. And considering part of Montgomery’s role was overseeing Auburn’s quarterbacks, Freeze also needed to locate a quarterback coach to fill the void. Fortunately for Freeze, he didn’t need to look far as he went on to elevate Kent Austin from assistant to the head coach/quality control to quarterbacks coach. News of Austin’s promotion came at the same time of Nix’s hiring. “Kent’s the best quarterbacks coach I’ve ever been around,” Freeze said Friday. “Fundamentally, execution, coverage recognition and obviously a great comfort level having done that with him for four years at Liberty.” Austin served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during Freeze’s entire four-year tenure at Liberty and helped develop former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis into a third-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. And while Freeze has made efforts to quickly fill the openings on his staff, also adding former Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly as Auburn’s co-defensive coordinator, there’s still one vacancy to be filled: Auburn’s second co-defensive coordinator. Freeze’s hunt for a second defensive coordinator comes after Ron Roberts jumped ship to Florida after serving one season as Auburn’s defensive coordinator, as well as the resignation of defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge, who recently accepted a similar role at Houston. “Good, a lot of interest,” Freeze said Friday when asked how the search has been going. “Difficult decision, need to get it right and still working through that.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Quote

al.com Goodman: A-list celebs and major news linked to MLB at Rickwood Updated: Jan. 29, 2024, 1:37 p.m.|Published: Jan. 29, 2024, 7:10 a.m. 7–8 minutes This is an opinion column. ______________________ The latest development around MLB’s game at Rickwood Field is that major sports figures are expected to help the city celebrate its historic event. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and home run king Barry Bonds, the godson of Willie Mays, are some of the names being attached to the three-day party of baseball and Birmingham, according to Friends of Rickwood president Gerald Watkins. More A-listers will be added to the list as the date approaches. From the sound of it, MLB’s celebration of the Negro Leagues and Black baseball around Juneteenth is getting so big that even celebrities might have trouble finding a ticket to the game. The San Francisco Giants are playing the St. Louis Cardinals at Birmingham’s Rickwood Field on Thursday, June 20. The game is being called MLB at Rickwood Field: A tribute to the Negro Leagues. From an event standpoint, I’m told that Major League Baseball is treating it like the MLB All-Star Game. The Rickwood Classic featuring the Birmingham Barons will be at Rickwood on Tuesday, June 18. On June 19, a celebrity softball game featuring stars like Mahomes, Coach Prime and Bonds will be hosted by MLB. It’s all build-up for the game between the Giants and the Cardinals. The Giants will wear San Francisco Sea Lions uniforms and the Cardinals will wear St. Louis Stars unis. The Sea Lions played in the West Coast Negro Baseball League in 1946. The Stars played in the Negro National League from 1920 to 1931. The Birmingham Black Barons, Willie Mays’ team, will be incorporated throughout the multi-day event. The Black Barons operated from 1920 to 1960 and played in the Negro National League, Negro Southern League and, finally, the Negro American League. GOODMAN: Formation of Negro Leagues spurred change in Birmingham GOODMAN: The final childhood summer of the Say Hey Kid GOODMAN: Remembering Birmingham’s greatest shortstop (and why he should be in the Hall of Fame) GOODMAN: Dreams come true, Major League Baseball at Rickwood MLB is expecting MLB at Rickwood Field to be a major television event. I’m told that the projected TV ratings are higher than any other regular-season game and most of the playoffs. The Negro Leagues deserves that spotlight, and I couldn’t be more excited for the city to host such a groundbreaking endeavor for Major League Baseball. The Black Barons’ old home is getting a massive upgrade for the game. The playing surface, dugouts and outfield wall at Rickwood are currently under construction. Two feet of dirt was removed from the entire field to build a MLB-grade baseball diamond. Dugouts have been extended by 70 feet. The city’s price tag, I’m told, is up to $6 million due to cost overruns. It’s all worth it and then some. MLB at Rickwood will be the biggest sporting event in Birmingham since Olympic soccer sold out Legion Field in 1996. The importance of the game will far exceed the Olympics, though, and could have a long-term impact for the city similar to the Iron Bowl and Magic City Classic. Birmingham might never have another major league baseball team, but it could host a game for Major League Baseball annually if the city and its advocates continue working together in support of MLB at Rickwood Field. MLB isn’t making any promises, but has indicated to those close to the project that if the stadium and field are maintained throughout the year that MLB at Rickwood could become a new tradition for the game of baseball. Good news, the city and its friends are getting things right and momentum is building around a touchstone event for Major League Baseball that promotes Birmingham, the history of the Negro Leagues and, hopefully, a renaissance of Black baseball in America. It only makes sense to play the game every year. Rickwood is the oldest professional ballpark in the country and Birmingham is the celebrated epicenter of the Civil Rights movement. Birmingham Legion to debut stylish new jersey against Atlanta United Goodman: Requiem for college football’s $100 handshakes Goodman: Kalen DeBoer delivers first Iron Bowl victory Goodman: Why steal signs when you can steal players? Goodman: Will Alabama ever be special again? People say that Birmingham was never a major league pro town. That’s not true. Birmingham was a major league pro town thanks to the Birmingham Black Barons. The city’s history of Black baseball is rich and inspiring and has an important story to tell. With the right vision, this new partnership between Rickwood and Major League Baseball has the potential to permanently elevate Birmingham’s status and unlock new growth. I’m told that things are developing quickly around the game and changing daily. Tickets are going to be based on a lottery, but it’s unclear how many of the 8,500 seats are actually going to be available to the public. My guess is not many. MLB at Rickwood is going to be a star-studded event for Birmingham like the city has never seen. Everyone in the city or anyone who cares about the future of Birmingham needs to understand what’s at stake here and what this moment means. Simply put, this is a once in forever opportunity for Birmingham to impress MLB so thoroughly that the officials who are taking a chance on the city want to come back every year. The city cannot afford to mess this up like it did the last time MLB tried to create a footprint in town. We all remember bitterly what happened between the city council and MLB when MLB officials wanted to build a training center for children at George Ward Park. The city council ruined the deal when it caved to a misinformed voter coalition led by out-of-loop frisbee golfers. If it sounds insanely awful and ridiculous that’s because it was. Most of those frisbee-golf freeloaders didn’t even live in the city either. MLB at Rickwood is turning into a signature moment of celebration for Black history on a national scale. It’s time for Birmingham to deliver a massive win, shake off its inferiority complex, squash the small-town politics and become a major league town once again. SOUND OFF Got a question about MLB at Rickwood, college football, basketball or sports in general? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe a question about what’s on your mind for his Friday mailbag. Ask him anything. Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the signature book about Nick Saban’s reign at Alabama, “We Want Bama”. It’s a love story about wild times, togetherness and rum.

are tou saying war tiger sux at his job? that is the very reason no one likes you......grins

i never considered you were a moron just mentally challenged or high as hell like me..................

are you bragging?

247sports.com Thompson excited about Gonzalez return for Tigers Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—Friday was a big day in the return of Auburn redshirt junior RHP Joseph Gonzalez following a shoulder injury that ended his 2023 season after just a few innings last February when he got back on the mound in a scrimmage setting for the first time in nearly a year. After having surgery to clean up some issues in his shoulder that had been bothering him since his high school days in Puerto Rico, Gonzalez has been on the road to recovery since that day that has seen him put in plenty of extra work to be prepared to pitch in 2024. “You never know, but I think he’s going to be really, really healthy, healthier than he’s been in a long time with some of these things nagging since high school in the same spot,” coach Butch Thompson said. “I think he’s healthier than he’s been in a long time. We’ll cautiously bring him along. His body has never looked better. He’s absolutely worked his body in a better place, so that adds value to him. There’s a look in his eye like I have never seen before. I gravitate to him. It’s exciting to see that light switch go on and him be hungry. It’s pretty exciting.” The road to recovery really got started when Thompson brought on former MLB pitcher and minor league pitching director Everett Teaford to be Auburn’s pitching coach last summer. When Gonzalez decided to return to the Tigers, they put together a plan that saw the big righty begin his rehab with the plans to throw throughout the holidays and ramp up to the season. After throwing to hitters three different times in the last two weeks in short stints, on Friday Gonzalez pitched in a live game setting for the first time since last year’s season opener. Throwing 40 pitches in nearly three innings of work, he allowed four runs in the first frame but settled in to throw much better in innings two and three. It was just the first step of a process that Thompson said will take some time as Gonzalez gets back into the swing of things on the mound. “Our biggest challenge, and it may be a challenge, is he’s throwing noticeably harder,” Thompson said. “His calling card of identity was a true sinker. I feel like the industry may be working back to that where it can play more than maybe it did when we played all this vertical stuff. It’s not sinking as much and he’s throwing a lot harder. Is the ball going to be elevated more and not sink as much because he’s throwing harder? Is this a new identity? “Will he settle back and it start sinking again with the more pitches that he throws or is he going to be in an identity crisis? I think that’s the first thing I’m looking at now because he’s come back healthier. I’m excited about him. I’m excited about where he’s at, but those are the things we need to tweak and look at to see if this is great or concerning. Have we gotten away from identity and do we get back to it, or are we marching towards a potential new identity. That’s the biggest thing with Joseph right now.” Making 20 starts and 37 appearances in three years, Gonzalez heads into the 2024 season with a record of 10-7 and an ERA of 4.07 in 125.2 innings.

247sports.com PMARSHONAU Road trip leaves Tigers staggering Phillip Marshall 8–9 minutes Auburn entered the week as a top-10 team and 5-0 in the SEC, and now exits with consecutive losses for the first time all season — and a pair of missed opportunities for quality victories on the Tigers' resume. In a rock fight of a game, Auburn was outmuscled on the glass and couldn't find much consistent offense against the best defense it's faced so far this season, falling 64-58 at Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon. "They're both Quad 1 teams and we've lost to the best teams on our schedule," Bruce Pearl said postgame of Auburn's 0-2 week on the road. "There's something to be said for beating the people you're supposed to beat. We've done that. Not many people are going to come in and beat Mississippi State. Tennessee didn't. Alabama did, but there won't be many people that'll win in here. We'd like to think that we could have. We'd like to think we had a shot at it. But we didn't get enough step up. You have to step up and be able to make plays." Here Auburn Undercover's five takeaways, as the Tigers are still without a Quad 1 win this season. REBOUNDING PUTS AUBURN AWAY Pearl admitted this week that his “No. 1 concern” about his team moving forward in its SEC schedule was on the glass. And Auburn’s opponent Saturday is one of the most physical squads in the SEC. Mississippi State completely punished Auburn on the boards in the early going, with as large as a 21-8 advantage overall. But the biggest killer was the Bulldogs’ ability to crash the offensive glass. Cameron Matthews had five offensive rebounds all by himself in the first half, which led to a trio of second-chance baskets. Matthews was a bruiser late, too. Auburn tightened up a bit after Mississippi State’s early rebounding onslaught, not allowing an offensive rebound in the final 4:35 of the first half, and only three in the second half. But the Bulldogs' first and second offensive rebounds of the second half, though, were brutal for the Tigers, as they put Matthews (14 points and 11 rebounds) on the line for two shots with 3:50 remaining. He missed the first, then got his own rebound off the second and put the ball in for an easy basket to put Mississippi State up by 4 points with under four minutes to play. Josh Hubbard (17 points) also had a big 3-pointer late for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State outrebounded Auburn 45-30 for the game. "It was as physical as we thought," Pearl said on postgame radio. "They're a really athletic team. ... When you get outrebounded like we got outrebounded — it was just something." Denver Jones' 3-pointer kept things a one-possession game, but Jones couldn't later convert a baseline drive to the basket, and the Bulldogs made 8-of-10 free throws late in a game where they shot just 9-of-18 from the line. CARDWELL'S ABSENCE FELT Adding to Auburn’s rebounding troubles was Dylan Cardwell’s foul trouble, as the backup center picked up two fouls less than eight minutes into the game. And when Cardwell came back in to spell Johni Broome for the final few minutes of the first half, he was almost immediately hit with a touch foul on a rebounding attempt, sending him back to the bench with three personals in four minutes on the floor. When he came in for the first time in the second half, his fourth foul come on his second defensive possession. Broome is one of the most skilled big men in the conference, but Cardwell’s strength and physicality at the 5 position was missed by Auburn, as the Bulldogs continually skied overtop for offensive rebounds and putback points in the first half. Broome had to play 35 minutes, his most in a game this season. In an anticipated battle down low against Tolu Smith, Broome limited the Mississippi State fifth-year senior to just 9 points, his fewest in eight games this season since returning from injury. DEFENSIVE CLINIC ON BOTH ENDS For most of the first half, Auburn shot the basketball poorly, and rebounded the basketball dreadfully. And yet, the Tigers were tied 21-21 heading to the locker room. In a defensive clinic for both teams, Auburn’s making for tough shots by the Bulldogs was key while the Tigers slogged through their other issues. Turnovers were key for Auburn to keep things close with its defense, scoring 16 points off 14 takeaways. A steal-and-score by Tre Donaldson, followed by a made free throw after the contact, gave Auburn a 46-45 lead with 7:51 remaining — its first lead in the game since the 14:56 mark of the first half. With both teams in front of their bench after halftime though, Mississippi State was much crisper offensively in the second half, making 10 of its first 15 shots, including a trio of 3-pointers that helped keep Auburn at bay. Auburn opened the game shooting just 7-of-25 from the floor and were 33.9 percent for the game, its lowest mark all season. "Obviously they played really good defensively," Pearl said. "We didn't do well. We didn't execute very well." Coming off the bench for the first time in SEC play, Aden Holloway struggled a bit with three turnovers but had a couple timely 3-pointers — tying the game at 21-21 right before halftime, and 33-33 in the second half. Johni Broome had all of his team-high 14 points in the second half. But it felt like every time Auburn was in position to take the lead, trailing by one possession, the Tigers either turned it over or were limited to a tough shot attempt. Auburn shot an improved 39 percent after halftime but had eight turnovers in the second half. "Johni hung in there," Pearl said. "Again, Tolu Smith had 9 points. What kind of a job did Johni Broome do in there? Yeoman's work. Played great defense, played hard. They double in the post, so it was hard to get him touches on the inside. And I'm sure he was a little frustrated. He had some great baskets and some great plays himself on the inside. We probably could have done a better job of getting it to him — because he's 5-of-7, and the team is shooting 34 percent." BRIEF LINEUP CHANGE FOR AUBURN Pearl went with new starters in the backcourt for the first time since early in the season, with Tre Donaldson starting at point guard over Aden Holloway, and K.D. Johnson in over Denver Jones at the 2-guard. According to the SEC Network broadcast, the lineup changes were due to a “violation of team rules.” Pearl confirmed as much postgame but did not go into details. For Johnson, Saturday marked his first start since the 2022 NCAA tournament. Mississippi State also debuted a first-team starter in the backcourt, with the freshman Hubbard taking the place of Dashawn Davis. Both Holloway and Jones checked in at the under-16 timeout, after Johnson grabbed two steals and Donaldson scored a breakaway basket. PEARL DISPLEASED WITH SHOT SELECTION Pearl has always been the type of offensive coach at Auburn who implores his players to shoot the ball when opportunities present themselves. So it takes a lot for Pearl to show the kind of frustration he did Saturday about his shooters. Mississippi State is one of the best defensive teams in the country, so it wasn't going to come easy, but the Tigers shot just 25 percent from long range. And Broome shot 5-of-5 in the second half, but everyone else for Auburn was just 7-of-26 from the floor (26.9 percent). Holloway, K.D. Johnson, Chad Baker-Mazara and Chris Moore combined to shoot just 4-of-22 for the game. "I've got some guys that just are struggling to shoot the ball, and they need to stop," Pearl said. "They just need to stop shooting if they can't make it. As a result, the ball will move and maybe you'll have a chance to get him more than seven shots. But we can't, because the ball is just getting chucked up there." *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more *** *** Get Auburn news straight to your inbox with the Auburn Undercover newsletter ***

247sports.com That was a classic rock fight as Bulldogs rock 8 Auburn 6458 David H. Murray 5–6 minutes STARKVILLE – A new-look lineup and an old defensive identity made Mississippi State a winner again. The Bulldogs baffled visiting and #8-ranked Auburn into missing two-thirds of their shots, while making efficient use of a revamped offense for a 64-58 final. Mississippi State improved to 14-6 and 3-4 SEC, and quieted some questions of where this season was heading. By taking down the Tigers, Mississippi State notched a second top-ten win on the season to go with an earlier upset of #5 Tennessee. Auburn dropped a second road game on the week and left 16-4, 5-2. Though clearly underdogs, the Bulldogs gave this game added emphasis in terms of both SEC record and NCAA status beyond. Yes, it was that important to program plans. “The way we prepared, the way we practiced, this was a must-win for us, for sure,” guard Shakeel Moore said. Their coach was saying similar things including to his son. “I didn’t tell anyone else that, but it was a must-win in my mind,” Chris Jans said. “We need more Quad 1 wins, and this was a really good Quad 1 win because of how high they’re ranked.” The preparation Moore mentioned was also unusual in that Jans relaxed actual practices after the road trip to Florida. He wanted to refresh the minds and bodies both. “I don’t know if that helped or not but I thought they played like we feel for the most part is how we need to play to win games.” That way? Defend, rebound, and avoid playing to Tiger strengths in a fast-paced affair. Because, as forward D.J. Matthews said, “Our identity is defense and toughness. That’s what we can always rely on.” It worked. Auburn ended up shooting just 34%, beaten badly on both backboards, and all around frustrated by a Buldog bunch that got down and got dirty. “That was a classic rock fight,” Jans said, adding later “It wasn’t for the meek.” It was the right time to make a lineup move, too. Jans had considered guard Josh Hubbard everything but a starter up to now, with his minutes and scoring. This time, the freshman was told “about 90 minutes before the game” he would be on the tipoff team. Hubbard wasn’t rattled or for that matter over-amped. “Not really. Coach Jans always tells me starting lineups are just getting started for the game. Only difference is I’m just getting my name called first.” Literally so in this case as Hubbard was announced first, the home crowd responding loudly before the name was even called. The SEC’s top-scoring freshman rewarded everyone with a game-best 17 points, poised ball-handling, and even aggressive defense. His high point came on an inbounds pass he threw and got back, after Auburn cut State’s late lead to a lone point. Falling off to his right with a defender on his left, Hubbard swished the off-balance threeball. “He looked at me like he’d scored on me!” Jans said. “It was pretty stone cold and made me feel good.” Mississippi State had to feel good or at least alright with how the first half developed. Auburn tried rushing things against a gritty defense and ended up with as many turnovers than baskets early on. Bulldogs were forcing Tigers to start their offense farther out than even Auburn likes and this resulted in a couple of shot-clock violations. But State’s offense wasn’t taking full advantage, missing 11 of 12 treys tried. Auburn was doubling up on Tolu Smith, which had the senior stepping out to take and make a ten-footer. Halftime showed a 21-21 scoreboard with top Tiger shut out entirely. He took care of that to open the next half with a pair of buckets. But Hubbard, held out much of the second quarter by fouls, kept State on pace and better by hitting his shots. The Dogs were up 33-27 at 14:36 as Auburn’s Caldwell got his fourth foul. Even when consecutive Tiger treys evened the scoreboard, Hubbard had the outside answer of his own and then laid in a full-length inbounds pass. Hubbard came out at 12:03 with a slight limp so in his absence Shawn Jones provided five fast points and a 45-40 lead. Nor was this only a slowed rock fight as Jans told the team just surviving Auburn’s pressure after made shots wasn’t good enough. “So a couple times we ran some home-run type plays and that helped alleviate some stress.” When Tigers did miss State was able to get the defensive rebounds out faster because Auburn was sending everyone to the glass. Hubbard’s in-your-face trey slowed any Auburn rally, as did misses on their end. This time, too, a squad struggling at the stripe came through. Moore and Matthews made five free throws down the stretch to seal success. Forward Cameron Matthews had 14 points for State but also 11 rebounds, and was key to steadying everyone else down in breaking the inbounds presses. “He’s our engine, our personality,” Jans said. Moore scored a dozen and while Jeffries only netted five points his 12 rebounds were crucial. Auburn never led by more than a basket, and only by a point for 24 seconds of the last half. Broome got all his 14 points in the last half with seven rebounds, with 12 more from guard Jaylin Williams. The Tigers were 6-of-24 at the arc and whipped 45-30 on the glass. “All this week (Coach) was talking to us about getting grounded, out-tough them and play defense,” Jeffries said. “That’s what we did.”

si.com Takeaways: Auburn Basketball Loses 64-58 At Mississippi State Lance Dawe 2–3 minutes The Auburn Tigers lost their second-straight game on Saturday afternoon. Auburn (16-4, 5-2 SEC) has now lost two SEC games in a row following their defeat at the hands of Mississippi State. Here are takeaways from the loss. Second-chance points Mississippi state snagged 14 offensive rebounds and came away with 12 points. It's not a massive eye-catching stat, but compared to the Tigers' six offensive boards and three second-chance points, it proved to be crucial in a six-point loss. Bruce Pearl emphasized the importance of keeping State off of the glass. They just couldn't do it in the biggest moments down the stretch. That miss free throw putback with time winding down was devastating. Lack of focus Auburn seemed sluggish, careless with the basketball in important moments, and just tired. The Tigers would gain momentum, cut the lead to one or tie the game, and then lose all intensity and toss the ball off of feet or out of bounds. Eight of their 11 turnovers came in the second half. The biggest question throughout the season is whether or not Auburn can put together two really good halves. They've been extremely dominant at times this year, but not for an entire game. Second half lull Speaking of not being able to tie together two periods of play, Mississippi State whipped Auburn in the second half. The Bulldogs shot 57.7% from the floor and 44.4% from deep. Four of their five threes were in the second half. They had 12 fast break points in the final 20 minutes. Here's a fun stat from Nathan King of 247Sports: In the final 5:22 of Auburn's loss at Alabama, the Tigers allowed four offensive rebounds, leading to 6 second-chance points. In the final 4:03 of Auburn's loss at Mississippi State, the Tigers allowed three offensive rebounds, leading to 4 second-chance points. Auburn has to focus up. Is this a wake up call? Maybe two straight losses is what Auburn needs to wake up. The Tigers feel like one of the better teams in the SEC. But when are they going to start showing up on the road against good competition? It's a difficult thing to win on the road. It's another to sleepwalk through nearly an entire contest. The Tigers need to wake up.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Recap: Auburn loses second straight in Starkville Brian Hauch ~2 minutes The Plains weren’t the only thing that looked flat in Auburn on Saturday. Bruce Pearl and the No. 6 Auburn Tigers barely showed up for their seventh SEC tilt against Mississippi State, losing 64-58 to the Bulldogs. The Tigers shot just 35% from the field in the game. Forward Johni Broome was efficient but overall not very productive on an afternoon where his team desperately needed him, as the junior finished with a team-high 14 points on just 7 attempts from the field. Auburn’s backcourt struggled once again on the road, as Trae Donaldson, Aden Holloway, and K.D Johnson combined for just 13 points in the contest. Mississippi State came into the game with a ferocious defense, especially at home, but Auburn’s inability to score the basketball for the second straight road came is definitely cause for concern. As for Mississippi State, star forward Tolu Smith arguably outplayed Broome in this game. The senior not only shut down Broome on the defensive end, but also contributed 9 points and 8 rebounds in the game. He was a key cog in the Bulldogs defensive stand to hold off Auburn’s comeback attempt as well. Smith also helped Mississippi State out-rebound Auburn by 15 in the game. Auburn’s second-straight loss drops the Tigers to 5-2 in SEC play. They’ll go back to the drawing board before returning to Neville Arena to host Vanderbilt on Wednesday. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter @TheRealBHauch

Why Bruce Pearl believes Auburn's recent road games were lost 'kind of the same way' Updated: Jan. 27, 2024, 6:17 p.m.|Published: Jan. 27, 2024, 6:10 p.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn Basketball ‘We lost both games kind of the same way’: Pearl identifies similar woes in Auburn’s pair of losses Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, right, instructs Dylan Cardwell (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/James Crisp)AP Auburn was trailing Mississippi State by one point with just more than four minutes to play when Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard hurled up a deep 3-point attempt, which rattled off the rim and off the backboard. Underneath Mississippi State’s basket was Auburn’s Johni Broome, KD Johnson, Jaylin Williams and Tre Donaldson. For the Bulldogs, Tolu Smith III was the only one under the basket, while the rest of Mississippi State’s players stayed scattered about the perimeter. It was four orange Auburn jerseys to one white Mississippi State jersey. Yet it was Smith in the white Mississippi State jersey who came down with the rebound, making for one of the Bulldogs’ 14 offensive rebounds against the Tigers Saturday afternoon from Starkville’s Humphrey Coliseum. Less than 15 seconds later, Mississippi State’s Cameron Matthews found himself at the free throw line, where he went 1-for-2, missing his second attempt but gathering his own rebound and converting on a second-chance layup. Matthews alone finished the afternoon with six offensive rebounds and three second-chance buckets as he led Mississippi State with 14 points and 11 rebounds. On Saturday, that 15-second sequence alone helped paint the picture of what led to Auburn dropping its second-straight road game in a low-scoring, 64-58 loss to the Bulldogs, who out-rebounded the Tigers 45-30. “When you get out-rebounded like we got out-rebounded, it was something,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said during the post-game radio broadcast. Auburn’s struggles on the glass came just one day after Pearl harped on the matter. During his press conference Friday, Pearl called the Tigers’ defensive rebounding efforts his “No. 1 concern.” “I hate to be right sometimes,” Pearl said. “But my concern of where we were with our defensive rebounding — that’s a big part of it.” Against Mississippi State, Auburn allowed the Bulldogs pull down 14 offensive rebounds while the Tigers logged 24 defensive rebounds — meaning Mississippi State gathered its own missed shot 36.8% of the time. To make matters worse, the Bulldogs found scoring success after collecting their own rebounds as Mississippi State tallied 12 second-chance points — of which five came in the final 3:50 of play. “In the second half, while we were better offensively, we gave up too many second-chance points,” Pearl said. Conversely, Auburn managed to come down with a rebound on just 16.2% of its own misses and tallied a less-than-impressive three second-chance points. And if watching Saturday’s performance on the glass felt familiar, it’s because it was familiar. In its win streak-snapping loss to Alabama on Wednesday, Auburn also experienced rebounding struggles — particularly on the defensive end as the Crimson Tide tallied 16 offensive rebounds, which led to 21 second-chance points. In the Tigers’ last two times out, they’ve allowed their opponents in Alabama and Mississippi State to come down with an offensive rebound 36% of the time, which has led to Auburn giving up 33 total second-chance points. All the while, the Tigers tallied just 15 combined second-chance points against he Crimson Tide and Bulldogs. “At the end of both games, we didn’t get stops, we didn’t get rebounds,” Pearl said. “That’s what cost us at Alabama. And that’s partly what cost us at Mississippi State. Free-throw check out, we don’t get it. I think, in some ways, we lost both games kind of the same way.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

al.com After second straight loss, Bruce Pearl says No. 8 Auburn’s guards need to shoot less Published: Jan. 27, 2024, 6:27 p.m. 5–6 minutes MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS - JANUARY 27 - Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara (10) during the game between the #8 Auburn Tigers and the Mississippi State at Humphrey Coliseum in Mississippi State, MS on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn TigersZach Bland/Auburn Tigers Throughout No. 8 Auburn’s 11-game win streak between a Dec. 3 loss to Appalachian State and Wednesday’s loss to Alabama, one of the strengths of this team had been its point guard play. Essentially splitting duties at point guard, Aden Holloway and Tre Donaldson combined to form one of the most productive and efficient duos in the nation. But that praise had turned to frustration as Auburn head Bruce Pearl reacted to his team’s loss to 64-58 loss to Mississippi State. It was the second straight loss for Auburn as it finished its two-game road trip 0-2. Auburn is now 16-4 this season and 5-2 in the SEC. Pearl’s message shifted after the loss. He previously encouraged players to keep shooting, and he believed they would eventually hit the big shot. “You gotta trust him,” Pearl said of point guard Aden Holloway after Auburn’s loss to Alabama. “Know that he’s gonna make a shot.” After the loss to Mississippi State, he said his players need to be more selective, and for some, maybe not shoot the ball at all. “We continue to struggle to shoot it on the road,” Pearl said. “And we continue to, unfortunately, take some of those same shots that we’re just gonna have to either have to make, or some guys are going to have to just put it away. Because it’s hurting our offensive productivity when we’re launching and missing like we are on the road.” In previous road games, Pearl has said Auburn’s poor shooting performances could change over time, knowing that Auburn was just a few misses on open shots turned to makes from getting an ever-hard-to-come-by win on the road. But now, five true road games in, bad shooting has become more of a trend. As a result, Auburn missed two chances at a Quad-1 road win this week. A Quad-1 win of any kind has continued to elude Auburn this season. In Auburn’s three losses in true road games, Auburn has shot a combined 73-189. That’s 38%. Auburn shot 34% in the loss to Mississippi State, which was the lowest rate from the field in any of the three losses. Separate it for just 3-pointers and the numbers are worse. Auburn is 14-76 in its three road losses. That’s 18%. Holloway and Donaldson struggled going a combined 7-25 from the field against Alabama and Mississippi State this week. K.D. Johnson took six attempts from beyond the arc this week. He made none of them. Denver Jones responded by shooting 2-3 on 3-pointers Saturday after going 1-5 against Alabama. Chad Baker-Mazara, who plays a blend guard/forward role, was 4-14 this week and 1-5 on 3-pointers. Jaylin Williams, a forward who had been arguably Auburn’s best player during the 11-game streak, shot 3-11 against Mississippi State including 0-4 of 3s and two missed layups. “Yeah, more selective for some, put it away for others,” Pearl said when asked about the team’s guard play. It’s hard to win, and nearly impossible to win on the road, with shooting numbers like that. Auburn is now 2-3 in its five road games. When it scored 80 or more points, it won. When it didn’t hit that mark, it lost. Poor shooting has been a common denominator in the losses, and that is in part due to poor decision-making, which Pearl now plans to work on curbing based on his postgame comments. There are few things tougher in college basketball than winning on the road. Auburn lost to Alabama and Mississippi State by a combined 10 points this week. Giving up opportunities with its own shooting makes that even tougher. So Pearl will look to help Auburn become more selective, and more efficient. “I’ve got some guys that just are struggling to shoot the ball, and they need to stop,” Pearl said during his postgame radio appearance. “They just need to stop shooting if they can’t make it. As a result, the ball will move and maybe you’ll have a chance to get him more than seven shots. But we can’t, because the ball is just getting chucked up there.” Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

did you leave off the H suga? lol you know i am crazy as hell...............grins

dag i am getting old. i am not in the best of health. i decided i would try to be remembered as crazy and a good guy than a dick. once we are dead we cannot correct our wrongs. in the past i have jumped people when i confused what they said. it is embarrassing to i am trying to be a better person.

word in the break room is you are a handsome fella. not accusing anyone of anything just throwing anything out there.......................

this was not an attack on you titan. you try hard to be fair and i see it.i did not care for you much at one time but i have grown fond of you. i think you are brilliant in some ways. i am not brown nosing just telling it straight. some of your posts on the pol boards are brilliant. i was talking about ANYONE talking down. by the way can we get that lastpoint removed on my profile?

they tell me if it is cancer it is slow moving and not life threatening at all. i intend to pursue all options if it is. thank you for your warm thoughts. i was wrong about you for a,long time but i saw the light and i enjoy your posts. you have more patience than most people realize. i would have been banned long ago.