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247sports.com Backfield balancing act: Tigers look for best running back rotation Nathan King 5–6 minutes In preseason camp, Hugh Freeze said Auburn’s offense had been consistent in a couple areas he deemed necessary for the success of an offense: running the ball, and taking care of it. So the Tigers’ four turnovers — including three fumbles, two by the tailbacks — came as a surprise to the running back room. “That wasn't us,” Damari Alston said this week. “I don't think we've turned the ball over that much during camp or even in the scrimmages. Got to be better from that aspect.” It wasn’t just Alston’s and Jarquez Hunter’s fumbles — both of which were in crucial situations — that were frustrating for the Tigers’ running game in the 14-10 win over Cal. Auburn certainly found more success on the ground than through the air, rushing for 136 yards. Hugh Freeze wasn’t necessarily pleased with how he was able to utilize the group’s depth, which was heralded all offseason as arguably the deepest top-to-bottom position on the roster. Hunter and Alston combined for 19 carries and 104 yards, but Freeze knows the other two ball-carriers — true freshman Jeremiah Cobb and USF transfer Brian Battie — need to be more involved. Granted, there weren’t a bunch of snaps to go around. “I’ve never had as deep a running back room as I’ve had here, so it’s a challenge,” Freeze said Wednesday. “It’s also a challenge when you only have 50 offensive plays (against Cal). That was not a normal game to judge anything on.” When Auburn’s running game seemed to find its footing against Cal, even just for a play or two, the Tigers were seemingly hit with a penalty, turnover or other setback every time. Their limited time of possession and turnover debacle derailed what Freeze thought was set up to be a successful night running the ball. “I was absolutely very pleased with our run-blocking,” Freeze said. “We should have rushed for 250 or 300 had we not had four turnovers." Alston echoed those comments earlier this week, when he said he felt Auburn’s offense was simply out of sync throughout the game — and when they were able to settle into a rhythm for a couple plays, or on the go-ahead touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, they settled right back into what they thought would be a successful game plan. "I just feel like that drive we kind of calmed down a little bit,” Alston said. “I just feel like from the beginning of the game, I don't know, we weren't as calm as we were supposed to be. Going into the game we had a pretty good game plan and I think the coach's called some great plays that should've hit. That last drive is how we should've played all game. That's the football team that we are." Now the challenge is for Freeze to find a way to best utilize the backfield’s strengths — starting this Saturday against Samford (6 p.m. CDT, ESPN+). It’s the last tune-up opportunity for Auburn’s offense before seven straight SEC games. “I hope we can find a way to keep them all involved — because I think they all add something to us that can help us win,” Freeze said. “But it is a challenge.” Hunter made his return against Cal after missing the season opener while serving a suspension, and Freeze admitted the junior was “rusty.” The primary contender atop the rotation seems to be Alston, a sophomore who was one of the offense’s top risers in the preseason. The career yardage nod goes to Battie, who transferred over from USF after rushing for 1,185 yards last year. He played only three snaps against Cal and had just one carry, which Freeze said immediately after the game was unacceptable. The wild card might be true freshman Jeremiah Cobb, who has the highest yards per carry of the bunch (9.6). “I hope to see him on the field a little bit more,” Alston said of Cobb. “Just the spark that he creates when he touches the ball, when he makes plays, I feel like he’ll be a really good player for us going forward.” Freeze’s eyes light up when he talks about Cobb, the program’s highest-rated running back signee since Tank Bigsby in 2020. His early flashes have made it tough for Auburn’s staff to keep him off the field. And maximizing the production of what now looks to be a true four-man rotation is now part of a list of offensive to-do’s for the coaching staff — though they likely anticipated as much heading into the season. “I love it every time (Cobb) has the ball in his hands — the problem is I also like Damari and Jarquez and Battie,” Freeze said.

si.com Elijah McAllister shouts out Auburn fans for making the trip out west Andrew Stefaniak 2–3 minutes Elijah McAllister thinks Auburn fans traveling to the Cal game helped the Tigers. Elijah McAllister joined The Next Round to discuss the game the Tigers just won over the Cal Bears. McAllister was asked if it felt weird playing on the West Coast, and this was his response, "Honestly, not so much because I think about 10,000 or more fans traveled from all across the country to come to support us in Cal, so it felt like we were supported really well. It felt comfortable in the stadium, obviously, with the travel and everything else going on that was a big emphasis on the week, but I felt like we handled it pretty well and got the win, so that's a positive." It's not easy to travel across the country to play on the road, so all of the Auburn fans who made the trip to support the Tigers clearly made a difference. Having a fan base like the Auburn Tigers do has to be a great feeling for the players as they know no matter where they travel, there will be fans in the stands cheering them on. McAllister made it clear that Auburn fans made a real difference in this game for the Tigers and helped them leave with the victory over the Pac-12 foe.

auburnwire.usatoday.com How does Payton Thorne's QBR stack up with fellow SEC quarterbacks? Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes Through two games, quarterback Payton Thorne has not had an opportunity to unleash his full potential. Hugh Freeze brought in Thorne from Michigan State to lead the offense, but he has not earned Freeze’s full trust to this point in the season. Freeze has rotated Thorne and Robby Ashford at the position, with neither doing enough to take the starter role for themselves. Buy Tigers Tickets How has Thorne performed compared to other SEC quarterbacks entering week three? College Sports Wire breaks it down. College Sports Wire’s Ryan Haley shared his take on SEC quarterbacks based on ESPN’s QBR. Thorne checks in at No. 9 this week with a rating of 63.4. Why is his rating so low? Haley explains. Thorne has attempted the fewest passes (31) and thrown for the fewest yards (235) of any starter in the SEC through two weeks, but ESPN contests volume is not the only way to measure impact. In Week 2 on the road against California, Thorne threw for 94 yards on 14 attempts, but he threw for both of Auburn’s scores in the 14-10 victory, including the eventual game-winner to tight end Rivaldo Fairweather in the final quarter. The former Michigan State starter did attempt more than 380 passes in each of his last two seasons with the Spartans, so time will tell if Freeze lets his quarterback air it out a little more as the season progresses. Through two full weeks of action, Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman leads the SEC in QBR with 89.5. Quarterbacks such as Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama‘s Jalen Milroe, and South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler are ahead of Thorne, while Georgia‘s Carson Beck, Tennessee‘s Joe Milton, and Florida‘s Graham Mertz trail behind. 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__

featuring Hugh Freeze, Eugene Asante, Rivaldo Fairweather, & Ryan Wochomurka

for the record i was not thinking of you when i wrote that. it was directed to the gloom and doom. i posted the new auburn everyday and it is a great show. opens with the locker room speech after the cal game. but no sir i had not probs with what you said.

great show!

wow. the honeymoon is over and we have not lost yet. the man has said repeatedly it is a work in progress. as far as who's "O" we're running i thought it was a combination of montgomery and freeze? i also think this D will help keep us in ballgames.

Deferred Retirements, Unemployed Spouses, Field Officers Working as Generals: Democrats' Memo Details Effects of Tuberville Blocking Military Promotions Rebecca Kheel Wed, September 13, 2023 at 1:56 PM CDT·5 min read 302 At least 25 three- and four-star officers were forced to delay retirements to ensure continuity of command due to a Republican senator's months-long blockade against hundreds of military promotions, according to a new memo from Senate Democrats. The memo released by Democrat lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday evening details personal stories of hardship and breaks down an array of effects stemming from Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on confirming general and flag officer nominees. Tuberville, who opposes a Pentagon policy allowing troops leave time and travel expenses for abortions, is a member of the committee. "Most of these officers have served for 30 or 40 years, mobilized for numerous combat deployments, and have missed countless birthdays, anniversaries, children's births, sports games and music recitals," the memo said, referring to service members who have put off retirement because their replacements can’t be confirmed. Read Next: Air Force Says It Remains Confident in Osprey Aircraft Despite Recent Deadly Mishaps - ADVERTISEMENT - Military leaders have repeatedly argued the Tuberville blockade hinders the military's effectiveness in part by adding stress to military families, but have provided few specific examples of the harm to families. The memo from Senate Democrats details several specific anecdotes of turmoil brought to military families. For example, a Navy spouse is now unemployed after she gave up her job as a public school teacher in anticipation of her husband's overseas assignment that has been delayed by the hold, according to the memo. At least three officers have, at their own expense, moved their families to their expected new duty stations without them so that their children could enroll in school, the memo said. In two other cases, officers disenrolled their children from school in anticipation of their moves but now can't enroll them in a new school. In the Marine Corps, a coast-to-coast move for a senior officer and his family was canceled after their household goods were already shipped, and the items are now sitting in storage at their future duty station, according to the memo. And two Air Force officers are living in temporary housing and paying out of pocket for storage because they sold their homes in anticipation of having to move. "Military families bear the costs of the senator's hold more than any other group. These affected families have been understandably reluctant to share their experiences, likely due to fear of political retribution," the memo said. "These examples are but the tip of the iceberg, snapshots and stories of those willing to share. The true impact of the senator's actions may not be known for years." Meanwhile, 22 field officers who have been nominated for their first star will have to assume the duties of a general officer without getting the raise they earned, according to the memo. Another 20 officers who have been nominated for their second star will similarly have to do work above their paygrade without the corresponding raise. In all, according to the memo, the hold is snaring 139 nominees for one star, 70 nominees for two stars, 54 nominees for three stars, and 10 nominees for four stars. The missive comes as Democrats and Pentagon officials have been working to raise pressure on Tuberville, of Alabama, to end his six-month hold before the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is legally required to retire at the end of the month. Since late February, Tuberville has maintained what's known as a hold on all nominees for promotion to one-star general and admiral and above over his opposition to the Pentagon policy. He has vowed not to lift the hold until the Pentagon reverses its abortion policy or Congress enshrines the policy into law. A hold cannot prevent the Senate from confirming nominees, but it does require the chamber to take lengthy individual roll call votes on nominees it would otherwise quickly confirm in batches with voice votes. With 273 nominees officially caught in Tuberville's hold right now, it would take approximately 689 hours and 20 minutes for the Senate to confirm them all, according to a Congressional Research Service report also released Tuesday by Senate Democrats. That translates to 89 days if the Senate exclusively voted on the nominees for eight hours a day. That estimate takes into account only nominees who have already been advanced by the Armed Services Committee. When adding in officers who have been nominated but not yet voted on by the committee, there are more than 300 generals and admirals awaiting Senate approval. The standoff has already led to vacancies in top posts, including the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Democrats have signaled they are not planning to hold a roll call vote for the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs, meaning the most senior position in the military is also on track to sit vacant by the end of the month. The Pentagon said this week that the Joint Chiefs vice chief would perform the duties in an acting capacity if the Senate cannot confirm a chief. But it also warned that the dual role would be very difficult for any one person to fill. Tuberville has dismissed warnings from Pentagon officials and Democrats that his hold has harmed the military, instead blaming Democrats for the vacancies by not holding roll call votes on the nominees. "If Democrats were actually worried about readiness or about military families, then we would be voting on these nominees," Tuberville said on the Senate floor Monday. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on X @reporterkheel. Related: Joint Chiefs Prepare for Vacancy at the Top as Senate Bickers over Confirmations Blockade YOU folks on the right know China and others are licking their lips at the damage tubs is doing as well as pissing on folks who put their lives on the line to serve and protect this country. screw tubs and anyone who supports this. i would bet most that support this have never served a day of their lives in service to their country. patriots my ass.................

why no it does not. i have a long memory when it comes to trump, joe will never be the crook trump is. you cannot fix stupid but you can sell it in a red hat..............

you are big on the truth and yet voted for trump ...how about that! you do not care about truth you want revenge but the sad truth trump has himself to blame. and he is taking a ton of people down with him.

it was not funny.........

the man is completely stupid. completely. he did not even know some of the damage he was doing until it was pointed out.

78 is so hateful he would not even boink himself....................grins. he tries to yuk it up to hide it but tis true. prove me wrong 78.

spoken like a true MAGA man! when you have nothing intelligent to say you insult. i try to love you 78 but you make it pretty hard..........

a joke is supposed to be funny. this is kind of a bummer,man. i said that in the voice of janis joplin............

quit posting your sexual fantasies this is a family board..............

well j edgat liked to wear a dress and we know how most of you guys hate cross dressers and that ilk...................am i right?

have you ever laid the wood to anyone?

improvement. And when i think of Samford i think of Pat Sullivsan. as for the game i read they have no oline to speak of and other troubles in an article i posted so i expect these guys to get hammered.

al.com Auburn baseball unveils SEC slate; Tigers to visit defending national champion LSU in April Published: Sep. 13, 2023, 2:32 p.m. 2–3 minutes Auburn baseball went 17-13 in SEC play during its 2023 campaign — good for the most conference wins since the 2010 season. The Tigers also finished in the Top 5 of the SEC, which dominated college baseball last year and ended in a all-SEC championship series. This year, Butch Thompson and the Tigers’ baseball team will look to pick up where they left off in the SEC ranks with a tough conference schedule, which was released Wednesday afternoon. Auburn gets conference play underway during the weekend of March 15 as it heads to Nashville to meet with Vanderbilt for a three-game series. The Tigers then return home to host the Arkansas Razorbacks the following weekend (March 22-24) before once again hitting the road for a visit to Texas A&M on March 28-30. Once Auburn returns from College Station, the Tigers host back-to-back SEC series at home at Plainsman Park as Tennessee comes to town the weekend of April 5, followed by Kentucky coming to The Plains the following weekend (April 12-14). After their two-weekend homestand, the Tigers travel to Mississippi State the weekend of April 19, before heading to Baton Rouge, where Auburn will square off against the defending national champion LSU Tigers in a three-game series spanning from April 26-April 28. The month of May features a home series against Ole Miss on May 3-5 and a visit to Missouri on May 10-12 before the Tigers wrap up conference play with a rivalry series at home against the Alabama Crimson Tide on May 16, 17 and 18. At the conclusion of its regular season conference schedule, Auburn and the rest of the league will return to Hoover Met Stadium for the SEC Tournament, which spans from May 21 to May 26. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.