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al.com Previewing Auburn football’s defense ahead of the 2023 season Published: Aug. 31, 2023, 8:00 a.m. 7–8 minutes Whereas Auburn’s offense is characterized by a slew of newcomers under an offensive head coach, the defense will return a significant number of starters from a group that was, as a whole, mediocre last season. Auburn’s total defense ranked 77th in the nation last year, including 96th against the run. The idea with new defensive coordinator Ron Roberts is to target that run defense deficiency. Roberts came to Auburn from Baylor, and his scheme is known for focusing first and foremost on suffocating an opponent’s run game. Can Auburn do that? Yesterday, AL.com previewed the Auburn offense by position group. Today, we look at the defense. Defensive line Improving the run defense starts up front, and Auburn plans to start two players who were key starters up front last season in Jayson Jones and Marcus Harris. Does starting the same duo mean Auburn will be better against the run? Hard to say. Auburn coaches are hoping the year of experience playing together will mean a better 2023. But Auburn brought in transfers on the defensive line to help, highlighted by Justin Rogers coming from Kentucky. So it’s a question of experience at Auburn versus the addition of Rogers and Lawrence Johnson from Purdue who were top interior players at their respective schools. Auburn didn’t bring in a player of Rogers caliber for him to sit, so there will be a rotation of the top four interior defensive linemen. Harris and Jones will just be first. And if there isn’t improvement stopping the run inside, then Auburn has options. Defensive end The name with all the attention here is true freshman Keldric Faulk who shifted from jack linebacker to defensive end this fall, and had an impressive camp. However, he did deal with an injury going into Auburn’s second scrimmage. And he’ll start the year as a backup. Mosiah Nasili-Kite will start at the defensive end spot. He comes to Auburn as a transfer from Maryland and has consistently been the first one out in the defensive end position with the rest of the defensive starters during practices. While he may not have the same recruiting recognition as Faulk, a former four-star recruit who was the highest-ranked member of Auburn’s freshman class, Nasili-Kite has far more collegiate experience, and is not learning a new position like Faulk is. Nasili-Kite is a graduate transfer who had nine sacks over three seasons with Maryland. Thought it wouldn’t be shocking to see Faulk go on to become the starter when he becomes more comfortable and fully healthy. Jack linebacker First, a definition of the position. Auburn utilizes a jack linebacker similar to the role of defensive end. They line up on the line of scrimmage alongside the offensive tackles as edge rushers. But unlike a defensive end, a jack linebacker is expected to drop back in coverage. Auburn brought in three transfers to consider for the position in Elijah McAllister from Vanderbilt, Jalen McLeod from Appalachian State and Stephens Sings V from Libert. McAllister will get the initial start at jack, with Sings listed second on the depth chart and McLeod third. McAllister is a veteran for leader who was selected as team captain despite not having played a snap at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn was in the bottom half of the SEC in sacks last year. Each of the three jack linebackers have generated a lot of buzz in fall camp and all three will play. They each bring a different skill set to Auburn’s pass rush. McLeod talked about his speed before dealing with an injury in fall camp. He practiced Tuesday in the most recent session to the media. Regardless, it’s another position where there will be a lot of rotation. Middle linebacker Of two starting sports, one has seemed clear. Austin Keys seemed penciled in as a starting linebacker for Auburn when he transferred from Ole Miss this offseason. Despite dealing with an injury in fall camp, Keys won the starting job. He’ll be a leader for an Auburn defense that no longer as Owen Pappoe as he went on to the NFL. The more interesting question is who would start next to him. Conversations throughout fall camp seemed to focus on Euegene Asante and Larry Nixon III, but it was Cam Riley who won the job in a bit of a surprise. Or, maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise. While Riley’s name hardly came up in fall camp, it’s easy to forget he was second behind Pappoe in total tackles for Auburn last season and was a starter. And Riley indicated during the preseason that he could be used on the outside in addition to a middle linebacker role. This will be another group that Auburn will look to for a big step forward with regard to its run defense. Cornerback A simple position group to look at. Nehemiah Pritchett, D.J. James and Keionte Scott form an experienced and productive cornerback trio. Freeze has said each of the top three have All-SEC potential, but he had to call them out for a lack of effort early on in fall camp. The secondary has had tackling issues during fall camp. But Freeze seemed pleased with the development of his top three, and believes the fact that he could call out Pritchett and James to be indicative to the rest of the team of the work their leaders were doing to hit the standard a new coaching staff is seeking. Auburn’s depth at the position does appear a question for the future. There are a lot of talented young corners, highlighted by Kayin Lee, Colton Hood and J.D. Rhym. Rhym is questionable for Auburn’s first game. So is Pritchett, who was not a participant in the period of practice open to media on Tuesday. Talented, sure, but depth made up of freshmen is of course unproven. Auburn won’t have to force any of the younger pieces in. Auburn’s secondary is a team strength. Safety That strength includes the safeties. Similar to the cornerbacks, there weren’t any position battles to start at safety this fall. Jaylin Simpson and Zion Puckett have been written in pen as Auburn’s starters. Simpson led Auburn last year in interceptions, except with only two. Simpson has had a very strong fall camp in periods open to reporters, especially during the 90-minute practice open to media members on Aug. 17. But that strong camp comes amidst a position change for the former cornerback. It hasn’t taken him much time to adjust. Graduate transfer from Baylor Griffin Speaks has been a riser at the position, but it’s a group that centers around Puckett and Simpson. Auburn doesn’t have any questions to ask here. The top duo have a lot of starting experience and have appeared to work well together in the fall. Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at mcohen@al.com 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.

al.com Meet Auburn football's hype man Eugene Asante and his 'Let's work' catchphrase Published: Aug. 31, 2023, 12:00 p.m. 5–6 minutes In addition to the countless position battles that took place, there was one other competition brewing on The Plains throughout fall camp — and sophomore cornerback Champ Anthony, junior defensive lineman Zykeivous Walker and senior defensive lineman Lawrence Johnson are all frontrunners. However, the competition is far from settled, says junior linebacker Eugene Asante, who will have the final say on which of his teammates can best mimic his distinctive “Let’s work!” catchphrase. “The boys are carrying it on,” Asante said. “It’s a good feeling.” It all started during a team workout; Asante told reporters Monday. The energy was lacking and Asante felt he was in a position to do something about it — finally. Asante didn’t see the field much in 2022, adding to an already tough year, which Auburn linebackers coach Josh Aldridge alluded to in a comment earlier this month. “I don’t want to air out anything about Eugene’s personal life, but Eugene had a tough year last year,” Aldridge told reporters on Aug. 10. “He had a tough year.” In a recent interview with Auburn Undercover’s Nathan King, Asante revealed that he lost his father last February, which is likely what Aldridge was hinting at. Asante’s father would’ve turned 71 on Aug. 21. After only appearing in Auburn’s first four games last fall, Asante was stuck watching from the sidelines as Owen Pappoe, Derick Hall and Cam Riley led the Tigers’ defense. Asante’s lack of play time left him struggling to hype himself up, let alone others. “It was a big reflection piece for me,” Asante said of last season. “Last year I was very upset within myself in terms of, I just didn’t get on the field. I really don’t know why that was.” And so Asante kept his head down and remained the quiet guy at practice. But that didn’t mean Asante wasn’t still embodying his “Let’s work!” catchphrase. Instead, he was just keeping it to himself. Asante was a workhorse in the weight room, says Aldridge, adding that the linebacker gained around 15 pounds between this year and last year. “I have seen changes in my own body I didn’t think I would ever get to,” Asante said after gushing about the effectiveness of head strength and conditioning coach Dom Studzinski’s program. Asante’s physical changes made for the foundation he could build on throughout this year’s fall camp. Aldridge admits that at 6-foot-1, Asante isn’t the longest guy at outside linebacker. However, especially with his added weight, Asante is big enough for the position. “When I first got here, I came in here and I got asked what are we looking for in a linebacker. The word I used was ‘dynamic’,” Aldridge said. “That’s what he brings. He’s not a one-trick pony. He can run, he’s physical, he’s smart. All those things. We don’t want the old-school, neckroll mike linebacker in this defense anymore.” As a result of his hard work and versatility, Asante started weaseling his way back onto the field throughout fall camp, working in with the 1s and 2s of Auburn’s defense. And it all started with a promise. “I made a vow to myself and a vow to my family that I’m going to establish myself and work the hardest I’ve ever worked and I can’t be denied,” Asante said. “I just thank God to allow me to go out there and give me the strength to show some consistency in my game.” It wasn’t long after you started hearing about Asante from his coaches and teammate that you started hearing from Asante himself. After working his way back into the on-field rotation, Asante was in a better position to be a vocal leader for the Tigers. And so he took full advantage with his “Let’s work!” and “Work time!” catchphrases. “When I first got here, I was kinda, like, quiet. I’m sure they guys are, like, ‘Bro. Who’s this guy? Now he’s yelling and stuff?’,” Asante said. “The energy, the excitement, the enthusiasm is really just who I am. I embody that.” On the first day of classes on Aug. 16, Asante – dressed in full uniform – was sent out onto campus to see if he could inspire Auburn students to embody the same energy, excitement and enthusiasm as the fall semester got underway. “Let’s work!”, “Work time”, and the occasional “Does everyone have a pencil?” rang out across Auburn’s campus. It’s hard to think that the same guy getting asked to inspire a campus of students was the same guy feeling uninspired last fall. “I think he’s just cleared his head,” Aldridge said of Asante. “They obviously signed him here for a reason, because they thought he was gonna be a great player. “He’s just really caught on. He’s a joy to coach. I love coaching him. He’s a fun kid. I think he’ll have a great season, regardless of if he’s in the starting role. I think he’s definitely gonna help us out this year. Auburn fans should definitely keep an eye on him.” And if fans aren’t able to keep an eye on Asante, at the very least they should listen for him. 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.

247sports.com Rogers ready to experience JordanHare Stadium Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes VIDEO: Highlights from 4-star Auburn QB commit Walker White's season opener A UMass offense that finished last in the country in 2022 in scoring offense, averaging just 12.5 points per game, looks very different heading into Saturday’s season opener for the Auburn Tigers with the addition of former Clemson and Georgia Tech quarterback Taisun Phommachanh and Arizona wide receiver transfer Anthony Simpson giving the Minutemen a much different look for Hugh Freeze’s team to deal with beginning at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. Averaging just over 100 yards per game through the air with four touchdowns and 14 interceptions last year, UMass has been given a huge boost on offense by the addition of the former 4-star prospect at quarterback. Making his first start for the program last week in a road win at New Mexico State, Phommanchanh completed 10-17 passes for 192 yards in the win. Also leading the team in rushing with 96 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, the 6-4, 215-pounder will be a lot to handle for the Auburn defense. But, he’s not alone. Rutgers transfer Kay’ron Adams (5-10, 205, Jr.) is a powerhouse at running back. Playing his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights before working as a backup the last two years at UMass, Adams had 15 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns last week against NMSU. Outside at receiver, Simpson is the top threat for UMass after catching three passes for 65 yards last week and adding two carries for 27 yards and a touchdown. A 5-11, 180 junior, Simpson played the last two seasons at Arizona and was used mostly on special teams. George Johnson (6-0, 185, RJr.) and Mark Pope (6-0, 180, RSr.) are listed as the other two starters for UMass at wide receiver and Pope is a name that could be familiar to Auburn fans. A native of Miami, he started his career with the Hurricanes and caught 52 passes for 680 yards and four touchdowns in 34 games for the Hurricanes. Up front, UMass has size and experience on the offensive line. At left tackle, 6-6, 310 junior Jony Hassard has started all 12 games each of the last two seasons. Next to him, 6-3, 300 senior Cole Garcia was in the lineup for every game last year for the Minutemen. In the middle, 6-2, 330 Josh Atwood started two games on the defensive line in 2021 before starting all 12 games last season. At right guard, 6-5, 330 Marcellus Anderson transferred from Saginaw Valley where he played in 23 games. Rounding out the group is 6-5, 330 junior Ethan Mottinger at right tackle, who has started 19 career games at UMass. Offensive depth chart: QB 3 TAISUN PHOMMACHANH R-JR. 6-4 215 5 CARLOS DAVIS R-SR. 6-2 220 -OR- 2 BRADY OLSON JR. 6-3 200 RB 15 KAY'RON LYNCH-ADAMS R-JR. 5-10 205 20 GREG DESROSIERS JR R-SO. 5-11 200 21 JALEN JOHN R-SO. 5-11 225 32 JACKSON PARADIS R-FR. 6-0 225 WR (X) 4 GEORGE JOHNSON III R-JR. 6-0 185 9 CHRISTIAN WELLS R-JR. 6-1 180 WR (A) 7 MARK POPE R-SR. 6-0 180 0 JACQUON GIBSON SO. 5-11 185 WR (Z) 8 ANTHONY SIMPSON JR. 5-11 180 1 ISAAC ROSS R-SR. 5-9 170 -OR- 12 SHAWN HARRIS JR R-JR. 5-9 170 10 T.Y. HARDING SO. 5-9 175 TE 13 GINO CAMPIOTTI R-SR. 6-2 225 11 ENI FALAYI R-SO. 6-5 240 80 MATT SMITH R-JR. 6-5 245 85 JACKSON MANNING R-SO. 6-5 250 LT 58 JONNY HASSARD JR. 6-6 310 70 BRANDON MACKINNON R-SO. 6-6 300 LG 73 COLE GARCIA R-SR. 6-3 300 65 CONNOR VASHER R-SR. 6-3 295 -OR- 69 PARRIS HEATH R-SR. 6-4 325 C 60 JOSH ATWOOD JR. 6-2 330 77 TYLER LEINBERGER R-FR. 6-3 330 RG 75 MARCELLUS ANDERSON R-SR. 6-5 330 66 WYATT TERLAAK R-JR. 6-4 350 RT 72 ETHAN MOTTINGER JR. 6-5 330 79 RYAN MOSESSO R-SO. 6-5 290

auburnwire.usatoday.com Auburn vs UMass: Tale of the Tape Brian Hauch 4–6 minutes The college football season finally kicks off for Auburn on Saturday against 1-0 UMass. The Minutemen are coming off an excellent performance on the road vs. New Mexico State, winning 41-30 on the back of great play from Clemson transfer quarterback Taisun Phommachanh and a stout showing from their defensive line. While the Minutemen surely have momentum coming into this game, there is a reason BetMGM has them as 35.5-point underdogs against the Tigers in Jordan-Hare. The talent gap is wide, but do the direct comparisons support the overwhelming idea this game will be a blowout? Buy Tigers Tickets Most football teams’ success is contingent on the play of their quarterback, and both of these teams have a good one. The aforementioned Taisun Phommachanh had an efficient, well-rounded, performance in week one. Phommachanh completed 10 of his 17 passes for 192 yards and was also his team’s leading rusher, compiling 96 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Still, it’s hard not to give the edge to Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne here. Although he does not nearly pose the threat on the ground that Phommachanh does (He had 270 rushing yards in three seasons at Michigan State), Thorne is clearly the more established passer. Over three seasons for the Spartans, Thorne racked up 6,501 passing yards to go along with 49 touchdowns. Phommachanh on the other hand, played sparingly for Clemson and Georgia Tech before transferring this season. The UMass QB has only thrown 70 passes in four-plus years, completing 34 of them for 409 yards and one touchdown. The Quarterback edge clearly goes to Payton Thorne and Auburn. Experience gives the Tigers the edge in the quarterback battle, and the same goes when looking at the running backs as well. Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter is expected by many, including myself, to have a monster season for the Tigers. The junior has averaged a magnificent 6.5 YPC over the past two years, rushing for 1,261 yards and 10 touchdowns on 193 career carries. Conversely, UMass starter Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams came into the season with only 206 carries for 731 yards in four seasons at Rutgers and UMass. Lynch-Adams had a very nice game in his team’s opener last weekend, rushing for 79 yards and scoring twice. Still, Auburn’s All-SEC third-team back has the clear edge here. As for the final skill position group on offense, the wide receivers, it is hard to gauge which team has the upper hand, at least for now. UMass ran the ball more than twice as much as they threw it in week one, leaving some mystery as to how explosive their pass catcher can be. Auburn’s receiving core also has a great deal of mystery heading into the season. The team is starting two transfers at the X and Z positions, Shane Hooks and Jyaire Shorter, respectively. Although both have had great camps, it is hard to tell how either will adjust to a talented SEC after transferring from smaller schools. It is too early to give either team an edge in this department. The one area on the field where the huge underdogs could give Auburn a run for their money is the defensive front. The Minutemen front seven wreaked havoc against the New Mexico State offensive line in week one, sacking New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia three times. Auburn’s defensive line has struggled in recent years, particularly against the run. This year’s down lineman rotation features three transfers, Mosiah Nasili-Kite, Justin Rogers, and Lawrence Johnson, as well as freshmen, Keldric Faulk. The Tigers are also starting two transfers at the linebacker spots in jack Elijah McAllister and MLB Austin Keys. It may take some time for these new Tigers to get their footing, and that could lead to some early gaping holes for a UMass team that has made it clear they want to run the ball. I’m giving the ever-so-slight edge to UMass in this category just because of the unknown surrounding Auburn’s front seven. Despite the surpassingly close comparisons across the defensive front and receiver groups, Auburn still has the clear edge as a team in their home opener. They will attempt to show the Jordan-Hare crowd that edge when the teams kick off at 2:30 CST on Saturday. 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

si.com Behind Enemy Lines: UMass expert chimes in on Auburn's opener Zac Blackerby ~3 minutes We take a look at Auburn's first opponent by reaching out to a UMass expert. In this story: Auburn Tigers Massachusetts Minutemen The Auburn Tigers will host UMass to start the Hugh Freeze era by taking on a team that has already played. UMass caught some favor with some fans after defeating New Mexico State during their week zero clash. Now they come to SEC Country and will face a much tougher test. We reached out to Michael Traini of 247 Sports to answer a few questions from behind enemy lines. If UMass were to pull off an upset, what would they need to do right? © Meg Potter/Sun-News / USA TODAY NETWORK Traini: Basically play a perfect game. They have to control the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively, force multiple turnovers while committing none themselves, and confuse Auburn with their playcalling. They can maybe surprise Auburn in this game early but I don't think we see an upset at the end of the day. How do you see UMass game planning for a new offense at Auburn? © Meg Potter/Sun-News / USA TODAY NETWORK Traini: Fortunately for UMass they've seen Hugh Freeze for the past several years at Liberty so they have some familiarity. Outside of a specialized offense like a triple option, UMass' preparation primarily revolves around the way they play defense. Man coverage, high pressure, multiple fronts. They're going to try and create havoc to confuse the Auburn offense on Saturday. Will the road trips to NMSU then to Auburn impact the team? © Meg Potter/Sun-News / USA TODAY NETWORK Traini: I don't think so. UMass has been an FBS Independent for the better part of a decade now, so long trips for games even in back-to-back weeks are nothing new. They also made sure to prepare the players on hydration and recovery for these two games in hot temperatures as well. They're excited to play on a big stage. What are your score predictions for the game? Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Traini: While I think Auburn -37 is probably too big a line, I think this will be a victory for the Tigers without too much trouble. UMass will probably make some plays and keep it close for a time but in the end my score prediction is Auburn 45-17. Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials!

Auburn vs UMass: Tale of the Tape Brian Hauch Thu, August 31, 2023 at 12:00 PM CDT·4 min read 0 The college football season finally kicks off for Auburn on Saturday against 1-0 UMass. The Minutemen are coming off an excellent performance on the road vs. New Mexico State, winning 41-30 on the back of great play from Clemson transfer quarterback Taisun Phommachanh and a stout showing from their defensive line. While the Minutemen surely have momentum coming into this game, there is a reason BetMGM has them as 35.5-point underdogs against the Tigers in Jordan-Hare. The talent gap is wide, but do the direct comparisons support the overwhelming idea this game will be a blowout? Most football teams’ success is contingent on the play of their quarterback, and both of these teams have a good one. The aforementioned Taisun Phommachanh had an efficient, well-rounded, performance in week one. Phommachanh completed 10 of his 17 passes for 192 yards and was also his team’s leading rusher, compiling 96 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Still, it’s hard not to give the edge to Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne here. Although he does not nearly pose the threat on the ground that Phommachanh does (He had 270 rushing yards in three seasons at Michigan State), Thorne is clearly the more established passer. Over three seasons for the Spartans, Thorne racked up 6,501 passing yards to go along with 49 touchdowns. Phommachanh on the other hand, played sparingly for Clemson and Georgia Tech before transferring this season. The UMass QB has only thrown 70 passes in four-plus years, completing 34 of them for 409 yards and one touchdown. The Quarterback edge clearly goes to Payton Thorne and Auburn. Experience gives the Tigers the edge in the quarterback battle, and the same goes when looking at the running backs as well. Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter is expected by many, including myself, to have a monster season for the Tigers. The junior has averaged a magnificent 6.5 YPC over the past two years, rushing for 1,261 yards and 10 touchdowns on 193 career carries. Conversely, UMass starter Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams came into the season with only 206 carries for 731 yards in four seasons at Rutgers and UMass. Lynch-Adams had a very nice game in his team’s opener last weekend, rushing for 79 yards and scoring twice. Still, Auburn’s All-SEC third-team back has the clear edge here. As for the final skill position group on offense, the wide receivers, it is hard to gauge which team has the upper hand, at least for now. UMass ran the ball more than twice as much as they threw it in week one, leaving some mystery as to how explosive their pass catcher can be. Auburn’s receiving core also has a great deal of mystery heading into the season. The team is starting two transfers at the X and Z positions, Shane Hooks and Jyaire Shorter, respectively. Although both have had great camps, it is hard to tell how either will adjust to a talented SEC after transferring from smaller schools. It is too early to give either team an edge in this department. The one area on the field where the huge underdogs could give Auburn a run for their money is the defensive front. The Minutemen front seven wreaked havoc against the New Mexico State offensive line in week one, sacking New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia three times. Auburn’s defensive line has struggled in recent years, particularly against the run. This year’s down lineman rotation features three transfers, Mosiah Nasili-Kite, Justin Rogers, and Lawrence Johnson, as well as freshmen, Keldric Faulk. The Tigers are also starting two transfers at the linebacker spots in jack Elijah McAllister and MLB Austin Keys. It may take some time for these new Tigers to get their footing, and that could lead to some early gaping holes for a UMass team that has made it clear they want to run the ball. I’m giving the ever-so-slight edge to UMass in this category just because of the unknown surrounding Auburn’s front seven. Despite the surpassingly close comparisons across the defensive front and receiver groups, Auburn still has the clear edge as a team in their home opener. They will attempt to show the Jordan-Hare crowd that edge when the teams kick off at 2:30 CST on Saturday. 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 Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

maybe but he gave the turd fans a second of hope and then dashed their hopes like a bug. i loved once i knew he was messing with them. and he did his talking on the field!

i have never been to a tiger walk.

i have had the same problem so i feel your pain.

How to listen to Auburn football this season Taylor Jones Thu, August 31, 2023 at 4:00 PM CDT·2 min read 0 Nothing beats a Saturday listening to Auburn Sports Network’s all-day coverage of Auburn Tigers football in the fall. This season’s lineup within the Auburn Sports Network changes slightly, as Andy Burcham will be joined by former Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell in the color analyst’s chair. Campbell replaces Stan White after he served in the role since 2001. Another former Tiger joins the crew this season as well. Former Auburn linebacker Will Herring joins Ronnie Brown as a sideline reporter, which brings another perspective to the broadcast. Weekly coverage of Auburn football from Auburn Sports Network begins Thursday nights at 6 p.m. CT for Tiger Talk. Andy Burcham and Brad Law will be joined weekly by head coach Hugh Freeze and other in-season coaches to preview the weekend’s action. Gameday coverage begins with the Tiger Tailgate Show three hours before kickoff and will end with postgame interviews with players and coaches. From beginning to end, Auburn Sports Network provides seven hours of coverage on football game days. Find your nearest Auburn Sports Network affiliate below. Abbeville 98.7 FM Albany, Georgia 102.9 FM Atlanta, Georgia 1010 AM Auburn 94.3 FM Alexander City 97.5 FM Andalusia 93.7 FM Bainbridge, Georgia 99.3 FM Bainbridge, Georgia 930 AM Birmingham 100.5 FM Centre 100.5 FM Centre 990 AM Columbus, Georgia 102.9 FM Cullman 92.1 FM Cullman 98.3 FM Demopolis 106.5 FM Dothan 102.5 FM Eufaula 102.9 FM Evergreen 101.1 FM Flomaton 105.1 FM Florence 94.9 FM Foley 92.5 FM Foley 1310 AM Fort Payne 100.9 FM Fort Payne 1250 AM Gadsden 1350 AM Greenville 94.3 FM Hackleburg 95.5 FM Huntsville 100.3 FM Jasper 88.5 FM Ocean Springs, Mississippi 106.5 FM Oxford 92.7 FM LaGrange, Georgia 102.3 FM Macon, Georgia 102.9 FM Mobile 106.5 FM Montgomery 92.3 FM Moulton 97.9 FM Panama City, Florida 104.3 FM Pensacola, Florida 105.1 FM Roanoke 102.3 FM Scottsboro 1050 AM Selma 1490 AM Spartanburg, SC 1530 AM Sylacauga 100.3 FM Sylacauga 1290 AM Thomasville 95.5 FM Troy 970 AM Tuscaloosa 100.5 FM Vernon 100.7 FM Vernon 1380 AM Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on for those that might have to be traveling or at work with no TV.

they ever still have parades at auburn? like at least homecoming? parades were so much fun when i was a rug rat................

Phillip's Thursday morning musings Rambling around the beat as Auburn's season-opener nears The spectacle of a college football Saturday Another Auburn football season begins in two days when UMass comes to visit. It will mark the beginning of my 53rd year covering college football. Sixty-five years ago, at the age of 8, I attended a game at what was then Cliff Hare Stadium for the first time. Much has changed over the decades, but it was the spectacle that first fascinated me about college football. And it still does today. I remember … --When Cliff Hare Stadium had 34,500 seats. For big games, standing room tickets were sold for the grassy hill on the northeast end of the stadium. --When college girls wore colorful mum corsages on football Saturdays. --The Auburn Grille on College Street. --Paying 25 cents to go to movies at the Tiger or the War Eagle. --Auburn students yelling “Tiger meat” as opponents took the field. --Straight-on kickers. --Barefoot punters. --When facemasks were optional, and some players chose to not wear them. --When kids ran onto the field after games and asked players for their chinstraps. --When parking was free in the field behind the west stands and high school students sold programs for $1 apiece. Neville Arena is where that field used to be, and scholarship donors park in the adjacent parking lot. I’m not sure how much programs cost now, but I am pretty sure it’s more than a dollar. --When I would be allowed to go to the press box with my father before games. There was a sign that read “No women or children allowed.” --Getting a sideline pass for Auburn’s game against Chattanooga when I was 10 years old. Shug Jordan walked up to where I stood the late Tim Herring, my lifelong friend and son of defensive coordinator Hal Herring, during pregame warmups. Coach Jordan told us, “If you see some big ol’ boys running toward you, get out of the way!” What you see is not always what you get It pays to remember when watching football games at any level that you’re not always seeing what you believe you are seeing: This from the late Lionel James: In No. 1 Georgia’s 19-14 victory over Auburn in 1982, one of better games I have ever watched, James had an 89-yard touchdown run. It happened because Bo Jackson missed his block on the play. James made the unexpectedly unblocked defender miss. Jackson kept going downfield and wiped out another defender, springing James into the open. And this from the late Mal Moore, an Alabama assistant in 1972: When Auburn’s Bill Newton charged straight ahead blocked a punt and David Langner caught it on the bounced and scored a touchdown to cut Alabama’s lead to 16-10, Alabama coaches thought the rush had come from the outside. When they had to punt again, the fix was to tell Greg Gantt to move three steps closer to the line of scrimmage. Newton took the same path he’d taken the first time. Gantt had no chance to get it off. Langner caught it on the bounce again and scored again. Auburn won 17-16. Another difference: The entire Auburn team went to the end zone to celebrate with Langner. There was no penalty because there was no rule against it. That’s not the case today. Captains earn respect It’s impressive that transfers Payton Thorne and Elijah McAllister were chosen by their teammates to join Luke Deal and Cam Stutts as captains. Earning that kind of respect is a big deal. For two transfers who have never played a game for Auburn to earn that respect is something special. Deal: ‘We’ve grown really close’ Deal has dozens of teammates that he didn’t know at this time last season. He says it has been a unique experience, and a good one. “I just think just how much fun we’re going to have on the field,” Deal said. “I think we’ve grown really close as a team. We’ve got a bunch of different moving parts, people from all over – transfer portal, new guys. The main thing for us is just getting to know each other. Just to get to know each other deeper than just a number on the back of the jersey or a last name or something like that. So we are a really close team and expect to have a lot of fun this season.” Elite company for Thorne Thorne will join a select group on Saturday when he takes the field against UMass as Auburn’s starting quarterback. He will join Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Nick Marshall and Cam Newton as quarterbacks starting in the first games in which they were part of the team. The summer of Deion almost over The flood of stories and columns on Deion Sanders continues unabated. I don’t believe any coach in my experience has received such attention. I am certain no coach in my experience has received such attention before he coaches his first FBS game. Lord help us all when he wins one. Who cares what Harbaugh believes? I read a column the other day that said the College Football Playoff’s work had been complicated because Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said players should get a cut of the TV money. What that has to do with the College Football Playoff is beyond me. Plus, why would the words of a coach who has been suspended for three games for cheating be influential anyway? Can the SEC West reclaim its dominance? Will this be a comeback year for the SEC West? For the first time since the 1990s, the East could make an argument last season for being the stronger division. LSU won the West in a season in which Alabama took a step back. Auburn and Texas A&M had losing seasons. Arkansas barely had a winning season. It was akin to the years when Florida won the East under Jim McElwain but had no chance to win the championship game.

247sports.com Auburn opponent preview A look at the UMass offense Jason Caldwell 9–11 minutes UMass is coming off a solid performance in the season opener. A UMass offense that finished last in the country in 2022 in scoring offense, averaging just 12.5 points per game, looks very different heading into Saturday’s season opener for the Auburn Tigers with the addition of former Clemson and Georgia Tech quarterback Taisun Phommachanh and Arizona wide receiver transfer Anthony Simpson giving the Minutemen a much different look for Hugh Freeze’s team to deal with beginning at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. Averaging just over 100 yards per game through the air with four touchdowns and 14 interceptions last year, UMass has been given a huge boost on offense by the addition of the former 4-star prospect at quarterback. Making his first start for the program last week in a road win at New Mexico State, Phommanchanh completed 10-17 passes for 192 yards in the win. Also leading the team in rushing with 96 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, the 6-4, 215-pounder will be a lot to handle for the Auburn defense. But, he’s not alone. Rutgers transfer Kay’ron Adams (5-10, 205, Jr.) is a powerhouse at running back. Playing his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights before working as a backup the last two years at UMass, Adams had 15 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns last week against NMSU. Outside at receiver, Simpson is the top threat for UMass after catching three passes for 65 yards last week and adding two carries for 27 yards and a touchdown. A 5-11, 180 junior, Simpson played the last two seasons at Arizona and was used mostly on special teams. George Johnson (6-0, 185, RJr.) and Mark Pope (6-0, 180, RSr.) are listed as the other two starters for UMass at wide receiver and Pope is a name that could be familiar to Auburn fans. A native of Miami, he started his career with the Hurricanes and caught 52 passes for 680 yards and four touchdowns in 34 games for the Hurricanes. Up front, UMass has size and experience on the offensive line. At left tackle, 6-6, 310 junior Jony Hassard has started all 12 games each of the last two seasons. Next to him, 6-3, 300 senior Cole Garcia was in the lineup for every game last year for the Minutemen. In the middle, 6-2, 330 Josh Atwood started two games on the defensive line in 2021 before starting all 12 games last season. At right guard, 6-5, 330 Marcellus Anderson transferred from Saginaw Valley where he played in 23 games. Rounding out the group is 6-5, 330 junior Ethan Mottinger at right tackle, who has started 19 career games at UMass. Offensive depth chart: QB 3 TAISUN PHOMMACHANH R-JR. 6-4 215 5 CARLOS DAVIS R-SR. 6-2 220 -OR- 2 BRADY OLSON JR. 6-3 200 RB 15 KAY'RON LYNCH-ADAMS R-JR. 5-10 205 20 GREG DESROSIERS JR R-SO. 5-11 200 21 JALEN JOHN R-SO. 5-11 225 32 JACKSON PARADIS R-FR. 6-0 225 WR (X) 4 GEORGE JOHNSON III R-JR. 6-0 185 9 CHRISTIAN WELLS R-JR. 6-1 180 WR (A) 7 MARK POPE R-SR. 6-0 180 0 JACQUON GIBSON SO. 5-11 185 WR (Z) 8 ANTHONY SIMPSON JR. 5-11 180 1 ISAAC ROSS R-SR. 5-9 170 -OR- 12 SHAWN HARRIS JR R-JR. 5-9 170 10 T.Y. HARDING SO. 5-9 175 TE 13 GINO CAMPIOTTI R-SR. 6-2 225 11 ENI FALAYI R-SO. 6-5 240 80 MATT SMITH R-JR. 6-5 245 85 JACKSON MANNING R-SO. 6-5 250 LT 58 JONNY HASSARD JR. 6-6 310 70 BRANDON MACKINNON R-SO. 6-6 300 LG 73 COLE GARCIA R-SR. 6-3 300 65 CONNOR VASHER R-SR. 6-3 295 -OR- 69 PARRIS HEATH R-SR. 6-4 325 C 60 JOSH ATWOOD JR. 6-2 330 77 TYLER LEINBERGER R-FR. 6-3 330 RG 75 MARCELLUS ANDERSON R-SR. 6-5 330 66 WYATT TERLAAK R-JR. 6-4 350 RT 72 ETHAN MOTTINGER JR. 6-5 330 79 RYAN MOSESSO R-SO. 6-5 290

does this not make you a cannibal? are you going to try and get out of this saying YOU are only eating pizza? golf says you eat pizza with pineapple............

i bought two club level passes cheap from a friend who was sick and could not make the game. it was a cupcake game but man they had free everything and i was sitting ten feet from jim fyffe. he kept catching me stare and i finally remembered to wave and he waved back. it was so much fun. they even had elevators so you did not have to walk up. and i believe that was the last game i made.

i posted this just for you since they were picking with ya................i never even thought about that cheeseburger. lol

that was great!