aubiefifty

247sports.com After Freeze's challenge, veteran Auburn DBs 'flipped the switch' at the right time Nathan King 11–13 minutes “If you can call your best players out and they respond well, that sure helps you as a coach with everybody else." It’s been a couple weeks since Hugh Freeze issued a challenge to his main defensive back rotation, which serves as likely the best overall position group on the roster. “I think we've got to improve our mental toughness and our attention to detail in the secondary,” Freeze said the morning Auburn opened preseason camp in early August. “I do think we have some talent there, but it's some older talent, and then it's some really good young talent. I don't think any have been stressed and strained enough to where we need to be.” Auburn’s veterans in the secondary proceeded to agree with Freeze in the following weeks. They knew they needed to be questioned and doubted, just like any other group on the team, regardless of how much talent and production they return from last season. There were days they didn’t rise to the challenge in practice. And there have been days they’ve flashed the potential of being one of the best crops of defensive backs in the SEC. Recently, as the season rapidly approaches, Freeze has seen more of the latter. In the team’s second and final preseason scrimmage Saturday morning, starting cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett’s interception of Payton Thorne served as a highlight for an experienced room that the coaching staff has seen elevate their performance — after they would be the first to admit they weren’t always on top of their game. “I think D.J. (James) and Pritchett are practicing at a higher level,” Freeze said after the scrimmage. “And, you know, it’s really easy if you think you’re the guy — which they are. It’s really easy to coast, and I thought they coasted some the first week — and I thought they turned it on this week and practiced like they should be. I mean, both of those have the potential to be All-SEC type players, whether it’s first team, second team, whatever. So practice like it.” That obviously extends to the rest of the secondary, where Auburn has placed lofty expectations after bringing back every starter from a group that finished last season tied for No. 4 in the SEC in yards per attempt allowed, and top 25 nationally in opposing quarterback rating. It’s a new system and coaching staff, sure — save for retained safeties coach Zac Etheridge — but the Tigers knew from the early stages of the offseason they’d have to rely heavily on their veterans in the secondary to produce well in 2023, particularly with a handful of new faces along the front seven on defense. And the group seemingly surged at the right time — into the conclusion of preseason camp, which ended with the final scrimmage. In addition to a pass breakup by safety Jaylin Simpson in the scrimmage that prevented a long gain to receiver Shane Hooks — a couple days after Simpson had a thrilling breakup against tight end Rivaldo Fairweather on fourth-and-goal to end Thursday’s practice — Freeze said the defensive backs were much more efficient tacklers Saturday as compared to the first scrimmage, when that was one of the main issues from both coaches and the players exiting the day. “If you can call your best players out and they respond well, that sure helps you as a coach with everybody else,” Freeze said. “And so I thought they kind of flipped the switch a little bit and had a better week, which kind of translated to (Simpson). And Keionte (Scott), you always get a lot out of him. And (Zion) Puckett, you know, I think that’s a solid group there now.” Freeze feels he can rest a bit easier with the secondary’s steady performances, but there are still plenty of question marks down the line in the defensive back rotations heading into a crucial next couple weeks of practice before the season opener. The first wave at corner, nickel and safety is loaded with experience, but the same can’t be said for the rest of the depth chart, which includes eight true freshmen and a JUCO addition. “The growth really has to come on with that second team because it’s a bunch of young puppies,” Freeze said. “I think they’re going to be good, but they’re swimming a little bit with all the motions or shifts and different coverages and I really look forward to us getting a game plan in where we see, all right, they can handle this much. And we’re smart coaches if we don’t give them more than they can handle.” Of course, the quarterback competition — which ended Thursday with Freeze tabbing Thorne the winner — is the other side of that coin in the passing game. For every impressive throw for Thorne, Robby Ashford or Holden Geriner continues to be analyzed by the coaching staff, even after the conclusion of the QB battle, there’s a defensive back on the losing end. But right now, Freeze is pleased with the manner they’re trading punches. “Defense played really well two days, and then offense got best of them some days, too,” Freeze said. “That’s probably the way it should be.” *** 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 *** Why Hugh Freeze has been 'the practice jerk' at Auburn this preseason "I think I’m needed to do that here. … I’m figuring out the coaches, too, and what I need to do to motivate our team." VIDEO: How Payton Thorne won Auburn's QB job Hugh Freeze prowled behind the defense and leaned into his headset, with a delivery comparable to “Here’s Johnny” from The Shining. “Jyaire Shorter,” Freeze teased, dragging out the transfer wide receiver’s name. “Jyaire Shorter: Are you going to make a play today?” A couple plays later in Thursday’s practice — which Freeze allowed media to view for nearly two hours — Freeze again tapped on his headset: “Keionte Scott: Are you going to make a tackle today? Have we decided to tackle today?” Freeze is, by all accounts, a nice guy. And his new players have gravitated toward that warm and welcoming personality. But at a certain point this preseason, Freeze sat back and tried to zoom out. What could he be doing better on the practice field every day? Freeze has reiterated that his two coordinator hires — Philip Montgomery on offense and Ron Roberts on defense — were made not only because he thinks they can orchestrate both units successfully, but also because he trusts them to run their respective sides of the ball with efficiency during practice. That leaves Freeze more time to fill in the gaps — spaces that have mostly been occupied by phone calls to recruits, a luxury Freeze himself generated because of that confidence in his coaching staff. But as the intensity of preseason camp ramped up — position battles reaching boiling points, lineups being trimmed down, players scrapping to earn playing time and the team overall trying to ensure it will field a quality product in just a couple weeks’ time — Freeze realized his practice role might require some alterations. So he became an instigator. Poker of bears. A consistent voice that urges players to rise up and meet their coaches’ expectations — or the production level of their peers. “There’s 5 (wide receiver Jay Fair) making a play,” Freeze boomed during Thursday’s practice. “Always making a play. Anyone else? Anyone else want to help out?” It is, as Freeze admitted, out of his comfort zone to be what he calls the “practice jerk.” But it’s yielded the results he wanted — and in the process established more relationships with a crop of players who have still yet to play a game under their new head coach. “I think every DNA of every team I’ve coached is a little different, and every staff is a little different,” Freeze said. “Truthfully, the last four years, I haven’t had to be, how should I say it, the practice jerk. But I’ve kind of found out I need to be that here, and calling people out. I like to refer to it as calling people up. But I think I’m needed to do that here. … I’m figuring out the coaches, too, and what I need to do to motivate our team. That’s probably the biggest thing. I thought we had better practices this week because I chose to take the lead on, ‘This is how we’re going to do it.’ I thought we got better.” Media wasn’t present for Saturday’s second and final preseason scrimmage inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, but Freeze might have deployed his full repertoire of motivational tactics. After what he called an excellent week of practice, the Tigers’ overall intensity took a dip once they stepped foot in the stadium. It’s a trend that’s starting to irritate Freeze, after last week also presented a strong run of practices before the team “melted in the heat” in the scrimmage. “The two trips we've made into the stadium in my eyes, and maybe it's just the size of the stadium, but we seem flat,” Freeze said. “And practices this week were really, really good. Y'all got to see one, and I thought the energy was good. I didn't sense that same energy. And boy, that's got to — and maybe it changes when the stadium is full, I don't know. But when we get a chance to go in that stadium and play, there's got to be some juice. And again, maybe it's been a while since I've been in a stadium that size. But that's what kind of was on my mind.” Maybe it’s the anticipation to play some real football soon. Maybe it’s the Guardian helmet pads that dampen the impact of clashing at the line of scrimmage; Freeze did share he asked offensive line coach Jake Thornton, ‘Dude, are we even coming off the ball?’ because the impacts are so muted. Whatever the case, Freeze knows it needs fixed soon; in less than two weeks, the Tigers open their 2023 campaign at home against UMass (2:30 p.m. CST, ESPN). Maybe the practice jerk will have to make some more appearances. “I told them in the team meeting this morning, it’s now time to — whether you just got here, whether you’ve been here four years, whatever, it’s we,” Freeze said. “It ain’t no old or new. It is we. Play so well that I don’t have a choice but to acknowledge it. I think we’re still kind of — a football game to me is a bunch of individual plays that go for 65 of those or 80 of those, whatever you play on either side of the ball. It’s the combination of how well you’re able to put the last one behind you and play the next one, irregardless of how good the last one was or how bad the last one was. Do we have the ability to put that in the trash and play the next one? Teams that win most of those individual plays have probably a better chance of winning the game if turnovers and things are the same. “I think we’re still learning to do that. There’s still some of the holdover from, ‘Well, man, we just lost 5 yards.’ Play the next play. There’s nothing we can do about that. And I don’t need to hear it. And you don’t need to talk about it. Let’s play the next one. If we talk about it, it needs to be on the sideline. That’s where all the adjustments and corrections need to be made. We don’t need to talk about it out there. I think there’s still some of that that I’ve got to get.” *** 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 ***

i like to fire up the natives now and again.

this guy is not very bright. he tries to act like it but he gets his lunch cleaned regularly. i believe he is part of the cult. he took up for trump until he coul not and that is a nice guess on my part...............

i agree we need better education but do not kid yourselves on repukes not hurting school as well. have yall forgot ol betsy?

did you clear this with james spann? i kid i kid...............

247sports.com Cobb steps up in second scrimmage as Auburn running game continues to impress Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—With Tank Bigsby moving on to the NFL after last season, Auburn’s running back room had some serious questions about what the group would look like in the 2023 season. With Damari Alston getting just 14 carries for 86 yards last year, there wasn’t much behind projected starter Jarquez Hunter when Hugh Freeze and his staff took over. Bringing in USF transfer Brian Battie to go along with former walk-on Sean Jackson and incoming freshman Jeremiah Cobb, Freeze and Cadillac Williams put together a running back group that has been one of the strengths in preseason camp to this point. Now as Auburn turns the page on preseason camp to get ready for the season, Freeze said it’s becoming a challenge to figure out how to use those guys this fall. “I don’t know,” Freeze said of what to do with so many running backs. “That’s a great problem to have. You keep them fresh and you hope they keep pounding. But, you know, you’re never gonna get all of them as many carries as they want, but it’s a good problem to have. I wish we had that problem at every room, but I like our depth there.” One of the breakout performers in camp has been Cobb. Showing flashes of being a playmaker through the first two weeks, the Montgomery Catholic High standout put it all together on Saturday in the second scrimmage of the preseason for the Tigers. Leading a running game that continued to put up big numbers, Cobb got plenty of work as Freeze and company try to figure out who they can count on this year. “I’ll tell you what, one of the things I’m most impressed about him is how tough he is,” Williams said. “He doesn't back down in pass pro. He’s a willing blocker. “His vision, quickness, explosiveness,” he added of Cobb. “He is going to be — I’m excited for this guy’s future. I honestly think he will be one of those household names.” When that happens is anyone’s guess, but offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery believes Cobb has a chance because of the work he’s put in while still trying to figure out what Southeastern Conference football is all about. ““You see it: He's got a burst, he plays with speed, he's got good vision,” Montgomery said. “The biggest thing for him as a freshman is just that he wasn't here in the spring. So just trying to figure out what the process is, how to play fast, how to see things. You think it's fixing to be a big gap and then all of a sudden, you wait, you delay, that thing starts closing in a hurry at this level. “So understanding when to put your foot in the ground and you got to run through some things and stay up in that run scheme and not feel like you got to bounce some things and always try to get outside. I think he has done a really good job.” Turning the page to begin working on UMass next week, Freeze said he likes what he’s seen from his running game. With Hunter, Alston and Battie getting plenty of press early in camp and continuing to perform at a high level, the play of guys like Cobb and Jackson have only added to what could be a fun group to watch this season. “We've been able to run the football,” Freeze said. “If you're able to do that, you've got a fighting chance. I've said this before: It's hard for me to ever leave happy. I don't know if it means we're pretty good at running it or not very good at stopping it. We'll see soon. We've taken care of the ball offensively, and we've been able to run it -- which, teams I've coached that have been able to do that, I think you've got a fighting chance.”

Hugh Freeze criticizes SEC officiating at Auburn scrimmage: ‘They were flag-happy’ Ethan Stone 2–3 minutes Hugh Freeze is not a fan of how Auburn’s Saturday scrimmage was officiated. The new Auburn head coach complained about SEC officials following practice, saying they were “flag-happy” and called back a few “explosive” runs. Football is back, baby! For what it’s worth, Auburn averaged 7.5 penalties per game last season, the 4th most in the SEC. Obviously, that was under a completely different coaching staff. As far as the actual scrimmage, Freeze noted that Jeremiah Cobb saw a lot of touches in the backfield, but that all of them ran the ball well. The Tigers will likely see big help from Cobb, Jarquez Hunter and Brian Battie in the backfield this upcoming season. Battie, unsurprisingly, was revealed to be Auburn’s kickoff returner for this season by Freeze Saturday.

auburnwire.usatoday.com In Photos: Auburn's second scrimmage of fall camp JD McCarthy 7–8 minutes Auburn is nearing the end of its first fall camp under Hugh Freeze as the start of the 2023 college football season is getting closer and closer. The Tigers had their second and final scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday and freshly named starting quarterback Peyton Thorne looked much better Freeze said. Buy Tigers Tickets “He had two really bad decisions, I thought, but really settled in and I thought played really solid. I thought he pulled a couple of good quarterback runs, and obviously we’re blowing it pretty quick. I’ll be anxious when it gets real to see what he does (running the ball). I thought he played solid. I think it was the first two possessions, I think he made two poor choices. And then he settled in and played really well.” This comes after Freeze admitted that he thought Thorne was “pressing” in Auburn’s scrimmage last week. Thorne was named Auburn’s starting quarterback on Thursday and will have two weeks as the top dog before Auburn opens its season against UMass on Sept. 3 in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Here is a look at the best photos from Auburn’s scrimmage, including wide receiver Shane Hooks making a catch that Freeze thought was worth of being on SportsCenter. AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11) during the Auburn Football… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11), Auburn Quarterback Robby Ashford… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Wide Receiver Shane Hooks (11), Auburn Quarterback Robby Ashford (9), Auburn Offensive Lineman Dillon Wade (52) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Camden Brown (4) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Wide Receiver Camden Brown (4) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Running Back Justin Jones (35) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Running Back Justin Jones (35) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Running Back Jeremiah Cobb (23), Auburn Linebacker Eugene Asante… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Running Back Jeremiah Cobb (23), Auburn Linebacker Eugene Asante (9) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Running Back Damari Alston (22), Auburn Offensive Lineman Gunner… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Running Back Damari Alston (22), Auburn Offensive Lineman Gunner Britton (53), Auburn Tight End Rivaldo Fairweather (13) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (66) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Offensive Lineman Avery Jones (66) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Linebacker Wesley Steiner (32) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Linebacker Wesley Steiner (32) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Jack Linebacker Stephen Sings V (18), Auburn Jack Linebacker… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Jack Linebacker Stephen Sings V (18), Auburn Jack Linebacker Elijah McAllister (11) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers AUBURN, AL - 2023.08.19 - 2023 Auburn Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Defensive Back Nehemiah Pritchett (1) during the Auburn… AUBURN, AL - August 19, 2023 - Auburn Defensive Back Nehemiah Pritchett (1) during the Auburn Football scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL. Photo by Jamie Holt/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Defensive Lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite (33), Auburn Offensive Lineman Dillon… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Defensive Lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite (33), Auburn Offensive Lineman Dillon Wade (52) during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze during the Auburn Football Scrimmage… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers Auburn, AL - 20230819 - Auburn Tigers Football Scrimmage AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze during the Auburn Football Scrimmage… AUBURN, AL - AUGUST 19 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze during the Auburn Football Scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Photo by Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

i trust him. he is very ope and homest. if nothing more if thorne thinks robby is coming maybe he will up his game more. all of them actually.

i knew you would not readit but it is true. and if it is true what does it matter where it came form. there are dozens more articles just like it but i have done enough googling this morning. do some research or keep looking like an idiot.

you do not know your ass from third base. educate yourself............... newrepublic.com The Republican Plan To Devastate Public Education in America Brynn Tannehill 8–11 minutes Republicans, and white conservatives, have long been hostile to public schools. School desegregation drove white evangelicals to become the strongest Republican demographic. Ronald Reagan promised to end the Department of Education in 1980. Trump put Betsy DeVos in charge of the Department of Education, precisely because she was a leading proponent (and funder) of defunding public schools, and funneling it to religious schools. During her confirmation hearings it became clear that she knew nothing about education, and provided plagiarized and laughably bad answers to questions, asserting that teachers need guns to ward off grizzly bear attacks. Republican candidates talk about “school choice” and putting God and prayer back in schools. What they really want, though, will result in the end of public education for the poor, and disfavored minorities like LGBT people. Their plan looks like this: Parents are given a voucher for several thousand dollars that comes out of the state education budget. The money can be spent on tuition for charter or private schools, microschools (collective homeschooling), or regular homeschooling. Republicans say the “money goes to the kids.” In reality, it reduces money going to public schools to a point where the schools will be dramatically underfunded. Conservative states such as Arizona, Florida, and Texas have been particularly aggressive in “school choice” reform that undercuts school funding. Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate (and insurrectionist Christian nationalist) Doug Mastriano goes a step further. His educational plan is to eliminate property taxes, which is where half of the money for Pennsylvania schools comes from, and replace the lost revenue with vouchers for $9,000. This covers only half of what it costs to educate a student there. Cutting public education spending by more than half would destroy public schools for millions of students. Unlike private religious schools, they must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other state and federal regulations, creating overhead. Drastic reductions in educational quality would be necessary to continue meeting even the most basic requirements, going far beyond eliminating art, music, PE, and school counselors. In most cases, public schools would be forced to rely heavily on “cyberlearning,” where a child is handed a tablet and watches educational videos and learning programs, receiving little if any actual instructional time. Teacher pay and requirements would be dramatically reduced, to the point where anyone who passes a background check and can hand out tablets in the morning for minimum wage is eligible. There is already a desperate shortage of teachers in the United States, and drastic cuts to educational spending guarantees more unqualified people in classrooms. Unfortunately, using vouchers for private schools is not viable for most people either. The dollar value of the vouchers is several thousand less than what most charter schools or private (usually religious) schools charge. In Arizona, even advocates of the school voucher program (also called Education Savings Accounts, or ESAs) admit that they cover only about two-thirds of tuition at most private schools, leaving parents responsible for thousands of dollars in costs out of pocket. Florida’s history with vouchers shows us where this leads: poorer students promised a better education end up in low-cost, low-quality charter schools in abandoned strip malls that go out of business with little or no warning, with devastating results for the students. Republicans across the country have ensured that there is little to no oversight of charter schools, and that they do not have to meet many state education regulations. This is ostensibly to foster “innovation,” but in reality it is to make them more profitable, and conceal how shoddy many of them are. In Ohio, as Jane Mayer reported in her gripping new article about the destruction right-wing Republicans have wrought in that state, after a decade of GOP operatives siphoning off public school funding and directing it toward politically connected charter schools, state education rankings have slipped from fifth in the nation to 31st. The result is tremendous variance in the quality of charter schools, mostly reflecting how much funding they have. “Allowing the market to decide” hasn’t created a rising tide that lifts all boats; students with less money get a worse education, and charter schools don’t seem to produce better results overall. You get out of a system what you put into it, and Republicans want to put as little as possible into education. Oversight for homeschooling and microschools is even worse. There is no way to guarantee that ESA money is spent on real educational expenses, rather than being pocketed for other expenses. There are no standards or requirements for homeschooling. There are no home visits to homeschools or microschools to see if they are teaching what they are supposed to. Opting out of standardized testing is usually easy; all you have to do is find someone with a teaching certificate in the state to sign off on a form stating that a child is performing at grade level. This makes it simple to cover up malfeasance, abuse, fraud, and neglect. Private religious schools are in many ways worse. Many of them were founded by segregationists in the aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education and remain nearly all-white (and racist) today. There’s very little government oversight of religious schools, leading to opportunities for graft and abuse. They do not have to comply with the ADA or Title IX, leading to discrimination (but higher test scores overall, since poorer children and students with special needs are generally excluded). Nor do they have to comply with state civil rights laws protecting LGBT students, or even students with LGBT parents, relatives, or friends. Similarly, these schools can function as outlets for religious and political indoctrination: teaching that the earth is 6,000 years old, or promoting the anti-historical jingoistic nonsense contained in The 1776 Report. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has started a network of anti-“woke” Turning Point Academies in Arizona, with plans to expand nationally. The first school has around 600 students and will open in Glendale this fall, thanks to a partnership between Kirk and Phoenix megachurch Dream City. If the above strategies are spread nationwide, the only way for a poor parents to give their children a decent education would require taking out loans, or send them to private schools operating as indoctrination camps. The Supreme Court is doing its part, ruling in Carson v. Makin that state laws cannot bar religious schools from public funds. Additionally, Texas plans to challenge the Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which required that states make public education available to every student. Governor Greg Abbott’s challenge is based on the premise that the state has no obligation to educate students who are not U.S. citizens, but the impact could be much broader. The Supreme Court’s rulings (particularly Dobbs v. Jackson) have shown that it does not have a problem with issuing sweeping rulings that have devastating and widespread impacts. Thus, a broad ruling overturning Plyler entirely is very plausible, and would impact more than just undocumented students. It could broadly be used to slash education to the point where all public schools can afford to do is send a student home with nothing but a tablet and a list of online lessons to do. This would go far beyond the effects of budget cuts we already see, such as large class sizes, reduced school weeks, and unqualified teachers. They would have broad discretion to refuse to educate anyone who failed to do their homework, got into disciplinary trouble, struggled with the technology, was not keeping up with grade level, or literally any other reason that does not technically violate federal law in an effort to cut costs. Doug Mastriano hinted at this, when he implied that it is not possible to educate some students because of their home lives, and that the state has no obligation to spend money trying to do so. The end game gets even uglier; there are a host of predatory lenders and well-funded religious institutions that would love to see people taking out loans to put their kids in decent schools. All the GOP has to do is either let the value of vouchers and ESAs stagnate, or reduce them over time, to create the educational system they always wanted: one in which poor non-whites and LGBT people are unable to get a decent education, and conservative white Christians are heavily favored.

did i mention party dude? that was a shot at everyone. and school choice is just an excuse but you are good at that..........

you can come spank me anytime ya want salty..............i am sure i would enjoy it................grins

slim pickings today folks. i will check back this afternoon for any updates. as always thanx for stopping by.

247sports.com Surge from 'Too Tall' Miller alters Auburn's starting offensive line Nathan King 8–10 minutes "We can't keep him off the field. He's going to have to play.” Auburn’s offensive coaches have a good problem on their hands with two weeks until the season kicks off. The Tigers are continuing to tinker with their offensive line groups in preseason camp, and in an attempt to find the best starting five, a new contender has entered the fray after making a massive surge within the group over the past couple weeks. “It's a case of a guy that's stood out the entire camp — his body has changed since he got here, and he's stood out all camp,” Freeze said. “It's Izavion Miller — ‘Too Tall.’ We can't keep him off the field. He's going to have to play.” The No. 4 JUCO offensive tackle recruit in this year’s class, Miller, who was previously committed to first-year Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton when he was at Ole Miss, worked this week with the starting offensive line at right tackle. That moved Western Kentucky transfer Gunner Britton, who’s been cemented at that spot since the spring, over to left guard. Left guard has been the site of a starting competition this preseason between Tate Johnson and Jeremiah Wright, with Wright garnering most of the first-team reps of late. But again in Saturday’s scrimmage, Auburn slotted Britton into that role. With that change, the starting unit is, left to right: Dillon Wade, Britton, Avery Jones, Kameron Stutts and Miller. Though Britton has only played three career snaps at left guard in his career, according to Pro Football Focus, Britton brings 41 games of experience to the table. And he’s not the only one shifting around as Auburn works to find its best possible combination up front. “Gunner knows all five spots, so that gives us some flexibility to maneuver,” Freeze said. “Gunner's played well, too; we're going to need them both. But that's just a case of us trying to make sure we're ready for all different combinations and getting him live reps there at right tackle. And we got (Gunner) some at center one day. We got Connor Lew some at guard. We're trying to get all those combinations prepared.” Miller also went through spring with the Tigers, and was mentioned in the summer as a player who had progressed well in workouts. At a monstrous 6-foot-5 and 318 pounds, he certainly presents SEC-ready size and physicality. And Thorne has seen him evolve into an SEC-ready player, too. “Too Tall has had a phenomenal camp,” Thornton said this week. “Watching him progress, getting stronger, body quickness, first and second step off the ball, he is definitely making his presence known out there. He's doing a great job, he's being consistent day in and day out.” Now inside two weeks until kickoff — and with “camp” now concluded with the second scrimmage, according to Freeze — Auburn’s staff will work to determine not only the lineups for the season opener on both sides of the ball, but also the travel roster, needed quickly for the team’s Week 2 trip to Cal. The offensive line is one of the most important equations to solve on that front. “I haven't had to abide by this 70-man travel deal in a long time,” Freeze said. “When you do that, is it eight? Is it nine? Is it 10 offensive linemen? You want your best five out there.” *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

saturdaydownsouth.com Hugh Freeze says Robby Ashford is still pushing QB battle: ‘He’s gotta get some touches’ Paul Harvey Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football. Follow on Twitter. 2–3 minutes Hugh Freeze has settled Auburn’s quarterback battle, naming Payton Thorne the Week 1 starter this week. However, as Freeze said at the time of the decision, Robby Ashford will still be a likely piece of the offense this fall. On Saturday, Freeze expounded on Ashford’s standing within the offense and revealed the QB has produced his best practices in succession. “He’s probably had his best three practices the last three practices,” said Freeze. He went on to say Ashford is “different” and needs to get some touches within the offense this fall. And while the QB battle is decided, Freeze also says Ashford continues to push Thorne in training camp. During his first season with the Tigers, Ashford threw for 1,614 yards but completed just 49.2% of his passes with 7 interceptions. However, Ashford’s work as a runner adds another element to the offense. Last season, Ashford finished second on Auburn’s roster with 710 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. With that type of ability running the ball, it sounds like the Tigers will be sure to integrate Ashford’s skill set on a regular basis.

al.com A look inside Auburn football's second fall scrimmage Updated: Aug. 19, 2023, 3:47 p.m.|Published: Aug. 19, 2023, 1:51 p.m. 5–7 minutes Hugh Freeze and the Auburn football team returned to Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday morning for the program’s second scrimmage of the fall, which, in Freeze’s eyes marks the end of fall camp. The Tigers first came together for their opening scrimmage on Aug. 12 in a showing that left plenty to be desired. Last week, Freeze said Auburn’s wide receivers and defensive secondary didn’t bring their best stuff. The Tigers had also yet to name their starting quarterback last week. All that, however, seemed to have changed Saturday as all the noise pointed to Auburn looking more like a well-oiled machine in their second live scrimmage — a good sign considering the UMass Minutemen will be taking Pat Dye Field in two weeks as the Tigers open the season on Sept. 2. Here’s how Saturday’s scrimmage at Jordan-Hare shook out and what Freeze had to say about the showcase. Payton Thorne has two-TD day In Auburn’s first scrimmage, Freeze thought junior Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne “pressed too much”. He hoped naming Thorne the team’s starting quarterback Thursday would help alleviate some of that pressure. And from the sounds of it, it did. In his first scrimmage since being named Auburn’s starting quarterback, Thorne went 12-for-17 through the air with a pair of touchdowns and an interception. “He had two really bad decisions, I thought, and then settled in and I thought played really solid,” Freeze said. “I thought he pulled a couple good quarterback runs... I thought he played solid after the first two possessions, when I thought he made two poor choices. Then he settled in and played really well.” Meanwhile, Auburn’s pair of backup quarterbacks in sophomore Robby Ashford and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner both had solid days, Freeze said. Ashford finished having gone 8-for-15 with a pair of touchdowns, while Geriner went 7-for-11. “I thought we threw and caught it very well,” Freeze said. Shane Hooks impresses Freeze said if Hooks made the catch he did in Saturday’s scrimmage during a live game, you’d seem him on SportsCenter. And he wasn’t lying. Hooks made a one-handed grab in the back of the endzone, helping Thorne tally one of his two touchdown passes Saturday. Here’s a look: “The guy made some really nice catches and runs after the catch,” Freeze said of Hooks, who caught more than one touchdown pass Saturday.. “He had a really solid day.” Hooks, who stretches 6-foot-4, is in his first season on The Plains after transferring in from Jackson State. And while Saturday’s showcase was surely a step in the right direction, Freeze says there’s still a little ways to go for Hooks. “He’s a big target,” Freeze said. “I wish he played the game a little faster, we’ve gotta get him to do that. I think some of that comes from maybe not playing against the speed of this level yet.” Freeze added that sophomore Camden Brown also had a touchdown reception Saturday — a great sign considering his constant battles with injuries this preseason. Freshman Jeremiah Cobb leads RBs in strong rushing attack Auburn’s running back room is the deepest its been in years. And that doesn’t bother Freeze one bit. “That’s a great problem to have,” Freeze said. “You keep them fresh and you hope to keep pounding. You’re never going to get all of them as many carries as they want, but it’s a good problem to have.” In Saturday’s scrimmage, true freshman Jeremiah Cobb saw the bulk of the carries, Freeze said. As a group, however, Auburn’s running backs were a highlight from Saturday’s action, though Freeze is taking it with a grain of salt. “A positive? We’ve been able to run the football,” Freeze said. “And if you’re able to do that, you’ve got a fighting chance. “I’ve said this before, it’s hard for me to ever leave happy so I don’t know if that means we’re really good at running it or we’re not very good at stopping it. I don’t know. We’ll see soon. But we’ve taken care of the ball offensively and we’ve been able to run it. And the teams that I’ve coached that have been able to do that, I think they have a fighting chance.” Defensive secondary improves, forces a turnover Auburn’s defensive secondary was a lowlight in Auburn’s first scrimmage as Freeze said the Tigers’ defensive backfield didn’t tackle well. Saturday, however, Auburn’s defensive backs sounded to have kicked it in gear. “If I had to say a group that probably got a little bit better this week, it would have to be... I thought our DBs got better at tackling and guarding,” Freeze said. Senior cornerbacks DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett were two guys who Freeze said had a strong week of practice this past week. “I think DJ and Pritchett are practicing at a higher level,” Freeze said. “It’s really easy if you think you’re the guy — and they are — to coast. I thought they coasted some in the first week. I thought they turned it on in practice like it should be.” On the field, it translated to the defense notching a takeaway Saturday. “We had one turnover that was a good play by the defense,” Freeze said. “Probably a poor decision. I haven’t watched the film, but from where I was standing on Payton, it looked like the throw might’ve sailed a bit on him. It’s good to see the defense get a takeaway. That’s the only turnover we had.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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si.com Coach Freeze gave the stats of all three quarterbacks from Saturday's scrimmage Andrew Stefaniak 2–3 minutes How did the Auburn quarterbacks do at the team's Saturday scrimmage? At his press conference, Coach Freeze broke down each quarterback's stats in the scrimmage. Let's take a look at those numbers. Payton Thorne: 12-17, 2 TD 1INT Robby Ashford: 8-15, 2TD Holden Geriner: 7-11 Not a bad showing from all of these quarterbacks, aside from the one overthrow by Thorne that led to an interception. Thorne was named the starter for game one against UMass, but Ashford will have packages in this offense to utilize his legs and perhaps his arm occasionally. It was good to see these quarterbacks putting up solid numbers in a scrimmage, as we are only two weeks away from the start of the college football season. Here's a look at the entire 2023 schedule: Sept. 2nd vs UMass Sept. 9th at California Sept. 16th vs Samford Sept. 23rd at Texas A&M Sept. 30th vs Georgia Oct. 14th at LSU Oct. 21st vs Ole Miss Oct. 28th vs Mississippi State Nov. 4th at Vanderbilt Nov. 11th at Arkansas Nov. 18th vs New Mexico State Nov. 25th vs Alabama

247sports.com Hooks impresses in Auburns second preseason scrimmage Jason Caldwell ~3 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—A player that has been impressive since stepping foot on the Auburn campus over the summer, Jackson State transfer Shane Hooks has been the most consistent of the wide receivers in the preseason. On Saturday, the 6-4, 191 senior took it to another level in the second scrimmage of the preseason for the Tigers. With a pair of touchdown receptions, including a one-handed grab on a pass from starting quarterback Payton Thorne, Hooks continued to show why he’s going to be a guy that Auburn counts on in the passing game this fall. Leading the way with six receptions during the scrimmage, Hooks is someone that Freeze said has huge ability and still has room to improve after making the jump to the Southeastern Conference. “He’s a big target,” Freeze said. “I wish he played the game a little faster. We’ve got to get him to do that. I think some of that comes from maybe not playing against the speed of this level yet. If we can get him convinced to run every route and knowing, ‘Dude, you can get a break. Run this route like the game depends upon it.’” https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1692961984147595711?s=20 With a team that is expected to focus heavily on a strong running game with a load of backs for Carnell Williams to use, Auburn may not be a team that throws for 300 yards a game and sets records. But that doesn’t mean this team isn’t going to throw it and when they do it will likely be in Hooks’ direction a good bit of the time. A program that hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Ronney Daniels in 1999 and only two in program history, Hooks has the ability to become a guy like that for the Tigers this season if Saturday was any indication. “The guy made some really nice catches and runs after the catch,” Freeze said. “One of the touchdowns he caught, if it were a game, it would be SportsCenter tonight. One of those tight, one-handed, back of the end zone grabs. He had a really solid day.” A two-year starter at Jackson State after transferring in from Ohio, Hooks has 116 career receptions for more than 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns in his four seasons of college football. For a team that needed to bring in a difference maker at wide receiver, coach Marcus Davis said Hooks can definitely be that guy. “The guy is talented,” Davis said. “He's talented. He can win the 50-50 ball. To be that big, he comes out of his breaks at a good pace. He tries to play the game physically, too. We're glad we got him. We're glad he's a part of our team.”

al.com Robby Ashford isn’t bowing out of Auburn’s competitive QB room anytime soon Published: Aug. 20, 2023, 6:36 a.m. 4–5 minutes Auburn sophomore Robby Ashford was given a tough pill to swallow Thursday as first-year head coach Hugh Freeze named junior Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne the Tigers’ starting quarterback, ending a three-man race that featured Ashford, Thorne and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner. “That’s not easy because you watched those other two kids compete hard for it and train all summer and work for this moment,” Freeze said after naming Thorne the starter. “But you know what, that’s life. Everyone doesn’t always gets the prize that they want.” Considering Ashford came into the fall as Auburn’s incumbent starter after starting nine of the Tigers’ 12 games last season, surely it was hard for him watch Freeze toss the keys to Auburn’s offense to Thorne. “It was not a slam dunk,” Freeze said, seemingly referring to the other quarterbacks’ reaction to Thursday’s news. “I hope that everyone will handle it right... And trust me, once someone gets that job they have to hold onto it. Hopefully the others work every day to press to make me feel like I need to second-guess that. That’s the hope.” And based on Freeze’s comments Saturday, Ashford — playing the role of a poked bear — might be doing just that. Auburn took to Jordan-Hare Stadium for its second scrimmage of the fall Saturday morning in a showing that sounded to have looked better than the team’s first scrimmage on Aug. 12. Thorne struggled in his first two possessions and finished the day 12-for-17 with two touchdowns and an interception, Freeze said. Meanwhile, both Ashford and Geriner also took snaps Saturday, with Ashford seemingly taking full advantage of the opportunity. “Payton and Robby both had solid days,” said Freeze, adding that Ashford finished the day 8-for-15 with two touchdowns and no turnovers. Ashford’s performance Saturday was an extension to what Freeze has seen out of the sophomore since Thursday’s gut check. “He’s probably had his best three practices the last three practices,” Freeze said. “I’m really proud of him.” Since Thorne was named the starter, Freeze has continued to praise the other two guys who drew out Auburn’s quarterback battle and has been especially high on the prospect of Ashford being a contributor with the Tigers’ offense this season. “I want to say this about Robby: He will always have a package,” Freeze said. “Robby is not just a runner — he’s a dynamic runner, but he can throw. Certain things, he throws better. Hopefully, his consistency in that will continue to improve to where if we, whatever package he is in, they have to respect the pass off of it as well.” In 2022, Ashford rushed for 710 yards and seven touchdowns — adding to more than 1,600 passing yards and another seven touchdowns. However, Ashford’s inconsistencies with accuracy led to Freeze dipping into the transfer portal and coming away with Thorne. Ashford completed just 49% of his passes last season, while Thorne’s career completion rate eclipses the 60% mark. And while Thorne — barring any injuries — is Auburn’s set-in-stone starter for Week 1 against UMass, Ashford isn’t throwing in the towel. “If he continues to play like this, Payton’s going to have to play really well,” Freeze said, adding that Ashford threw it well in Saturday’s scrimmage. “This is the way it should be. At this level of a program, we ought to have three or four quarterbacks that can push each other. Every game is going to be different, but the one thing I’ve said is that that guy’s different, now. He’s got to get some touches. And he threw it well today.” 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.

auburn.rivals.com AuburnSports - Freeze becoming ‘practice jerk’ Bryan Matthews ~2 minutes AUBURN | Hugh Freeze is not set in his ways. At least on the practice fields. Auburn’s first-year head coach has had to adjust his practice behavior to his new staff and new players. “I think every DNA of every team I’ve coached is a little different and every staff is a little different,” said Freeze. “Truthfully, the last four years, I haven’t had to be, how should I say it, the practice jerk. But I’ve kind of found out I need to be that here, and calling people out.” Of course, Freeze’s version of “calling people out” is not quite as harsh as you might see from other coaches. “I like to refer to it as calling people up,” said Freeze. “But I think I’m needed to do that here. I’m figuring out the coaches too and what I need to do to motivate our team. That’s probably the biggest thing. “I thought we had better practices this week because I chose to take the lead on, ‘This is how we’re going to do it.’ I thought we got better.” The first position group Freeze focused his ire on this week was the defensive backs, which perhaps return the best combination of talent snd experience than any on this year’s team. The defensive line and linebackers, however, could be next. “I thought our DB’s got a little bit better at tackling, at guarding,” said Freeze. “We’re still struggling to get off blocks in the front six some with our front and our linebackers. We’ve got to continue to work on that and improve it.”