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247sports.com What's next for Holden Geriner as Auburn's third-string QB? Nathan King 4–5 minutes Holden Geriner entered the preseason with likely the longest odds to become Auburn’s starting quarterback, but he still, by most accounts, progressed as a player and passer entering his second year with the program. Now that Geriner is No. 3 on the depth chart, Freeze hopes those improvements are able to continue. With Hugh Freeze’s announcement Thursday that Payton Thorne will be Auburn's starting quarterback for the season opener against UMass, the redshirt freshman Geriner was slated as the third-stringer, as Robby Ashford, who started nine games last season, will look to push Thorne for the rest of preseason practice and into the season. “Holden's the most natural passer of all of them, truthfully, in my opinion,” Freeze said Thursday. “He's still absorbing — there's a lot of times where he's not made the right decision, maybe, in the RPO game or in his reads or if the protection is set the right way. But he's just a young kid. He's got a bright future; there's no doubt in my mind.” A former 4-star recruit from Georgia, Geriner seemed to take to Freeze’s and coordinator Philip Montgomery’s offense well this offseason, hoping to take advantage of equal first-team reps across all three quarterbacks through the first couple weeks of camp. As was the case with the previous staff, Geriner was complimented for his arm talent. He’s even added some speed in his second offseason with the strength program. “Heck, just from the offseason and summer and stuff, Holden Geriner has been getting some wheels,” tight end Tyler Fromm said earlier this preseason. “He's a lot faster than you think he is. I think he will surprise people with that.” But on Wednesday in Freeze’s office, Geriner learned he has a steep hill to climb to run Auburn’s offense in the 2023 season. As Freeze was sure to note, though, a quarterback room’s outlook can change rapidly. Not only was Zach Calzada widely expected to be Auburn’s starter last offseason, but when he had a poor showing in the preseason, T.J. Finley won the job before Ashford took over a few games into the season after an injury to Finley. It could be easily argued that on the day Auburn added Calzada in the portal last year, Ashford was the team’s No. 3 quarterback. Then he started nine games. “Last year at Liberty I played four quarterbacks because of injuries,” Freeze said. “We lost our starter the first series of the first game to a broken hand. You put another one in, he gets hurt and you’re down to number three. And there was one game where I had to play number four. And so you never know when your time is coming and what you’re going to do with it when it comes. And if you make the most of that, you might never see the bench again.” Ashford is the only quarterback left from last year’s three-man competition. Calzada was shut down during the season due to injury, then transferred to Incarnate Word. Finley transferred to Texas State. When Freeze was asked whether he thinks his two backup quarterbacks will stick around, he smiled and shook his head: “What a world.” “This idea that you've got some difficult news you should consider bolting on your team and all that? That ain't the world I come from,” Freeze said. “That's not how I was raised with a team. I sure hope that that's not the case. I haven't heard any of that. So I hope that's not the case. I hope they go to work and compete.” Auburn’s second scrimmage is set for Saturday morning in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers kick off the Freeze era Sept. 2 against UMass (2:30 p.m. CST, ESPN). *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

247sports.com Crunch time Auburn receivers ready for the next challenge in Saturday scrimmage Nathan King 8–11 minutes Nearly every scholarship receiver on Auburn's roster is still garnering first-team reps in practice Hugh Freeze couldn’t have been much more blunt Thursday about Auburn’s wide receivers. Nearly a week from the position group’s issues in the team’s first scrimmage last Saturday, Freeze was asked whether the group had shown a strong response in the practices that followed. They did. But that still doesn’t excuse their performance last weekend in Jordan-Hare Stadium. “Truthfully, I didn’t think — when I watched the film after the scrimmage, it made me sick,” Freeze said Thursday. “I didn’t think we competed. It was almost like we just melted under that heat. … I just didn’t think we handled it extremely well. I’m excited for another opportunity this Saturday to see how we handle it.” First-year coach Marcus Davis’ room will have another opportunity Saturday morning. The heat will be a factor once again, beating against the metal bleachers surrounding Pat Dye Field. But if the practice habits and improvements this week were any indication, Freeze expects the wideouts to take advantage of their next opportunity. “It was about 88 loafs on Saturday,” Freeze said. “That’s an exaggeration, but there were a lot. They had a really good week last week and they’ve had a better week this week. … We had our best practice Tuesday night and I think they’re improving. Still way too many MAs. When I say MAs, the route is truncated. If it’s supposed to be a 12, it’s a 10. We have to get all of that cleaned up. We’ve got two weeks to do that. But we’ve had a solid week.” As Freeze mentioned, the issues for Auburn’s receivers primarily stemmed from option routes, and the pass-catcher making an incorrect decision on where to split his route, leading to an errant pass from the quarterback. Davis, who’s still utilizing most of the scholarship players in his room with just over two weeks until the season kicks off, said this week that continual repetitions with the Tigers’ QBs is the only concrete way to improve. That could be simplified with a clear quarterback pecking order as of Thursday: Payton Thorne the starter, followed by Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner. Auburn was also down three returning players — Camden Brown (hamstring), Koy Moore (ankle), Ja'Varrius Johnson (mouth) and Malcolm Johnson Jr. (shoulder) — in the first scrimmage, giving more reps to inexperienced names, or transfers who weren’t here in spring practice. “I thought they did a good job of communicating, but when you're in the first scrimmage, you still are teaching them how you want things done,” Davis said. “... It's just giving different looks on it. Stuff like that, when you've got choices in routes, it takes reps. The more reps you get, the better you're going to get at it.” Added Davis: “Some of it is just with some of the option routes that we have — just getting a better understanding of those coverages and everything. But it's nothing that reps can't fix. The more they get those reps, the better they can get at it. That's just like with anything that you have an option on — the more you do it, the better you get at it.” With the quarterback competition decided, the team’s second preseason scrimmage will go a long way in ironing out rotations elsewhere on offense. At receiver, Davis and Freeze have some tough decisions to make. As of Thursday’s practice, nine players took reps with the first-team offense. Freeze named off all of them when asked which players are close to solidifying themselves in the rotation. Jay Fair and Johnson are still competing in the slot. Caleb Burton can play a couple different spots. Brown has returned to full-speed practice this week. Freeze expects Brown, Nick Mardner, Shane Hooks and Jyaire Shorter to all play on the outside. He also “feels good” about Omari Kelly. Moore and Malcolm Johnson Jr. may have been stunted a bit because of their injuries Needless to say, there isn’t much room for error for the members of Auburn’s receiving corps right now, with barely any separation between the names at every position. Freeze and Davis will be watching closely on Saturday morning to see which players carry the strong week of practice into a scrimmage setting most efificently. “We all know that we want to be the best we can be, so we take it as a challenge to get better and to really hone in on the things we need to get better at,” Davis said. “We don't take it as a negative, by no stretch. We've got a clear understanding of what we need to get better at. Once we get better at that, we're on for the next challenge.” *** 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 *** What's next for Holden Geriner as Auburn's third-string QB? "He's just a young kid. He's got a bright future; there's no doubt in my mind.” VIDEO: Kamarion Franklin's announcement approaching closer | College Football Recruiting Show Holden Geriner entered the preseason with likely the longest odds to become Auburn’s starting quarterback, but he still, by most accounts, progressed as a player and passer entering his second year with the program. Now that Geriner is No. 3 on the depth chart, Freeze hopes those improvements are able to continue. With Hugh Freeze’s announcement Thursday that Payton Thorne will be Auburn's starting quarterback for the season opener against UMass, the redshirt freshman Geriner was slated as the third-stringer, as Robby Ashford, who started nine games last season, will look to push Thorne for the rest of preseason practice and into the season. “Holden's the most natural passer of all of them, truthfully, in my opinion,” Freeze said Thursday. “He's still absorbing — there's a lot of times where he's not made the right decision, maybe, in the RPO game or in his reads or if the protection is set the right way. But he's just a young kid. He's got a bright future; there's no doubt in my mind.” A former 4-star recruit from Georgia, Geriner seemed to take to Freeze’s and coordinator Philip Montgomery’s offense well this offseason, hoping to take advantage of equal first-team reps across all three quarterbacks through the first couple weeks of camp. As was the case with the previous staff, Geriner was complimented for his arm talent. He’s even added some speed in his second offseason with the strength program. “Heck, just from the offseason and summer and stuff, Holden Geriner has been getting some wheels,” tight end Tyler Fromm said earlier this preseason. “He's a lot faster than you think he is. I think he will surprise people with that.” But on Wednesday in Freeze’s office, Geriner learned he has a steep hill to climb to run Auburn’s offense in the 2023 season. As Freeze was sure to note, though, a quarterback room’s outlook can change rapidly. Not only was Zach Calzada widely expected to be Auburn’s starter last offseason, but when he had a poor showing in the preseason, T.J. Finley won the job before Ashford took over a few games into the season after an injury to Finley. It could be easily argued that on the day Auburn added Calzada in the portal last year, Ashford was the team’s No. 3 quarterback. Then he started nine games. “Last year at Liberty I played four quarterbacks because of injuries,” Freeze said. “We lost our starter the first series of the first game to a broken hand. You put another one in, he gets hurt and you’re down to number three. And there was one game where I had to play number four. And so you never know when your time is coming and what you’re going to do with it when it comes. And if you make the most of that, you might never see the bench again.” Ashford is the only quarterback left from last year’s three-man competition. Calzada was shut down during the season due to injury, then transferred to Incarnate Word. Finley transferred to Texas State. When Freeze was asked whether he thinks his two backup quarterbacks will stick around, he smiled and shook his head: “What a world.” “This idea that you've got some difficult news you should consider bolting on your team and all that? That ain't the world I come from,” Freeze said. “That's not how I was raised with a team. I sure hope that that's not the case. I haven't heard any of that. So I hope that's not the case. I hope they go to work and compete.” Auburn’s second scrimmage is set for Saturday morning in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers kick off the Freeze era Sept. 2 against UMass (2:30 p.m. CST, ESPN). *** Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

auburntigers.com On The Plains with Nehemiah Pritchett: ‘Never stop chasing your dreams’ Auburn University Athletics 5–6 minutes AUBURN, Ala. – Nehemiah Pritchett enters the 2023 season having taken the field for the Tigers in more games than any other player on this year’s roster. He’s experienced Auburn football game days firsthand since 2019, but some of the same emotions he’s felt since day one still arise every Saturday on The Plains. “The traditions definitely don’t get old,” Pritchett said. “Just seeing all the kids, everyone packed out down the road for Tiger Walk, it never gets old. Knowing you have people rooting for you, it feels good.” Pritchett will begin his fifth season in an Auburn uniform come Kickoff on The Plains September 2, nearly four years to the day removed from making his collegiate debut vs. Kent State on September 14, 2019. He credits players before him -- current NFL defensive backs Roger McCreary, Noah Igbinoghene and Daniel Thomas, among others -- for how far he’s come. “Auburn has definitely helped me grow as a man, both on and off the field, each and every day,” Pritchett said. “Just being around other players, coaches like Coach Crime (Wesley McGriff) and Coach Zac (Etheridge), we’re learning and growing every day.” A two-year starter at cornerback, Pritchett doesn’t consider himself one of the team’s vocal leaders but instead leads by example and is a guy the younger players can go to off the field. “Oh, it was definitely a big thing,” Pritchett said of receiving guidance from veteran players when he was a freshman. “The coach is not going to give you everything you need all the time. It's critical for the older guys to be able to teach the younger guys and help them through things.” Playing for three different coaching staffs while also navigating the covid pandemic in 2020, Pritchett’s path might not have been as smooth as he initially envisioned when he signed with the Tigers out of Jackson (Ala.) High School in 2018. However, he has been unwavering in his commitment to not only the football program, but the campus and community as well. “Auburn is going to be Auburn at the end of the day,” Pritchett said. “No matter who the coach is, it’s still going to be a family atmosphere like it was when I first got here. That doesn’t change at all. “Loyalty is definitely big,” Pritchett added. “I know coaches come and go and people have to do what’s best for them, but loyalty is a characteristic I take a lot of pride in.” Pritchett’s loyalty has resulted in a five-year career during which some of his favorite memories include beating Alabama in the 2019 Iron Bowl and intercepting his first pass and returning it 48 yards to set up a score in a win vs. LSU in 2020. Through all the highs and lows, the biggest thing he has learned is to stay consistent. “You have to stay the course,” Pritchett said. “You're going to have good days and you're going to have bad days. You just try to maintain, stay consistent and go about your day like a professional.” In displaying that consistency both on and off the field, Pritchett has already earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and is working toward a second undergraduate degree in the College of Liberal Arts. Though football reigns supreme in the South, he ultimately hopes his legacy extends beyond the gridiron. “Just that I was a respectful young man who went about his business the right way, someone who, day in and day out, went about their day like a professional,” Pritchett said of how he hopes to be remembered. From his fondest memories of playing catch with his dad in the front yard of his childhood home to excelling at the highest level of college football in the Southeastern Conference, Pritchett has always tried to bring that same excitement he had as a kid to the game. “Never stop chasing your dreams,” Pritchett said. “Whatever your dreams are, go get them. Do whatever is in your power to reach the level you want to be. Nothing can stop you. You can do anything you put your mind to. “You have to have fun with what you're doing or else it isn’t going to work for you.” The energy and excitement surrounding the program is as high as it has been in recent years, and the veteran cornerback and his teammates are chomping at the bit for the real thing to roll around. “You can feel it in the room. Everybody is coming together to be one team,” Pritchett said. “This is what we've been practicing for since the spring, what we’ve been preparing for. Coach (Hugh) Freeze came in, we've been working hard, and we just can't wait to display it on September 2.”

lindyssports.com Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne named QB1 at Auburn | Lindy's Sports ~2 minutes Field Level Media August 17, 2023 at 8:24 pm. Transfer Payton Thorne will start the season at quarterback for Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze said Thursday. Thorne, formerly of Michigan State, was competing with returning starter Robby Ashford and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner. “I’m excited to start Payton Thorne,” Freeze said, noting the information about Thorne being the starter being released earlier in the day was interesting. “Only four of us knew,” said Freeze, in his first year at Auburn. “I believe that Robby and Holden, we can win games with any of the three.” The Tigers open their season on Sept. 2 against visiting UMass. Thorne, 22, was the starting quarterback for two seasons at Michigan State. In 29 career games with the Spartans (2020-22), he threw for 6,494 yards, 49 touchdowns and 24 interceptions with a 60.9 percent completion rate. The Spartans won 16 games with Thorne as the starter. He was 11-1 with 31 total touchdowns in 2021. That experience helped Thorne establish himself as the No. 1 quarterback for the Tigers, Freeze said, but he made it clear the decision wasn’t a commitment to a certain depth chart or pecking order for the duration of the season. “The leadership ability, the understanding of the offense,” Freeze said. “He’s been in some really good battles. It seems like he was more efficient in decision making.” Thorne announced his transfer to Auburn in May, after the Spartans’ spring game.

auburnwire.usatoday.com Four questions heading Into Auburn's final scrimmage on Saturday Taylor Jones 4–5 minutes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze finally chose his team’s starting quarterback for the 2023 season on Thursday, ending a long, and at times nauseating, process that started when Freeze took over in November of 2022. Transfer Payton Thorne officially unseated incumbent starter Robby Ashford for the role of the Tigers’ signal caller after a strong camp in which he demonstrated “strong leadership and understanding of the offense” according to Freeze. Buy Tigers Tickets Despite the Quarterback competition finally coming to an end, coach Freeze and the Auburn staff have some important decisions to make in the coming days before the team hosts UMass to open the season. Four major question marks still stand. Austin Perryman/Auburn Athletics The last time Auburn had a receiver eclipse 900 yards Apple’s newest phone was the 5s, the nation’s number one single was a song about Macklemore shopping for discounted clothing, and the college football decided its championship game through a flawed computer algorithm. 10 years later, Apple is up to its 15th iPhone, Macklemore has dropped off the face of the earth, college football decides its championship game through a flawed committee system, and Auburn has still not had a receiver eclipse 900 yards (although Seth Williams did come close a few times). Auburn has always been a run-first offense, but the inability to find consistency at a premium position in the pass-heavy modern football landscape is alarming. This year’s group of pass catchers will look to change that, and each individual has the opportunity to do so. The current depth chart is jumbled, and Saturday’s scrimmage provides a final opportunity for guys like Jyaire Shorter and Shane Hooks to stand out and command a large snap share come September 2. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK While wide receiver production has been the Tiger’s biggest offensive pitfall over the last decade, the inability of the offensive line to play at a high level has been an even bigger issue recently. This year Auburn will start three transfers on the unit, with Dillon Wade (LT) and Gunner Britton (RT) providing the bookends and Avery Jones (C) beefing up the middle. Jones comes over from East Carolina where he helped the Pirates rush for the 54th-highest YPG in D1 last year. Britton’s former school, Western Kentucky, was 2nd in all of D1 in Pass YPG a season ago. The two guard spots will be taken by players that were on the roster in 2022. Kam Stutts, who had a PFF grade of 60.8 in 2022, will most likely man the right guard spot. The battle for left guard could be decided after Saturday’s scrimmage, with tate johnson and Jeremiah Wright competing for the final spot. AP Photo/Thomas Graning When Austin Keys transferred from Ole Miss to Auburn there was plenty to be excited about for Tigers fans. The former highly touted recruit made plenty of impactful plays from multiple positions when he was on the field. The key part of that statement is “when he was on the field”. Keys’ is good enough to play every down, but past injuries and his inability to stand out among a crowder linebacker room have made the coaching staff weary of handing him the keys (bad pun alert) to Auburn’s defense. If Keys doesn’t stand out in Saturday’s scrimmage, a good showing from Larry Nixon III or Cam Riley could complicate things. © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK It is pretty clear Auburn’s best players on the offensive side of the ball through camp have been their running backs Jarquez Hunter and Brian Battie are both going to be major parts of the offense in 2023. While Hunter is going to be the starter and see the majority of the snaps, Battie, Damari Alston, and Jeremiah Cobb all possess different skill sets that should get them on the field. Saturday’s scrimmage should provide some further clarity on how the offense will look. Follow all your favorite Alabama teams at Auburn Wire and Roll Tide Wire!

yahoo.com Social media reacts to Bo Nix ‘BODACIOUS’ billboard going up in New York City Zachary NeelWed, August 16, 2023 at 12:59 PM CDT·4 min read3Link Copied 1–2 minutes “He’s focused. He’s having fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a dark horse for the Heisman.” It’s been a running joke throughout the long college career for Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix. After the electric start to his career as a freshman for the Auburn Tigers, Nix struggled to get back to the peak of his game until coming to Eugene a year ago and thriving under the tutelage of Kenny Dillingham. Now, entering his final year of college ball, the hype has never been bigger for Nix. A Heisman Trophy campaign has been kicked off and his going strong early on. To help ignite the buzz, the Ducks took a play from the old playbook and put up a massive “BODACIOUS” billboard in downtown New York City to start spreading the word about Bo. It started to go up on Tuesday and was completed on Wednesday. As you would expect, the reaction to the billboard on social media was quite entertaining. Story originally appeared on Ducks Wire

saturdaydownsouth.com Robby Ashford will have role in Auburn offense, Hugh Freeze says after QB decision Bryce Lazenby 3–4 minutes Robby Ashford will enter the 2023 season as Auburn’s backup quarterback, but Hugh Freeze wants him to be ready to play regularly. Ashford started the final 9 games of the 2022 season for the Auburn Tigers. The results were mixed, with Ashford impressing with his feet, but putting up pedestrian numbers through the air. Ashford finished the season with 1,613 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. The young QB did contribute over 700 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns as well. Freeze announced that Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne has won the QB job to start the 2023 season. Thorne was the Spartans’ starter for 2 seasons before transferring in the spring. While Ashford has been relegated to backup duties, Freeze stated that the athletic QB will still see the field. “Robby, he will always have a package,” Freeze told reporters Thursday. “If he handles all of this the right way, he will always have a package because he has an element to us that’s just a little different.” Freeze clearly does not want Ashford to transfer. Instead, Freeze emphasized the importance of having multiple quality options. “I believe with all my heart Robby Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts this news and continues to work and develops himself, because he might be the most freakish athlete I’ve ever had at quarterback,” said Freeze. Thorne will be under center to open the season on September 2 against UMass. TRENDING 58,148 READS 51,772 READS 23,016 READS Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.

yahoo.com Mosiah Nasili-Kite makes Polynesian Player of the Year watch list JD McCarthyFri, August 18, 2023 at 8:00 AM CDT·1 min read1Link Copied 1–2 minutes Auburn defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite has been named to the Polynesian Player of the Year watch list, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday. Nasili-Kite is entering his first year on the Plains after spending his past three seasons at Maryland, making 83 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks. He is looking to help the depth along Auburn’s defensive line and has the ability to play defensive end or kick inside to tackle when needed. The senior is one of 85 players across the country to make the watchlist. the winner will be chosen by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee with a final group of five players unveiled on Nov. 30 and the winner will be revealed on Dec. 14. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15. Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

he will if he does not hurt himself with his attitude. i am fond of robby.

does anyone follow robby on twitter? i read where some of his fans hope auburn tanks now because he was not named starter. it rings true and it blows my mind the way some folks are. are you an auburn fan or a robby fan?

my pleasure..........or pain. i actually got up at two because i could not sleep. lol not much out there right now but a lot of stuff hits around eight and even nine on podcasts. but i will update if i do not nap all day.

al.com What does Payton Thorne being named the starter mean for the rest of Auburn's QB room? Published: Aug. 17, 2023, 6:18 p.m. 5–6 minutes Thursday’s news out of Auburn that junior Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne was named the Tigers’ starting quarterback didn’t come as a jarring surprise. If anything, it always felt like Thorne’s separation from the rest of the quarterback room wasn’t so much a matter of ‘if’, but a matter of ‘when’. Even when incumbent starter Robby Ashford had a “really good Saturday” during Auburn’s first scrimmage of the fall, which might’ve led to the comments questioning his initial thoughts about the quarterback race, Freeze said he still “felt like it was Payton”. And it was Payton. After confirming the buzz about naming Thorne the starter, Freeze went on to double down on Thorne getting the nod. “The quarterback situation is set going into UMass unless something happens,” Freeze said. “It’s set, it’s done. He’ll (Thorne) get all the reps with the 1s.” But where does that leave Ashford and Holden Geriner — the redshirt freshman who made what many believed would be a two-man race a three-man race? First, in true coach speak, Freeze wasn’t going to shut the door on Ashford and Geriner completely. “Let me say this first: I totally believe that Robby (Ashford) and Holden (Geriner) — we can win games with any of the three. A lot of that would depend upon, you know, how we play defensively and how the supporting cast play. I believe in all three of those guys, and there are days that there’s been very little separation,” Freeze said. “I’m not saying my gut is right that Payton is the guy for all 12 games, but my gut is saying it’s the time to do this to get us best prepared for the opening of the season.” But just as there’s gotta be a starting quarterback to jog out onto the field in with the starting offense in Week 1, there’s gotta be a guy Auburn will turn to in the event Thorne isn’t available. And by the sounds of it, Freeze is once again set to give the nod to the more experienced of the two. “Robby (Ashford) will get most of work with the 2s,” Freeze said Thursday. “Holden (Geriner) will get his share some, but I feel like that’s where we are and that’s not going to change unless injury or something happens.” Ashford started nine games for the Tigers in 2022, after eventually beating out Week 1 starter TJ Finley. During his freshman campaign on The Plains last fall, Ashford passed for more than 1,600 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He added 710 yards on the ground with seven more scores. Ashford’s seven touchdowns put him at No. 3 in Auburn football history for the most passing touchdowns from a freshman. However, struggles with accuracy and ball security left Freeze feeling unsettled on Ashford. Ashford completed just 49% of his throws in 2022, which is quite a dip from Thorne’s 63% rating at Michigan State last season. But it’s Ashford’s ability to create and extend plays with his legs that gives him an upside that begs not to be ignored. “I believe with all my heart Robby Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts this news and continues to work and develops himself,” Freeze said. “Because he might be the most freakish athlete I’ve ever had at quarterback.” That said, when asked about the prospect of Ashford having his own designed packages with the Auburn offense, Freeze responded in the affirmative. “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.” With it sounding like Ashford has locked in the backup spot at Auburn, it leaves Geriner as the likely No. 3 guy. Prior to redshirting last season, Geriner came to Auburn as a 4-star prospect out of Savannah, Ga., where he passed for more than 7,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in high school. He also won a state title his senior season. “Holden’s the most natural passer of all of them, truthfully, in my opinion,” Freeze said. He’s still absorbing. There’s a lot of times where he’s not made the right decision, maybe, in the RPO game or in his reads or if the protection is set the right way. But he’s just a young kid. He’s got a bright future; there’s no doubt in my mind.” But as everyone is aware, cementing the decision on a starter in a crowded quarterback room can lead to guys entering the bustling transfer portal in today’s college football landscape. As of Thursday, Freeze hadn’t heard any grumblings of guys leaving the program. And he surely hopes it stays that way. “Everyone doesn’t always gets the prize that they want,” Freeze said. “But how you respond to that is going to really determine more about you and probably play more dividends for you longer term in life and in football. If you just accept it, don’t like it, but go back to work.” 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 Observations from practice No. 11: Payton Thorne’s official first reps as the starter Updated: Aug. 17, 2023, 11:35 p.m.|Published: Aug. 17, 2023, 7:09 p.m. 7–9 minutes After making the biggest announcement of fall camp — tabbing Payton Thorne as Auburn’s starter — head coach Hugh Freeze allowed media members to stay on the field for the final hour-and-a-half of practice. It was by far the longest media viewing period of the fall, and the first time reporters have seen the quarterbacks throw the ball with a live defense during camp. So that led to a significant number of notebook pages full of observations, depth charts and quirky things as Auburn draws closer to its second scrimmage and the regular season. Below are five key notes from Auburn’s 11th practice. Auburn, Payton Thorne end the quarterback rotation This wasn’t news by the time Auburn took the practice field. Hugh Freeze officially announced Payton Thorne as Auburn’s starting quarterback during his Thursday press conference. It finally puts to end two weeks of quarterback battle and rotation to leave Thorne has the solidified top guy. As expected, Robby Ashford took reps with the second-team offensive line and broke off a number of big runs during practice, showing the role he can still have in this offense if he accepts it. Thorne had a number of effective scrambles, too. Though those were often times a product of the offensive line. More on that below. His passing catchers shuffled as has been the case And then there was Rivaldo Fairweather... Rivaldo Fairweather is going to be a weapon Well, then. It was one practice, sure, but in this wider window of media viewing, no star shined brighter than Auburn’s transfer tight end from FIU. Add this chance to see Fairweather play against a defense and he showed to be an absolute mismatch for Auburn’s cornerbacks. Early on when practicing one-on-one drills, Fairweather ran a deep corner route toward the right side of the endzone, and made a spinning, one-handed catch while falling out of bounds on a pass that was behind him. It was the type of catch a wide receiver makes, not usually a tight end. Fairweather projects to be a big-time mismatch come the regular season. He’s 6-foot-4, 251 pounds. And he can run. There aren’t many cornerbacks or safeties big enough to cover him or linebackers fast enough. Fairweather was a favorite target of Thorne’s. He looked like a reliable, strong, big target in the middle of the field who clearly has the athleticism to make bigger plays down the field, too. The only one who seemed able to stop him was safety Jaylin Simpson. When the offense got down to the goal line in a two minutes drill, Thorne was looking for his tight end to get the final yard into the endzone. Fairweather came over the middle with tight coverage from Simpson. When the pass came, Simpson had to leap over Fairweather to even have a play on the ball against the bigger player. But he made the play, batting the ball away. Fairweather asked for a flag for pass interference, and frankly, he may have gotten one in the game. But the call could have gone either way. Regardless, for all the talk about wide receivers, Auburn’s biggest weapon may literally be its biggest weapon. A new look on the offensive line Throughout the first drills media members saw, the offensive line was the same as in previous practices. More on that below with the depth chart. Later in practice, when there was a two-minute drill scrimmage, the offensive line changed its look. Instead of Gunner Britton as the right tackle, as he has always been so far in practice, he moved inside to left guard. Izavion Miller, who had been the second-team right tackle, started on the first-team group in that spot. And instead of the left guard battle between Jeremiah Wright and Tate Johnson, Wright started with the second team at left guard and Johnson across from him at right guard. Now in that drill, the different look on the offensive line struggled. Elijah McAllister was a force against that group, blowing up the pocket multiple time times. The interior of that offensive line — including Britton who is use to playing tackle — was beaten frequently by Jayson Jones and Marcus Harris. It’s not exactly clear why Aubrun tried this different unit. There hasn’t been much conversation about swinging Britton inside during fall camp. It’s possible Auburn was experimenting if it doesn’t feel comfortable with its left-guard competition and wants to have Miller on the first team. It’s likely something that will come up in future media availabilities. Checking in on the depth chart Offensive starters QB: Payton Thorne RB: Jarquez Hunter LT: Dillon Wade LG: Kam Stutts 😄 Avery Jones RG: Jeremiah Wright RT: Gunner Britton TE: Rivaldo Fairweather WR: Omari Kelly, Jay Fair, Shane Hooks Defensive starters DL: Jayson Jones, Marcus Harris DE: Mosiah Nasili-Kite Jack LB: Elijah McAllister Middle LB: Larry Nixon III, Eugene Asante CB: Nehemiah Pritchett, D.J. James, Keionte Scott S: Jaylin Simpson, Zion Puckett Though as has been the case throughout the preseason, the initial starters when reporters first were taken to the practice field had some rotation. Wide receivers Nick Mardner, Ja’Varrius Johnson, Jyaire Shorter and Camden Brown all worked in with the first team, too. So did tight end Luke Deal in certain packages. The jack linebacker spot rotated with McAllister and Stephen Sings V and at some points, both were on the field together. There was one package during drills that featured McAllister, Sings and Nosili-Kite all at the same time. The middle linebacker spot also saw rotation with Eugene Asante and Cam Riley. Nixon started in the spot presumably that would be filled by Austin Keys when healthy. As Freeze said during his press conference, outside of quarterback he has enough rotation where he doesn’t necessarily view it as first, second and third teams. Others who saw time on the second-team defense without much rotation into the first team include Justin Rogers and Lawrence Johnson on the interior defensive line. Brenton Williams played as the defensive end. Kayin Lee, Sylvester Smith, Colton Hood, Donovan Kaufman and Marquise Gilbert all saw action in the second secondary group. The second team’s offensive line had left tackle Jaden Muskrat, left guard Tate Johnson, center Connor Lew, right guard Jalil Irvin and right tackle Izavion Miller. Damari Alston was largely the second-team running back with Robby Ashford as the quarterback. Luke Deal primarily was the second-team tight end. Injury report Injuries have certainly had an impact on that depth chart. Austin Keys (shoulder) was still in a yellow injury uniform and did not practice. Linebacker Wesley Steiner (shoulder) was no longer in the yellow jersey. Defensive end Keldric Faulk was in the yellow uniform, too. This was the first time he had been seen not practicing, and there was no indication on what held him out. Wide receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. (shoulder) also did not practice, still wearing the yellow jersey, too. Same goes for Koy Moore (ankle). Camden Brown did practice again, as Freeze discussed in his press conference. So did Ja’Varrius Johnson who was dealing with pain from stitches in his mouth. The most notable absence was jack linebacker Jalen McLeod. Soon after reporters came on the field partway through practice, McLeod ran onto the field with a trainer and a wrapped right ankle. He was not wearing a yellow jersey, but he did not participate in the final 90 minutes of practice. 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 ‘I know what I witnessed’: Auburn’s Freeze on Michael Oher’s petition against Tuohys Updated: Aug. 17, 2023, 4:43 p.m.|Published: Aug. 17, 2023, 4:07 p.m. 3–4 minutes Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze officially names Payton Thorne starting quarterback Michael Oher, who was famously featured in the Oscar award-winning film “The Blind Side” and had successful playing careers in the NFL and at Ole Miss, alleged Monday that he was never adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. Instead, in a 14-page petition filed in probate court in Shelby County, Tennessee, Oher claims that three months after he turned 18 in 2004, the Tuohy family tricked him into signing a document making them his conservators. The petition claims that the Tuohy family used their status as Oher’s conservators to make millions in royalties off of the 2009 film, which Oher says “would not have existed without him.” The start of it all comes from just outside of Memphis at Briarcrest Christian School, where current Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was the head coach of the Saints’ football program, where Oher’s playing career as an offensive lineman got underway. “I love Michael Oher,” Freeze said in a press conference Thursday. “He’s like part of our family. And I love the Tuohys. I think it’s sad. “I certainly don’t claim to understand all the ins and outs of adoption, conservatory, all of that. But I know what I witnessed, and I witnessed a family that totally took in a young man. And I think without that, there is no story.” Hours after the news broke that Oher filed the petition, Sean Tuohy called the allegations “insulting.” “We’re devastated,” Tuohy told The Daily Memphian. “It’s upsetting to think we would make money off any of our children. But we’re going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16.” Per Oher’s petition, the Tuohy’s negotiated the film deal, which paid the Tuohy’s and their pair of birth children $225,000, in addition to 2.5% of the movie’s “defined net proceeds.” “The Blind Side” went on to rake in more than $300 million in the box office. Meanwhile, Oher’s attorney, J. Gerard Stranch IV, said Oher was never compensated for the movie, despite suspecting others might be profiting. An official statement co-authored by the Tuohy’s and their legal team called Oher’s allegations “outlandish” and the latest attempt at a “shakedown” for money. “The evidence – documented in profit participation checks and studio accounting statements – is clear: over the years, the Tuohys have given Mr. Oher an equal cut of every penny received from ‘The Blind Side,’ " the statement read. Given his ties to the situation, Freeze feels for both sides of the allegations. “I know this, I know if Michael called Sean right now and said, ‘Let’s work this out,’ Sean and Leigh Anne would be there in a hurry to hug his neck and tell him he’s loved. I hope he feels that,” said Freeze, who coached at Briarcrest from 1992-04. “Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy did something that most families... a lot of us talk about doing things, but they actually put the shoes on and pulled the boots up and got in the arena and did something. I think that’s admirable.” 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 Alabama, Auburn take wildly different paths settling QB battles Published: Aug. 17, 2023, 6:38 p.m. 5–7 minutes Two schools. Two QB battles. Two completely different strategies for finding a resolution. That’s the short version of the contrasting dynamics between the ongoing competition in Tuscaloosa and Auburn where white smoke was spotted Thursday. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne was declared the winner of the derby by first-year coach Hugh Freeze. News of the verdict leaked Thursday afternoon -- a few hours before Freeze confirmed it in a previously-scheduled news conference. Even the way he noted the information puncture with a folksy smile differed greatly from a hypothetically mirrored scenario to the northwest. But in mid-August, it’s all about the psychology of competition. Freeze and Nick Saban simply take different paths to Sept. 2 openers against Group-of-5 visitors. At Auburn, Freeze considered the performance from last Saturday’s scrimmage. The logic almost sounded counterintuitive until you consider the mental side of things. Returning starter Robby Ashford actually out-performed Thorne, Freeze said Thursday, but it’s not that simple. “I felt like it was Payton going into the scrimmage and then in the scrimmage, I thought he pressed too much and I didn’t like that,” Freeze said. “I can’t have the guy -- and I think that’s one of the reasons I’m at this point -- I want to see now what he does now (knowing) ‘I’m the guy and I can go back to relaxing and playing within the system.’” Freeze made it clear, Thorne has no reason to feel the hook could be coming from the dugout. “The quarterback situation is set going into UMass,” Freeze said. “I mean, it’s set. It’s done. (Thorne) will get all the reps with the 1s, Robby will get most of the reps with the 2s and Holden (Geriner) will get his share some. I feel like that’s where we are and that stuff doesn’t change unless injuries happen.” Sounds settled. In Tuscaloosa, not quite. And that’s hardly news if you’ve followed any Saban quarterback battle. In his orbit, the competition never ends. Even the winner isn’t necessarily the winner. Never forget Blake Barnett took the first snap of the 2016 season. He played the first two possessions that night against USC before a true freshman named Jalen Hurts entered the game. That’s another difference. With Freeze, there’s a history of how he handled competitions elsewhere but Saban has a well-established precedent for how things go. Two years after Hurts claimed the job as a true freshman, Saban’s first official declaration of Tua Tagovailoa winning the job over the incumbent came after the season-opening win over Louisville. That said, it was clear where that situation was headed in August even if the words were never spoken. Mac Jones being named QB1 before the 2020 opener was the exception in the upside down of the 2020 season. At least publicly, little has been said to differentiate the status of Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner. Milroe, the fill-in starter when Bryce Young got hurt last fall, was getting the first-team snaps at the only practice observed by outside eyes at Fan Day. But that was Aug. 5 in the third practice of the preseason so there’s plenty of room for evolution since. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) drops back to pass against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP Familiar talking points have dotted the August practice routine as Saban continues to implore participants in the three-man race to “take the bull by the horns.” His Tuesday comments were the most illustrative of his feelings and the difference in approach from Auburn’s. “You know, what I tell the quarterbacks, it’s not up to the coaches,” Saban said. “You’re looking over your shoulder to see if the coach is going to do this or that. How about you forcing me to play you, force us to play you. When you get your reps and you get a chance to play, you play so good we don’t have any choice but to play you, rather than worrying about all this other stuff.” The schedule structure also allows for more experimentation deeper into the calendar. Before last year, Alabama played a high-profile Power 5 team every Labor Day weekend so there was more of a backstop to making that call. This year, no disrespect to Middle Tennessee State, but that holiday weekend visitor will afford Saban and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees a live-action audition before No. 11 Texas comes to town a week later. The Blue Raiders enter the season No. 93 in the CBS Sports ranking of all 133 FBS teams. UMass, the first visitor to Auburn, is 133rd coming off a 1-11 season with the lone win coming over an FCS Stony Brook that finished 2-9. So there’s room to experiment before Texas comes to Tuscaloosa and Auburn heads west for a 9:30 p.m. CT howl-at-the-moon kickoff at Cal. Both will start a quarterback that evening. That’s a certainty. How they arrive at that point exemplifies the contrast in approach between the two coaches and programs that share little more than a state and conference. Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook. 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 Auburn’s Bruce Pearl’s father Bernie passes away at 88 Updated: Aug. 17, 2023, 11:35 p.m.|Published: Aug. 17, 2023, 1:25 p.m. ~2 minutes (From L-R): Michael Pearl, Bruce Pearl, Bernie Pearl and Steven Pearl Bernie Pearl, father of Auburn men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl, died Wednesday after dealing with a “brief illness,” Auburn announced in a press release. He was 88. “He never met a stranger,” Pearl said in the release. “My little personality is nothing compared to the real BP.” The Pearl family will hold a funeral service at Schlossberg Family’s Chapel on the Hill in Canton, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. No date is listed for the funeral in the release. The Pearl family are outspoken Jews, and Bernie Pearl was no exception. Bruce Pearl said his father was 10 years old in 1945 and at that age, began to understand what happened in the Holocaust. “He loved his Jewish heritage,” Bruce Pearl said. “It broke his heart knowing what happened in the Holocaust; it scarred my dad forever, having lost family. He wore it on his sleeve like he had a number carved on his forearm.” Born in the Boston area, Bernie Pearl and his family grew up cheering for Boston sports teams. He went to school at Northeastern. “He loved Boston and hated all the New York teams,” Bruce Pearl said. But even as a Boston fan, the release states one of Bernie Pearl’s last requests was to be buried in an Auburn basketball jersey. 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.

247sports.com Stutts leading the way as guard rotation taking shape for Tigers Jason Caldwell 4–5 minutes Senior Kam Stutts is having a strong camp for the Auburn Tigers. AUBURN, Alabama — In this day and age of play me or I'm leaving, Auburn senior guard Kam Stutts has been the exception to the rule, but it's always been that way. Earning an offer from the Tigers during a summer camp, Stutts worked to become a player the coaches couldn't pass up. Now he's doing the same things heading into his final season on the Plains, with Jake Thornton and a new coaching staff seeing exactly what the big guard is all about. "Stutts means a lot to me," Thornton said. "And in today's world where it's so easy to leave and go other places, he stuck it out. He's been through good and bad here. And in our room, man, there's not a bigger presence for what it means to be an Auburn offensive lineman. Every day when he gets in there, he's the first one in, last one to leave, taking care of his body. The trials that he's been through, the injuries, the coaching changes and trying to find his way, for him to stick it out and still be here, that alone means the world to me as a coach and to the rest of those guys. And it's setting a great example to the younger players. Like hey, if you don't get what you want in year one? You don't get what you want in year two? Stick it out and keep working. And it's going to fall in your lap if you work hard enough for it so he's been a big time factor for us on and off the field." It's more than just his presence in the meeting room that has earned Stutts the respect of his coaches and teammates. Seeing his playing time increase last season, the Killen, Alabama native continued that in the spring with Hugh Freeze taking over the Tigers. Putting in the work over the summer that earned him a spot at SEC Media Days representing Auburn, Stutts has continued that early in the preseason and it's rubbing off on the guys around him. "I think Stutts has had a great camp, just like in spring," Thornton said. "I think he's done a really good job stepping in there, you know, a big dude, 340 pounds. He's experienced, he's smart, his football IQ is really high. So he's done a really nice job." Stutts has put himself in a great position to be the starter at right guard while fellow fifth-year senior Jalil Irvin has moved from center to guard and has stepped up his play to give the Tigers another experienced player in a reserve role. With the offensive line group starting to come together with Dillon Wade at left tackle, Gunner Britton at right tackle and Avery Jones at center, the biggest question is what will happen at left guard. Both Jeremiah Wright and Tate Johnson continue to get reps on the left side and Thornton said it has turned into a fun battle. "They've both done really good things," Thornton said. "They're both competitors, and the toughness level is there for both of them so they're both growing as well. Jeremiah having not practiced in the spring and not getting any reps there and then Tate getting hurt in practice five and not getting a ton of reps there, you know, both of those guys are starting to gel and are starting to figure it out. I'm certainly excited about the depth that we've created at those two positions." Auburn will practice on Thursday and Friday before heading back to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the second scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday.

Payton Thorne named starting quarterback for Auburn Ryan Hennessy 5–6 minutes Payton Thorne named starting quarterback for Auburn Video Player is loading. Current Time 0:00 Duration 0:00 Remaining Time 0:00 ✕ Coach, there's been reports today that you were uh gonna announce *** starting quarterback today and Payne Thorne. Is that true? Do you want to announce that I was, I was, I was going to, you guys seem to uh know everything before it happens. So I don't, that's uh interesting to me because only four people knew that and uh I didn't even tell the staff. So it's interesting to how every, everything works today, but i it's just *** different day and time, but yeah, I've decided to uh uh start Peyton uh Thorn and, um let me say this first. I totally believe that Robbie and Holden, uh we can win games with, with any of the three. Um *** lot of that would depend upon, you know, how we play defensively and, and how the supporting cast play. Uh I believe in all three of those guys and there are days that there's been very little separation. Uh I just believe, man, my gut is usually right and usually when I follow my gut. Um and I'm not saying my gut is right that Peyton is the guy for all 12 games or, but my gut is saying it's the time to do this, uh to get us best prepared for the opening of the season. Um I'm hoping that all three will handle that news, uh extremely well and to continue to work because I believe with all my heart, uh, Robbie Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts, um, this, this news and continues to work and develops himself because he might be the most freakish athlete I've ever had *** quarterback. But to this point, I think the separation, uh the reason Peyton is getting the nod is just um the, the leadership ability and uh understanding uh of the offense. And um he's been in some really good battles and um it just seems like he was more efficient in the decision making uh to this point, not that the others were terrible by any means. It was not just *** slam dunk. And so I hope um that everyone will handle it right? And this is, this is, uh I mean, this is happening in *** lot of places NFL here you compete and you continue to compete and trust me. Um once someone gets that job, they gotta hold on to it and hopefully, uh the others continue to work every day to press to, to make me feel like I need to second guess that that's, that's the hope. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Privacy Notice Payton Thorne named starting quarterback for Auburn Auburn University football head coach Hugh Freeze has named Payton Thorne as the Tigers' new starting quarterback."The reason Payton is getting the nod is just the leadership ability and the understanding of the offense," said coach Freeze. "He's been in some really good battles and just seems like he was more efficient in the decision-making."Thorne comes to Auburn from Michigan State University, where he started for the Spartans.In 2022, Thorne threw for 2,679 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.Thorne beat out Hoover graduate Robby Ashford for the starting job. Ashford started most of the season last year for Auburn."I believe with all my heart that Robby Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts this news and continues to work and develop himself," said coach Freeze. "He might be the most freakish athlete I've ever had at quarterback."The Tigers open up their season at home on Sept. 2 against the University of Massachusetts. Stay updated on the latest sports updates with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here. AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn University football head coach Hugh Freeze has named Payton Thorne as the Tigers' new starting quarterback. "The reason Payton is getting the nod is just the leadership ability and the understanding of the offense," said coach Freeze. "He's been in some really good battles and just seems like he was more efficient in the decision-making." This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Thorne comes to Auburn from Michigan State University, where he started for the Spartans. In 2022, Thorne threw for 2,679 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Thorne beat out Hoover graduate Robby Ashford for the starting job. Ashford started most of the season last year for Auburn. "I believe with all my heart that Robby Ashford gives us an absolute better chance to win the game if he accepts this news and continues to work and develop himself," said coach Freeze. "He might be the most freakish athlete I've ever had at quarterback." The Tigers open up their season at home on Sept. 2 against the University of Massachusetts. Stay updated on the latest sports updates with the WVTM 13 app. You can download it here.

i like sleepy joe because he is not firing up the idiots to hurt people on the left or giving out addresses of judges as well as their staff and employees. it is shameful and none of you are calling your side out about it.

you people can say what you want this is dangerous rhetoric and no one has stood up. all i have heard on this board is the hater killed by the fbi was murdered. it has gone too far.this is the maini reason i cannot stand trump and think he should be in prison.he gaslights the crazies with other idiots on the right and people are getting attacked over it.

Open in app or online reckless rhetoric is going to get someone killed. is that the Republican plan? right-wing pols are telling their followers that violence is now the only way forward — and their followers are listening Jeff Tiedrich Aug 17 Share last Saturday, in Iowa, confoundingly-unindicted sex pest Matt Gaetz blatantly called for political violence: “only through force do we make any change.” holy s***, what? an elected member of government, calling for violence against his own government. Upgrade to paid not one Republican stood up to denounce Gaetz’s reckless rhetoric. the story barely made a ripple in the media and was quickly swept under the rug and buried. last week, some deranged ****face with a history of unhinged social media posts made a number of assassination threats against Joe Biden and other Democratic politicians, dared the FBI to knock on his door, and when the they did, he came at them with guns drawn, and ended up a bullet-ridden corpse. predictably, he’s now a right-wing martyr. yesterday, the names and addresses of the members of the Atlanta Grand Jury that indicted Donald Trump were published by some far-right jackasses. these jurors, guilty only of doing their civic duty, now have targets on their backs. last night, police in Alvin, Texas arrested a woman for making death threats against Judge Tanya Chutkan. charming. just utterly ******* charming. folks, we have a little bit of a problem here in these United States. right-wing pols are telling their dipshit followers that violence is now the only way forward — and their dipshit followers are listening. the problem, as Chauncey DeVega writes in Salon, is that there is literally no downside to politicians calling for violence. Republicans are finding it increasingly harder to win elections. their candidates are loathsome. their policies are unpopular. old reliable strategies are such as gerrymandering and voter supression are becoming more difficult to pull off as Democrats become wise to these tricks. and so, to hold onto power, right wingers are increasingly calling for violence. it’s textbook fascism. Donald Trump may be under Judge Chutkan’s protective order keeping him (maybe) from any more I’LL COME AFTER YOU pronouncements, but what do you do about Matt Gaetz? what do you do about Andy Biggs? what do you do about Kari Lake? what do you do about Clay Higgins? the list goes on. and it only takes one ******* idiot with a rifle, a grievance, and a perverted sense of justice to cause a tragedy. everyone is entitled to my own opinion is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

it is not as bad as that nfl coach paying bounties back in the not too distant past to hurt players on other teams. but i like neither.

i should have read the whole thread before making my comments.......lol. i guess jay is the really tall guy i heard about.