aubiefifty

words count and they always have. racist violence has gone up since trump first started running and here we are. hate speech is not free speech and it it gets people hurt and or killed. this is fact so i will not agree with what you said. dog whistles and misimformation {gas Lighting} get people killed all the time. remember iraq? we lost what almost sixty thousand and it was over a damn lie.go look at the civilian deaths for that was as well and tell me we should allow anything to be said anywhere. do not tell me or lecture me about freedom. i served my country with honor. you cannot gewt careless with words and claim they mean something. and you have a lot of nerve with whacko's like greene who have absolutely no business in politics period. it is a changing world. you guys claim freedom of speech but your side has started the anti woke bull**** which means you guys are lying about this countries past. so which is it kansas? if the truth means so much why is your party destroying it? i tried to slide by a few days to get a break and you guys one as well but it is not working out very well so it is on you. and your party is now using misinformation on a scale not seen in forever to pass on line and hurt people with stupid stuff.

al.com Who will represent Auburn football at SEC Media Day? Published: Jul. 10, 2023, 2:05 p.m. ~2 minutes Auburn Football Auburn football announces SEC Media Day representatives AUBURN, AL - February 02, 2023 - Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze during press conference at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL. Photo by Austin PerrymanAustin Perryman / AU Athletics With “talking season” in full swing as the 2023 college football season approaches, SEC Media Day feels like the final notch in the belt before fall camp finally arrives. From July 17 to July 20, head coaches and player representatives from all 14 football programs in the SEC will flock to Nashville and meet with media members to discuss the offseason and the upcoming regular season. Alongside first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, who returns to SEC Media Days after spending four seasons at Liberty, Auburn will also be represented by senior tight end Luke Deal, senior defensive lineman Elijah McAllister and senior offensive lineman Kam Stutts. Deal and Stutts come to Music City as veterans in Auburn’s locker room, while McAllister is set to represent the Tigers ahead of his first season after transferring from Vanderbilt in December. Freeze and his trio of players are set to meet with the media on Tuesday, July 18. SEC Media Days will run from July 17 to July 20 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, which is just the third ever city to host the event. Though Atlanta hosted in 2018 and 2022, SEC Media Days are often held in the Birmingham Metro Area. 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 Most Valuable Tigers No 11 Nathan King 4–5 minutes We're still in the heart of the college football offseason: three months removed from spring practice, media days next week, and under two months until the start of the 2023 season, Auburn’s first under Hugh Freeze. So what better time to crank up the rankings? As we do annually this time of year, Auburn Undercover is counting down the top 25 most valuable players for the Tigers' 2023 season. A few notes to set the table: These rankings are based on a player's previous contributions to the team, as well as his assumed impact in 2023 — how important he is expected to be to Auburn's success in both production and the win-loss column. It is not simply Auburn's best players in descending order. If a freshman is included on the list, his positioning is obviously a projection of his talent and significance to his respective position group. Next up is No. 11: East Carolina center transfer Avery Jones. AS A RECRUIT Hometown: Havelock, North Carolina Class: 2018 247Sports Composite ranking: No. 13 OG, No. 285 overall (4-star) AS A PLAYER (Jason Caldwell, 247Sports) Jones began his career at UNC as the No. 13 offensive guard recruit in the country in the 2018 class. He appeared in only one game in two years with the Tar Heels before transferring to East Carolina in 2020. With the Pirates, he started in 2020 at left guard before starting every game the following two seasons at center. In a standout 2022 campaign at ECU, Jones posted the No. 8 pass-blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus, among Group of Five centers. He allowed only sack in pass protection all season. Jones was one of the best offensive linemen in the portal after he opted to transfer, and he ended the cycle as Auburn’s top-rated transfer addition, per 247Sports, after decommitting from Illinois. 2023 OUTLOOK Jones immediately slotted in as Auburn’s new starting center in spring practice, with Tate Johnson sliding over to guard. Numbers aren’t everything, but the advanced metrics signal that Jones is a substantial upgrade at center for the Tigers over any of their options from last year: Johnson, Brandon Council and even Nick Brahms, had he not decided to medically retire. In Johnson’s case, he had Auburn’s worst pass-blocking grade in 2022 and allowed eight QB pressures in less than four full games of action. Jones’ consistency in the middle of the offensive line helped build cohesion with two fellow transfers at the tackle spots in first-year coach Jake Thornton’s room. It didn’t take long for Jones to settle in, and he was never threatened in terms of reps on the first-team offense. As Auburn looks to flip the narrative of what’s been an inconsistent offensive line unit for the better part of the past half-decade, Jones’ production in 2023 will be key for not only altering that narrative, but ensuring a baseline of success for the entire offense as a whole. Of course, his rapport with the Tigers’ quarterback contenders in fall camp will be key, as well. WHAT THEY SAID “He's taken a lot of snaps. He's not being surprised by a lot of the different looks that we're getting from our defense right now which has been great. A guy that can handle those duties, can make a lot of calls — as a quarterback getting good snaps and knowing where those things are going to be especially in the game that we want to play in the RPO system. You know, you start spraying snaps all over the place and then that's going to affect the way you run your offense. I think his veteran presence in there has been really significant and will continue to be that way.” — offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery WHAT SAY YOU? What do you think of Jones’ spot in our Most Valuable Tigers rankings? Too high? Too low? Just right? Share your thoughts on the Bodda Getta message board, on Twitter or on Facebook. MOST VALUABLE TIGERS No. 25: LB Cam Riley No. 24: DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite No. 23: LB Larry Nixon III No. 22: S Zion Puckett No. 21: K Alex McPherson No. 20: LB Austin Keys No. 19: WR Camden Brown No. 18: WR Shane Hooks No. 17: P Oscar Chapman No. 16: OLB Jalen McLeod No. 15: WR Ja’Varrius Johnson No. 14: RT Gunner Britton No. 13: DT Justin Rogers No. 12: TE Rivaldo Faiweather *** 75% OFF: 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 ***

si.com Auburn’s 2023 Position Battles: Linebacker Joshua Collins 7–9 minutes Who will Auburn start at Linebacker in 2023? In this story: Auburn Tigers Returning once again to our rebuilt and retooled roster here on the Plains, we focus this time on the new and returning faces to Auburn’s linebacker room. The Tigers have new leadership across the defensive front, making position battles an inevitable and integral part of creating a new defensive identity on the Plains. With the addition of Coach Ron Roberts as defensive coordinator and Coach Josh Aldridge leading the linebacker room, Auburn fans should expect a different pace and violent force from the defensive ranks, one we Auburn fans were once used to seeing consistently. Coach Roberts and Coach Aldridge run fast-paced defenses designed to create and scheme pressure on the quarterback, receivers, and running backs. This playstyle is utilized to create offensive mistakes that force turnovers and negative yards for opposing offenses. Introducing this new playstyle obviously bodes a significant question, which is, who within our newly replenished linebacker room will fit the model that Coach Aldridge and Coach Roberts are looking for? We will make the case for six players currently in the linebacker room who have the opportunity to win quality starting reps for the Auburn Tigers this 2023 season. The Case for Cam Riley: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports A familiar name to the Auburn faithful, the returning junior Cam Riley clearly belongs in this position battle discussion. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Evergreen, Alabama native returns after a moderately successful first season starting in 2022. Riley played in 11 games for the Tigers, putting up respectable numbers considering the overall win-loss ratio, ending the season with 65 total tackles. Riley has a solid first step off the snap, with decent ball pursuit skills. However, Riley could benefit from some increased physicality on the field. All things considered, this young man presents a solid case for being on the field with the starters this upcoming season. The Case for Larry Nixon III: © Christine Tannous / The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK A new face to the loveliest village on the Plains, Larry Nixon III, a senior transfer portal snag from the Mean Green at the University of North Texas, comes to Auburn with 1 season left to play and most assuredly gunning for starting reps. The 6-foot-1, 231-pound North Richland Hills, Texas native enters the linebacker room with some impressive numbers on paper. Boasting 246 total tackles during his four years of playing thus far, with 105 of those tackles being earned last season alone. Nixon is a pass-rushing specialist with a great first step coupled with excellent play recognition, making him a dangerous combination for opposing offenses. Nixon makes a strong case for him being the one Coach Aldridge calls on for starting reps this upcoming 2023 season. The Case for Wesley Steiner: Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Another familiar face on the plains is returning senior Wesley Steiner, who makes a solid case for his starting reps. Like Cam Riley, Steiner is coming off a moderately successful first starting season in 2022. The Georgia native steps once more into the linebacker room, standing at 6-feet 245-pounds, with a solid first step off the snap, and possesses great pursuit skills. Boasting 46 tackles last season, Steiner displays excellent open-field tackling technique, being sure to effectively wrap up the opposing player. Where Wesley may lack in on-field experience compared to some of his teammates in the room, he makes up for in speed. Steiner will definitely be a name to listen for this upcoming fall camp for being a starting contender for the Tigers in 2023. The Case for Austin Keys: Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Being another impressive addition to the Auburn linebacker room, former Ole Miss redshirt junior Austin Keys throws his name into the sorting hat for starting reps this upcoming season as well. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound traditional thumper-style linebacker hails from Seminary Mississippi. Keys logged meaningful playing time in two of his three seasons with the Rebels, putting up a total of 51 tackles with two sacks and one forced fumble. With a nose for the football, Keys could quickly become a pass-rushing specialist under the tutelage of Coach Roberts and Coach Aldridge, both being linebacker gurus. Keys is a very physical tackler with violent hands and an excellent first step off the snap. Austin Keys is another name Auburn fans should be keen to look out for this upcoming fall camp for putting in reps with the starting squad for the 2023 season. The Case for anyone else on the roster: Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Although we have covered a number of names thus far in connection with this linebacker position battle, I would be remiss to not mention these two young men as well. Returning redshirt junior Eugene Asante and returning redshirt freshman Robert Woodyard. Both of which will also be in the hunt for starting reps this 2023 season with the Auburn Tigers. Eugene Asante returns after a considerably shaky first season on the Plains, plausibly looking for a redeeming season. This take is merely considering his three moderately successful seasons with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Asante only played in 4 games last season, posting only one tackle. I would venture to wager this young man is eager to prove that that stat line was a fluke year. Robert Woodyard returns to Plains after a respectable true freshman season on the field, where he posted four total tackles in the four games he appeared in. Looking to continue to develop his skills as a power five linebacker in the SEC, I imagine Woodyard is eager to learn and put in work to make himself an intricate part of Auburn’s defensive future. Although he likely will not be vying for starting reps, he will likely fill in as a valuable second-teamer helping to spell the first team as the gauntlet that is an SEC schedule goes deeper into the season. All in all, Coach Hugh Freeze & Co. have ample defensive talent to choose from this upcoming season to effectuate their defensive schemes. I would count on this listing of players to be the names we fans become accustomed to hearing throughout fall camp as putting up the most significant fights for starting linebacker reps this upcoming 2023 season. With things looking up on the Plains, it is fair to say that it is once again exciting to await the upcoming football season. Related stories A few transfers and a senior Tiger are receiving new numbers for this season Perry Thompson is "leaning toward Auburn," according to a recruiting expert Auburn football's 2024 SEC conference slate has been released Hugh Freeze has $3 million worth on incentives laced into his Auburn contract ChatGPT ranks Auburn football's top 10 running backs of all time Ranking the five most important games on Auburn football's 2023 schedule Four-star linebacker Joseph Phillips commits to the Auburn Tigers Auburn's Jeremy Garrett ranked top-50 DL coach in college football WATCH: Jabari Smith had a massive game for the Houston Rockets in the NBA Summer League Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Locked on Auburn Discord Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter Like Auburn Daily on Facebook Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube

247sports.com 3 seniors to represent Auburn at SEC Media Days Nathan King 2–3 minutes The Tigers will take the stage Tuesday in Nashville Hugh Freeze will be accompanied by a trio of seniors next week in Nashville. Tight end Luke Deal, offensive guard Kam Stutts and defensive end Elijah McAllister are Auburn's representatives for next week's SEC Media Days, the conference announced Monday morning. The lone newcomer on the list for Auburn, McAllister already began taking up a leadership role this past spring with the Tigers after transferring over from Vanderbilt. The fifth-year senior had 16 tackles and a forced fumble last season. Stutts started 11 games last season across both guard spots, though he was not a regular on Auburn's first-team offense in the spring. One of two fifth-year seniors in a veteran tight end room, Deal had three catches for 34 yards last season. Auburn's SEC Media Days representatives last year were edge rusher Derick Hall, running back Tank Bigsby and tight end John Samuel Shenker. For the first time in several years, Auburn will not go on the final day of media days, as the Tigers will take the stage Tuesday in Nashville. The event gets under way next Monday morning. 2023 SEC MEDIA DAYS SCHEDULE Monday, July 17 LSU Missouri Texas A&M Tuesday, July 18 Auburn Georgia Mississippi State Vanderbilt July 19 Alabama Arkansas Florida Kentucky July 20 Ole Miss South Carolina Tennessee Harris says energy around Auburn program 'nothing short of amazing' under new staff Marcus Harris talks about the Auburn Tigers heading into the 2023 season and why Hugh Freeze and his staff have made a huge impact. To read this full article and more, subscribe now — SALE: 75% off first year Get access to this article and all of the in-depth coverage from the 247Sports Network with this special offer. Join at 75% off Annual Already a subscriber? Login

i would be shocked if he did not play. he might sit out one game or a half game. i just assume this tho.............

I see i am not the only one who thinks the right is the party of hate.

yahoo.com ‘A deranged ploy’: how Republicans are fueling the disinformation wars Nick Robins-Early 8–10 minutes Photograph: José Luis Magaña/AP A federal judge in Louisiana ruled last week that a wide range of Biden administration officials could not communicate with social media companies about content moderation issues, and in a lengthy opinion described the White House’s outreach to platforms as “almost dystopian” and reminiscent of “an Orwellian ministry of truth”. The ruling, which was delivered by the Trump-appointed judge Terry Doughty, was a significant milestone in a case that Republicans have pushed as proof that the Biden administration is attempting to silence conservative voices. It is also the latest in a wider rightwing campaign to weaken attempts at stopping false information and conspiracy theories from proliferating online, one that has included framing disinformation researchers and their efforts as part of a wide-reaching censorship regime. Related: The Age of Insurrection review: how the far right rose – and found Trump Republican attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana have sued Biden administration officials, the GOP-controlled House judiciary committee has demanded extensive documents from researchers studying disinformation, and rightwing media has attacked academics and officials who monitor social media platforms. Many of the researchers involved have faced significant harassment, leading to fears of a chilling effect on speaking out against disinformation ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Republican pushback against anti-disinformation campaigns has existed for years, alleging that content moderation on major platforms has unfairly targeted conservative voices. Many tech platforms have instituted policies against misinformation or hateful speech that have resulted in content such as election denial, anti-vaccine falsehoods and far-right conspiracy theories being removed – all which tend to skew Republican. But research has found that allegations of anti-conservative bias at social media companies have little empirical evidence, with a 2021 New York University study showing that these platforms’ algorithms instead often work to amplify rightwing content. The rightwing narrative of tech platform censorship persisted, however, intensifying as companies prohibited medical misinformation about Covid-19. It gained additional momentum last year after the Department of Homeland Security rolled out a disinformation governance board aimed at researching ways to stop malicious online influence campaigns and harmful misinformation. Republican politicians and rightwing media immediately seized on the board as proof of a leftist authoritarian plot. Fox News hosts specifically singled out researcher Nina Jankowicz, who was tapped to be the board’s executive director, and ran numerous segments viciously mocking her. A year-long harassment campaign followed, leading to Jankowicz receiving death threats, having deepfake pornography made of her and seeing her personal information released online against her will. The disinformation governance board suspended its operations only a month after its debut, in what Jankowicz told the Guardian earlier this week was the start of a larger rightwing campaign aimed at rolling back checks on disinformation. “They got a win in shutting us down, so why would they stop there?” said Jankowicz, who was originally named in the Louisiana lawsuit but removed on account of no longer being a government official. The GOP takes aim at researchers In addition to the lawsuit in Louisiana, Republicans have put pressure on researchers through a House select subcommittee investigation that launched in January and claims it will look into the “weaponization of the federal government”. House judiciary committee chair Jim Jordan earlier this year issued a wide-ranging request for information and documents to multiple universities with programs aimed at researching disinformation, and has so far sent dozens of subpoenas. Among the institutions and officials that Jordan requested emails and documents from were the Stanford Internet Observatory, the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public and the nonprofit Election Integrity Partnership. Jordan last month threatened Stanford University with legal action if it did not turn over additional records. (Stanford released communications with government officials but did not send some internal records, including ones that involved students, the university told the Washington Post.) The Stanford Internet Observatory, the Center for an Informed Public and the Election Integrity Partnership did not return requests for comment. Democratic representatives decried the committee’a activities as an attempts to harangue researchers and institutions that its members viewed as political enemies, likening it to McCarthyism and the House Committee on Un-American Activities. This committee is nothing more than a deranged ploy by the Maga extremists who have hijacked the Republican party Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts “This committee is nothing more than a deranged ploy by the Maga extremists who have hijacked the Republican party and now want to use taxpayer money to push their far-right conspiracy nonsense,” Jim McGovern, a Democratic representative from Massachusetts, said during the formation of the committee. The committee has struggled to be seen as legitimate, with a Washington Post-ABC News poll released in February showing that a majority of Americans view it as a partisan attempt to score political points. But it has nonetheless put pressure on academic institutions and emboldened attacks against researchers, including University of Washington disinformation expert Kate Starbird, who told the Washington Post that she has faced political intimidation and cut back on public engagement. Starbird and other researchers are directly named in the Louisiana lawsuit for their role as advisers to a now-disbanded Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency subcommittee on disinformation. Starbird, who did not return a request for comment, has previously stated that the Republican-led lawsuit egregiously misrepresents her work. The Louisiana lawsuit Republicans filed the lawsuit against Biden last year, and were joined by other plaintiffs that included the conspiracy site the Gateway Pundit and a Louisiana group opposed to vaccine mandates. The case was notably filed in a Louisiana district court where Judge Terry Doughty presides. Doughty, who was appointed by Trump and previously ruled against Biden administration mask and vaccine mandates, is a jurist Republicans specifically seek out when shopping for a favorable forum. He has overseen more multistate challenges to the Biden administration than any other judge, Bloomberg Law reported, despite previously being a little-known justice based in a small city of less than 50,000 people. Legal experts questioned Doughty’s injunction against the Biden administration this week, the Associated Press reported, saying that the wide scope of the ruling meant that public health officials could be prevented from sharing their expertise. Meanwhile, disinformation researchers have stated that Republican efforts to push back against content moderation and safeguards against misinformation threaten to open the floodgates for conspiracy theories and falsehoods ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Amid the rightwing campaign against content moderation and disinformation researchers, numerous social media platforms have also been peeling back restrictions. Twitter under Elon Musk, who last year engineered the release of some internal communications between Twitter and government officials, has hollowed out its content moderation teams. Meanwhile, YouTube has reversed a policy banning election denialism and Instagram allowed prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr back on the platform. The Biden administration stated this week that it objected to Doughty’s injunction in the Louisiana case, and would be considering its options. The justice department is seeking to appeal the ruling.

Auburn football ranks last among Power Five teams in offensive line continuity Taylor Jones Sun, July 9, 2023 at 3:00 PM CDT Out of all units that Auburn football will trot out onto the field in 2023, the offensive line will see the most changes. It comes with good reason, as the Tigers’ line allowed 32 sacks last season, and they were only able to help their offense gain just 378 yards per game. Most of that was due to inconsistency within snap counts. According to Pro Football Focus, only two offensive linemen were on the field for more than 700 snaps, Killian Zierer and Brandon Council. The next player on the list was Austin Troxell, who played in 482 snaps over eight games. If those facts sound crazy, that is because they are. Auburn’s continuity rate among offensive linemen was super low last season. So low, that it was the worst among Power Five teams. College Football Graphs recently shared its list of offensive line continuity, and Auburn ranks No. 69 among Power Five programs with a rate of 35.6%. While only three players played more than 400 snaps on the offensive line last season, a total of six were able to play 345 or more snaps last season. Among the nine players who shuffled through Auburn’s offensive line last season, only three return to the 2023 roster: tate johnson, Jalil Irvin, and Jeremiah Wright. Hugh Freeze hopes to increase Auburn’s continuity rate in 2023 by sending several of his experienced transfer portal finds to pick up the slack. Several names that should contribute heavily to Auburn’s line this season are Avery Jones, Gunner Britton, Dillon Wade, and Jaden Muskrat.

auburnwire.usatoday.com What is Auburn getting in Malik Blocton? Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes Auburn football ended the week on a high note by landing its second commitment of the week in four-star defensive lineman Malik Blocton. Blocton chose the Tigers over Texas on Saturday, in what will go down as a solid win for Hugh Freeze. Blocton is determined to contend for early playing time, and with the Longhorns’ lack of depth at the position, it speaks volumes to Auburn’s recruiting ability that they were able to keep Blocton close to home. Buy Tigers Tickets Before we look into Blocton’s measurements and high school stats, here’s a look at where he ranks across all recruiting outlets: Outlet State National 247Sports 24 43 On3 31 67 Rivals 14 21 ESPN 23 22 Across the board, Blocton is considered one of the state of Alabama’s top overall prospects for 2024, and he is seen as a top 50 defensive lineman in all but one instance. Why is that? Look no further than his ability to make players at the line and beyond. Last season, his first at Pike Road High School, Blocton reached a career-high in tackles with 54 in 11 games played. It was also his best season at reaching the quarterback, as he recorded six sacks. His high school head coach, Granger Shook, tells Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover that he has high expectations for Blocton at the next level. “He’s the real deal,” Shook said. “He’s as good as any I have ever coached and I have been blessed to be at some pretty successful places. He’s definitely an SEC-caliber player and if he keeps progressing like I know he can, he’ll be able to play even past that. He’s coachable. He’s a hard-working young man. He’s a joy to coach.” With Blocton’s commitment, Auburn has now climbed to No. 48 in the 2024 247Sports recruiting rankings. The Tigers now have 10 commitments for the 2024 cycle, seven of which are four-star rated. 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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

sports.yahoo.com Auburn football cracks Phil Steele’s top 25 power poll Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes It appears to be an understanding across the board that Auburn football will go through a transition season in 2023, as new head coach Hugh Freeze will look to rebuild a program that was mishandled over the last several seasons. Recruiting and overall morale have amplified on the Plains, which is enough reason for one publication to put some respect on Auburn’s name heading into the season. Phil Steele, a college football expert that has published a preseason magazine every year over the last 25 seasons, has revealed his top 25 power poll ahead of the 2023 season. In a surprising move, Steele has placed Auburn in the No. 25 slot. On3’s Andrew Graham shared his take on each team that made the top 25 and says that this season at Auburn could be different than the previous two seasons. With a new head coach and quarterback, it seems Auburn is poised to stop underachieving as it had under Bryan Harsin. The Tigers had a few paltry seasons with Harsin and then under interim Cadillac Williams, but have since hired offensive maven Hugh Freeze. Another factor in this ranking is the addition of quarterback Payton Thorne from the transfer portal. The Michigan State transfer led the Spartans to 11 wins in 2021 and could experience similar success at Auburn. And one of Freeze’s biggest moves since getting the job is luring former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne to The Plains. Thorne has two-years of Big Ten starting experience under his belt and was MSU’s starting quarterback for their 11-win campaign in 2021. If Thorne plays like he’s shown he can, Auburn can play to a Top 25 level. Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, and Georgia are other notable programs on Steele’s list. More Football! Auburn Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 15 Keldric Faulk Where Hugh Freeze lands in CBS Sports' SEC head coach rankings Twitter reacts to Auburn landing 4-star DL Malik Blocton 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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__ Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire

auburnwire.usatoday.com Where Hugh Freeze lands in CBS Sports' SEC head coach rankings Taylor Jones 2–3 minutes Auburn has found the right guy to run its football program in Hugh Freeze. Freeze comes to the Plains with plenty of experience, and is already starting to show signs of that in recruiting and building team morale. It seems as if his return to the SEC is shaping up to be an exciting one. Buy Tigers Tickets All that is left to do now is for him to prove his worth on the field. Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports believes that Freeze can rebuild the Tigers program after the setback caused during the Harsin era. Sallee places Freeze at No. 8 in his SEC head coaches rankings ahead of the 2023 season. Freeze enters his inaugural campaign on the Plains looking to revitalized a program that fell on hard times during the Bryan Harsin debacle. Freeze was 39-25 at Ole Miss from 2012-16 with New Year’s Six bowl appearances in 2014 and 2015. He led Liberty to eight or more wins in each of his four seasons (2019-22) and played a big role in the Flames’ move to Conference USA. Considering that Freeze is returning to the SEC after being away for six years, being listed in the middle tier is a respectable nod. Here’s a complete look at Sallee’s SEC head coach rankings: 1. Nick Saban (Alabama) 2. Kirby Smart (Georgia) 3. Bryan Kelly (LSU) 4. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss) 5. Josh Heupel (Tennessee) 6. Mark Stoops (Kentucky) 7. Jimbo Fisher (Texas A&M) 8. Hugh Freeze (Auburn) 9. Shane Beamer (South Carolina) 10. Sam Pittman (Arkansas) 11. Billy Napier (Florida) 12. Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri) 13. Clark Lea (Vanderbilt) 14. Zach Arnett (Mississippi State) 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 Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

247sports.com Jason Caldwells Monday morning quarterback column Jason Caldwell ~4 minutes One week from SEC Media Days It’s hard to believe it, but we’re just a week away from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opening SEC Media Days in Nashville and talking about the future of the league with Oklahoma and Texas coming in next year. There will be plenty of talk around that subject, but there’s no question that Auburn is going to create much more buzz than the program has had in years because of the addition of Hugh Freeze and heading into his first season with the Tigers. It will be really interesting to see who Auburn takes to Nashville as player representatives. I will be really surprised if Luke Deal isn’t one of them. The senior tight end has been a leader for the team since the end of last season and would be great in front of cameras if given the opportunity. After that, I’m not really sure where Auburn could go with the next two players because there are so many options. Usually it’s reserved for seniors, but with this team I could see an underclassman or two make the trip to Nashville. What’s interesting is that this is a roster where you could see a player head to SEC Media Days that has never played a game in an Auburn uniform because of the addition of so many transfers. I don’t think we’ll see a guy like Payton Thorne in Nashville, but Dillon Wade, Gunner Britton, Avery Jones, Elijah McAllister or Rivaldo Fairweather are all guys that I could see representing the program next week on the big stage. Behind the scenes of Blocton’s decision This is one of those decisions that I felt like Auburn was in good shape with for a long, long time, but Texas made a strong push until the very end. One of the most interesting things for me was talking with his trainers from Madhouse on Saturday. These are guys I have known for a long time and they all rave about Blocton and his upside as a player and a person. I have been around him for three years and have known him since he was a freshman, but these are the guys that see him daily in workouts and have watched him grow and develop. They believe he’s going to be a guy on the level of Marlon Davidson before he’s done at Auburn. If that’s the case, this is a pickup that is going to look even better in a few years. Disappointing, but not unexpected night for Auburn baseball in MLB Draft For the last six months, all signs had been pointing towards Auburn baseball signees Colt Emerson and Kevin McGonigle being selected on day one of the MLB Amateur Draft. That became a reality on Sunday night when Emerson went in the first round to the Seattle Mariners and McGonigle was taken 37th overall by the Detroit Tigers. While it’s disappointing for Butch Thompson and his staff, what it shows is just how well they are at their jobs. Both players committed three years ago, during the summer of 2020. Back then, both were coming off their freshman seasons and weren’t even close to becoming the physical players they are today. Auburn saw two players that were going to grow into what they believed would be elite prospects. I’m not sure the Tigers saw first rounders with either guy this early, but there’s no question this staff has an elite eye for scouting talent. Even though neither player is likely going to make it to campus, it’s just more proof of what this staff is building at Auburn because of what they are doing on the recruiting trail.

usatoday.com Think your SEC school's football traditions are the best? Think again. We ranked 'em all 6–7 minutes With the college football season set to kick off in just a few short weeks, there will soon be plenty of on-field matters to discuss regarding your favorite school’s team. But we’ll get to that in due course. For now, let’s turn our attention to a subject that always fuels debate, like which programs have the best traditions. Of course, we can state unequivocally that these rankings will receive nothing but whole-hearted agreement from across the country, and that there will be absolutely zero complaints or disputes about any opinions expressed herein. That will be especially true in the first league we’ll cover, the SEC, where football fans never argue about anything. OK, all kidding aside, these tiers are not intended as a way of choosing one fan base or a particular school’s traditions over another’s. So don’t read your team’s placement as an affront. Well, unless you’re Vanderbilt. Tier 1 – Pregame preparations Every school’s fans have their specific rituals to gear up for game time. Some are more iconic and identifiable with a particular program than others. Alabama The Walk of Champions – It’s a brief opportunity for the Crimson Tide players to interact with their supporters as they debark from their team bus upon arrival at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The short pregame greeting also serves as a reminder of just how the Tuscaloosa community is wedded to the success of the Crimson Tide. Texas A&M The Midnight Yell – Nothing like a group primal scream at the witching hour before a football Saturday to fire up the faithful in College Station. Actually, there’s a little more to it than that. The yell leaders, elected by the Aggies’ student body, lead the band and fans in what amounts to a late-night pep rally at Kyle Field. No worries though – the kids always seem to have plenty of energy left for Saturday. Tennessee The Vol Navy – There’s tailgating at nearly every stadium, of course, but there aren’t many where it is commonplace to arrive by boat. Neyland Stadium’s location near the bank of the Tennessee River creates one of the sport’s more unique pregame atmospheres. Mississippi The Grove – But when it comes to tailgating in style, the Grove in Oxford is a southern tradition wrapped in old world charm. But make no mistake – the fancy dress and formal tableware does not mean the tents aren’t festive. South Carolina Sandstorm – If you don’t recognize the title of this electronic instrumental by Finish deejay Darude, you’ve undoubtedly heard it blasted over the speakers at just about any game you may have attended. It is most closely associated with the Gamecocks’ program, made popular when Steve Spurrier helped fire up the crowd to this tune. Tier 2 – Mascot participation/entrances Every school has a mascot, of course, but some are more readily identified with their institution than others. We also admit to being somewhat partial to the live ones. Georgia Uga – Sure, there are lots of bulldogs out there. But Uga never fails to ignite the Georgia faithful between the hedges when he leads the team on to the field. Auburn War Eagle – It’s a chant and not the school’s nickname, but when the cheer is augmented by the pregame arrival of a genuine eagle swooping over Jordan-Hare Stadium, things understandably get noisy on the plains. The current bird, War Eagle VIII, is a resident of the Auburn Raptor Center. LSU Mike – Mike the Tiger no longer rides to LSU games in a trailer cage, but fans can still go see him. Mike VII has a habitat not far from the stadium, and his social media team makes sure he always has a game day message to get Tiger fans hyped up – not that they especially need extra motivation. Missouri Truman’s Taxi – Truman, Mizzou’s tiger mascot, is not an actual feline, but he nevertheless has a nice ride. He generally arrives at home games in a vintage firetruck. Tier 3 – Fan trademarks Whether it’s a certain gesture, a signature cheer, or a particular method of creating noise, these items are inseparable from the fan base that made them famous – or infamous. Florida The Gator Chomp – The chomp is the most readily identifiable visual show of allegiance in the conference, at least until Texas arrives with its flashing horns. The denizens of the Swamp have perhaps been a bit less vociferous since being overtaken by the hated Georgia Bulldogs of late, but the chomp remains. Arkansas Hog Call – You almost certainly have to be a native-born Razorback to do it justice, but you’ll definitely recognize the “Woooo pig sooie!” incantation when you hear it. It’s given with a bit more fervor when the Razorbacks are good, which they have been since Sam Pittman took charge. Mississippi State Cowbells – If you’re flipping channels on a college football Saturday and happen upon a home game in Starkville, the metallic din of thousands of cowbells in the stands is unmistakable. You might want to wear earplugs if you attend a Bulldogs’ home contest in person. Tier 4 – When does basketball/baseball season start? Kentucky We do have football, darn it – Mark Stoops doesn’t want to hear this, especially when John Calipari says it, but there’s no getting around the fact that UK is historically more associated with another sport. The program has enjoyed a recent run of winning campaigns on the gridiron, but when your university’s athletic department has to implore fans to create new football game-day traditions, it clearly isn’t a priority. Vanderbilt Anchor Down – We totally understand. Keeping up with the conference’s powerhouse programs is tough for the SEC’s smallest school. Kudos to the Commodores for carving out a niche for its baseball program that has claimed two national titles in recent years, but when your best-known football tradition is the unintentionally ironic act of planting an anchor at midfield, it doesn’t instill confidence that the program is on the rise.

yahoo.com Religious right gets blindsided by angry parents in a Southern California school district Blake Jones 10–13 minutes TEMECULA, Calif. — Three Southern California school board members backed by a far-right pastor narrowly won election last fall in campaigns fueled by pandemic rage. Then they banned critical race theory and rejected social studies materials that included LGBTQ rights hero Harvey Milk. Now, they’re fighting for their political lives. After just six months in office, those officials face a recall effort on top of a civil rights investigation launched by the state’s Democratic-led education department. Students have held protests, and irate parents and teachers are swarming the board’s meetings, feeling that their town — the fast-growing, politically diverse suburb of Temecula in Riverside County — has become consumed by partisan warfare. “We don't want culture wars. We don't want Fox News appearances,” Alex Douvas, a parent of two kids in the district who previously worked for two Republican congressmembers in Orange County, told the board recently. “Our schools are not ideological battlegrounds. They're not platforms for religious evangelism. These are institutions for learning and growth.” The religious right saw an opening to jump into the parental rights movement amid intense backlash about pandemic-era school closures and mask mandates. But those policies have all but disappeared in schools, and it’s proving harder to sustain that level of outrage over teachings on race and gender. The effort to ban certain books and challenge curriculum has split Republicans and polled poorly with independent voters nationally. Local Democrats see the strategy flopping — and are already looking to capitalize on it in a part of the state that has become a battleground for control of the House. Joy Silver, chair of the Riverside County Democrats, said she’s intensely focused on winning down-ballot races like school board seats “because the battles are taking place there.” In Temecula, the political agenda embraced by school board trustees Joseph Komrosky, Danny Gonzalez and Jen Wiersma has set off a different kind of public outrage than was likely intended. The booing and shouting at a recent public hearing grew so loud that the board president — who appeared to be wearing a bullet-proof vest under his sweater — cleared the room. “To the extent you keep it focused on parents and students first, not teachers, I think there's room where you can push back on quote-unquote “woke” agenda issues, but if you go too far in the other direction and are trying to make that the only issue you care about, I think you're going to see predictable backlash,” California GOP consultant Rob Stutzman said in an interview. “I look at something like Temecula, and to me it’s an eye roll.” A similar ethos has dominated the campaigns of Republicans like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has made curriculum restrictions and “parental rights” a centerpiece of his bid for the GOP nomination. It could also factor into local and congressional races, particularly in inland California, where Republicans are likely to face strong challenges from the left in 2024. “I don't want to say it's a particularly Republican Party issue, because everyone who is upset by this is not necessarily Democratic, but the people who are causing the trouble are the extremists of that party,” Silver said. Silver pointed to other parts of California where social policy pushed by the religious right has met organized resistance. A recall attempt is brewing against a conservative majority in Orange County, where a pastor in Chino helped flip the school board. A pastor in San Diego County drew dozens of counter protesters last month after mobilizing his congregation against a proposed school district inclusion policy. So far, the effort is failing to sink the proposal. An NPR/Ipsos poll conducted in May found that the majority of Americans oppose book bans and curriculum restrictions, with 64 percent saying that school boards should not restrict what students learn. Majorities of GOP respondents also opposed state legislative book bans and content restrictions, the survey found — a cautionary sign for candidates who risk losing centrist voters by leaning too hard into curriculum crackdowns. Temecula Valley reflects broader changes across inland Southern California. Once agricultural, mostly white and conservative, it has become a fast-growing bedroom community for coastal San Diego and Los Angeles. Along routes that draw tourists for balloon excursions and wine tastings, the former Republican stronghold of Riverside County now is home to more registered Democrats. But Covid injected a fervor into local politics. Tim Thompson, an evangelical pastor in Riverside County, emerged as an outspoken opponent of mask mandates, along with the California GOP and conservative activist groups such as Moms for Liberty, best known for its anti-vaccine organizing. When churches were ordered closed at the onset of the pandemic, Thompson began railing against stay-at-home orders in sermons and traveled to Sacramento for unsanctioned protests at the state Capitol — one of which led to his arrest. Thompson waded further into politics in the following months, bringing in Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to speak at his church when other Southern California venues canceled on her during the summer of 2021. Locally, he pressured the Temecula school board to take up a resolution to disobey a state mask mandate. When they refused, he became irritated. Barbara Brosch, board president at the time, described a tense period in which elected officials were occasionally escorted home from public meetings by police after being threatened by activists. Brosch — who went to high school with Thompson — said he warned her and other board members that he would run candidates against them if they didn’t go along with his anti-masking proposal. “Tim asked me to put the resolution on our agenda, or else we would be replaced,” Brosch, an independent voter who describes herself as a conservative Catholic, recalled of a meeting with the pastor. A year later, Thompson made good on his threat. Three candidates funded by his Inland Empire Family PAC narrowly won in a low-turnout election, defeating Brosch and two other candidates who served on the board during the pandemic. “This Inland Empire Family PAC was using what sounded like benign language,” said Kristi Rutz-Robbins, a Democrat who served three terms on the school board and now teaches in the district. “I wasn't even paying attention during the election. It wasn't in my district, or my trustee zone. And I figured it'd be fine, whoever gets elected.” None of the board members answered questions from POLITICO at a recent board meeting or responded to multiple inquiries about their decisions or Thompson’s efforts to shape district policy. Kromrosky previously said he does not attend the 412 Church. But a local GOP leader said he was confident voters would back the officials in a recall. "The voters in Temecula spoke clearly during the election last November. If the recall qualifies, I have no doubt the voters will speak clearly again,” said Matthew Dobler, chair of the Republican Party of Riverside County. “The Republican Party has faith in voters to decide what's best for their community." On the day they were sworn in, the new board members passed a resolution condemning critical race theory. That landed them on “Fox and Friends” even though the subject wasn’t being taught in Temecula schools. Then they hired an outside consultant to run workshops warning educators about the perils of CRT, a lens used by academics to challenge institutional racism that is viewed by many on the right as simply shorthand for any teaching about race that they don’t like. But until last month, when a curriculum fight over the late gay-rights leader Harvey Milk got the governor’s attention, many residents hadn’t noticed. The board rejected a social studies curriculum that featured a half-page biography of Milk, with Komrosky repeating a disputed allegation against the slain San Francisco supervisor. “Why even mention a pedophile?” he said. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said people attending the California Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles the following week asked him to get involved. They included delegate Julie Geary, who said she also raised the issue with Attorney General Rob Bonta. Thurmond, Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom already had a joint letter in the works cautioning school districts against banning books and restricting teaching materials for political reasons. But the Democrats, dismayed by the comment about Milk, began to single out Temecula. Newsom called Komrosky’s comment “ignorant” on Twitter. Bonta’s office pressed the district for justification of its decision. And Thurmond traveled back to Southern California to meet with Komrosky and Gonzalez, who had made the same allegation against California’s first openly gay elected official. “If there was a single factor that was the final push for me to go to Temecula, it was seeing the statement made calling Harvey Milk a pedophile,” Thurmond said in an interview. The state Department of Education is now investigating a civil rights complaint against the district. Less than a week later, the board fired the district’s popular superintendent, Jodi McClay, following the lead of new conservative school board majorities in Florida, South Carolina and nearby Orange County. McClay’s supporters packed the high school auditorium and pleaded with the board to keep her on. When that failed, they drowned out a small group of the board’s supporters with a barrage of boos, continuing for hours. In California, where the Republican Party has long been shut out of statewide office, GOP officials played a role in Temecula’s election as part of a broader strategy targeting low-turnout school board races. There’s also another advantage for outnumbered California Republicans: The party affiliations of school board candidates don’t appear on the ballot, as those races are technically nonpartisan. Republican National Committee member Shawn Steel’s law firm donated to Thompson’s PAC, while Dobler, the county GOP chair, helped with candidate recruitment and funding in Temecula and elsewhere, an effort he described in an interview on Thompson’s YouTube channel. Steel discussed the strategy at a March meeting of “The Parent Revolt,” a California GOP group that recruits and trains local candidates. “We make it look very nonpartisan, because every time you run for school board office, it's nonpartisan,” Steel said. “And they're the ones that people are least likely to vote on.”

al.com What does Lindy's Sports think of the Auburn Tigers as the 2023 football season approaches? Updated: Jul. 08, 2023, 3:42 p.m.|Published: Jul. 08, 2023, 10:11 a.m. 4–5 minutes After looking at what Phil Steele predicted for Auburn heading into the 2023 college football season and how Lindy’s Sports sees the season shaking out for the Tigers, there seems to be common themes. Steele and Lindy share the belief that Auburn’s first-year head coach Hugh Freeze will start righting the ship that was wronged by former head coach Bryan Harsin in less than two seasons. However, both publications are also on the same page in the fact that the rebuild on The Plains is a big one and all the wrinkles likely won’t be ironed out in just one season. Here’s everything Lindy’s Sports said about the Tigers, who were ranked No. 42 in the publication’s preseason rankings. Offensive outlook From the coaching standpoint, Lindy is high on what the Tigers have cooking on offense. At the helm is Freeze, who has built a reputation for fielding creative offenses and developing quarterbacks. First-year offensive coordinator and former Tulsa head coach Phillip Montgomery is sure to assist in the development of Auburn’s signal callers. Meanwhile, Cadillac Williams, who is set to double as associate head coach and running backs coach, will not only lead the Tigers’ deep and dynamic running back room, but also the buy-in around the program. In terms of on-field talent, however, Lindy has questions. With Robby Ashford returning after starting the back half of the 2022 season under center and the addition of Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne, Lindy emphasizes the importance of naming a starting quarterback sooner rather than later. Lindy goes on to predict Ashford as the Tigers’ starter. Lindy likes the look of the Tigers’ running back room, which loses Tank Bigsby, but returns Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston and Sean Jackson, while adding USF transfer Brian Battie and freshman Jeremiah Cobb. One area Lindy isn’t impressed with Auburn, however, is at receiver. While the return of Ja’Varrius Johnson is good for the Tigers, as well as the addition of Ohio State transfer Caleb Burton, Cincinnati transfer Nick Mardner and North Texas transfer Jyaire Shorter, Lindy predicts that Auburn will need more deep threats in 2023. Defensive outlook The Auburn defense left a lot to be desired in 2022. The Tigers ranked 77th in total defense, 96th in rushing defense, 104th in third down conversion defense and 121st in turnover margin. When Lindy looks at the Tigers’ defense he believes improvements must start in the trenches. Fortunately, Freeze and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts were able to hit the portal hard, hauling in Kentucky transfer Justin Rogers, Purdue transfer Lawrence Johnson and Maryland transfer Mosiah Nasili-Kite. The trio of defensive line transfers will pair nicely with the defensive line’s returners, Marcus Harris and Jayson Jones. The story was much of the same for the linebacker room, which sees just one starter from 2022 return in Cam Riley. Thanks to the transfer portal, the Tigers have added Austin Keys (Ole Miss), Elijah McAllister (Vanderbilt), DeMario Tolan (LSU), Larry Nixon III (North Texas) and Jalen McLeod (Appalachian State). Finally, the back end of Auburn’s defense is likely to be its strength as the unit is a veteran one, returning seniors Nehemiah Pritchett, Zion Puckett, Jaylin Simpson and DJ James. Lindy’s SEC Picks Like Steele, Lindy predicts the Tigers will finish sixth in the SEC West, while Alabama takes the top spot. According to Lindy, the good news for Auburn is that Freeze should “breathe life into the offense” and calls Hunter a “future star” at running back. The bad news, however, is that “QB remains an issue, although the transfer portal might fix that”. In all, Lindy returns to the notion that the Tigers are bound to improve in 2023, but the program’s rebuild will take time. 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 Pike Road DL Malik Blocton commits to Auburn over Texas, others Updated: Jul. 08, 2023, 4:13 p.m.|Published: Jul. 08, 2023, 3:21 p.m. 3–4 minutes Pike Road DL Malik Blocton, here with coach Granger Shook, committed to Auburn on Saturday. (Contributed) Coach Hugh Freeze and Auburn boosted their defensive line for future years on Saturday afternoon with a commitment from Pike Road senior Malik Blocton. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound lineman said he committed to the Tigers over Alabama, Troy, Texas and Florida. “It feels great,” Blocton told AL.com. “I’m excited to have a chance to play in the SEC. That is what I’ve been wanting to do all my life.” Blocton is the No. 24 senior recruit in the state according to the 247 composite rankings. He’s No. 25 in the On3 Industry rankings. With his commitment, the Tigers now have pledges from seven of the top 30 seniors in the 247 Class of 2024 rankings. Blocton joins Booker T. Washington LB Joseph Phillips (No. 8), Andalusia RB J’Marion Burnette (14), Moody DB A’Mon Lane (16), Anniston DB Jayden Lewis (18), Clay-Chalkville LB DJ Barber (25) and Baker WR Bryce Cain (27). “I think he can be a starter pretty quickly in the SEC,” Pike Road coach Granger Shook said. “He can be a rotational guy very early. What separates the SEC from everyone else is depth up front. Malik is going to add to that for Auburn. Auburn always has had an elite defensive line, and Malik will fit nicely into that. I’m excited for he and his family. It’s a great opportunity.” The 3-star recruit has nearly 40 offers from across the country. As a junior for Pike Road, he had 54 tackles and 12 sacks. He helped the team to a state title as a sophomore. Blocton said the plan at Auburn is for him to start his college career on the edge before possibly moving inside later. “I really don’t care where I play as long as I’m in position to make plays for my team,” he said. This year, as a senior in high school, Blocton will be a weapon for Shook in his first year as the team’s coach. “He can play any position in 6A football up front,” he said. “We will move him around defensively because we know a lot of our opponents will call plays predicated on where he is lined up. He has great hands. His hands are as smooth and natural as I’ve seen. He will be able to make a quick impact at Auburn. I firmly believe that.” Blocton also could see some time on offense in his final year with the Patriots. “There is a chance he may play some tight end, especially in specific packages,” Shook said. “He’s too good of a player and too smart not to be on the field when we need a play.” Shook said Blocton also is a leader off the field. “He was voted on our leadership council by his peers,” he said. “Week 1, that is something I wanted to do to get a temperature of the team. In the season, we will meet weekly. In the offseason, we meet every two weeks or so to gauge the team and where we are. His peers definitely respect him and view him as a leader on our team for sure.” Blocton and the Patriots will open the 2023 season Aug. 25 at Marist High School outside of Atlanta. 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.