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al.com Holden Geriner seizes opportunity at Auburn’s pro day to showcase skills Updated: Mar. 23, 2023, 4:12 p.m.|Published: Mar. 23, 2023, 2:57 p.m. 3–4 minutes Hugh Freeze evaluates Auburn QBs; 1st spring scrimmage By Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com Auburn quarterback Holden Geriner is involved in a competitive quarterback competition with experienced signal callers Robby Ashford and T.J. Finley. His only playing last season came during a brief stint in Auburn’s Sept. 9 comeback victory against Missouri. Although he lacks the experience of his two cohorts, some steps to further establish himself in the battle may have been made Tuesday during Auburn’s pro day. Head coach Hugh Freeze allowed Geriner to participate in Auburn’s pro day, throwing passes alongside former Auburn quarterback and NFL MVP Cam Newton. Of course, pro day wasn’t about Geriner, but it didn’t stop observers from noticing the crispness of his passes to running back Tank Bigsby and tight end John Samuel Shenker. Read More Auburn Football: Tank Bigsby bounces back with blazing 40-yard dash time at Auburn’s pro day Zion Puckett is becoming a mentor to younger DB’s at Auburn Derick Hall’s journey comes full circle at Auburn’s pro day “The young man has a cannon,” an AFC assistant coach told AL.com. “He makes a lot of throws we like to see on the pro level. I didn’t know much about him before this, but he’s someone I’ll be keeping an eye on as his career unfolds.” Bigsby noticed the growth in Geriner’s game since leaving campus at the end of the season to prepare for the NFL draft. “He’s a mature guy. He looked at me today before we started throwing,” Bigsby said. “He said, ‘Hey, I ain’t a freshman no more.’ I said, ‘Hey, you don’t look like it.” Shenker told reporters that he requested Geriner to throw to him at pro day. Getting selected by Shenker is a positive statement since pass-catchers want to look their best for scouts and GMs. A quarterback with sound timing makes receivers shine. Bigsby also wanted to show his pass-catching skills to receivers. He ran the 40-yard dash and caught balls from Geriner. “Certain teams just say they see the ability of me catching,” Bigsby said. “They say they see on film that we didn’t throw the ball as much, but they want to see me catch more. So that’s what made me do receiver drills today, made me do more routes today.” Bigsby agreed with Shenker on picking Geriner to throw to him. He continued to praise Geriner when speaking to reporters after the workout. “He said, ‘It’s gonna be a good day,’ and I said, ‘I know it,” Bigsby said. “He’s one of the most accurate quarterbacks I’ve ever met, and he’s a good guy. And I’m sure that’s why they had him throwing today.” Spring practice for Auburn culminates on April 8 with the A-Day Game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Fans can buy tickets for the scrimmage for $10 through the university. Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

al.com Auburn has 'a lot of work to be done' at WR in Hugh Freeze's offense Published: Mar. 24, 2023, 7:00 a.m. 5–6 minutes Marcus Davis presented a word of the day to his wide receiver room earlier this week: Consistency. It’s one he wants his players to focus on during the back half of spring practices, as the Tigers’ wide receivers haven’t quite been up to par during this first set of practices under new head coach Hugh Freeze. “The biggest thing is doing the little things better and staying consistent,” Davis said. “…Never get too high. Never get too low. Just stay right in the middle. And I tell them all the time: The difference between good and great — because everybody wants to be great — is doing good consistently. That’s how you become great at whatever it may be.” Read more Auburn football: Jeffrey M’ba has finally found his identity at defensive end. Now he plans to “destroy people” Rivaldo Fairweather a “late bloomer,” but Auburn has high hopes for the FIU tight end transfer A slimmed-down Brandon Council hopes his pro day showing warrants more NFL interest Before Auburn’s receivers can be great, though, they must first be good, and midway through spring practices, Freeze made it abundantly clear that the Tigers’ passing game is very much a work in progress. While Freeze expressed concerns about the progress of the quarterbacks — conceding that he and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery may need a different approach to how they teach their system — it wasn’t the sole source of his uneasiness entering Week 3 of spring practices. Auburn’s wide receivers, Freeze said, also “have a long way to go” when it comes to what the Tigers want to accomplish offensively. “Not saying we’ve arrived at other spots yet, but those are the farthest off because they’re probably the most — we ask them to do the most, truthfully,” Freeze said. “It’s brand new to them…. We’re very, very raw at that right now.” Auburn’s wide receiver room returns just two players who had double-digit receptions last season, Ja’Varrius Johnson and Koy Moore, and while there is a wealth of younger guys who contributed last season and a transfer addition in former Cincinnati receiver Nick Mardner, it’s a group that is still relatively unproven. It’s also one that has been hampered by injuries to varying degrees this spring, most notably a collarbone injury that will sideline Malcolm Johnson Jr. the remainder of the spring. Ja’Varrius Johnson led Auburn with 493 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 26 receptions. Moore, the former LSU transfer was second on the team with 314 yards and a score on 20 catches. The next leading returning receiver was Camden Brown, who had nine catches for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a true freshman but was the team’s seventh-leading pass-catcher in an offense that struggled to move the ball through the air (119th nationally in passing yards per game and 117th in passing efficiency). There is no certified go-to receiver yet among the group, though it’s still early and the Tigers have five-plus months before their first game. For now, though, the focus is on making sure Auburn’s wide receivers understand what is asked of them in Freeze and Montgomery’s offense. An adjustment period and learning curve are to be expected any time a new offense is installed. As Freeze said, this is all new to Auburn’s wide receivers after running more of a pro-style system under former coach Bryan Harsin. Along with the consistency aspect, the biggest issue for the Tigers’ receivers boils down to situational understanding within the offense: Which RPOs should be run based on the defensive coverage, and how to properly create separation based on the technique a defensive back is playing. “Getting the guys used to playing with tempo, playing fast — it’s just the little things right now, as you continue to learn and progress as far as the offense goes,” Davis said. “…It’s just getting those guys to practice to the expectation and play to the expectation. But the best thing about the group is that they’re buying in, they’re hungry and all of them want to do right. So, it’s just continuing to teach them the ‘how’ part of it.” It was a similar refrain to the one Freeze expressed when discussing the quarterback position. It’s not a matter of a lack of want-to or even ability; it’s just a process that is going to take some time. That is, after all, what spring practices are for. It all comes back to that word of the day from Davis: consistency. So long as Auburn’s receivers continue to focus on the finer details and maintain a consistent approach throughout the remainder of spring — and carry that through the offseason — Davis is confident they’ll get to where they need to be in due time. “I feel good about the progress we’ve made so far,” Davis said. “And obviously, there’s a lot of work to be done as well.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

247sports.com Auburn freshman CB Kayin Lee shows 'he wants to be great' Nathan King 4–5 minutes AUBURN, Alabama — Early on in Auburn’s spring practices, Wesley McGriff was getting ready to leave his office — on the second floor of the new Woltosz Football Performance Center — before he heard a knock on his door. It was Auburn’s true freshman cornerback, not satisfied with his day of practice, and unwilling to head back to his dorm until he was. So McGriff started to teach. And that’s happened more than once since Auburn spring ball began in late February. Everyone in the building involved with Auburn’s secondary continues to bring up Kayin Lee’s name when discussing standouts — not just young players, but impressive defensive backs overall. Considering the secondary is the largest and possibly the best unit on the entire roster, the recognition for one of the youngest players on the team — an early enrollee true freshman — means he’s doing a lot right, on and off the field, in front of his new teammates and coaches. “Kayin Lee is doing a great job,” McGriff said. “I mean, you got to think that this guy is supposed to be getting ready to go to the prom, but he’s in spring ball, making plays. The thing that’s most impressive about him is we know he has the physical tools, but just off the field, I mean, he will not leave the building if he doesn’t understand the coverage. He’ll knock on the door and say, ‘Hey, coach, I don’t understand this coverage.’ The first thing I do, I’ll look to see if he has something to write on, and he has his notebook, and as soon as he sits down he pulls it out and is taking notes.” Back in his third stint with the program as an assistant, McGriff coaches Auburn’s cornerbacks, while returning assistant Zac Etheridge oversees the safeties and nickels. The scholarship numbers are slim for Auburn at corner this spring, with Lee serving as one of just four at the moment. That will change in the fall, when three more true freshman corners arrive, but for now, Lee’s been offered consistent second-team reps and hasn’t disappointed. Auburn’s fifth-year senior safety, Zion Puckett, and last year’s starting nickel, Keionte Scott, immediately mentioned Lee when asked who in the secondary is having a strong spring. Puckett said he remembers the benefits of being an early enrollee, and that it’s nice to get a feel for the speed of practice on the SEC level. For Lee, that apparently hasn’t been an issue. “The level of style that he played in high school, I feel like he's bringing that immediately right to the table,” Puckett said. “And I feel like that's not something that a lot of high-schoolers that don't come in early do." Added Scott: “Kayin Lee, yes, he looked really good. He’s taking the coaching well. He’s been up in the office getting some extra work, too. I noticed that early.” The second-highest rated signee in Auburn’s 2023 class — behind only pass-rusher Keldric Faulk — Lee flipped from Ohio State on signing day. His role on this year’s defense would have been even larger had D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett not opted to return to school for another year instead of turning pro. Instead, Lee is absorbing their experience and expertise, while flashing the speed and skills that made him a top-150 overall recruit. In terms of a breakout candidate on the defensive side of the ball, regardless of age, the 5-foot-11 freshman is certainly making his case. “He wants to be great,” McGriff said. ‘He has the attitude and demeanor where he wants to be great. You can see it transfer over to the field, so I’m excited about his progression. He’s making plays. He’s got a lot of confidence. The biggest thing about him like that is don’t put too much on his plate and make sure you coach his confidence up. But he’s doing great. I’m excited about him. He will have an impact on this football team and this program.” *** 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 *** ">247Sports

si.com NCAA changes portal options for undergraduate transfers Matthew Jacobs ~4 minutes On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, The NCAA notified all the college athletic programs under its purview that it is updating the procedural requirements regarding the portal options of two-time transfer undergraduates. The changes do not affect first-time transfers whatsoever and focuses specifically on the two-time transfer “waiver”. The most significant update is that waivers will no longer be approved due to coaching changes, the athlete’s playing time/role changes, or changes to his or her scholarship status with the current institution. This will strongly control the number of student-athletes entering the portal multiple times as they try to find their footing. The changes are deemed in effect starting the 2023-24 championship season. Here is the memo in its entirety: "NCAA Division I Undergraduate Four-Year Transfer Waiver Process In all sports, four-year undergraduate student-athletes who decide to transfer to a new NCAA school can generally be eligible to compete for the new school provided they have not previously transferred and notify their current school by entering the NCAA Transfer Portal during their sport-specific transfer window. General information on who qualifies for the one-time transfer exception is available here. A waiver process remains available for undergraduate transfer student-athletes who do not qualify for the one-time transfer exception; however there have been changes made to the types of requests that will be considered. UNDERGRADUATE FOUR-YEAR TRANSFER WAIVERS (Effective for 2023-24 championship eligibility) An undergraduate transfer waiver will only be considered for student-athletes who transfer: For reasons related to the student-athlete's physical or mental health and well-being; Due to exigent circumstances outside the student-athlete's control (e.g., physical or sexual assault or discrimination based on a protected class); or Assertions involving diagnosed education impacting disabilities. A detailed description of the documentation and information that is required for each waiver type is available in the updated NCAA Division I Committee for Legislative Relief Information Standards, Guidelines and Directives. REASONS AN UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER WAIVER WILL BE DENIED Academic Reasons Athletic Reasons Degree program does not meet SA's expectations (e.g., academic difficulty). Lack or change of participation: No participation opportunity. Reduction in playing time. Change in position or role on the team." - NCAA Academic Membership and Affairs This would appear to be just the first of many steps towards gaining more control of the number of athletes in the portal system. The NCAA mentioned this as one of its priorities to tackle when it issued five rule change proposals On January 23, 2023. How any of this will affect the student athletes across the Auburn University campus remains to be seen.

Auburn football: Hugh Freeze calls out 'inconsistencies' at QB during Tigers' spring practice Robbie Weinstein 3–4 minutes Auburn will need better quarterback play in 2023 if the Tigers hope to turn things around in the SEC West under first-year coach Hugh Freeze. But Freeze indicated this week that it has been a mixed bag so far from his signal-callers during spring practice. "I've liked their attitude, I've liked their work ethic and I like the way that they desire to be coached," Freeze said. "I don't like to see the inconsistency that we have seen through six (practices). Again, I want to say that part of that is on us, the staff to (get) fixed. I have challenged myself and some of the quarterback coaches for this to get fixed. I don't want those inconsistencies to be because of indecisiveness or understanding. That falls in our lap." Starting quarterback Robby Ashford returns for Auburn, as does part-time starter T.J. Finley, an LSU transfer. Redshirt freshman Holden Geriner, a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, also is fighting for playing time. The Tigers have not taken a transfer quarterback to this point, although more players at the position could become available in the NCAA transfer portal after spring practices end across the country. Last season, Ashford — who previously transferred in from Oregon — appeared in 12 games and completed just 49.2% of his passes for 1,613 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions. The former four-star recruit tore it up on the ground, however, running for 710 yards and seven scores. Finley appeared in four games, completing 62.3% of his passes for 431 yards and one touchdown with four interceptions. The big-armed, big-framed quarterback flashed for Auburn in 2021 after arriving from LSU but did not carry over that momentum into last season. Geriner, meanwhile, saw action in just one game and completed two of his three attempts for eight yards while taking a redshirt year. The Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School product ranked as the nation's No. 14 quarterback in the 2022 class and received a comparison to former Missouri and Indiana quarterback Connor Bazelak from 247Sports' Andrew Ivins. Listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Geriner has solid size for the position and some mobility as well. Geriner threw at Auburn's Pro Day this week and impressed Tigers NFL Draft prospect Tank Bigsby, via Nathan King of Auburn Undercover. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today. “He's one of the most accurate quarterbacks I've ever met, and he's a good guy,” Bigsby said. “And I'm sure that's why they had him throwing today.” ">247Sports

Auburn receivers look to answer Freeze's call, finish spring strong Nathan King 5–6 minutes AUBURN, Alabama — The Tigers’ new-look passing game has a long way to go, Hugh Freeze said on the third week of spring practice. Naturally, much of that attention circles back to the quarterback competition. But half of that equation, as Freeze mentioned, is the receiving corps. The head coach challenged them Monday to respond over the final couple weeks of practice — calling the receivers and quarterbacks "the farthest off" in the third week of practice — and it’s on first-year position coach Marcus Davis to get an experienced but not overly productive group in a position for a satisfactory finish to the spring. “One thing is that it's a new offense — getting the guys used to playing with tempo, playing fast,” Davis said Thursday. “It's just the little things right now, as you continue to learn and progress as far as the offense goes. Being on the RPO deal, being able to take shots down the field — it's just getting those guys to practice to the expectation and play to the expectation. But the best thing about the group is that they're buying in, they're hungry and all of them want to do right.” Of course, the QBs and receivers go hand-in-hand, as first-year coordinator Philip Montgomery looks to implement a new system, with run-pass-option elements sprinkled in, as the Tigers’ offensive install gets heavier and heavier with every day of practice. And Freeze saying he still wants to see more from his passers can’t be an excuse, Davis said. Auburn’s receiving corps hasn’t been the most consistent unit on the team in recent seasons — the fact that Davis is its fifth position coach in three years doesn’t help — and now the receivers are part of yet another quarterback competition. “Just doing what you are supposed to do and being where you are supposed to be no matter what else is going on,” Davis said. “If there is an opportunity to make a play, just make a play.” Despite some of the group’s past struggles, Davis, a former Auburn receiver himself, plans to continue to hold what is one of the more experienced units on the roster to a high standard. Eight of its nine scholarship players are returning pieces from last season, bringing back a combined 1,319 yards and six touchdowns. The only newcomer this spring is Cincinnati transfer Nick Mardner, who was coached by Davis during their time together at Hawaii two years ago. “He just gives you another element,” Davis said of Mardner. “And there is definitely room to grow, but he gives you the element of a bigger body, a bigger target and that is always good for any quarterback.” Like any position on the roster, a clean slate from the new coaching staff opened new opportunities. Someone who would get noticed in any receiving corps, though, is rising sophomore Camden Brown, who’s continued to turn heads this spring after an exciting freshman campaign. He caught a touchdown in Auburn’s first spring scrimmage and could be in line to be a No. 1 target in the offense. “Really just his everyday approach,” Davis said of what impresses him about Brown. “You don’t know that from talking to a guy, it’s more of an action behind it. And so, his everyday approach is what separates him and makes him get and makes him want to get better because he – attention to the detail that you’re coaching and he wants to get better. So those things continue to show up on the film.” Ja'Varrius Johnson and Koy Moore are the returning starters, and Davis said he’s certainly leaned on them as linchpins while he, too, faces the challenge of getting acclimated in a new program. “It’s good to have a guy like (Johnson) in that room — a guy that has got experience and has been out there and has been productive to a point,” Davis said. “It is good to have that and it is good to see him and his work ethic because he naturally has influence and it rubs off. The same with Koy — guys who have been out there.” With redshirt junior Malcolm Johnson Jr. out for the rest of the spring with a collarbone injury, the main rotation in practice has been combinations of Brown, Johnson, Moore, Mardner and redshirt sophomore Tar'Varish Dawson. Redshirt freshmen Jay Fair and Omari Kelly, along with tight end transplant Landen King, are potential contributors, as well, who still have plenty of opportunities for roles in the offense this season. The team’s first full scrimmage of spring ball – which should serve as a litmus test for not only the passing game, but the entire roster — is set for Friday and will mark the Tigers’ ninth day of practice.

rollingstone.com Trump Scoffs at Calls for 'Peaceful' Response to Arrest Ryan Bort 6–7 minutes Skip to main content Trump Scoffs at Calls for ‘Peaceful’ Response to Arrest The former president implied on Truth Social that violence may be necessary to defend him against a series of criminal investigations Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before his speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at Gaylord National Resort Convention Center on March 4, 2023 in National Harbor, Maryland. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Donald Trump last Saturday told his supporters to “PROTEST” his impending arrest on charges stemming from the hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Republicans tried to clean up his mess either by rejecting the idea that people should protest, or insisting they should do so peacefully — but the former president doesn’t seem interested in peace. “EVERYBODY KNOWS I’M 100% INNOCENT, INCLUDING BRAGG, BUT HE DOESN’T CARE. HE IS JUST CARRYING OUT THE PLANS OF THE RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS. OUR COUNTRY IS BEING DESTROYED, AS THEY TELL US TO BE PEACEFUL!” he wrote Thursday on Truth Social. Trump has made half-hearted overtures to peaceful demonstration in the past, but there’s plenty of evidence suggesting he relishes violence carried out on his behalf — from reports that he was cheering on the Jan. 6 riot, to his affection for those convicted in the deadly assault on democracy, to the implication Thursday that peace isn’t enough to defend him against a bevy of criminal investigations. Trump has also called for various forms of law enforcement violence, praised a lawmaker for assaulting a reporter, and tweeted “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in response to the protests that followed George Floyd’s murder. Rolling Stone reported earlier this year that Trump wants to expand the use of the death penalty and publicly broadcast executions by firing squad and other barbaric means. Trump’s post on Thursday came amid a flurry of outrage over his impending arrest, which he initially claimed would take place on Tuesday but now isn’t likely to come before next Monday. Trump posted over 20 times before noon, repeatedly bashing everyone from Ron DeSantis, to Stormy Daniels, to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He also praised screen legend Jon Voight’s golf swing. “He is doing the work of Anarchists and the Devil, who want our Country to fail,” the former president wrote of Bragg. “The ‘Horseface’ agenda is dead, even by the most Radical Left Haters, but he doesn’t care, he wants to go with it anyway.” Save 25% on unlimited access to RollingStone.com. Offer ends tomorrow. this is why i will always call out that toxic piece of crap. he never stops and he does not care how many people he hurts including the country. the man is unhinged and needs to be in jail...........

i guess i have insulted the christian since they are avoiding this thread like a plague. i wanted to hear counter arguments. some of the things stated in that bible i can never get behind. i have never been able to come to terms with the bible because of many of the things in it.

they also have trump jumping up in the polls right now. that man needs to be in prison. my point is when the crazies take the lead i have little trut or respect for polls.

yahoo.com Calmes: As a Trump indictment looms, Republicans are throwing the rule of law under the bus Jackie Calmes 6–7 minutes Former President Trump has posted on social media that he expects to be arrested soon on charges related to a porn star pay-off. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images) A normal political party would have thrown a loser like Donald Trump under the bus by now. The Republicans are choosing to chuck the rule of law instead. Should the former president become the first to be indicted for a crime, many of us would prefer to see charges stemming from the ongoing investigations of his unprecedented efforts to reverse an election result and resist the peaceful transfer of power. We wouldn’t choose to make history from an old, tawdry and legally problematic allegation about pre-election hush money paid to a porn star to keep her mum about their tryst. But it seems likely a grand jury in New York City may decide otherwise; the hush money charges could come this week. If Trump is indicted for the pay-off scheme, we should respect the decision. Learn the facts. Let the prosecution play out. That should not need to be said, especially to our political leaders. Yet such a response does not describe what Republicans are doing. Instead, in truly stunning Orwellian style, they’re purporting to stand for the rule of law as they doggedly undermine it — all to pander to the vengeful Trump and the MAGA voters in his thrall. After Trump trumpeted — in all caps on social media on Saturday — that he was going to be arrested Tuesday, House Republicans immediately began flexing their power to interfere on his behalf. Ignoring the fact that any charge(s) against him would be a grand jury’s doing, Republicans, echoing the former president, attacked the Manhattan district attorney overseeing the case, Alvin L. Bragg, a Black Democrat, as a far-left rogue prosecutor. At the direction of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, three House committee chairmen on Monday demanded Bragg turn over investigatory material and submit to questioning. If Trump is indicted, the committee chairs told Bragg, “your actions will erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice and unalterably interfere in the course of the 2024 presidential election.” Trump must be proud of his protégés: That’s the sort of projection he’s mastered. The Republicans are rallying behind the man who for years bellowed “lock ‘em up!” about his political enemies. They’re alleging he is the victim of a political weaponization of the law. And that Bragg is “racist.” Some Republicans look beyond the Manhattan D.A. to blame President Biden: The chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, drew a parallel between Biden and Daniel Ortega, the Nicaraguan dictator who has arrested many political opponents. As if Biden were calling for Trump’s arrest and not, possibly, a grand jury of Trump’s fellow citizens. This anti-democratic behavior is far from normal, dangerous even. It sends a chilling message beyond Manhattan, to other prosecutors with evidence against the politically connected. Implausibly, McCarthy, a reliable Trump puppet, insisted the House Republicans’ trammeling of a criminal investigation “has nothing to do with whether [Trump] runs for president again or not.” Right. Recall a boast last summer of McCarthy’s ally, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the Judiciary Committee chair who spearheaded the letter to Bragg: Back then, anticipating the probes he’d open against Biden once Republicans won a House majority, Jordan told a reporter, “That will help frame up the 2024 race, when I hope and I think President Trump is going to run again. And we need to make sure that he wins.” The third-ranking House Republican leader, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, proudly told Punchbowl News on Monday that she’d briefed the master of Mar-a-Lago on the Republicans’ offensive. “I think you’re going to see President Trump continue to solidify his position in the Republican nomination,” Stefanik, the moderate-turned-MAGA militant, enthused. The Republicans seem blinded not only to their potential subversion of the rule of law, but also to the possibility of civil unrest in joining forces with Trump. In his Saturday morning post predicting his arrest, Trump urged his followers to “PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!” How could Republicans not immediately flash back to Trump’s exhortations (“Be there, will be wild!”) ahead of Jan. 6, 2021? But instead of ignoring him — or, better yet, admonishing him — McCarthy endorsed Trump’s fury. “Here we go again — an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump,” the speaker tweeted. It took reporters’ questions to get McCarthy to disavow Trump’s calls for protests. “I don’t think people should protest this, no,” he said. But, he added, neither does Trump — the former president’s own plain words to the contrary. For McCarthy, gaslighting seems to come easily. Even former Vice President Mike Pence joined the pile-on. Only a week earlier, Pence had surprised attendees at an annual white-tie Washington roast by turning serious, saying Trump’s “reckless words” on Jan. 6 “endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day. And I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.” But apparently Pence doesn’t want our justice system to hold Trump accountable: “I’m taken aback at the idea of indicting a former president of the United States.” He complained of “another politically charged prosecution” of Trump and said Americans have a “well-founded” frustration with what seems to be “a two-tier justice system.” Yes, many of us are irked with our justice system. But it’s not, as Pence thinks, the frustration of the MAGA voter. It’s that in a nation founded on the principle that no one is above the law, one man so far has been — first because he was the sitting president and now, if Republicans have their way, because he’s their leading candidate for the office. @jackiekcalmes This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

lou dobbs might have to give up some bucks as well since he was the biggest dude to lie about the machines. and i remember way back when lou was cool and had some sense. then he just lost it and in doing so any cred i had for him..............

i try. sometimes sickness or real life might interfere but i plan to do the best i can as long as i can.................thank you for your kindness. i just want to give back a little on here. i am not anything but just a member like you who wants to help.

if they want their bible i have no problem but quit banning my books when there are some really alarming things in it.

let me say first off this is not a hater post. i cannot stand censorship or book banning. you are supposed to learn from books as well as being entertained. but if you are a christian bunch and want things removed because of sex and all that sleazy you need to look at the bible with the same laws right? i do not care to see the bible being banned but i also believe everyone should follow the same laws. religion should be no different. my hope is they change the law and let some parents make that decision. it is just plain stupid. here are some interesting comments: You seem to be implying that Jesus didnt actually say "**** the poor, you go get yours! USA USA!"? Yes it depicts incest, rape, torture, murder, genocide, and whole heartedly endorses slavery and abuse. <ahem - looks down> Polygamy, animal sacrifice, human cloning - shall i go on? yup republicans worship supply side jesus not jesus of nazareth. My favorite was that time god made a bear kill a bunch of children for teasing a bald dude.{ i actually think this is a parable but i have no idea in truth} And murdering babies! Can’t forget good ol’ Psalm 137:9. 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. so why does the bible get a pass? ;

sltrib.com A Utah parent says the Bible contains porn and should be removed from school libraries. Here’s their full challenge. By Courtney Tanner | March 22, 2023, 1:55 p.m. | Updated: March 23, 2023, 10:48 a.m. 8–10 minutes Frustrated by the books being removed from school libraries, a Utah parent says there’s one that hasn’t been challenged yet, but that they believe should be, for being “one of the most sex-ridden books around.” So they’ve submitted a request for their school district in Davis County to now review the Bible for any inappropriate content. “Incest, onanism, bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, dildos, rape, and even infanticide,” the parent wrote in their request, listing topics they found concerning in the religious text. “You’ll no doubt find that the Bible, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-1227, has ‘no serious values for minors’ because it’s pornographic by our new definition.” Watch a helicopter find and rescue stranded hiker in Utah The code cited is the Utah law passed in 2022 to ban any books containing “pornographic or indecent” content from Utah schools, both in libraries and in the classroom. It came after outcry from conservative parents groups, who have been pushing to have titles removed. The Salt Lake Tribune obtained a copy of the parent’s petition for the book review of the Bible late Tuesday after submitting a public records request for it on March 9, asking for an expedited response, which was denied. Davis School District did not respond to The Tribune’s request for comment then, but returned a call late Wednesday. District spokesperson Christopher Williams repeated what he’s told other media outlets: “We don’t differentiate between one request and another. We see that as the work that we do.” He said the Bible challenge has been given to a committee to review; the process typically takes 60 days, but Williams said the committee is not done with this request due to a backlog as more parents have been questioning books. According to the copy of the request, the parent submitted their challenge on Dec. 11. The district removed the parent’s name, address and contact information, citing privacy reasons. The parent also attached to their request an eight-page listing of passages from the Bible that they found to be offensive and worth reviewing. Their request is to specifically remove the book from shelves at Davis High School. “Get this PORN out of our schools,” the parent wrote. “If the books that have been banned so far are any indication for way lesser offenses, this should be a slam dunk.” The parent points to action by Utah Parents United, a right-leaning group that has led the efforts to challenge books here for being inappropriate. It has largely centered on texts written by and about the LGBTQ community and people of color. Based on the new Utah law, something is indecent if it includes explicit sexual arousal, stimulation, masturbation, intercourse, sodomy or fondling. According to state attorneys, material doesn’t have to be “taken as a whole” in those situations or left on the shelf during a review. If there is a scene involving any of those acts, it should be immediately removed. Those who have opposed that effort have said it steps on the First Amendment right for kids to access materials, especially from diverse viewpoints. In submitting the online form for the book review, the parent echoes that, writing: “I thank the Utah Legislature and Utah Parents United for making this bad faith process so much easier and way more efficient. Now we can all ban books and you don’t even need to read them or be accurate about it. Heck, you don’t even need to see the book!” (The parent does note, though, that they read the Bible before suggesting it be removed.) The parent argues that Utah Parents United is “a white supremacist hate group” that is stepping on education and the freedom to access literature. They say that’s particularly worrisome in Davis School District, which has been “under investigation for being racist.” Davis was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, which released a report in 2021 finding that the district intentionally ignored “serious and widespread” racial harassment in its schools for years. Utah Parents United responded to a request for comment from The Tribune on Wednesday, saying: “We believe in following the law. That’s all we’re asking schools to do.” The group has previously said that its members are not challenging books based on race or LGBTQ relationships. But they have repeatedly targeted the same titles in school districts across the state, including “The Bluest Eye” by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison and “Gender Queer,” a graphic novel about the author’s journey of self-identity. Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, who sponsored the bill to remove pornographic books from school libraries, called the request to pull the Bible “antics that drain school resources.” “There was a purpose to the bill and this kind of stuff, it’s very unfortunate,” he said. “There are any number of studies that directly link sexualization and hyper-sexualization with sexual exploitation and abuse. Certainly, those are things we don’t want in schools.” (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. He said his measure was not meant to ban books but to limit books based on what’s age appropriate for children in schools. “If a parent still wants their kid to read a certain book, they can go buy it on Amazon or at a bookstore or even check it out at their public library,” Ivory added. Williams with Davis School District noted that parents can also call their child’s school and limit their account, specifically, so the student cannot check out listed titles. Only 10 parents have done that across the district, Williams noted. When asked specifically if the challenge on the Bible had merit, Ivory said: “I guess the schools will get to burn time and resource to determine that.” He also acknowledged the parent who submitted the request “really had to go through their Bible study” to come up with the list of examples they found inappropriate. He added: “I hope they paid attention to other parts of the Bible, though.” The eight-page list starts with passages from Genesis that mention sex, alcohol, nudity, rape and incest. A quote from Genesis 19:8 reads: “See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish.” Genesis 19:35-36 adds: “Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.” The other citations highlight similar themes, including passages mentioning “whoredom” and “breasts” and “fornication.” Ivory said he sees the request as a political stunt, not a serious request. He suggested: “For people to minimize that and to make a mockery of it is very sad.” The books he said he was worried about in drafting the measure included graphic novels with drawings that legislative attorneys advised him he couldn’t show in public meetings because “they would violate state and federal obscenity laws.” That includes “Gender Queer,” a novel about the author’s journey of self-identity that has some scenes of illustrated figures engaging in sexual conduct. Last year in Alpine School District, 52 books flagged by parents were pulled from shelves while they were reviewed. One of the books on the list seemed possibly misidentified simply because of its title. It’s called “SEX: If You’re Scared of the Truth Don’t Read This!” The author argues in favor of abstinence, which is what is taught by law in Utah schools. The Bible wasn’t challenged there and doesn’t appear to have been questioned yet in other Utah school districts where books have been removed, including nine in Canyons School District and several in Washington County School District. Utah Parents United curriculum director Brooke Stephens also filed a police report with both Farmington Police Department and Davis County Sheriff’s Office last year, according to copies provided to The Tribune, to report a list of 47 books in Davis School District. None of those were religious texts. The school district, according to the spokesperson, has the Bible, Book of Mormon, Torah and Quran available to check out.

Bruce Pearl shares lessons learned from this year's Auburn team Peter Warren•03/21/23 Article written by:Peter Warren thepeterwarren (Chang/Getty Images) Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl finished his ninth season as the leader of the Tigers program this weekend with the team’s loss in the Round of 32 to Houston. It marks the fourth time in six seasons that Auburn has won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers finished the season with a 21-13 record and a 10-8 record in the SEC, which was good for seventh in the conference. With the season coming to an close, Pearl was asked about what lessons he learned from his experience this year. “If it’s not broke don’t fix it,” Pearl said. “What we do works. We will recognize and honor these guys for their contribution. I’ll be shifting gears now helping, you know, the guys that are going to want to take a look at maybe where their draft status could be, we’ll look at that. And, you know, within the next week or two get a look at what our roster looks like. If we lose anybody in the transfer portal and begin to rebuild it.” Johni Broome led the team with 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds this year. He was one of four players on the team to average double figures in scoring along with Allen Flanigan, Wendell Green Jr. and Jaylin Williams. Bruce Pearl explains impact this year’s Auburn team had on him personally Bruce Pearl also talked about the impact this year’s Auburn game had on him personally. He said he is proud of how the team played during an up-and-down season but was also hoping for a better finish to the season. “I’m proud of them, but I also have a pretty high standard,” Pearl said. “And so I’m grateful, and I want them to feel really good about the fact that they had a good year and, you know, we are grateful for our fan base. I’m grateful for Auburn University and the way they support us, and the way so many people on our staff and the University work so hard to give us a chance to play, you know, in this environment.”

Allen Flanigan reveals cause of Auburn's second half offensive issues Nick Kosko•03/22/23 Article written by:Nick Kosko nickkosko59 (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) Auburn fell short of an NCAA Tournament run with a 81-64 loss to Houston in the Round of 32. Allen Flanigan talked about his team’s second half issues in the loss to the Cougars. The Tigers had a 10 point lead at halftime but were outscored 50-23 in the final 20 minutes, a stark contrast to the first half. Flanigan and his teammates were shut down and could not pull off the upset. He chalked it up to defensive issues for Auburn. “Second half we missed box outs,” Flanigan said. “They got offensive rebounds, second chance points, and they lined us up and drove us and got some mid-range shots. They (wer) able to knock down their mid-range shots.” In 32 minutes, Flanigan had 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Johni Broome and Jaylin Wiliams led Auburn in scoring with 14 points each. Williams and Flanigan can return next year due to the COVID-19 waiver. But both players have yet to make a decision if they want to come back and make another run. “I haven’t really thought much about it you, know,” Williams said. “I’m locked into what’s now — what was now. So now I will think more about it, and talk with my mom and my family, and talk with B.P., and see what’s best for me and what’s going to work out. Never really thought much about it.” Flanigan echoed that statement. “Same. We was focused, locked-in on the season,” Flanigan said. “Wasn’t thinking about what’s next for us. We was locked in on the season trying to expand the season and keep going and keep playing with this team. Now that this has come to an end, sit down and talk to coach, and talk to my family and make a decision.” Allen Flanigan, Bruce Pearl honest about Auburn’s second half issues In the end, as Flanigan alluded to, the second half was a different story for Auburn. “I wish it was a 20-minute game instead of a 40-minute game,” head coach Bruce Pearl said. “You know, we were ready to play. The kids were ready to play. Steven Pearl had the game plan, did a great job with our defensive game plan. And we got great looks in the first half. Ran whatever we wanted. And played great basketball. In the second half, I don’t think our guys were — we were as prepared for how aggressive they would be. I’m sure that Kelvin jumped all over them at halftime and just lit them up. And they came out and they guarded us much harder, much better. And then we — we didn’t respond to it. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the On3 YouTube channel today for all of the latest news on college football, recruiting, NIL, more! “In other words, we probably anticipated that’s how they got us in the first half and then deal with it. It actually worked to our disadvantage because that’s how we expected them to play from the beginning. And when it was so easy in the first half, I think there was a chance we thought that’s how it was going to be for the rest of the game, because we were dominated in the second half on both ends of the floor.”

Five-star Alabama commit Ryan Williams sets two more Auburn visits JD McCarthy 2–3 minutes It’s safe to say that Auburn’s previous staff dropped the ball with their recruitment of five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams. The new staff, led by Marcus Davis and Hugh Freeze, has prioritized the legacy recruit and has the Tigers back in the race. Williams, who committed to Alabama on Oct. 8, 2022, visited Auburn on Monday and once again had a great visit, he told Auburn Undercover’s Christian Clemente. “Another great visit,” Williams said. “I really enjoyed myself today and I’m pretty sure my family enjoyed themselves today, too. Definitely, like always, the brotherhood here. Practice was exciting, the receivers made a lot of great days. Just an overall great day.” This was his second visit since the new staff took over he has already set up two more. The 6-foot, 170-pounder is planning to return to the Plains on March 27 and for the A-Day game on April 8, he told Clemente. He is the No. 12 overall player and No. 3 wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite ranking. The Saraland product is also the No. 4 player from Alabama in the 2025 recruiting cycle. He caught 88 passes for 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. He added 700 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Auburn already has one commit in its 2025 recruiting class, Opelika defensive lineman Malik Autry. More Recruiting! Four-star edge rusher Jamonta Waller to visit Auburn Dillon Wade ranked among top underrated SEC transfers Tight end target Colton Heinrich: Auburn 'felt like one big family' Four-star cornerback Jalyn Crawford crystal balled to Auburn 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.

si.com Could Auburn basketball land Denver Jones? Zac Blackerby ~2 minutes Denver Jones could be a key target in the transfer portal. Following Auburn's recent loss to Houston, the Tigers' recruiting efforts are expected to increase. Denver Jones, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Florida International University, has entered the transfer portal and Auburn is among the teams interested in him. Other notable programs interested in Jones include Arkansas, Missouri, Memphis, Miami, Georgia, Florida State, and LSU. Jones, a native of New Market, Alabama, averaged 20.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists this season while shooting 47.8% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. Prior to playing with FIU, he played for Garden City Community College. Auburn is currently lacking in guard play and Jones' addition could be a significant improvement in that area. With only one signee so far, Aden Holloway, a four-star point guard and the No. 27 player in the 2023 recruiting class according to 247 Sports, it is expected to be a busy year for Auburn in the transfer portal. The team is likely to see roster changes this offseason, providing opportunities for fresh talent. Related Stories

auburnwire.usatoday.com Behind Enemy Lines: Auburn-Georgia series preview with Anthony Dasher of UGASports Taylor Jones 6–7 minutes After a frustrating start to the SEC schedule, the Auburn Tigers are ready to welcome in rival Georgia to Plainsman Park for a three-game series beginning Thursday night. Auburn kicked off the SEC slate by dropping all three of their games to No. 3 Arkansas on the road, being outscored 21-5 throughout the weekend. The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Friday’s opener before a Brady Slavens home run kickstarted a five-run 5th inning which led Arkansas to a 7-2 win. Auburn was never able to grab another lead in the series, as they dropped the final two games in the series, 9-3, and 5-0 respectively. Buy Tigers Tickets Georgia suffered a similar fate in their SEC opening series against South Carolina at Foley Field in Athens, dropping all three games to the Gamecocks. In Friday’s opener, Georgia held a 4-3 lead before South Carolina’s Michael Braswell hit a two-run double in the 9th inning to put his team ahead for good. The Gamecocks won the ensuing games of the series, 12-2 and 12-1. In an effort to learn more about Auburn baseball’s next SEC opponent, Georgia, we called upon Anthony Dasher of UGASports to shed some light on the story of the 2023 Bulldogs to this point. Here is this week’s edition of Behind Enemy Lines with Georgia beat writer, Anthony Dasher. Joshua L. Jones, Athens Banner-Herald Like Auburn, Georgia was swept to open SEC play. What factors led to South Carolina earning the sweep? Georgia lost a heartbreaker in Game 1 of a Saturday doubleheader, losing 5-4 when South Carolina pinch-hitter took a two-out, 1-2 pitch and lined it down the line in right for a two-run double. For whatever reason, the gut punch carried over into Game 2, and the Bulldogs were run-ruled 12-2. South Carolina has a solid, solid rotation, so give them credit. Starting pitching depth, or lack thereof isn’t doing the team any favors right now. Jaden Woods and Liam Sullivan are solid, but after that, it’s very, very sketchy. I do think the Bulldogs are a much-better hitting team than what they showed against the Gamecocks; they just did not show up on this particular occasion. Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News/USA Today Sports Who is the ace of the weekend staff, and how has the weekend rotation as a whole performed this season? Kind of touched on this above. Thursday’s Game 1 starter Jaden Woods (3-0, 2.96 with 41 strikeouts in 24.1 innings) is a legitimate major league prospect. Tops out at 96, and has developed a nice curve ball to go with a slider that’s really made him a pretty complete pitcher. Liam Sullivan is a big dude, and like Woods is a lefty. However, Sullivan (3-1, 2.280 does not throw as hard (tops out at 92), but does feature a very good four-pitch mix, and he’s on, can be very tough. As I write this, I expect freshman Kolten Smith (1-0, 5.19) to get Sunday’s start. He was scheduled to pitch Game 3 against South Carolina, but he and like five other players came down with food poisoning the night before and was unable to go. Smith’s probably pitched a little better than his ERA suggests. He does have 12 strikeouts in eight innings, but still needs to learn to pitch deeper in games. Tony Walsh/UGAAA Charlie Condon is one of the top hitters in the nation. What makes him so special? I’ve been covering Georgia baseball for 25 years and Condon hits the ball as hard as anybody I can recall. He’s 6-foot-6, 220 pounds (still adding muscle), and his exit velos have been as high as 115 mph. He’s got extremely quick wrists, rarely gets fooled (only nine strikeouts in 74 at-bats). Everything he hits just seems to get hit hard. He’ll take the ball to all fields, and so far, has hit left-handed and right-handed pitchers equally as well. He’s currently on a 19-game hitting streak after going hitless in the season-opener. Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News Auburn is known for storming back to win games that there are behind in. How well has Georgia done at sealing games? So far, we haven’t seen a lot of that. Georgia – seemingly – scores 10-plus runs and wins handily, or fall behind and never find a way to catch up. It’s been a strange season for the Bulldogs so far in that respect. Joshua L Jones/Athens Banner-Herald Who are other players that Auburn fans need to be aware of? Condon overshadows Connor Tate, but the fifth-year Bulldog is hitting with seven homers and 24 RBI. Hit a home run this year that Trackman measure at 470 feet. Others include third baseman Parks Harber (.316-8-22), while outfielder/catcher Corey Collins has a lot of pop from the left side and has five home runs. Second baseman Mason LaPlante is a transfer from Yale who has adjusted well and comes in batting .338 with three homers and 10 RBIs. Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News What will Georgia need to do well in order to win this upcoming series? Starts with pitching. They’ll need to get length from both Woods and Sullivan. If they can do that, there are enough good pieces in the bullpen with Kyle Greenler, Dalton Rhadans, Chandler Marsh and freshman Matthew Hoskins to be effective. Hoskins is another player to watch. Tops out at 97 mph with 19 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. Joshua L Jones/Online Athens What is your prediction for this weekend’s series? Both teams are in the exact same boat after being swept last weekend. Georgia fans are grumbling after seeing the Bulldogs swept by South Carolina, and the trip to Auburn is the first of two straight SEC road series for the team which travels to Vanderbilt next week. The team could not have played much worse in Game 2 Saturday and the finale on Sunday. I do not think that was indicative of what you’ll see this weekend. If the Bulldogs can get another good start from Woods on Thursday, then I believe you’ll see Georgia take 2 of 3. The bats have to do a better job. But again, there’s too many good hitters on this team to have what we saw last weekend happen again.

si.com Five players Auburn basketball could grab out of the transfer portal Lance Dawe ~3 minutes Auburn basketball may need to rearrange some pieces this offseason if it is going to make a deeper push in the postseason. The Tigers should bring back most of their production, with the duo of leading scorers Wendell Green Jr and Johni Broome both coming back (for now). There's an expectation that some players may return (Allen Flanigan, Jaylin Williams) while others depart. Regardless, it's clear what the Tigers need: more consistency from their guards. Here are five guards Auburn could get out of the transfer portal. Denver Jones, FIU The popular pick among fans right now, Denver Jones was everything fans want - height, shooting, and bucket-getting ability. Jones averaged 20.1 points per game in his second season with the Panthers while shooting 47.8% from the floor and 37.1% from three. At 6-foot-4, this feels like a must-watch for both the Auburn staff and for the fans. Hailing originally from New Market, Alabama, there feels like too many reasons for Jones to give Auburn a very strong look. Jameer Nelson Jr, Delaware Nelson is a 6-foot-1 combo guard who was a volume shooter for the Blue Hens last season, Averaging over 20 points per game. 247Sports believes his assist numbers would have been higher if he had better talent surrounding him. Nelson could easily step in at SG for Auburn. Walter Clayton Jr, Iona Another shooter the Tigers could use. Clayton Jr shot 43.1% from deep in his sophomore season for Rick Pitino and Iona, averaging 16.8 points per game. The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter shot 47.4% from outside the arc over the course of his final 15 games as a Gael. Amaree Abram, Ole Miss Abram, a former four-star prospect, averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists during his freshman season with the Rebels. He has the size (6-foot-4) and the shooting (36.4% from three) Auburn may want. Noah Fernandes, UMass Fernandes is the shortest of the bunch here, standing at just 5-foot-11. However, he's the best shooter, shooting 48.0% from the floor and 45.2% from deep for UMass. He's a senior transfer who only played in 11 games last season due to injury.

AU commit Labaron Philon among ASWA player of year finalists Published: Mar. 22, 2023, 5:00 a.m. 4–5 minutes Sports ASWA Boys POY finalists: Auburn commit Labaron Philon among repeat contenders in 2023 Baker's Labaron Philon shoots against Enterprise during the AHSAA Class 7A South Regional at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com) Baker junior Labaron Philon is one of just four repeat finalists for player of the year is his classification in 2023. The Alabama Sports Writers Association announced three finalists today in each of the seven AHSAA classifications and the AISA. The winners – long with Mr. Basketball – will be announced at the annual Player of the Year Banquet on April 6 in Montgomery. RELATED: ASWA boys all-state team 2023 RELATED: AL.com Coastal Alabama boys team The banquet is sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association. Philon is the only 2022 winner with a chance to repeat in 2023. He was the 7A player of the year as a sophomore and is a finalist this year in the same class along with Central-Phenix City’s Jacoby Hill and Vestavia Hills’ Win Miller. The other repeat finalists are Jacksonville’s John Broom in Class 4A, Piedmont’s Alex Odam in Class 3A and Charles Henderson’s Austin Cross, an AISA finalist in 2022 and a Class 5A finalist a year later. Here is the complete list of 2023 finalists: CLASS 7A Central-Phenix City's Jacoby Hill works the ball down the court during an AHSAA Class 7A championship game at BJCC's Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com) Jacoby Hill, Central-Phenix City Win Miller, Vestavia Hills Labaron Philon, Baker CLASS 6A Mountain Brook's Ty Davis passes against Buckhorn's Caleb Holt during an AHSAA 6A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Sat, Mar. 4, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | preps@al.com) Ty Davis, Mountain Brook Caleb Holt, Buckhorn Caleb White, Pinson Valley CLASS 5A Valley's Cam’Ron Dooley shoots a free throw during an AHSAA Class 5A championship game at BJCC's Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com) Austin Cross, Charles Henderson Cam-Ron Dooley, Valley Brandon Fussell, Guntersville CLASS 4A Westminster Christian's Chase McCarty (21) shoots against Jacksonville during an AHSAA 4A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Mar. 3, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | preps@al.com) KJ Anderson, Deshler John Broom, Jacksonville Chase McCarty, Westminster-Huntsville CLASS 3A Cottage Hill's Tyler Thomas looks to pass the ball during a prep boys basketball game, Friday, February 3, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com Alex Odam, Piedmont Luke Smith, Plainview Tyler Thomas, Cottage Hill CLASS 2A Aliceville's Jatavius Colvin pushes his way against St. Luke’s Mike Myles during an AHSAA 2A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Mar. 3, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | preps@al.com) Jatavius Colvin, Aliceville Jacob StClair, Sand Rock Chandler Sullivan, North Sand Mountain CLASS 1A Convenant Christian's Trey Kellogg (14) drives to the basket against Oakwood Academy's Will Lewis (24) during an AHSAA 1A championship game at BJCC’s Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thurs, Mar. 2, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | preps@al.com) Thomas Curlee, Faith-Anniston Trey Kellogg, Covenant Christian Jaden Nixon, Autaugaville AISA Lukas Holman, Glenwood Joseph Horne, Lee-Scott Jacob Wilson, Macon-East If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

auburnwire.usatoday.com A season in review: Wendell Green Jr. JD McCarthy 12–16 minutes The Auburn Tigers ended the 2022-23 season with a loss in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Houston in the round of 32. As the program begins to transition to the offseason, Auburn Wire will take time to reflect on the season that was by highlighting the accomplishments of this year’s team. We started with guard K.D. Johnson and up next is junior point guard Wendell Green Jr. Buy Tigers Tickets Last season was Green’s second season on the Plains after transferring in from Eastern Kentucky. Green stepped into a new role with the Tigers and flourished. He started all 34 games at point guard after mostly coming off the bench last season and took a step forward. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team after averaging 13.7 points and 4.1 assists per game. He scored in double figures in 23 of Auburn’s games and scored 20 or more seven different times. He set a new career-high with 24 points against Alabama on Feb. 11 and against Tennessee on March 4. While they lost against Alabama, his performance secured their win over the Vols and clinched their place in the NCAA Tournament. Here is a look back at Green’s season with the best images of the 2022-23 season. Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) celebrates guard Allen Flanigan (22) and-one play as Auburn… Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) celebrates guard Allen Flanigan (22) and-one play as Auburn Tigers take on Houston Cougars in the second round of NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, March 18, 2023. Houston Cougars defeated Auburn Tigers 81-64. NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Auburn vs Houston Mar 18, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) reacts after a… Mar 18, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) reacts after a three pointer during the first half against the Houston Cougars at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports Auburn v Houston BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 18: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after making… BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 18: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after making a three-point basket during the first half against the Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 18, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Auburn v Houston BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 18: Johni Broome #4 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn… BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 18: Johni Broome #4 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers talk during the second half against the Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 18, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Auburn v Houston BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 18: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers sits on the… BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 18: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers sits on the bench prior to the start of the game against the Houston Cougars in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 18, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Auburn v Iowa BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn… BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers react during a timeout during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) mbb Wendell Green Jr. (1) during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Auburn Tigers at… Wendell Green Jr. (1) during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Mar 4, 2023. Steven Leonard/Auburn Tigers mbb Wendell Green Jr. (1) during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Auburn Tigers at… Wendell Green Jr. (1) during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena in Auburn, AL on Saturday, Mar 4, 2023. Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Kentucky Feb 25, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) celebrates after being… Feb 25, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) celebrates after being fouled during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Kentucky Feb 25, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) brings the ball… Feb 25, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) brings the ball up the court during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports Ole Miss v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 22: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers drives against Matthew… AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 22: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers drives against Matthew Murrell #11 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half of play at Neville Arena on February 22, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) NCAA Basketball: Missouri at Auburn Feb 14, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives past Missouri… Feb 14, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives past Missouri Tigers forward Noah Carter (35) during the first half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: Julie Bennett-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at West Virginia Jan 28, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (on floor) and… Jan 28, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (on floor) and former Auburn player Charles Barkley (middle left) and West Virginia Mountaineers guard Erik Stevenson (10) react after the final shot as the Mountaineers defeat the Tigers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at West Virginia Jan 28, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) dribbles the… Jan 28, 2023; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) dribbles the ball up the floor against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the first half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at South Carolina Jan 21, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives for… Jan 21, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives for a layup against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: SEC Conference Tournament Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives to the… Mar 11, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Hassan Diarra (5) defends during the second half at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Louisiana State Jan 18, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) shoots the… Jan 18, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) shoots the ball against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Mississippi State at Auburn Jan 14, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) controls a loose… Jan 14, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) controls a loose ball and runs down the court against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Mississippi Jan 10, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl (right) talks with guard… Jan 10, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl (right) talks with guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Mississippi State at Auburn Jan 14, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) goes for a… Jan 14, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) goes for a layup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Georgia Jan 4, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) brings the ball… Jan 4, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) brings the ball up the court against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Florida v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 28: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass… AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 28: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass the ball in front of Colin Castleton #12 of the Florida Gators during the second half of play at Neville Arena on December 28, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) NCAA Basketball: Auburn at Memphis Dec 10, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) dives over Memphis… Dec 10, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) dives over Memphis Tigers guard Kendric Davis (3) in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) takes a jump shot as Auburn Tigers take on… Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) takes a jump shot as Auburn Tigers take on George Mason Patriots at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. Auburn Tigers lead George Mason Patriots 31-24 at halftime. Auburn v Iowa BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 16: Johni Broome #4 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn… BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - MARCH 16: Johni Broome #4 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers react after a basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Aubrun v. Arkansas NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 9: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a three… NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 9: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates a three pointer against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half of the second round of the 2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 9, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) Arkansas v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - JANUARY 07: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers dives after a… AUBURN, ALABAMA - JANUARY 07: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers dives after a live ball during the second half of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Neville Arena on January 07, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) Georgia State v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 14: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers takes a shot… AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 14: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers takes a shot over Evan Johnson #0 of the Georgia State Panthers at Neville Arena on December 14, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) Georgia State v Auburn AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 14: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers during their game… AUBURN, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 14: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers during their game against the Georgia State Panthers at Neville Arena on December 14, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) NCAA Basketball: Texas Southern at Auburn Nov 18, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) goes up for… Nov 18, 2022; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Wendell Green Jr. (1) goes up for a shot against Texas Southern Tigers during the second half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

it is my understanding tank is not real big on robby. i know they got into on the sideliens last year.

this might be a repeat from a few days ago but i love it. i love it when the first thing Coach Freeze said "Man what an honor"! i just feel deep down in my gut he feels blessed to be at Auburn. I also believe he will reward us on believing in him and giving him another chance with the big boys. when is the last time we have ever heard of bama and jawja players saying they love what is happening at auburn and are making repeat visits to the plains even tho they are already committed. when has this ever happened before?