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#PMARSHONAU: For Cadillac Williams, it's about family and giving back to Auburn Phillip Marshall 9–11 minutes Carnell Williams did not hesitate when he answered the question Thursday afternoon. What were his thoughts about what his future would hold when he is no longer Auburn’s interim head football coach? “I haven’t had time to think about it,” Williams said. “I’ve always lived my life in the present. I am kind of in the mindset that I don’t worry about what’s next. My now will take care of what’s next. I’m in the moment. I have enjoyed it. “One thing I don’t do is let my position dictate my service. Whether I’m the head coach or a position coach, whatever, I truly feel like I was put on this earth to serve, to give back and pour into people’s lives. It doesn’t matter if I am the head coach or the running backs coach or something else.” That answer is what the man they call Cadillac is all about. And it comes as no surprise to his mother, Sherry Williams, or his wife, Evan. “When he was in high school, he was like that,” his mother said. “He always wanted to take people with him and help other people. He’s always been like that.” Evan Williams sees the same person running Auburn’s football program that she saw when they met at Haley Center the third week of their freshman year in 2001. “He was pretty shy, actually,” Evan said. “People who know him know he’s pretty reserved. We dated for a long time. Even friends I have who were friends with when we were dating joke that they didn’t even know he could talk until about five years later. “I guess I was more surprised that he wasn’t a typical athlete. He was pretty shy and polite. I liked that about him.” *** Growing up in Gadsden, life was often not easy for Williams and his family. His mother worked multiple jobs to provide for her six children. Little Carnell promised that one day he was going to take care of her. “My mother my whole life has been my why,” Williams said, “why I do what I do. My whole life has been to help her better her life. I’ve seen her struggle. That has been my whole passion, my whole dream to take care of her.” In 2011, Williams married the love of his life. He and his wife, Evan, have two sons – 8-year-old Cole and 6-year-old Cuin. “My wife and my family have become my why,” Williams said. “We have two beautiful young boys. I could not do it without her. She is a great person, a great mother, a great friend. I can’t brag enough about her. The women in my life keep me humble. They keep me on a straight line.” (Photo: Greg McWilliams, 247Sports) As he grew, the little boy who so loved his mother became one of the great running backs in Alabama high school history at Etowah. Birmingham sportscaster Mike Raita dubbed him “Cadillac,” a name that stuck. He signed with Auburn and became an All-American and one of the more popular players in recent program history. Only Bo Jackson rushed for more yards in an Auburn uniform. He played seven years in the NFL. He kept his promise. “God is so good,” Williams said. “I have been blessed in my life to have so many people contribute to my success and help me along the way. This success is for many, many other people that poured into me and helped me pursue my dreams and accomplish a lot of my dreams.” Among those who knew him best, Williams was known as much for his ferocious work ethic and his compassion for those around him as he was his unique talent. It all started with his mother. “He is always giving me credit, and I’m grateful, but I always tell him to give God the credit,” Sherry Williams said. “If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be where I am today and he wouldn’t be doing what he is today. I have always believed if you want something, you are going to have to work hard and get out there and get it.” When Williams arrived on campus in the summer of 2001, he was the crown jewel of Auburn’s recruiting class. As is the way of college football, his teammates would call on him to prove himself. They dubbed him “Pinto,” saying he had to show he was a Cadillac. On the first day in pads, linebackers coach Joe Whitt put standout D.T. Thomas in to go against the freshman Williams. And Williams won the drill. “I think that was the moment I kind of got everybody’s attention,” Williams said. “I was probably a buck 80. I was a quiet guy, a chill guy. The question was ‘What will Pinto do when he gets in pads?’ I said ‘I’m going to hit him before he hits me.’ I think I earned the guys’ respect just with tenacity.” Soon, he was Cadillac again. Williams fought through season-ending injuries as a freshman and sophomore, winning yet more respect. He was a driving force in Auburn’s 13-0 season in 2004 and was chosen by the Tampa Bay Bucs with the No. 5 pick in the 2005 NFL draft. After fighting through more injuries, he retired in 2011. He coached at Henderson State, was a graduate assistant at West Georgia, coached at IMG Academy and finally for the Birmingham Iron in the ill-fated Alliance of American Football. In 2019, then-head coach Gus Malzahn called him home to coach Auburn’s running backs. *** Monday, Oct. 31, was like any other Monday for Williams. Auburn had struggled badly in a 42-27 loss to Arkansas two days earlier. After Williams got to work, everything soon changed. Head coach Bryan Harsin was fired, which was not a significant surprise. That’s when Williams got the call he did not expect. He would be Auburn’s interim head coach. He would be the first African-American to lead Auburn’s football program. (Photo: Greg McWilliams, 247Sports) “It’s awesome,” his mother said. “When I heard about it I thought everybody was playing a joke on me. It just blew my mind. When I did find out, I said ‘This is crazy. How can a running backs coach be a head coach?’ To God be the glory. I am so happy.” At home, Evan was proud and excited, and she knew her life was going to be different, too. “Oh, man,” she said. “We have gotten very little sleep. That first week, I think between the two of us we got about 12 hours sleep that whole week. I was just making sure my husband was OK. This is a huge undertaking. He was concerned about doing all the right things, making sure he was taking care of his players and taking care of his staff. He’s a very giving person. He gets that from his mom. They will work themselves into the ground. “I knew he was going to work his butt off for Auburn, for his players and his staff. My job as his wife is to make sure I am serving him so he is able to do all that.” Even as a player, Williams, who overcame a childhood stuttering problem, was not comfortable in interview situations. When he was named interim head coach, his mother and his wife wondered how would handle in the interview demands that came with it. They need not have worried. He has earned nothing but praise for how he has handled those times. “To me, it is a big deal,” Evan said. “That’s not how he would want to spend that time. I am impressed that he has overcome that fear. He used to hate those press conferences. He was always so nervous. He did overcome stuttering, and that bothered him. It’s a big deal that he is so much more comfortable. “He is just being who he is, country boy and all.” With little time to prepare, Williams took his team to Mississippi State for his first game as interim head coach. The Tigers fought back from a 21-0 deficit to take the lead, but Mississippi State won 39-33 in overtime. Even in defeat, Auburn people saw a team playing with passion and heart. A week later, Texas A&M visited Auburn. Jordan-Hare Stadium was sold out for a game between two teams with 3-6 records. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. “These kids, this staff, the way they have responded, everybody is locked in,” Williams said. “I have to tip my hat to the Auburn family. I mean, come on. We were a 3-6 team and you would have thought we were playing for a national championship. It was unreal. It’s a credit to these players, these coaches, to the Auburn family and to Auburn University and how great this place is.” Dozens of Williams’ former teammates were there. His family was there. His wife’s family was there. They saw Auburn win 13-10. “It was so fun,” Evan said. “I’m on the field after games anyway, but it was different. Our family was there – his mom, his brothers, his nieces, his nephews, our kids. My parents were there, my brother. Tons of friends and family were in the stands. It was just so much fun.” When it was over, Williams did an interview with sportscaster Cole Cubelic, a former teammate. He had a hug waiting at every turn. His shirt was soaked from the ice water his players had dumped on him as time ran out. He held his son, who gave him an enthusiastic hug. Before he could go celebrate in the locker room, he had one more thing to do. Waving a towel, he ran across the field, where the student section was still packed. The cheers were loud and long. In the locker room, his players gave him the game ball. In two weeks, Williams has revived Auburn football. 2COMMENTS When the celebrating was done, Williams had a chance to reflect on what had just happened, what he had shared with his family. “It brought so much joy to my heart that my family could experience that with me,” Williams said. “It’s something nobody can ever take away from them.”

Defensive keys to beating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers River Wells 3–4 minutes It’s almost gameday, and the Tigers are coming up against an offense similar to one it has seen before. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers like to throw the football, and the Tigers will be on guard after facing a similar style of offense in its close loss to Mississippi State two weeks ago. Auburn is sure to have learned, however, and interim head coach Cadillac Williams will likely hope to avoid the fate he suffered at the hands of Mike Leach’s Bulldogs this time around. Buy Tigers Tickets Here are four defensive keys the Tigers should look out for when playing WKU on Saturday: (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) In the photo above, you’ll see the Hilltoppers handing off a football — don’t expect them to do it too often on Saturday. The Hilltoppers are an air raid team (or air-raid adjacent, anyway) like Mississippi State. That means that the offense is entirely centered around throwing the football, and the run game won’t be a point of emphasis. Western Kentucky has only ran the football 326 times this year (and that is accounting for quarterback sacks as well) and has passed the football much more (454 times). Focus the gameplan against the pass and drop your linebackers into coverage to stifle the Hilltoppers’ offense. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports Quarterbacks are the heart of the air raid. Disrupt the quarterback, and the offense slows all the way down. Guys like Derick Hall are going to want to get to the quarterback because it will help the entire team. If quarterback Austin Reed is pressured, then that makes it easier for the secondary to protect against the pass. Once that happens, Western Kentucky have to rely on the run game a little more than it would like — that would make Auburn’s job a whole lot easier on Saturday. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports Normally, a team has a star wideout that draws a lot of attention from defensive backs. This isn’t the case for the Hilltoppers. Receiver Malachi Nelson has the most yards on the team with 953, but he’s caught seven touchdowns on the year — same as wideout Daewood Davis, and just two more touchdowns than tight end Joshua Simon. Western Kentucky spreads the football around, so the Tigers shouldn’t focus on a specific wide receiver to cover or put an extra safety on. Instead, get the coverage schemes tight and watch out for the Hilltoppers’ multitude of talented receivers. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) Some may look at this matchup as a “gimme game.” Those people would be sorely mistaken. Western Kentucky isn’t a Power 5 squad, but it is still a good football team. The Tigers are only projected to have a 53% chance to beat the 7-4 Hilltoppers on ESPN’s FPI, and the high-flying offense will likely be the best non-conference game Auburn plays without counting the Penn State matchup earlier in the year. Stick to the gameplan, but don’t overlook the Hilltoppers — if the Tigers respect the opponent, they should be fine.

Auburn Basketball Chance Westry’s versatility on display in long-anticipated Auburn basketball debut Updated: Nov. 17, 2022, 10:17 a.m.| Published: Nov. 17, 2022, 10:13 a.m. Chance Westry (10) during the Basketball Game between the Auburn Tigers and Winthrop Eagles at Neville Arena in Auburn, AL on Tuesday, Nov 15, 2022. Zach Bland/Auburn TigersZach Bland/Auburn Tigers NEW! By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com Bruce Pearl tried to hide his excitement, but it peeked through in subtle laughs as he smiled during his postgame press conference. Four-star freshman Chance Westry finally saw the court for Auburn following preseason knee surgery, and while the versatile 6-foot-6 newcomer played just 17 minutes in his college debut, Pearl was brimming with excitement over what Westry’s return meant for Auburn, not just against Winthrop, but what it could mean for the team moving forward this season. Read more Auburn hoops: Why Bruce Pearl still wants more from Johni Broome after dominant double-double vs. Winthrop Dylan Cardwell’s rim protection a ‘factor’ for No. 13 Auburn early this season Auburn signs top-five point guard to 2023 recruiting class “It was great to have him out there,” Pearl said. “You know, he’s going to continue to — you know, he’ll play well. He could do a lot with and without the ball. He’s a good player.” In his first college action, Westry came off the bench for four stretches during Auburn’s 89-65 win against Winthrop on Tuesday night at Neville Arena. He finished with just five points (on 2-of-6 shooting), two rebounds, two assists, two turnovers and three fouls — each of which came in quick succession in the first half — and he was one of only two players to see the court and finish with a negative plus/minus (minus-4) against the Eagles, but Westry flashed some of the versatility and potential that had Pearl likening him to former Auburn All-SEC guard Samir Doughty this summer. During his first stint of action, Westry played point guard in a lineup that also included K.D. Johnson in the backcourt. On Westry’s first possession on the floor, he drove the lane and knocked down a midrange pull-up jumper, finishing it through contact and completing the three-point play at the line. That gave Auburn an early 17-7 lead. A few possessions later, he notched his first career assist, driving baseline and drawing a defender in the air before a nifty dump-off to Dylan Cardwell for a dunk. His second rotation on the floor saw Westry play off the ball, as fellow freshman Tre Donaldson ran point. Then in the second half, he saw time on the wing — rotating behind Allen Flanigan — as Chris Moore didn’t play after halftime for precautionary reasons. “It was great to get Chance back,” Pearl said. “It’s crazy, the kid played one, two and three; he played three positions tonight…. So, you know, it was good.” Westry’s debut was long anticipated after he missed much of the preseason while recovering from right knee surgery. Westry underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Oct. 6—alongside Pearl, who had a similar procedure done that day—and was expected to miss three to four weeks. That timeline was extended slightly, as Auburn was cautious in its approach with the former four-star prospect. Westry began practicing full-speed, though with no contact, last week, and he went through early warmups before Auburn’s game against USF last Friday. By Tuesday, he was ready to go. “We’re just never going to rush him, never,” Pearl said. “So, but he has missed so much. He missed the entire fall, but — again, put him in a very tough spot tonight playing him in three positions.” Westry responded, though, and relished the opportunity to finally display his versatility on the floor of Neville Arena. “Just being out there on the floor, doing what my team needs, being off the ball, being on the ball — those are just good positions that I like to play,” Westry said. While Auburn is easing Westry back into action, it’s hard to deny the skillset and high ceiling he brings to an already-deep roster. He showed flashes of that during the team’s summer tour in Israel, and it received a warm welcome Tuesday night against Winthrop. Westry said he’s still not quite 100 percent—and that’s to be expected, at this point—but he’s eager to keep progressing and getting more comfortable as his role within the Tigers’ rotation continues to develop. “The game was a little slower than practice, because at practice, we practice so fast and at a high pace,” Westry said. “So, when I got out there, I was in good shape. Just ready to compete.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Auburn Football The story behind Cadillac Williams’ dapper gameday suit Updated: Nov. 17, 2022, 9:10 a.m.| Published: Nov. 17, 2022, 7:01 a.m. November 12, 2022; Auburn, Al, USA; Coach Carnell Williams walks through tiger walk before the game between Auburn and Texas A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Todd Van EmstTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics NEW! 1,418 shares By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com Cadillac Williams looked in the mirror and wasn’t feeling himself. The burnt orange-and-navy blue paned suit staring back at him wasn’t his style, but he tried it on anyway at the behest of his wife, Evan. The stylish INSERCH Limited Edition suit arrived from Los Angeles just days earlier, and the rule inside the Williams household was that if the outfit shipped, it had to be tried on before any final decisions were made. “He didn’t want to put it on,” Evan told AL.com. “I made him put it on, and he was acting like it was the ugliest thing he’d ever seen.” Williams gave his reflection a once-over in the mirror and immediately told his wife he couldn’t see himself wearing the suit in public. He requested that she send it back to L.A. Thanks, but no thanks; this one wasn’t for him. Evan resisted, confident that her husband could pull off the statement look — even if he didn’t believe he could at the time. She insisted he give it some time and try the plaid and mini-checked suit again the next day. This time, Williams put on a navy turtleneck underneath the suit, and it started to grow on him. The following evening, he tried it on again, this time completing the look with a pair of brown wingtip Oxfords. The stylish get-up was coming together. “By the time we had the whole outfit — the turtleneck, the shoes — I could tell he was feeling himself a little bit, but he wouldn’t admit it,” Evan said. “… But I knew when I saw him that it was just going to give a whole different vibe.” When Williams stepped off Auburn’s team bus late Saturday afternoon and made his way up South Donahue for his first home Tiger Walk as Auburn’s interim head coach, there was a pop of confidence in his gait. His suit was a statement: This day was special. *** The flashiest thing about Williams is his nickname: Cadillac. He doesn’t relish being in the spotlight, and he doesn’t seek undue attention. That’s both his personality — it comes through in his earnestness during press conferences since being named interim coach — as well as his preference when it comes to style. “Carnell is a traditionalist,” Evan said. “He’s a suit purist.” When Williams turned 40 in April, though, Evan wanted to do something special for him. The idea? A bit of a wardrobe makeover, at least when it comes to his gameday attire. She wanted her husband to be more fashion-forward, so she enlisted the help of a close friend, Janell Grimes, an L.A.-based personal stylist and Auburn grad who went to school with them in the early 2000s. “Everybody knows that I don’t even know how to dress,” Williams told AL.com Grimes’ directive was straightforward: help Williams ramp up his style and push him out of his usual comfort zone. Men’s style has come a long way since Williams’ playing days, both at Auburn and in the NFL, and Evan wanted her husband to pull off a more modern look that was on par with his players, many of whom haven’t shied away from current fashion trends — from highwater suit pants that show off the ankles or calves to nontraditional colors and more. “His players are pretty stylish,” Evan said. “I was like, ‘You can’t be the only one out here not rocking this new style. I see what they are wearing on a day-to-day basis.’ He’s not too old; I feel like we’re still young, and it’s only right to kind of still show his fashion-forward self — although he did not have any skills, clearly, back in the day as a player, at all.” RELATED: Cadillac Williams’ vulnerability resonates with a reinvigorated Auburn Grimes gradually upgraded Williams’ wardrobe this offseason, taking into considerations his likes and dislikes—and sometimes pushing the boundaries of what he might be comfortable wearing. Williams wore his new outfits on gamedays throughout the season, but when Halloween rolled around, everything changed. Bryan Harsin was fired as Auburn’s coach amid a 3-5 start to the year, and Williams was elevated to interim head coach. While Williams navigated the “bombshell” that Auburn dropped on him and got to work preparing his team for the next steps, Evan also shifted into gear. She called Grimes that day and told her they needed to step things up another notch. Williams was now in the spotlight: One of Auburn’s favorite sons and all-time greats was not only the interim coach at his alma mater, but he was also the first Black head coach in program history. All eyes were going to be on him, regardless if he wanted the attention. Evan told Grimes to just start sending more outfits, because Williams was about to be front and center. Grimes already had his measurements, and now she had the greenlight to be a bit more adventurous: “She gets it; she’s an Auburn grad, so she knows what was at stake,” Evan said. Within a few days, the suits began to arrive in Auburn. More packages arrived throughout that first weekend, even as Williams was leading Auburn to a second-half rally against Mississippi State that fell just short in overtime. The orange-and-blue plaid and mini-checked suit was one of the first to arrive at the Williams residence, and it instantly caught Evan’s eye. “When I opened it, I immediately knew he was going to hate the suit,” she said. “Like, I looked at it, I pulled it out, and I was like, ‘He’s going to hate this,’ — but I loved it. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is fire.’” Evan wasn’t surprised at her husband’s initial hesitance about the suit. She has been with him long enough — they met at Auburn two decades ago — to know his preferences. When she first set eyes on the outfit, though, she knew it was the one. They wanted something special for Williams’ first home game as interim coach; the atmosphere was going to be unforgettable on the Plains — from Tiger Walk to inside Jordan-Hare Stadium — and Evan thought her husband’s outfit should be, too. “I was initially thinking Iron Bowl, because I’m like, we got to come all the way with it for the Iron Bowl, but the more I looked at it, I was like, ‘No, this has got to be the first home game,’” Evan said. “Like, this is the one.” RELATED: The wild scene inside and around Jordan-Hare Stadium on surreal day for Cadillac Williams Williams resisted at first, but he finally gave in. The suit was growing on him. He appreciated the patterned orange and blue; they were Auburn colors, after all. “I might be able to pull this off,” Williams thought to himself after a few days and a few attempts at trying on the suit. The outfit was a hit, from fans, to players and even Williams’ former teammates, many of whom descended on the Plains to support Williams in his first home game. Carlos Rogers, Williams’ former roommate at Auburn whom Williams admits is more stylish than he is, looked him up and down in the locker room and said with a laugh: “Now that’s something I’d wear.” “According to my wife and people, I got a lot of likes, a lot of players liked it,” Williams said. “They were like, ‘Dang, Coach, I didn’t know you had that in you.’ So, that was cool.” The overwhelming positive feedback about the suit, and how sharp Williams looked in, has the Tigers’ interim coach sporting a new air of self-confidence. It didn’t hurt that Auburn beat Texas A&M, 13-10, to give Williams his first career win as a head coach at any level. He has had a little more swagger around Auburn’s athletics complex this week, even as his earnest tone has remained the same and his messaging consistent. At home this week, Cadillac asked Evan about some of the other outfits Grimes sent that he initially rebuffed and wanted sent back, many of them already back in their boxes. He’s willing to trust the vision Grimes and Evan have for him and give the outfits another shot while pushing the boundaries of his fashion comfort zone. “It has helped open up his personal style and be more comfortable around people as well, for sure,” Evan said. “Now, we’re not going to be out of control with it, but definitely he’s more open to trying some things.” With two games left this season — Saturday’s home finale against Western Kentucky and next week’s Iron Bowl on the road against rival Alabama — Evan didn’t want to give anything away, but she expects more head-turning gameday outfits from her husband. “I don’t think anything is ever going to outdo that suit,” she said. “But he’s going to come correct for these next two games. You could expect to see him in things you have not seen him in before, I can tell you that much. He’ll make his players proud.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

Watch : Wendell Green Jr. drains one from Opelika Andrew Stefaniak ~2 minutes Logo Wen is back! Wendell Green Jr. has been off to a hot start posting great numbers for the Tigers this season. Green Jr. has been putting up a lot of points but hasn't been shooting well from deep. Well, that hasn't been the case so far against Winthrop. He has nine points on 3-4 from deep, including one three-pointer from way back that sent the jungle into a frenzy. Green Jr. is going to be a lot of fun to watch this season as he runs this offense. For this Auburn team to be successful, Green Jr. has to shoot the ball well. Let's watch Green Jr. make one from deep. https://twitter.com/AuburnMBB/status/1592687433794977793?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1592687433794977793|twgr^871748900c9c9e61c42129ccca7957578fc29e59|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Fbasketball%2Fauburn-basketball-wendell-green-jr-winthrophttps://twitter.com/AuburnMBB/status/1592687433794977793?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1592687433794977793|twgr^871748900c9c9e61c42129ccca7957578fc29e59|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege%2Fauburn%2Fbasketball%2Fauburn-basketball-wendell-green-jr-winthrop Tuesday’s game against the Winthrop Eagles is a non-bracketed game of the 2022 Cancun Challenge. Next week, the Tigers will play in the Riviera Division (Bradley, Liberty, and Northwestern), while Winthrop is in the Mayan Division (Purdue Fort Wayne, Eastern Michigan, and Southern Miss). Entering Tuesday, Auburn leads the all-time series with Winthrop 5-1. The most recent meeting was on Nov. 24, 2017, in Auburn with the Tigers securing a 119-85 victory. It tied as the most points squared by an Auburn squad in the Bruce Pearl Era next to 119 versus Northwestern State on Nov. 27, 2015.

Former Auburn hooper posts career-high numbers in G-League contest Taylor Jones 1–2 minutes Last offseason, Sharife Cooper signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending his rookie season with the hometown Atlanta Hawks for the 2021-22 season. Prior to this season, Cooper was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers but found a way to be included in the organization’s G-League club, the Cleveland Charge. In Tuesday’s game against the Grand Rapids Gold, Cooper posted numbers that may get him noticed by the Cavs. In a 122-116 loss to the Gold on Tuesday, Cooper went 16-of-29 from the field, scoring 42 points. It marks the second straight game for Cooper in which he scored at least 30 points. He also recorded 12 assists. Cooper spent one season on the Plains, where he earned SEC All-Freshman honors for the 2020-21 season. In 12 games, Cooper averaged 20.2 points and 4.3 per game for the Tigers. During his rookie season with the Hawks, Cooper saw minimal action. He appeared in 13 games, averaging 3.0 minutes per outing. List

Do you think Auburn and PTB would put contract clauses to limit buyout for substandard performance? Buyout goes down 50-75% with a losing season or two in row, don’t win any Iron Bowl over 4 years, etc. Would the Jimbo Fisher saga help? someone posed the above question on reddit and i just wonder why we are not doing this already? what am i missing? they get incentives for doing good right? if they do not meet our standards why in the hell are we rewarding them? it is complete madness.

who is his hair dresser?

i dislike this but on the positive side i want to see trump clean teds clock again. ted is so slimey he does not need skin lotion...........lol

i never saw this before but i have to say i saw several words i have no clue to what they mean. and i probably read close to fifty books a year. but i use to love the onion and did not know they were still around. have you been sued for malpractice yet? grins..................i kid

i bet trump puts him on his dream team.

The full Auburn depth chart for Week 12 River Wells ~4 minutes It’s about that time of the week again, and this depth chart comes with two significant changes as the Tigers prepare to face Western Kentucky on Saturday. The first big one is that quarterback T.J. Finley is no longer listed on the team’s depth chart. The news comes shortly after Finley decided to sit out the rest of the season and enter the transfer portal soon, so it would make sense that he would not appear on the depth chart. Buy Tigers Tickets Secondly, a permanent change has been made at kicker. Kicker Alex McPherson is officially listed as the team’s starting kicker on the Week 12 depth chart, which comes as a change from last week — McPherson did start against Texas A&M, but kicker Anders Carlson was still named as the starting kicker on the depth chart the week before that game. Without further ado, here is Auburn’s football team for Week 12: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports Starter: Robby Ashford, Redshirt Freshman Backup: Holden Geriner, Freshman USA Today Network Starter: Tank Bigsby, Junior Backup: Jarquez Hunter, Sophomore Todd Van Emst / AU Athletics Starter: John Samuel Shenker, Senior Backup: Luke Deal, Junior Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics WRX: Shedrick Jackson, SeniorBackup: Camden Brown, Freshman OR Dazalin Worsham, Sophomore WRH: Ja’Varrius Johnson, Junior Backup: Jay Fair, Freshman WRZ: Koy Moore, Sophomore Backup: Malcom Johnson Jr., Junior OR Omari Kelly, Freshman Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Left Tackle: Kilian Zierer, Senior Backup: Brendan Coffey, Senior Left Guard: Kameron Stutts, Senior Backup: Jeremiah Wright, Junior Center: Brandon Council, Senior Backup: Jalil Irvin, Senior Right Guard: Alec Jackson, Senior Backup: Keiondre Jones, Junior Right Tackle: Brendan Coffey, Senior Backup: Colby Smith, Redshirt Freshman Austin Perryman/ AU Athletics Edge Rusher: Derick Hall, Senior Backup: Dylan Brooks, Redshirt Freshman Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics Defensive End: Colby Wooden, Junior Backup: Morris Joseph Jr., Senior OR Marcus Bragg, Senior Nose Tackle: Jason Jones, Sophomore Backup: Marquis Burks, Senior Defensive Tackle: Marcus Harris, Junior Backup: Jeffey M’Ba, Sophomore Todd Van Emst/Auburn Tigers Middle Linebacker: Owen Pappoe, Senior Backup: Wesley Steiner, Junior Weakside Linebacker: Cam Riley, Junior Backup: Eugene Asante, Junior OR Jake Levant, Sophomore Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics CB1: Nehemiah Pritchett, Senior Backup: J.D. Rhym, Freshman CB2: D.J. James, Junior Backup: Jaylin Simpson, Junior Nickel: Keionte Scott, Sophomore Backup: Austin Ausberry, Freshman (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) Safety: Zion Puckett, Junior Backup: Marquise Gilbert, Sophomore Safety: Donovan Kaufman, Sophomore Backup: Cayden Bridges, Redshirt Freshman Zach Bland/AU Athletics Kicker: Alex McPherson, Freshman Backup: Evan McGuire, Sophomore Punter: Oscar Chapman, Junior Backup: Alex McPherson, Freshman Holder: Oscar Chapman, Junior Backup: Trey Lindsay, Senior Longsnapper: Jacob Quattlebaum, Senior Backup: Kyle Vaccarella, Redshirt Freshman Punt Returner: Keionte Scott, Sophomore Backup: Ja’Varrius Johnson, Junior Kick Returner: Jarquez Hunter, Sophomore OR Keionte Scott, Sophomore Backup: Damari Alston, Freshman OR Nehemiah Pritchett, Senior

Auburn OL commit sees 'special' atmosphere with Cadillac Williams Published: Nov. 16, 2022, 12:01 p.m. 3–4 minutes Auburn Football 2023 OL Clay Wedin: ‘nothing going to change’ with Auburn commitment Auburn Tigers Recruiting on AL.com | What's next after Harsin?; Keys for Cadillac? By Nick Alvarez | nalvarez@al.com About two weeks ago, Clay Wedin realized he needed to return to the Plains. His mom and sister had never been to Auburn’s campus and he figured the first home game in the era of head coach Cadillac Williams was as good an opportunity as any. Jordan-Hare Stadium didn’t disappoint. “The game, the atmosphere was definitely the best I’ve been to,” Wedin told AL.com. “Just to see the fans and everybody rally around Coach Cadillac ... That’s definitely something that’s really special.” Wedin, the 22nd-ranked interior offensive lineman in the class of 2023 and part of Auburn’s 10-player recruiting class, was last on campus for the four-point LSU loss on Oct. 1. He still verbally committed two weeks later and when Bryan Harsin was fired — and of Auburn’s two other OL pledges changed his mind — Wedin bought into Williams’ vision. He watched in person as the Tigers pummel Texas A&M with 285 rushing yards. The 6-foot-6, 295-pound bruiser from Tampa Carrollwood (Fla.) Day noted the Tigers’ ground game as a personal highlight from his trip. He spoke with some of his prior recruiters who remained on staff after the mid-season shakeup, namely Joe Bernardi, Will Friend and Kendall Simmons. MORE Tigers football: Cadillac Williams enjoying ‘old school’ Auburn offense, but wants improvements in passing game How Cadillac Williams leads with accountability as Auburn interim coach On Sunday, Wedin met with Williams. Auburn’s interim head coach has spoken glowingly about his alma mater at every turn, a selling point he knows well and as Sports Illustrated director of recruiting John Garcia points out, a key tool on the recruiting trail. “Holding onto to those verbal commitments is paramount, particularly the offensive lineman. ... Matienence of those should be viewed in a way like any blue-chippers they add down the line,” Garcia said. Wedin said it wasn’t hard for Williams to keep him on board. He said “nothing is going to change” with his recruitment, and he plans to put pen to paper at the start of the early signing period on Dec. 21 in time to enroll in January. For now, Wedin has been working on his second-level blocking and angling defensive lineman away from the ball, traits Wedin knows he’ll need next year with Auburn. He’s sparked a running game that averages 6.2 yards a carry and 167.5 total per game. He’ll lead the 5-3 Patriots to the playoffs versus St. Petersburg Northside (Fla.) Christian on Nov. 18. Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Cadillac Williams shares most surprising aspect of being head coach Nathan King 5–6 minutes Cadillac Williams rattled off almost every coach he’s worked under since entering the industry as an assistant at Henderson State just seven years ago. Ask any of them, he said, and they’ll back up Williams’ claim that his long-term goal in the profession has never been a head-coaching gig. “I honestly never had any true aspirations to be a head coach at all,” Williams said. Then he paused, and resumed: “But I am enjoying this thing.” Now in his third week as Auburn’s interim head coach, following the removal of Bryan Harsin on Halloween, Williams and his efforts — successful ones, at that — to rejuvenate a losing season with life and energy have been met with praise from Auburn fans and beyond. It was evident over the weekend, when a packed Jordan-Hare Stadium went crazy, as Williams instructed in the pregame hype video, and served as an electric backdrop for Auburn’s first week since Week 4. Despite the matchup between the two worst teams in the division, Auburn’s 13-10 win over Texas A&M felt like a championship game, a few players said afterwards. For Williams, the first few days on the job included a lot of bustling around with a reshuffled coaching staff — with all five on-field offensive assistants put in new roles — and nights with very little sleep, as he and his staff attempted to salvage a strong game plan for Mississippi State after Harsin’s ouster put the Tigers “behind the 8-ball.” Things have settled down over the past week, though; the emotional win Saturday obviously didn’t hurt. Williams is still keeping his tunnel vision — he parried a question about next week’s Iron Bowl on Wednesday, affirming that he’s completely locked in on Western Kentucky right now — and he continues to relay that he’s not thinking about what happens next Auburn with the next head coach, who will presumably be hired at the conclusion of the regular season. In fact, Williams said Wednesday he met with the team last week to address that “elephant in the room,” but he asked the Tigers to join him in enjoying their time together as a team right now, and that when changes are eventually made, he will be there to support each and every one of them. It’s an understatement to say this has been a whirlwind for Williams, who joined Auburn’s staff as running backs coach in 2019 as his first Division-I job. He’s loved every second of it. But what’s been the most surprising part of being a head coach — something he didn’t anticipate when he was elevated to the interim spot just hours after Harsin was fired? “As a head coach, I actually feel like I’m playing the game,” Williams responded on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “It’s such a weird feeling. I get the same feeling as I did a decade ago, when I was playing the game — I get that same feeling as being a head coach. Not saying I (don’t) enjoy being an assistant coach, because Lord knows, that’s fulfilling. But a lot of times you have to respect authority and not do too much. For me to be in this leadership role, it’s amazing. “I go into a place as if I’m playing the game of football. I just think that’s super cool, to be honest with you.” For a player who showed as much tenacity as Williams did during his time at Auburn — when he ran for 3,831 yards across four seasons, the second-most in program history, and broke Bo Jackson’s career rushing touchdown record — it’s not surprising he’d want to recapture that feeling. At the end of the day, Williams said, that’s what most coaches are striving for. “The best part of football is being a player,” Williams said. “That’s why a lot of coaches want to coach it.” Regardless of Auburn’s outcomes in its final two games of the season, Williams’ reinvigoration of the energy in that building — and the optimism of the fanbase — won’t soon be forgotten on the Plains. But will these be his last two games at Auburn? It’s certainly been an effective audition to the next head coach for Wiliams to be retained on the staff, considering the near-indescribable levels of support from his players and the fans. Or could Williams, maybe with a massive upset in the Iron Bowl, be considered as a candidate to be that next head coach? For now, the Auburn icon is keeping his head down. There’s Western Kentucky film to study, after all. “Honestly, I’m not even worried about what’s next,” Williams said. “I’m literally having fun with these guys, pouring into their lives. What happens next — whatever happens, happens.” 27COMMENTS

Cadillac says Saturday's opponent 'will throw it all over the yard' Mark Murphy 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama–Carnell "Cadillac" Williams said on Wednesday that Auburn is facing “a really good Western Kentucky team” as the Tigers head into their final home contest of the 2022 season. A big reason Auburn’s interim head coach has reason for concern is how effective the Hilltoppers have been throwing the football. Going into Saturday’s 3 p.m. CST contest at Jordan-Hare Stadium the visitors will arrive with a team that is averaging 37.9 points per contest and has produced 265 first downs, which ranks fifth nationally. Defensively, Western Kentucky has scored six touchdowns and has 30 takeaways through 11 games, including 17 pass interceptions. A big part of Western Kentucky’s success has been because of its passing attack. With quarterback Austin Reed leading the way, the Hilltoppers are completing 67.5 percent of their throws while averaging 336.3 yards per game. Four receivers have more than 40 catches and one, 5-11, 210 sophomore Malachi Corley, has 70 receptions for 955 yards. As a team Auburn has 133 catches for 1,813 yards in 10 games. “We are going to have to be better,” Williams said. “We are excited for the challenge.” Asked about the importance of pressuring 6-2, 230 graduate transfer Reed, who led West Florida to a Division II national championship, Williams said, “Honestly, they get the ball out so fast the pass rush is definitely going to be important, but I think what is most important is we have to rally to the football. “We have got to be flying around, we have got to be lights out, we have to know our reads and keys,” the coach said. “We have to play sound football on the defensive end because, man, they throw it all over the yard. I think the defense is up to the challenge. Those guys are looking forward to it.” Auburn is allowing 202.8 passing yards per game and is ranked fifth in the SEC in pass efficiency defense. Auburn defensive backs Jaylin Simpson (36) and Nehemiah Pritchett (18) are expected to be very busy on Saturday. (Photo: Greg McWilliams, Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports) The Hilltoppers, who are 7-4 this season, have 308 receptions with 33 going for touchdowns. “We cannot give up explosive plays because their offensive is very explosive,” Williams said. The coach added that if his Tigers are able to do that they should be “okay.” The Tigers and Hilltoppers do not have any common opponents this season. Auburn is 2-0 in games vs. Western Kentucky with the previous matchup a 37-14 decision on September 24, 2005 prior to WKU moving up to the FBS level. 5COMMENTS Western Kentucky has won three of its last four games, including a 45-10 home victory last week vs. Rice. A week earlier the Hilltoppers won 59-7 at Charlotte, bouncing back from a 40-13 home loss to North Texas. Prior to that WKU defeated UAB 20-17. Because a trip to the University of Hawaii is on the schedule the Hilltoppers are allowed to play 13 regular season games this season and will close the schedule vs. Florida Atlantic prior to receiving a bowl bid. ** Subscribe: Receive the latest Auburn intel, opinion and scoops*** ">247Sports

Auburn football coach hot board: Is Clemson's Dabo Swinney entering the mix? Lance Dawe 5–6 minutes Home Auburn Daily Football Auburn football defeats Texas A&M Auburn football defeats Texas A&M. 0 seconds of 1 minute, 0Volume 0% Rumors are swirling around Dabo Swinney and the Tigers. As Auburn's coaching search has continued, people seemingly have begun to lose their sanity. Throw out any name, and it apparently sticks. A new face has emerged in the running for the Tigers' head coaching position, and he hails from an unlikely place: Clemson's Dabo Swinney. According to our sources (also confirmed by a few outlets, we are not the first to mention Swinney and Auburn), Dabo Swinney's representatives have been having conversations with Auburn University since around last Saturday (Lance Taylor of The Next Round discussed similar things on Wednesday's show). Note that this does not mean the Tigers are going to hire him, nor does it mean they are currently trying to hire him. All that has been said is that his representatives have been in conversations with Auburn. As of right now, things have gone quiet on the whole. Nothing new on any of Auburn's other candidates. We've trimmed our list to four with questions surrounding actual Swinney's interest in the position. Here's a look at our updated hot board: Lane Kiffin - Ole Miss © Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Record at Ole Miss: 23-10 Overall Record: 84-43 Head coaching experience: Oakland Raiders, Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss Other experience: Fresno State (assistant), Colorado State (GA), Jacksonville Jaguars (DQC), USC (TE, WR, PGC, OC), Alabama (OC/QB) Kiffin is one of the main candidates at the top of Auburn's target list, and will remain there until the end of the season when the Tigers can finally go after him. He has mastered the transfer portal with the Rebels and would immediately provide a boost to Auburn's relatively thin roster. He's one of the best offensive minds in the game and has a Twitter game that is unrivaled. Kiffin has made a couple of public remarks about the position but has not fully shut down the possibility of coming to the Plains. He was reportedly interested in the position back in 2020 and may find interest in Auburn now. Rumors surrounding Kiffin and a move to the Tigers have circled for a few days now. If we had to make a guess, he will be the hire. When that comes, or if it even does, we don't know. Dabo Swinney - Clemson Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports Record at Oregon: 159-37 Overall Record: 159-37 Head coaching experience: Clemson Other experience: Alabama (GA, WR, TE), Clemson (WR, AHC, OC) Swinney is one of the most accomplished coaches of the 21st century. Two national titles, seven ACC championship victories, ten ACC Atlantic division titles, and six top ten recruiting classes. He's done it all. We don't think Dabo Swinney is genuinely considering a move from Clemson to Auburn despite the conversations. It was hard to put anything out on Saturday, because, well, it sounds wild. If he did leave for the Plains, it could cause a seismic shake up in the SEC. Hugh Freeze - Liberty Robert McDuffie-USA TODAY Sports Record at Liberty: 34-13 Overall Record: 75-45 Head coaching experience: Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Liberty Other experience: Ole Miss (TE), Arkansas State (OC) Hugh Freeze has well documented baggage that comes with him wherever he goes. However, that has not stopped many from pointing out that he has won everywhere he has coached, and currently has the Flames (a program that has only been at the D-I level for four and a half seasons) inside the AP Top 25. He is also one of three college coaches to have ever beaten Nick Saban in back-to-back years (Ole Miss, 2014-15). He just traveled to Arkansas and beat the Razorbacks with his third-string quarterback. Freeze wants the job badly. How high he is on Auburn's board is obviously not known - but it is fair to assume that he will get a look if he hasn't already. Dan Lanning - Oregon Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Record at Oregon: 8-2 Overall Record: 8-2 Head coaching experience: Oregon Other experience: Pittsburgh (GA), Arizona State (GA/RC), Sam Houston State (DB), Alabama (GA), Memphis (ILB), Georgia (DC/OLB) Lanning is a first-year head coach that holds a lot of promise. He oversaw one of the best defenses of the 21st century at Georgia before moving to Oregon in the offseason. He picked up a quarterback and offensive coordinator with Auburn ties (Bo Nix, Kenny Dillingham) and has produced one of the best offenses in the entire nation. Must Read Stories Auburn football transfer tracker Betting odds for Auburn vs WKU Marcus Bragg will face his former team this weekend Tank Bigsby moves up the all-time rushing list Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Discord Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter Like Auburn Daily on Facebook Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube Buy Auburn Daily Merch

Derick Hall makes leadership award semifinals list River Wells ~2 minutes Edge rusher Derick Hall has been nominated for an award that showcases his talents on and off the field. Buy Tigers Tickets Hall was nominated as a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which focuses on leadership skills on and off the football field. Hall is one of 20 semifinalists for the award. Hall is one of only two SEC semifinalists for the award, as Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker is the only other representative for the conference. The winner of the award receives a $10,000 donation in their name to the school’s scholarship fund, so there is certainly an incentive to win the award aside from pure prestige. As a senior, Hall has been with the team for four years and has started for three of them. As such, there has been plenty of time for him to establish his leadership across the defense and the team as a whole. The semifinalist list will be narrowed down to three players on Dec. 14 and the winner will be announced two months later on Feb. 23, 2023. A true Auburn Man (of the Year).@derick_hall9 has been named a 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 for the @WittenCMOY as one of the nation's top leaders! https://t.co/CmNRIzg29A pic.twitter.com/jODFUzmodV — Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 16, 2022

Andy Burcham evaluates Auburn’s coaching situation, says ‘it’s John Cohen’s call’ Ginny Boulton 2–3 minutes The coaching carousel is still in full spin at Auburn, and where it will stop, nobody knows. “Voice of the Tigers” announcer Andy Burcham joined “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” on WJOX on Wednesday to give a rundown on the coaching situation. The longtime Tiger broadcaster was asked about Cadillac Williams becoming the permanent head coach, and had several thoughts on the situation. “It would be a feel good story for Auburn if it happens. John Cohen is the one leading this search, and John Cohen is the one that is going to make the call, not the Auburn family, not the Auburn powerbrokers, it’s going to be John Cohen.” Burcham was also asked to what degree emotion was playing a part in the coaching choice, responding that it may play a small factor. “It’s John Cohen’s call, and I think he’s going about it in a systematic way. Is there emotion when it comes to this? Absolutely there is. I think that just shows you how beloved coach Williams is at Auburn. But, I don’t know how much emotion is playing a factor in John Cohen’s search.” Auburn hired Cohen as AD last month to replace Allen Greene, who left right before the season began. Cohen will lead the charge to replace head coach Bryan Harsin, who was fired after two tumultuous seasons on The Plains.

Auburn vs WKU Prediction Game Preview By Pete Fiutak | November 16, 2022 10:40 pm CT 3–4 minutes Auburn vs WKU prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 12, Saturday, November 19 Auburn vs WKU Prediction, Game Preview – Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak Auburn vs WKU How To Watch Date: Saturday, November 19 Game Time: 4:00 ET Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL How To Watch: SEC Network Record: Auburn (4-6), WKU (7-4) – Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+ Why WKU Will Win The passing game is going to make this interesting. The Hilltoppers are fourth in the nation through the air averaging 336 yards per game with a whole lot of midrange completions. Auburn has a decent pass rush, but that’s negated a bit by the style and quickness of the WKU attack. Mississippi State has a slightly different offensive flow, but it was able to hit Auburn for 357 passing yards, Georgia was effective when it decided to throw, and Penn State’s Sean Clifford was deadly accurate. The Tigers are 1-4 when allowing over 200 yards through the air. WKU has failed to hit 270 just once, but … – Bowl Projections Why Auburn Will Win The program perked up with Carnell Williams in as the interim head coach. Things might have started with a loss to Mississippi State, but it was a good fight with the running game rolling. Last week it ran for 270 yards and the defense pitched its best game of the season in the 13-10 win over Texas A&M. So how does AU deal with the WKU passing game? It runs and keeps on running. Time of possession doesn’t matter to the Hilltoppers, so the Tigers should take advantage by grinding, keeping Austin Reed and that dangerous O on the sidelines, and more than anything else, getting good tackles out of the secondary to keep the short throws from becoming big plays. – Schedules, Predictions College | NFL What’s Going To Happen Indiana had to hang on for dear life in the 33-30 win over WKU, but it came up with the win. That was the only time the Hilltoppers dealt with a Power Five program. Auburn can’t turn it over like it has over the last few weeks – five in the two games under Williams – and WKU takes the ball away, but the SEC running game will make up for a slew of mistakes by pounding away for 250 yards. WKU will get its passing yards, but a few late drives won’t finish with points. – Expert Picks College Week 12 | NFL Week 11 Auburn vs WKU Prediction, Line Auburn 34, WKU 27 Line: Auburn -5.5, o/u: 52.5 ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5 Auburn vs WKU Must See Rating (out of 5): 3

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