“He told us the old guy’s back,” senior wideout Rod Smith said about Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. “Whoever he was at Troy, he said he’s back. I guess we can expect different from him. Just the intensity he had today in practice, he was just crazy. It was a different coach I saw out there today.”

Cornerback Jerraud Powers, who leads the Tigers with two interceptions, “tweaked” his hamstring in the second quarter of last Saturday’s loss at Vanderbilt and did not play the entire second half. Coach Tommy Tuberville said that Powers was jogging Tuesday, but his status remains doubtful.

Tuberville said Sunday that Burns, the backup who has thrown for just 79 yards on 10-of-24 passing in four games this season, will have more opportunities in the second half of the year, which kicks off Saturday against Arkansas.

We’re heading into Week 7 of the college football season and Vanderbilt currently resides in the Top 15 and is 5-0.

Starting today, Andrew Gribble will cover Auburn University athletics for the Opelika-Auburn News.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Pat Dye had a lot on his mind when he began his speech at an Arkansas luncheon.

With so many questions about Auburn’s offense swirling a day after the Tigers’ 14-13 loss to Vanderbilt, the only man who could shed some possible light on the situation didn’t have anything to say Sunday.

Auburn started off Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt with 14 consecutive running plays.

TUSCALOOSA — One question for Bama Fan who was hoping for a “good test” from somebody before those big games late in the season:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For the second time in three games, a backup quarterback beat Auburn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt beat Auburn.