Tigers turn focus toward Tide
Collin Mickle/Opelika-Auburn News
Judging from conversations on Internet message boards, radio talk shows and anywhere else Auburn fans talk Auburn football, AU fans haven’t had an easy time putting last Saturday’s loss to Georgia behind them.
That’s much less a problem for Auburn’s players.
Defensive end Antonio Coleman closed the book on the UGA game before Auburn’s buses even left Athens, Ga.
“As soon as the whistle blew and everybody ran on the field, I just ran straight to the locker room thinking about Alabama,“ Coleman said. “No big deal to me.“
Auburn’s coaches preach short memories. Living in the past isn’t an option; even thinking about previous mistakes is unproductive.
The players have gotten the message - even if their friends and classmates don’t always understand.
“It’s kind of tough, because you go to class and everybody wants to talk about the game and what happened in it,“ wide receiver Rod Smith said. “You really don’t feel like hearing all that stuff.
“But as a player, it’s easy to get over. You just have to keep moving on.“
Head coach Tommy Tuberville hopes to spend this week reinforcing that point. Auburn is taking it easy in practice: The Tigers plan to practice three times this week for around 90 minutes each day.
Those sessions will be low-key, according to Tuberville.
“These guys are pretty much spent on putting in gameplans, listening and looking at film,“ he said. “Most of what we’re going to do this week is try to get them back to being 19-, 20-year-old guys and understand that there is a life out of football, so they can get refreshed and rejuvenated.“
Gameday details change
The Iron Bowl’s move from the third weekend in November to the fourth has forced a few changes to Auburn’s gameday accommodations for fans.
AU students don’t have class that week. Starting next Tuesday, the “core” of campus, the area between Samford Ave., Wire Road, Magnolia Ave., and South College Street. That area will remain closed through Friday, Nov. 23.
Other changes before the Iron Bowl are:
* No tailgate sites may be reserved until 6 a.m. Nov. 23.
* RV early arrivals will not be allowed on campus until Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. RV parking will be restricted to the fields along South Donahue Drive and Woodfield Drive.
* Earlier-arriving RVs can park for free at a paved parking lot at Duck Samford Park, courtesy of the City of Auburn. The lot is accessible from Airport Road, just north of Glenn Ave.
More information is available at Auburn’s official Web site at http://www.auburn.edu/gameday.
Prep school OL re-commits to AU
Auburn had everything Jermaine Johnson wanted in February. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive lineman, a high school teammate of AU freshman kicker Wes Byrum, signed with AU as part of the class of 2007.
But Johnson wasn’t able to qualify academically. Unable to enroll at AU, Johnson headed to Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, hoping to improve his academic standing and re-sign with Auburn in 2008.
So far, so good.
Johnson, rated the No. 1 prep school offensive lineman in the country, is on pace to qualify. Tuesday, he took another big step, formally committing to re-sign with AU.
“I’m all Auburn,“ Johnson told Auburnsports.com. “Always have been, since I got here (to Hargrave). No doubt about that.“
Johnson is Auburn’s 15th verbal commitment for 2008, joining his Hargrave teammate, tailback Enrique Davis, a fellow 2007 AU signee.
While AU added Johnson, the Tigers said goodbye to another offensive lineman, Belle Glades, Fla., guard Jarien Moreland. Moreland, a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com, committed to Auburn in July.
But he has since reopened his recruiting and is unlikely to sign with AU in February; he is expected to choose between Florida State and LSU.
Injury report
Linebacker Craig Stevens (ankle) practiced Tuesday, but his status for the Iron Bowl is unclear.
Tailback Tristan Davis is “running pretty good,“ according to Tuberville.
Tuberville said a few other players missed practice with minor ailments, but none are seriously injured. If Stevens and Davis continue to improve, AU should be at full strength against Alabama.
“We’ve got two weeks left, so everybody’s got a real good shot,“ Tuberville said.
AU’s Groves named Sporstmanship Award Finalist
Auburn senior linebacker Quentin Groves was named one of the 10 finalists for the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) Sportsmanship Award, which is given annually to one outstanding NCAA Division I football player who best personifies the spirit of sportsmanship.
Joining Groves on the list of finalists are: Alex Brink (Washington State, QB), Jordan Brown (Houston, WR), Jacob Gutierrez (Oklahoma, RB), Dionte Johnson (Ohio State, FB), Thomas Keith (Central Michigan, LB), Micah Rucker (Eastern Illinois, WR), Jarrid Smith (Florida Atlantic, G), Jeremy Thompson (Wake Forest, DE) and Robert Vallentti (Iona, LT).
“ARA’s Sportsmanship Award is the only national award that recognizes an athlete’s character and leadership as it translates to sportsmanship,“ said Ed Hunt, president of the ARA. “Our panel looks for players that stand out and contribute when playing and in life. It’s encouraging to see so many of today’s collegiate athletes who consistently conduct themselves in a highly sportsmanlike manner.“
To qualify for the award, an athlete must be a starting player or significant contributor on his team, be a senior in good academic standing, demonstrate great respect for competitors, school, teammates and coaches, show an ability to accept victory and defeat graciously, convey a high degree of humility and integrity and demonstrate commitment in the classroom and to the community.
