November 8, 2012
Auburn vs. Georgia
GAME DAY Freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace looks for another win. Page 3 A simple drinking game to keep things interesting. Page 4 Top five Auburn vs. Georgia games of all time. Page 8 Q and A with The Red and Black sports editor Nick Fouriezos. Page 10
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, November 8, 2012
On to the next one
After a much-needed win against New Mexico State, the Tigers face the No. 5 ranked Georgia Bulldogs in an SEC showdown. Nov. 11, 2006
Nov. 10, 2007
Nov. 15, 2008
Nov. 14, 2009
Nov. 13, 2010
Nov. 12, 2011
UGA: 37 UGA: 45 UGA: 17 UGA: 31 UGA: 31 UGA: 45 Auburn: 15 Auburn: 20 Auburn: 13 Auburn: 24 Auburn: 49 Auburn: 7 UGA Games since 2006
Courtesy of Todd Van Emst
Runningback Onterio McCalebb scores a touchdown Saturday, Nov. 3 against the New Mexico State Aggies. The Tigers won the match with a final score of 42–7.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
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The Auburn Plainsman
Quarterback Jonathan Wallace gets his chance to shine John Burns Sports Reporter
Quarterback Jonathan Wallace will receive the second start of his career this weekend against Georgia. The freshman’s height is listed at 6 feet 2 inches, and he weighs 197 pounds. Wallace got his first start in Auburn’s 42–7 victory against New Mexico State last Saturday. He ran the offense effectively and finished with 164 yards passing, a touchdown and an interception. “I did some things good, I did some things bad,” Wallace said. “There’s a lot of work to do still, but we can’t get complacent.” The offense Wallace led was anything but complacent in the second half, as the Tigers scored 14 points in both the third and fourth quarter.
Wallace is a traditional dual-threat quarterback and was working out of the wildcat style offense during the first eight games. In his senior year at Central High School in Phoenix City, Wallace threw for 1,761 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. His legs carried him for 891 yards and 28 touchdowns. As the Auburn starting quarterback, he has been in a more traditional drop-back role and only ran for nine yards, but it is clear he is comfortable running or passing. In his senior year, Wallace was the 25th ranked quarterback in the nation and was the 28th ranked player in the state of Alabama, according to Rivals. com. Wallace was not expected to
get much playing time in a nonwildcat formation, but extreme circumstances, such as the Tigers losing seven of their first eight games, forced head coach Gene Chizik to give the freshman a chance. After the Tigers’ win against New Mexico State, Chizik said Wallace had an efficient first start. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the way he managed the team, directed the team, made plays at critical times in the game when we needed them,” he said. “And for a young guy to come in there in his first start, I’m sure he’ll be very critical and hard on himself, which is the way he is, but just looking at it from the naked eye — what I know — I’m very proud of the way he performed.”
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
A few drinks can help take the edge off a loss Rachel Suhs Design@ theplainsman.com
Well, Auburn fans, it has been a rough season. Luckily, we managed to follow through with regular homecoming tradition and racked up points, but overall this season has tested the loyalty of every Tiger fan. Now that the season is nearing a close, we should be able to put the long line of losses behind us, celebrate our wins and enjoy our game against Georgia. While that is probably harder for some to do than others, a little liquid courage will help even the most passionate viewer
make it through the game. For all those watching the game from home, or with their singles snuck in through cowboy boots, follow these few drinking rules and it won’t matter who scores.
· Take a shot if Spirit gets lost/runs into anything · Take a drink when everyone starts a kick off “War Eagle.” Don’t stop until the phrase is finished. · Take a drink every time
you’re about to yell at a ref · Shotgun a beer every time you miss Lutzenkirchen · Take a drink every time the TV shows Chizik upset or contemplative · Take a drink every time
Georgia scores · Take a drink of water every time we score (just to help offset some of the alcohol) · Take a drink every time we drop the ball · Take a drink every time Georgia intercepts the ball · If we do win, stop drinking, get your sober friend who thought you were ridiculous for drinking your way through the Auburn–Georgia game, and have them drive you to Toomer’s Corner to roll the trees. By the end of the game, you should be forgetting the painful numbers that have stacked up against our family this season. Despite the odds being against us, I’m still hoping for a stone-cold sober pack of Tigers
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
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The Auburn Plainsman
Plainsman Pick ‘em Auburn vs. Georgia
Owen Parrish SGA President
Andrew Yawn Sports Editor
John Burns
Sports Reporter
Ali Jenkins
Sports Reporter
Melody Kitchens Intrigue Editor
Ashley Selby
Senior Ads Salesman
Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss
Arkansas vs. South Carolina
LSU vs. Miss. State
Alabama vs. Texas A&M
Missouri vs. Tennessee
Louisiana LaFayette vs. Florida
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Team Depth Charts Defensive End Garrison Smith - Jr. Ray Drew - So. C. Washington - Sr. Ray Drew - So. Mike Thornton - So.
Kick Returner Quan Bray - So. Holder Ryan White - Jr.
Oct. 8th - Nov. 19th Defensive End Dee Ford - Jr. Craig Sanders - Jr. Nosa Eguae - Jr. Defensive Tackle Jeffrey Whitaker - Jr. Gabe Wright - So. Tyler Nero - Fr. Defensive Tackle Angelo Blackson - So. Kenneth Carter - Jr. Devaunte Sigler - So. Defensive End Corey Lemonier - Jr. LaDarius Owens - So. Nosa Eguae - Jr. Outside Linebacker (WILL) Jonathan Evans - Sr. Justin Garrett - So.
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Quarterback Kiehl Frazier - So. Clint Moseley - Jr. Jonathan Wallace - Fr. Running Back Onterio McCalebb - Sr. Tre Mason - So. Mike Blakely - RS Fr. Fullback Jay Prosch - Jr. Wide Receiver Emory Blake - Sr. Sammie Coates - RS Fr. Ricardo Louis - Fr. Wide Receiver 2 Trovon Reed - So. Travante Stallworth- Sr. 3-wide Quan Bray - So. Tight End Brandon Fulse - So. C.J. Uzomah - So.
Middle Linebacker (MIKE) Left Tackle Jake Holland - Jr. Cassanova McKinzy - Fr. Greg Robinson - RS Fr. Shon Coleman - RS Fr. Outside Linebacker Left Guard (SAM) John Sullen - Sr. Daren Bates - Sr. Alex Kozan - Fr. Kris Frost - RS Fr. Cornerback Chris Davis - Jr. Jonathon Mincy - So.
Center Reese Dismukes - So. Tunde Fariyike - So.
Right Guard Safety Jermaine Whitehead - So. Chad Slade - So. Demetruce McNeal - Jr. C. Westerman - RS Fr. Safety 2 Demetruce McNeal - Jr. Trent Fisher - So.
Right Tackle Avery Young - Fr. Patrick Miller - Fr.
Cornerback Ryan White - Jr. T’Sharvan Bell - Sr.
Place Kicker Cody Parkey - Jr. Alex Kviklys - Fr.
Punt Returner Quan Bray - So. Trovon Reed - So.
Punter Steven Clark - Jr. J.D. Strawbridge - Fr.
Quarterback Aaron Murray - Jr. Hutson Mason - Jr. Christian LeMay - Fr. Parker Welch - So. Runningback Todd Gurley - Fr. Keith Marshall - Fr. Ken Malcome - So. Richard Samuel - Sr. Fullback A. Ogletree - Jr. Quayvon Hicks - Fr. Richard Samuel - Sr. Wide receiver Tavarres King - Sr. Rantavious Wooten - Jr. Chris Conley - So. J. Scott-Wesley - Fr.
Malcolm Mitchell So. Rhett McGowan - Jr. Taylor Bradberry - Sr. Offensive tackle Kenarious Gates - Jr. Mark Beard - So. Austin Long - Jr. John Theus - Fr. Watts Dantzler - So. Center David Andrews - So. Chris Burnette - Jr. Dallas Lee - Jr. Offensive Guard Chris Burnette - Jr. Greg Pyke - Fr. Dallas Lee - Jr. Ben Reynolds - Jr. Tight end Arthur Lynch - Jr. Jay Rome - Fr. Ty Flournoy-Smith - Fr.
Nose Tackle John Jenkins - Sr. Kwame Geathers - Jr. Linebacker Chase Vasser - JR Ramik Wilson - SO Josh Dawson - FR Jarvis Jones - JR Jordan Jenkins - FR T.J. Stripling - JR Alec Ogletree - JR C. Robinson - SR Amarlo Herrera - So. Michael Gilliard - Sr. Cornerback Sanders Commings - Sr. Sheldon Dawson - Fr. Branden Smith - Sr. Damian Swann - So. Safety Shawn Williams - Sr. Corey Moore - So. J. Harvey-Clemons - Fr. Bacarri Rambo - SR 11 Connor Norman Kicker Marshall Morgan - Fr. 99 Jamie Lindley - Sr. Punter Collin Barber - Fr. Adam Erickson - So. Punt Return Branden Smith - Sr. Damian Swann - So. Long Snapper Ty Frix - Sr. 49 Nathan Theus - Fr. Holder Adam Erickson - So. Kick Return Branden Smith - Sr. Todd Gurley - Fr.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
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The Auburn Plainsman
Game day munchies don’t have to be an issue Lane Jones Lane@ theplainsman.com
For students, six hours in the stadium sustained by nothing but a mustard-slathered soft pretzel leaves us with a raging post-game hunger. If we can make it past the concession stands without purchasing an armful of hot dogs, then our game day options usually revolve around scrounging up whatever food is left at the tailgate by the time we get there. Eating the misshapen carrots everyone else left on the vegetable plate is not your only option. There are plenty of restau-
rants around town offering fans a fresh new twist on old favorites like barbecue, burgers and fries. Game days in Auburn are marked by tradition, but don’t let yourself get stuck in a dining rut by eating the same meal every time. Amsterdam Cafe’s crab cake sandwich The crab cake sandwich at Amsterdam Cafe, located on South Gay Street, is a delectable twist on the typical fare of game day. Instead of a charred burger, sink your teeth into one of the “top 100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die.” The crab cake avocado sandwich is served on a flaky toasted croissant with creole remoulade and mango pico de gallo. The subtle blend of flavors in this
tasty sandwich makes for a dish you can savor instead of just inhale in a fit of hunger. Get it with a side of sweet potato chips. Big Blue Bagel’s tiger melt Another one of the “100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die,” Big Blue, located on College Street, offers a Tiger Melt consisting of Colby Jack generously melting over its famous chicken salad and served atop two bagel faces of your choice. Play it safe and go with the multigrain bagel or mix it up with cinnamon or blueberry. The melt comes with a side of bagel chips, which are bagels of different flavors toasted and sliced into bite-sized pieces. A side of the honey mustard makes the perfect dipping sauce.
Tex’s Tacos’ barbecue taco Putting a Tex-Mex twist on Southern cooking, our favorite campus food truck offers a barbecue taco. Get it with a side of lime fries. The taco combines a flour tortilla with vinegar-basted pulled pork barbecue, honeylime garden slaw and barbecue sauce. Since the taco truck is parked right outside the stadium, you’ll have to endure the shortest amount of time between you and satiating your roaring appetite. Top off your barbecue taco with a round of lime fries, a Tex’s Tacos specialty that somehow manages to whip up a deep fried dish that tastes like a funnel cake-french fry hybrid. Look out for the taco truck parked on campus.
Panera Bread’s turkey cranberry panini With Thanksgiving just around the bend, you might be looking for something a little more festive than the tried-andtrue beef burgers you eat at every game. Panera, located on Opelika Road, is offering a seasonal sandwich this fall that combines the flavors of the season into a delectable panini. The sandwich features roasted turkey slices on fresh-baked ciabatta bread, cranberry chutney and fresh spinach. The unlikely pairing is reminiscent of a Thanksgiving meal and a great alternative to post-game grub. The panini is served with a side, but for another fall treat, try the chicken stew that comes topped with a cheese biscuit.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, November 8, 2012
A history of ‘The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry’ The most iconic Auburn–Georgia matchups students will remember
1994
Georgia 23 Auburn 23 Terry Bowden’s second Auburn team was continuing the winning ways of his first squad that went 11–0. The 1994 Tigers were 9–0 coming into Amen Corner and first up was a disappointing Georgia team. The Bulldogs had lost to Vanderbilt that year and been blown out by Florida 52–14. Auburn’s winning streak stopped at 20 and it would go on to lose to Alabama in the Iron Bowl. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer said the next day, “Georgia Beats Auburn, 23–23.”
1996
Georgia 56 Auburn 49 The first SEC game to go into overtime was played in Jordan-Hare in 1996 in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Jim Donnan had taken over as head coach in Athens, and the team was struggling its way to a 5-6 record. A memorable moment in the first quarter of this contest came when Georgia’s bulldog mascot, Uga V, jumped and snapped at Auburn receiver Robert Baker in the end zone. Coach Bowden’s Auburn team led 28-7 at halftime before imploding and allowing the ‘Dawgs’ Mike Bobo to throw a 30-yard touchdown to Cory Allen to tie it at 28-28 on the last play of the game. Georgia went on to win 56-49 in four overtimes, giving its fans the “Miracle on the Plains.”
Above: Auburn runs to the field prior to the game against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct. 27. Top Right: Courtesy of Todd Van Emst. Fans during the 2004 matchup against the University of Georgia. Far Bottom : Jeris McIntyre catches a pass during the 2003 matchup against UGA. Near Bottom: Cadillac Williams eludes a UGA defender during the 2004 matchup against UGA.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
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The Auburn Plainsman
1999
2004
Auburn 24 Georgia 6
Auburn 38 Georgia 21 Tommy Tuberville became the Auburn head coach in 1999 after leaving Ole Miss. The team started off with a few wins against mostly lesser competition before dropping five of six heading into the Georgia game. Auburn came out on fire behind Ben Leard and Ronney Daniels and led 31-0 at halftime. The second half was mostly a party in certain sections and Auburn cruised to a 3821 win on its way to a 5-6 record in Tubs’ first season.
2005
Auburn 31 Georgia 30
This top ten matchup had been anticipated for weeks as Georgia and Auburn each rolled through their regular season schedules. By the time the game arrived, Auburn was 10-0 and ranked in the top three, while eighth-ranked Georgia’s lone loss was to future East division champ Tennessee. Auburn was a couple of wins away from its first SEC championship since 1989 and also still in play for a national title. Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown helped ruin the season for the Bulldogs and Carnell Williams even threw a touchdown pass as Auburn’s defense helped dismantle Georgia and David Greene. Auburn went on to win the SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl and finished 13-0.
After seeing Kenny Irons run for nearly 180 yards and two touchdowns in a back and forth game, Auburn was down to its last chance facing a fourth down and 10 from inside its own territory and less than two minutes left on the clock down 30-28. Devin Aromashodu caught the last ditch pass from Brandon Cox and hit the sideline, outracing Georgia defenders to the 3-yard line in a breathtaking play before being stripped of the ball. Auburn recovered in the endzone 60+ yards later before the referees reminded the stadium that a fourth down fumble cannot be advanced. Auburn didn’t punch it in for six, instead taking John Vaughn’s 20-yard field goal and the 31-30 win.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Across enemy lines Nick Fouriezos nfouriezo@ randb.com
The Red and Black sports editor Nick Fouriezos answers five questions regarding this week’s matchup against the Bulldogs
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Who are Georgia’s key defensive players this weekend?
Pick your poison. Jarvis Jones is the obvious bet for a big game, but I’m going to go for one of the team’s less heralded players, sophomore cornerback Damian Swann. Swann, who has forced three fumbles, had two interceptions and two sacks in the last two games, has been much better than senior corner Branden Smith this season, despite his youth.
Key offensive players?
Todd Gurley will be essential to Georgia’s success. When the running game is running smoothly, the offense doesn’t force things and is able to control the clock. While quarterback Aaron Murray has proven he can win games with his arm, throwing for almost 400 yards last week and three touchdowns, the key to an Auburn upset would be to force some turnovers. If the Bulldogs are running well, there won’t be a desire to push the ball through the air, making ball security much easier. Other than that, it will be interesting to see how sophomore wide receiver Chris Conley fares, as he is likely to replace the injured senior Marlon Brown. Brown was a physical specimen and highly touted, but never lived up to the hype. Meanwhile, people forget Conley had a very solid freshman year playing in a loaded receiving corps. With Michael Bennett gone as well, Conley will have a chance to show what he has to offer.
What does Georgia have to do to secure its second consecutive win against Auburn?
Get Murray going early. Murray is the epitome of the rhythm passer, so if you can get him warmed up on some smaller stuff to begin the game, then he should continue finding success throughout it. But if he throws a pick early, watch out — when it rains, it really pours for the Bulldog signal-caller. Where you can get what your body needs, your heart desires, and your spirit requires!
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What would a victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium mean for the Bulldogs?
A spot in the SEC Championship game. This isn’t just any other game — the Georgia-Auburn series is one of the most competitive and longstanding rivalries in college football, and the Bulldogs are only one game behind overall. But that being said, Auburn is clearly down this year. Losing to a team that doesn’t have a single SEC win this year would be a travesty, but it’s also highly unlikely. Auburn will come in to play the spoiler. But Georgia will come in as the heavy favorite, and I don’t see this game being a problem for them.
Georgia has at least two underwhelming performances this season.What are the chances the Bulldogs have another one this weekend?
Not likely. The stakes are high and, unlike the South Carolina game, the opponent isn’t nearly as talented. Games like this are won by coaching and by depth, two things which the Tigers are lacking at the moment. It will be close for the first quarter, maybe the first half. But Georgia just handled a strong Ole Miss offense, while ringing up 37 points. It would take a major collapse for the Bulldogs to even keep Auburn in this game.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
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Game Day Hours
More Locations Outside of Foy Terrell Dining Village Dining Student Center
Nov 10 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Saturday 12pm-6:30pm 12pm-6:30pm 8:30-11pm 10am-11pm 8:30am-6pm 10am-10pm 10:30am-9pm 10:30-11pm
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Rebecca Croomes / Photo Editor
Jonathan Wallace will look to get more comfortable in the starting role Saturday, Nov. 10 when he takes on Georgia in his second career start.
Key matchups: Auburn vs UGA Tre Mason vs Jarvis Jones If anything can be learned from Auburn’s two wins this season, it’s that Auburn must run the ball to win. Both times the Tigers have eclipsed 200 total rushing yards this season, Auburn has come away with a win. To reach that total, running backs Onterio McCalebb and Mike Blakely will have to be a large part of that. Tre Mason, however, is the workhorse of the group and will be relied on to set the tempo on offense. Mason is coming off his best game of the season, a 152-yard, one-touchdown effort in the Tigers’ dominant 42–7 victory over New Mexico State. On the other side of the ball Saturday, Nov. 10, will be the nation’s 45th-ranked rush defense. The past two games, Georgia held a usually explosive Florida offense to 75 yards on 40 carries — an average of 1.9 yards per carry — and held Ole Miss to 46 yards on the ground. Junior linebacker Jarvis Jones may have something to do with that. Jones had 13 tackles, 4.5 of those for a loss, in the Florida game and has the sideline-to-sideline range and athleticism to track down the fastest of backs. Saturday there is no doubt Jones will have his eyes on No. 21 when he’s in the backfield, and how Mason handles the pressure of finally being the centerpiece of the offense will dictate the outcome of the game. Jonathan Wallace vs. Georgia secondary In Wallace’s second career start, it will be up to him to give the Tigers a chance to upset the Bulldogs. Mason and the running game can only get the team so far before Georgia stacks the box. With Georgia keeping an eye on the backfield, Wallace will have to use his feet and make big plays with his arm to avoid pressure and keep drives alive. The Georgia secondary isn’t known for being a flock of ball hawks, but safety Bacarri Rambo and the rest of the unit are tenacious hitters. Wallace must make the right throws to allow his receivers to use their speed after the catch. If Auburn can score fast and early, the Tigers’ chance of an upset gets that much larger. Corey Lemonier and Dee Ford vs. Georgia offensive line Auburn’s defense has been arguably worse than the offense this season. When Georgia comes to the Plains Saturday, the Tigers must do two things to win: score and sack the quarterback. The team hasn’t done so well with scoring, but the team has all the tools to get to Aaron Murray. Lemonier and Ford have combined for eight of Auburn’s 18 sacks, but Lemonier has gone sackless for the past five games, and Ford ended his four-game sack drought against New Mexico State last weekend. Murray has thrown an interception in five of his nine games, including a three interception showing two weeks ago against Florida. On a defense known for missed tackles and poor coverage, pressure on Murray may force the mistakes Auburn’s defense needs to gain momentum.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Auburn Plainsman
What’s the problem?
Above: The trainer in charge of Nova and Spirit. It isn’t easy standing at the 50-yard line and wondering if the bird will come back.
Below: This student sums up the attitude around town with his exasperated expression and motionless shaker. It’s as if his poster is a window into his brain.
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The Plainsman’s photo editor takes a creative look at who’s feeling a bit blue this football season.
Top: This guy is possibly pondering one of the greatest mysteries of life: will Auburn ever win another conference game?
All photos by Rebecca Croomes / Photo Editor
Above: Junior kicker Cody Parkey gives this entire season the stink eye … or he could just have the sun in his face.
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The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Not headed to the game? Opelika offers alternatives Ben Croomes Opinion@ theplainsman.com
My friends like to make fun of me for not pretending like football is my life. They question my allegiance to Auburn and accuse me of being an undercover Bammer — especially when I tell them I don’t particularly like going to home games. I’ve tried to explain to them it gets monotonous, but they don’t buy it. If you’ve been going to all the home games this semester, you might be getting a little tired of the same old tailgate and bar scene. Like me, you might be bored stiff of sitting around with a bunch of super fans who have
nothing going on in their lives. So why not take some time before or after the game and get out of town for a while? Auburn’s sister city, Opelika, is just a short drive down I-85 and has a lot more to offer than a Starbucks and a Target. Since I moved here a few years ago, I’ve found Opelika to be a great place to escape all the stress that goes with a heavy weekend of football. The last time I wrote a column about my fondness for Opelika, the community was still growing into its place as a charming Southern town. But now, with the addition of four new restaurants and a boom in downtown businesses, the town could easily fit in with the likes of Savannah, Ga. or Charleston, SC. It certainly seems a long way away from the hectic fanaticism
and game day frivolity, and I like it that way. For me, all the people that crowd the stadium and downtown Auburn are just too much. I’m definitely an Auburn fan and I love this town, but I can only take so many drunken tailgaters before my head starts to hurt. So instead of taking Tylenol and lying in bed all day, I make the trip to Opelika and indulge my weakness for fried foods and shopping for strange antiques. The Irish Bred Pub, of course, is one of the more popular destinations in downtown Opelika. Its whole menu is impeccable, but the fish and chips will have you doubting all the happiness you ever experienced before tasting its beer-battered excellence. Ma Fia’s Italian restaurant, just down the street from the
Bred Pub, is another wonderful eatery that will fill your stomach and restore your faith in humanity — at least it did for me. The fact it has one of the hardest dishes to find in Alabama, veal osso bucco, alone puts it in the running for my favorite restaurant in the state. They cook it perfectly, by the way. Niffer’s Place has been an Auburn tradition since 1991, but it recently expanded its corn nugget-fueled kingdom to downtown Opelika, which will help you get your Niffer’s fix on game day without waiting forever for a table. If you find yourself full on burgers and beer and need to take a walk to clear your head, find a designated driver or cab and make your way to Opelika. You can visit some of the coolest antique stores in the area, An-
gel’s and Roland’s, and you may even burn off some unwanted calories. Angel’s is right off the interstate and offers a large variety of stuff for your shopping pleasure. It’s huge, and you will take at least two hours before your consumerist yearnings calm down enough and you decide to purchase that buggy load of tchotchkes. Roland’s, which is conveniently right next to the Bred Pub, is tiny compared to Angel’s, but the prices are always negotiable and you can always find something you didn’t know you needed. So if you are tired of all the typical game day shenanigans, make a trip to our pleasant sister city, where you can eat your fill, spend all your money and leave with a smile on your face.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
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The Auburn Plainsman
It takes two to tango: Chizik and Richt Ali Jenkins sports@ theplainsman.com
College football is full of characters, especially in the Southeastern Conference. Johnny “Football” Manziel and Cam Newton, who we all know is Superman, are two of many. But it’s not just players who steal the spotlight with their idiosyncrasies. LSU coach Les Miles eats grass. Alabama’s Nick Saban is the devil and finds joy in yelling at anything and everything that moves. Will Muschamp has perfected the temper tantrum during his time at Florida.
Quirks are the new normal. Fans and players alike fall for the outrageous and outspoken men that make up the SEC, yet come Saturday’s meeting between Auburn and Georgia, the nation will see two coaches who have remained relatively normal through the circus that is college football. Mark Richt is a frat star that stumbled into the head coaching position at Georgia some 12 years ago. The Omaha, Neb. native enters the weekend boasting a one-loss record and the No. 5 spot in the BCS rankings. Richt has somehow managed to lead his team to top-25 finishes in all but two of those years, the most successful coming in 2007 when the No. 2 Bulldogs ended the season 11–2.
On the other sideline sits the troubled Gene Chizik, who seems to see the good in everything. Auburn’s fourth-year coach found success early on, leading the Tigers to their second national championship in 2010. In just his second season, Chizik was able to turn a reeling Auburn team into winners, not without the help of Heisman trophy winner Newton. Now, a mere two years removed from arguably the best season in Tiger football history, Chizik and company are on a downward spiral that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. Richt is 2–1 when coaching against Chizik, and common sense would suggest that record is going to increase Saturday.
Courtesy of Todd Van Emst
Gene Chizik is in his third year as head coach and has a record of 42–55 overall.
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Former City of Auburn Prosecutor Former Deputy Defense Attorney of Montgomery
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
16
The Auburn Plainsman
Weekend breakdown: football isn’t the only sport in town Friday, Nov. 9
Men’s basketball vs. IPFW Women’s basketball vs. Maine Soccer at Washington Equestrian vs. Georgia Volleyball vs. Texas A&M Men’s tennis vs. USTA/ITA Lacrosse vs. NCAA South Regional
7 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. All Day All Day
Saturday, Nov. 10
Women’s basketball vs. Wofford or North Carolina State Men’s tennis vs. USTA/ITA
4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. All Day
Sunday, Nov. 11
Men’s tennis vs. USTA/ITA
All Day
• • • • • • • • • •
Emily Morris / Assistant Photo Editor
Senior guard Josh Wallace eludes a defender in the 66–50 victory over Georgia Southwestern University Monday, Nov. 5.
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