The Auburn Plainsman 01.09.14 issue

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID Thursday, January 9, 2014 Vol. 120, Issue 28, 16 Pages

DREAM DEFERRED

INSIDE

SPECIAL FOOTBALL SEASON REVIEW B5

FLORIDA STATE 34 | AUBURN 31

ONLINE

Men’s Basketball vs.

Mizzou See ThePlainsman.com for game updates Jan. 11

CAMPUS

A2

Students roadtrip to Pasadena Fans travel across country to attend National Championship game

COMMUNITY

A5

ZACH BLAND / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Senior cornerback Chris Davis and Florida State wide receiver Calvin Benjamin lay on the field after Benjamin caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the BCS Championship.

Auburn’s dream season comes to an end after loss to Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game

Councilmember seeks racial reform Councilmember Dowdell explores the options to reseating the City Council

INTRIGUE

Will Gaines

A12

SPORTS REPORTER

Auburn students assist community abroad Alternative Student Break program sends University students to Nicaragua before Christmas holiday

INDEX Campus Opinion Community Intrigue Sports

A2 A4 A5 A7 B1

ANNA GRAFTON / PHOTO EDITOR

Malzahn looks on in disbelief after Florida State scored the game winning touchdown.

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Auburn has needed last-second heroics time and time again this season, and all of those times they came out on the winning side.

That streak ended in the BCS National Championship game as the Tigers fell to No. 1 Florida State 34-31 on a last second touchdown pass from Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston.

“First of all, I’m very proud of my team, and how far they’ve come from the very first game to getting here, and just being on the brink of winning the whole thing,” said head coach Gus Malzahn following the game. “I’m very proud of them.”

Auburn’s defense was all over Winston in the beginning causing him to struggle. He finished the first half going 6-of-15 for 62 yards, was sacked twice and had one fumble.

“At the end of the day he’s a freshman, and I think tonight we exposed that,” said senior defensive end Dee Ford. “Very early I saw that he was a

little hesitant.”

After Auburn’s first drive, which ended with Nick Marshall missing a wide-open Ricardo Louis that would have put the Tigers up by a touchdown, Winston led his Seminole offense down the field for a 35-yard field goal by Roberto Aguayo to put Florida State up 3-0.

Auburn was then able to get into a rhythm and score three unanswered touchdowns to go up 21-3.

Trailing was not something Florida State was used to.

When Tre Mason scored on a 12yard touchdown pass from Nick Marshall with 3:07 left in the first quarter, Florida State found itself facing a deficit for the first time in more than 583 minutes of play.

The Seminoles would cut into the Auburn lead just before the half making it a 21-10 game.

Florida State would carry this momentum into the second half, and pull within one point after an 11-yard pass

» See NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, A2

Congratulations to the LILY AND LAURA Handmade Glass Beaded Bracelets Auburn Tigers on a great 3 for $30,1 for $12 2013 Football Season Now at our AUBURN store

[

Next to KINNUCAN’S!

]

Campus A2

The Auburn Plainsman

POLICE REPORTS FOR THE CITY OF AUBURN JAN. 3 – JAN. 9, 2013 Jan. 3, 100 Block of North Ross Street Theft of Property Third Degree City of Auburn, Municipality Jan. 3, 400 Block of Boykin Street Theft of Property Third Degree Boys and Girl’s Club Jan. 4, 1600 Block of South College Street Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle Jan. 5, 1100 Block of Ware Drive Theft of Property Third Degree Lee County Human Society Jan. 5, 1700 Block of South College Street Theft of Property Third Degree Murphy Oil USA

Thursday, January 9, 2014

DUI ARRESTS FOR JAN. 1 – JAN. 9, 2013 Austin Partridge, 21 Jan. 1, 1:28 a.m.

Martin Avenue and Pitts Street

John Ronan, 20 Jan. 6, 10:26 p.m.

West Glenn Avenue and Toomer Street

Cary Klinkhammer, 20 Jan. 1, 2:29 a.m.

West Magnolia Avenue

Joseph Dumas, 41 Jan. 7, 2:11 a.m.

Highway 14 and Shug Jordan Parkway

Courtney Tidmore, 24 Jan. 1, 3:42 a.m.

South College Street

William Morris, 28 Jan. 7, 3:37 a.m.

Hemlock Drive and West Glenn Avenue

Robert Goletz, 25 Jan. 3, 2:56 a.m.

East Glenn Avenue

Michael Smith Jan, 7, 10:29 a.m.

Wild Ginger Lane and East University Drive

Patricia Smith, 29 Jan. 5, 3:11 a.m.

North College Street and Tichenor Avenue

— Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

EMILY BRETT / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Auburn students roadtrip west for football and sunshine Derek Herscovici CAMPUS REPORTER

This football season was filled with unexpected gifts for Auburn and Florida State, culminating in the BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

“It’s probably the most exciting, unbelievable thing ever,” said Tom Macina, senior in accounting at Florida State.

Between FSU quarterback Jameis Winston’s Heisman win and Auburn’s miraculous victories over Georgia and Alabama, the hype surrounding the game made it difficult if not impossible to secure a trip to California.

Auburn reportedly bought 2,000 tickets to the game, 900 of which were entered into the student section lottery.

The winners were able to buy tickets first at $250 and then at $350 in the later drawings.

Robbie Mueller, 2011 graduate, wasn’t satisfied with prospective sales and decided to drive out west with three friends in search of fairly priced tickets in Pasadena.

“I always wanted to road trip out West anyways,” Mueller said. “We figured our chances would be better out there than if we waited around here and just loaded up the van.”

Mueller and his friends rotated drivers over three days as they journeyed across the southwest before arriving in California, a feat both excessive and yet assured of success.

Many football fans were able to win a ticket from the student lottery, but the continuous drawing system occasionally came after they had bought tickets or with no time to book a flight.

“I got an email saying I won the lottery on Jan. 2, and I was up all night looking up flights to California,” said

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP » From A1

pull within one point after an 11-yard pass from Winston to Chad Abram with 10:55 left to go in the game.

Auburn would then answer with a field goal to make it 2420, but Florida State’s Kermit Whitefield would return the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to give Florida State the lead.

Giving up kickoff returns is not a common characteristic for

Auburn.

“Obviously, we didn’t cover it very well,” Malzahn said.

“That was a big play in the game, and that was uncharacteristic, but at the same time you’ve got to give them credit.”

With less than five minutes to play in the game, it looked like Auburn’s chances of winning were slowly fading away.

But with some hard running

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Anna Smith Bradley, sophomore in mechanical engineering. “But all the flights out of Atlanta were booked 30 minutes after getting the email,” Bradley was eventually able to secure a 4 a.m. flight out of Birmingham on Saturday, Jan. 4.

“I told myself before I entered [the lottery] it was worth it, [but] it wasn’t cheap,” Bradley said.

Mick Taylor, senior in business, arrived in Los Angeles Thursday with friends and quickly traveled to Venice Beach and Santa Monica to take advantage of the sunshine and warm weather.

“The weather here is unbelievable.

I’m reading all these statuses from my friends on Facebook about how freaking cold it is all over the country, but here its absolutely perfect,” Taylor said.

Besides soaking up the sun’s rays,

from Mason and third-down completions from Marshall, the Tigers were able to regain the lead with 1:19 to go in the game after Mason scored on a 37-yard touchdown run.

Mason finished the night with 195-yards rushing, giving him the Auburn single-season rushing record, passing legendary Auburn running back Bo Jackson.

“It’s a blessing to surpass his yards that he put up, but it would be great to do that while

Congrats Auburn Tigers on a great 2013 football season!

Auburn fans were spotted outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater, along the Sunset Strip and Hollywood Boulevard, on the University of Southern California’s campus and around Topanga Canyon.

Amid the pre-game sight-seeing, football fans never lost track of the reason for their trip.

Some students and alumni that attended the game went to the media day while others carefully planned the perfect tailgate to the game.

Auburn fans made their presence known before, during and after the game, from a welcoming Tiger Walkstyle entrance to thankful celebration in the stadium after the game swayed in the wrong direction.

The love and loyalty of the fans was enough for even FSU to notice during their celebration.

“Auburn fans are very classy,”

“

It was an amazing journey for me, and I’m definitely proud to be an Auburn Tiger right now.”

—Dee Ford

SENIOR DEFENSIVE END

Macina said. “We sat in a mostly Auburn section, and they all shook my hand after the game.”

It’s a long, cold road back to Auburn, especially with the loss behind them; but there are no regrets for the turnaround this season or the adventure that brought the Auburn family to southern California.

“It was totally worth it,” Bradley said. “After we lost, the fans were still singing ‘It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger.’”

Robbie Mueller and his companions’s spirits remained high as they loaded up their van and made the long trip back east, their journey now coming to an end.

“Seeing the sunrise out in the desert in Arizona made the trip worth it alone,” Mueller said. “There’s so much more to the game than just football.”

holding the crystal ball in the air,” Mason said. “But that’s just the way it is.”

All Auburn needed to do was hold Florida State out of the end zone for 1:13, and they would have been national champions.

But a 49-yard completion from Winston put the Seminoles on the Tigers 23-yard line with less than a minute to go in the game.

Winston would then go on to throw the game winning touchdown pass to Kelvin Smith with

13 seconds left on the clock and would hold on for the win.

Even with this disappointing loss, the Tigers came back from the worst season in Auburn history in 2012, and only lost against Florida State within the last seconds of the game.

“The entire time we set a goal to have the biggest turnaround in college football history,” Ford said. “It was an amazing journey for me, and I’m definitely proud to be an Auburn Tiger right now.”

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Thursday, January 9, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Campus A3

Kick off the new year with a healthy on-campus meal Keely Shearer CAMPUS WRITER

After spending the long Christmas break at home indulging in favorite restaurant meals and homemade dishes, many students are ready to get back on track by eating healthier.

Although the majority of Auburn’s students live off campus, many resort to dining on campus for the bulk of their meals.

Numerous students are currently unhappy with Auburn’s dining options.

Mary Cameron Faison, sophomore in elementary education, lives off campus, but dines on campus four to five times a week.

Faison believes most of the restaurants on campus lack nutritional value and finds it difficult to seek out healthy options.

“I wish, instead of restaurants, we had more of a food bar with all sorts of different types of food with healthier options,” Faison said. “I think the Student Center needs the most work too. They could really use more options like a salad bar and more fresh fruit.”

There are a total of 33 dining spots to choose from on Auburn’s campus.

However, weeding out the healthy options can sometimes be difficult to do.

Alex Hunt, junior in professional flight, also finds it hard to eat healthy on campus.

“Auburn has not done a good job at providing healthy options on campus,” Hunt said. “It’s all pretty unhealthy stuff, but just convenient.”

EMILY BRETT / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Hunt thinks Auburn should provide more healthy snacks that can be served swiftly for students on their way to class.

“A juice bar would be beneficial because it’s healthy, will make you feel good and help you concentrate better in class,” Hunt said.

Other students, such as Abbey Herfurth, sophomore in communications, have been able to find enjoyable, healthier food options.

Herfurth frequently dines at Go Greek, located in the Student Center, where she orders the chicken salad.

“It is healthy and semifresh,” Herfurth said. “Plus you get to choose what you would like on it.”

While she is able to find nutritional items, Herfurth also feels there is room for improvement.

“I think Auburn has done better than most schools,”

Herfurth said. “However, I feel like Auburn could still try and give more options.”

There are places on Auburn’s campus that contain healthy selections that many students are not aware of.

Local and organic meals can be found in Foy, the Student Center, Terrell and Village dining to encourage healthier eating choices.

Restaurants such as AUSmokehouse in Foy, Wild Greens Salad Bar in Terrell and Cub Stop in the Village all present a variety of local and organic options on their menus.

A list of places to eat with their location, menus and nutritional values are included on the website to help students plan a well-balanced college lifestyle.

For more information visit DineOnCampus.com/Auburn.

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Opinion

A4

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Social Media on The Plains

In response to our tweet “Mason apologizes to fans after heartbreaking title game loss” @WorldOfMacster: “an apology was never necessary...Tre had a tremendous season..#Auburn had a season that will be remembered for a long time.”

@bweavey: “@tremason21 didn’t let anyone down, great season and war eagle”

@Grammy8: “that hurts me more for him to apologize than losing. He has been great!!!”

In response to our tweet about the National Championship,“Tonight’s attendance: 94,208” @OrangeNavyPhoto: “With that 70/30 Auburn presence, home game atmosphere even in Cali!”

In response to our tweet “SEC announces Auburn will be fined $5K for when fans stormed the field at the conclusion of the Iron Bowl” @CandiceArseneau:

ThePlainsman.com Our View

We lost, but we don’t suck We’re heartbroken after this tragic twist in Auburn’s fairy tale season. It’s hard to end on a negative note when you’ve had such a great run.

Florida State’s competition in the ACC seems like a joke compared to the Auburn’s experience in the crucible that is the SEC. But let’s not forget the events that made this season magical.

The season began with a sloppy start against Washington State. But this close game gave us our first glimmer of hope after going 3-9 the season before.

Magic began happening when Nick Marshall made the game winning pass with 11 seconds left on the clock against Mississippi State. A similar clutch drive secured a victory against Texas A&M and the dynamic Johnny Football. Nothing felt better than making those Aggies use their 12th Man Towels to dry their tears.

But after the miracle play that allowed us to beat Georgia, we knew this fairy tale was real.

Georgia defeated Auburn the previous year 38-0. All thanks goes to Georgia strong safety Josh Harvey-Clemons, who dutifully ensured that the ball made it to the other team.

After Chris Davis returned the field goal attempt that won us the Iron Bowl, the excitement became insurmountable as we burst onto the field. Nothing was keeping us off that turf, and it was totally worth $5,000.

The Auburn football team has come a long way in just one season.

It went from not winning a single SEC game to winning the SEC Championship.

The turnaround the Auburn Tigers pulled is one of the biggest in SEC history.

Credit is due to Gus Malzahn, who went

Raye May

@scottieg01:

design@theplainsman. com

“next time all fans should drop $1 on the field. Should cover the next few #SEC Championships!”

“Where do we donate ?!”

In response to our tweet “Campus buildings vandalized” @Susbu58: “Hope they caught them on tape!”

Current poll question: What was your favorite Auburn football moment this season?

New Year’s eve and day came and went without consequence for me. Those days were blurs of frantic packing interrupted at times by confetti poppers, champagne and sparklers.

Jan. 1st didn't exactly herald the beginning of a new year for me. That came on Jan. 2nd, when I was lugging suitcases with our previous sports editor into an airport hotel in Atlanta. The new year for me was a trip to California.

The sports editors and I found out we would be going to Pasadena in a Waffle House in Fairburn, GA, while heading back from covering the SEC Championship. With no TVs, it was

What are you doing for Christmas break?

45% Spending time with family

42% Drinking/crying

12% Relaxing

The Plainsman wants to hear your voice!

Send us your tweets, photos, Facebook posts and letters to the editor. We want to know what you think about the issues.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @TheAUPlainsman.

Becky Sheehan intrigue@ theplainsman.com

I have always muscled my way through life.

As a competitive gymnast from ages four to 14, I forced my way through my bar routines as opposed to feeling the flow of the swing and allowing gravity to do the hard work for me.

I was a power gymnast with no time for grace—total control and focus.

When I studied acting I pored over my scripts, scrutinized and dug into my character like a surgeon until hours—sometimes days— later, I felt her emotions intertwine with mine and crammed her lines into my mouth.

Later on in my adult life, nursing a broken heart was more like setting a compound fracture—plastering it over with defiant, numbing indifference, anesthetizing my pain with Cabernet Sauvignon and loud folk-punk bands.

The side effects of this clenched-jaw life were chronic fatigue and headaches, gastrointestinal difficulties and a tightness in my chest.

I first sought out a yoga class, though, for an unrelated reason.

I felt like my fitness game was off and needed a boost.

Yoga was fun. I got to show off my retiredgymnast flexibility and balance.

The Editorial Board Kelsey Davis Editor-in-Chief

Cat Watson Online

Emily Brett Design

Elizabeth Wieck Managing Editor

Becky Hardy Campus

Chandler Jones Community

Jordan Hays Opinion

Justin Ferguson Sports

Kristofer Sims Multimedia

Anna Claire Conrad Anna Grafton Copy Photo

Maddie Yerant Intrigue

from coaching high school football to college in less than a decade. Malzahn cleaned house by replacing the staff and turning the football team into the most competitive team in the country. His work is nothing short of legendary.

However, Florida State’s fake punt in the second quarter proved to be pivotal. It was at this point when the magic began to fade.

The game was close until the last 13 seconds, but we still lost.

But isn’t that the way we should want to lose if we have to?

The National Championship was everything a good football game is meant to be.

Malzahn even tried to rekindle some of that fairy tale magic with a last second lateral play.

Her View

Tre Mason broke Bo Jackson’s rushing record with 1,816 yards to Jackson’s 1,786.

Mason has demonstrated that he gave every ounce of effort he could, so an apology from him is unnecessary.

The team has given us so much more than what we could have hoped for this season. We are proud despite the loss.

The team gave us a season that will go down in history and we are proud to be able to say that we were students when this happened.

It’s sad that Auburn hasn’t made its return to former glory as National Champions.

Rather than be disappointed about this loss, we should double down, get excited about next season and look forward to the Gus Bus taking us to great places.

a scramble to check Twitter and Facebook on dying phones, desperate to see if the Spartans could pull through. When they did, those employees couldn’t have been happier to see us leave due to all the screaming. Even then as we celebrated, though, I don’t know that we fully realized the extent of what we were about to do.

Finals were miserable, and Christmas break was excruciating waiting for Jan. 2nd to arrive, but when it did I still felt like it was more of a dream than any kind of reality. I don’t think it actually hit me until we touched down in LAX among palm trees and 70-degree weather that we were really there. This was actually happening.

And then it happened. Long days of press conferences and pep rallies bled into even longer nights of media mingling and photo editing until Jan. 6 was finally upon us. And what a day it was.

Her View

I have never been more proud to be a part of something as incredible as the Auburn Family. We talk a lot about it here on The Plains, but there's something about hearing "War Eagle" from thousands of voices resounding in a stadium on the other side of the country. There's nothing like it.

The Tigers played like a National Championship team. Nobody thought they would get there. Nobody thought this would happen the way it did. So Gus Malzahn, Tre Mason, Nick Marshall, Sammie Coates, all of you: you haven't let us down. You haven't let me down.

Because of you, I saw California for the first time in my life. Because of you, I watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean and met amazing people I'd never otherwise have had the chance to meet. But more than any of that, because of you, I am more proud than ever to call Auburn home. War Damn Eagle.

Yoga schmoga: a control-freak finds balance

•The demise of Johnny Football •The Miracle in Jordan-Hare vs.

Georgia •Iron Bowl last-second return

Last poll results:

Emily brett / graphics editor

No apologies needed from football players

“It’s a $5000 party on the field with the team. No biggie”

@beaslma:

Opinion

Mailing Address Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849

Contact Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com

I pushed and pushed to hit the most difficult poses even though my shaking triceps were practically shouting, “No!” It wasn’t until October of 2013, after my GI doctor told me the best remedy for my pain was to “just try and relax more,” that I realized I might have a serious issue and a more holistic approach to yoga would serve me well.

It is, after all, supposed to be meditative and restorative.

The first class in my new mindset, I tried to just listen to what Sterling, the instructor, was saying: “Take a deep breath. In….and out…

And another deep breath.” “Breathe in everything that’s good about today. Breathe out the stress that’s built up over the week.” “Breathe into that tightness behind your knees.”

It is a fact that it was impossible for me to follow these instructions on the first few sessions.

I had never paid attention to her rhythmic mantra: “Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.” I just performed.

After a few weeks I lay flat on my back in Savasana—the Corpse pose.

“Take these few minutes to rest. Use it as a pause in your busy day,” Sterling said.

She spoke softly as if to napping children, and I started to breathe. Deeply. Like a baby with my belly moving up and down, filling with air.

I loosened my jaw and let my mouth hang open a little. The air felt substantial, palatable and cleansing. I closed my eyes.

Submissions The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length. Please submit no more than 400 words.

As I finally lay in complete relaxation and the knots in my stomach untwined, I felt a sudden pressure in my throat and a sting in my eyes.

A tear formed involuntarily, slid down my temple and got lost in my ponytail. With the next breath, another tear sprang.

This didn’t feel like me—this weeping girl stretched out on a pink yoga mat, embarrassed and wiping her eyes.

I was self-sufficient. I was tough. I was determined, headstrong and in control. And I was getting out of there.

I stuffed my yoga mat into my backseat and turned the key. An album started playing and before I drove off I was in tears again, sobbing in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to in a year and a half.

I didn’t know why I was crying, but now I think it was exhaustion from fighting my feelings for so long.

I cried for things that had happened years ago and for things I worried would happen in the future.

I felt out of control, but this time it was okay. I was weeping, but it was good.

The catharsis that followed was key to my renewed love of yoga and my healthier approach to my practice.

Right now, breathing isn’t something I think about automatically to help myself calm down or deal with an emotion I don’t like, but I’m better at cutting myself some slack.

I’m still trying and that’s really all I can ask.

Policy The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. This editorial is the majority opinion of the 13-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

Community

A5

Thursday, January 9, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Community

Dowdell requests council reform

Family Voices Those roaming downtown stopped to talk about Auburn’s 34–31 defeat against FSU

“

“

Collapse.”

Heartbroken. Very Heartbroken”

—Connor Mcnara

FRESHMAN IN COMMUNICATIONS

—Edward Louis Washington

FRESHMAN IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

“

I’m sad. I didn’t feel we played the best game.”

— Jordan Ebert

“

We never thought we’d be in this position. We are blessed to get this far. We just have a better outlook for the future.”

—Caleb Wilson

BASEBALL PLAYER AND SOPHMORE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION

“

I’m sad we lost. Our defense fell apart.

We should know better than any one not to give up in the last half of the game.”

—Heather Tuten

SERVER AT MELLOW MUSHROOM

Chandler Jones / Ashtyne Cole

COMMUNITY EDITOR / COMMUNITY REPORTER

Collapse. Defeat. Devastation.

Determination. Family. All in.

These words resonate down College Street as students, fans and alumni recall the latest surprise in Auburn football.

The AU wires suspend bare and the cold reflects the mood of Auburn’s citizens after the Tigers buffer a heart-wrenching defeat.

A few Auburn students and fans stopped to share a few words on how the game and season affected them.

Freshman to seniors, from Connecticut to Tennessee, Auburn University’s 31-34 loss to Florida State University has a deep impact on them all.

Jenna Brown, junior in marketing and firstyear Auburn student, said she couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Anyone can look at what this team has done and realize anything is possible,” Brown said.

Fellow sportsman and baseball player, Jordan Ebert, sophomore in physical education, just couldn’t talk about it.

“It’s sad,” Ebert said. “We were better than them.”

Ebert said he was watching the game at 17/16, and even after the game ended the

STAMP EMPLOYEE

“

Ashtyne Cole

COMMUNITY REPORTER

“

Auburn City Councilman and modern-day civil rights activist Arthur Dowdell has been Auburn needs a facelift. calling for racial reform in Auburn for years.

With 2013 coming to a close and a new Auburn looks like a woman year on the rise, Dowdell has a resolution this who looks older than she year: to see the Auburn City Council reorga- really is and weather-beaten. nized, downsized and racially proportionate.

With the help of Montgomery attorney Ju- Auburn needs a facelift lian McPhillips, Dowdell’s plan for council and it needs it quick.” improvement is being drafted.

—Arthur Dowdell “We have a plan drawn up with the help of CITY COUNCILMEMBER some experts in Montgomery, and we are going to present it to the Justice Department in Washcil,” Dorton said. “The type of ington D.C.,” McPhillips government we have is under said. “We are asking for a state law. The option of a five reorganization of the Aumember city council would burn City Council.” require state action.”

The reorganization Dowdell believes the would include dropping change needs to take place to the size of the nine-memreflect the population of Auber council to that of a burn. Dowdell also said the five-member council. city needs a city manager that DOWDELL Dowdell and McPhillips will justly serve the needs of are asking that a 3:2 raAuburn. tio of white to black councilmen be a stip“We need a city manager who will be reulation. sponsive to people of all races and colors,” There are eight white councilmen, with Dowdell said. “Auburn is 35 percent blacks, Dowdell as the only African American hold- and we need to change the system; look eving a seat. erywhere. We are behind, and our city coun“We used to have two blacks on the Coun- cil needs to change.” cil, and we only had three whites,” Dowdell According to the 2010 census, whites said. “That’s not progress. That’s us going make up 71.3 percent of Auburn’s populabackwards.” tion, and African Americans make up 22.7 Dowdell’s plan centers around the idea of percent of Auburn’s population. representing the minorities that reside in AuCharlie Duggan is the acting Auburn City burn. He feels the minority groups of Auburn Manager and does not believe Dowdell’s are under a sort of “taxation without repre- plan will work. sentation.”

Duggan said the problem lies in the way “We pay taxes and work here; we are not the council would have to work, with two going to be at the bottom of the totem pole in districts guaranteeing to elect two minority this town any longer,” Dowdell said. members. Auburn’s population would have Dowdell has served on the council since to be split in five different ways.

1994, and in his time served he has not been “I would be shocked if the Justice Departa stranger to controversy. ment or Washington would spend any time In 2009, Dowdell removed confederate on this,” Duggan said. “The government here flags placed on graves in an Auburn ceme- makes a point to do everything we can for the tery, citing them as racist. employees and residents of Auburn in a raceHe has also been trying to address the is- neutral fashion. We believe everyone should sue of the black population of Auburn mov- be treated equally.” ing toward Opelika because they do not feel Duggan believes Auburn’s government they are welcome in the Auburn area. succeeds in addressing the issues brought to David D. Dorton, Director of Public Af- them. fairs for the city of Auburn, disagrees with “People have been hiding behind the city Dowdell’s view of why black residents are manager, (and) saying he runs the city,” moving out of the city.

Dowdell said. “He doesn’t know what’s go“People of all races, income levels, etc. ing on; he has no idea. He needs to underfeel comfortable living in any section of Au- stand he works for us, all nine of us. If he burn, which is a good thing for any commu- doesn’t like it, then he doesn’t need this job.” nity,” Dorton said.

Dowdell and McPhillips believe the JusDorton has discussed the plan Dowdell is tice Department will be sympathetic to their trying to pass and believes it is not possible cause and what they are trying to accombased on the demographics of the city. plish. Their main goal is to update Auburn The city’s demographics do not support and have the City Council reflect the resithe idea that there could be fewer council dents. wards and guarantee greater minority repre“Auburn needs a facelift,” Dowdell said. sentation of the City Council.

“Auburn looks like a woman who looks old“They want to change the type of govern- er than she really is and weather-beaten. Aument we have by creating a new city coun- burn needs a facelift, and it needs it quick.”

Mark’s Remarks

I think we played well until the second half. I was disappointed. I thought we were going to win.”

Identity Thieves getting thriftier Mark Fierro COMMUNITY@ THEPLAINSMAN.COM

—Scott Reeves

JUNIOR IN ACCOUNTING

crowd broke out a chorus of “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger.”

Heather Tuten, server at Mellow Mushroom, said even when she showed up to work at 4 p.m. she couldn’t find a parking spot.

Tuten said Mellow Mushroom had little turnover, and when the game started most were settled in for the game.

Tuten said we blew it, but that she remains by the Auburn Creed’s “I believe in Auburn and love it.”

Edward Louis Washington, freshman in biomedical science, said this season has been a roller coaster. “(I’m) very heartbroken,” Washington said.

Scott Reeves, junior in accounting, thought we were going to win.

“It wasn’t until the end of the season did I look back and think of us as good,” Reeves said. “We got better with each game.”

Conner McNara, freshman in communication, and Anna Elliot, freshman in public relations, watched the game with Alabama fans.

McNara could only describe it as a collapse.

As the wind ruffled the few strips of toilet paper, lone camera man Henry Williford walked with his camera down looking for pictures of a rolled Toomer’s Corner that he’ll never get.

People are most familiar with the identity theft involving someone trying to use a person’s name for financial gain, but a new type of identity theft is arising.

Synthetic identity theft entails an identity thief making a new identity for a victim, but altering it so credit bureaus create sub files for the new accounts. This form of identity theft is much harder to detect, because when the victim checks their credit the sub files will not show on the credit report, leaving the victim oblivious.

For example, a synthetic identity thief could use Billy Gump’s actual Social Security number, but misspell his name as Bily Gump so the credit bureau makes a sub file for the victim. The thief could also use another name that is not attached to the victim’s Social Security number.

According to Frank Abagnale, theft expert and whose life’s work is told in Catch Me if You Can by Leonardo DiCaprio, once a thief becomes you, what he or she can do as you is only limited to the imagination. It

is unlimited.

For example, an identity thief could use a person’s name to apply for a job, loans or impersonate a person to commit a crime.

Once the identity thief lets the accounts become delinquent, the creditor has debt collectors come after the victim because the creditor is unaware an identity thief made the account.

It can take time for the victim to prove the accounts are not theirs, and, in the meantime, debt collection companies are relentless in trying to get the money back.

The synthetic identity theft can also hurt the victim’s ability to get credit because the accounts will be delinquent, thus negatively impacting that person’s credit.

I suggest monitoring your Social Security number. Regular credit monitoring will not catch synthetic identity theft so it is important to look at your Social Security earnings report.

Also, enroll in an identity monitoring service. Things to look for in an identity monitoring service are that: the company will search records for evidence of variations of your name, Social Security number, and evidence that your Social Security number has become associated with different names.

Abagnale and I recommend shredding personal or sensitive documents.

City Corner Jan. 9:

Jan 12:

The Auburn Arts Association receiving submissions for the Sunrise 2 Sunset Exhibition. Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center by Thursday, at 5 p.m.

Bridal Expo. Marriott at Grand National. 1–4 p.m. 18 and older.

Jan 10:

Tim Hudson Family Foundation Weekend. Performances

by Jeff Foxworthy and Rascal Flatts, following dinner and auction. For more information, call Jenny Hall at (334) 707-9007 or email info@hudsonfamilyfoundation.com.

Pierce Pettis with Sundilla. 450 Thach Avenue. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. $15 admission.Visit Facebook.com/Sundilla for more information.

Jan 23 – 24:

Community A6

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, January 9, 2014

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Intrigue

A7

Thursday, January 9, 2014

ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

Auburn students build bonds and community in Nicaragua Kailey Miller

INTRIGUE REPORTER

While many of us were sipping on egg nog and postponing Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve, a group of Auburn students packed their bags and flew to Nicaragua. The trip was a part of the Alternative Student Breaks program in the Center for Community Service at Auburn.

The group flew out of Atlanta on Dec. 14, and returned to Atlanta Dec. 21.

“The first day that we got there was an excursion day, so we really just traveled the city,” said Katie Cornwell, junior in communications. “We went on a boat ride in Lake Nicaragua, which is the biggest lake in Central America.”

The group also went to see an active volcano in the Masaya Volcano National Park and ziplined over crater lakes. The rest of the week consisted of work days in the capital city of Managua.

According to Cornwell, the group worked in the community of Santa Julia.

CONTRIBUTED BY JESSA REIN “We would wake up at 7 a.m., and then eat breakfast at the hotel, and then from about 8 Auburn students visited Santa Julia over winter break to work in the fields and spend time with local children. a.m. to lunch time we would work in the field; and we would either be picking red beans out of Peter Beairsto, junior in building science, after working, including the children. Cornwell the ground on like huge mountains, or we would said some of the homes had limited electron- said after lunch they would play with the kids be picking coffee beans out of trees,” Cornwell ic devices. Cooking in their houses creates hor- by the houses. said. “They said they had planted, like, 1,700 rible ventilation problems for the women and “Even though I didn’t speak Spanish, and I coffee trees.” children, Beairsto said. usually had no idea what they were saying, it Santa Julia had about 65 families, Cornwell Beairsto also said the group picked this par- was great because I could still communicate said. ticular area for community development be- with them,” Cornwell said. “When we had our Jessa Rein, junior in business management, cause of the poverty surrounding Managua. farewell on the last day, it was definitely realsaid the families lived in houses made out of “(There was a) coffee bean production com- ly, really difficult to leave, and you know all the spare pieces of metal. pany that was trying to start back up again, but kids were like hanging on the back of our trucks “There were just these metal pieces around failed, so we came in to help,” Beairsto said. and didn’t want us to leave.” that were nailed together and then the floors “We helped donate a coffee bean de-pulper. . .

The team also wrapped presents for the chilwere just the dirt like from outside,” Rein said. it was kind of a big step in their coffee bean pro- dren including clothes, toys, books and school “I wasn’t expecting their living conditions to be duction.” supplies so they would have gifts to open on as bad as it actually was.”

The group got to spend time with the locals Christmas, Beairsto said.

Students fights the S.A.D. winter blues Becky Sheehan INTRIGUE REPORTER

January marks the beginning of deep winter in Alabama. The novelty of brisk, chilly weather has worn off, and the emotional high of the holidays has been grounded. Stretching ahead is a cold, dark winter.

For some, this means grappling with seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.), also known as the winter blues or seasonal depression.

Professionals in and around Auburn University share ways to outsmart the wintertime doldrums.

Josh Jones, informal campus recreation coordinator at the Auburn Student Recreation and Wellness Center, champions staying active during the winter to stave off the blues.

Jones said, “You feel a sense of accomplishment” when working out.

Whether it’s meeting fitness goals or trying a new skill for the first time, physical activity can increase self-

esteem.

Jones reassured students who may be apprehensive about jumping into a new work-out regimen.

“The great thing about the Rec Center is that we have something for everyone here,” Jones said.

Social exercise is another way to boost one’s mood, according to Jones.

Working out with friends or playing an organized team sport provides adrenaline-pumping activity and requires socializing, which is important for those who feel like hibernating all winter.

Students working out at the Recreation and Wellness Center have the advantage of an energizing, stressreducing environment.

The light-conscious design of the Rec Center interior employs large windows, courtyards and banner-

INTRIGUE WRITER

• Irritability, restlessness • Fatigue and decreased energy • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions • Difficulty sleeping / oversleeping • Changes in weight • SAD affects half a million people each winter between September and April, peaking in December, January and February.

• A diagnosis can be made after three consecutive winters of symptoms followed by complete remission of symptoms in the spring and summer months.

» See BLUES A8

APRIL • April 5: Bark in the Park @Kiesel Park • April 5: Chewacla Challenge Trail Run @ Chewacla State Park • March 21: Shakespearefest @TBA • March 23-25: AU Dance Concert: Capture the Motion @Telfair B. Peet Theatre • March 26: Auburn Cityfest @Toomer’s Corner

MAY • May 3-4: Graduation @Auburn Arena

“

I can watch all the shows I want, when I want, and without commercials.The only thing I miss about cable is sports coverage. I’ve been a little out of the loop,” —Josh Reebals

Your Mother, which he watches religiously, going through seven seasons in a matter of a few weeks.

He also watches Orange is the New Black and Arrested Development. Both shows have content available only through Netflix.

“There’s always something I could watch that I’d like,” Reebals said.

» See NETFLIX A8

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MARCH • March 4: Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers @Jule Smith Collins Museum • March 10-14: Spring Break • March 21: An Evening with Steve Forbes @ Auburn Arena • March 22: Auburn Mud Run @TBA • March 28: Screen on the Green: “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” @AU Greenspace

Netflix subscriptions, like iPhones, are quickly becoming standard by the majority of our generation and making other methods of entertainment seem outdated.

The question, “Do you have a phone charger?” is answered, followed by “Four or five?” instead of with any inquiry of the make or model of phone you have.

It’s the same with movies and TV shows. Students assume if you have a TV, Netflix is an option, and it is automatically factored into entertainment possibilities for the night.

Josh Reebals, senior in sociology, doesn’t have cable at his apartment anymore.

“I don’t really miss cable,” Reebals said. “I can watch all the shows I want, when I want, and without commercials. The only thing I miss about cable is sports coverage. I’ve been a little out of the loop.”

His favorite show is How I Met

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FEBRUARY • February 18: Extraordinary Women Lecture: Gloria Steinem @Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center • February 25: UPC Songwriting Showcase/25 @AU Student Center Ballroom • February 2: AU Theatre 100th Anniversary [Celebration] @Telfair Peet Theatre

Adam Wolnski

From the National Institute of Mental Health

Licensed Professional Counselor, is now providing services for Auburn University employees and their families.

JANUARY

• January 9: A Little Lunch Music @Jule Smith Collins Museum • January 12: 2014 Bridal Expo @Mariott at Grand National • January 30: UPC Cooking Workshop: À la mode @Spidle Hall 238

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Intrigue A8

The Auburn Plainsman

BLUES » From A7

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sized prints of Chewacla State Park.

“The idea in designing the rec was to bring the outdoors indoors,” Jones said.

For Yolande Wersinger, nutrition specialist and owner of Dayspring Natural Foods, being outdoors is crucial for beating S.A.D. “In Eastern philosophy, they say that the saints go out in the morning to worship the sun. They don’t,” Wersinger said.

When the monks meditated outdoors they were treating S.A.D. with what Wersinger considers the best natural remedy—sunlight.

“They were ‘enlightened,’ you see,” Wersinger said laughing.

Getting the right amount of sleep is another simple way to avoid feeling down in the winter, Wersinger said.

A sufficient sleep cycle and exposure to sunlight are connected, Wersinger explained.

Light is most easily absorbed by the pineal gland in the morning.

The vitamin D absorbed from sunlight creates a delayed release of the hormones melatonin and serotonin, which are essential for sleep.

To get adequate levels of vitamin D, Wersinger recommended exposing the face and arms to the sunlight for 15 minutes three times a week, or investing in a full-spectrum lamp.

Vitamin D also enters the body through food and vitamin supplements.

Eggs, shiitake mushrooms, oatmeal, salmon, sardines, sweet potato, tuna and alfalfa are some foods containing vitamin D. Patrick O’Keefe of Auburn, a senior counseling psychologist in Fort Benning, Ga., advised students who may be experiencing S.A.D. symptoms to scale back on their work-

NETFLIX » From A7

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2

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“I’ve never turned off Netflix because nothing was on, which is a good thing and a bad thing.”

Netflix competes with Hulu Plus, iTunes and Amazon Prime for customers, but it is popular among Auburn students.

“I have Netflix, and I use it most of the time for movies and to watch Power Rangers if I’m feeling nostalgic,” said Jordan Rice, senior in physical activity and health. “But I also have Hulu Plus to watch shows close to their TV release date.”

Rice’s favorite shows are New Girl and How I Met Your Mother.

Thursday, January 9, 2014 load and be open to the idea that they may be in the wrong major.

“A little bit of reality may be setting right about this time,” O’Keefe said. “I think where students probably struggle more is the context of expectation and acceptance.”

O’Keefe considers college a time of important self-discovery that can be overwhelming to students, which can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and even depression.

O’Keefe advised students to take a serious look at their field of study.

“Discover your purpose and your passion will follow,” O’Keefe said. “Find the vocation that gives you personal satisfaction.”

Pressure to maintain a perfect GPA in classes can contribute to anxiety and depression as well.

Some students turn to excessive drinking or recreational drug use to escape such stressors.

“When you start drinking a lot and smoking pot, you set yourself back, and you start feeling more overwhelmed so then you drink more and it just becomes a vicious cycle,” O’Keefe said.

Counseling and psychotherapy can help students with stress-management.

O’Keefe encouraged students who have been diagnosed with clinical depression or have a chemical imbalance to seek either their primary care physician or psychiatrist who may prescribe medication for some cases of S.A.D. Ultimately for O’Keefe, finding balance in life is key to avoiding depressive symptoms in winter.

“We’re bio, psycho, social, spiritual people,” O’Keefe said.

Being able to remain physically healthy, psychologically at ease and cultivate positive relationships can fortify students against the winter blues.

Netflix is becoming the standard, but not everyone is making the switch so wholeheartedly.

Wilson Wingo, senior in mechanical engineering, prefers going to the movies over Netflix.

“There’s a whole social thing. Candy and popcorn and the sound of other people in the theater that you miss out on when you watch movies at home,” Wingo said. “I’d rather be in the theater, but I don’t make it to movies as much as I’d like.”

For people who do regularly watch Netflix, some other popular shows are Bob’s Burgers, Dexter and House of Cards; and there is always a steady supply of good movies.

Like the gradual switch from VHS to DVD, Netflix and other Internet streaming services are overshadowing DVDs and have made movie rental stores nearly obsolete.

Sports

B1

Thursday, January 9, 2013

ThePlainsman.com

Sports

column

BCSNCG loss just

a bump in the road for ‘The Gus Bus’ Justin Ferguson @JFergusonAU

contributed by todd van emst

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee puts his arm around starting center Reese Dismukes following Auburn’s BCS National Championship Game loss.

2014 BCS National championship

‘Those boys are going to be back’ Despite a disappointing end in Pasadena, seniors and coaching

“

staff remain confident in title potential still left on The Plains Will Gaines

Sports Reporter

When the final whistle blew in Auburn’s 34-31 loss to Florida State in the BCS National Championship game Auburn’s senior class had engineered a turnaround few thought they could accomplish.

After going 3-9 in 2012 and 0-8 in the SEC Auburn was able to win the SEC Championship, beat top ranked in-state rival Alabama and earn a spot in the national championship game before having possibly the most disappointing loss in their Auburn careers.

Now that their careers are over, they are happy with the foundation they helped lay in their final year on The Plains.

"Those boys are going to be back,” said senior defensive tackle Nosa Eguae. “Auburn will never go down again. This place is always going to stay up, and I'm just glad that I was a part of it."

Gus Malzahn, who earned a lengthy contract extension before Auburn played for the SEC Championship, definitely thinks that way.

“We’re going up,” Malzahn said in his postgame press conference Monday night. “The experience that we had and we got most of our guys coming back, recruiting is going great, and our goal is to get back here, and I really believe we’ll do it.”

Having the biggest turnaround in college football this season was what this senior class wanted to accomplish, and they were close to having the biggest turnaround in college foot-

Auburn will never go down again.This place is always going to stay up, and I’m just glad that I was a part of it... this hurts everybody, but this momentum is going to come into Coach Russell and their workouts.”

—Nosa Eguae

Senior defensive end

ball history.

“It was an amazing journey for me, and I'm definitely proud to be an Auburn Tiger right now,” said senior defensive end Dee Ford.

“I'm kind of emotional. This is my last time.

But I couldn't be any prouder of this team, and I couldn't be any prouder of this Auburn family because we stuck together and we got through last year and we made it here.

“We started from the bottom, now we're here. We didn't win, but at the end of the day, I'm still proud of my team.”

The journey on the field for the seniors was tough at times on the field, but it was also tough for some of them off the field as well.

Fullback Jay Prosch, who transferred to Auburn from Illinois to be closer to home, lost his mother to cancer at the beginning of his junior year.

His struggles off the field were tough enough, and then you add the problems in 2012, and his time at Auburn was a roller coaster ride.

"It's been an incredible journey for me personally, and I can only be thankful that I'm here,” Prosch said. “To be a part of something like this with this group of guys has been amazing. I love these players and these coaches, and it's been an unreal experience."

While the majority of the credit for the turnaround will go to the leadership of this senior class, they give credit to the job of first year head coach Malzahn for the programs quick turnaround.

"I would say Coach Malzahn is an incredible coach,” Prosch said. “He really has made me into a much better player, and I loved being a player under him. I can say you can expect what you got from this year's team and more.

“I know he was here in the past, but this was his first year as a head coach here. Obviously he's done an amazing job with the players and the program."

Now the seniors have hung their jerseys and helmets up for the last time as Auburn Tigers, but even with the disappointing loss at the Rose Bowl they are confident this will fuel this team as they look to build on the foundation this senior class started.

“These boys are going to be back,” Eguae said. “This hurts everybody, but this momentum is going to come into Coach Russell and their workouts."

I’ll admit it.

I thought the 2013 Auburn Tigers had one more miracle left in them.

Maybe the miracle came on Tre Mason’s record-breaking, go-ahead touchdown after Florida State’s Kermit Whitfield 100-yard kickoff return.

Maybe the magic just ran out.

I mean, how many last-minute—honestly, lastsecond—wins can a team pull off in one season?

When the team needed a go-ahead score in the final minute, the Auburn offense got it against Mississippi State and, to an even wilder extent, Georgia.

When the team needed a game-ending defensive stop, the Auburn defense got it against Washington State and Ole Miss.

And when the team needed a play no one had ever seen—well, you know what happened in the Iron Bowl.

Even though Auburn’s 2013 season ended with Jameis Winston-to-Kelvin Benjamin and all of Seminole nation doing the chop as confetti rained down at the Rose Bowl, it should not take anything away from the Tigers’ unbelievable 13game journey to the sport’s final BCS National Championship Game.

No, Auburn’s storybook tale of a near-miraculous turnaround did not have a happy ending in California.

But I think that is because the Tigers’ story is still being written.

Sure, the 2014 season will not have the same exact cast of characters.

Senior leaders such as Chris Davis, Jay Prosch and Dee Ford will be gone.

Pro prospect and Heisman finalist Tre Mason stands at a crossroads as the newest chapter of Auburn football begins—does he stay in Auburn to continue the story, or does he join teammate Greg Robinson in the NFL? But with most of your starters returning from a No. 2 finish, including a possible 10 offensive starters, the foundation has been laid for Auburn to become a consistent powerhouse in the new playoff era of college football.

With an offensive scheme that was nearly unstoppable for the entire season, a defense that will get more experience and reinforcements in the months to come, and another Top 10 recruiting class waiting to enroll on The Plains, 2013 did more than just give Auburn fans a feel-good story after the misery of 2012.

In the new plus-one playoff system, Auburn will be a contender from the opening kickoff.

Now there will still be a lot of question marks heading into the 2014 season.

Take notes, because you will hear these repeatedly between now and the start of next season.

How will this Auburn team perform as the hyped-up contender instead of the plucky underdog?

Will the tough-looking 2014 schedule doom Auburn from the start?

How will the Tigers replace special teams saviors Steven Clark and Chris Davis?

Will opposing defensive coordinators find a way to stop Malzahn’s offense?

Will the expectations be too much for the team?

» See COLUMN, B3

2014 BCS National championship

Mason apologizes to fans after heartbreak at the Rose Bowl Justin Ferguson Sports Editor

Tre Mason feels like he let you down.

With less than two minutes left to go on the biggest stage in college football, the junior running back turned a three-point Florida State lead into an Auburn lead with a 37-yard touchdown run.

The run not only gave Auburn momentum after a devastating 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Florida State’s Kermit Whitfield, it also gave Mason the school’s single-season rushing record.

But even with all his new records and individual awards, Tre Mason wants to apologize to you, Auburn fan.

“We all bought into having the biggest turnaround in col-

lege football, but I apologize to the Auburn Family and the rest of the fans that we didn't finish,” an emotional Mason said after Auburn’s 34-31 loss to Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game.

“We didn't finish what we started.”

Although Mason was on the sidelines when Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston found Kelvin Benjamin for the game-winning score, the junior running back only had one thing in mind in the aftermath of the Tigers’ last second loss.

“Emotions are everywhere right now,” Mason said. “Right now, I just feel like I let the whole Auburn Family down by not finishing.”

Senior defensive end Dee Ford said his teammate was be-

ing hard on himself, but Mason’s attitude was what he thought made him such a tough competitor.

“I don't expect him to be any other way,” Ford said. “But that's why we're a team. That's why we're brothers. I'm able to really talk to him. And the Auburn Family is going to do the same thing.

“But yeah, he's down on himself. That's expected.”

Mason’s late, go-ahead touchdown run was compared by some to big plays made by legendary Auburn running back Bo Jackson, who Mason passed for the all-time single season rushing record.

“It's a blessing to surpass his yards that he put up, but it would be great to do that with holding the crystal ball in the

air,” Mason said. “But that's just the way it is.”

Mason finished with 34 carries for 195 rushing yards, giving him 1,816 rushing yards in his junior season. In addition to his record-breaking touchdown run, he scored Auburn’s first touchdown against the Seminoles on a screen pass late in the first quarter.

It was another workhorselike performance for Mason against another highly ranked rush defense.

“I anticipate a nice workload every game,” Mason said.

“That’s the way teams are going to play us. I had to do my thing, and I gave it all I got. My team looks at me to make plays, and I tried to do that.”

» See MASON, B3

Raye may / design editor

Tre Mason carries the ball for a touchdown against Florida State.

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It’s HUGE!

As early enrollees arrive on Auburn’s campus, Malzahn and Co. look to round out 2014 class Kyle Van Fechtmann Sports Reporter

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The future looks even better for Auburn football thanks to an unforgettable 2013 season on The Plains that included an Iron Bowl victory for the ages, an SEC Championship title and a BCS National Championship berth.

But this season to remember also impacted the decision of many top recruits to choose to attend Auburn University.

Three of these commits already enrolled Wednesday, Jan. 8, for the start of the spring semester.

Although some were worried about the No. 1 junior college player in the country committing to Auburn because of the Hurry Up, No Huddle run-heavy offense this year, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound receiver, D’haquille Williams, is one of the three early enrollees.

“If you look back, we’ve had years where we throw it a lot,” head coach Gus Malzahn said. “We’re going to get more and more balanced next year. Anytime you got a dynamic guy like (Williams) coming, that’s a really good thing.”

Williams had 51 receptions for 733 yards and nine touchdowns for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College this season. He was also an NJCAA All-American as a freshman.

The other two early enrollees are Chris Laye and Stanton Truitt, who will make the transition from high school to college this semester.

Laye, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound tight end, is a three-star prospect that had 30 receptions for 483 yards and seven touchdowns while playing at Lambert High School in Suwanee, Ga. “I’m a versatile tight end, and that (Auburn) offense sparked my interest,” Laye told Rivals.com. “You’re playing the tight end position, H-Back, wide receiver; you get to move around the field. That’s why I love the offense.”

Truitt, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound athlete, is a four-star prospect who played quarter-

Zach bland / assistant photo editor

Gus Malzahn talks with his assistants and players during a timeout in the national title game.

back at Monroe Area High School in Monroe, Ga. In his senior season, Truitt threw for 834 yards and 12 touchdowns and also rushed for 1,551 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Nothing is official until National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 5, but here is a list of all of Auburn’s verbal commitments for the class of 2014: - Racean “Roc” Thomas (5* RB) Oxford, Ala. Under Armour All-American - Sean White (4* QB) Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Under Armour All-American Game MVP - Tre Williams (4* ILB) Mobile, Ala. Under Armour All-American - Kalvaraz Bessent (4* CB) Kingsland, Ga. Flipped from Alabama to Auburn - Derrick Moncrief (4* DB) Mississippi Gulf Coast CC No. 1 JUCO safety - Justin Thornton (4* DE) Mobile, Ala. No. 5 DE - Stephen Roberts (4* CB) Opelika, Ala. Under Armour All-American - Dontavius Russell (4* DT)

Carrollton, Ga. Flipped from UGA to Auburn - Nick Ruffin (4* DB) Atlanta, Ga. Forced seven turnovers as a senior - DaVonte Lambert (4* DE) Georgia Military College Flipped from Tennessee to Auburn - Devaroe Lawrence (4* DT) Georgia Military College No. 37 rated JUCO player - Xavier Dampeer (3* OL) Copiah-Lincoln CC Signed his letter of intent already - Dalvon Stuckey (3* DT) Pearl River CC (Miss.)

Flipped from Mizzou to Auburn - Kamryn Pettway (3* RB) Prattville, Ala. Originally committed to FSU - Jakell Mitchell (3* TE) Opelika, Ala. No. 17 TE - De’Shaun Davis (3* LB) Mobile, Ala. 138 tackles in senior season - Myron Burton (3* ATH) Suwanee, Ga. Son of former Tiger Myron Burton, Sr. - Raashed Kennion (3* DE) Jacksonville, Fla. Flipped from Cincinnati to Auburn

We’re Celebrating Auburn’s Championship Season!

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Tyrese Tanner dribbles the ball through two Georgia Southern defenders in a game earlier this season.

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Contributed by AUburn athletics

All-American gymnast Caitlin Atkinson competes on the beam during a home meet last season against LSU.

This Week in Auburn Sports Women’s Basketball

After ending its non-conference schedule with a streak-breaking loss to host Minnesota in last month’s Subway Classic, the Auburn women’s basketball team opened its SEC campaign with an 82-74 home win against Mississippi State (13-3, 0-2) last Sunday, Jan. 5, in Starkville, Miss.

The Tigers (10-4, 1-0) were led offensively by senior Tyrese Tanner, who scored 24 points in 25 minutes of action. The 24-point performance was a career-best in an SEC game for Tanner.

Auburn forced 26 Mississippi State turnovers on 15 steals, turning them into 28 points on the other end.

The Tigers committed 25 turnovers of its own with MSU converting them into 26 points in a battle of two high-pressure defenses.

The Tigers finished with five players in double figures, led by Tyrese Tanner’s 24.

Brandy Montgomery added 13 points while Tra’Cee Tanner, Hasina Muhammad and Peyton Davis added 10 each.

While Tyrese Tanner led the way for Auburn on offense, her sister Tra’Cee Tanner led the way on defense.

The younger Tanner sister had six steals and three blocks against the Bulldogs.

“I thought this was the best defensive game Tra’Cee has had in our press,” said Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. “Most of the time she is standing back there, scared to come out, but she did a great job in our press today.”

Mississippi State’s defense forced 15 Auburn turnovers in the first half.

After cutting MSU’s lead to four midway through the half, the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run for a 33-18 lead, their biggest of the game.

“That first half hurt us with Hasina Muhammad and Tyrese Tanner being in foul trouble,” said Williams-Flournoy. “Those are your two best players, your two best wings.Tyrese is your best defender. Then Tra’Cee Tanner got in foul trouble and you have her on the bench.

“It hurts having your starters out of the game, but I thought our subs did a great job of coming in and holding it down for us.”

Coming out of halftime, Auburn’s defense jumped on the Bulldogs early, forcing four turnovers to take its first lead of the game.

The Tigers pulled away and led by as many as 12 points midway through the

column » From B1

Just as fans will question almost every decision or moment that went against the Tigers in Pasadena from now until kickoff of the Arkansas game Aug. 30—and probably even beyond that—everyone

mason » From B1

Mason, who was alongside Winston as a finalist at the Heisman Trophy presentation last month, could forgo his senior season with the Tigers and enter the NFL Draft.

Two members of his prized offensive line have already made their decisions on their futures.

Auburn left tackle Greg Robinson, a redshirt sophomore, announced his decision to declare for the NFL Draft the morning after the

half. Mississippi State made a run at Auburn, cutting the lead to two with 4:54 remaining.

However, the Tigers held onto their lead by hitting their free throws down the stretch to grab an 82-74 victory.

Auburn returns to the hardwood this Thursday, Jan. 9, with its SEC home opener against Vanderbilt (12-3, 1-1). Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Gymnastics

The Auburn gymnastics team will open the 2014 season this Friday, Jan. 10, against Texas Woman’s University. The meet will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Auburn Arena.

The team, led by head coach Jeff Graba, was ranked No. 13 in the preseason coaches poll, which was released last month.

Coincidentally, the Tigers placed No. 13 in the nation last season after finishing third at the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Fla. “Being ranked 13th in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll is encouraging,” Graba said.

“To know that your fellow coaches think your program is one of the top 13 in the country is very rewarding. I think it’s a vote of confidence moving forward.

“Hopefully, we can exceed expectations because the top 12 in the end are the ones that qualify out of the regional meets and are at the NCAA National Championship meet in Birmingham.”

Sophomore Caitlin Atkinson, an AllAmerican and team MVP last season, leads a list of experienced gymnasts returning to Auburn this season such as Bri Guy, Kait Kluz and Megan Walker.

Auburn will welcome five freshmen to the program this season: Meggie Lim, MJ Rott, Kullen Hlawek, Lucia Scaglione and Miranda Telmanik.

Two of the newcomers, Hlawek and Rott, were national champions as high schoolers last year.

Swimming & Diving

One-half of the Auburn swimming and diving team opened the 2014 calendar year with a solid performance at the Georgia Diving Invitational, which was hosted by the University of Georgia Jan. 3-5.

Junior diver Fraser McKean won the men’s individual platform title with a score of 387.80, the second-best score of his Auburn career.

McKean, who also finished third in the invitational’s one-meter springboard final,

will ask those questions about next year’s team.

Sure there are a few clouds here and there, but the skies are looking sunny for the future of Auburn football.

The loss to Florida State will hurt for a while, Auburn fans.

You will probably replay all the drops, flags and missed opBCS National Championship Game loss.

Robinson, who announced his decision via Twitter, is projected to be a Top-10 draft pick at the highly coveted “blind side” tackle for professional franchises.

“I want to thank my teammates and I love them all,” Robinson tweeted before the team’s flight back to Alabama Tuesday afternoon. “Also thank you Auburn Family the best fans in college football.”

However, junior center Reese Dismukes told reporters in the locker room Monday night that he would be return-

portunities over and over.

I think the pain of coming so close to the crystal football could spur Auburn to a berth in next season’s playoffs, but the pain will still be there.

But take heart, everyone.

I believe and you should believe that the very best of Auburn football in the Gus Malzahn era is still to come. ing for his senior season on The Plains.

With one offensive starter leaving and another one staying, Mason is now at a crossroads in terms of his football career.

The Palm Beach, Fla. native previously said he would make his decision on going pro soon after the BCS National Championship Game.

But the decision would not come as quickly as Monday night.

“I still have to sit down with my family,” Mason said.

“Now is not the time to make that decision.”

scored 21 points higher than his nearest competitor, Auburn senior John Santeiu IV. Sophomore Justin Yousey finished 11th with a score of 288.25, and junior Michael Beran finished 16th with a score of 251.15.

For the Auburn women, junior Cinzia Calabretta finished third in the women’s platform final with a 263.25.

Calabretta was Auburn’s top-finisher in all three events over the weekend.

Junior Shanna Schuelein placed sixth in the women’s platform competition with a

241.20.

Auburn’s divers will join the swimmers for their first dual squad meet of the season this Thursday, Jan. 9 in Austin, Texas.

The Tigers will face longtime swimming and diving rivals Texas at the Lee and Joe Jamail Swimming Center.

The Auburn men won last season’s dual with Texas at home, 166-132. Auburn’s women knocked off Texas 153-145 in a thriller to push the Tigers record to 5-2 alltime versus the Longhorns.

Sports B4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Started from the botto Game 1 vs. Wash. St. 31-24

Anna Grafton / Photo Editor

Game 3 vs. Mississippi State 24-20

Game 2 vs. Ark. State 38-9

Katherine McCahey / Photographer

Katherine McCahey / Photographer

Game 4 vs. LSU 35-21

Contributed by Todd Van Emst

Game 5 vs. Ole Miss 30-22

Anna Grafton / Photo Editor

Game 6 vs. WCU 62-3

Anna Grafton / Photo Editor

Game 7 vs. Texas A&M Game 8 vs. FAU 45-41 45-10

Jenna Burgess / Photographer

Game 9 vs. Arkansas 35-17

Zach Bland / Assistant Photo Editor

Contributed by Todd Van Emst

Game 12 vs. Alabama

Game 10 vs. Tennessee 55-17

34-28

Raye May / Design Editor

Game 11 vs. Georgia 43-38

Sarah May / Assistant Photo Editor

Zach Bland / Assistant Photo Editor

Thursday, January 9, 2014

The Auburn Plainsman

Sports B5

tom... now they’re here

SEC Championship vs. Mizzou

59-42

Zach Bland / Assistant Photo Editor

Zach Bland / Assistant Photo Editor

Zach Bland / Assistant Photo Editor

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Raye May / Design Editor

BCS National Championship vs. FSU

Anna Grafton / Photo Editor

34-31

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The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, January 9, 2014

n a e b t o t a e r G s It’ R!

E R G I T N R U B U A

L U A T T A I R O G N N OC 2013 S! SEC ^^

CHAMPIONS

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Thursday, January 9, 2014

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football

Garner key to defensive line’s physical resurgence in Tigers’ championship run Will Gaines

Sports Reporter

Growth and improvement have been the foundation for the success of this year’s Auburn football team.

From game one against Washington State in August, this team has continued to get better and better each week, eventually earning a chance to play in the BCS National Championship game against No. 1 Florida State.

Going into the 2013 season, Auburn was trying to rebound from a program-worst 3-9 record, which featured one of the worst defensive teams in Auburn history.

When defensive line coach Rodney Garner was hired away from Georgia to return to his alma mater at Auburn, he had one goal: Help bring physical toughness back to The Plains.

Since the first game against Washington State, the defensive line has improved greatly and laid a foundation for Garner to build on for the future.

“I’ve seen tremendous growth from these guys thus far,” Garner said during the BCS National Championship Media Day session. “I think they have really bought in to what we are asking them to do.”

This season Auburn has improved from being ranked No. 100 in rush defense in 2012 to being ranked No. 64 this season, giving up 164 yards per game.

“For us defensively, it all starts upfront,” said senior defensive end Nosa Eguae. “Our

anna grafton / photo editor

LaDarious Owens lines up before the snap against Florida State

main concern is stopping the run, and when it’s time to get after the quarterback we need to get after the quarterback and affect him as well.”

A big reason for the improvement in 2013 has been the emphasis Garner has placed on being the most physical team in the country, and that emphasis has made this team a much more physical team than they have been the past few years.

“Without a doubt,” said defensive tackle Gabe Wright.

“Guys are much more physical, and it all goes to show the level of confidence that coach Garner had in us. He played in the league and understands the physicality that it takes.”

It was not always easy for Wright with Garner. When Garner first arrived it was tough for Wright to listen to the changes he needed to make to become the player Garner wanted him

to be.

“I can tell you the transition from Gabe Wright to me was a very difficult one for him,” Garner said. “He probably thought I was crazy at first, but he embraced it and I think he has definitely improved from a physicality stand point.”

This season Wright has doubled his tackles for losses from 2012 from 4.5 to 8.5 this season, and Garner credits this to him being a more physical player.

Wright is thankful that Garner continue to be tough on him.

“I can’t talk enough about the guy because he stayed on me,” Wright said. “He’s had his weeks with me, Montravius (Adams), Carl (Lawson) and even with Dee (Ford). I think that’s what I like most about the guy he treats all his players the same.”

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The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Celebrate theTHE Auburn Tigers’ WRECK REBEL Wild 2013 SeasonBEARS! With Wing Zone!

BLACK

anna grafton / photo editor

TOP LEFT: Chris Denson drives to the basket earlier this season against Murray State.

TOP RIGHT:Allen Payne tries a floater in an exhibition game against Victory University earlier this season.

men’s basketball

Barbee’s squad looks to keep momentum going into SEC slate Eric Wallace Sports Reporter

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In the midst of a four-game winning streak, the Auburn men’s basketball team (8-3) opens Southeastern Conference play this week against Ole Miss (9-4) and No. 21 Missouri (12-1).

“It is going to be a challenging opening weekend, but I think our non-conference schedule and what we have done has prepared us for the grind of what is going to become of the league this year,” Auburn head coach Tony Barbee said in a SEC teleconference earlier this week.

The Tigers begin SEC play Thursday against an Ole Miss Rebel team missing one of its biggest names: 2013 SEC Tournament MVP Marshall Henderson.

The All-SEC Second Team guard was suspended for the Rebels’ first two conference games after a violation of team rules in the offseason.

“He is one of those players that makes everyone around him better because of the attention he draws,” Barbee said.

“There is not much to go on

in terms of Ole Miss without Marshall on the floor. We will just look at the games that they played and some of the times he is off the floor to try and figure out what they will try and do without him on the floor.”

Despite Henderson’s suspension, Barbee said junior guard Jarvis Summers can make up for the lost production, both on the scoreboard and on the glass.

“Make no mistake about it; they’ve got another player, Jarvis Summers, who is one of the better players in the league at the guard position and he has the ability to do the same things as Marshall on the floor if not more with his size, scoring ability and ability to rebound from that guard position,” Barbee said. “It is still going to be a difficult match-up even without Marshall there.”

Following the trip to Oxford, the Tigers will return home to face the No. 21 Missouri Tigers, who are led by the SEC’s second leading scorer Jordan Clarkson and former Auburn player Earnest Ross.

Missouri’s lone loss on the season was a one point defeat against Illinois.

Barbee said a stiff non-conference schedule has his team prepared for the rigors of conference play.

“We have a difficult start in the league, going to Ole Miss on Thursday and then follow that up with the Saturday early game against a very talented Missouri team,” Barbee said.

“We had some ups and downs through our non-conference season, but we finished it on an up-note as guys got more comfortable in their roles. I feel like we are in a good place mentally as we go into league play.”

Senior forward Allen Payne said non-conference victories over ACC schools Clemson and Boston College have given the Tigers a boost in confidence.

“We’re very confident,” Payne said. “We were especially after those two ACC wins that we had, and I think it’s showed in the past two games.

In past years, we may have struggled to play the competition of lower teams like that; but we’ve dominated these past two games. I think it’s allowed us to have some good momentum going into the SEC.”