The story behind Auburn’s official class ring Page A3
Shoots from Toomers’ Oaks are rising up Page A3
Local artist illustrates spirit of Auburn Page A5
The Auburn Plainsman A Spirit That Is Not Afraid ThePlainsman.com
Thursday, June 20, 2013
University administrator dies in Florida
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Kelsey Davis Editor-in-Chief
Stay posted Friday, June 21, for updates from the Board of Trustees Meeting
NEWS
Vol. 120, Issue 7, 8 Pages
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Up and coming with Tiger Dining Chef Emil Topel discusses campus dining
Auburn recently lost a family member with the death of Sam Lowther, alumnus and senior analyst in Auburn’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. Lowther died suddenly while on vacation with his family in Florida June 11. Sam is survived by his wife, two stepsons and their three children. “He was exactly where he wanted to be when it happened,” said Janis Lowther, Sam’s wife. “We were with my son, his wife and his little son
who’s 5. (Sam) had played with him all morning in the water.” A 1974 graduate and a fulltime employee of Auburn since 1978, Sam spent the majority of his adult life serving the University. “He loved Auburn through and through. He loved his job,” Janis said. “I’d been trying to get him to retire because he’d been there for 33 years, but he would say, ‘As long as they’re good to me, I like my work, and I’d rather just stay for a while.’ “I think he will be missed over there because he did
source of factual information about Auburn and its operating environment. “I remember when I first met him people telling me if I ever needed to know anything to ask Sam Lowther,” Janis said. “And I learned over the years that they were right.” Sam’s achievements don’t end with him being a wealth of knowledge within his profession. He was a founding member of the Alabama Association for Institutional Research and was elected by his peers as president of both this association and the Southern As-
Lowther love it, and he did his best and wasn’t ready to leave,” Janis said. According to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, Sam was a trusted
sociation for Institutional Research. For more than 15 years, Sam served each of these organizations and in 2000 was awarded ALAIR’s Joseph T. Sutton Leadership Award for his years of service to the profession, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.Aside from his services to Auburn within the University, Sam was a devoted Tigers baseball fan. “He loved Auburn baseball,” Janis said.
» See Administrator A2
Stepping up to the plate
OPINIONS A6
Our View: Parking on campus is unnecessarily complicated Contributed
Clint Myers was head softball coach at Arizona State prior to coming to Auburn.
SPORTS
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After disappointments on the diamond, Auburn hires softball head coach Clint Myers and baseball head coach Sunny Golloway John Burns Sports Editor
Virtual Victory Cam Newton to appear in NCAA Football 14 game
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New head baseball coach Sunny Golloway receiving his jersey from Jay Jacobs.
Former Arizona State softball coach Clint Myers has agreed to become the Tigers’ new coach, Athletic Director Jay Jacobs announced Friday, June 14. Myers led the Sun Devils to NCAA Championships in 2008 and 2011 and took the team to the Women’s College World Series seven times in eight years. “I am very excited to begin what I expect to be a challenging, rewarding and fulfilling life change with my move to become the head softball coach at Auburn University,” Myers said. “This opportunity to coach with my family and to become part of what I feel is a total community family in the
town of Auburn was one I absolutely could not pass up. Thank you for giving me and my family this ‘Alabama Adventure’. We hope that you will enjoy the ride with us for years to come.” While he was the coach at Arizona State, Myers averaged 53 wins per season.Jacobs set out to find a quality coach with winning capabilities, and he believes that is exactly what he and the athletics department had done by hiring Myers. “When we began our search for a new softball coach, the goal was to find a proven winner who could help us compete for championships,” Jacobs said.
» See softball, A2
Will Gaines Sports Reporter
Athletics Director Jay Jacobs announced Sunny Golloway has been named Auburn’s next baseball coach Friday, June 14. This was the second hire of the day after Jacobs hired Clint Myers as the new softball coach earlier Friday afternoon. Golloway has spent the past eight seasons as the head coach at the University of Oklahoma and has led the Sooners to seven NCAA regional berths, four NCAA super-regionals and the 2010 College World Series. In his introductory press conference Saturday, June 15, Golloway said there were two things that secured his
interest in being Auburn’s next baseball coach. The first was the Auburn community, its people and traditions, and the second was Jacobs. “The minute I met Jay Jacobs I knew,” Golloway said. “When I met Jay I knew there was a commitment to winning championships, and sometimes when you sit down with people you hit it off and you know.” Jacobs said Golloway possessed everything he was looking for in a new baseball coach. “When we started out we wanted to hire a coach that was a proven winner and someone that had a
» See Baseball, A2
Clint Myers
Sunny Golloway
• Coached at Arizona State from 20062013 • Led the Sun Devils to victory in the NCAA Championship in 2008 and 2011 • In eight seasons he led the Sun Devils to seven Women’s College World Series and an overall record of 427–102 for an .807 win percentage • During his career he has a record of 856–131, or an .868 winning percentage
• Coached Oral Roberts from 19962003 and Oklahoma from 2005-2013 • Took his teams to the NCAA Regionals in 14 of his last 15 years as head coach • Led the Sooners to one College World series, Four NCAA Super Regionals and eight NCAA Regionals in nine years • His career record is 681–337–1 for a .669 winning percentage as a head coach
News A2
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Crime Reports for June 13–19, 2013 June 13-14 – Keystone Drive Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and theft of GPS, jewelry, watch and sunglasses between June 13 at 11 p.m. and June 14 at 9:40 a.m.
June 16-17 – Amy Court Third-degree burglary of headphones, jewelry, watch and coin jar between June 16 at 4:30 p.m. and June 17 at 5:30 p.m.
June 17-18 – Oak Meadow Lane Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and theft of cologne, U.S. currency and credit cards between June 17 at 8:30 p.m. and June 18 at 10:15 a.m.
June 13-15 – North Donahue Drive Third-degree burglary of semi-automatic pistol, video camera, Nintendo Wii, compound bow and TV between June 13 at 4 p.m. and June 15 at 1:15 p.m.
June 16-17 – Carpenter Way Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and theft of Motorola cell phone, sunglasses, GPS, garage door and credit cards between June 16 at 9:30 p.m. and June 17 at 6 a.m.
June 18 – West Longleaf Drive First-degree burglary of iPhone, hats and wallet between 7:35-7:40 p.m.
June 14 – Thach Concourse Third-degree theft of textbooks between 1:15-1:35 p.m. June 14 – East Longleaf Drive Third-degree theft of iPhone between 6-7:45 p.m. June 14-15 – East University Drive Second-degree theft of flatbed utility trailer between June 14 at 11 p.m. and June 15 at 8 a.m. June 15 – AL Highway 14 Second-degree theft of Sony touchscreen computer between 3:25-3:40 p.m.
June 17-18 – West Glenn Avenue Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and theft of GPS between June 17 at 6:30 p.m. and June 18 at 1 a.m. June 17-18 – Carpenter Way Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and theft of CD case, CDs, cologne and prescription medication between June 17 at 9 p.m. and June 18 at 6:45 a.m
June 18-19 – Spencer Avenue Second-degree theft of 1987 Buick Regal between June 18 at 8:30 p.m. and June 19 at 1:30 a.m. June 18-19 – Cloverbrook Circle First-degree theft of Yamaha motorcycle between June 18 at 10:20 p.m. and June 19 at 1 a.m. — Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety
Succeeding on the Chair of department of agricultural economics and rural sociology chosen field and in class
“
Justin Ferguson News Reporter
The College of Agriculture has announced the selection of Deacue Fields to the chair position of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, effective Aug. 16. Fields, who joined the Auburn faculty in 2002, replaces outgoing chair and fellow agricultural economics professor Curtis Jolly, who has served in the position since 2005. “I am excited about becoming the chair for the department,” Fields said. “I am looking forward to the new challenges and seeing what can be done differently.” In addition to managing the department budget and working more closely with the state’s agricultural community, Fields says one of his biggest responsibilities will be helping the department create an identity. “I want to think in a business mindset and ask, ‘What is (the department’s) comparative advantage?’” Fields said. “We want to look at other ag econ departments across the Southeast and the entire country and find out what gives Auburn an advantage.” Fields also points out the opportunities the department has in helping out the state’s poorer regions. Fields said some of the most poverty-stricken counties in the country are found in Alabama, and Fields identifies those areas as targets for the department. “We now have a World Hunger Center and a Food Systems Institute here at Auburn,” Fields said. “Those are two things I want to see this department plug into
baseball » From A1
proven track record of developing players,” Jacobs said. “Sunny has had more than 100 players drafted, and he’s been to 14 of the last 15 regionals. That’s really important, but what we have all come to admire about coach is his character and integrity. He wants to invest in these young men’s lives, not just on the baseball diamond.” Golloway said he has had other opportunities to make a move and come to the SEC, but the time was never right. After his success in Oklahoma, Golloway said it didn’t seem like he would ever leave. “I know in my gut when to make the pitching change, when to make the hit and run, when to lay down a bunt, and I also know when to make a move,” Golloway said. “We’ve been offered opportunities to come to the SEC conference in the past and it wasn’t the right time in life.” Golloway also said the recruiting ca-
softball » From A1
“We could not have found a coach who better fits that criteria than Clint Myers, who has consistently reached the pinnacle of success in college softball.” Aside from Myers’ seven trips to the Women’s College World Series and two titles in the NCAA, he also has six junior college softball national championships to his name and a junior college baseball national championship. All seven national championships were while Myers was the coach at Central Arizona College. “Anytime you can hire a coach who has won two National Championships and been to the Women’s College World Series seven out of eight years, it’s obviously a huge win for your program,” Jacobs said. While Myers has proven himself as
Reese Counts Writer
All my degrees are in ag econ, and a lot of people think that’s all I know. I like the business side of this field and the connection to the agricultural community.” —Deacue Fields chair of the department of agricultural economics and rural sociology
more and figure out where we can fit in. We need to take advantage of where we are.” Fields cited a lifelong passion for agriculture and rural areas as reasons why he wants to be involved in leadership positions such as department chair. He spoke about operating his family’s cattle herd as a teenager and the legacy of his grandfather, who raised a family full of future college graduates on his farm in Louisiana. “I grew up in it,” Fields said. “I showed cattle when I was a kid. My dad was an ag teacher for six years before going to work for the USDA. There are so many life experiences that have kept me in ag econ.” Fields earned his bachelor’s degree
in agricultural economics from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., in 1993. He completed his master’s degree at the University of Missouri in 1995 and worked as an assistant professor with Florida A&M University’s small farms program for three years. Before coming to Auburn, Fields returned to Baton Rouge to complete his doctorate, this time at Louisiana State University. “All my degrees are in ag econ, and a lot of people think that’s all I know,” Fields said with a chuckle. “I like the business side of this field and the connection to the agricultural community.” Fields’s current role as professor includes extensive work in both the classroom and in research. His research at Auburn has focused on working with the horticulture department on consumer food preferences, and he currently teaches senior and graduate-level courses in agribusiness management.
pacity of the SEC is another reason why he decided to make the move. “I know we are in a hotbed for baseball talent, and we are going to be able to bring those athletes to Auburn,” Golloway said. “We know Atlanta and the East Cobb League, and there isn’t a quality team in the country that doesn’t. It’s been hard to pull those players out of the SEC, so these players are going to desire to come to Auburn. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like on football game day and we are recruiting them.” Golloway plans to work on hiring a coaching staff, meet with the current players and begin building relationships with recruits. He also said he has brought some assistant coaches with him from Oklahoma, and they will decide if they want to join him at Auburn. “They’ve got to make sure their families are on board before I actually announce them, but everything looks really good,” Golloway said. His coaching philosophy is simple, but he also believes people have to be
open to change if they want to keep up in college baseball. “Pitching and defense are what win championships, there is no doubt about that,” Golloway said. “But you have to be able to score some runs once the pitching and defense is shutting them down. Pitching and defense has definitely changed over the years, and you have to be able to change with it.” With the SEC putting nine teams into postseason play and two in the College World Series, Golloway knows he has a tough task ahead. “Being in the SEC is very appealing to anybody in the country,” Golloway said. “This is without question the best conference in America, and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.” Golloway said he is looking forward to what Auburn has to offer and what he can bring to the table “I’m really excited about this opportunity because I’ve always held the Auburn baseball program in very high regard,” Golloway said.
Chelsea Wooten / photo editor
Deacue Fields, new department chair
a successful coach on the field, he has shown that he demands excellence from his players in the classroom as well. His teams were honored twice for finishing in the top 10 percent in APR scores among softball teams in the NCAA. “No less important is the fact that Coach Myers’ student athletes have also been consistent winners in the classroom,” Jacobs said. “I am delighted to welcome Coach Myers and his wife, Katie, to the Auburn family.” Along with his wife, Myers will bring one of his sons to Auburn to possibly be a voluntary assistant coach. The family is familiar with softball and baseball as his son Corey oversees Thunderbolts softball in Birmingham. “One of the things I learned about Coach Myers during this process is how important family is to him,” Jacobs said. “That will make him a great fit at Auburn.”
Administrator » From A1
“He always had season tickets and sat at a certain spot.” The funeral for Sam was held Saturday, June 15, where loved ones filled the church to remember him. “Our sanctuary is huge, and it was packed. But if you would have told him it was going to be that way he wouldn’t have believed it,” Janis said. “He’s so humble. He thought he was just another person over there. He never thought he was better than anybody else or knew something that somebody else knew.” As a husband, stepfather and grandfather, Tigers fan and loyal staff member at the University, Sam’s memory will live through the legacy he left at Auburn and within his family. “He’ll always live with me,” Janis said.
It takes more than skills on the field or moves on the court to continue being an Auburn Tiger. A large group of athletic tutors work with athletes to make sure the student aspect of student athlete doesn’t fall behind. During the spring and fall, more than 150 tutors work with athletes two to four times per week to make sure grades stay in line with standards so athletes can continue playing the sports they love. K.J. Jackson, former English teacher and current English literature tutor, said she enjoys helping student athletes. “The greatest thing about being a tutor is we are able to empower the students, especially if you’re an athlete, because they have such time constraints placed on them,” Jackson said. “You have to be mindful of each student’s learning style, their schedules and the subject matter.” Academic counselor Mary Ann Taylor-Sims knows athletes are just like any other student. “We tutor across the board with a big focus on core classes,” Taylor-Sims said. “There are tutors covering all of the core curriculum subjects.” Public speaking tutor and communications graduate student Shaquille Marsh said tutors work with the athletes’ schedules to keep them from falling behind. “We always have a copy of the course syllabus in front of us,” Marsh said. “We schedule around the syllabus and work ahead before athletes leave.” The tutors try to accommodate athletes when traveling to away games. “We’re here to serve the students,” Jackson said. “As a tutor, I try to set up reading to do while they are on the road, or schedule a few extra sessions
to cover concepts they might have missed.” History tutor and clinical mental health counseling graduate student Sarah Fisher asked the athletes she works with to speak with professors before they leave and talk to classmates when they return to make sure they stay up-todate. The University considers athletic competitions excused absences. Excuses are sent to department deans and then sent to the professors. “Ideally, it is a one-on-one session,” Fisher said. “But sometimes there is a group session of two to three.” Kristine Ball, a university academic coordinator, said tutors and athletes meet in a one-on-one session up to four times per week, depending on the needs of the athletes. “The tutors’ individual schedules are very flexible,” Ball said. “They work upward of 15 to 20 hours a week with various students. “Tutors come to us via word of mouth,” Ball said. “We also go to different departments and inquire about referrals and recommendations.” Although the number of tutors is approximately 150 during the fall and spring semesters, the number drops to approximately 50 during the summer. “Part of being a tutor in AU athletics is that you are flexible,” Jackson said. Tutors are paid, and some graduate students work as tutors as part of their programs. Tutors must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0. The tutors must also have passed the course they’re tutoring with an A or B. The program also wants students to be junior level or above. Students interested in tutoring are invited to contact the student athlete tutoring department at tutorco@auburn.edu or by calling 334844-9808.
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A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID
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Thursday, June 20, 2013
Kyle Owens, Stuart Ferguson get scholarships Aaron Lake Writer
Chelsea Wooten / Photo EDitor
Senior executive chef Emil Topel and Nasha Driver make pizzas at The Village Dining.
Q&A with university’s senior executive chef Emil Topel Topel dishes on what works, what doesn’t and what’s coming up next for Tiger Dining
Jeffrey Moore Writer
What are the everyday duties of the senior executive chef of Auburn University?
I help oversee all food production and service for the campus, which includes all the dining venues and catering. My day is spent crisscrossing the campus visiting every outlet, assisting where needed and making sure quality, safety and consistency standards are followed. We have a great team of managers and wonderful employees who strive to offer the best service possible every day.
What was your culinary training and background?
I grew up in the UK and attended culinary college in London. After moving to the USA in 1989, I spent my career in hotels, restaurants and convention centers before joining Auburn in 2007. I have owned a gourmet market, produced a line of sauces and recently published an Auburn cookbook. I love being creative, and my position at Auburn lets me do that.
What are some specific experiences that have helped influence the food Auburn students eat on campus?
I believe my international experiences and varied past help me in creating new and exciting dining venues on campus. I get to play at work, open little restaurants around campus and try new things daily. I see what works, expand on winners and drop the losers.
What have been some of the most successful programs implemented since you got to Auburn? Rye of the Tiger, Pizza Phlatz at Foy, and most recently Go Greek, which has been my most popular location so far.
What programs or ideas haven’t been as successful as you were hoping? What did you learn from it? I opened the cheesesteak factory in the student center right before we did the new construction at Chick-fil-A. It took off well, but after four
days, it tanked quicker than I have ever seen. We dropped it and made it a makeshift Chick-fil-A Express until the construction was finished.
new excitement to old favorites.
How have students’ tastes changed since you began working at Auburn in 2007?
I am working on a new chicken tender place similar to a Zaxby’s in Foy, which will have fried and grilled chicken tenders, great sauces and French fries. We have an exciting new chicken salad concept being added in to Lupton Deli with various flavors of salads and a new look inside. The Village will be adding a calzone station, which will use whole wheat pizza dough and cool ingredients. We are adding fresh sushi made to order right in front of you and will expand on the home cooked meal at Home Plate. I am also going to introduce a Caribbean venue for the fall with Tiger Wok. There will also be big changes to Tiger Zone at the Village... stay tuned for more. Joann’s will get a new menu, and the entire campus will have exciting specials and new menu items at most locations.
We continue to want more and more healthier options, always looking for more lowcal and sustainable foods, and allergens are becoming more prevalent. Global influences are felt deeper throughout the campus, pesto is the new ranch, and I make more than 100 pounds of hummus a week when I could not give it away 6 years ago.
How are you able to please the taste buds of such a diverse student body? We really try to offer something for everyone. There are so many options on campus that I believe anyone could find something different and good to eat every day of the semester. We do not want you to get bored, and we are always looking for ways to change dining venues or add
What do you have planned for the future of campus dining?
Graduated swimmers Kyle Owens and Stuart Ferguson were awarded the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Friday, June 7. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is awarded annually to 174 student athletes who have shown incredible dedication and effort in their respective sports and in the classroom. For Owens and Ferguson, academic recognition is nothing new. Owens was named as a Capital One Academic AllAmerican earlier in June while both have been present as members of the SEC Academic Honor Roll the last 3 years. Owens, from Johnson City, Tenn., hopes to use the scholarship to aide him at Quillen College of Medicine. “Being a top D-I athlete and graduating this past month, it’s a testament to the support staff we have at Auburn in the pool and in the classroom,” Owens said. “I think it’s a great place to be, and I wouldn’t have changed anything for the world.” Owens was impacted by his mother, Heather, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was 11. She beat the cancer, but it left a mark on Owens. “I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew I wanted to be a doctor, and I wanted to help people,” Owens said. His mother said Owens has always been a driven student athlete. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s accomplished all of this, but I’m in awe,” Heather said. “It took a lot of people and a lot of effort on Kyle’s part, but if anybody is able to do it, he is.” Ferguson, from Richmond, Va., said he is hoping to identify the post-graduate studies that interest him while enjoying the time off from the rigors of studying and training. “My time at Auburn was great, but very busy,” Ferguson said. “I learned a lot from
Ferguson
Owens swimming that I was able to apply in college, and I got a lot of one-on-one work so I wouldn’t get behind while I was swimming.” Ferguson graduated with a degree in philosophy and is currently in Montana working as a white-water rafting guide. He said his love for the outdoors and teaching has shaped his decisions in life. “I want to be a teacher and would love to work with high school kids,” Ferguson said. “It means a lot to get support from the NCAA, for them to recognize the hard work I’ve put in.” Both Owens and Ferguson said they are thankful for the opportunity to swim and get an education at Auburn, and both recognize with postgraduate plans, their swimming careers are coming to an end. “I am 100 percent retired from swimming,” Ferguson said. “I’ve got a lot out of swimming since I was 5 years old. I’ve learned a lot, met a lot of cool people, but I am done with that and I’m focusing on other parts of my life.” Owens recently submitted his retirement paperwork to the U.S. National Swim Team and has chosen to forego the World University Games in Russia in order to begin classes at Quillen in July.
Not-so-malignant Toomer’s: new life shoots up on famed corner Jeffrey Moore Writer
Chelsea Wooten / photo editor
Horticulture professor Dr. Gary Keever shows some of the Toomer’s shoots being housed in the greenhouse. Keever hopes these shoots will eventually grow into full-size Toomer’s trees and said they could get to that size in about 40 years if they are put in the right conditions and are free of poison.
Since the Toomer’s Oaks were removed in April, the eerily empty planters that remain have been a reminder of what can happen when a rivalry goes wrong. But after the trees were cut and some time was allowed for the Auburn Family’s wounds to heal, things have pretty much returned to the way they always were. Packs of incoming freshmen are still being led from building to building by their backwards-walking Camp War Eagle counselors, students are still texting their way through the concourse and new, green life is once again present in the planters on the corner of College and Magnolia. Over the past few weeks, hundreds of new shoots have sprouted in the planters that once housed the famous oaks. Horticulture professor Dr. Gary Keever said this new growth is the root system’s response to the trees being cut down. “The root system of the tree was still intact, and the herbicide didn’t affect the root’s water and nutrient uptake,” Keever said. “Prior to the removal of the trunk and canopy of the trees, water and nutrients were translocated up to the canopy. But after the trees were taken down, instead of going up to the canopy, which is no longer there, the water and nutrients are going into these small
shoots that originate on the roots of the trees.” Keever has harvested three cuttings of these new shoots, and the horticulture department is already taking the steps necessary to transform this new growth into full-sized live oaks that are genetically identical to the original Toomer’s Oaks. “They have the potential to reach the stature of the original trees,” Keever said. “The trees that were taken down were 83 to 85 years old, and they weren’t being grown at an ideal site. So if you put this new growth under nursery conditions, they could probably get the same amount of growth in half that time.” Heath Hoffman, horticulture graduate student and greenhouse manager at Auburn University’s Paterson Greenhouse, said the cultivation process is already under way. “We took the cuttings that Dr. Keever collected at Toomer’s corner and cut them into four to five inch sections,” Hoffman said. “We then dipped them in a rooting hormone and placed them in a rooting media that he prepared for us. Now we’ve put them in the greenhouse under intermittent mist, and we’ve probably got close to 500 of them prepared right now.” While the prospect of growing full-sized replicas of the Toomer’s Oaks is exciting,
Chelsea Wooten / photo editor
Since the removal of the historic Toomer’s oak trees, shoots have sprouted in the now-vacant mulch.
Keever was sure to point out that the success of this project is still very much in the balance. “I tried to root some shoots one time before, soon after the poisoning, but they wouldn’t root due to the poison in them,” Keever said. “So there’s no reason to get too excited about it unless we’re able to root them. But we’re optimistic that there is not as much poison in these shoots because they are very healthy looking. They look fine right now.” After two to three months of growth under greenhouse conditions, the horticulture department will hope to root around
half of the shoots, which will eventually be sold to buyers wishing to preserve a piece of Auburn history. “Our intent would be to grow them for a year or more and then sell them to people that are interested in having clones of the Toomer’s oak trees,” Keever said. “The Toomer’s Oaks Seedling Program was a fundraiser for scholarships in the School of Forestry, and we hope that if we can propagate enough of these, then the funds could be used for some type of scholarship or endowment within the horticulture department.”
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One ring to rule them all: why the University has one option of class ring
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Angel’s Antique and flea mall
It’s HUGE!
James Godwin Writer
Cheap furniture, old windows, cool Auburn stuff, vintage records, jewelry, etc!
The upcoming year will mark the 10th anniversary of the Balfour ring company’s offering of a single official class ring for Auburn. Balfour offers three styles for male University of Alabama students and four styles for female students, according to the company’s website. As for Auburn, Balfour offers one style for male students and two for female. Rusty Parker, a local employee of the company, explained the history of the company’s singular Auburn ring design. According to him, this is exactly how the alumni wanted it. “As an Auburn University graduate (1978), I immediately went to work with Balfour upon graduation and was excited to know that I would be working with Auburn,” Parker said. “I sold rings during the first 25 years that offered red, green, pink stones, multiple designs etc., a real hodgepodge of rings that were not very distinctive in their design. We approached the students and administration in 2003 about returning to having one iconic symbol like my Dad’s and all other Alabama Polytechnic Institute graduates that had one ring as their graduation ring.” Students, alumni and administration met to discuss the design for a new ring, and developed it over five months. The end result was a distinctive and unique design rich in symbols. “Each and every symbol on the ring has distinctive Auburn qualities. ‘War Eagle’ automatically comes inside everyone’s ring,” Parker said. “The Toomer’s Corner tradition is on one side. There are four lines that wrap around the palm of
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Exclusivity is part of the attraction for Auburn’s offical class ring, according to Rusty Parker, an employee at the Balfour location in Auburn. To get one, a student must complete 75 semester hours.
the ring – each line symbolizing one facet of the Auburn Family: students, alumni, faculty and administration. There are eagles at the top on each side looking in opposite directions to symbolize looking to the past and preparing for the future, and there is a navy blue stone with an AU interlock placed on it. All of these symbols help unify and symbolize what it is to be an Auburn man or woman.” The end result is known as the “Official Ring” of the University. In the case of some universities and colleges more than one ring style is offered, but for Auburn only one male style and two female styles are offered. Balfour felt Auburn needed only one distinctive ring, a simple identifier of Auburn graduates. “Official Rings are presented twice a year (December and April) to all qualified recipients at a special delivery ceremony,” Parker said. “I have espe-
cially enjoyed seeing at the ceremony family members come watch their son or daughter have their ring presented to them by the University president and/or a representative from the Student Affairs Office. Part of establishing the Official Ring was to eliminate just anyone from wearing an Auburn ring. Previously, anyone could literally walk into Walmart and get a ring – whether they had graduated from Auburn or not. The new Official Ring requires a student to have completed 75 semester hours so that the ring has the integrity of reflecting a person’s accomplishment of being an Auburn graduate.” More information and history on Balfour rings can be found at Balfour.com. Its rings come from a proud history of craftsmanship and help to reinforce Auburn’s equally proud history. “The ring is also designed to share this purpose of literally being anywhere in the world
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@TheAUPlainsman Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle
Part of establishing the Official Ring was to eliminate just anyone from wearing an Auburn ring. —Rusty Parker Balfour employee in Auburn
and instantly recognizing a fellow Auburn alum by his or her Official Ring,” Parker said. “The Official Ring is the one item all graduates can have with them at all times that says ‘I am an Auburn graduate and proud of it.’” Balfour has made school jewelry since 1913, and since the late 1930s has also offered yearbooks, graduation announcements and letter jackets.
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Complete the grid so each row, column and 6/16/13 3-by-3 box Complete the (in bold borders) grid so each row, contains every
RELEASE DATE– Thursday, October 25, 2012
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 The grand concert one has 47 strings 5 Teen hangout 9 __ poll 14 French possessive 15 Chills and fever 16 “The Voice” judge Green 17 Holdup device? 18 Party person 19 Communications device 20 Question cads in their cups? 23 Response to “Are you serious?” 24 Gardner of old films 25 Wow 28 Burden beasts of burden? 32 Western landscape feature 36 Vessel designation 37 Weigh station visitors 38 New Testament book 39 Variable-yield investment option 42 Passed-down tales 43 CBS newswoman O’Donnell 45 Summer baby 46 Termini 47 Stumble over plumbing gunk? 51 Brahms’s A? 52 View from Marseille 53 To-do 58 Proper sort ... or a cry upon solving each of this puzzle’s theme answers? 62 Canceled a reservation, maybe 64 Waikiki’s whereabouts 65 Yankee great, familiarly, with “The” 66 Window box bloom 67 “Exodus” novelist 68 US Open stadium 69 Post with carvings
54 “You’ve got to be 33 Culprit in some kidding” food recalls 55 Grace 34 Severe DOWN 56 Nourishment for 35 “Without delay!” 1 “Satisfied now?” un bebé 40 “The Matrix” 2 “__ friend 57 Put in a request hero unbosoms freely 59 Department of 41 Spot for one in ...”: Penn northern France disfavor 3 Innkeeper’s 60 Lipinski with a 44 Rebus puzzle offerings gold medal staple 4 Longstocking of 61 Beat 48 Outlaw Kelly kiddie lit 62 Well-put 5 Hawaiian for “very 49 Shriek 63 Confucian path 50 Brillo alternative strong” 6 All atwitter ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 7 Thick with vegetation 8 Super-harmful 9 Serious argument components 10 Colorful duck 11 North Pacific sockeye 12 Woodcutter Baba 13 Seek favor with 21 Feasts on 22 Garden outcast 26 Strange and then some 27 Pluralizers 29 Society honoree 30 Waggish 31 Ubangi tributary 32 Minister’s 10/25/12 quarters xwordeditor@aol.com 70 Passé demo item 71 Scholarship factor
By Elizabeth A. Long (c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
10/25/12
Intrigue Thursday, June 20, 2013
A5 ThePlainsman.com
Intrigue
Artist illustrates Auburn spirit
Scott Brannan portrays traditional Auburn scenes such as football games and rolling Toomer’s Corner with colorful paintings and prints through Auburn Art partnership Justin Lee Writer
The painting depicts a scene in downtown Auburn, recognizable to most and intimately familiar to many more. In the center stands one of the former oaks of Toomer’s Corner in its best days. Splotches of live oak leaves line its branches, visible against the backdrop of a midnight-blue sky. Toilet paper proudly sways from above and lays scattered on the ground below. Sitting at its side and beneath its branches is Aubie, leaning against the base of its trunk, his giant feet pointed to the air and his tail curled behind him. “He’s definitely not drawn to scale,” said Scott Brannan, candidly critiquing his work. “He’s probably, like, twice as big as he should be. But Aubie’s bigger than life anyway. He should be bigger than you would really see him.” The painting, titled “Midnight on Toomer’s,” is Brannan’s latest work, created with official licensing from Auburn University and distributed through a partnership with Auburn Art. It was unveiled a few days before A-Day, and consequently the final rolling of Toomer’s Corner. Brannan, who graduated from Auburn in 2000, made the trip from his home in Knoxville, Tenn. to the Plains that Saturday. He spent the day personalizing and numbering prints of his new painting outside Auburn Art. Brannan said the response was greater than anything he could have imagined. “It was one of the coolest, most rewarding things that I’ve ever done because everybody loved it,” Brannan said. “Elderly people, kids, college dudes, middle-aged women, everybody loved it. The re-
Stay alert with Osito
sponse was just amazing.” Since then, the piece’s popularity and the interest in Brannan’s work have increased. Cliff Hare, owner of Auburn Art, has experienced the positive reaction firsthand outside of his store. “We’ve had an incredible response to it,” Hare said. “The prints have done incredibly well. We just started T-shirts as well, and they’ve been flying off the shelves. It’s been a really, really good relationship with Scott, and he’s really talented.” Brannan’s partnership with Auburn Art started in October 2012 when Brannan entered one of the store’s artist search competitions. Dan Middlebrooks, Brannan’s childhood friend and roommate through college, said he saw Brannan’s talent all along. However, it wasn’t until the two left Auburn that Brannan truly picked up his brushes again in 2003, starting with a painting of his favorite Auburn player, Ronnie Brown. “After we graduated he started getting back into it,” Middlebrooks said. “And I had always encouraged him to do it, because he had skills. He showed me pictures that he did when we were in middle school and stuff, and they were really good. I’m not surprised because I’ve known him since we were kids, and he’s always been good at it.” Brannan is set to paint more than he ever has, receiving more offers for commissions in the past three months than throughout his entire career. Meanwhile, Hare and Brannan promise Auburn fans will see more of Brannan’s work on Auburn Art’s shelves this fall. “We’re hoping that we’ll have a really good football season this year,” Hare said. “There’ll be some really good moments that he can play off of and come up with some new stuff.”
Elizabeth Wieck managing.editor@ theplainsman.com
Since there seems to be a smartphone app for every possible activity, the next logical task for phones is, in a way, to read your mind and learn your habits. By sharing your calendar, email account and location, Osito can help you stay on top of your busy
schedule. The most usable feature of Osito is the reminders it sends you for events on your connected Gmail account and iPhone calendar. Aside from giving you a quick snapshot of the events of your day, Osito can send you alerts
Tweets of the week
Contributed by Scott Brannan
TOP: Scott Brannan’s painting “Lutzenkirchen” is available as a print on his website, ScottMBrannanArt.com and at Auburn Art. BOTTOM, LEFT: Brannan stands outside Auburn Art with his painting of Cam Newton celebrating the National Championship. BOTTOM, RIGHT: “Midnight on Toomer’s” is Brannan’s latest work and is available as a print on his website.
for these events. Because the app is location-based, events that aren’t assigned locations in your calendar will not show up. While this is an inconvenience, Osito uses your current location and the event location to track how long it will take you to get to an event and will send you alerts when you should leave. It even factors in current traffic and accident conditions and will give you a reroute option for your journey. Osito takes a bit of time to understand your schedule and habits, and is constantly monitoring how long it takes you to get places. The longer you use it, the more accustomed to your habits it becomes. Even if something isn’t on your calendar, if you’ve done it enough, it will pick up on it and start to send you alerts for it. Additionally, you can view current weather conditions through Osito. A
weekly forecast and radar are available, which don’t differ tremendously from a typical smartphone weather app. Where Osito stands out from others is, again, through alerts. If it’s about to rain, Osito will send you a notification, a quick reminder to grab an umbrella or rain jacket. By connecting to your email, Osito can grab information from flight or hotel reservation emails, which will allow you to keep track of your flight and hotel information in one place. In order to use Osito, you have to have your location turned on, which tends to drain the battery quickly. Currently, Osito is only available for iPhones using iOS 6 and higher, and only connects to email via Gmail. According to the app’s website, developers are working on adding more supporting services.
Photo of the week
@CoachTonyBarbee: What a great closing round 67 fired by my friend and AU Alum Jason Dufner at the US Open today. The fight in you today was unbelievable. WDE @TrackemTigers: “Just to talk to Golloway you can see he’s a winner.” Joe Beckwith, former Auburn & Major League pitcher. @AUBlog: Sunny Golloway agreed to a 5-year deal worth $650K annually, more than double former Auburn coach Pawlowski’s compensation. @j_mbooks: See J&M’s Facebook page for photos from the Coach Malzahn Ford Truck commercial. Scenes shot at J&M! #wareagle #ford @AU_History: 6/17/1944: SEC Commissioner Mike Conner rules footballer Vaughn Mancha eligible at Alabama although he had already registered at Auburn. @AUAlumniAssoc: Quote of the day: “Life is fragile. We’re not guaranteed a tomorrow so give it everything you’ve got.” -Tim Cook CEO of Apple #AU #alumni @AU_Recycles: We could save 25 million trees each year if everyone recycled just 1/10 of their newspapers - Save the planet, recycle your @TheAUPlainsman
Auburn students Carrie Pepper, Joshua Moore, Maria Bunch, Malise Collins and Maeghan Ulrich at the Louvre in Paris, France during the spring 2013 semester. Contributed by Carrie Pepper, senior in hotel and restaurant management. Want to see your photo here? Email your best shots to photo@theplainsman.com
Opinions
A6
Thursday, June 20, 2013
ThePlainsman.com
Opinions
Our View
Fighting the good fight: end the parking war Unless you are a professor, a member of the administrative staff, or have a building named after you or your family, parking on campus is a task best left to fools and madmen. Parking services has no qualms about issuing tickets with inflated values. They’ll even put a wheel lock on your car if you have more than two tickets, despite the fact it keeps your vehicle in the forbidden space longer. Sure, the people who work for parking services, the ones who give out the tickets, are only doing their jobs. It’s not their fault parking on campus is an atrocity. They need to work like everybody else. Don Andrae, manager of parking services and member of the Traffic and Safety Committee, said, “We’ve lost 3,000 spaces in five years… There are only 10,000 spaces for 26,000 students and 6,000 faculty.” The Traffic and Parking Committee, comprised of students, faculty and staff, definitely deserves some of the blame. They started the process of change claiming they wanted to make things better, and they came out giving us the metaphorical finger. Yet, we bought it, and we’re still buying it. We’ve allowed parking enforcement and regulation to become a big business. So we deserve the
Rachel Suhs
rest of the blame. “I would be the first to admit that we have a problem. But we have to work together to satisfy student requirements,” said Andrae. Perhaps it’s complacency, perhaps most of us just like giving money to the University, the answer isn’t clear. What is clear is the current parking system is a quagmire of arbitrary space designations and unfair policing of those spaces. Do we need so many A and B lots? What’s wrong with driving on Mell Street. between 7:30 a.m.5 p.m.? Why can A and B permit holders park in
C lots? Registration for 2013-2014 permits begins July 1. You could pay the $60 for a C or $160 to be put in the lottery for a PC permit, or you could send the Traffic and Parking Committee an email demanding change. You could even say you won’t purchase a pass until the cost for a permit is lowered to its 2010 price of $30 for a C permit. If you feel like it, remind them tuition has been increased, and there is less money to go around. After all, that’s what this all about: money. “We don’t make any money from tickets,” An-
drae said. According to Andrae, the current parking system has caused a reduction in the amount of money brought in by tickets, money which is put into the University’s general fund, and that is a sign of the systems effectiveness. For the 2011-12 academic year, Parking Services had a revenue of $611,000 from tickets. As opposed to the current 2012-13 academic year in which they only received $426,729. “If anything, I should be hearing from the upper administration for losing money,” Andrae said. There are most certainly not enough spaces to go around. But controlling those spaces with a bureaucratic enforcement agency only serves to demean those of us who have to commute because they can’t wait on a bus that takes thirty minutes to go just a few miles. We are more than willing to work with the Traffic and Parking Committee, but it has to show initiative too. Having five students on your committee does not accurately represent the larger student voice. Asking us to rely more on Tiger Transit when the busses are anything but reliable is not right. They say they are always working to improve, so let’s keep them on task.
His View
Sympathy for the devil: a year later, I still can’t hate Harvey Andrew Yawn news@ theplainsman. com
One year ago, I met the most hated man in Auburn. I was nervous, inexperienced and had just begun my first semester as community news editor for The Plainsman. He was on trial, unhealthy and understandably miserable. Despite all of this, Harvey Updyke was nothing short of polite. We spoke for a time about a variety of topics. I learned we’re both Louisiana residents. In fact, he and his wife, Elva, have a house about 45 minutes west of my parents’. I also learned he and an unnamed accomplice did, in-
deed, poison the Toomer’s oak trees. Even so, we smiled, shook hands and Elva and I exchanged contact information to do a feature on Updyke in the future. None of us knew we would never speak again. None of us understood the price of being honest. Much has changed since June 19, 2012, when Updyke confessed his guilt to me during his own jury selection, and most who care know the rest of the story. I published an article detailing the confession and was subsequently subpoenaed and placed under a gag order. After Updyke’s attorney called me a liar, my name was apparently changed to “student journalist” and The Plainsman then became “Auburn’s student-run newspaper.” Under the gag or-
der, I was defenseless. But that’s not the issue. Updyke has now served his sentence, the trees have been removed and I can now speak and write freely once more. A year removed, I will say this: I imagined the day going much differently before I spoke to Updyke. I saw Updyke for the first time earlier that day. Judge Jacob Walker read the charges against Updyke, and with each word, Updyke’s eyelids drooped lower and his breathing became more labored. After tweeting the observation and having it questioned, I went to the source. The Updykes stood by themselves outside the elevator at the Lee County Justice Center. I had left everything but my cell phone in my bag. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, I settled for texting quotes and
notes to myself. Updyke confirmed that he felt ready to “pass out” all morning, and the two were more than candid about Updyke’s somewhat publicized health issues. The numbers alone were staggering: 62 pounds lost since his arrest, 18 different medications in his system and thousands of Auburn fans clamoring for him to end his days in a cell. Numerous stories portraying his mistakes had poured from the media outlets (including The Plainsman) almost daily. But part of journalism is occasionally advocating for the devil, and I wanted Auburn to know the man being demonized. The father whose daughter would no longer speak to him. The Alabama fan whose beloved university banned him
from its campus, stadiums included. To me, it was only fair. The chance for a sympathetic piece passed by when his candor spread to the crime he had pleaded innocent of. When he admitted he was involved in the incident, he said that was all he would say about the matter. And yet the question came to my lips anyway as a sort of due diligence, anticipating a “no comment.” “So, what happened that night?” In this case, the former Texas state trooper was a straight shooter: “Did I do it? Yes.” Harvey and Elva watched as I took notes on my phone. Even so, we said farewell amicably and left on good terms. I had just met with the most despised man on The Plains, and I left with sympathy for the devil. Not to mention an ob-
ligation to create more mayhem in an already difficult situation. Maybe it was all an orchestrated plot to change the venue or add credibility to his insanity defense. Perhaps Updyke truly had given up. Whatever the reason, as a journalist, his confession was breaking news, immeasurably more important than any softer feature story. As an Auburn man, the destruction of the historic oaks was deserving of punitive measures. And yet, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. I still do. Had I never spoken to Harvey Updyke, the biased Tiger in me would most likely still loathe him. Updyke still has an elephant’s share of lawsuits to deal with, but one year later, I can only hope he’s beginning to get his life back together.
His View
MLB wild card game, a plague on the postseason John Burns Sports@ theplainsman. com
The midway point of the MLB season is just around the corner, and with the All-Star Game comes the first mention of the postseason. For those of you who are uninitiated in big league baseball rules, the winning team in the All-Star Game’s league gets home field advantage in the
World Series. All of that was said to tie in a serious complaint I, as well as many others, have with the new MLB postseason. The ridiculous and head scratching one-shot-win or be eliminated Wild Card Game. I’m not just angry because the Braves lost in the Wild Card Game last year, though that does contribute to a large percentage of my fury. I am irritated with this game because somewhere up the MLB management chain, the bosses decided a 162 game
season should rest on the edge of a knife in the format of a one-game playoff for two teams in each league. It’s absurd. Baseball is the one game in American sports where any team can win on any day. For instance, in college football there’s no way an Alabama is going to lose to a Mississippi State (at least in this juncture in their programs). But in baseball, even the major league worst Marlins would have a chance (however slim it may be) to defeat the major league leading Cardi-
nals. The Wild Card Game can be fixed though. The MLB just needs to turn it into a three-game series. That way, it’s just like a regular season series, and the teams can afford to lose a game. A three-game series would also get a better look at which team is actually better because potentially three starting pitchers and lineups would be used instead of just one. In the National League Wild Card Game last year, the umpires really screwed the Braves over by calling the infamous
infield fly rule 30 feet into the outfield. If it had been a three game series, that blunder by the men in blue would have had a chance to go unnoticed, but because it was a one-game win or go home scenario, the game will live on in infamy. Now, as last year was the first year of Wild Card Games, only two teams and their fan bases have cause to be upset, but if the format does not change soon enough, half of the big league supporters are going to be ticked off.
Braves fans, who, like it or not everyone else, make up the majority of fans around these parts, are furious about the debacle last October. There was garbage, bottles and worse things thrown onto Turner Field during the Wild Card Game last year, and it may not get better for the MLB any time soon. As long as the MLB just makes it a three game play-in, no one will have any cause to complain, because after three games in baseball, the winner has won fair and square.
Social Media on The Plains: Her View
Walt Cody in response to our staff editorial “Blowing smoke up our butts: a failed policy” Yes, good for you and good for the students who are flouting an irrational rule. That, too,is a good old American tradition. But you’re wrong about one thing here. Smokers and nonsmokers have not always been at odds. To the contrary. Pretty much from the 1930s to the ‘90s, smoking was a non-issue. Smokers and nonsmokers lived side by side in peace and harmony. A 1950’s national survey conducted by Ernst Dichter [...] showed that the vast majority of nonsmokers actively liked the smell of tobacco smoke.
In response to the opinion column “His View: Every dollar has two sides, servers deserve more respect”
Emily Justine Key: The same thing applies to pizza delivery. People do a percentage, but it doesn’t matter if I brought you a $10 order or a $100 order. I used MY tires, gas, windshield wipers, oil, etc. to get the pizza to your house. No matter how much your pizza cost, anything less than $3 is an insult, and realistically $5+ is best.
In response to our tweet “Tell us about your experience with AU Parking Services. Do you think the current parking system is fair?
@jreavescokerIV:
@iampaulieg:
Stern, but fair
Thieves that rob our kids money. I was staying at the AU hotel and saw them hiding in the back of the parking lot. Ridiculous
@emilyeatw0rld: not at all. I’d rather wait for parking (like the old days) for an hour than park by new row ANY DAY!
The Editorial Board Kelsey Davis Editor-in-Chief
Lainee Ross
John Burns
Copy Editor
Sports Editor
Elizabeth Wieck
Dustin Shrader
Chelsea Wooten
Online Editor
Photo Editor
Managing Editor
Ben Croomes Opinions Editor
Andrew Yawn
Raye May
News Editor
Design Editor
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Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849
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 500 words.
The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. This editorial is the majority opinion of the 9-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.
Contact Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com
Sports
A7
Thursday, June 20, 2013
ThePlainsman.com
Sports
Contributed by Todd Van Emst
Former Auburn swimmer Kyle Owens was named a Capital One Academic All-American for the second season in a row June 6.
Contributed by Todd Van Emst
Sunny Golloway left Oklahoma to become the head coach of Auburn’s baseball team.
Excelling in and out of the pool Sunny with Aaron Lake Writer
Auburn swimmer Kyle Owens was recognized as a Capital One Academic All-American on Thursday, June 6. Owens, who graduated in May, was also named an Academic All-American last season. “It feels good being an athlete and to be given such a high academic award,” Owens said. “It is an inspiration and a standard for everyone on the team.” Owens, originally from Johnson City, Tenn., began his senior season at Auburn as a co-captain alongside Stuart Ferguson. The responsibility as a captain prompted Owens to set a standard and be a role model for the other swimmers. “I had to lead by example for the others,” Owens said. “I enjoyed doing that for the team.” Owens graduated with a degree in biomedical science and will be attending Quillen College in Johnson City starting in July. Despite his excellence in the pool, he is focusing on education in hopes of becoming a doctor. Owens has always been fascinated with educational pursuits, and the Honors College at Auburn and the support staff have awarded him the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. “With the help of Dr. Paul Harris in the Honors College and Coach [Brett] Hawke,
“
It feels good being an athlete and to be given such a high academic award. It is an inspiration and a standard for everyone on the team.” —Kyle Owens Former Auburn Swimmer
I’ve gotten all the help I need in trying to get various scholarships and opportunities,” Owens said. Owens’ journey towards medicine began when he was 11 years old. “My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was a kid,” Owens said. “I would go in with her for her chemo, and having it hit so close to home, I knew I wanted to be a doctor.” Despite the illness she overcame, Owen’s mother, Heather, made sure her son would continue to progress in the classroom and in the pool. “All of those mornings that he needed to be in the water at 5 a.m., I was taking him there,” Heather said. “He saw my dedication to what he could become [in the pool]. After all his
meets, he would bring me his medals, and I always thought it was sort of a testament and a way to say, ‘Thanks mom.’” Owens has worked hard to earn recognition in the pool and in the classroom. He successfully defended his SEC titles in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke at the SEC Championships while taking part in four different relay team titles. He is a 12-time SEC Champion, has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice and was the 2011-2012 Auburn University Male Athlete of the Year while also being a swimmer for the USA National Team. Despite the athletic accomplishments, Owens believes the academic honors take precedent. “Swimming has taught me so much, and I was ready to compete in the World University Games in Russia this summer,” Owens said. “The first day of the meet is the first day classes start at Quillen. People kept acting like it was such a big decision to make, but it was simple; I think it’s a signal to me that my swimming career is over, and it’s time to hang up the towel.” Owens submitted his retirement letter to the national team and is excited to begin the next phase of his life. “It’s hard right now to think I’m done swimming,” Owens said. “But I know better things will come out of it.”
Cam’s back in virtual orange and blue Justin Lee Writer
Cam Newton made his return to campus this spring to earn his sociology degree, bring donuts and spark more Auburn comeback victories against Alabama ( from the bleachers). Now, Virtual Cam Newton is also going back to school, and, unlike his real life counterpart, Auburn fans will be able to suit him in an Auburn uniform and score touchdowns in JordanHare. Cam is one of several former Auburn players set to appear in the upcoming NCAA Football 14 as part of the its Ultimate Team game mode. Stephen Gibbons of MaddenTips.com confirmed Newton’s inclusion at a demonstration of the mode at E3 last week. Three other Auburn alums have been spotted in Ultimate Team demonstrations: Carlos Rogers, Jay Ratliff and Jerraud Powers. More than 1,400 players will be featured in the Ultimate Team mode, either via an agreement with the NFLPA for players in the league, or through an individual agreement for retired legends. So will Ultimate Team Cam be the next Tecmo Bo? The silver version Cam card is rated a mere 79 overall — the Florida version, perhaps — while other, more rare versions, like a gold card and possibly a Heisman card, could exist out there somewhere in PlayStation cyberspace. How will Cam’s gold version stack up? We once again reached out to the experts at The Gaming Tailgate and administrator Chris Jacobs to help make sense of it all. “Cam is an interesting player as he only played one season at Auburn, but from the get-go he was a great player culminating in the Heisman Trophy,” Jacobs said. “My guess is that his top card will be a rare Heisman
Winner card with an overall in the mid-90s. All of his cards will be desirable given his ability to pass and run the ball at a high level while with the Tigers.” For now it’s not known which other former Tigers will be included. For players like Bo Jackson or Pat Sullivan, EA Sports would have to reach out to those individuals for permission to use their likenesses, but old school stars like Herschel Walker, Archie Griffin and Barry Sanders are included, so Bo and Sully could find their way onto an Ultimate Team eventually. So, while these players won’t technically be on Auburn’s roster when you first pick up a copy of the game, you will be able to use the Tigers — uniform, stadium and all — in the Ultimate Team mode and pull together a team of legends from schools across the country, including Auburn. To help put together a better understanding of the Ultimate Team mode in NCAA 14 and what players can expect, we pressed Jacobs and the folks at The Gaming Tailgate with a bit of a Q&A to give us a full rundown: For the unindoctrinated, explain what the Ultimate Team game mode is and how it will take shape in NCAA 14. How is it similar to other Ultimate Team modes in EA’s games like Madden and FIFA? How is it different? The Gaming Tailgate: NCAA Football Ultimate Team is a mode that allows users to assemble their own team of college greats to complete against others or the computer. Players begin the mode by picking their favorite team and then will receive a Starter Pack that will include enough players to fill out a roster. Also included will be their favorite team’s playbook along with their home and
away uniforms. From there, users can earn ingame coins by using this squad in Solo Challenges or in Head-toHead Seasons. These coins can be used to purchase more card packs to improve your squad or to buy cards from the auction block.EA Sports has also said that there will be “special edition packs available around rivalry games, bowl games, and other major college football events.” The mode is very similar to Madden Ultimate Team and FIFA Ultimate Team. If users are familiar with those modes, they should have no problem jumping right into the NCAA Football version. The player cards are comprised of college greats thanks to the NFLPA license and also individual licensing agreements with legends. What are the differences between bronze, silver, gold, and other versions of cards, and how are ratings determined for each player? The Gaming Tailgate: There are numerous types of player cards and the overall player rating for each could reflect a different point in the player’s career. The different points in their career could be their first game (Freshman), last game, overall career, a specific big game, or possibly Heisman Hopeful or Heisman Winner cards. Not every player will have all of these cards with the most typical card being one that reflects their overall career. With the mode utilizing players who were almost all greats at their respective schools, having cards that reflect different points in their career can help establish a wide range of overall player ratings. What are the odds that we see players like Bo Jackson and
Pat Sullivan involved? The Gaming Tailgate: I would hate to speculate on the odds of Jackson, Sullivan, or any other Tiger greats being in the mode, but I am among many fans who are hoping that come July 9 we can say that “Bo Knows NCAA Football.” He has been one of the most requested greats by our community members and by many on social sites and is one of the greatest athletes of the last 50 years, if not ever. For many, not only was he a great Auburn Tiger and Oakland Raider, but he was also a legend on Tecmo Super Bowl. Many NCAA Football fans would love to use Bo again in NCAA Football Ultimate Team. Essentially, whoever opens a pack and finds a guy like Cam Newton will be able to use them on their team, with the uniforms that they selected. So does that mean we could see a player like Cam on any team in the country — even, say, Alabama? The Gaming Tailgate: All is fair in love, war, and NCAA Football Ultimate Team! Cam is a unique talent and given how much of a role Alabama has been on the last few years, I can see someone putting Cam in a Crimson Tide uniform. While it may seem like sacrilege, a user may feel it is simply a nod to the SEC dominance of the past seven years. NCAA Football 14 hits stores July 9, and the free demo is available for download on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 now. Until then, just remember that very soon someone, somewhere, will be playing with their Ultimate Team, watching Cam Newton hand off to Mark Ingram in an LSU uniform during a home game at The Swamp. *** This article was originally published by the War Eagle Reader
a chance of victories Ethan Brady Sports@theplainsman.com
The recent hiring of former Oklahoma head coach Sunny Golloway was a surprise to many Auburn fans, but the head coach for 17 years is a proven winner; someone Auburn baseball needs. When John Pawlowski came to The Plains in 2009, he had taken the College of Charleston to three NCAA regionals in nine seasons. Golloway has made the postseason in 14 of his 15 years as a head coach at Oral Roberts University and the University of Oklahoma, including a trip to the 2010 college world series. At Oral Roberts, Golloway finished first in the Mid-Continent Conference six consecutive times and had a 117-15 conference record. The numbers speak for themselves. Golloway has proven he can win at big schools like Oklahoma and consistently gain postseason berths. His successful career will be tested at Auburn when he competes against some of the best teams in the country each week in the SEC. For someone who got results at Oklahoma, why would Golloway leave? Recently, a Sooner player called Golloway “twofaced” while publicly ripping him over Twitter. Clearly, at least one player has issues with him now, and back in 2006, Golloway had a falling-out with his own nephew on the team. Kody Kaiser decided to transfer from Oklahoma after two years of ongoing issues with his uncle. Golloway blocked his transfer, preventing Kaiser from maintaining eligibility at Oklahoma City University, an NAIA team. For Golloway, it seems a change of scenery was needed and the draw of the SEC, as well as the cash that comes with it, is too much to turn down. The reaction from Auburn fans and its press coverage since the hire has been overwhelmingly positive and full of excitement, as it should be, but the response from Oklahoma fans has been nothing more than a shoulder shrug. Oklahoma’s reactions raise questions about Golloway and his relationship with the Sooner nation, but if he’s winning at Auburn, any personality flaws can easily be overlooked. At this point, winning is what matters for Athletic Director Jay Jacobs and Auburn. The former days of the good ol’ boys have been steadily declining on The Plains. Coaches don’t need personal connection to Auburn anymore to have a chance at landing a position. Casey Dunn, a former four-year Auburn player and current coach at Samford, was an early favorite for the Auburn-Family-type head coach now and back in 2009, but lacks the big time coaching experience. Pawlowski was the safe pick then, and he flopped. Jacobs and the department have now brought in an outside candidate with some controversy and flare to shake things up, and they should be praised for it. Along with Galloway, the athletic department hired a new softball coach in Clint Myers, a two-time national champion at Arizona State. In eight years with ASU he led the Sun Devils to seven College World Series appearances and had a 427-102 record. His choice to move closer to family was a good one. Myers should bring intensity to Auburn’s team and quickly make it one of the best in the SEC. Both of these hires show a new outlook by Jacobs and his staff. They chose resume over Auburn connections and grabbed two coaches who are proven winners. Galloway is expected to be the second highest paid coach in the SEC with a contract of more than $650,000, showing Auburn is serious about improving its baseball program. Myers has two national championships in 2008 and 2011 and will hopefully snag a third.
Sports A8
The Auburn Plainsman
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Contributed by Todd Van Emst and Arizona State
Sunny Golloway (left) and Clint Myers (right) were hired Friday, June 14 to get the baseball and softball teams moving in the right direction. Both coaches have proven they are winners at their former schools.
A week in Auburn Sports
Baseball:
Softball:
Former Oklahoma head baseball coach Sunny Golloway was introduced as Auburn’s new baseball coach Friday, June 14, after former Tigers coach John Pawlowski was fired after five years of coaching. Golloway coached the Sooners for eight years. During that stretch he led the Oklahoma baseball team to one College World Series, four NCAA Super Regionals and seven NCAA Regionals. Before he coached at Oklahoma he was the skipper for Oral Roberts from 1996-2003. After Oral Roberts joined the Mid-Continent Conference in 1998, Golloway led the team to NCAA Regional berths from 19982003 before leaving the school. He won Conference Coach of the Year four times and had a 335–156 total record and a 117–15 conference record during that stretch at Oral Roberts. Golloway led the Sooners to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2012 and 2013. He also coached his team to a Big 12 Tournament championship in 2013.
Clint Myers, who was previously the head coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils, agreed to become Auburn softball’s new coach Friday, June 14. Myers successfully coached Arizona State’s softball team for eight years until his hiring by Auburn. Myers’ crowning achievements as the coach of the Sun Devils were his NCAA Championships for softball in 2008 and 2011. Seven of his Arizona State teams made it to the Women’s College World Series during his eight year stretch. During those seasons Myers recorded a 427–102 record with a .807 winning percentage. His in-conference record during that time was 113–59 and which equalled a .657 winning percentage. Myers’ job will be to turn around an Auburn softball program that had a 30–23 overall record last season, but only managed a 7–17 in-conference record. The Tigers were also eliminated early from the 2013 SEC Tournament in May.