Our good friend Klell asked me to blog this week. I don't have access to videos or anything like
he does, so I thought I would just tell about some of my favorite players over
the years. These are in no particular order. (Well, maybe the first one is in
order)
1. Bo Jackson- When I was a kid, he was my favorite player.
I was born in the mid 70s to two graduates of Auburn, one of whom was already a
2nd generation fan and graduate. We went to games every year and he is the
FIRST player I remember. When I think of my childhood as an Auburn fan, I think
of Bo. His athletic ability aside, he was such an exciting player to watch. My
sister and I actually got the opportunity to meet him after the Sugar Bowl
against Michigan.
2. Lionel James- My little sister and I had matching
jerseys. She had a Little Train jersey and I had a Bo one. One of my favorite
pictures of us is with our jerseys on in the parking lot of Jordan-Hare. It was
fun to see the two of them together;
big, muscled Bo, and the smaller Lionel. He played with a big heart
though and I never paid much attention to his size!
3. Tre Smith- It turned out that I watched this Iron Bowl in
an appliance store, so I got to watch it on multiple large screen televisions.
What I loved about him was that he came out of nowhere with amazing tenacity.
It was fun to watch him run the ball all over the field on a giant screen. I was in Hattiesburg, and most people there
are not Auburn fans, but other store patrons got tickled to see how excited I
was. I was jumping around all over the place!
4. Philip Lutzenkirchen- I loved watching Philip play. He
was a true leader on the team from the time he was a sophomore. He played for
the love of the game and for the fans- and for Auburn. He was a leader on and off the field,
especially with his work with FCA. He was also involved with children with
cancer. There is a special place in my heart for athletes who give back. There
are some guys who just have that IT factor and he happens to have it. I will
miss him playing for our team, but he is one I will always root for, no matter
what pro team he plays for.
5.Cam Newton- I can't do this list without Cam. I have never
seen a player with such dynamic energy. He passed the energy on to others as
well. The worse the media hounded him, the better he played. He made it super
exciting to watch games. Every time he set foot on the field, he gave nothing
less than his best. It was an incredible year to watch college football. I also
was amazed to learn about the mentoring sessions that Cam set up with kids. I
know people think it was part of a publicity stunt, but I hear he has kept in
contact with them. That makes a forever mark on a young kiddo.
6. Nosa Eguae- Nosa has always played hard. He is talented.
What I like about Nosa is that he plays for the TEAM and OTHERS. He rarely is
about himself. He also spent a lot of time with FCA, even doing an internship
with them. The world needs more Nosas! It would be a better place! He leads by
example and plays with heart. One of my favorites!
7. Zac Etheridge- If you are an Auburn fan (and if you are
reading this blog, chances are you are a fan), you know Zac's story. I had the
opportunity to meet him at the Senior Bowl. He was amped up and very excited to
be there. He was cheerful and fun with everyone. Zac reminds me of the kind of
guy who could be your brother or best friend. I met his parents after the 2010
AU/UGA game and they were just as nice as he was. Determination and willpower
aren't strong enough words for him. He is an example of God's grace with
enthusiasm. He could have taken the easy way out and not return to football,
but he did. He's coaching now and making a difference in the lives of other
guys. Here's to you, Zac!
8. Chad Slade- Most recently, Chad has spent a lot of time
with a young man with cancer. Even when it got tough and was obvious Thomas
wasn't going to make it, Chad stuck by him. Thomas loved Auburn football and I
know Chad's visits gave him some joy. I also like the way Chad carries himself.
I look for big things from him this year!
9. Wes Byrum- Wes was good under pressure, even as a
freshman. I won't forget the AU/FL game his freshman year. Florida fans were
catcalling and gator-chomping him. The other coach called a time-out and tried
to ice him out. Bam! He nails it for the win! In 2010, time after time, he was
relied on to win the game. Anyone who said the 2010 team was a one-man show
obviously didn't watch very much. We relied on Wes several times. In the
championship game, I realized it was going to come down to a field goal. There
was a shot of Wes on the sidelines and he had an ice-cold stare. I just KNEW at
that moment we had won. Wes was in the zone!
10.Onterio McCalebb- Here is another player who has overcome
odds. He had to get some things straight
grade-wise, and he worked extra hard to become eligible. He didn't grow up with
ideal circumstances, but he always managed to keep it together while he was at
Auburn. If you listened to his interviews, everything he said credited others.
He would talk about the team, the coaches, or thank his blockers. He rarely took
credit himself. I wish more players had this attitude.
Christy
You can contact me @tatershell on twitter
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