Off The Field with Maddie Barnes

Auburn Coordinators Weekly Press Conferences part 2

Next is Auburn's Offensive Coordinator Rhett Lashlee.

Auburn Coordinators Weekly Press Conferences

First up is Ellis Johnson, Auburn's Defensive Coordinator.

Auburn Swim & Dive Teams Begin Practices

Auburn Hosts Troy in Soccer

Auburn vs Arkansas State Highlights

The first video is courtesy of FoxSports.com, and  the second one is courtesy of AUHD and Auburn Athletics.






This next group of videos are from WarEagleExtra.com

Thoughts on Arkansas State

 First of all, the Tigers won the game. That was goal #1. The second goal was to improve over last weeks performance. Goal #2 accomplished. Many areas of the team were much better this week vs. last. The Tigers won the game against a Sun Belt Conference team, the way we all expect them to, by a comfortable margin.

 Auburn's defensive front was vastly improved over any this writer has seen since 2010. Yes a valiant performance was given during the LSU game last season, although it is my opinion last night against Arkansas State, we saw much better play at every position. No less than eleven players were in the rotation in the first half. That is a thing of beauty.

 There are still some timing issues between the receivers and Nick Marshall the QB, although Marshall and WR Sammie Coates did finally complete a long pass that ended up as a touchdown. Funny thing is, I had just tweeted that I hope Sammie doesn't get frustrated with the lack of receptions, and their timing.

 Speaking of Marshall, he has a ways to go before he can be called a polished passer, but it took Cam until the fourth or fifth game to get settled in with his deep passes in 2010. Marshall sure can run the ball, and that is what this offense needs most to be successful. His first interception throw of the season was dropped, so he still doesn't have one of those, he did fumble however. QB needs to pick it up a notch as we are heading into conference play next week.

 Overall it was a much needed win, for the fans, and for the  guys. The defense did not allow a touchdown all night, and the offense put up 38 points. That missed my prediction of 45 for us, but the defense kept the Red Wolves well under what I thought they would score. I had predicted they would score 21, they only scored 9 points. I will gladly be wrong if this is how it's going to be.

Thanks to AL.com for Coach Malzahn's post game presser



WAR EAGLE!

1988 Highlights from AUHD

Shon Coleman's Long Awaited Debut

Shon Coleman signs NLOI with Auburn Tigers

A true story of inspiration has all of the elements that make you open your heart, and reveals the soft side of all of us. Shon Coleman's story is one of inspiration.

 The chapter of Shon Coleman's life, that had been delayed by a lengthy battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, was finally written. Coleman was able to play football at the college of his choice - Auburn University.

 I would be less than truthful with you, if I didn't tell you that I have been rooting for this to happen, ever since Shon's ordeal with cancer first begun. I was moved by the graciousness of the Auburn Athletic Department, Gene Chizik, and Jay Jacobs when they told the Coleman family, that Shon had a scholarship at Auburn, even if he never played a down of football.

 Coleman however had dreams of playing in Orange and Blue. Last night, on September 7th, 2013 at Jordan-Hare stadium, that dream came true.

War Eagle Shon Coleman, War Eagle!

Zac- A Story of Courage and Love

2009 was an exciting but a little disappointing for me. I probably wouldn't use the word disappointing if I hadn't attended the 2009 Kentucky game. With my 3 yr old twin nieces...who got sick and puked at the game. In extremely cold weather. With rain.

OK, moving on. At any rate, we were off to a fast start with a bump in the middle. Then comes Halloween. Playing Ole Miss is always scary for me. I lived in Mississippi for a while. I still teach there. I have lots of friends who are Ole Miss alum. That game is burned in my memory forever. I remember the theme of Navy Nightmare. The game was a whirlwind just like the rest of the season had been.

Then came the short play which changed lives. It just seemed like a regular play. Then I, along with everyone else, realized an Auburn player looked like a dishrag on the field. It looked at first as if an Auburn and an Ole Miss player were down. Of course, we didn't realize until later that Rodney Scott was not injured, but listening to the voice of God. Over the years, I've read everything I can on the incident. I've read Zac and Rodney's account of what happened. I read Coach Chizik's and Brother Chette's accounts. I listened to what Rodney and Coach Nutt said about it. I have never seen or felt the silence and fear in JHS. Not in a loss, a win, or in any other situation in my lifetime. Looking back at 2009, I think there were several things that launched 2010 to be a championship season, and I think this is one of them. I saw players leaning on each other. I saw Zac's friend, Walt McFadden walking alongside the stretcher. I saw scared players. I listened to local sports radio analysis. Everyone agreed: Zac would not play football again. Well, everyone didn't bother to tell Zac or his mom.

After Zac started rehab, he became active on twitter. He followed fans and interacted with them. He kept everyone updated and made us all feel like we were part of his resolve to heal completely. I remember checking my phone on twitter when I read that Zac had been cleared to play. I gotta tell you, I was still a little skeptical. I thought sure, he is released but will he ever be able to tackle and take hits?

Of course, we all know what happened. I remember seeing him triumphantly run a touchdown vs Arkansas when the ball was fumbled. The whole time that play was being reviewed, everyone around me was murmuring, 'That cannot be taken away from Zac'. And it wasn't. The score stood and so did Zac. I met Zac's parents after the 2010 Georgia game. I saw them waiting with anticipation for their miracle child to emerge. 

I got to meet him in 2011 at the Senior Bowl. He was friendly, kind, and energetic. He was soaking up every single bit of excitement in that meet the players event. 

At any point, Zac could have taken the easy way out. No one would have blamed him.  He didn't do that though. So today, Auburn will honor one of the greatest men to be a part of Auburn with the award named for another one of the greatest Auburn men. Courage! A hard quality to define, but if I had to, I would use Zac's story to describe courage. Zac deserves this more than anyone I can think of, but I am sure if you asked him, he probably would think someone else should get it. War Eagle, Zac. Thank you for everything you did and still do for Auburn. I will cheer for you wherever you are coaching!