It was reported to me by a reliable source that John Parker Wilson, Alabama's back-up QB , got a DUI Saturday night / Sunday morning at around 2:40 AM near Hoover (his hometown). It (and his mug shot) was on the sheriff dept.'s database at one point but was conveniently removed sometime today.  We'll see how the bammer cover-up will unravel.  Wilson is 19 years old.  Bama Coach Mike Shula has yet to comment on the situation.

Kenny Irons is now listed as the #1 Tailback, and Carl Stewart as the starting fullback.  Brad Lester is moving up the depth chart as well.

Steven Ross is back on the playing field, and battling walk-on Joe Cope for Auburn's starting center position.

Auburn has added Washington State to begin the 2006 schedule as their 12th game.   The Tigers will open the 2006 season with Washington State.  This is a one game contract.  The 2006 schedule will also include Florida as Auburn's SEC EAST rotating opponent.

The A-Day game is scheduled for March 19th at 1pm. 

Visist http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=6&p=9&c=8 for info on the new recruiting class.

RECRUITING UPDATES:

See http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=6&p=9&c=8 for the updated recruiting list.  Tomorrow is signing day, I expect a few surprises, hopefully they will be good ones.

WAR EAGLE!!!!!

Auburn expects to add several more "big-time" (4 star or higher) recruits this week to their 2005 recruiting class.  Most recruiting sites have Auburn in the top 15 in the nation, and steadily climbing the recruiting rankings.

 http://p209.ezboard.com/fauburnfootballfanforumfrm7.showMessage?topicID=3419.topic
 

Quote from McNeil:
"I want to say thanks to all the Auburn fans, everybody I have been around, my teammates and even the media- you all have been wonderful to me- but I think I am going to forego my rookie season in the NFL and be an Auburn Tiger one more year. I am having a real good time right now and we ended up on top this year, so I definitely want to come back and play another season. The guys I came in with my freshman year have been through a lot with me.  I would really feel bad leaving them right now. I feel real dedicated to all the family, they have never done me wrong. I really look forward to a wonderful season next year. It has been a long road, but I have another year to knock out."

Quote from Mix:
"I made a decision a month ago. I told my parents on Christmas Day that I had made the decision to play in the NFL.  I changed my mind and I am coming back.  I couldn't leave Auburn.  I had a lot of personal and financial problems in my life and I was trying to take the easy way out.  I changed my mind one day when I was riding around, and it hit me that I wanted to stay here another year.  I wanted to come back for my teammates and do what we did this year again and have fun and to get my degree."

On another note, it is reported that Auburn Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik will (or has) interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  He has not been offered the job as of yet, and it is unknown if he would accept it if it were offered.

Coach Tommy Tuberville has again reiterated his lack of interest in the LSU coaching position vacated by Nick Saban.  Expect uburn and Tuberville to announce his signature long term deal soon after the bowl game.  Houston Nutt and Bobby Petrino (former AU OC and current Louisville HC) seem to be front runners for the LSU position.  Former Miami HC Butch Davis may also be in the mix.

Auburn hosted the #1 running back prospect in the nation this weekend (Antone Smith) and the nations #1 defensive lineman prospect (Jerrell Powe).  Both had a good visit, and Auburn stands a great chance of getting both players.  Smith could compete for immediate playing time, with the graduation of Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown.

Auburn is also high on the list of the nation's top rated defensive back, cornerback Warren McFadden.

In state, Auburn is recruiting the top prospect in Alabama, TE Tommy Trott of Montgomery, and has already received a verbal commitment from the #2 prospect, WR Montez Billings of Pelham.  Auburn has also received in-state commitments from LB Rex Sharpe and OL Andrew McCain.  More recruiting to come, including an up-dated list of AU's commitments to date!

Auburn's schedule this year is ranked 23rd hardest in the nation, according to the NCAA website statistics.  This is well ahead of top ranked USC, whose schedule is ranked 34th hardest.  Go to the NCAA website, and when uneducated pollsters try to use the excuse of schedule when pointing out why Auburn shouldn't be ranked #1, show them this.  Auburn's strength of schedule should also dramatically increase after the SEC Championship game against 15th ranked UT.

I've heard that the Auburn scout team was told to "hold like crazy" when practicing against the starters this week.  It has been common knowledge that the Alabama offense line "holds" so much, that officials could call it every play if they chose to do so.   Probably the same could be said for many teams, however.

Everyone should note the apparent irregularities in the Coaches Poll.  This is another reason the pollsters should make the voting public record. 

I copied this off another Auburn message board.  Quite a bit of it makes sense. 

"First, the points aren't adding up so that USC, Oklahoma, and Auburn are getting all of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes. I find it absolutely ridiculous that several coaches out there don't think these are the top 3 teams. I think its a lot more likely that 1 coach is putting one of those 3 teams way down outside the top 10 of his ballot.

Secondly, look at how much WORSE the SEC teams are appearing in the coach's poll compared to the AP.

- Alabama is getting about a third of the points in the Coach's poll as they are getting in the AP. A lot less.

- Florida is getting about 29% of the points in the Coach's poll as they are getting in the AP. Even more of a difference.

Somehow, the SEC is getting a lot less credit from the Coach's than they are the media. And its not just minimal amounts. Both Alabama and Florida are getting 3 times the support from the media as they are the coach's.

Thirdly, the Big 12 teams are getting A LOT more support from the Coach's poll than they are the AP. Look at these numbers:

- Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are both getting about 1.1 times more points in the Coach's poll than the AP. That's not a whole lot so we'll just conclude that this isn't a big deal.

When you look at the receiving votes section is where it gets fishy:

- Texas Tech is getting 4.23 times more points from the Coach's poll than they are the media. This isn't right. A team should never be getting more than 4 times the points in one poll than they are the other. Someone is giving them some very undeserved props.

- Bowling Green, an Oklahoma opponent, is getting 3 times as many points from the Coach's poll than they are the media. Again, someone is giving them some very undeserved credit.

- Colorado and Iowa State are both getting a vote in the Coach's poll but they aren't getting any in the AP.

-----------

I just think its fishy that all of Auburn's opponents seem to be doing worse in the Coach's poll than they are in the AP, and all of Oklahoma's opponents are doing much, much better in the Coach's than they are in the AP.

A few more votes is one thing. But when Bowling Green and Texas Tech are getting 3 and 4 times as many votes in the Coach's than in the AP, something is up. That's not just a small amount.

I think Bob Stoops should have to make his ballot public.

It would not shock me at all if he was putting Auburn around # 10 and putting Texas Tech and Bowling Green both in his top 15.

He proved yesterday he'd do just about anything to help his BCS status. These numbers aren't adding up and I think he should be looked at."

Starting center, Jeremy Ingle was full-speed in Wednesday’s practice. Ingle, who has been recovering from a severely sprained ankle the last three weeks, is expected to get the start Saturday against Georgia. “Jeremy Ingle has taken every snap the last two days,” said Tuberville. “He's really looked good. There won't be any problem there. He should be right at 100 percent Saturday. The doctors were here today…Dr. (James) Andrews came in just to look at him and some other guys, and everything looks good.”

Jason Campbell's performance against Arkansas Saturday earned him Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Jason was also named Cingular/ABC Sports All-America Player of the Week.

Auburn’s game at Ole Miss on October 30 will be televised by ESPN with kickoff slated for 6:45 p.m. (CT) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Auburn, 6-0 and 3-0 in the SEC, faces Arkansas, 3-2 and 1-1, Saturday at 2:30 p.m CDT. in a game televised by CBS from Auburn.

Auburn's football game against Kentucky on Oct. 23 will be played at 1:30 p.m. CDT at Jordan-Hare Stadium.  The game will not be televised.

Homecoming is also Senior Day at Auburn, with all of Auburn's senior players and parents being honored.

Next Saturday's game against Arkansas has been scheduled for 2:30pm, and will be televised nationally by CBS.

Auburn moved up to sixth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll on Sunday. The Tigers have won seven straight games dating back to 2003, which is a tie for the fifth longest streak in the nation.

The Tigers play Louisiana Tech on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game is Pay-Per-View in Alabama and Louisiana to cable subscribers and on Dish Network and Direct TV.

The players held out of last Saturday's game against the Citadel are expected to 100% for the trip to Knoxville.  Both Ronnie Brown and Tre Smith are expected to be at full speed; Jason Campbell's "turf toe" was virtually pain free in practice today.

Expect Jamoga Ramsey (Soph, DelRay Beach, Fl) to get more playing time at the wide receiver spot this season.  Ramsey showed himself as a playmaker who can hang on to the football last Saturday. 

Ronnie Brown has a slight hamstring pull, and may sit out Saturdays game. 

Letter from David Housel today:

"We plan to play the game if at all possible and if it is the reasonable, right thing to do. We will assess all the variables before making a decision. If there are trees in the yard that's one thing; if there are trees on the house, that's another thing. If we can get a sufficient number of security personnel in Auburn, and if we have the basic necessities to run a game, things such as power and water, we intend to play. We plan to play if it is a matter of convenience or
inconvenience, but if it is a matter of health, life or safety, we will not play. We intend to wait until the last possible moment to make a decision. We want to get all of the information possible, so we can make a good, educated decision, rather than a quick, and what might be incorrect, decision. We may well wait until the storm has passed through in order to make an accurate assessment of the damage and the number of security personnel who would be available to work the event.
Auburn will make the call on whether or not to postpone the game, based on weather, health and safety concerns. If it is not played on Saturday, the SEC Office, Auburn and LSU will discuss the best time to make it up. Those options and possibilities have not been discussed at this point. We intend to play the game as scheduled if possible, and if it is the right thing to do."

The injury news was good for freshman wide receiver James Swinton on Thursday. He went down with a knee injury Wednesday, but it turned out to be a relatively minor bruised tendon. He's questionable for the opener.  Swinton has looked very impressive in pre-season practice, and will likeley see playing time this year.

A "vanilla" offense and "base" defense will be the standard for the Tiger's first game against La-Monroe.  We will get a first look at some motion plays and two tailback sets as well, but not to any great extent.

An interesting side note, former Auburn tailback Brandon Jacobs had 108 yards on 18 carries (and an impressive 4 touchdowns) in SIUs opener. 

Auburn Network Football Affiliates

City Station(s)
Alexander City, AL WZLM-FM (97.3)
Andalusia, AL WAAO-FM (103.7)
Anniston/Oxford, AL WHMA-AM (1390)
Auburn/Opelika, AL WKKR-FM (97.7)
Birmingham, AL WYSF-FM (94.5), WJOX-AM (690)
Centre, AL WEIS-AM (990)
Clanton, AL WEZZ-FM (97.7), WKLF-AM (980)
Columbus, GA WVRK-FM (102.9)
Cullman, AL WKUL-FM (92.1)
Decatur, AL WAJF-AM (1490)
Demopolis, AL WZNJ-FM (106.5)
Dothan, AL / Ozark, AL WRJM-FM (93.7)
Eufaula, AL WULA-AM (1240)
Evergreen, AL WPGG-FM (93.3), WIJK-AM (1470)
Fairhope, AL WABF-AM (1220)
Foley, AL WHEP-AM (1310)
Fort Payne, AL WZOB-AM (1250)
Gadsden, AL WAAX-AM (570)
Greenville, AL WQZX-FM (94.3)
Gulf Shores, AL WCSN-FM (105.7)
Guntersville, AL WTWX-FM (95.9)
Haleyville, AL WJBB-FM (92.7)
Huntsville, AL WRTT-FM (95.1), WLOR-AM (1550)
Jackson, AL WHNB-FM (94.5)
Jasper, AL WTID-AM (1240), WFFN-FM (95.3)
McComb, MS WHNY-AM (1250)
Mobile, AL WNSP-FM (105.5)
Montgomery, AL WLWI-FM (92.3), WMSP-AM (740)
Oneonta, AL WKLD-FM (97.7), WCRL-AM (1570)
Panama City, FL WLTG-AM (1430)
Pensacola, FL / Flomaton, AL WPFL-FM (105.1)
Roanoke, AL/ LaGrange, GA WELR-FM (102.3)
Rome, GA WLAQ-AM (1410)
Scottsboro, AL WZCT-AM (1330)
Selma, AL WDXX-FM (100.1), WHBB-AM (1490)
Sheffield, AL / Shoals Area WBTG-FM (106.3)
Spartanburg, SC WASC-AM (1530)
Sylacauga, AL WTRB-FM (98.3)
Thomasville, AL WJDB-FM (95.5), WJDB-AM (630)
Troy, AL WTBF-AM (970)
Tuscaloosa, AL WNPT-FM (102.9)

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/sports/8961502.htm

The rumor is that an Ole Miss law student was brutally beat by Razzano, who continued with the assault, even after the victim was rendered near unconscious.  I guess we'll soon see if Ole Miss Coach Davis Cutcliffe tolerates criminal thuggery on his team this year.