2006 Auburn Tigers football team
Encyclopedia
The 2006 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University
in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Tommy Tuberville
served his eighth season at Auburn, the third longest tenure among current SEC
head coaches that year. Offensive coordinator Al Borges
returned for his third season to direct the offensive and was joined by first-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp
who came from the Miami Dolphins
. Auburn played its eight-game home schedule within the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium
, the ninth largest on-campus stadium in the NCAA seating 87,451. The Tigers finished the season with an impressive 11–2 record, finishing second in the SEC Western Division behind the surprising Arkansas Razorbacks
. With signature wins over the eventual BCS
champion Florida Gators
and the final-ranked #3 LSU Tigers
, Auburn was the only team that could claim victories over two BCS and top five teams. However, the team also had signature losses to the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks and Georgia Bulldogs
. They finished the season ranked #8 in the Coaches Poll
and #9 in the AP Poll
.
#2, Insiders' Football News #2, and VegasInsider.com #4.
Based on a favorable schedule featuring the most difficult opponents in home games and with returning starters Brandon Cox
at quarterback and Heisman Award-candidate Kenny Irons
at tailback, Auburn was predicted to be in contention for a BCS bowl and possible national championship. CollegeFootballNews.com projected Auburn to be playing against USC in the BCS National Championship Game
http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Bowls/Bowl_Projections.htm, a match-up many argue should have been played in 2004.
Prior to the season, Auburn switched uniform providers, ending its long association with Russell Athletic
for a new agreement with UnderArmour. In addition, UnderArmour became the official footwear provider for the team.
, traveled to Auburn hoping to test the Tiger defense under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp with a high-flying passing game featuring returning QB Alex Brink
and potential All-American receiver and first-round draft choice Jason Hill. Auburn met the challenge, forcing Wazzou to go three-and-out on their first two possessions including three sacks of Brink in the those first six offensive plays. Auburn stalled on their first two drives and settled for John Vaughn field goals to take a 6–0 lead.
The Cougars took advantage of their next possession, scoring a touchdown with 2:10 left in the first quarter to take the lead. It would be the last time they would lead the game. In the second quarter, Auburn would continue to score on each of its next three possessions, including two more field goals and a Brad Lester
touchdown to take a 19–7 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Auburn return man Tristan Davis took the second half kickoff for a 37 yard return to the Auburn 42 yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, Kenny Irons
broke open 58-yard touchdown run to put the game beyond reach of the Cougars. Washington State would score a touchdown in the third quarter and AU added two more TDs in the fourth to make the final score 40–14. Auburn held Jason Hill to only four receptions for 18 yards and intercepted Brink once to hold the Cougs potent offense in check. Kenny Irons finished with 183 yards rushing, his ninth career 100-yard game.
for the fifteenth time to meet SEC-West foe Mississippi State under the direction of third-year coach Sylvester Croom
. The Bulldogs hoped to shut down Auburn's rushing game and force Auburn QB Brandon Cox
to beat them. While State did manage to hold Irons to 79 yards, Cox responded passing for 249 yards completing 18-of-27 and two touchdowns, including Rodgeriqus Smith's
first. Kicker John Vaughn
had a career-long 55-yard field goal and tailback Brad Lester
added 41 yards rushing and two touchdowns to the offensive team effort to help Auburn to a 34–0 shutout over the Bulldogs. Croom had yet to beat Auburn and Auburn is now 56–22–2 all-time against Mississippi State with a current six-game streak.
was scored on a 1 yard run by Auburn quarterback
Brandon Cox with 4:53 reminaning the 3rd quarter. The game was the lowest scoring game at Auburn
since 1973.
representative Buffalo
. The Bulls, under head coach and former Nebraska
star quarterback Turner Gill
, played inspired football against the banged-up Tigers keeping the game close until late in the third quarter. Auburn played without Kenny Irons and with starting QB Brandon Cox slowed by injuries from the battle against LSU. Highly-touted true freshman running back Ben Tate entered the game for Auburn in the fourth quarter and showed Tiger fans a glimpse of the future rushing for 114 yards on seven carries and scoring touchdowns on runs of 42 and 28 yards.
Kenny Irons
, who began his college football
career at South Carolina
, rushed for 117 yards and scored two touchdown
s as the third-ranked Tigers survived a furious comeback by the upset-minded Gamecocks and posted a 24–17 victory. The Tigers led 14–10 at halftime and took the second half kick-off. After a 24-yard field goal by senior kicker John Vaughn, Auburn surprised the Gamecocks by recovering an on-sides kick. The Tigers retained possession of the ball for the remainder of the third quarter, and Irons scored the second of his two touchdowns on the first play of the fourth quarter.
and claimed an easy 27–10 victory over the second-ranked Tigers. Sophomore running back
Darren McFadden rushed for 145 yards, including a 63-yard run for a second quarter touchdown
to lead the Razorbacks. Felix Jones rushed for another 104 yards to add to the Arkansas attack. Freshman quarterback
Mitch Mustain's 50-yard touchdown pass to Monk in the first quarter set the tone for the Hogs, who won at Auburn for the third time since they joined the SEC
in 1992. Auburn was limited to 213 yards total offense, and the Tigers managed only 60 rushing yards.
's College GameDay was onsite as part of ESPN's Full Circle multi-channel coverage of this top ten matchup as Auburn defeated the Florida Gators
27–17 in what proved to be the only defeat for the eventual BCS
national champions. The Auburn offense did not score a touchdown, but reserve running back Tre Smith scored a touchdown after recovering a blocked punt, and defensive back Patrick Lee recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown on the game's final play to seal the victory. Auburn's other points came from a safety in the second quarter and four field goals from senior kicker John Vaughn. The win extends the Tigers lead in the series to 41–38–2. The loss of the #2 Gators marked the fourth time during the 2006 season that the team ranked #2 in the major polls had gone down in defeat, following Texas in week 2, Notre Dame in week 3, and Auburn in week 6.
The Tigers' block of a Gators punt and return for a touchdown was named the ESPN Game-Changing Play of the Week; it later became the Game-Changing Play of the Year.
ESPN.com also named this game the "Atmosphere of the Year".http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2678412
, a former, but charter, member of the SEC, traveled to meet Auburn on the Plains for only the second time ever and the first time since 1955. Although the Green Wave entered the game leading the all-time series record 17–13–6, that success dates from the early twentieth-century, when Tulane was a football powerhouse. In this meeting, Auburn narrowed the series gap with a 38–13 victory.
With their top three running backs hobbled by injuries, quarterback Brandon Cox and true freshman tailback Ben Tate both stepped up with strong performances and to end Auburn's seven-quarter offensive touchdown drought. Cox passed for 212 yards and three touchdowns completing 16 out of 19 pass attempts while Tate rushed for 156 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown for an average of six yards per carry.
After stopping Tulane's opening possession, Auburn drove 74 yards for the opening touchdown by Brad Lester before he left the game after aggravating an existing injury. Tulane responded with an 80 yard touchdown driver of their own capped off by a 23-yard TD pass from Lester Ricard
to Damarcus Davis with just over six minutes left in the first quarter. Redshirt freshmen tight-end Tommy Trott scored for AU just after starting the second quarter to make the score 14–10. Just after starting the next drive, Tulane's Richard fumbled and Auburn's Karibi Dede
recovered it and advanced it to the Tulane 10 yard line setting up Cox's next touchdown pass to Tre Smith. The teams traded field goals just before halftime and then Auburn pulled away with two more touchdowns in the third quarter before taking a knee on Tulane's 10-yard line to run out the clock and end the game.
Auburn senior placekicker John Vaughn
was perfect on the day completing five extra point attempts in addition to his field goal to take sole possession of Auburn's career scoring record with 284 points after entering the game tied with Carnell Williams
.
to take on Western-division foe Ole Miss for the teams' 31st meeting. In addition to leading the series 22–8, Auburn entered the game with a 7–1 record in Oxford. Behind an extremely balanced offensive attack, Auburn overcame two first-half turnovers to survive the trip with a 23–17 victory.
Ole Miss took the opening possession and drove 82 yards and scored the games first touchdown on a 27-yard end-around by Mico McSwain. Auburn answered with their scoring drive ending in 13-yard TD pass from Brandon Cox to wide receiver Rodgeriqus Smith. Auburn held Ole Miss on the next possession and drove down the field before Brandon Cox was intercepted by Charles Clark at the Ole Miss 12. Under quarterback Brent Schaeffer
, the Rebels moved down the field to the Auburn 41 before stalling and being forced to punt and pinning Auburn on their own 2-yardline to start the drive. The Tigers opened up throwing to get out the shadows of their own goalposts and, continuing on the accurate passing of Cox, were able to move to the Rebels 40 before tailback Brad Lester fumbled at the end of a 6-yard run and the Rebels recovered but with only 45 seconds left in the half.
Auburn went three and out on the opening drive of the second half and on the subsequent drive, Mississippi was able to get within field goal range and take the lead 10–7 on a 29-yard field goal by Joshua Shene. Auburn's next drive was plagued by dropped passes forcing a 53-yard Kody Bliss punt. On Ole Miss' next play, Schaeffer threw over the middle and was picked off by safety Eric Brock at the Ole Miss 41-yardline, setting up a short drive for Auburn, ending in a six-yard TD run by Brad Lester and giving Auburn the lead 14–10.
After giving up another field goal to Auburn, the Rebels moved quickly, scoring a touchdown to tie the game 17–17 with 11:19 left in the 4th quarter. Auburn drove down the field but stalled once again against the tough Ole Miss defense and settled for another field goal by John Vaughn who because the Tigers' career leader in field goals made with the kick. Ole Miss was unable to move the ball on the next series and was forced to punt to Auburn with just five minutes left in the game. After an incompletion to open the drive, Auburn abandoned the passing game and let tailback Kenny Irons pound out the yardage and burn the clock. The Tigers drove to the Ole Miss 12 yd line before settling for a final field goal with only 35 seconds left to make the score 23–17. With no timeouts remaining and paying little attention to the new clock rules, Ole Miss could only manage one play as Schaeffer was sacked due to the Auburn coverage.
to 177 yards total offense as the Tigers shut out the Indians 27–0. Running back Carl Stewart scored two second half touchdown
s as the Tigers improved their season record to 9–1. Frehsman running back Ben Tate rushed for 93 yards Brad Lester ran for 62 yards. Courtney Taylor caught four passes for 116 yards, including a 13-yard reception for a touchdown, and the Tigers improved their all-time record against teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference
to 12–0.
, Georgia completely dominated Auburn and took a convincing 37–15 win over the #5 ranked Tigers. Georgia entered the game with a 6–4 record and was coming off an upset loss to Kentucky, while the Tigers entered the game with a 9–1 record and hopes for a BCS
bowl bid and an outside shot at playing for the National Championship.
Bulldogs freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford
threw for 219 yards, ran for 83 yards and scored 2 touchdowns against what had been the Nation's #13 ranked defense. Georgia tailback Kregg Lumpkin
also rushed for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns. Georgia defensive back Tra Battle intercepted three passes by Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox in the first half, and returned one 30 yards for a touchdown to put Georgia ahead 24–0 with 4:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Auburn was limited to 171 yards total offense, including only 35 yards of passing offense, and managed only nine first downs as they were all but eliminated from contention in the SEC
Western Division race.
is considered one of the most bitter and intense in all of sports. The Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa
for only the sixth time, but kept their winning streak alive having never lost there. Auburn has currently won the last five meetings against Alabama and 13 of the last 21 games against the Crimson Tide, but Alabama still leads the series 38–32–1.
Alabama scored first, on a first quarter field goal
by Jamie Christensen. However, the Tide had marched inside the Auburn five yard line, but was unable to get into the end zone. Two fumble
recoveries deep in Alabama territory in the second quarter forced by Auburn's Quentin Groves
enabled the Tigers to score touchdowns on short drives. Auburn running back
Brad Lester ran for twelve yards to score first, with 11:12 to go in the quarter. Then, with 9:39 to go in the period, Kenny Irons rushed for eight yards to put the Tigers up 14–3. Alabama pulled to within five points late in the first half on a 52 yard touchdown pass from John Parker Wilson to Nikita Stover, making the score 14–9 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Alabama went ahead on a 13 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Travis McCall, making the score 15–14. Alabama's second consecutive two point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Auburn scored the decisive touchdown with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter, when sophomore receiver Prechae Rodriquez caught a 22 yard touchdown pass from Tigers quarterback
Brandon Cox to retake the lead at 20–15. A halfback option pass from Auburn's Carl Stewart to Lee Guess for a successful two point conversion provided the final margin.
's strong regular season led them to be invited to play Nebraska in the 71st annual Cotton Bowl Classic. While the Tigers managed just 178 yards total offense against Nebraska and their two touchdown
drives totalled just 23 yards, the Tigers defeated the Cornhuskers 17–14. Quarterback
Brandon Cox
completed 10 of his 21 pass attempts for 111 yards, and senior running back
Kenny Irons
rushed for 72 yards on 24 carries in his final college game as the Tigers finished the season with a record of 11–2. Senior wide receiver
Courtney Taylor
capped off his college career by catching six passes for 70 yards, and during the game set the all-time Auburn career record for pass receptions. Nebraska finished the season with a record of 9–5.
Fullback
Carl Stewart scored both of the Tigers' touchdowns. The first score came in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Cox, and was set up by a 53-yard interception return by linebacker
Karibi Dede
. Stewart's second touchdown came on a one yard rush in the second quarter. The Tigers' drive began at the Cornhuskers' 14-yard line after an unsuccessful fake punt
. Senior placekicker
John Vaughn
's 42-yard field goal in the third quarter provided the winning points for the Tigers.
The Tigers played the Cotton Bowl Classic without three players whose suspensions were announced by head coach Tommy Tuberville
in December: linebacker
s Kevin Sears and Tray Blackmon, and running back
Brad Lester.
SEC Special Teams Player of the Year: John Vaughn
All-SEC Second Team:
All-SEC Second Team:
Freshman All-SEC Football Team
National Honor Society, a recognition program for players who excel both on the field and in the classroom.
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Tommy Tuberville
Tommy Tuberville
Thomas Hawley Tuberville is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Texas Tech University, a position he has held since the 2010 season...
served his eighth season at Auburn, the third longest tenure among current SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
head coaches that year. Offensive coordinator Al Borges
Al Borges
Alan Borges is an American college football coach and the offensive coordinator of the University of Michigan football team. Borges is known for quarterback development having mentored Cade McNown and Jason Campbell, both first round NFL draft picks...
returned for his third season to direct the offensive and was joined by first-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp
Will Muschamp
William Larry "Will" Muschamp is an American college football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida. He is a native of Georgia and attended the University of Georgia, where he played for the Georgia Bulldogs...
who came from the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Auburn played its eight-game home schedule within the friendly confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...
, the ninth largest on-campus stadium in the NCAA seating 87,451. The Tigers finished the season with an impressive 11–2 record, finishing second in the SEC Western Division behind the surprising Arkansas Razorbacks
2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team completed the season with a 10–4 record. The Razorbacks had a regular season SEC record of 7–1.-Schedule:-USC:...
. With signature wins over the eventual BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
champion Florida Gators
2006 Florida Gators football team
The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season...
and the final-ranked #3 LSU Tigers
2006 LSU Tigers football team
The 2006 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2006–2007. The team's coach was former Oklahoma State coach Les Miles. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
, Auburn was the only team that could claim victories over two BCS and top five teams. However, the team also had signature losses to the unranked Arkansas Razorbacks and Georgia Bulldogs
2006 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2006 Georgia Bulldogs football team completed the season with a 9-4 record. The Bulldogs had an SEC record of 4-4. Despite losses to unranked Kentucky and Vanderbilt, Georgia salvaged its season by beating two ranked teams in the last two games of the season: #5 Auburn and #15 Georgia Tech...
. They finished the season ranked #8 in the Coaches Poll
Coaches Poll
The USA Today Coaches' Poll is the current name for a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and Division I college basketball teams....
and #9 in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
.
Pre-season
Prior to the season, the Auburn Tigers were ranked #6 in the initial Coaches Poll with one first place vote and #4 in the AP with three first place votes. Other rankings include The Sporting News #3, CBSSportsLine.com #3, The Gold Sheet #2, Phil SteelePhil Steele
Phil Steele is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He currently writes a column for the Orlando Sentinel, and is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media...
#2, Insiders' Football News #2, and VegasInsider.com #4.
Based on a favorable schedule featuring the most difficult opponents in home games and with returning starters Brandon Cox
Brandon Cox
Brandon Cox , is a former American football quarterback, who played collegiately for Auburn University...
at quarterback and Heisman Award-candidate Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
at tailback, Auburn was predicted to be in contention for a BCS bowl and possible national championship. CollegeFootballNews.com projected Auburn to be playing against USC in the BCS National Championship Game
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Bowls/Bowl_Projections.htm, a match-up many argue should have been played in 2004.
Prior to the season, Auburn switched uniform providers, ending its long association with Russell Athletic
Russell Corporation
Russell Brands, LLC, headquartered in Bowling Green, KY, is a manufacturer of sports equipment, which markets its products under many brands and subsidiaries, including Russell Athletic , Spalding, Huffy, and Brooks, amongst others....
for a new agreement with UnderArmour. In addition, UnderArmour became the official footwear provider for the team.
Schedule
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Years at AU |
Alma mater Alma mater Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:... (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Tuberville Tommy Tuberville Thomas Hawley Tuberville is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Texas Tech University, a position he has held since the 2010 season... |
Head Coach | 7 | Southern Arkansas University Southern Arkansas University Southern Arkansas University is a public four-year institution located in Magnolia, the seat of Columbia County in Arkansas, United States, not far from the Louisiana state line.-Location:Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, which, as of the census... (1976) |
| Al Borges Al Borges Alan Borges is an American college football coach and the offensive coordinator of the University of Michigan football team. Borges is known for quarterback development having mentored Cade McNown and Jason Campbell, both first round NFL draft picks... |
Offensive Coordinator Quarterbacks |
2 | California State University, Chico California State University, Chico California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento... (1982) |
| Hugh Nall | Offensive line | 7 | University of Georgia University of Georgia The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States... (1983) |
| Eddie Gran | Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... s Special teams |
7 | California Lutheran California Lutheran University California Lutheran University is a university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Thousand Oaks, California.-Mission statement:The University's mission statement is as follows:... (1987) |
| Steve Ensminger | Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... s |
7 | Louisiana State University Louisiana State University Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name... (1982) |
| Greg Knox | Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... s Recruiting Coordinator |
7 | Northeastern State Northeastern State University Northeastern State University is a public university with its main campus located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States, at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Northeastern's home, Tahlequah, is also the capital of the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma... (1986) Northeastern Northeastern University, Boston Northeastern University , is a private, secular, coeducational research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has eight colleges and offers undergraduate majors in 65 departments... (1990) |
| Will Muschamp Will Muschamp William Larry "Will" Muschamp is an American college football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida. He is a native of Georgia and attended the University of Georgia, where he played for the Georgia Bulldogs... |
Defensive Coordinator Secondary |
0 | University of Georgia (1994) Auburn University (1996) |
| Don Dunn | Defensive tackles | 7 | East Tennessee State East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state... (1976) Union College Union College Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as... (1980) |
| Terry Price | Defensive ends | 7 | Texas A&M Texas A&M University Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school... (1992) |
| James Willis | Linebackers | 0 | Auburn University (2003) |
| Chase Carlisle | Undergraduate Assistant | 1 | Auburn University Auburn University Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts... (2004–2008) |
Washington State
This game marked the first meeting between Auburn and Pac-10 opponent Washington State, although Auburn was 4–3 in previous Pac-10 matchups. Auburn entered the game looking to defend its preseason rankings and avoid stumbling as in a similar situation in 2003. The Cougars, coached by Bill DobaBill Doba
-External links:*...
, traveled to Auburn hoping to test the Tiger defense under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp with a high-flying passing game featuring returning QB Alex Brink
Alex Brink
Alex Brink is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League...
and potential All-American receiver and first-round draft choice Jason Hill. Auburn met the challenge, forcing Wazzou to go three-and-out on their first two possessions including three sacks of Brink in the those first six offensive plays. Auburn stalled on their first two drives and settled for John Vaughn field goals to take a 6–0 lead.
The Cougars took advantage of their next possession, scoring a touchdown with 2:10 left in the first quarter to take the lead. It would be the last time they would lead the game. In the second quarter, Auburn would continue to score on each of its next three possessions, including two more field goals and a Brad Lester
Brad Lester
Brad Lester was an Canadian football running back who plays for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was born to Phillis Miller and Calvin Lester.-Early years:Brad Lester was born to Phillis Miller and Calvin Lester...
touchdown to take a 19–7 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Auburn return man Tristan Davis took the second half kickoff for a 37 yard return to the Auburn 42 yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage, Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
broke open 58-yard touchdown run to put the game beyond reach of the Cougars. Washington State would score a touchdown in the third quarter and AU added two more TDs in the fourth to make the final score 40–14. Auburn held Jason Hill to only four receptions for 18 yards and intercepted Brink once to hold the Cougs potent offense in check. Kenny Irons finished with 183 yards rushing, his ninth career 100-yard game.
- SEC Offensive Player of the Week: Kenny IronsKenny IronsKenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
Mississippi State
Auburn traveled to StarkvilleStarkville, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,869 people, 9,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 851.4 people per square mile . There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile...
for the fifteenth time to meet SEC-West foe Mississippi State under the direction of third-year coach Sylvester Croom
Sylvester Croom
Sylvester Croom, Jr. is the former football head coach at Mississippi State University and current running backs coach of the St. Louis Rams. He was the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference...
. The Bulldogs hoped to shut down Auburn's rushing game and force Auburn QB Brandon Cox
Brandon Cox
Brandon Cox , is a former American football quarterback, who played collegiately for Auburn University...
to beat them. While State did manage to hold Irons to 79 yards, Cox responded passing for 249 yards completing 18-of-27 and two touchdowns, including Rodgeriqus Smith's
Rodgeriqus Smith
Rodgeriqus Smith is an American Football wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was signed on OCtober 27, 2009.-College career:...
first. Kicker John Vaughn
John Vaughn
John Vaughn John Vaughn John Vaughn (born June 15, 1984 in Nashville is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Auburn.-College career:...
had a career-long 55-yard field goal and tailback Brad Lester
Brad Lester
Brad Lester was an Canadian football running back who plays for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was born to Phillis Miller and Calvin Lester.-Early years:Brad Lester was born to Phillis Miller and Calvin Lester...
added 41 yards rushing and two touchdowns to the offensive team effort to help Auburn to a 34–0 shutout over the Bulldogs. Croom had yet to beat Auburn and Auburn is now 56–22–2 all-time against Mississippi State with a current six-game streak.
- SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week: Ben GrubbsBen GrubbsLeading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, Ben Grubbs participated in a series of private workouts, in addition to the NFL combine. He continued to impress scouts and coaches, alike, with his strength, agility, and football IQ....
LSU
Auburn defensive back Eric Brock tackled LSU receiver Craig Davis at the Auburn 5 yard line on the game's final play to preserve a 7–3 victory. The game's only touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
was scored on a 1 yard run by Auburn quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Brandon Cox with 4:53 reminaning the 3rd quarter. The game was the lowest scoring game at Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
since 1973.
- SEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Kody BlissKody BlissKody Andrew Bliss is an American football punter. He attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee before signing in 2003 to play collegiately at Auburn University.-College career:...
Buffalo
This game marked the first meeting between Auburn and MACMid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
representative Buffalo
Buffalo Bulls
The Buffalo Bulls are the athletic teams representing the University at Buffalo in intercollegiate athletics. The Bulls currently play in Division I , and are a member of the Mid-American Conference for all sports except women's rowing who is in the Cononial Athletic Assocition . They have been a...
. The Bulls, under head coach and former Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
star quarterback Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...
, played inspired football against the banged-up Tigers keeping the game close until late in the third quarter. Auburn played without Kenny Irons and with starting QB Brandon Cox slowed by injuries from the battle against LSU. Highly-touted true freshman running back Ben Tate entered the game for Auburn in the fourth quarter and showed Tiger fans a glimpse of the future rushing for 114 yards on seven carries and scoring touchdowns on runs of 42 and 28 yards.
- SEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Matt Clark
South Carolina
Auburn running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, who began his college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career at South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
, rushed for 117 yards and scored two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s as the third-ranked Tigers survived a furious comeback by the upset-minded Gamecocks and posted a 24–17 victory. The Tigers led 14–10 at halftime and took the second half kick-off. After a 24-yard field goal by senior kicker John Vaughn, Auburn surprised the Gamecocks by recovering an on-sides kick. The Tigers retained possession of the ball for the remainder of the third quarter, and Irons scored the second of his two touchdowns on the first play of the fourth quarter.
- SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week: Tim DuckworthTim DuckworthTim Duckworth is an American football guard who is currently a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
Arkansas
Unranked Arkansas came into Jordan-Hare StadiumJordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...
and claimed an easy 27–10 victory over the second-ranked Tigers. Sophomore running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Darren McFadden rushed for 145 yards, including a 63-yard run for a second quarter touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
to lead the Razorbacks. Felix Jones rushed for another 104 yards to add to the Arkansas attack. Freshman quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Mitch Mustain's 50-yard touchdown pass to Monk in the first quarter set the tone for the Hogs, who won at Auburn for the third time since they joined the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
in 1992. Auburn was limited to 213 yards total offense, and the Tigers managed only 60 rushing yards.
Florida
ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's College GameDay was onsite as part of ESPN's Full Circle multi-channel coverage of this top ten matchup as Auburn defeated the Florida Gators
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
27–17 in what proved to be the only defeat for the eventual BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
national champions. The Auburn offense did not score a touchdown, but reserve running back Tre Smith scored a touchdown after recovering a blocked punt, and defensive back Patrick Lee recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown on the game's final play to seal the victory. Auburn's other points came from a safety in the second quarter and four field goals from senior kicker John Vaughn. The win extends the Tigers lead in the series to 41–38–2. The loss of the #2 Gators marked the fourth time during the 2006 season that the team ranked #2 in the major polls had gone down in defeat, following Texas in week 2, Notre Dame in week 3, and Auburn in week 6.
The Tigers' block of a Gators punt and return for a touchdown was named the ESPN Game-Changing Play of the Week; it later became the Game-Changing Play of the Year.
ESPN.com also named this game the "Atmosphere of the Year".http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2678412
- SEC Defensive Player of the Week: Quentin GrovesQuentin Groves-Heart surgery:While undergoing medical tests at the NFL Combine, Groves was discovered to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which results in him having a rapid heartbeat because of electrical impulses in the heart taking extra pathways...
- FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week: Quentin GrovesQuentin Groves-Heart surgery:While undergoing medical tests at the NFL Combine, Groves was discovered to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which results in him having a rapid heartbeat because of electrical impulses in the heart taking extra pathways...
Tulane
TulaneTulane Green Wave
Green Wave, the nickname of the sports teams of Tulane University, was adopted during the 1920 season, after a song titled The Rolling Green Wave was published in Tulane's student newspaper in 1920. From 1893 to 1919, the athletic teams of Tulane were known as the Olive and Blue for the official...
, a former, but charter, member of the SEC, traveled to meet Auburn on the Plains for only the second time ever and the first time since 1955. Although the Green Wave entered the game leading the all-time series record 17–13–6, that success dates from the early twentieth-century, when Tulane was a football powerhouse. In this meeting, Auburn narrowed the series gap with a 38–13 victory.
With their top three running backs hobbled by injuries, quarterback Brandon Cox and true freshman tailback Ben Tate both stepped up with strong performances and to end Auburn's seven-quarter offensive touchdown drought. Cox passed for 212 yards and three touchdowns completing 16 out of 19 pass attempts while Tate rushed for 156 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown for an average of six yards per carry.
After stopping Tulane's opening possession, Auburn drove 74 yards for the opening touchdown by Brad Lester before he left the game after aggravating an existing injury. Tulane responded with an 80 yard touchdown driver of their own capped off by a 23-yard TD pass from Lester Ricard
Lester Ricard
Lester Ray Ricard, Jr. is a professional American and Canadian football quarterback who currently plays for the New Orleans Jazz of the Stars Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
to Damarcus Davis with just over six minutes left in the first quarter. Redshirt freshmen tight-end Tommy Trott scored for AU just after starting the second quarter to make the score 14–10. Just after starting the next drive, Tulane's Richard fumbled and Auburn's Karibi Dede
Karibi Dede
Karibi Dede was an American football player for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Dede played collegiately with Auburn with whom he played linebacker, and currently coaches running backs with the Auburn High School Tigers. Dede was recruited to the Plains out of C.D...
recovered it and advanced it to the Tulane 10 yard line setting up Cox's next touchdown pass to Tre Smith. The teams traded field goals just before halftime and then Auburn pulled away with two more touchdowns in the third quarter before taking a knee on Tulane's 10-yard line to run out the clock and end the game.
Auburn senior placekicker John Vaughn
John Vaughn
John Vaughn John Vaughn John Vaughn (born June 15, 1984 in Nashville is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Auburn.-College career:...
was perfect on the day completing five extra point attempts in addition to his field goal to take sole possession of Auburn's career scoring record with 284 points after entering the game tied with Carnell Williams
Carnell Williams
Carnell Lamar "Cadillac" Williams is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
- SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week: King Dunlap
Ole Miss
Auburn traveled to Oxford, MississippiOxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
to take on Western-division foe Ole Miss for the teams' 31st meeting. In addition to leading the series 22–8, Auburn entered the game with a 7–1 record in Oxford. Behind an extremely balanced offensive attack, Auburn overcame two first-half turnovers to survive the trip with a 23–17 victory.
Ole Miss took the opening possession and drove 82 yards and scored the games first touchdown on a 27-yard end-around by Mico McSwain. Auburn answered with their scoring drive ending in 13-yard TD pass from Brandon Cox to wide receiver Rodgeriqus Smith. Auburn held Ole Miss on the next possession and drove down the field before Brandon Cox was intercepted by Charles Clark at the Ole Miss 12. Under quarterback Brent Schaeffer
Brent Schaeffer
Brentis Jarryn Schaeffer or "Shiv" is an Arena football Quarterback for the Central Valley Coyotes of the af2...
, the Rebels moved down the field to the Auburn 41 before stalling and being forced to punt and pinning Auburn on their own 2-yardline to start the drive. The Tigers opened up throwing to get out the shadows of their own goalposts and, continuing on the accurate passing of Cox, were able to move to the Rebels 40 before tailback Brad Lester fumbled at the end of a 6-yard run and the Rebels recovered but with only 45 seconds left in the half.
Auburn went three and out on the opening drive of the second half and on the subsequent drive, Mississippi was able to get within field goal range and take the lead 10–7 on a 29-yard field goal by Joshua Shene. Auburn's next drive was plagued by dropped passes forcing a 53-yard Kody Bliss punt. On Ole Miss' next play, Schaeffer threw over the middle and was picked off by safety Eric Brock at the Ole Miss 41-yardline, setting up a short drive for Auburn, ending in a six-yard TD run by Brad Lester and giving Auburn the lead 14–10.
After giving up another field goal to Auburn, the Rebels moved quickly, scoring a touchdown to tie the game 17–17 with 11:19 left in the 4th quarter. Auburn drove down the field but stalled once again against the tough Ole Miss defense and settled for another field goal by John Vaughn who because the Tigers' career leader in field goals made with the kick. Ole Miss was unable to move the ball on the next series and was forced to punt to Auburn with just five minutes left in the game. After an incompletion to open the drive, Auburn abandoned the passing game and let tailback Kenny Irons pound out the yardage and burn the clock. The Tigers drove to the Ole Miss 12 yd line before settling for a final field goal with only 35 seconds left to make the score 23–17. With no timeouts remaining and paying little attention to the new clock rules, Ole Miss could only manage one play as Schaeffer was sacked due to the Auburn coverage.
- SEC Freshman of the Week: Aairon Savage
- Lou Groza Star Of The Week: John Vaughn
Arkansas State
Auburn held Arkansas State out of the Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
to 177 yards total offense as the Tigers shut out the Indians 27–0. Running back Carl Stewart scored two second half touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s as the Tigers improved their season record to 9–1. Frehsman running back Ben Tate rushed for 93 yards Brad Lester ran for 62 yards. Courtney Taylor caught four passes for 116 yards, including a 13-yard reception for a touchdown, and the Tigers improved their all-time record against teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
to 12–0.
- SEC Offensive Lineman Of The Week: Ben GrubbsBen GrubbsLeading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, Ben Grubbs participated in a series of private workouts, in addition to the NFL combine. He continued to impress scouts and coaches, alike, with his strength, agility, and football IQ....
Georgia
In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Deep South's Oldest RivalryDeep South's Oldest Rivalry
The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played by the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University and the Georgia Bulldogs football team of the University of Georgia...
, Georgia completely dominated Auburn and took a convincing 37–15 win over the #5 ranked Tigers. Georgia entered the game with a 6–4 record and was coming off an upset loss to Kentucky, while the Tigers entered the game with a 9–1 record and hopes for a BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
bowl bid and an outside shot at playing for the National Championship.
Bulldogs freshman quarterback Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford (American football)
John Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia....
threw for 219 yards, ran for 83 yards and scored 2 touchdowns against what had been the Nation's #13 ranked defense. Georgia tailback Kregg Lumpkin
Kregg Lumpkin
Kregg Lumpkin is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Georgia...
also rushed for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns. Georgia defensive back Tra Battle intercepted three passes by Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox in the first half, and returned one 30 yards for a touchdown to put Georgia ahead 24–0 with 4:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Auburn was limited to 171 yards total offense, including only 35 yards of passing offense, and managed only nine first downs as they were all but eliminated from contention in the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Western Division race.
Alabama
This in-state rivalry known as the Iron BowlIron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
is considered one of the most bitter and intense in all of sports. The Tigers traveled to Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
for only the sixth time, but kept their winning streak alive having never lost there. Auburn has currently won the last five meetings against Alabama and 13 of the last 21 games against the Crimson Tide, but Alabama still leads the series 38–32–1.
Alabama scored first, on a first quarter field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
by Jamie Christensen. However, the Tide had marched inside the Auburn five yard line, but was unable to get into the end zone. Two fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
recoveries deep in Alabama territory in the second quarter forced by Auburn's Quentin Groves
Quentin Groves
-Heart surgery:While undergoing medical tests at the NFL Combine, Groves was discovered to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which results in him having a rapid heartbeat because of electrical impulses in the heart taking extra pathways...
enabled the Tigers to score touchdowns on short drives. Auburn running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Brad Lester ran for twelve yards to score first, with 11:12 to go in the quarter. Then, with 9:39 to go in the period, Kenny Irons rushed for eight yards to put the Tigers up 14–3. Alabama pulled to within five points late in the first half on a 52 yard touchdown pass from John Parker Wilson to Nikita Stover, making the score 14–9 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Alabama went ahead on a 13 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Travis McCall, making the score 15–14. Alabama's second consecutive two point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Auburn scored the decisive touchdown with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter, when sophomore receiver Prechae Rodriquez caught a 22 yard touchdown pass from Tigers quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Brandon Cox to retake the lead at 20–15. A halfback option pass from Auburn's Carl Stewart to Lee Guess for a successful two point conversion provided the final margin.
Nebraska (Cotton Bowl Classic)
AuburnAuburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
's strong regular season led them to be invited to play Nebraska in the 71st annual Cotton Bowl Classic. While the Tigers managed just 178 yards total offense against Nebraska and their two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
drives totalled just 23 yards, the Tigers defeated the Cornhuskers 17–14. Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Brandon Cox
Brandon Cox
Brandon Cox , is a former American football quarterback, who played collegiately for Auburn University...
completed 10 of his 21 pass attempts for 111 yards, and senior running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons
Kenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
rushed for 72 yards on 24 carries in his final college game as the Tigers finished the season with a record of 11–2. Senior wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Courtney Taylor
Courtney Taylor (American football)
Courtney Taylor is a gridiron football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
capped off his college career by catching six passes for 70 yards, and during the game set the all-time Auburn career record for pass receptions. Nebraska finished the season with a record of 9–5.
Fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Carl Stewart scored both of the Tigers' touchdowns. The first score came in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Cox, and was set up by a 53-yard interception return by linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Karibi Dede
Karibi Dede
Karibi Dede was an American football player for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Dede played collegiately with Auburn with whom he played linebacker, and currently coaches running backs with the Auburn High School Tigers. Dede was recruited to the Plains out of C.D...
. Stewart's second touchdown came on a one yard rush in the second quarter. The Tigers' drive began at the Cornhuskers' 14-yard line after an unsuccessful fake punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
. Senior placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
John Vaughn
John Vaughn
John Vaughn John Vaughn John Vaughn (born June 15, 1984 in Nashville is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Auburn.-College career:...
's 42-yard field goal in the third quarter provided the winning points for the Tigers.
The Tigers played the Cotton Bowl Classic without three players whose suspensions were announced by head coach Tommy Tuberville
Tommy Tuberville
Thomas Hawley Tuberville is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Texas Tech University, a position he has held since the 2010 season...
in December: linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
s Kevin Sears and Tray Blackmon, and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Brad Lester.
- Cotton Bowl Classic Outstanding Offensive Player: Courtney TaylorCourtney Taylor (American football)Courtney Taylor is a gridiron football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
WRWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... - Cotton Bowl Classic Outstanding Defensive Player: Will HerringWill HerringWilliam Ronald Herring is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn....
LBLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Depth chart
Starters and backups.All-Americans
- Ben GrubbsBen GrubbsLeading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, Ben Grubbs participated in a series of private workouts, in addition to the NFL combine. He continued to impress scouts and coaches, alike, with his strength, agility, and football IQ....
, OG – ESPN.com, Pro Football Weekly First Team, Associated-Press Second Team
SEC Special Teams Player of the Year: John Vaughn
Associated Press All-SEC team
All-SEC First Team:- Quentin GrovesQuentin Groves-Heart surgery:While undergoing medical tests at the NFL Combine, Groves was discovered to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which results in him having a rapid heartbeat because of electrical impulses in the heart taking extra pathways...
, DE - John VaughnJohn VaughnJohn Vaughn John Vaughn John Vaughn (born June 15, 1984 in Nashville is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Auburn.-College career:...
, PK - Ben GrubbsBen GrubbsLeading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, Ben Grubbs participated in a series of private workouts, in addition to the NFL combine. He continued to impress scouts and coaches, alike, with his strength, agility, and football IQ....
, OG
All-SEC Second Team:
- Kenny IronsKenny IronsKenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, RB - Tim DuckworthTim DuckworthTim Duckworth is an American football guard who is currently a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, OG - Kody BlissKody BlissKody Andrew Bliss is an American football punter. He attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee before signing in 2003 to play collegiately at Auburn University.-College career:...
, P
Coaches All-SEC team
All-SEC First Team:- Kenny IronsKenny IronsKenny Irons is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, RB - Tim DuckworthTim DuckworthTim Duckworth is an American football guard who is currently a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, OG - Quentin GrovesQuentin Groves-Heart surgery:While undergoing medical tests at the NFL Combine, Groves was discovered to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which results in him having a rapid heartbeat because of electrical impulses in the heart taking extra pathways...
, DE - John VaughnJohn VaughnJohn Vaughn John Vaughn John Vaughn (born June 15, 1984 in Nashville is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Auburn.-College career:...
, PK
All-SEC Second Team:
- Ben GrubbsBen GrubbsLeading up to the 2007 NFL Draft, Ben Grubbs participated in a series of private workouts, in addition to the NFL combine. He continued to impress scouts and coaches, alike, with his strength, agility, and football IQ....
, OG - Will HerringWill HerringWilliam Ronald Herring is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn....
, LB - David IronsDavid IronsDavid Irons is a former American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Irons has also played for the Florida Tuskers...
, CB - Kody BlissKody BlissKody Andrew Bliss is an American football punter. He attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee before signing in 2003 to play collegiately at Auburn University.-College career:...
, P
Freshman All-SEC Football Team
- Sen'Derrick Marks, DT
- Jerraud PowersJerraud PowersJerraud Powers is an American football cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft after declaring following his junior year...
, DB - Aairon Savage, DB
NFF National Honor Society
Three members of Auburn's 2006 senior class were among the inaugural inductees into the National Football FoundationNational Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
National Honor Society, a recognition program for players who excel both on the field and in the classroom.
- Kody Bliss
- Will Herring
- Karibi Dede
Trivia
- The 2006 Auburn team extended its win streak to five games over cross-state rival Alabama, matching Auburn's longest streak of dominance over the Crimson Tide.
- Auburn's Cotton Bowl Classic match-up against Big 12 ConferenceBig 12 ConferenceThe Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
member NebraskaNebraska CornhuskersThe Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
was the team's first bowl appearance versus a member of the Big 12 since their appearance in the 1986 Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas A&MTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. Since 1986, Auburn is 5–0 versus Big 12 conference members, having beaten Texas and Kansas each twice in addition to the Cotton Bowl Classic victory over Nebraska. In bowl games, Auburn now has an all-time record of 6–5 against members of the Big 12. - Auburn now has a 1–1 record in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
- The 2007 Cotton Bowl Classic was Auburn's first broadcast television appearance on FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. In 1998, they appeared on Fox Sports South, the forerunner of Fox Sports NetFox Sports NetThe Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
against Ole MissOle Miss RebelsUniversity of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...
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