Lowly Dawgs limp into Auburn for 100th meeting
Lowly Dawgs limp into Auburn for 100th meeting
Watch out folks. This weekend's game against the hapless 3-6 Georgia Bulldogs won't be an easy win for the Tigers.
History-wise, the Bulldogs have this nasty little habit of coming into Jordan-Hare and stunning a heavily favored Auburn team. The Dawgs did it in 1986, and of course who can forget the tie two years ago?
To say this year's edition of the Bulldogs is struggling might be the understatement of the year. On offense, the Dawgs do have a good running back in Robert Edwards, but Edwards managed to fumble twice against the Florida Gators two weeks ago, so his position might be in question.
Speaking of questions, Head Coach Jim Donnan swears Mike Bobo is his starting quarterback, but Brian Smith has also been seeing some significant playing time, so don't be surprised if Smith takes over if Bobo falters early.
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If Bobo or Smith can manage to get the football into the hands of Juan Daniels or Hines Ward Auburn could have some problems stopping Georgia's offense.
Look for Georgia's offense to run a lot on Auburn's weakened defensive line, but also look out for Takeo Spikes in the middle as he should be a one-man wrecking ball.
Spikes is of course from Georgia, and lots of Bulldog players and fans still believe he's a traitor for donning the orange and blue. The treatment didn't phase Spikes last year and he's only gotten better with age.
Auburn's defensive backs should have some fun if Auburn can shut down Georgia's running attack. If this happens watch for the secondary to start picking a few passes from either Bobo or Smith.
Georgia's Achilles' heel over the past few years has been the defense. This year the Bulldogs have a slightly better defense, but its still nothing to smile about for Georgia fans.
Dameyune Craig and the Tiger wide receivers should have fun trying to exploit the Bulldog's secondary, but if Craig lobs a few errant passes, watch out because both Corey Johnson and Alandus Sims are among the conference's leaders in interceptions.
Auburn's running game should be able to get cranked and rolling with Rusty Williams, Markeith Cooper and Kevin McLeod leading the way. Fred Beasley could also have a possible breakout game.
Tradition holds that an Auburn back will perform well against the Dawgs and any of these four could continue the tradition.
On special teams Jaret Holmes may not be the most consistent field goal kicker in the world, but he's better than most. Holmes is also averaging 42.7 yards per punt. Georgia's special teams play is a lot weaker and a lot less reliable.
Most rivalries in the South are usually one-sided. Take a look for example at the Auburn/ Alabama rivalry. However the Auburn Georgia rivalry, which just happens to be the oldest in the South, is almost even.
Auburn holds a slight edge in the series with 47 wins to Georgia's 44 wins. The Tigers and Bulldogs have played to eight ties.
The last time Auburn beat Georgia in Jordan-Hare was in 1990. A last-second loss in 1992 and 1994s infamous tie still leave a bitter taste in most Tiger fans' mouths.
This year's game will once again be a classic matchup in this storied rivalry. Look for both teams to play good ball, but Georgia will probably come out more pumped than the Tigers.
If Bowden and his troops are looking to Alabama instead of Georgia, Donnan and the Dawgs will have their first major upset.
If the Tigers are focused they should win, but Georgia always plays tough. This year Auburn will take over in the fourth quarter and score a couple of times to ice the game.
Plainsman Prediction: Auburn 38 Georgia 24.
Volleyball sweeps state of Mississippi
TIM DEVINE
Staff Writer
The Auburn women's volleyball team claimed a record ninth SEC victory by defeating Ole Miss and Mississippi State University this weekend, which brings them one step closer to the NCAA tournament.
When Auburn played these two teams away in October, the Tigers lost to MSU with a score of 1-3, but pulled out a 3-2 victory against Ole Miss.
Auburn took control in Friday's match against Ole Miss, winning in three games 15-4, 15-9 and 15-4. Auburn was able to keep control of the game, overpowering the Rebels offensively.
"Ole Miss is good. If they get into an offensive rhythm, they can really take it to you," Head Coach Liz Bitzer said. "We had aggressive serving and kept them out of that rhythm."
"We were more in control," Chris Murphy, a senior setter, said. "We put doubt in their minds. We were here to win, and they got really confused."
Even though the MSU Bulldogs are a much weaker team, with a 3-9 record in the SEC and 17-15 overall, they were able to take the victory the first time Auburn, which is 8-4 in the SEC, played them this season. Auburn got that victory back on Sunday, winning 3-1 for a record nine SEC victories.
"When this team is playing well they're a tough team Ñ real scrappy on defense," Bitzer said.
Auburn had control in the first game and quickly took it 15-2, but the Bulldogs took advantage as Auburn fell off in the second game for a 15-13 win by MSU.
"In the second game our passing broke down, and that gave them a little bit of momentum to get back in the match," Bitzer said.
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The pace of the third and fourth was marked by Bulldog errors and Auburn finished them off 15-1, 15-8.
"We'll take any points we can get, any way we can get them. We're not proud," Bitzer said.
"Last time we didn't play with them. We just laid down and let them have it," Heather Franey, a sophomore middle blocker, said.
"They were going down," Rani Whitson, a senior middle blocker, said. "We knew we had the potential to beat them." With four seniors on this season's squad, "It's ideal when you've got a team with this much experience," Bitzer said. "And the good news is we've got depth. We don't lose a lot of ground."
Auburn's next two matches are the big Alabama rivalry, one away Nov. 14 and one home on Nov. 17. "It doesn't matter what a team's record is," Bitzer said. "When it's Auburn vs. Alabama, you know what that means."
"I don't want to say it's not going to be tough," Whitson said. "They're down this season, but we can't take them lightly."
To make the NCAA tournament, Auburn needed these two wins as well as the next two against Alabama and a good show at the SEC tournament.
"Every match is huge for us right now. We have to win every match from here on out to have a hope of making the NCAAs," Stephanie Fine, a senior outside hitter, said.
Bitzer said, "The most important part about each of these victories is that it takes us one step closer to our goal."
Tiger hoopsters lose close one
MATT ROMANO
Assistant Sports Editor
The Auburn basketball exhibition season got started last Friday with a 61-63 loss to Marathon Oil. The Marathon team is made up of nine former college basketball players who did not go on to play in the pros.
"Marathon Oil is a team with a lot of experience, and they played a college game. Those guys are on the next level," senior center Pat Burke said.
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Auburn came out of the gates on fire, jumping ahead by as many as eight points early on.
By halftime, Marathon Oil closed the lead down to 34-32, Auburn.
In the second half, Marathon pulled away by as many as 11 points as Auburn Head Coach Cliff Ellis played a freshman lineup.
With the experienced lineup back in the game, the Tigers were able to mount a comeback, Auburn pulled within a point with just 1:17 left in the game, thanks to Bryant Smith's clutch three pointer.
Marathon's Mark Mitchell immediately returned the favor with a field goal to put the lead back to 62-59.
Auburn got the ball back with less than a minute to play.
At the 38 second mark, Auburn's Franklin Williams was fouled by Kevin Holmes.
Williams was good on both shots and pulled the Tigers back into the game, closing the lead to 62-61.
Desperately trying to retain possession of the ball, Auburn freshman Julius "Doc" Robinson fouled Marathon's Will Smith with just four ticks left to go.
Smith sealed the game making one of two free throws.
After the loss, Ellis said he felt good about what had been accomplished but was still disappointed with the loss.
"My goal was to play everybody and to win," Ellis said. "We'll use this game to take a look at where we are and move forward."
Burke agreed. "We went out to win it and to give us a look at what we need to work on," he said.
Leading the way for the Tigers was freshman Daymeon Fishback who scored 17 points.
Burke and Smith also played strong for Auburn with 11 points each.
