CONTRIBUTED
Jim Fyffe became the play-by-play announcer the same year Pat Dye became head coach in 1981. Through the years they became friends.
By Rachel Norris
Sports Editor
CONTRIBUTED
Jim Fyffe became the play-by-play announcer the same year Pat Dye became head coach in 1981. Through the years they became friends.
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The voice of Auburn has left his long-standing job with WLWI radio in Montgomery, a Colonial broadcasting, now Cumulus broadcasting owned network for personal reasons. Jim Fyffe has been the play-by-play announcer for the last 17 seasons for Auburn's men's basketball and football games. His 18th season, however, has been in question since he resigned from his position at WLWI, which holds broadcast rights for all Auburn sporting events. In the past, The Auburn Network paid Colonial for Fyffe's services, then Colonial paid Fyffe. Now The Auburn Network will have to work out an independent contract with Fyffe. "We don't foresee any problems. "Now we will just be contracting directly with Jim," said Mike Hubbard, Auburn Network president. Fyffe, who made the phrase "TOUCHDOWN AUBURN!" popular would be a much missed part of the Auburn football and basketball tradition. Hubbard said the negotiations will begin when Fyffe returns from his two-week vacation. Fyffe, in addition to his work at The Auburn Network, has worked in several other jobs. He markets The Kickoff, a weekly publication about college football. He sells apparel for commemorative watches and rings to bowl games and all-star events. He also sells apparel for golf tournaments and other events. He also has written a book titled "Touchdown Auburn" depicting the greatest moments of Auburn football; the hardest losses, and the best wins. According to Fyffe the best Auburn win is the October 13, 1984 Florida State game at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. The voice of Auburn has left his long-standing job with WLWI radio in Montgomery, a Colonial broadcasting, now Cumulus broadcasting owned network for personal reasons. Jim Fyffe has been the play-by-play announcer for the last 17 seasons for Auburn's men's basketball and football games. His 18th season, however, has been in question since he resigned from his position at WLWI, which holds broadcast rights for all Auburn sporting events. In the past, The Auburn Network paid Colonial for Fyffe's services, then Colonial paid Fyffe. Now The Auburn Network will have to work out an independent contract with Fyffe. "We don't foresee any problems. "Now we will just be contracting directly with Jim," said Mike Hubbard, Auburn Network president. Fyffe, who made the phrase "TOUCHDOWN AUBURN!" popular would be a much missed part of the Auburn football and basketball tradition. Hubbard said the negotiations will begin when Fyffe returns from his two-week vacation. Fyffe, in addition to his work at The Auburn Network, has worked in several other jobs. He markets The Kickoff, a weekly publication about college football. He sells apparel for commemorative watches and rings to bowl games and all-star events. He also sells apparel for golf tournaments and other events. He also has written a book titled "Touchdown Auburn" depicting the greatest moments of Auburn football; the hardest losses, and the best wins. According to Fyffe the best Auburn win is the October 13, 1984 Florida State game at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla. "He's in, He's in, He's in, TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! Touchdown Fullwood from four yards away, and the tigers, the tigers have done it! They've marched literally the length of the field and gone ahead 42-41!" Jim Fyffe said with 48 seconds left in the game. Pat Dye said this was an all-timer and Fyffe agrees.He's in, He's in, He's in, TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! TOUCHDOWN AUBURN! Touchdown Fullwood from four yards away, and the tigers, the tigers have done it! They've marched literally the length of the field and gone ahead 42-41!" Jim Fyffe said with 48 seconds left in the game. Pat Dye said this was an all-timer and Fyffe agrees.
Auburn travels to Hawaii in the Fall to join Rutgers, Wichita State and host Hawaii in the tournament
By Charlie Krausse
The stars have always shone bright underneath the Hawaiian sky. Don Ho to Magnum P.I. to even the Brady Bunch have all performed in Hawaii. And now when the Hawaiians look to the skies this Thanksgiving, they will see "Southern Stars"emerge. The Auburn Tiger's men's basketball team will be a representative in the 1998 United Airlines Tip Off Classic. Also taking part in this tournament are Rutgers, Wichita State and host team Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Auburn's first round opponent will be the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers on Nov. 27. In the second round Auburn will face Hawaii or Wichita State, on Nov. 29, pending on the outcome of the first two games. "We are going to Hawaii where we are opening against Big East opponent in Rutgers,"Coach Cliff Ellis said. "In the other bracket is Hawaii, a Top 25 team for the good part of last year,"he said. Last year the Tigers had the 18th toughest schedule in the nation. And with the 6th-best recruiting class, this year's schedule will be even tougher. "We are playing an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent on the road in Florida State, who went to the NCAA Tournament,"Ellis said. Other big games include Brigham Young University, UAB and NCAA Tournament representative Navy, not to mention the SEC schedule with road games in Mississippi, Georgia, arch rivals Alabama and the defending National Champions, Kentucky. "Fourteen games are against teams who participated in postseason play last year,"Ellis said. With this tough schedule, Auburn has the man power to compete with the rest of the nation. "It is the first time we have had depth so down the line. It is the most talent that I have had,"Ellis said. This may be a tough schedule, though Ellis does not know how to lose. He has a 61 percent winning percentage with a record of 415-267. Since his arrival at Auburn, he has lead the Tigers to four consecutive winning seasons - the most in a decade. During his first season, 1994-95, he was named SEC Coach of the Year. The Tigers had their first postseason victory in a decade, under Ellis, last year over the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. He is already South Alabama's and Clemson's all-time winningest coach and looks to add Auburn to his list of accomplishments.
Veteran outside linebackers able to 'hold that line'
Auburn's linebacker corps is a tale of two cities. Both starting outside linebackers return, as well as the leading back up. The outside will be experienced and few questions remain. Both starting inside backers, Takeo Spikes and Ricky Neal, are gone and only one guy returns who has stepped on the field at Jordan-Hare during a game. The inside will be inexperienced and many questions remain. Junior Quinton Reese, senior Ryan Taylor and junior Marcus Washington return and will see equal time on the outside. The trio played in all 12 games last season and will provide Auburn with a quality pass rush. Of the returning defensive players, Reese is second in tackles, 62, and sacks, 4.5, to Jimmy Brumbaugh. Reese, 6-feet-4-inches, 246 pounds, is the biggest of the outside linebackers. Taylor, 6-feet-2-inches, 230 pounds, will be the big-play man on the Auburn defense. Last season he registered 42 tackles, but the big plays were his forte. His three sacks combined to move opposing offenses back 33 yards. He also returned an interception 25 yards, recorded one of Auburn's two safeties, forced three fumbles and recovered one. Washington, 6-feet-3-inches, 233 pounds, had 42 tackles, two for losses, last season to go along with three sacks and a fumble recovery, which he returned 13 yards. Sophomore Roderick Chambers and junior Dave Beasley should also see time on the outside. Spikes and Neal were Auburn's top two tacklers last season, combining for 260 tackles. To fill the void left by their departure, Auburn will turn to junior Haven Fields and three redshirt freshmen, James Callier, Whit Smith and Tavarreus Pounds. Smith, 6-feet-3-inches, 224 pounds, played his way into a starting role in the spring game when he led all tacklers with 10 and also forced a fumble. Although it is not set in stone who will start, Callier is listed as the other starter after spring practice. Callier, 6-feet-3-inches, 237 pounds, is the largest of the group. Fields, 6-feet, 222 pounds, played in all 12 games last year and will likely take on the leadership role in the middle. Last season, he recorded 21 tackles, two for losses, recovered a fumble and was in on a sack. Pounds, 6-feet-1-inch, 228 pounds, will combine with Callier and Smith to provide Auburn with quality inside linebackers for the next four years. With the outside stable, the only questions in the linebacking corps remains in the middle. If the young players can perform adequately, the outside linebackers and the rest of the defense should pick up the slack from the loss of Spikes and Neal. LINEBACKER GRADE - B-
Preview By Adan Winslow
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Menšs basketball to compete in United Airlines Tip Off Classic
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