Backup TE Bailey Woods will reportedly not be with Auburn when the team opens spring practice Wednesday.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday that Woods has left the program for Georgia State, a Football Championship Subdivision team in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Woods played in 11 games last year. In addition to his tight end responsibilities, he was also the team's backup long snapper. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
IN OTHER NEWS: The Denton Record-Chronicle is reporting that North Texas coach Johnny Jones will interview with Auburn for its vacant head-coaching position sometime this week.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Reports: Lebo to ECU
Ten days after getting fired at Auburn, Jeff Lebo has apparently found work again.
East Carolina will reportedly hire the former Tigers coach, pending approval from the school’s trustees. As long as the trustees agree with the hire, Lebo will likely be in place within the next two days.
Lebo coached at Auburn for six years. He went 96-93 during that time. His downfall came in the Tigers’ inability to reach the postseason. During those six years he reached the NIT once and never made the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs announced on March 12 that Lebo would not be retained as coach.
Auburn has still not yet found a coach for its vacant position.
East Carolina will reportedly hire the former Tigers coach, pending approval from the school’s trustees. As long as the trustees agree with the hire, Lebo will likely be in place within the next two days.
Lebo coached at Auburn for six years. He went 96-93 during that time. His downfall came in the Tigers’ inability to reach the postseason. During those six years he reached the NIT once and never made the NCAA Tournament.
Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs announced on March 12 that Lebo would not be retained as coach.
Auburn has still not yet found a coach for its vacant position.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Lebo out as AU coach
Auburn has confirmed that Jeff Lebo is out as head coach.
Auburn announced the university’s decision to dismiss Lebo in a late-afternoon press release Friday.
“I want to thank coach Lebo for all that he has done for Auburn University over the past six years,” Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said in the release. “Coach Lebo has worked hard and has always represented Auburn with character, class and integrity. However, we feel like the time has come for Auburn basketball to move in a new direction. We deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best.”
Lebo’s contract still had three years remaining. If fired, he is due a $1.5 million buyout.
Lebo came to Auburn in 2004 with the program under NCAA sanctions. Several of former coach Cliff Ellis’ top players left when Ellis did, creating early struggles for Lebo.
During his six years, Lebo went 96-93 as the Auburn coach. He went 35-61 in SEC play, including three seasons with 4-12 conference records.
The Tigers also managed just a 2-6 mark in SEC Tournament games under Lebo.
Auburn missed the NCAA Tournament every year with Lebo at the helm and made the postseason only once – the 2009 NIT. The Tigers won 24 games that year, matching the second-most in a season.
The 2008-09 season was the highlight of a six-year stint that included just one other winning year.
This year, though, Auburn fell back toward the back of the SEC West, finishing in a fourth-place tie with Alabama. Perhaps more troublesome is the fact that of the Tigers’ top six players, only one – Frankie Sullivan – was a non-senior and they still fell back in the conference.
Auburn announced the university’s decision to dismiss Lebo in a late-afternoon press release Friday.
“I want to thank coach Lebo for all that he has done for Auburn University over the past six years,” Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said in the release. “Coach Lebo has worked hard and has always represented Auburn with character, class and integrity. However, we feel like the time has come for Auburn basketball to move in a new direction. We deeply appreciate all that he and his staff have done for Auburn, and we wish each of them and their families nothing but the best.”
Lebo’s contract still had three years remaining. If fired, he is due a $1.5 million buyout.
Lebo came to Auburn in 2004 with the program under NCAA sanctions. Several of former coach Cliff Ellis’ top players left when Ellis did, creating early struggles for Lebo.
During his six years, Lebo went 96-93 as the Auburn coach. He went 35-61 in SEC play, including three seasons with 4-12 conference records.
The Tigers also managed just a 2-6 mark in SEC Tournament games under Lebo.
Auburn missed the NCAA Tournament every year with Lebo at the helm and made the postseason only once – the 2009 NIT. The Tigers won 24 games that year, matching the second-most in a season.
The 2008-09 season was the highlight of a six-year stint that included just one other winning year.
This year, though, Auburn fell back toward the back of the SEC West, finishing in a fourth-place tie with Alabama. Perhaps more troublesome is the fact that of the Tigers’ top six players, only one – Frankie Sullivan – was a non-senior and they still fell back in the conference.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Ten to Remember: No. 3
Spring ball is little more than a month away. With so many players returning from last year’s team, the faces and names will largely remain the same. Here is a look at the 10 under-the-radar players fans should know/remember going into spring practice.
No. 10
LB Jessel Curry
No. 9
RB Dontae Aycock
No. 8
DE Craig Sanders
No. 7
QBs Tyrik Rollison and Clint Moseley
No. 6
TE Philip Lutzenkirchen
No. 5
DE Nosa Eguae
No. 4
S Mike McNeil & Aairon Savage
No. 3
DT Nick Fairley
Auburn fans should already have an idea of Fairley’s capability. The top reserve defensive tackle last year had 28 tackles including 3.5 for loss. He also showed a pass-rush ability that topped starting tackle Jake Ricks – the two had the same number of sacks, 1.5, and Fairley had more quarterback hurries, seven to six, despite Ricks playing significantly more.
What is yet to be seen is how good the former junior-college player can be as a full-time starter. If Auburn stays in a 4-3 defense – which right now is an if – Fairley is the strongest candidate to assume Ricks’ starting spot next to Mike Blanc.
However, Daren Bates’ apparent move from safety to linebacker has some wondering if Auburn is contemplating a switch to a 3-4 defense. The Tigers already have Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens returning as seniors and Eltoro Freeman improved dramatically toward the end of the season. If the Tigers do stay in the 4-3, Freeman and Bates would compete for playing time – a curious decision considering both showed the potential during their first seasons at Auburn to be very good players at the SEC level last season.
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof said during an interview with The Star this week that he would not comment on Bates’ status or position, referring to it as “a (Gene) Chizik question).”
Fairley is a strong enough presence that he could man the nose position if called upon. His size – 6-foot-5, 293 pounds – doesn’t put him in the Terrence Cody class of mammoth-sized human beings, but it certainly isn’t bad either.
If Auburn does move to a 3-4, Fairley and Blanc would likely split the role.
Regardless of what defense Auburn aligns itself with this season, the unit must find ways to improve its run defense. That has been the constant, nagging question Roof seeks to answer first and foremost this season. Whether Auburn is in a 4-3 or a 3-4, that starts up front.
Someone, Blanc or Fairley, must do a better job dominating the line of scrimmage to improve the rush defense. That, more than anything, might determine how good Auburn’s defense can be in 2010.
No. 10
LB Jessel Curry
No. 9
RB Dontae Aycock
No. 8
DE Craig Sanders
No. 7
QBs Tyrik Rollison and Clint Moseley
No. 6
TE Philip Lutzenkirchen
No. 5
DE Nosa Eguae
No. 4
S Mike McNeil & Aairon Savage
No. 3
DT Nick Fairley
Auburn fans should already have an idea of Fairley’s capability. The top reserve defensive tackle last year had 28 tackles including 3.5 for loss. He also showed a pass-rush ability that topped starting tackle Jake Ricks – the two had the same number of sacks, 1.5, and Fairley had more quarterback hurries, seven to six, despite Ricks playing significantly more.
What is yet to be seen is how good the former junior-college player can be as a full-time starter. If Auburn stays in a 4-3 defense – which right now is an if – Fairley is the strongest candidate to assume Ricks’ starting spot next to Mike Blanc.
However, Daren Bates’ apparent move from safety to linebacker has some wondering if Auburn is contemplating a switch to a 3-4 defense. The Tigers already have Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens returning as seniors and Eltoro Freeman improved dramatically toward the end of the season. If the Tigers do stay in the 4-3, Freeman and Bates would compete for playing time – a curious decision considering both showed the potential during their first seasons at Auburn to be very good players at the SEC level last season.
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof said during an interview with The Star this week that he would not comment on Bates’ status or position, referring to it as “a (Gene) Chizik question).”
Fairley is a strong enough presence that he could man the nose position if called upon. His size – 6-foot-5, 293 pounds – doesn’t put him in the Terrence Cody class of mammoth-sized human beings, but it certainly isn’t bad either.
If Auburn does move to a 3-4, Fairley and Blanc would likely split the role.
Regardless of what defense Auburn aligns itself with this season, the unit must find ways to improve its run defense. That has been the constant, nagging question Roof seeks to answer first and foremost this season. Whether Auburn is in a 4-3 or a 3-4, that starts up front.
Someone, Blanc or Fairley, must do a better job dominating the line of scrimmage to improve the rush defense. That, more than anything, might determine how good Auburn’s defense can be in 2010.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Q&A with Trooper Taylor
Here is the bulk of an interview I had with receivers coach Trooper Taylor about the recently announced Big Cat Weekend:
The Star: What was the impact of Big Cat Weekend, 2009?
TT: I think what it did is it kind of carried over momentum-wise because it was something different. It was something where we weren’t testing them in the 40, we weren’t asking them their vertical and all that stuff. We want them to come and build relationships because we really emphasize the family side of it and the people part of it. All those things are important for us.
Now we’ve got kids asking ‘When is it?’ and ‘Am I invited?’ and ‘Can I get there?’ and all that kind of stuff. It’s still carrying over into this year.
The Star: What does that say about last year’s player response?
TT: That they had a great time. The great ones want to be around other great ones. This guy wants to know what that guy’s thinking. If you think that those guys don’t read the internet and check the web sites, they’re all over all those things. The best way for them to communicate is through those things.
Then they start asking each other, ‘Well, are you going to Big Cat Weekend?’ ‘I’m going to Big Cat.’ When that spreads throughout the top players, it just grows. It lets you know that: 1) They had a good time and 2) They were excited about what they saw and they enjoyed it enough to where they wanted to tell more people about it. The best advertisement you can get as a coach or a school or a place is word of mouth. It’s not the billboards. It’s not the emails. It’s the word of mouth from other players because they respect that – because here’s a five-star talking to another five-star or a three-star talking to a five-star. We think that’s the biggest advertisement they can get.
The Star: How important is it for the big prospects to get to know each other at Auburn as opposed to elsewhere?
TT: The more the better. The reason why is we want them to see what we have to offer. We want them to understand that Auburn’s more than just the verticals and the 40-yards dashes and the football side of it. Come see us as people, not just as coaches, and develop relationships.
Then, if it doesn’t work for you, that’s OK. We also want you to come here and be able to leave with that ability to make that judgment on Auburn based on the things that you saw – not the things that you heard from someone else or, in the recruiting battles, all this negative stuff.
That’s one thing we pride ourselves on: We’re never going to go into a home and bash another school. That’s not our deal. Our deal is to go into a home and sell what we’ve got because that’s what we know and that’s what we’re trying to do.
The Star: How do you mix keeping the prestige of a Big Cat Weekend invitation for highly rated prospects with not offending other prospects?
TT: It’s not really an invite when we say it’s select. It’s the top guys start talking and they want to come. We don’t turn anybody away. We don’t take a guy and say, ‘No, you’re not allowed to come to Big Cat Weekend,’ because, say he’s a two-star but we’ve looked at him on tape and think he can play. It doesn’t matter to us. If we think he can play, we’re going to go after him.
You look at Shaun Kitchens. He was one of our earlier commitments and he was just a two- or three-star at the time and then he kept on going. Shon Coleman: His teammate was a five-star and we recruited Shon based on tape and we wanted him here.
We don’t give out a select deal where we say, ‘You’re the only one that can come.’ We evaluate you on tape and if we think you are what we’re looking for, we’re going to bring you. Most of them that are on the fence and say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that,’ or ‘I didn’t get that,’ – we’re always going to have our doors open.
They kind of invite each other. We put the dates out there and then they start snowballing. ‘I heard about Big Cat last year and I’m not missing it.’ I’ve got kids that are calling me already and saying, ‘Hey coach, I’m coming to Big Cat Weekend.’ I’ve got coaches across Florida, Georgia, even Louisiana that are calling about Big Cat Weekend. I think that’s big. Obviously those things do nothing but open up doors for us.
The Star: With so many players interested, how do you keep it at a personal level?
TT: Even if 200 came, we make sure that we break the groups up into small enough groups. If it takes 10 groups or 20 groups, whatever it takes, we do that. Here’s what we’re not afraid of – spending time. We’ll go from 7 in the morning until midnight. That’s the thing you’d be amazed at is that we’ll work all the way up until that fine line where it says we can’t go any more.
To get it done, we’ll make sure that we do that. We don’t put a time limit on it. We say recruiting’s like shaving – if you don’t do it every day, it will show. We want to make sure that not only are we doing it, but we’re doing it right.
The Star: How do you stay cutting-edge without pushing the envelope?
Intentions. If you go out and say, ‘I know this rule is this way,’ and try to break that rule, that’s when you’re wrong. If you’re going out there and you’re not intentionally trying to break a rule or you’re just trying to get outside your box, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
I think there are a lot of companies out there doing that right now – that are brainstorming and trying to do things different because it’s really marketing. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to market the product that we have, which is Auburn. The good thing about it is it’s not something that’s hard to sell.
We love it. We all believe in it. We believe in the people that are here. That’s not a hard thing for us to do – go out and sell Auburn.
The Star: Based on last year, do you guys have to be more cognizant of the rules during Big Cat Weekend?
No, what we have to do is – now we understand the parameters. Those are the ones that we will work with because there’s a precedent that’s been set that these things can happen, these things can’t and that’s what we’ll abide by.
Before there wasn’t a precedent (referring to Toomer’s Corner).
The Star: What was the impact of Big Cat Weekend, 2009?
TT: I think what it did is it kind of carried over momentum-wise because it was something different. It was something where we weren’t testing them in the 40, we weren’t asking them their vertical and all that stuff. We want them to come and build relationships because we really emphasize the family side of it and the people part of it. All those things are important for us.
Now we’ve got kids asking ‘When is it?’ and ‘Am I invited?’ and ‘Can I get there?’ and all that kind of stuff. It’s still carrying over into this year.
The Star: What does that say about last year’s player response?
TT: That they had a great time. The great ones want to be around other great ones. This guy wants to know what that guy’s thinking. If you think that those guys don’t read the internet and check the web sites, they’re all over all those things. The best way for them to communicate is through those things.
Then they start asking each other, ‘Well, are you going to Big Cat Weekend?’ ‘I’m going to Big Cat.’ When that spreads throughout the top players, it just grows. It lets you know that: 1) They had a good time and 2) They were excited about what they saw and they enjoyed it enough to where they wanted to tell more people about it. The best advertisement you can get as a coach or a school or a place is word of mouth. It’s not the billboards. It’s not the emails. It’s the word of mouth from other players because they respect that – because here’s a five-star talking to another five-star or a three-star talking to a five-star. We think that’s the biggest advertisement they can get.
The Star: How important is it for the big prospects to get to know each other at Auburn as opposed to elsewhere?
TT: The more the better. The reason why is we want them to see what we have to offer. We want them to understand that Auburn’s more than just the verticals and the 40-yards dashes and the football side of it. Come see us as people, not just as coaches, and develop relationships.
Then, if it doesn’t work for you, that’s OK. We also want you to come here and be able to leave with that ability to make that judgment on Auburn based on the things that you saw – not the things that you heard from someone else or, in the recruiting battles, all this negative stuff.
That’s one thing we pride ourselves on: We’re never going to go into a home and bash another school. That’s not our deal. Our deal is to go into a home and sell what we’ve got because that’s what we know and that’s what we’re trying to do.
The Star: How do you mix keeping the prestige of a Big Cat Weekend invitation for highly rated prospects with not offending other prospects?
TT: It’s not really an invite when we say it’s select. It’s the top guys start talking and they want to come. We don’t turn anybody away. We don’t take a guy and say, ‘No, you’re not allowed to come to Big Cat Weekend,’ because, say he’s a two-star but we’ve looked at him on tape and think he can play. It doesn’t matter to us. If we think he can play, we’re going to go after him.
You look at Shaun Kitchens. He was one of our earlier commitments and he was just a two- or three-star at the time and then he kept on going. Shon Coleman: His teammate was a five-star and we recruited Shon based on tape and we wanted him here.
We don’t give out a select deal where we say, ‘You’re the only one that can come.’ We evaluate you on tape and if we think you are what we’re looking for, we’re going to bring you. Most of them that are on the fence and say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that,’ or ‘I didn’t get that,’ – we’re always going to have our doors open.
They kind of invite each other. We put the dates out there and then they start snowballing. ‘I heard about Big Cat last year and I’m not missing it.’ I’ve got kids that are calling me already and saying, ‘Hey coach, I’m coming to Big Cat Weekend.’ I’ve got coaches across Florida, Georgia, even Louisiana that are calling about Big Cat Weekend. I think that’s big. Obviously those things do nothing but open up doors for us.
The Star: With so many players interested, how do you keep it at a personal level?
TT: Even if 200 came, we make sure that we break the groups up into small enough groups. If it takes 10 groups or 20 groups, whatever it takes, we do that. Here’s what we’re not afraid of – spending time. We’ll go from 7 in the morning until midnight. That’s the thing you’d be amazed at is that we’ll work all the way up until that fine line where it says we can’t go any more.
To get it done, we’ll make sure that we do that. We don’t put a time limit on it. We say recruiting’s like shaving – if you don’t do it every day, it will show. We want to make sure that not only are we doing it, but we’re doing it right.
The Star: How do you stay cutting-edge without pushing the envelope?
Intentions. If you go out and say, ‘I know this rule is this way,’ and try to break that rule, that’s when you’re wrong. If you’re going out there and you’re not intentionally trying to break a rule or you’re just trying to get outside your box, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
I think there are a lot of companies out there doing that right now – that are brainstorming and trying to do things different because it’s really marketing. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to market the product that we have, which is Auburn. The good thing about it is it’s not something that’s hard to sell.
We love it. We all believe in it. We believe in the people that are here. That’s not a hard thing for us to do – go out and sell Auburn.
The Star: Based on last year, do you guys have to be more cognizant of the rules during Big Cat Weekend?
No, what we have to do is – now we understand the parameters. Those are the ones that we will work with because there’s a precedent that’s been set that these things can happen, these things can’t and that’s what we’ll abide by.
Before there wasn’t a precedent (referring to Toomer’s Corner).
Taylor: QB Rollison has not reached a final decision
Trooper Taylor said Tuesday during an interview with The Star that redshirt freshman QB Tyrik Rollison has not made a final decision on whether or not to transfer to Sam Houston State, as has been widely reported.
Rollison's father, Michael Kelly, told a few media outlets last week that Rollison would transfer to Sam Houston State, but declined comment when reached by The Star. Auburn has not released an official statement about Rollison.
Though Taylor said Rollison has not yet made up his mind, he did say that Rollison's status for spring football remains uncertain. It will continue to be unclear until Rollison reaches a decision.
Taylor also said he understands players can get homesick and have to do what's best for themselves. He said Auburn will support Rollison either way.
Rollison's father, Michael Kelly, told a few media outlets last week that Rollison would transfer to Sam Houston State, but declined comment when reached by The Star. Auburn has not released an official statement about Rollison.
Though Taylor said Rollison has not yet made up his mind, he did say that Rollison's status for spring football remains uncertain. It will continue to be unclear until Rollison reaches a decision.
Taylor also said he understands players can get homesick and have to do what's best for themselves. He said Auburn will support Rollison either way.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Big Cat is Back
Auburn coaches have talked about wanting to build on this year's recruiting success.
Part of that process, apparently, will include repeating some of the more successful methods. Jeffrey Lee of AuburnSports.com reported today that Auburn is bringing back Big Cat Weekend -- an unofficial visit weekend intended for Auburn coaches to get to know the biggest targets on Auburn's board.
Auburn landed 10 prospects that visited during Big Cat Weekend last year. That list included high-profile recruits such as RB Michael Dyer and LB LaDarius Owens.
The weekend did have its drawbacks, though. A portion of the weekend led to some well-documented rules violations and cost Auburn in recruiting -- specifically with specific players and with Trooper Taylor's punishment that prevented him from off-campus recruiting for a few months.
Jay G. Tate of The Montgomery Advertiser had an interesting interview with Taylor today. In that interview, Taylor said Auburn needs to find a balance between obeying the rules and remaining cutting-edge.
This year's Big Cat Weekend will begin May 28.
Part of that process, apparently, will include repeating some of the more successful methods. Jeffrey Lee of AuburnSports.com reported today that Auburn is bringing back Big Cat Weekend -- an unofficial visit weekend intended for Auburn coaches to get to know the biggest targets on Auburn's board.
Auburn landed 10 prospects that visited during Big Cat Weekend last year. That list included high-profile recruits such as RB Michael Dyer and LB LaDarius Owens.
The weekend did have its drawbacks, though. A portion of the weekend led to some well-documented rules violations and cost Auburn in recruiting -- specifically with specific players and with Trooper Taylor's punishment that prevented him from off-campus recruiting for a few months.
Jay G. Tate of The Montgomery Advertiser had an interesting interview with Taylor today. In that interview, Taylor said Auburn needs to find a balance between obeying the rules and remaining cutting-edge.
This year's Big Cat Weekend will begin May 28.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)