This from Auburn's athletics media relations department today:
AUBURN—Milton and Pat McGregor of Montgomery recently pledged $1 million toward the new Auburn Arena.
The McGregors pledged the gift in honor of their daughters, Kim McGregor Brown and Cindy McGregor Benefield.
“I want to thank Milton and Pat McGregor for their extraordinarily generous gift, which propels us toward our goal of building a world-class arena for Auburn University,” Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs said. “This is a tremendous step forward for the arena, which will take Auburn’s men’s and women’s basketball programs to a new level.”
Milton McGregor said he and his wife wanted to make a lasting gift to Auburn Athletics that will honor their daughters.
“We feel fortunate to be able to honor Kim and Cindy in such a special way,” McGregor said. “We also believe strongly in the Auburn Arena project, which will provide a major boost for the Auburn basketball programs and will benefit Auburn University and the community at large.”
Construction is expected to begin on the $92.5 million arena this summer. It will have an approximate capacity of 9,600 and will include a two-court practice facility, coaches’ offices, the Auburn University Ticket Office and an AU Team Store. It will also include the relocated Lovelace Museum honoring the history of Auburn Athletics, two food courts and many other amenities.
Designed by 360 Architecture out of Kansas City, Mo., the 243,000-plus-square-foot facility will be built northwest of Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Roosevelt Drive.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A big seven-finger so what
I've been asked a few times over the last 48 hours what I think about Tommy Tuberville's holding up seven fingers to celebrate a flag-football victory during his Middle East tour, and I say so what.
Look, I'm a journalist. I'd say cynical journalist, but then I'd have to correct myself for redundancy.
I've been in this business full time for 21 years as of Sunday. I've covered the Auburn beat for going on 12 years, so I've covered Tuberville throughout his nearly 10-year tenure as the school's head football coach.
Do I think it's beyond Tuberville to tweak Auburn's biggest rival? Absolutely not. I've seen it and heard it. I stood there during the team's 2004 SEC championship celebration and heard him sub his own name in for those hallowed names adorning Alabama's football stadium.
I also remember back in 1999, when he fired back at a columnist from his home state of Arkansas. Something about the two of them coming from roughly the same place and Tuberville bettering himself, as I recall.
Tuberville is a very smart and good man in my estimation, but he's not beyond pettiness. I know no one who is.
That said, he also has the savvy of a stout politician. I've often thought he could do well in that field, and I don't mean that negatively. He's a pragmatist. He knows his constituency, and his tweakings in relation to Auburn's six-game winning streak over Alabama are for Auburn fans, not Alabama fans.
And believe me, if you read Auburn message boards, you know it's working.
I say all of that to say this; I don't think Tuberville is beyond sincerity, either.
I'm willing to consider his explanation of his seven-finger salute in the Middle East ... that it was meant in fun for those there with him in the moment, not anyone back home in Alabama.
Please read me out.
Imagine you're the coach of a major college football team. You and a few colleagues have been given the chance to visit U.S. military personnel in a war zone.
You get there and see a lot of young faces, faces that look a lot like the ones you coach. Faces that look just a few years beyond those of your own children.
You sign autographs. You talk. You listen. You share.
They delight in your autographs. They talk, listen and share about their dangerous missions, their 110-degree environs, their folks back home, their beliefs about the war they fight for their country.
You see soldiers who follow the school you coach. You see soldiers who follow rival schools. They rib you at the same time they let you know they're glad to see you ... a celebrity who took time during your offseason to see them.
Then comes the flag-football game. You've been chosen to coach servicemen who consider themselves fans of myriad schools back home. Some played for school's back home.
The team you help to coach wins, and THEY lift you on THEIR shoulders. A camera is there to capture the moment and send a few seconds of film back home.
Fans back home get bent out of shape over it.
As much as some college football fans might like to demonize a rival school's coach, would YOU be so callous as to use a light moment with troops in a war zone to tweak a rival's fans ... or politic your own?
I find it hard to believe that the coach I've covered for 10 years ... or any coach I've covered in 21 years, including ones I didn't like ... would do such a thing.
And to the rivalry, the office water cooler, the streak, the thumb or any other digit, I say so what. Let the troops and coaches who were there have their moment.
Look, I'm a journalist. I'd say cynical journalist, but then I'd have to correct myself for redundancy.
I've been in this business full time for 21 years as of Sunday. I've covered the Auburn beat for going on 12 years, so I've covered Tuberville throughout his nearly 10-year tenure as the school's head football coach.
Do I think it's beyond Tuberville to tweak Auburn's biggest rival? Absolutely not. I've seen it and heard it. I stood there during the team's 2004 SEC championship celebration and heard him sub his own name in for those hallowed names adorning Alabama's football stadium.
I also remember back in 1999, when he fired back at a columnist from his home state of Arkansas. Something about the two of them coming from roughly the same place and Tuberville bettering himself, as I recall.
Tuberville is a very smart and good man in my estimation, but he's not beyond pettiness. I know no one who is.
That said, he also has the savvy of a stout politician. I've often thought he could do well in that field, and I don't mean that negatively. He's a pragmatist. He knows his constituency, and his tweakings in relation to Auburn's six-game winning streak over Alabama are for Auburn fans, not Alabama fans.
And believe me, if you read Auburn message boards, you know it's working.
I say all of that to say this; I don't think Tuberville is beyond sincerity, either.
I'm willing to consider his explanation of his seven-finger salute in the Middle East ... that it was meant in fun for those there with him in the moment, not anyone back home in Alabama.
Please read me out.
Imagine you're the coach of a major college football team. You and a few colleagues have been given the chance to visit U.S. military personnel in a war zone.
You get there and see a lot of young faces, faces that look a lot like the ones you coach. Faces that look just a few years beyond those of your own children.
You sign autographs. You talk. You listen. You share.
They delight in your autographs. They talk, listen and share about their dangerous missions, their 110-degree environs, their folks back home, their beliefs about the war they fight for their country.
You see soldiers who follow the school you coach. You see soldiers who follow rival schools. They rib you at the same time they let you know they're glad to see you ... a celebrity who took time during your offseason to see them.
Then comes the flag-football game. You've been chosen to coach servicemen who consider themselves fans of myriad schools back home. Some played for school's back home.
The team you help to coach wins, and THEY lift you on THEIR shoulders. A camera is there to capture the moment and send a few seconds of film back home.
Fans back home get bent out of shape over it.
As much as some college football fans might like to demonize a rival school's coach, would YOU be so callous as to use a light moment with troops in a war zone to tweak a rival's fans ... or politic your own?
I find it hard to believe that the coach I've covered for 10 years ... or any coach I've covered in 21 years, including ones I didn't like ... would do such a thing.
And to the rivalry, the office water cooler, the streak, the thumb or any other digit, I say so what. Let the troops and coaches who were there have their moment.
The quiet search
Imagine the football coach at Alabama or Auburn resigning, and the resulting search for his replacement going almost two weeks with no leaks and few headlines.
That's the case so far with Auburn's search for a baseball coach, and it's no surprise.
First, the search firm Carr and Associates is handling the search. One has to think that a professional head-hunting firm would know how to protect the heads, so a so-far-leakless search makes sense.
There's also timing. Most of the coaches Auburn might pursue were in conference tournaments last week, and some are in NCAA regionals this week.
Also, Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs is in Destin, Fla. for this week's SEC meetings.
So, one sees why there's not much doing here. There's probably back-channel communication, but there doesn't seem to be much else happening at this point.
Jacobs told The Star on Friday that the search would probably take "a few weeks."
As for candidates, naming is guessing. Jacksonville State's Jim Case and Samford's Casey Dunn, whose names have come up in published speculation, are free of obligation. Their teams lost in last week's OVC Tournament.
Same for Troy's Bobby Pierce, whose team bowed out of the Sun Belt tourney.
It would be no shock if Auburn made another run at Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin, who turned down the job in 2004. He's busy with an NCAA regional this week, though.
There's also talk about former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Pat McMahon. It's a curious name, since he was Tom Slater's boss before Slater's ill-fated shot at Auburn's head job. McMahon was fired at Florida and spent last season out of coaching.
I seem to remember him dispersing his 2003 team after the regular season, only to recall them when the NCAA surprised the Gators with a tourney berth.
Then again, McMahon took State and Florida to the College World Series in 1998 and 2005, respectively. He's 555-287 in 15 years as a head coach at Old Dominion, State and Florida.
I've heard other names thrown around in speculation, like Tulane's Rick Jones, New Orleans' Tom Walter, Virginia's Brian O'Connor and Kentucky's John Cohen.
Hey, I'll play. Why not Western Kentucky's Chris Finwood? He left Slater's Auburn staff to become Western Kentucky's head coach, and he has the Hilltoppers in the NCAA Tournament.
I know. WKU's 33-25 record and No. 4 regional seed headed to Sillwater, Okla., won't overwhelm anyone, but the Hilltoppers made a nice run through the Sun Belt tourney. They're in the NCAA tourney, where Auburn hasn't gone since 2005.
And hey, at least I got to mention that my alma mater made the NCAA Tournament.
Back to Auburn's search, things likely will pick up next week. For now, nearly all's quiet on that front. Stay tuned.
Also, don't forget to vote on the search-related poll on this blog. It's just a short scroll on the right side of this page.
That's the case so far with Auburn's search for a baseball coach, and it's no surprise.
First, the search firm Carr and Associates is handling the search. One has to think that a professional head-hunting firm would know how to protect the heads, so a so-far-leakless search makes sense.
There's also timing. Most of the coaches Auburn might pursue were in conference tournaments last week, and some are in NCAA regionals this week.
Also, Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs is in Destin, Fla. for this week's SEC meetings.
So, one sees why there's not much doing here. There's probably back-channel communication, but there doesn't seem to be much else happening at this point.
Jacobs told The Star on Friday that the search would probably take "a few weeks."
As for candidates, naming is guessing. Jacksonville State's Jim Case and Samford's Casey Dunn, whose names have come up in published speculation, are free of obligation. Their teams lost in last week's OVC Tournament.
Same for Troy's Bobby Pierce, whose team bowed out of the Sun Belt tourney.
It would be no shock if Auburn made another run at Vanderbilt's Tim Corbin, who turned down the job in 2004. He's busy with an NCAA regional this week, though.
There's also talk about former Mississippi State and Florida head coach Pat McMahon. It's a curious name, since he was Tom Slater's boss before Slater's ill-fated shot at Auburn's head job. McMahon was fired at Florida and spent last season out of coaching.
I seem to remember him dispersing his 2003 team after the regular season, only to recall them when the NCAA surprised the Gators with a tourney berth.
Then again, McMahon took State and Florida to the College World Series in 1998 and 2005, respectively. He's 555-287 in 15 years as a head coach at Old Dominion, State and Florida.
I've heard other names thrown around in speculation, like Tulane's Rick Jones, New Orleans' Tom Walter, Virginia's Brian O'Connor and Kentucky's John Cohen.
Hey, I'll play. Why not Western Kentucky's Chris Finwood? He left Slater's Auburn staff to become Western Kentucky's head coach, and he has the Hilltoppers in the NCAA Tournament.
I know. WKU's 33-25 record and No. 4 regional seed headed to Sillwater, Okla., won't overwhelm anyone, but the Hilltoppers made a nice run through the Sun Belt tourney. They're in the NCAA tourney, where Auburn hasn't gone since 2005.
And hey, at least I got to mention that my alma mater made the NCAA Tournament.
Back to Auburn's search, things likely will pick up next week. For now, nearly all's quiet on that front. Stay tuned.
Also, don't forget to vote on the search-related poll on this blog. It's just a short scroll on the right side of this page.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tubs talks Middle East trip
Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville had a conference call with reporters this morning about his just-completed trip to visit U.S. Military personnel in the Middle East. Here are some highlights of what he had to say:
--He called his visit to the military hospital at Landstuhl, Germany, "very emotional." He met soldiers who had lost parts of legs, but he said they wanted badly to get back to duty.
--About the video from the flag football game he helped to coach, showing him holding up seven fingers in celebration, he said he wasn't tweaking anyone. He had met fans of Auburn rival Alabama during his trip, and it was good-natured. "There was a lot of kidding going on between myself and all the Alabama fans," he said. "We went over there to spread good will. We didn't go over there to jab anybody."
--As for the game, the team he coached included a former Air Force Academy tight end and a former Marshall running back.
--He said he was extremely impressed with the security all around his contingent. He said the security was more extensive than what he saw upon his visit to President Bush at the White House.
--He said he was very impressed with the technology he saw over there and specifically mentioned the Stryker vehicle, which is produced at the Anniston Army Depot.
More to come in Wednesday's Anniston Star.
--He called his visit to the military hospital at Landstuhl, Germany, "very emotional." He met soldiers who had lost parts of legs, but he said they wanted badly to get back to duty.
--About the video from the flag football game he helped to coach, showing him holding up seven fingers in celebration, he said he wasn't tweaking anyone. He had met fans of Auburn rival Alabama during his trip, and it was good-natured. "There was a lot of kidding going on between myself and all the Alabama fans," he said. "We went over there to spread good will. We didn't go over there to jab anybody."
--As for the game, the team he coached included a former Air Force Academy tight end and a former Marshall running back.
--He said he was extremely impressed with the security all around his contingent. He said the security was more extensive than what he saw upon his visit to President Bush at the White House.
--He said he was very impressed with the technology he saw over there and specifically mentioned the Stryker vehicle, which is produced at the Anniston Army Depot.
More to come in Wednesday's Anniston Star.
Friday, May 23, 2008
New Auburn Beat poll
Auburn fans, JSU fans or fans of any stripe, do you have any opinion on who should be Auburn's next baseball coach? Well, you're invited to look down the right side of this page and vote and the new poll.
There's not much happening in the search for a coach. As I said a few blogs down, most of the coaches Auburn might pursue are in conference tournaments this week, and many will be in NCAA regionals next week.
I talked to Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs today, and he said the process will likely take "a few weeks," so there's plenty of time to vote your two cents.
Also, I talked to Auburn signee Caleb Bowen, and the Saks High School catcher said that he's not reconsidering his college choice.
Bowen, who signed last fall when Tom Slater was Auburn's coach, said he likes all of the coaches whose names have come up in speculation about Slater's replacement. Bowen specifically mentioned JSU's Jim Case and Samford's Casey Dunn.
When there's news on the search, I'll have it here and in The Anniston Star ... and don't forget to vote.
There's not much happening in the search for a coach. As I said a few blogs down, most of the coaches Auburn might pursue are in conference tournaments this week, and many will be in NCAA regionals next week.
I talked to Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs today, and he said the process will likely take "a few weeks," so there's plenty of time to vote your two cents.
Also, I talked to Auburn signee Caleb Bowen, and the Saks High School catcher said that he's not reconsidering his college choice.
Bowen, who signed last fall when Tom Slater was Auburn's coach, said he likes all of the coaches whose names have come up in speculation about Slater's replacement. Bowen specifically mentioned JSU's Jim Case and Samford's Casey Dunn.
When there's news on the search, I'll have it here and in The Anniston Star ... and don't forget to vote.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Auburn football picks up major commitment
Rodney Scott, dubbed by Rivals.com as one of the nation's top running back prospects, has committed to Auburn.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Scott chose Auburn over offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Clemson, Arkansas, Purdue and South Florida, according to AuburnSports.com. He said his final three came down to Auburn, South Carolina and South Florida.
Scott rushed for 2,017 yards (8.1 per carry) and 20 touchdowns for Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County High School as a junior. He's said to be on track to qualify academically.
More in Friday's Anniston Star.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Scott chose Auburn over offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Clemson, Arkansas, Purdue and South Florida, according to AuburnSports.com. He said his final three came down to Auburn, South Carolina and South Florida.
Scott rushed for 2,017 yards (8.1 per carry) and 20 touchdowns for Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County High School as a junior. He's said to be on track to qualify academically.
More in Friday's Anniston Star.
Add another forward
Auburn picked up a fifth member of the men's basketball class of 2008 Wednesday when 6-foot-9, 215-pound junior college forward Francis Aihe signed.
He's on schedule to graduate from Gainesville (Fla.) Santa Fe Community College this summer and be eligible for next season.
Aihe averaged 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks a game last season. More in Thursday's Anniston Star.
He's on schedule to graduate from Gainesville (Fla.) Santa Fe Community College this summer and be eligible for next season.
Aihe averaged 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks a game last season. More in Thursday's Anniston Star.
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