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2007 AT&T COTTON BOWL CLASSIC
#10 AUBURN (10-2, 6-2 SEC) vs. #22 NEBRASKA (9-4, 6-2 Big 12)
COTTON BOWL (72,262) • DALLAS, TX
JANUARY 1, 2007 • 10:40 AM CT • TV: FOX
QUICK FACTS
COACHES:
Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, 1976)
Auburn Record 70-29 (8th year)
vs. Nebraska First meeting
Overall Record 95-49 (12th year)
vs. Nebraska First meeting
Bill Callahan (Illinois Benedictine, 1978)
Nebraska Record 22-14 (3rd year)
vs. Auburn First meeting
Overall Record 22-14 (3rd year)
vs. Auburn First meeting
SERIES:
Nebraska leads, 3-0
at Auburn NU leads , 1-0
at Lincoln NU leads , 1-0
Neutral sites NU leads , 1-0
at Miami, FL NU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting NU 41, AU 7
Oct. 2, 1982 in Auburn
RANKINGS:
Auburn 10/10/10/9
Nebraska 22/22/22/23
Associated Press/USA Today/Harris Interactive/BCS
TELEVISION:
FOX (Live)
Play-by-play Pat Summerall
Analyst Brian Baldinger
Sidelines Krista Voda
RADIO:
The Auburn Network provides radio coverage to more than 50 stations that cover the Southeast. Rod Bramblett (play-by-play), Stan White (color), Quentin Riggins (sideline), Paul Ellen (studio) and Andy Burcham (locker room) provide gameday analysis.
SATELITTE RADIO SIRIUS TBA
LOCALLY WKKR-FM (97.7)
INTERNET:
Live audio & stats www.auburntigers.com
THE GAME
Auburn makes its seventh straight bowl appearance and 33rd overall when the Tigers meet Nebraska in the 2007 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. It will be the second trip to the Dallas-based bowl for Auburn and will mark the Tigers' third-straight January bowl game. Auburn has not been to a bowl game in Texas since the Tigers' only other trip to the Cotton Bowl in 1986.
AUBURN'S BOWL HISTORY
This season's bowl appearance marks the 33rd time that the Tigers have played in a bowl game. Auburn has a 17-13-2 record in its previous 32 bowl games and has played in a bowl game in 19 of the last 25 years.
The Tigers are appearing in a bowl game for the seventh straight year, which is tied for the second-longest streak in school history. Auburn had a streak of nine straight bowl appearances from 1982-90 and seven straight from 1968-74.
Since the 1974 Gator Bowl, Auburn is 12-6-1 in bowl games, winning four consecutive from 1974-84 (`74 Gator, `82 Tangerine, `83 Sugar, `84 Liberty) and three straight from 2003-05 (`03 Capital One, `03 Music City, `05 Sugar).
TUBERVILLE IN BOWL GAMES
Tommy Tuberville is 4-3 all-time in bowl games as a head coach, including a 3-3 mark at Auburn. Tuberville guided the Tigers to three consecutive bowl wins, defeating Virginia Tech, 16-13, in the 2005 NOKIA Sugar Bowl, Wisconsin, 28-14, in the 2003 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, and Penn State, 13-9, in the 2003 Capital One Bowl.
Tuberville also guided the Tigers to the 2006 Capital One Bowl (24-10 loss to Wisconsin), 2001 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (16-10 loss to North Carolina) and 2001 Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (31-28 loss to Michigan). As a head coach at Ole Miss, Tuberville led the Rebels to a 34-31 win in the 1997 Motor City Bowl.
As both a head coach and an assistant coach, Tuberville is 9-6 in bowl games. While an assistant at Miami, Tuberville was 5-3 in bowl games, including five straight wins from 1988 to 1992 and three national championships.
IN THE COTTON BOWL
Auburn has made just one previous appearance in the Cotton Bowl. On Jan. 1, 1986, the Tigers were beaten by Texas A&M, 36-16, in the 50th edition of the game. Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson had 129 yards rushing and 73 yards receiving while scoring both Auburn touchdowns in the game.
TIGERS' BOWL NOTABLES
The Tigers are 16th in the NCAA all-time in bowl appearances (33) and tied for 15th all-time in bowl victories (17) ... This will be Auburn's fifth bowl game played in the state of Texas (1968 Sun, 1969 Astro-Bluebonnet, 1973 Sun, 1986 Cotton), with the Tigers owning a 1-3 record in the previous four games ... The Tigers are 10-3-2 in bowl games when scoring first ... Auburn is 12-2 in bowl games when scoring 20 or more points ... Auburn has been held to fewer than 20 points in four of its last five bowl games, but is 2-2 in those four contests ... Auburn has never been shut out in a bowl game.
AU-NU HISTORY
The Cotton Bowl Classic will mark just the fourth meeting in history between Auburn and Nebraska, and the first since 1982. The Huskers have won each of the three previous encounters. The first time the two schools met was at the 1964 Orange Bowl in Miami, and No. 6 Nebraska earned a 13-7 victory over the fifth-ranked Tigers. The teams met again in 1981 in Lincoln, with the Huskers winning by a 17-3 score. The next year in Auburn, eighth-ranked Nebraska rolled to a 41-7 victory over the No. 20 Tigers.
NEBRASKA QUICK HITTERS
Nebraska won the Big 12 North Division before falling to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game ... The Huskers have won five national championships and 43 conference championships in their history ... Nebraska is ranked ninth in the nation in total offense (428.8), 13th in scoring offense (31.9) and 18th in passing offense (253.2) ... Quarterback Zac Taylor has 25 touchdown passes this season, breaking the NU single-season record of 20 set by Vince Ferragamo in 1976, and broke his own school record with 3,071 passing yards ... Taylor's 44 career TD passes are also a Nebraska record ... Brandon Jackson ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing (73.2) and all-purpose yards (109.8) ... Wideout Terrence Nunn has 100 career receptions, becoming just the second receiver in NU history to reach the century mark in catches ... Nebraska has scored at least 20 points in 11 of its 13 games this season ... The Huskers have blocked four kicks this season.
FINAL GAME FOR TIGER SENIORS
The Cotton Bowl will mark the final game for Auburn's senior class. The Tigers' group of 21 seniors is the largest class at Auburn during the Tommy Tuberville era. The group has posted a 40-10 record over the past four seasons, winning more games than any previous class in Auburn history, and won the 2004 SEC Championship and the 2005 SEC Western Division Co-Championship.
The 2006 seniors include: TE Cole Bennett, P Kody Bliss, DL Christopher Browder, K Matt Clark, C Joe Cope, LB Karibi Dede, OT Tim Duckworth, OG Ben Grubbs, WR Lee Guess, DE Marquies Gunn, SS Brant Haynie, LB Will Herring, CB David Irons, RB Kenny Irons, P Patrick Martyn, OL Jonathan Palmer, FS Pete Ruzicka, LB Kevin Sears, RB Tre Smith, WR Courtney Taylor and K John Vaughn.
AGAINST THE BIG 12
Auburn is 9-15-1 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference, with bowl games accounting for eight of those 25 games (3-5 record in those eight bowl games). However, Auburn has not played a Big 12 school since 1991, when the No. 13 Tigers earned a 14-10 win at Texas.
Bowl Games vs. Big 12 Conference Schools
1954 Gator Texas Tech L, 35-13
1954 Gator Baylor W, 33-13
1964 Orange Nebraska L, 13-7
1972 Sugar Oklahoma L, 40-22
1972 Gator Colorado W, 24-3
1973 Sun Missouri L, 34-17
1974 Gator Texas W, 27-3
1986 Cotton Texas A&M L, 36-16
TUBERVILLE VS. THE BIG 12
The Cotton Bowl match-up against Nebraska will mark Tommy Tuberville's first game against a Big 12 opponent as a head coach. However, during Tuberville's stint as an assistant coach at Miami, the Hurricanes played in four bowl games against Big 12 schools, winning all four. Miami beat Oklahoma in the 1988 Orange Bowl (20-14), Nebraska in the 1989 (23-3) and 1992 (22-0) Orange Bowls and Texas in the 1991 Cotton Bowl (46-3).
100TH GAME AT AUBURN
Auburn's appearance in the Cotton Bowl will mark Tommy Tuberville's 100th game as Auburn head coach. Tuberville, who owns a 70-29 record in his first 99 games heading the Tigers, will become just the fourth coach in Auburn history to coach 100 games. Ralph "Shug" Jordan has coached the most games at Auburn, leading the Tigers for 265 games over 25 seasons from 1951-75 while compiling a 176-83-6 record. Pat Dye (1981-92) was the head coach for 142 games, posting a mark of 99-39-4, while Mike Donahue (1904-06, 1908-22) headed the squad for 139 games, recording a ledger of 99-35-5.
ASSISTANTS IN BOWLS
Auburn's post-season appearance will mark a return visit to a bowl for several Tiger assistant coaches. Quarterbacks coach Steve Ensminger will be going to his 12th bowl game, while offensive line coach Hugh Nall and defensive line coach Terry Price will be going to their 11th bowl. Ensminger played in three bowls at LSU as did Price while at Texas A&M. Nall and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp both played in two bowl games while at Georgia.
Auburn Assistants' Bowl Appearances
Coach Appearances
Steve Ensminger (Tight Ends) 12th
Hugh Nall (Offensive Line) 11th
Terry Price (Defensive Ends) 11th
Don Dunn (Defensive Tackles) 10th
Eddie Gran (Running Backs/Special Teams) 10th
Will Muschamp (Def. Coordinator/Secondary) 9th
Greg Knox (Wide Receivers) 8th
Al Borges (Offensive Coordinator) 7th
James Willis (Linebackers) 2nd
ON THIS DATE
Auburn is 4-6-2 all-time in games played on Jan. 1. The Tigers' last Jan. 1 bowl game was the 2003 Capital One Bowl, when Auburn beat Penn State 13-9. Auburn's last four Jan. 1 games have all been played in Florida since a 16-16 tie against Syracuse in the 1987 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The Tigers' first Jan. 1 game came in 1937 when Auburn played Villanova to a 7-7 tie in the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba.
VS. TEAMS RANKED 22ND
Surprisingly, Auburn has never before played a team ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
DID YOU KNOW?
Auburn is the only team in the country to have defeated two teams ranked in the top five of the final regular season Associated Press top 25 poll, as well as the only team to beat two teams playing in BCS bowl games. Auburn beat current No. 2 Florida (27-17), headed to the BCS national championship game, on Oct. 14, and beat current No. 4 LSU (7-3), slated for the Sugar Bowl, on Sept. 16.
THREE-YEAR DOMINATION
Auburn has posted a record of 32-5 (.865) since the start of the 2004 season, tying the Tigers for the third-best record in the NCAA over the past three seasons. Only USC (35-3, .921) and Texas (33-4, .892) have better winning percentages than Auburn during that span, while Boise State has an identical 32-5 mark.
ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
With 10 victories this year, Auburn will finish with another winning season. It marks the seventh consecutive winning season for Auburn, and the 76th in school history. Auburn, which has now had just three losing seasons in the last 25 years, has won at least 10 games 11 times in its history.
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Auburn has had a knack for winning close ball games since Tommy Tuberville arrived as the Tigers' head coach. In his seven seasons at the helm, Auburn is 23-10 in games decided by seven points or less and has won 11 of its last 13, including all four games this season. Counting his four seasons at Ole Miss, Tuberville has a 23-15 record as a head coach in games decided by seven points or less.
SENIORS BREAK FOUR-YEAR MARK
Auburn has broken the mark for most victories over a four-year period in Auburn history with 40, and has also broken the three-year mark with 32 wins. Last year's class had set the four-year mark with 39 victories, the three-year mark (30) and the two-year record (22).
SECOND-HALF STALWARTS
Auburn has shown ability to make necessary adjustments at the half, as evidenced by the Tigers rallying from halftime deficits to beat both LSU (trailed 3-0, won 7-3) and Florida (trailed 17-11, won 27-17) this season, and breaking a 7-7 halftime tie to beat Ole Miss. Auburn has outscored its opponents 99-33 in the third quarter this year, and 60-24 in the fourth period, for a total advantage of 159-57 in the second half. Auburn has also held its opponents to 11-of-34 third-down conversions in the third quarter (32.4 percent), while converting 52.6 percent (20-of-38) of its own third down chances in the third period.
TWO THOUSAND TIMES TWO
For the first time in school history, Auburn has both a career 2,000-yard rusher and career 2,000-yard receiver on the same team. Courtney Taylor surpassed the 2,000-yard mark in receiving during Auburn's victory over Arkansas State Nov. 4, and the following Saturday against Georgia, Kenny Irons went over the 2,000-yard mark in rushing. Irons, who now has 2,114 career rushing yards, became the 12th Auburn player to pass the 2,000-yard mark in rushing, but Taylor, who has 2,028 career receiving yards, is one of just four Tigers to reach 2,000 yards receiving.
TAYLOR TAKING OVER
Courtney Taylor has stepped up his production this season, posting a career-best 48 catches while grabbing at least three passes in nine games this year.
Taylor is tied for the SEC's third-leading active receiver with 147 career catches and ranks fourth with 2,028 career receiving yards. He ranks second in Auburn history in receptions, needing four to set a new school record, and fourth in receiving yardage. Of his 147 catches, 99 have resulted in first downs (67.3 percent).
JUST FOR KICKS
John Vaughn is having an All-American senior season, and was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award. Vaughn leads the SEC and is tied for seventh nationally with 19 field goals made (in 23 attempts) and ranks third in the SEC in scoring (7.4). Vaughn, whose field goal percentage of .826 is tied for fourth in the nation among kickers with at least 20 attempts, has twice made four field goals in a game this season (Sept. 2 vs. Washington State and Oct. 14 vs. Florida). He has two field goals this year of over 50 yards and broke Auburn's career scoring record, now with 307 points, which ranks 13th in SEC history.
Vaughn's 19 field goals this season is the second-highest single-season total in school history. He is three shy of the record of 22 set by Scott Etheridge in 1992.
NO RETURN POLICY
Auburn has allowed the fewest kickoff return yards in the nation this season, and by a wide margin. The Tigers have surrendered just 197 kickoff return yards, while the next lowest total is 276 by Arizona, despite the fact that the Wildcats kicked off 13 fewer times than Auburn this season. And the team that has surrendered the third-fewest return yards, Colorado, has allowed almost twice as many yards as Auburn (392). The second-lowest total in the SEC belongs to Ole Miss with 583 yards, and the Rebels kicked off 18 fewer times than Auburn.
Most of the credit goes to senior kicker Matt Clark, who leads the SEC with 49 touchbacks on 62 kickoffs this season (79.0 percent), and has had streaks of 16 in a row and 13 in a row this year. Clark, who also successfully converted an onsides kick in the third quarter at South Carolina, was named SEC Special teams Player of the Week Sept. 25.
DAVIS DOING DAMAGE
Tristan Davis leads the SEC and ranks 15th in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 26.4 yards per return while setting a new Auburn record for kickoff return yardage in a single season. Davis, who has had a return of at least 30 yards in nine of his 11 games played, has accumulated 713 kickoff return yards, and his 26.4-yard average would rank fourth best in school history.
IRONS IN THE FIRE
Kenny Irons, who currently ranks No. 3 in the SEC averaging 82.1 yards rushing per game, has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 11 times in his two seasons playing for Auburn. During his past 20 games, Irons has totaled 2.081 yards rushing (104.1 yards per game). Although he is only in his second season at Auburn, Irons already ranks 10th in Auburn history with 2,114 career yards rushing.
LETHAL WEAPONS
True freshman Ben Tate has a pair of 100-yard rushing games (156 vs. Tulane, 114 vs. Buffalo), becoming the latest Tiger to post a big rushing total. In fact, Auburn has six different players on the roster who have rushed for at least 90 yards in a single game, including four that have topped the century mark.
Kenny Irons leads the list with 11 career 100-yard games including a high of 218 last year at LSU. Sophomore Tristan Davis, who is now playing safety, rushed for 162 yards last season at Kentucky, while Tate's 156-yard effort is third best among current Tigers. Senior Tre Smith had a career-best 126-yard effort as a freshman in 2002 at Alabama. Sophomore Brad Lester had a career-high 94-yard performance Oct. 14 vs. Florida, while junior Carl Stewart had 91 yards rushing in 2004 vs. the Citadel.
RUNNING BACK U.
Auburn has more running backs on NFL rosters than any other college, according to data distributed by the NFL. There are six former Tigers currently playing running back in the NFL, including: Ronnie Brown (Dolphins), Stephen Davis (Rams), Heath Evans (Patriots), Rudi Johnson (Bengals), Tony Richardson (Vikings) and Carnell Williams (Buccaneers).
NO SHUTOUTS ALLOWED
Auburn has scored in 49 consecutive games, which is the third-longest streak in school history. The Tigers have not been shut out since a 23-0 loss to USC to open the 2003 season. The second-longest streak without being shutout is 58 games, but it would be quite a while before Auburn could challenge the school record. The Tigers scored in 149 straight games from Oct. 4, 1980 through Nov. 14, 1992.
FRESH MEAT
A number of true and redshirt freshmen have been contributing for Auburn this season. Redshirt freshmen DL Sen'Derrick Marks, S Aairon Savage, LB Tray Blackmon and TEs Tommy Trott and Gabe McKenzie have all started games this season. Savage ranks third on the team with 48 tackles, Marks has 33 tackles and ranks second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, McKenzie is tied for fourth on the team with 12 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown and Trott is fifth with 10 catches for 94 yards including two scores.
In addition, true freshman RB Ben Tate rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown Oct. 21 vs. Tulane and 114 yards and two scores Sept. 23 vs. Buffalo. Redshirt freshman DB Jerraud Powers has 25 tackles, redshirt freshman DE Antonio Coleman has 15 stops and redshirt freshman LB Patrick Trahan has 11 tackles.
OL HAS EXPERIENCE
Although they hadn't started a game as a group prior to the season opener vs. Washington State, Auburn has five offensive linemen who have a wealth of experience, combining for 183 games played and 105 starts. Senior guard Ben Grubbs has played in 49 games, starting the last 37, while his counterpart at guard, senior Tim Duckworth, has played in 31 games on the offensive side, making 21 starts. Senior center Joe Cope has started 19 of his 22 career games played, while senior tackle Jonathan Palmer (45 games, 15 starts) and junior tackle King Dunlap (36 games played, 13 starts) are new to the starting lineup this year but have seen extensive action.
GROVES IN A GROOVE
Junior defensive end Quentin Groves, who ranks second in the SEC with 9.5 sacks this season, has twice earned SEC weekly honors this year. Groves had three sacks in the second half of Auburn's 27-17 victory over Florida Oct. 14, which earned him SEC Defensive Player of the week honors. He had two sacks that both resulted in fumbles recovered by Auburn and eventually to Auburn touchdowns in the Tigers' 22-15 win at Alabama Nov. 18, earning him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week accolades. Groves is tied for second in Auburn history with 23 career sacks, and shares the school record for sacks in a game, with four in a 2004 game vs. Kentucky.
KEEPING IT UNDER 20
Auburn, which ranks eighth in the NCAA in scoring defense at 13.9 points per game, has allowed 20 or more points in a game just twice this season, and has held its opponents to less than 20 points 28 times in its last 37 games (75.7 percent). Only Georgia (37 points) and Arkansas (27) have reached the 20-point mark against Auburn this season.
The chart below illustrates the number of times Auburn's opponents have scored 20+ points since Tommy Tuberville's arrival in 1999.
Year 20+ Games
2006 2
2005 5
2004 2
2003 6
2002 6
2001 8
2000 7
1999 6
MORE THAN ONE IRONS EXCELLING
Senior cornerback David Irons was granted a sixth-year of eligibility prior to this season, and the extra year has paid dividends. Irons is tied for fifth on the team with 39 tackles (22 solo, 17 assists) this season, including a team-high 10 stops during Auburn's 24-17 victory at South Carolina Sept. 28. Irons is tied for fourth in the SEC with 13 passes defended this season (two interceptions, 11 pass break-ups).
SMOOTH TRANSITION
One of the more notable changes to the Auburn defense was the move of Will Herring, a three-year starter at free safety, to linebacker. The results have been good, as Herring leads the team with 65 tackles this season, including 7.5 for losses, and shares the team lead with two interceptions plus two forced fumbles. He also took a direct snap on a fake punt in the season opener against Washington State and rushed 42 yards in the third quarter vs. Washington State.
SENIOR STEPS UP
Karibi Dede, the only returning starting linebacker for Auburn this season, has stepped up during his senior season. Dede ranks second on the team with 56 tackles, including 29 solo stops. He also has recovered two fumbles, giving him seven for his career. Dede has started 30 games for Auburn during his career, although he had a streak of 15 straight starts snapped when he sat out the Buffalo game Sept. 23.
D-LINE IS DELIGHTFUL
Auburn replaced three starters on the defensive line this season, but the results have been favorable. Through the end of the regular season, ends Quentin Groves, Marquies Gunn and Christopher Browder and interior linemen Pat Sims, Sen'Derrick Marks and Josh Thompson have combined for 173 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 21 sacks. Groves has team highs of 12.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, while Thompson leads all defensive linemen with 38 tackles.
HEAVENLY BLISS
Senior Kody Bliss is averaging 46.1 yards per kick, which would rank third in the nation if he had enough punts to qualify. Seventeen of Bliss' 41 punts have traveled more than 50 yards, including four over 60, and he has placed 12 punts inside the opponents' 20. Bliss was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 18 following Auburn's 7-3 victory over LSU after averaging 48.2 yards on six punts. He had kicks of 62, 61, 51 and 50 yards, as well as punts of 34 and 31 yards that both pinned LSU inside its own 20-yard-line. He had a 69-yard punt at South Carolina Sept. 28 and a career-long 71-yard boot Oct. 21 vs. Tulane.
EXTRA POINTS
John Vaughn has made 105 consecutive PATs dating back to the 2004 season, and is 160-of-161 for his career. Prior to his only miss, Auburn had made an SEC record 209 consecutive PATs from 1999-2004. Auburn has now made 314 of its last 315 PATs.
WHEN SCORING 20+ POINTS
Under Tommy Tuberville, Auburn is 62-4 when scoring 20 or more points in a game, including a 60-3 mark in the regular season. Dating back to 1995, Auburn is 83-11 when scoring 20 or more points in a game.
30+ POINTS EQUALS VICTORY
Under Tommy Tuberville, Auburn is 41-0 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. Auburn has won 46 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points.
The last time the Tigers lost when registering at least 30 points was a 56-49, four overtime loss to Georgia in 1996.
In the last 22 years, Auburn is 115-2 when scoring 30 points.
IRON MEN
Of Auburn's 21 seniors, 11 have seen time in more than 40 games during their careers, including three who have played in more than 50. Tre Smith and Will Herring, who both have redshirted during seasons in which they saw limited action, have played in 53 and 52 games, respectively, to lead the group. Kody Bliss joins Smith and Herring as players who have played in all 50 games over the past four seasons. Karibi Dede, Courtney Taylor and Ben Grubbs have played in 49 games, followed by John Vaughn (47), Marquies Gunn (46), Jonathan Palmer (45), Tim Duckworth (42) and Kevin Sears (41).
STARTS STREAK
Will Herring set a new school record for consecutive starts at Alabama Nov. 18, marking his 48th consecutive start. He broke the record of 47 set by OL Jeno James (1996-99). Herring's streak is tied for the third-longest active streak in the nation. Herring passed former QB Stan White (45 games from 1990-93) for the second-longest starting streak in Auburn history Nov. 4 vs. Arkansas State.
Senior offensive guard Ben Grubbs has the second-longest active streak, having started 37 straight games.
JORDAN-HARE STADIUM
Now in its 67th year as home to the Auburn football team, Jordan-Hare Stadium is the nation's ninth-largest on-campus stadium, with a capacity of 87,451 fans. The Tigers are 255-62-7 (.798) at Jordan-Hare Stadium, including a 41-8 (.837) mark in the last seven years. AU went 7-0 at home in both 2000 and 2004, and posted a 6-1 mark last season.
Auburn has won 12 of its last 14 games at home and 20 of its last 23 games at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
TIGERS TOUGH ON TOP TEN
Auburn has won eight of its last nine games against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 10, including a 7-3 victory over then-No. 6 LSU on Sept. 16 and a 27-17 win against then-No. 2 Florida Oct. 14. The Tigers have won six straight home games against Top-10 squads.
Last year, Auburn posted victories at No. 9 Georgia (31-30) and against No. 8 Alabama (28-18). In 2004, the Tigers defeated No. 5 LSU (10-9), No. 10 Tennessee (34-10), No. 8 Georgia (24-6) and No. 9 Virginia Tech (16-13) in the NOKIA Sugar Bowl.
During the Tommy Tuberville era, Auburn is 14-10 in games played against top 10 teams, and has won 14 of its last 19 games dating back to a 23-20 upset of No. 1-ranked Florida Oct. 13, 2001.
Dating back to the 2002 season, Auburn has played 18 games against top 10 teams in its last 56 games (32.1 percent).
TIGER PROS
Auburn has demonstrated a proficiency for placing players in the National Football League. Auburn had 27 players listed on opening day NFL rosters, which was 11th most of any college in the nation. The Washington Redskins have the most former Tigers, with five former Auburn players on the roster.
TUBERVILLE IN EIGHTH SEASON
Tommy Tuberville is in his eighth season at Auburn in 2006 and his 12th as a head coach in the Southeastern Conference. Tuberville has the third-longest tenure in the SEC (second-longest active streak) behind Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee and Steve Spurrier of South Carolina, who are each coaching his 14th season in the league this year.
Tuberville has amassed a record of 70-29 in eight seasons at Auburn and an overall mark of 95-49. He has led the Tigers to seven straight bowl appearances.
Tuberville is fourth all-time at Auburn in wins, and is the fifth-longest tenured coach in school history.
12 AND COUNTING
In his 12th year as a head coach, Tommy Tuberville has five assistant coaches who have been with him all 12 years. The group includes: defensive tackles/ noseguard coach Don Dunn, running backs/special teams coach Eddie Gran, wide receivers coach Greg Knox, offensive line coach Hugh Nall and defensive ends coach Terry Price.
THE TIME HAS COME
Prior to this season, new timing rules were put into effect to reduce the length of college football games. For Auburn, there have indeed been fewer plays this season. In the previous five seasons, Auburn averaged between 66.2 and 68.3 plays per game, but this year is down to 58.4 plays per game. Auburn games averaged between 126.2 and 134.9 total plays per game over the past five seasons, but this year, Tiger games are averaging 117.0 plays per contest.
The following chart shows the average plays run in games this season compared to the averages from the previous five seasons.
Year Auburn Opponent Total
2006 58.0 59.0 117.0
2005 68.3 63.0 131.3
2004 66.2 60.0 126.2
2003 66.5 61.7 128.2
2002 66.3 68.6 134.9
2001 66.7 65.7 132.3
TIGER GRADS
Auburn begins the season with 11 graduates on the roster, which is the most of any Division I-A football team.
The Tiger graduates include: TE Cole Bennett (business administration), P Kody Bliss (business marketing), C Joe Cope (economics), LB Karibi Dede (rehab special education), OG Ben Grubbs (public administration), WR Lee Guess (business marketing), LB Will Herring (exercise science), CB David Irons (Sociology), P Patrick Martyn (business), RB Tre Smith (business) and RB Carl Stewart (political science).
Listed are the top 10 programs in terms of number of players who have completed their bachelor's degrees prior to the start of the 2006 season.
1. Auburn 11
2. Notre Dame 9
Miami (Fla.) 9
4. Texas Tech 8
5. Boston College 7
Louisiana Tech 7
Penn State 7
8. Baylor 6
West Virginia 6
10. Kentucky 5
Memphis 5
Nebraska 5
Virginia 5
FATHERS AND SONS
Auburn tight ends coach Steve Ensminger is the father of Auburn freshman quarterback Steven Ensminger, while junior fullback Danny Perry is the son of Director of Football Operations Jimmy Perry. The younger Ensminger is the first Tiger to have his father on the coaching staff since Joe Whitt, Jr., played wide receiver from 1998-99 while Joe Whitt, Sr., who coached at Auburn from 1981-2005, was a linebackers coach.
Previously, Gene Lorendo, an assistant coach from 1951-75, saw his son Mac letter at offensive tackle from 1970-72, earning All-SEC honors as a senior, and Paul Davis, an assistant coach from 1967-80 and 1987-90, watched his son Rhett letter at split end from 1972-73.
TIGERS SWITCH TO UNDER ARMOUR
The Auburn football uniforms may look the same in 2006 to the casual observer, but the Tigers have made one key change to the uniforms. The uniforms are now made by Under Armour Performance Apparel as part of a five-year contract signed in December of 2005 that makes Under Armour the official outfitter of all of Auburn's athletic teams. The contract, worth $10.6 million in sponsorship, product and additional benefits, will see Auburn's athletic teams wearing Under Armour uniforms, cleats, apparel and accessories beginning in the 2006-07 academic year.
TUBERVILLE GOES HOLLYWOOD
Head coach Tommy Tuberville appeared in a new Under Armour commercial that debuted during Auburn's season-opening game vs. Washington State. The 30-second spot, which promotes Under Armour's new line of football cleats and apparel, will air nationally throughout the college football season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Cole Bennett started his freshman year at Auburn already having accumulated 27 credit hours ... Kody Bliss is one of five boys in his family, all of whom have names that start with "K" ... Bliss and Brant Haynie were married during the summer of 2006 ... Joe Cope ran his own grass-cutting business in high school ... Tim Duckworth is engaged to former Auburn track and field athlete Ronda Gullatte ... Oscar Gonzales is originally from Cuba and is bilingual ... Will Herring is a self-professed "Chess Geek" ... Brad Lester was a high school teammates of the Atlanta Braves' Jeff Francoeur ... Carl Stewart plays the violin ... Courtney Taylor's last name should be Walker, but an error on his birth certificate resulted in him getting his mother's maiden name for a last name ... John Vaughn has broken his left wrist three times and his right wrist once, broken his left ankle twice, knocked teeth out and had to have stitches six times.
