The Auburn Plainsman 12.05.13 issue

The Auburn Plainsman A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Thursday, December 5, 2013 Vol. 120, Issue 27, 32 Pages

‘THEY’RE NOT GONNA KEEP ’EM OFF THE FIELD TONIGHT’

Davis’ 109-yard field goal return with one second remaining lifts Tigers to epic Iron Bowl victory Justin Ferguson ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Remember when “The Immaculate Deflection” was the biggest play in Auburn history?

That title only lasted two weeks.

On the final play of perhaps the biggest Iron Bowl in the series’ storied history, Alabama’s Adam Griffith lined up 57 yards from the goal posts Saturday, Nov. 30, and attempted a game-winning kick.

After a lengthy replay review awarded Alabama one extra second at the end of regulation, Griffith tried to end the Crimson Tide’s special teams woes and keep the dreams of a third consecutive BCS National Championship alive.

But his potential winner only traveled 56 yards.

Auburn cornerback Chris Davis took that additional yard and turned it into what has been called the wildest finish in college football history.

“I had my eyes on the ball, trying to secure the catch first,” Davis said. “Then everything happened after that.”

“Everything” turned out to be a weaving return for a touchdown that covered more than 100 yards — a play so rare that it has only been pulled off three other PHOTOS BY ZACH BLAND DESIGN BY RACHEL SUHS

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POLICE REPORTS FOR NOV. 19–DEC. 2, 2013

DUI ARRESTS FOR NOV. 19–DEC. 2, 2013 Lisa Mitchell, 37 Sherman Wortham, 58 Nov. 22, 2:50 a.m. on Webster Road Nov. 28, 6:24 p.m. on Shug Jordan Parkway and Owens Road Barry Davis, 40 Nov. 23, 9:08 p.m. on North College Simon Snyder, 30 Nov. 29, 2:02 a.m. on Green Street Antonio Stanton, 31 Nov. 23, 3:45 a.m. on North Gay Devin Schulien, 32 Street and Opelika Road Nov. 29, 2:50 a.m. on Opelika Road Stephen Roberts, 21 Nov. 23, 1:12 a.m. on Opelika Road

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Frank Sparks, 33 Nov. 30, 10:52 p.m. on West Glenn and North Donahue Drive

James Cauley, 27 Nov. 24, 2:48 a.m. on West Longleaf Michael Stone, 21 Nov. 30, 6 p.m. on Wire Road Franklin Boyett, 70 Nov. 24, 5:16 a.m. on East Glenn John Jones, 64 Avenue and East University Drive Nov. 30, 1:24 p.m. on War Eagle Way and South Donahue Drive Timothy Chumley, 23 Nov 24, 6:12 a.m. on Wire Road Miles Bateman, 19 Nov. 30, 8:25 a.m. on Wire Road and Lem Morrison Drive Robbin Rymal, 50 Nov. 25, 5:02 p.m. on Cottonwood Circle and Ferndale Drive Amanda Muller, 21 Nov. 30, 3:36 a.m. on West Magnolia Avenue and Wright Street

East University Drive between May 20, 2012– Nov. 20 Theft from public building : theft of jewelry

Opelika Road between Nov. 22–24 Third-degree burglary: theft of two flat screen televisions, gaming console, games and computer

North Debardeleben Street between Nov. 19–20 Theft from public building: theft of two projectors, two computers, scanner and hard drives

Opelika Road on Nov. 23 between 9:55–10 a.m.

Unauthorized use of a vehicle: Chevrolet

Opelika Road Nov. 20 between 1–9 p.m.

Burglary of residence, force: theft of two gaming systems, three hard drives, scientific calculator and various games South College Street between Nov. 20–21 Auto theft: Toyota South College Street Nov. 22 between noon–3:45 p.m.

Third-degree burglary¬: theft of computer, two televisions, gaming system, Blu-Ray disc player, tablet and video games Lem Morrison Drive between Nov. 22–23 First-degree theft of property: theft of Chevrolet

West Longleaf Drive between Nov. 24–29 Second-degree theft of property: rifle and shot gun Lee Road 395 between Nov. 24–25 First-degree theft of property: side-by-side utility cart

Shug Jordan Parkway between Nov. 30–Dec. 1 Third-degree burglary: theft of Black AR-15 West Magnolia Avenue between Nov. 30–Dec. 1 Auto breaking and entering: theft of camera, camera lens, microphone, memory cards, camera film and two camera bags Watercrest Drive between Nov. 30–Dec. 2 Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle: theft of .40 Cal Pistol Lee Road 137 between Nov. 13–Dec. 2 Miscellaneous theft: theft of jewelry, currency, pharmaceuticals and a safe

Wire Road Nov. 30 between noon–9:30 p.m.

Auto theft: theft of Jeep Old Mill Road on Nov. 30 between 1:15–1:20 p.m.

Third-degree assault and discharging firearm in city Spring Hill Court between Nov. 30–Dec. 1 Theft of property: theft of Lincoln Towncar, currency and wallets

South College Street on Dec. 2 between 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Third-degree burglary: theft of two televisions, computer, camera, gaming system, Blu-Ray disc player, and headphones — Reports provided by Auburn Department of Public Safety

Tix and tows may make some groans for students Ben Hohenstatt CAMPUS REPORTER

The Auburn Tigers’ success on the football field has many looking for tickets.

However, unfortunately for students and visitors, the easiest tickets to find have nothing to do with sports.

Don Andrae, manager for Auburn University parking services, said the number of parking tickets issued by Auburn parking services increased during the fall 2013 semester.

“Just earlier today, I saw a truck stopped in the middle of Mell Street,” Andrae said. “People who do things like that make it bad for everybody.”

Since August, parking services has issued approximately 6,500 tickets, a dramatic increase from 5,800 parking tickets issued during the same time frame last year.

Andre said he found the increase disap-

pointing because last year’s numbers indicated emails and notifications about parking restrictions were working.

“We thought the emails were working,” Andrae said. “I actually sent out more emails this year.”

Andrae said this year brought larger crowds to home games and this resulted in more parking tickets.

“We seldom tow during the day,” Andrae said.

“Most of those are on game days.”

Andrae said there has been a rise in vehicles towed that corresponds to the increase in the number of vehicles ticketed.

“When you get towed on game days, you get ticketed on game days,” Andrae said.

This year parking services has towed 253 vehicles. Last year, parking services towed 83 vehicles.

Matthew Lord, junior in business administra-

tion, said he is familiar with the towing process.

Lord’s truck has been towed three times during the course of three years.

“All three times it cost me $100,” Lord said.

Lord said the repeated towing changed his mindset when parking his truck on campus.

“I’m paranoid,” Lord said. “If I don’t have to drive, I don’t drive.”

Despite the uptick in their regularity, Andrae said it is not his goal to tow vehicles.

“I really hate towing vehicles,” Andrae said.

Andrae said restrictions on Central Campus parking also caused the increase in the number of vehicles ticketed and towed.

“We’ve started enforcing the central parking rule,” Andrae said. “There’s more and more concern about safety for students.”

Andrae said more parking spaces will be available to Auburn students in the immediate future.

“Finishing the hot-water line will result in 32 more parking spots in the Coliseum lot,” Andrae said.

Andrae also said parking services is considering purchasing a license recognition system.

Andrae said license recognition would eliminate the need to purchase hang-on parking passes and expedite parking enforcement on campus.

Andrae said while many students complain about parking scarcity, there are parking spaces that go unused.

“I’ve never understood why more students don’t park in the Biggio Drive lot,” Andrae said.

“It stays open all day.”

Andrae said until all the available parking is used, more parking will most likely not be added.

“It’s difficult to say we need more parking when a lot is only 25 percent full,” Andrae said.

Starbucks barista in the Student Center Kyle Nazario CAMPUS@ THEPLAINSMAN.COM

They always told me I’d end up as a barista from majoring in journalism.

The Friday before Thanksgiving break, I practiced for my future day job by spending some time behind the counter at the Starbucks in the Student Center.

Working at Starbucks is intense.

The action never stops. At no time during my shift was the line empty.

“It’s mostly fast throughout the whole entire thing,” said Meme Lapread, barista.

Even on what Tiger Dining assistant director Chris Riggs called the slowest day of the year, newcomers kept refilling the line.

To further complicate things, every customer wants something different.

There’s no mass-production at Starbucks. Every drink has to be mixed by hand.

This means memorizing which drinks get mixed, which get ice, which need whipped cream and which take none of those.

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times in college football history.

As Davis crossed into the end zone with zero time left on the clock, the Auburn student section emptied its part of Jordan-Hare Stadium and filled Pat Dye Field.

“It was indescribable, just like this whole season,” said defensive end Dee Ford. “That was what the fans deserve because they stuck with us last year.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he had never seen anything like it in his football career.

“First time I have ever lost a game that way, first time I have ever seen a game lost that way,” Saban said after the game. “We had the wind behind us, but he still should have covered it. The game should not have ended that way.”

But the game did end that way, and it completed Au-

Remembering the right container from the long rows of syrups is even harder when the line’s down the hallway.

“It’s not stressful,” said supervisor JoAnn Ashbrook. “But it is at first. It’s real stressful at first.”

Ashbrook, who’s worked at Starbucks for three years, admitted the job almost overwhelmed her, initially.

“I almost quit when I first started because I was like, ‘Oh, it’s just crazy,’” Ashbrook said. “I said, ‘I can’t let this beat me.’ I’m not that kind of person...

It’s just like driving a car now.”

The workers at Starbucks never showed signs of slowing down, despite the high traffic volume.

I had trouble keeping up, relying on Lapread and Ashbrook’s patience to show me how to make each drink.

Ashbrook even took the time to greet several customers by name and wish them a happy Thanksgiving.

Riggs said he tries to instill this attitude in everyone who works there.

“What I tell my guys... especially my new hires, it’s a privilege for us to be here,” Riggs said. “You don’t need coffee to survive. That’s not in Maslow’s hierarchy. So for people to actually spend $4-5 per day, just for coffee, it says a lot.”

Keeping up with the pace and

burn’s turnaround from winless in SEC play last season to a berth in the title game.

“I really didn’t let my mind go there until I shook (Saban’s) hand, and I was thinking you know that we are going to the SEC Championship Game,” Malzahn said. “It was a lot of fun. It’s what you coach for.”

As “2013 SEC Western Division Champions” flashed on the screen and “Reverse Rammer Jammer” blared over the public address system Saturday night, Auburn fans celebrated the Tigers’ upset victory in a fashion that JordanHare Stadium had not seen since 2001.

For the first time in more than a dozen years, Auburn had defeated the No. 1 team in college football.

Just like they did when Damon Duval’s field goal defeated No. 1 Alabama Oct. 13, 2001, Auburn fans stormed the field.

“Me and my friend were talking about storming the field just last week,” tight end

learning customers’ names seemed impossible considering how many people visit the store.

Lakota Lasseter, another barista, said she tries to learn a new name every day.

“People who come in at night are usually the same,” Lasseter said. “It’s a lot of architecture students, a lot of interior design people who are in studios and things until really late. I think I know half of the architecture program by name.”

Lasseter also said she looks for favorite customers, like the professor who gets coffee with his wife every morning, or the man who pays for the drink of the person in front of him every day.

“Most of the friends I’ve made actually are customers,” Lasseter said.

However, not all customers are interested in conversation.

“My sister had a Georgia fan just throw money at her when she was on the register,” Lasseter said. “It’s like the weirdest little things get on everyone’s nerves there.”

I had enough. I wiped the syrup residue from my hands on to my apron and sat down after standing for so long. My time behind the counter had lasted a mere hour and a half. The others’ shifts were just beginning.

C.J. Uzomah said. “I was like, ‘If we beat Bama, then (the fans) need to storm the field. It was the coolest thing I have ever been a part of.”

Iron Bowls with fantastic finishes live in history by their simple, famous names.

In the regular season finale to their 2010 BCS National Championship season, the Auburn Tigers came back from 24 down to beat the defending national champions at their home stadium in “The Cam-Back.”

Bo Jackson’s first Iron Bowl was capped with a 1-yard dive over a pile of Alabama defenders on fourth-and-goal — “Bo Over the Top.” When Auburn’s David Langer returned two blocked punts for touchdowns to down Alabama in 1972, the game went down in history as “Punt, Bama, Punt.”

So after four missed Alabama field goals led to an Auburn win, Davis’ historic return may live forever on The Plains as “Kick, Bama, Kick.”

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Students in line at the Auburn Student Center Starbucks.

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

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Relay for Life rocks cancer with Battle of the Bands in January Corey Williams Campus Writer

More than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and it accounts for approximately 13

percent of deaths worldwide.

Auburn University’s Relay for Life Committee is looking to change that.

With the help of the American Cancer Society, the orga-

nization raises money to contribute to cancer research development and awareness.

“Let’s Rock Cancer: Battle of the Bands” will take place Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at SkyBar from 10 p.m.–2 p.m. the next day. Throughout the month of November, several bands and solo artists com-

peted for a chance to perform at the event.

Audience members will vote for their favorites by text message, and the winner will receive a $500 paid gig at SkyBar. Additionally, the winner will perform at Relay for Life’s largest event of the year at the end of the spring semester.

Rachel suhs / design editor

Students popping pills to pass classes Ben Hohenstatt Campus Reporter

Contributed by Minh Vu

While most of the performers at Battle of the Bands are excited to help raise money to find a cure for cancer, Minh Vu said he has a very special interest in the Relay for Life event.

“A couple of years ago, my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and she had to undergo a lot of treatment,” Vu said. “It was a really terrible thing for our family. We had a very rough time coping with all of it. When one of my [Auburn] friends told me about this competition, I realized it was a perfect way to give back to my

For Battle of the Bands contestant, Charlie Muncaster, an entire career began with a simple birthday gift.

“Music was really just a random interest for me,” Muncaster said. “I got a guitar for a birthday present when I was younger, and I just picked it up and started playing. My parents didn’t think I would keep going with it, but I was immediately interested in music so I just ran with it.”

Muncaster said his music is a blend of acoustic and Southern styles.

With approximately 80 videos on his YouTube channel, Muncaster said he aims to his flexibility as a performer.

The artists he covers range from country singers, such as Luke Bryan, Justin Moore and Blake Shelton, to more mainstream artists, such as Mac Miller, The Benjy Davis Project and Dashboard Confessional.

Muncaster has built his reputation by opening for big names in music, such as Tyler Reeve, Rhett Atkins and Blackberry Smoke.

Despite having played with such established performers, Muncaster said Relay for Life’s Battle of the Bands will be an especially significant show for him.

“I have lost some very important people in my life to this

mother.”

His mother might have inspired Vu to participate in Battle of the Bands, but he said he knew at an early age he was destined to perform.

“When I was in elementary school, my music teacher recognized my talent the first time I picked up a guitar,” Vu said. “He got me started with the guitar, and then I picked up other instruments like piano and the drums. Before I knew I was singing as well, and it all just came very naturally to me. I’ve loved performing ever since then.”

At 21 years old, Vu is significantly younger than many musicians.

Vu said he hopes his eclectic musical style, and his unexpected twists on popular songs, will set him apart from the other contestants at the event.

“I play a lot of acoustic stuff, but I like to take mainstream songs from the radio and change them in little ways to make them my own,” Vu said.

Even though Vu’s style is unique, he draws inspiration from two different performers.

“John Mayer is one of my biggest influences,” Vu said.

“It is really just amazing what that man can do with a guitar. As for vocals, I would really like to be compared to Bruno Mars.”

disease,” Muncaster said. “My grandmother, my father’s mother, died of pancreatic cancer. My mom’s mother also died of cancer not too long ago.”

According to Muncaster, performing in the Battle of the Bands will be an entirely different kind of experience for him than any other performance he has done.

“All of these bands are not performing for just a job, or for a paycheck, it’s nice to actually come together and do what we love for a good reason,” Muncaster said.

Contributed by Charlie Muncaster

Contributed by Zac Martin

Ever since Zac Martin can remember, he has wanted to be a musician.

“I’ve always been a fan of music, and I’ve always been really interested in what makes different styles of music unique,” Martin said. “Playing an instrument was just kind of a natural progression for me.”

Martin’s Americana-Folk style is reminiscent of two of his strongest influences, Ray LaMontagne and Gregory Alan Isakov.

“Throughout the years, I’ve been influenced by a ton of genres and artists that have shaped my ideas and abilities,”

Martin said.

Even though Martin has no personal connection to cancer, he is still excited to be doing anything he can to help eradicate the disease.

“I think Relay for Life’s Battle of the Bands is a great event, raising money for a great cause,” Martin said. “I have been involved in several other Relay for Life events in the past, and I’m a big fan of anything I can do to raise money for research.”

He said he is also impressed with Auburn’s Relay for Life, and the unique way Battle of the Bands is set up this upcoming year.

“It’s really interesting the way they blend music with an event like this,” Martin said. “I appreciate the way they make music and the promotion of a good cause a hand-in-hand thing. So many of the events I’ve played have had live music and things like that, but I really like the idea of blending the two together. I’ve been watching the videos of the other bands that have been posted, and I’m really excited to see them perform.”

Martin is based in Atlanta, but performs his music throughout the entire Southeast.

December is the most wonderful time of the year, especially if you’re an Adderall dealer.

An Auburn University student, who wished to remain anonymous, prescribed for the popular study drug, Adderall, said during the weeks leading up to and including final examinations Adderall can sell for $7.

“Normally, it’s $3.50–$5,” the source said. “If I got top price for every pill, I could make $600.”

The Adderall-prescribed student also said there is a dramatic increase in demand for the drug as semesters draw to a close.

“I don’t really sell (Adderall) in November,” the Auburn student said. “A lot of people try to buy them in November when they’re cheaper and save them for December.”

Possession and use of Adderall without a prescription is a crime, and something the Auburn Police Department is aware of.

“I certainly think people use Adderall more around exam time,” said Capt. William Mathews of the Auburn Police Department.

Despite what Mathews said he suspects is an increase in use during final examinations, he said the number of incidents and arrests do not dramatically spike.

“There’s not an increase as far as making additional cases,” Mathews said. “We really don’t give it more emphasis than any other drug.”

Although anecdotal evidence supports the idea that Adderall experiences a popularity surge relative to final examinations, a survey collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration sug-

gested Adderall is just popular with full-time college students in general.

SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health found full-time college students, ages 18–22, were twice as likely as others in their age group to use Adderall nonmedically.

The survey also indicates Adderall users are more likely to drink heavily and use other drugs.

Despite its prevalence, Mathews said selling and possessing Adderall are considered serious crimes.

“If you are caught selling, you would be charged with distribution of a controlled substance, which is a serious felony,” Mathews said.

Mathews said if someone is caught with 28 or more milligrams of Adderall they would be charged with trafficking.

“Usually, the supply is from a legitimate prescription,” Mathews said.

Mathews also said there is a legal risk associated with Adderall many do not anticipate.

“A lot of people think if they give someone a pill, they won’t get in trouble because they didn’t sell it,” Mathews said. “There’s no difference between giving someone that pill and selling it.”

Mathews said this means someone is simply giving a friend a pill would be charged for distribution.

Even though the illegality of selling Adderall and possessing it without a prescription is well known, the anonymous Auburn student said he expects plenty of customers.

“People need it to stay up and focus,” the source said.

“All of your time is spent doing what you’re supposed to be doing.”

UPC granted $100,000 for program extension fund Ben Ruffin Campus Writer

The Student Government Association’s Monday, Dec. 2, senate meeting was one of much importance for one University program.

The University Program Council, UPC, was granted a program extension fund $100,000 for the major entertainment line.

The Major Entertainment Committee is responsible for bringing high-profile artists to Auburn.

In years past, the committee has managed to pull in performers such as Ben Rec-

PRESENTS

ALL YOU C AN EAT December 10 from 6 to 9pm at Joannʼs in the Student Center

tor, O.A.R., Akon, the Goo Goo Dolls and Sister Hazel.

Madeline Moore, junior in biomedical science and vice president of finance for UPC, stressed the importance of receiving these extra funds for the program extension fund.

“We want to make sure we are bringing Auburn students what they want,” Moore said.

The motion carried with no opposition.

This will allow UPC an extra $100,000 to work with when considering artists for major events in the future.

Opinion

A4

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Social Media on The Plains In response to our post “THE TIGERS BEAT BAMA! Tell us your thoughts on the Tigers’ miracle season? What does this mean for the future?

Tom Van Fechtmann: This means my son and daughter chose the right school.

Nathan SImone: Today football transcended its petty differences among students and non-fans into a wonderful uniting force for the Plains. What do we have to do to get our academics to score the lastsecond touchdown? The possibilities to keep the spirit and momentum moving are endless! WAR. DAMN. EAGLE.

Tweeted at the Plainsman

@leilamaccurach: @AuburnUPC roughly 100% of us want Fergie this spring. You got your budget, deliver. Ya hear me @TheAUPlainsman?

In response to our tweet “THE TIGERS BEAT BAMA! Tell us your thoughts on the Tigers’ miracle season? What does this mean for the future?”

ThePlainsman.com Our View

Bammers are in a class of their own Football is not a classy sport, no matter how much you try to dress it up.

It’s a visceral and violent game that can have moments of poetic eloquence. Take the Miracle at Jordan-Hare or Chris Davis’ 109yard, game-winning touchdown as examples. But it’s not classy.

So, it’s perfectly all right to be a classless football fan. It’s all right to swill beer and stuff nachos in your fat mouth while you scream like a fool at the TV. It’s your duty as an American, a true patriot.

Men and women do it; Auburn fans, Bama fans and the like. It’s as much a part of the game as coaches with god complexes and multimillion-dollar corporate sponsorship.

There is a line, however.

Most of us know that person who is annoyingly hyper-competitive and takes things way too far. He keys the car of the guy who beat him in a pick-up game of basketball. She spreads a rumor that her roommate has herpes just because she forgot to do the dishes.

In the state of Alabama, this type of person is known as a Bammer.

We won’t go into all the Bammer stereotypes, even though they are quite funny and mostly true. No, we just want to take

Not thinking about the future--I’m loving the present! #WarEagle

Sports @theplainsman. com

In response to our tweet “Finebaum believes the atmosphere for tomorrow’s game will be bigger than the atmosphere for the 1989 Iron Bowl, which was the first at JHS.

@AUBourne1: Not possible

This week’s poll question: How will the Tigers’ Iron Bowl win affect Gus Malzahn’s career at Auburn?

Rachel Suhs / Design Editor

classless football fans; these are the words of Bammers. These are the words of the sad, lonely bunch of folks who define their lives by a college football program.

So take to heart the lessons of

the past four years Bama. Learn from what Updyke and the Bammers have done. And remember, just because you’re a bunch of winners doesn’t mean you can’t also be a bunch of losers.

Put some wheel locks on the Gus Bus

@mjpphd:

No limits. History for the taking, baby

this time show how even in the classless world of college football, Bammers make us all look like royalty.

Since Harvey Updyke poisoned the Toomer’s Oaks after Bama’s 2010 Iron Bowl loss, some Bama fans have tried to distance themselves from the crazed reactionary image Updyke has cemented in the minds of Auburn fans.

However, those doing the distancing are in the minority.

He is the Bammer patriarch and they have taken his vitriolic insanity as gospel.

For example, Cade Foster, the Tide kicker who missed two field goals and had one blocked, was sent death threats. Of course, it was all Bammers making these threats, Bammers who thought killing a man was the best way to deal with the loss.

There’s also the charming Richard Brantley, who confessed to a SportsCenter reporter that he wanted to die after Bama lost.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t restore honor to his favorite team with a blood sacrifice because he has a family who is only slightly less important than Bama football.

And these are only two examples from a long history of awe-inspiring stupidity.

You see, these are not the words and actions of average,

His View

Taylor Jones

@simplydimitrioso:

Opinion

After an improbable run, the underdog Auburn Tigers are 11-1 and are very much in the national title hunt after the biggest Iron Bowl victory of all time.

After going 3-8 last year and winless in the SEC, the Tigers are re-energized by the obvious change from last year and this year.

Gus Malzahn.

If you are an Auburn fan, you are rolling on the “Gus Bus” because Malzahn’s offense has completely turned an abysmal 2012 team into a national title contender in 2013.

In total offense, Auburn is ranked 16th, while in rushing offense the Tigers are third.

While this year’s improbable run has many scratching their heads, others who are looking closely are also starting to scratch their heads.

Malzahn has completely revitalized the Auburn Tigers and is vying for a spot to win it all, and he is doing it as the 32nd highest paid coach in America.

At $2.44 million per year, Malzahn is paid less than nine SEC teams. The highest paid coach in America is Nick Saban, with Alabama paying him $5.55 million per year.

Malzahn’s Tigers defeated six teams this season who are paying their coaches more than him.

Dan Mullen, who has had a 1624 overall record in five seasons

at Mississippi State, is being paid more than the coach of the No. 3 team in America.

Not only has Malzahn won three Arkansas 5A State Championships with Shiloh Christian and Springdale High Schools, but he set records as offensive coordinator for Tulsa and Auburn, ultimately resulting in Malzahn winning the 2010 Broyles Award.

In his one year at Arkansas State, Malzahn led the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record and a Sun Belt Title.

In his first year on The Plains, Malzahn and the Tigers have done what was deemed impossible.

In an SEC dominated college football world, the main players must be willing to spend cash.

Alabama is paying more than $5 million per year to have Saban,

but they have won three national titles in his tenure in Tuscaloosa.

Regardless of what happens in the SEC Championship game, or where we end up, Auburn needs to act fast to lock Malzahn up for the long-run.

The mad-scientist behind the hurry-up no-huddle offense that has taken the nation by storm could eventually become a coach of legend on The Plains, and it could be soon.

With Texas A&M extending Kevin Sumlin to a six-year deal, Auburn should act quickly to ensure that the Tigers can keep Malzahn at the helm for the forseeable future.

If it means paying Gus Malzahn $5 million per year, Auburn has to look in the mirror and decide if it will do what it takes to retake the state of Alabama.

Her View

•He will get a raise

Advice on surviving the holidays at home

•he’s going to build a dynasty •He’ll probably get a statue

Ashtyne Cole

Last week’s poll results:

Intrigue @theplainsman. com

What should we call Auburn’s last touchdown against UGA?

60% The miracle in jordan-hare 29% thanks for the tip

11% hail mary, hail yeah!

The Plainsman Wants to hear your voice!

Send us your tweets, photos, facebook posts and letters to the editor.

We want to know what you think about the issues.

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Tis the season for Christmas lights, an innumerable amount of presents and leaving your school home for your hometown.

For about a month, Auburn students will pack their bags, board flights or drive stuffed cars back to see their parents, high school friends and extended families. The holidays are an amazing time of year, especially with the ones you love, but they also cause stress.

A lot of stress.

For me, I need to mentally prepare myself before I make the trip home. I’ve just gone through a week of finals and my brain feels like a bowl of oatmeal. Mentally and physically drained from days in the library and hours studying, all I want is some me time. Returning home right after finals

gives me an hour car ride of free time and that’s not enough.

I read some interesting and relatable things on Scholarships. com about students, especially freshman, returning home for the holidays.

College gives a student all the freedom they want, the freedom to make their own decisions, friends and live on their own terms.

The website touches on the changes a college student undergoes and how hard it is to adjust to old friends and your family. It’s also pretty hard to readjust to the sudden disappearance of freedom.

With all the stress of coming home and the holidays, here’s some advice on surviving the month at home.

Get a job.

Everyone is hiring extra help for the holiday season. That means your favorite boutiques, chain stores, wrapping stations, even the Santa booth is looking for little elves to help them out.

Hey, minimum wage is better than nothing.

It will give you time away and make you feel responsible. Plus, you have money to buy presents for Christmas.

I’ve met some of my best friends working my holiday job and even though it’s stressful, it gives me something to do with my time while I’m home.

Try and be patient.

Your parents have missed you and they’re going to smother and suffocate you for a few days, so just bear with them. It’ll be over soon. It is an adjustment for both of you. Send them the link for FamilyEducation.com’s Home for the Holidays article. It lets them have a better understanding of how you’ll feel and act when you come home. Help parents out with holiday traditions and be happy they want to spend time together.

Be ready for the pet frenzy.

Coming home for me means my dogs going insane. If anyone has watched the YouTube videos

about pets seeing their soldiers for the first time, that is how the family pet will act upon the college students return.

It’s heartwarming and can even make a strong man cry.

Pace yourself on the homecooking.

The freshman 15 is nothing compared to the copious amounts of food you will inhale when you get home. Nothing is better than Thanksgiving, except maybe Christmas Eve and Day food. Moms will be dying to make and bake anything their college baby wants and no student can resist home-cooked meals.

Everyone changes.

College is the time for making new friends and coming home to old friends can be an eye opener.

High school friends may be different and it can be an adjustment for everyone.

So, be patient, pace yourself, get a job to pass the time and show your family some love. After all, it is the most wonderful time of the year.

The Editorial Board Kelsey Davis Editor-in-Chief

Elizabeth Wieck Managing Editor

Ben Croomes Opinion

Jordan Dale Copy

Dustin Shrader Online

Becky Hardy

Justin Ferguson

Campus

Special Sections

Will Gaines Sports

Anna Grafton

Daniel Oramas Multimedia

Photo

Rachel Suhs Design

Chandler Jones community

Ashley Selby intrigue

Mailing Address

Submissions

Policy

Auburn Student Center Suite 1111H Auburn, AL 36849

The Auburn Plainsman welcomes letters from students as well as from faculty, administrators, alumni and those not affiliated with the University. Letters must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the Monday for publication. Letters must include the author’s name, address and phone number for verification, though the name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submission may be edited for grammar and/or length. Please submit no more than 400 words.

The opinions of The Auburn Plainsman staff are restricted to these pages. This editorial is the majority opinion of the 13-member editorial board and are the official opinion of the newspaper. The opinions expressed in columns and letters represent the views and opinions of their individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the Auburn University student body, faculty, administration or Board of Trustees.

Contact Phone 334–844–4130 Email opinion@theplainsman.com

Community Thursday, December 5, 2013

A5 ThePlainsman.com

Community

Zach Bland / Photographer

Cashing in on the Iron Bowl

Officially stated

“

The two week miracle streak spikes the economy as Auburn holds two of the most legendary rivalry games in SEC Football Chandler Jones Community Editor

When it comes to SEC Football, Auburn fans put the “fan” in “fanatic.”

When those fans descend on Auburn, Jordan-Hare Stadium becomes as large as the fifth most-populated city in the state.

Phillip Dunlap, director of economic development for the city of Auburn, said spending is nothing short of psychological based on the team winning or losing.

He compared football’s economic impact on the city as a good shot in the economy.

“It’s a difference of night and day between this year and last year,” Dunlap said. “This year, Auburn is winning. People are happy. They come, and they want to tailgate. They spend a couple of days.

They eat out at the restaurants, stay in hotels, see their friends. They like to hang around the campus and remember the best times of their lives.”

Hans Van Der Reijden, managing director of hotel operations and educational initiatives for the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, said the impact of Auburn football is obvious.

“A winning season versus what we experienced last year has a dramatic impact on the city,” Reijden said.

The Hotel sells packages for football weekends, Reijden said, a system which started approximately 20 years ago. The package includes a minimum two-night stay for all home games. A standard room starts at $390 per night, an executive room at approximately $600 per night and suites at $1,500 per night.

“You pay that, multiplied by 14 or 16, and it’s required to be pre-paid in March,” Reijden said.

Guests can spend anywhere from $20,000–$25,000 simply on lodging in a single season.

Approximately 150 people are on the waitlist to receive that package.

“To see this year, the amount of money being spent - I mean, people are celebrating,” Reijden said. “It is just fantastic.

We love it.”

Reijden also said the hotel’s 236 rooms

have been booked for this year’s Iron Bowl since March 1. This year’s Iron Bowl guests arrived early to spend Thanksgiving and Black Friday in Auburn.

Sarah Brown, owner of Wrapsody and treasurer of the Downtown Merchants Association, called the entire weekend a success.

“Iron Bowl is huge, just huge, the traffic that’s through here,” Brown said.

Brown said her boutique was fully stocked, and all products were put on display.

“The businesses that are here know,” Brown said. “We know, because we have game days so often. We know this is the time that makes or breaks us. The game days are what make a lot of people’s weeks and months.”

Brown said this weekend compared exactly with two years ago, but better.

She said members of the DMA considered this weekend better than A-Day and the SEC Championship.

Tiger Rags, a DMA business, had a 4-hour line for T-shirts.

Mike Tucker, manager at Willie’s Wings and Stuff, said they received more orders this Saturday than he has ever seen.

“Between Friday and Saturday, we did so much business and we have such a small kitchen, we couldn’t handle it,” Tucker said.

Much to his dismay, Willie’s cut off the phones on two seperate occasions simply to catch-up.

“It’s just one of those weekends,” Tucker said. “It’s been a good fall. I think everybody’s business in town is up.”

The city of Auburn is the last step in the massive and weekend-long spending spree.

Both Dunlap and city of Auburn finance director Penny Smith said outside the general stir football weekends create, it doesn’t have a huge impact on their jobs.

“It might help from a marketing standpoint,” Dunlap said. “We can point to the success of those weekends, but generally this stuff evens out.”

The city receives sales tax on a monthly basis. When Smith creates the budget,

she compares the most recent month’s figures to the same month from the previous year.

Budgets are made-biannually, so Smith said weekends, even as large as these, don’t have a sizable impact on the city’s yearly budget.

For every item purchased, Auburn charges 9 percent sales tax to the bill.

Four percent goes to the state government, 1 percent goes to the county and 4 percent to the city.

For every $1.09 spent, the city’s sales tax rate stands at 4 cents on the dollar and goes directly to the city.

Dunlap said the average expenditure per family of four ranges from $750–800.

Lodging tax takes 7 cents, and 1 cent of that tax is dedicated to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, also known as Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau.

Robyn Bridges, vice president and public relations director for the bureau, said their job was to focus on ensuring visitors are well-informed on activities and accommodations.

The remaining money feeds the general fund, which funds all aspects of city administration, such as police and fire services, schools, economic development, environmental services and public works.

“When you bring in a lot of people coming in for games, and other things, those dollars are spent in the economy on taxable goods and services,” Dunlap said.

“That’s coming from the outside into the economy. That’s why it has a strong impact on the economy.”

It’s a short-range impact with focused economic gain for goods and services providers.

“When we’re predicting budgets going out, we can look back, but can’t necessarily say, ‘Oh, were going to get as much as we got last year,’” Smith said.

She looks as statistics, histories, trend effects, future plans and local, state and national economies to create the budget.

For now, businesses are back to normal, but many such as Tucker and establishments such as Willie’s highly anticipate another interesting SEC Saturday.

DunLap

“

This year, Auburn is winning. People are happy. They spend a couple of days. They eat out at the restaurants, stay in hotels, see their friends. They like to hang around the campus and remember the best times of their lives.”

—Phillip Dunlap director of economic development

Any game day, obviously, we have a lot more people come into town. We work with outside agencies that come in and assist us with security, traffic direction, and things of that nature both inside and outside the stadium.”

—bill james Public Safety Director

register Additional reporting by Aaron Lake, associate copy editor; and Corey Arwood, writer.

james

“

The fans, surprisingly, are very well behaved.

It would probably come as a surprise to people that the Iron Bowl games in the past have typically been some of the better, as far as the behavior goes.”

—Paul Register Auburn Police Chief

Community Remarks

I’m your eyes and ears Chandler Jones community@ theplainsman. com

I’m a journalist and my job puts me in someone else's shoes so often my own shoes don't feel the same anymore.

I see life through printsmeared glasses.

Sometimes, I think I have such an objective sense of things that I feel robbed of my genuine emotion.

At the same time, my day consists of thousands of things I can't unsee. Whether it be the inside of someone else's court room to an Oxford comma.

These things have power.

Power to manipulate my emotions and create ripples in a community.

I know how much a fire truck costs and the difference between a theft of property charge and a burglary charge.

I've seen men widely hated break.

I was there when tears streamed down Harvey Updyke's face as he was incarcerated, and when Desmonte Leonard trembled as officers reapplied his handcuffs.

I sympathize with people who don’t always deserve it, because though it’s objective,

journalists document the human condition.

Things like these, that trouble and bother me, can't effect how I tell them to you.

You mustn't know my pain, it isn't journalistic, isn’t ethical.

But life’s behind the words we print and that's why we do it.

The news affects lives.

Maybe it doesn't change your job and probably won't change the outcome of two plus two, but it has the power to change your daily life.

News teaches you things about your world, and my immersion through the last few semesters is unparralleled.

I know how to calculate property tax.

I know how much you pay. and where that money goes... by heart.

I possess an innate understanding of the hierarchy of a city system.

I know who controls your water — it's pressure, sanitary and bill — and when I see him on the street we stop to talk.

I have met people in this town more important to life than meets the eye.

Do you know who Forrest Cotton is or the city’s plans are for downtown Auburn and Opelika Road.

I do, and don't worry, I've got my eye on them.

Contributed by Tim Aylsworth

A ginger bread rendition of the Auburn Village stands in the The Hotel and Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

Sugar, Spice and everything Auburn Pierce Ostwalt Community Writer

On Dec. 6, 2013, an annual gingerbread village display will be unveiled in the lobby of The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

The gingerbread village, created through a partnership with the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design, Construction Master of Integrated Design and Construction Program and The Hotel and Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Together, they work each year to produce this annual ginger bread extravaganza.

Using high-definition LiDAR technology, a remote sensory tech that measures the distance and size via a targeting laser analyzes reflected light, students of the College of Architecture and DCMIDC Program obtained exact diagrams of several buildings both on and off campus.

They then constructed wooden replicas from their diagrams.

After students construct a wooden frame of the buildings, The Hotel at Auburn University’s executive sous chef, Robert Mason, and his team assemble the gingerbread on top of the wooden frames by hand.

“A couple of pounds of dough are used [on top of the wooden frames], but if you weigh it all together, it is close to 100 pounds of dough we have to roll up,” Mason said.

The display takes 2-3 days to assemble in the hotel and is then moved to the lobby for viewing on the day of the unveiling.

Several buildings from around campus are displayed in addition to pathways made of candy.

Some of the buildings include the Hotel at Auburn University, Samford Hall and the Auburn train station, accompanied by a set of train tracks leading throughout the display.

Hundreds of people attend the village’s unveiling and thousands attend driving the month-long course that the display is presented to the public. The display draws people from all across Auburn, including both students and residents, in hope to see their favorite buildings.

“Everyone has their own favorite, but if I had to say the Hotel would be my favorite,” Tim Aylsworth, director of sales and marketing, said with a chuckle, New buildings being added for this year’s display include the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and the President’s house.

The show will be unveiled following Auburn’s annual Christmas parade, beginning at 5 p.m. outside of the hotel on the corner of Thach Avenue and College Street.

All in attendance of the parade, as well as others, are welcomed and encouraged to come to the unveiling of gingerbread village in its sixth year of construction.

Community A6

The Auburn Plainsman

City Council celebrates a different orange and blue

We put the GRR in Tiger!

Angel’s Antique and Flea Mall.com Auburn memorabilia, vintage stuff, advertising signs, cheap furniture, window frames, records, CDs, DVDs, costume jewelry, and designer purses.

Rated by LUCKY magazine as 1 of the top 5 malls in the South!

Annie Faulk

It’s HUGE!

Be sure to follow the The Auburn Plainsman on Facebook and Twitter!

Twitter.com/ TheAUPlainsman

Facebook.com/ ThePlainsman

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AUBURN

1409 S. College St.

1.5 Miles West of the University next to Acapulco’s Mexican Grille

DELIVERY • CARRY-OUT LUNCH • DINNER • LATE NIGHT

The Auburn City Council honored high school athletic teams, approved contracts and made board appointments, Tuesday, Dec. 3.

The council recognized the Auburn High School football team for their achievement this fall.

Friday, Dec. 6, the team will travel to the 6A state playoffs to face Hoover High School.

This year’s team is the first in AHS history to compete in the final round of the state playoffs.

The council approved to recognize Friday as “Blue Friday” and Mayor Bill Ham requested citizens show their pride by wearing Auburn High School blue.

The high school also recognized the Auburn High School boys’ cross country team for their victory in the Alabama High School Athletic Associa-

• Approved a resolution to include the Auburn Police Division with the FBI in organizing the “Safe Streets Task Force.”

The city and FBI have worked together in similar capacities for the past two years to focus on drug, theft and burglary rings.

• Approved the purchase of a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck from Stivers Ford Lincoln Mercury for $30,045 for the engineering division of the public works department.

• Approved a professional services agreement with Hydro Engineering Solutions for the widening of Wire Road Project.

The cost of the agreement is $34,375.

• Approved the purchase of one KSB 174-horsepower submersible non-clog pump from Pump & Process Equipment. The cost of the pump is $37,550.

.] ]. .

Holiday Happenings . . .

WW

HOW BIG IS YOUR PARTY?

• Tyrone Guice, police division of public safety department, recognized as December’s employee of the month.

WW

OPEN Everyday 10 -7 and Sunday 1 - 5

Other Council News:

tion 6A State Championship.

The council approved the closing of city streets for the Auburn Chamber Christmas Parade Thursday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.

Santa, as well as Aubie, will make an appearance in the parade. The event includes pictures with Santa, a live nativity scene, music and downtown shopping specials.

Before the meeting adjourned, city council members Arthur Dowdell and Robin Kelley addressed concerns of alleged racial discrimination in the fire department that were mentioned in the Nov. 19 meeting.

Dowdell wants to change the hiring practices of minorities in the fire department because he believes racial discrimination is present in the department, while Kelley disagrees.

The council also approved alcoholic beverage license for Taqueria Y Carniceria La Plaza on 1627 S. College St.

Community Reporter

You won’t believe what just came in!

900 Columbus Pkwy Opelika, AL 36801 1 blk off I-85N, Exit 62 10 minutes from Auburn 334-745-3221

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

8

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Holiday Wreath Workshop: 2 – 4 p.m., Ham Wilson Arena. Call 334-707-6512 for more.

Loveliest Village Christmas Tour of Homes and Buildings: Tickets $20.

10

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Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour: Opelika Historic District, 8, 9 Streets. Call 334-704-0114.

Auburn Christmas Parade: 5 p.m., Downtown Auburn. Call 334-887-7011 for more.

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Collinwood Luminaries: 5 - 9 p.m., Collinwood Street & 10th Street in Opelika

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19th Annual Christmas Railroad Town: 6 – 9 p.m., Downtown Opelika. Call 334745-0466.

Ho Ho Ho Hike!: 10 a.m.

–11 p.m. Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. Call 334-707-6512.

Santa in Downtown Auburn: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Toomer’s Corner

OVER 550 LOCATIONS

Tigermarket

To Place an Ad, Call 334-844-4130 or E-mail Classifieds@theplainsman.com

Print Deadline Noon three business days prior to publication

RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Line Classifieds

Display Classifieds

15 words................$6 Extra Words............40c Bold Outline.....$1 per ad

Local.......$11 per col inch National..$16 per col inch 1col x 4 min to 1col x 8” max

For Sale BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK $189 for 5 Days. All prices include: Roundtrip luxury party cruise.

Accommodations on the island at your choice of thirteen resorts.

Appalachia Travel. www.BahamaSun.com 800-867-5018 Handmade quilts for sale $125.00. Phone 887-7196. Mamie Saxton

For Rent Room for rent. Located in faculty home near AU campus (10 minute walk from main library).

International female graduate student preferred.

Opportunity to improve your English. Reasonable rent. Owner provides private bedroom, private bathroom (shared with occasional guest); kitchen and laundry privileges; internet access. If interested, call (334) 8219268. emilyamelvin@ gmail.com.

$375/MONTH, INCLUDES MEALS, UTILITIES Spring semester @ Cambridge at Auburn, lease takeover. 5 months beginning January.

One block from Campus. Regular rate - $575/ month, we will pay $200 so your rent is $375. Includes everything except cable. Call 404-502-1845 Condo for rent. $330 plus electric. Walk to campus.

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Full bath. 316 Genelda Avenue #27, Auburn 251436-0905.

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The Auburn Plainsman is not responsible for the content of the ads Ads that seem too good to be true usually are.

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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis ACROSS 1 “Now I understand” 6 Congressional proceedings airer 11 Much-studied flavor enhancer 14 Wilt 15 Foodie’s words for subtle flavoring 16 Pint filler 17 Deal with, as a stack of dull paperwork 19 Rocky prominence 20 One may be rolled up 21 Galsworthy’s “The Forsyte __” 22 One of a chair pair 24 Investor’s initial support 28 Very disagreeable 30 Singer Björk’s birthplace 31 Cosby’s “I Spy” co-star 32 Tour de France stage 33 Create an incriminating trail 39 Bring up 40 Simple beds 42 Montana neighbor 45 Defining quality 48 How long to shop, on a spree?

50 AM frequency meas.

51 Bidding site 52 Screwball behavior 54 Kitty’s love in “Exodus” 55 Autumn lunar phenomenon 60 Checker on a board, say 61 French clerics 62 Duck 63 Tallahassee-toTampa dir.

64 Bank job 65 Flighty DOWN 1 National econ. yardstick 2 Fla. NBA team

Solution to last Sunday’s puzzle

3/10/13

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders)

3 Like overly tight clothing 4 Cry of pain 5 H.S. exam for college credit 6 “Wayne’s World” co-star 7 Did a smith’s work 8 More, musically 9 Filmmaker Lee 10 Math degree 11 “Hakuna __”: “The Lion King” song 12 Maxwell House’s “Good to the last drop,” e.g.

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56 16th prez 57 Slugger’s stat 58 Gorges oneself (on) 59 Napoleonic marshal

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

xwordeditor@aol.com

By Jean O’Conor (c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

01/16/13

01/16/13

Intrigue Thursday, December 5, 2013

tis THE SEASON

It’s December and finally acceptable to watch Christmas movies!

Check out what’s on ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas this week!

“THE POLAR EXPREss” Dec. 5 @ 6 p.m.

“THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL” Dec. 6 @ 5:30 p.m.

“THE SANTA CLAUSE” Dec. 7 @ 6 p.m.

A7 ThePlainsman.com

Intrigue

Postal elves asked to stop mailing Santa’s letters Jordan Hays Intrigue Writer

Pam Luttrell, a local postal worker, has served as Santa’s personal secretary since 2006, responding to all letters to Santa received at the United States Post Office located on Opelika Road.

Luttrell was recently told to stop responding to letters from children addressed to Santa Claus in the Auburn area. However, the letters will now continue.

According to Keith Turner, Luttrell’s union steward, post master John Johnson, informed Turner he believed Luttrell would not have the time necessary to respond to these letters this year. Johnson proposed the response letters be outsourced to a program in Montgomery.

Johnson was unable to be reached for comment.

Auburn district manager Ron Davis recently allowed Luttrell to continue responding to these Santa letters. The U.S. Postal Service provides two programs in response to letters addressed to Santa Claus.

According to Debbie Fetterly, head of media relations for the Alabama district of the U.S. Postal Service, these programs are Letters to Santa and Operation Santa.

Every year, Luttrell writes a new letter to send to the children of Auburn. Luttrell insists upon keeping the same format so children will know what to look for when waiting for their letter.

“There’s probably a few of them that have gotten to the age or point where they are not believing, but I don’t want to be the reason why they stop believing because they didn’t get a letter, my letter, from Santa,” Luttrell said.

Luttrell receives 70–80 letters from children each Christmas. This has grown considerably since Luttrell first began her response letters.

“You’ll find one kid from the neighborhood send in a letter, and then a couple addresses down will send in one, and then a couple more addresses down will send in one,” Luttrell said. “Once they know that their getting a letter back, you’ll see a couple others respond.”

Zach Bland / Photographer

Pam Luttrell, a postal worker in Opelika, composes and sends letters from Santa to local children.

Luttrell wanted a way for her child to receive a response letter from Santa Claus when her child began to write to him at the age of three. It was at this time when she decided to do it herself.

Luttrell has placed all postal carriers on notice to give her any Santa letters they find in mail boxes.

Turner has been fighting to allow Luttrell to continue her operation.

“All kids need hope, and when they receive a letter from Santa, I feel it makes their day,” Turner said. “I have had children chase me down the street with their Santa letters.”

The Letters to Santa program provided children with the opportunity to write and receive a response letter from Santa Claus. Parents must mail in the

child’s letter along with a response letter from Santa, which is written by the parents and placed in its own separate, stamped envelope. Both letters are then placed in a larger envelope and must be mailed via First-Class Mail or Priority Mail. The Santa letter, written by the parents, is postmarked “North Pole,” then mailed back to the return address for the child to read.

Operation Santa is a program where postal workers and individuals “adopt” a needy child’s Santa letter. These individuals then purchase as many items on the child’s wish list as possible and return them to the post office ready to be mailed back to the child.

The post offices in the Auburn area do not participate in either of these programs.

International students spend holidays away from home “THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE” Dec. 7 @ 8 p.m.

“DR. SUESS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS” Dec. 9 @ 7 p.m.

“SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN” Dec. 10 @ 9 p.m.

Students who can’t go home for the holidays find alternative ways to celebrate the season Kailey Miller Intrigue Reporter

Auburn students have returned to campus for two final weeks of school before Christmas break.

With three and a half weeks of family bonding, holiday parties and family traditions to look forward to, many students will pack up and leave as soon as their last exam ends.

For other students, going home is not an option.

Many of Auburn’s international students will be staying in Auburn for the break, instead of reuniting with their families.

Shubbhi Taneja, graduate student in computer science, is from New Delhi. Taneja came to Auburn in July 2013.

“I had a few friends here, so they could help me because I didn’t have anybody else from my family in the United States,” Taneja said. “I have a couple of friends from New Delhi here who were already studying here.

They are part of an international exchange program so they had given me quite good reviews.”

Taneja said she the temperature and weather conditions in Auburn are similar to New Delhi.

During the break, Taneja said she will mostly be

Intrigue Writer

“NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION” Dec. 15 @ 7 p.m.

“THE SANTA CLAUSE 2” Dec. 16 @ 8 p.m.

This vacation is too short for me, so I will call my family and try to FaceTime with them.”

—Fujun Huang graduate student in information and system management

He is responsible for grading their final exams by Dec. 17, and giving feedback to the teacher. Huang has plans to travel after he finishes grading.

“Some friends and I, we plan to go to New York for a weekend,” Huang said. “We like celebrating the new year in New York.”

Huang has a certification exam in February, and he plans to study for that during the holiday as well. As for Christmas and Christmas Day plans, he will spend that with friends, maybe at his house for dinner.

“Around me there are a lot of Chinese who will go back to China to visit their families,” Huang said. “This vacation is too short for me, so I will call my family and try to FaceTime with them.”

Taneja said she is staying in Auburn during the break because she doesn’t want to spend a lot of money going back home, but she hopes to go home next summer or next Christmas break.

Students with jobs in retail brace for the holiday rush Becky Sheehan

“SCROOGED” Dec. 12 @ 8 p.m.

in Auburn, but will travel in the United States as well. She said she had made plans to go to New York with friends during Christmas break, but they fell through.

“I’m going to go to Atlanta for two days and see all the famous places there,” Taneja said. “But I haven’t decided what I’m going to do on the 25th.”

Amrit Singh, graduate student in mechanical engineering, is also from New Delhi and friends with Taneja. Singh said he may also visit Atlanta during the break to see the Coca-Cola factory and the Georgia Aquarium with his friends. For the rest of break, he will be working at a research lab.

Fujun Huang, graduate student in information and system management, is from Shenzhen, China. The last time he went home was in May 2013, but he will be staying in Auburn for Christmas break because it is a shorter period.

Auburn’s winter break is considerably shorter than past years because classes resumed a week later in August than previous years.

Huang’s break will consist of a lot of studying and paper grading because he is a teacher’s assistant for a business analytics class.

“

Hundreds leave their homes before dawn, still digesting Thanksgiving turkey, to wait in anticipation before locked storefronts.

When the key turns and the “open” sign lights up, they clamor inside to snag the best deals and begin the Christmas shopping season.

This year more major retailers, following in the footsteps of Walmart, opened the night of Thanksgiving to give shoppers a jump on Black Friday savings.

The sales-frenzy dubbed Black Thursday appears to be here to stay.

Following Black Friday, stores such as Target and Old Navy are extending their hours, opening earlier and closing later as Christmas Eve approaches.

Auburn students working in retail face a particular set of challenges during the holidays.

Amy Camp, senior majoring in psychology and social work, has been an Old Navy sales associate for three years.

Camp said juggling an internship in Tuskegee, school and a part-time retail job is demanding, and her weekdays are often as long as 14 hours.

“It’s definitely something you have to balance — you’re not only having to study your academics, but you’re hav-

ing to go to work as well,” Camp said.

Despite time constraints, Camp said she has maintained a high GPA and is graduating this semester.

“What I’ve always been told in school is that for every hour you’re in class, you should spend two hours studying,” Camp said.

Josh Bennett, senior in psychology, works in guest services at Target in Tiger Town, which opened its doors to Black Friday crowds at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Originally from Montana, Bennett has been part of the Target team for five years and has been a full-time employee at Target in Tiger Town for six months. Every week, Bennett has to juggle 40 hours at work and 17 hours of school.

“You go from school to work and then home to do homework, and that’s kind of your entire day,” Bennett said.

Both Bennett and Camp confirmed managers, especially in and around Auburn, work with students’ class schedules.

Suzanna Sweeney, a sales team lead at Academy Sports and Outdoors, said much thought goes into the hiring process of student employees.

“We always hire based on availability, so it’s never an inconvenience,” Sweeney said. “Usually, we have our open-

“

You go from school to work and then home to do homework, and that’s kind of your entire day.”

—Josh Bennett senior in psychology

ers and our closers, and it’s all based on availability.”

In lieu of the holiday shopping spree, sales associates are aware upon hire they will have to sacrifice time that would normally be reserved for friends, family and a relaxing break from school.

This year, Camp opted to open for Old Navy’s first Black Thursday.

Her shift began at 6 p.m., after returning from Thanksgiving lunch in Mobile, and ended at 3 a.m. on Black Friday.

Given that the store will be closed Christmas Day, Camp potentially has three days off for Christmas vacation.

“They told us this year — which they haven’t done in the past — that we could only ask off for two days in a row,” Camp said.

Bennett worked a 10.5-hour shift this Black Friday which started at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, making a trip to Montana impossible, but management has granted him three weeks off at Christmas to visit family.

“This Target recognizes that they have that college populous that does live out of state or far away,” Bennett said.

Sweeney, whose Black Friday shift began at 3 a.m., said days between Nov. 1–Jan. 1 are “blacked out,” meaning employees cannot request time off and are expected to work some of the holiday rush at Academy.

“Our managers make considerations for those students who live further away,” Sweeney said. “They give them an amount of time off to be with their family.”

Department stores’ preparations for the holidays began in mid-November.

This involved associates staying well after closing to organize, decorate and rearrange the stores to better accommodate throngs of shoppers.

After the holidays, one might expect in-store traffic to slow down.

According to Sweeney, this isn’t true.

Shoppers line up once again in the wee morning hours the day after Christmas, clutching gift receipts to make returns.

Intrigue A8

The Auburn Plainsman i swear to bear bryant i was

well, there is no longer

about to tweet, “time for a

Please keep kicking

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Better Christmas List app makes gift buying less of a hassle this year intrigue@ theplainsman.com

If you survived Black Friday, props to you.

Hopefully no one got trampled at Walmart this year, but even if you survived, Christmas shopping can be one of the worst parts of the holidays.

It’s easy to forget what you have already bought for your friends and family, or exactly whom you need to buy presents for.

This app can help you to avoid an awkward moment on Christmas morning when everyone is opening their presents and you realize you forgot to get one for your mother.

Better Christmas List can organize your shopping endeavors. Better Christmas List is a great way to make sure you cover all of your bases and stay within a reasonable budget.

At the top of the app, it counts down the days until Christmas, so you know how many days you have left to squeeze in all of your shopping before the big day. It starts off with two different categories: family and friends.

You can add your own categories too if you want to get more specific and make a category for your colleagues, or differentiate between college and high school friends. You put in the total amount you are willing to spend on that group as a whole.

So, if you wanted to spend $300 total on your

@jtimberlake

The twist ending is

#Whatjusthappened

Kailey Miller

It is a cruel irony that

home game as a student. Can’t

Thursday, December 5, 2013

family, you would put $300 in that spot. Then you can break it down by individuals, and decide how much money you will spend on each person out of the $300.

When you click on each individual, you can link their contact information with it, in case you need to call them to check on a size or color preference while you’re out shopping. Then, you can post what gift you got them and how much it cost.

This way, you will be able to see how much you have already spent and how much you have left. You can personalize the groups or individuals by adding photos.

Better Christmas List gives you the option to write where you purchased each gift.

This can be helpful if you need to return something, so you don’t have to try to remember where you got each gift. There is a section under each individual, which allows you to write notes so you can save good gift ideas or personal information about the individual.

You can track your progress starting at empty cart, shopping, wrapped and mailed. At the top of each category, it will give you a summary that includes a ratio of how many gifts you have completed, how much money you have spent and who you have included in the group.

You can enable a passcode, so your friends and family won’t unexpectedly stumble on your gift list and ruin the surprise.

You can email the list to yourself so you can print it out and have it with you at all times.

Better Christmas List is a simple app that can make your holiday shopping a little less stressful, so you can truly enjoy the holidays.

@Itsmikehill is the phone system. No

This boy sitting the seat opposite mine on the

We should take our

transit has an @AUAthletics sign...from

calls. #Ironbowl

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finals in Jordan Hare #miracleinjordanhare

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ovation from my

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IRON BOWL SNAPSHOTS Twitter followers share where they were when Auburn beat Bama

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GAME DAY Thursday, December 5 • Auburn vs. Missouri

Give me A Photo by Zach Bland

ond Page design by raye may

Sports

B2 ThePlainsman.com

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Sports

Battle for the SEC

PHOTO BY Anna Grafton

Contributed by the Maneater

Gus Malzahn (top) and Gary Pinkel (bottom) have taken their teams from being picked to finish at the bottom of the SEC to the two best teams in the conference.

HEAD TO HEAD

‘Hungry’ Tigers overcome injuries, low expectations Eric Wallace Sports Writer

With a combined 2012 record of 8–16 (2–14 in the SEC), few expected Auburn and Missouri would represent their respective divisions in the SEC Championship Game, this year.

At SEC Media Days in July the media said Auburn and Missouri would both finish near the bottom of the SEC. For Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, the desire of the players to constantly improve has allowed these two teams to make such a turnaround.

“I think about both teams being very hungry,” Malzahn said. “We were at the bottom at the start of the year and have now improved.

This time of year there aren’t a lot of teams that improve this late.”

The Auburn Tigers’ 3–9 finish in 2012 was its worst in 60 years, and the ensuing dismissal of head coach Gene Chizik left the program in a state of turmoil.

Despite the turmoil, Malzahn said he saw the team’s potential from the day he was hired.

“When we first got here, we knew we had some talent,” Malzahn said.

“They had been through a storm the year before and we were really focused on us and getting our edge back.”

Malzahn, who was an offensive coordinator at Auburn from 2009-2011,

“

They had been through a storm the year before and we were really focused on us and getting our edge back.”

—Gus Malzahn Auburn head coach

said his familiarity with the program and its players was helpful in turning the program around.

“It really helped me that I had been here three years before,” Malzahn said. “I recruited some of the players, had relationships with some of them and I just kind of knew the dynamics of the administration, the fan base and all that. At the same time, they’d been through a storm and we had to earn our players’ trust and we had to trust them.”

Missouri found themselves in a similar position after a 5–7 2012 season, their first as a member of the SEC. “Last year was our first losing season in the last 9 years,” said Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel. “I take responsibility for last year.”

Despite winning 10 games four times in the last seven years, Mis-

souri wasn’t ranked in preseason polls and was largely overshadowed by traditional SEC schools.

“It’s a part of being in the SEC,” Pinkel said. “There are a lot of great teams and the competition is at the highest level.”

Adversity hit Missouri early when starting quarterback James Franklin injured his shoulder against Georgia, forcing the senior to miss four games.

Redshirt freshman Maty Mauk filled in for Franklin, throwing for 1,039 yards, 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

“He just did a phenomenal job and we’re very fortunate to have a player play at that level,” Pinkel said. “We didn’t have our starting quarterback for one third of the season and I think for him to go in and maintain some sort of consistency was really important for us.”

With a healthy Franklin now under center for Missouri, Pinkel said the Tigers have now achieved an early season goal: reach the SEC Championship Game.

If Missouri wins Saturday it will be their first outright conference championship since 1969.

“I thought we were going to have a good football team, and you can have a good football team and not be 11–1, but we’re just excited to get here and it was one of our goals,” Pinkel said.

Team Statistics Auburn

Missouri

38.6

Points per game

38.8

22.5

OPP. points per game

19.4

318.3

rush yards per game

236.9

172.8

pass yards per game

252.6

29:46

Time of Possession

30:09

88%

Offensive RED ZONE %

87.5%

12

Interceptions

18

6.94

Yards per Play

6.68

468

Penalty Yards

461

76.5%

Field Goal %

66.7%

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Sports B3

The Auburn Plainsman

Anna Grafton / Photo editor

Tre Mason carries the football against Alabama Saturday, Nov. 30. Mason finished with 164 yards rushing in the game.

COLUMN

One ticket to NYC, please Taylor Jones Sports@ theplainsman.com

As a crazy season of college football draws to a close, the current Heisman list is not what most predicted back in August.

Reigning Heisman Johnny Manziel has had a less than stellar year, after two unimpressive performances against LSU and Missouri.

According to the ESPN Experts’ Poll’s Heisman Watch, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is leading the race to win the Heisman.

Winston, however, is facing rape allegations that could seriously damage his chances of winning the Heisman.

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron was in the talk for the Heisman, but doesn’t seem to be a real contender after the Tide’s loss in Jordan-Hare.

Two names have emerged from the shadows in the Heisman race. North-

ern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch has put up freakish numbers on both the ground and through the air.

Boston College running back Andre Williams has put up more than 2,000 yards rushing this season for the Eagles.

There is, however, one name that is not present on the list. Auburn running back Tre Mason has led the Tigers running attack this season, brutalizing the best defenses in the nation every game.

Mason boasts 1,317 yards on 237 attempts, with 18 touchdowns. Mason needs only two touchdowns until he ties Cam Newton for the Auburn single-season rushing record at 20 touchdowns.

Mason is only 156 yards away from Newton’s mark of 1,473 yards in 2010, and is 469 yards short of Bo Jackson’s high of 1,786 yards.

Mason has rushed for at least 100 yards seven times this season, including games against potent defenses such as LSU, Georgia and Alabama.

Mason has scored in every game except against Mississippi State, includ-

ing a four-touchdown performance against Arkansas.

While it will be difficult for Mason to catch Jackson’s all-time mark for yards in a season, it would be surprising if Mason didn’t surpass Newton in touchdowns, along with total rushing yards.

The Heisman is awarded each year to the most outstanding player in collegiate football.

This year, only one running back has had his way against defenses in the toughest conference in the nation.

Only one back made the No. 3 ranked Crimson Tide rush defense look as if they had no answer.

Without Tre Mason in the backfield, Auburn most likely wouldn’t have enough miracles to be where they are now.

In this miracle season, the Heisman voters need to open their eyes and see the game-changer right in front of them.

As Jay Jacobs would likely say, it would be “un-American” if Tre Mason isn’t in New York City for the Heisman.

SPECIAL THANKS to the AU CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE and the Beat Bama Food Drive Team: Leanna Barker, Kevin Bryant, Elise Bjerken, Morgan Stubbs, Sara Martin, Amanda Foster, Kelly Harrison

CHECK US OUT ONLINE! & Get the latest news on Auburn!

Sports B4

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, December 5, 2013

CONTRIBUTED BY THE MANEATER

CONTRIBUTED BY THE MANEATER

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, a Lombardi Award finalist, celebrates a tackle against Florida.

Missouri second-string running back Russell Hansbrough sprints past Indiana defenders.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

The Maneater’s Jacob Bogage previews the clash of the Tigers Jacob Bogage JBOGAGE@THEMANEATER. COM

Jacob Bogage is the sports editor of The Maneater, the independent student newspaper of the University of Missouri. In this special edition of “Know Your Enemy,” Bogage recaps Missouri’s turnaround in the SEC East and previews the clash of the Tigers in the conference title game.

Like Auburn, the Missouri Tigers have experienced an incredible turnaround this season, going from 4-8 in their first SEC season to 11-1 and playing for the SEC Championship. What do you think has been the key to the turnaround in Columbia?

Missouri is healthy this year. Gary Pinkel tried to run a spread offense last year with a patchwork offensive line and it just did not work. People said the lack of success meant Mizzou wasn’t a true-blue SEC team.

I beg to differ and I think this year is some solid evidence that Missouri is built to last in college football’s most elite conference.

Let’s talk about the Missouri defense.

How were the Tigers able to hold Texas A&M

quarterback Johnny Manziel to his lowest total yardage of the season, and how do you think that same defense will do against Auburn’s high-powered rushing attack?

Mizzou’s front-seven is just wicked good. I mean, go down the line: Michael Sam, Harold Brantley, Matt Hoch, Kony Ealy and we haven’t even mentioned Markus Golden or the entire linebacking corps.

There is an abundance of athleticism with that group and they’re so disciplined. If you noticed, the Tigers’ D didn’t bail out Johnny Football with third down penalties.

For Auburn fans who may not have watched a lot of Missouri games this season, describe what the Tigers try to do when they have the ball.

Missouri needs to control the line of scrimmage when it has the ball. Opposing defenses must, must, must take away the running game and make James Franklin become a two-read quarterback.

Offensive coordinator Josh Henson likes to push the tempo (but not Auburn’s warp speed) when the zone-read is effective, and that opens up Franklin to throw up the seam to a stable of big, physical wide receivers.

Alternatively, they like to throw down the sideline to open drives and stretch the defense (hello, running game). When you can spread

Dorial Green-Beckham, L’Damian Washington, Marcus Lucas and Bud Sasser four-wide, you can get creative with your play calls.

Also of note, watch for tight end Eric Waters.

The Tigers rarely use tight ends so if Waters is in the game, odds are he’s the primary option.

Before the season, did you think Missouri had any chance at making it to Atlanta? What was your preseason prediction of the Tigers’ second season in the conference?

My prediction? Oy vey. I thought we’d be lucky to hit .500 after last year. Mizzou played at Vanderbilt, at Georgia, then home against Florida and South Carolina. At the time, there was a strong possibility they’d drop all four games and struggle to be bowl eligible.

And that’s not to say I thought they had a bad team, but Vandy looked talented and Georgia — with Murray and Gurley and that defense — and South Carolina and Connor Shaw.

Oh God, it just looked brutal.

If Florida and Georgia lived up to the hype, I don’t think there was a team in the country that could have gone through that streak unscathed.

Who are some of Missouri’s offensive and defensive players Auburn fans need to keep an eye on Saturday?

On offense, watch out for those three running backs (Henry Josey, Russell Hansbrough and

Marcus Murphy) and the huge receiving corps.

Every receiver listed on MU’s depth chart is six feet or taller.

Defensively, Missouri has forced a turnover in its last 42 games. That’s the longest active streak in the nation. E.J. Gaines has four interceptions and Kentrell Brothers has three more. And you’ve gotta watch out for Michael Sam who has 10.5 sacks.

Alright, prediction time. How do you see this one going down?

The key to this game is a simple question: which group of Tigers is that of fate and destiny?

Is it Auburn: the champions of the Iron Bowl, the recipients of two prayers at Jordan-Hare? Or is it Missouri: the upstarts of the east, the resilient warriors of Memorial Stadium?

My heart and head tell me Missouri. MU’s offensive firepower and diversity of weapons will be overwhelming and quarterback James Franklin finds success with his own legs, rushing for a score or two.

Pinkel gets aggressive and keeps kicker Andrew Baggett off the field and lets Franklin finish drives himself. AU’s Marshall and Mason have success early, but Mizzou plays assignment football down the stretch.

In the end, the Tigers top the Tigers 41-38, and I can’t pick a loser. Either way, the Tigers win.

2013 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP

Missouri players see similarities between themselves and Auburn Taylor Jones SPORTS WRITER

Auburn is not the only SEC team who has had a miracle season.

Just one season after going 5-7 overall and 2-6 in their first season of SEC play, the Missouri Tigers are 11-1 and seeking their first SEC Championship.

“I think what (Auburn’s players) did is they probably did the same thing we did,” said linebacker Donovan Bonner. “After a tough season, you grab a group of guys and you set goals.

Seniors get together and set goals about how you want the team to do and where you want the team to go. They trusted in our coaching staff and they got back to work,” he said.

Led by head coach Gary Pinkel in his 13th year, Missouri has only lost one game, a heartbreaker in double-overtime to South Carolina.

Missouri has avenged losses from last year against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida and Tennessee.

The Tigers have won nine of their 11 games by at least two touchdowns, including a 31-point victory over Kentucky.

Missouri has a potent offense, with quarterback James Franklin having several tall options to throw the ball to.

While missing four games due to injury, including Mizzou’s only loss, Franklin has had an impressive final season in Columbia.

“It’s pretty exciting to me to be able to be at this point and be able to come back this season and to have some success,” Franklin said earlier this week.

“

(Our receivers) were doubted a little bit, but whenever you have a quarterback and a hefty offensive line, you can do tremendous things.”

—LaDamian Washington MISSOURI WIDE RECEIVER

“I’m just really thankful for it.

“I’m glad that I did go through the things that I did, and it’s helped me out a lot with my perspective and perception on some things.

Franklin has thrown the ball for 1,952 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season.

On the ground, Missouri comes in at No. 17 in the nation in rushing yards, accumulating 2,843 yards behind the dual ground attack of Franklin and running back Henry Josey.

Josey has a had a solid year for Missouri, rushing the ball 153 times for 951 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also has nine completions for 55 yards and a touchdown.

One of Missouri’s most dangerous offensive weapons is their utilization of two tall wide receivers. “(Our receivers) were doubted a little bit, but whenever you have a quarterback and a hefty offensive line, you can do tremendous things,” said receiver LaDamian Washington.

Washington is a 6-foot-4,

205-pound senior, and has so far caught the ball 44 times for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Complementing Washington is sophomore Dorial Green-Beckham.

Coming in at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Green-Beckham’s size makes it incredibly difficult for opponents to keep the ball from. Green-Beckham has 49 receptions for 686 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Scoring hasn’t been an issue for Missouri this year, with the Tigers winning nine of their games by at least 14 points.

The only two close games that Missouri has played this year was in their loss to South Carolina, and to a thrilling 2821 victory against Texas A&M at Faurot Field.

The Tigers are currently tied for 13th in scoring with Boise State, with 465 points scored this season.

Defensively, the Tigers main threat is senior defensive end Michael Sam. Sam was awarded the team MVP recently, and leads the SEC with 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss.

Sam will tie the Missouri single-season sacks record with one more sack, with Aldon Smith’s total sacks coming to 19 in 2009.

Missouri will likely try to pick on Auburn’s smaller defensive backs, while Auburn’s running game will stick to the plan and gash Missouri’s defense as it has done all year.

While Missouri is ranked No. 40 in passing yards, Auburn comes in No. 105 with an average of 172.8 yards per game.

In rushing, however, Auburn is No. 5 nationally, averaging 318.3 yards a game, while Missouri is No. 17.

CONTRIBUTED BY THE MANEATER Missouri junior running back Henry Josey carries the ball against Texas A&M.

MISSOURI ’S ROAD TO ATLANTA 2012 SEASON: 5-7 (2-6 SEC) DATE OPPONENT LOCATION SCORE Aug. 31

Murray State Racers

Columbia

58-14 (W)

Sept. 7

Toledo Rockets

Columbia

38-23 (W)

Sept. 21

Indiana Hoosiers

Bloomington

45-28 (W)

Sept. 28

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Columbia

41-19 (W)

Oct. 5

Vanderbilt Commodores

Nashville

51-28 (W)

Oct. 12

Georgia Bulldogs

Athens

41-26 (W)

Oct. 19

Florida Gators

Columbia

36-17 (W)

Oct. 26

South Carolina Gamecocks

Columbia

27-24 (L-2OT)

Nov. 2

Tennessee Volunteers

Columbia

31-3 (W)

Nov. 9

Kentucky Wildcats

Lexington

48-17 (W)

Nov. 23

Ole Miss Rebels

Columbia

24-10 (W)

Nov. 30

Texas A&M Aggies

Columbia

28-21 (W)

2013 SEASON: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Sports B5

The Auburn Plainsman

EDITOR’S PREVIEW

Another tough test, another big stage for Auburn Will Gaines @WillGainesAU

Now that the greatest Iron Bowl — and maybe the greatest college football game ever — is over, Auburn can move on to Atlanta to face No. 5 Missouri in the SEC Championship Game.

Last season, both of these schools had miserable seasons. The media picked Auburn and Missouri to finish near the bottom of the SEC in 2013.

Now they will head to the Georgia Dome as the two top teams in the conference thanks to fantastic coaching jobs by both Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn.

While Missouri is no Alabama, they will still be one of the toughest opponents Auburn has faced all year, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Auburn has only faced two offenses better than Missouri this season — Texas A&M and Georgia.

While both Texas A&M and Georgia have better total offensive numbers, Missouri is a much more balanced team on the ground and through the air.

Missouri averages 236 rushing yards and 252 passing yards per game. Texas A&M and Georgia were more one-dimensional with passheavy offenses.

The Tigers from Columbia will also have

the best rushing offense the Tigers have faced all season. Only Auburn averages more yards rushing than Missouri in the SEC. Defensively, Missouri also presents challenges. While the numbers don’t show it, Missouri has made plays on the defensive side of the ball when they needed to.

In their last game against Texas A&M they only gave up 21 points to Johnny Manziel and the high-flying Aggie offense.

As a whole, with exception to Alabama, this could be the toughest team Auburn has faced all season.

Missouri has faced a tougher schedule than the Crimson Tide and could easily be undefeated if starting quarterback James Franklin had not been injured for the South Carolina game.

If the Auburn Tigers want to walk away with the SEC Championship, they are going to have to do what has gotten them to this point in the season.

Run the football.

Last week, all of the national media said Auburn would not be able to run the ball against the Alabama defense, but they proved them wrong by putting up 296 yards — ­ the most a Nick Saban defense had ever allowed during his time in Tuscaloosa..

If Auburn can wear the Missouri defense down with the run game, then Nick Marshall will have some options in the downfield passing game.

This will be an easier task than last week because the Missouri defense is the worst in the SEC in defending the pass, giving up 266 yards per game through the air.

Zach bland / Photographer

Dee Ford and Cassanova McKinzy bring down Alabama running back TJ Yeldon in the Iron Bowl.

Another big advantage for the Tigers is the game being played in Atlanta.

Auburn has one of the best fan bases in college football and having the game where so many Auburn alumni live will be a big advantage for the Tigers.

Taking everything into account Auburn should be able to come away with a victory and the SEC Championship.

Auburn’s run game will be too much for Missouri to handle and playing on a stage as big as

this game will be something new for Missouri, while Auburn has a lot of experience playing in big games like this.

The game should remain close, but once the run game gets going Auburn should pull away to a 42–24 win and the SEC Championship.

The next question will be is this enough to get Auburn a spot in the BCS title game?

In my opinion if both Florida State and Ohio State win then Auburn will not make the title game, and the SEC’s reign atop the college foot-

2013 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP

After Auburn’s miraculous finishes, all eyes are on Atlanta Eric Wallace Sports Writer

ANNA GRAFTON / Photo EDITOr

Sammie Coates scores the game-tying touchdown against Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

Auburn’s 34-28 victory against Alabama has been penned by many members of the media as one of the greatest finishes in college football history.

With the nation’s media focused on Auburn after two consecutive thrilling victories, head coach Gus Malzahn said it’s important the Tigers not lose focus on Missouri and the SEC Championship Game.

“That is our biggest challenge as a team,” Malzahn said.

“It was a very emotional win. It was a physical game, but we have to put it behind us and we have to put all of our attention on Missouri.”

A bye week followed Auburn’s last minute victory against Georgia Nov. 16th, something Malzahn said was critical in getting the team prepared for Alabama.

“I think any time you have a week to get over the emotion of a game, it definitely helps,” Malzahn said. “This is a challenge that is a little bit different. We only have one week.”

The Iron Bowl victory kept the Tigers’ BCS National Championship opportunities alive, but Malzahn said the team wasn’t focused on

“

It’s just amazing that this keeps happening. I think we definitely deserve it and we’ve put in the work to win the games.”

—Jay Prosch senior fullback

that yet.

“This game is big enough,” Malzahn said. “We are playing for the SEC Championship, so they are going to be focused on that. There’s no doubt in my mind. We’ll worry about all of that afterward and see what happens.”

Senior fullback Jay Prosch echoed a similar sentiment as his head coach.

“We know that we have a job to do Saturday,” Prosch said. “I think it would be easy for us in the past to get ahead of ourselves, but we didn’t and I think it’s going to stay that way. Whatever happens after that is what happens.”

Prosch said a break from practice Monday would be

beneficial in helping the team unwind from the excitement of the Iron Bowl.

“I think it’s good that we have today to relax so we just get to relax and try to forget about it,” Prosch said. “With the excitement of the SEC Championship I don’t think we’ll have a problem moving forward and focusing on Missouri.”

Malzahn said little would change during Auburn’s week of preparation for the SEC Championship Game.

“You try to put a little extra time in earlier in the week just to get familiar with them, but after you get going, teams at this point in the year, they do pretty much what got them there,” Malzahn said.

Despite trying to move on from the excitement of the Iron Bowl, Prosch said he realized how improbable many of Auburn’s finishes have been this season.

“Obviously, I think that God has something to do with it,” Prosch said. “It’s just amazing that this keeps happening. I think we definitely deserve it and we’ve put in the work to win the games.

“I wouldn’t say it was luck.

We’ve put in the work to be where we’re at.”

PLAYER PROFILE

Auburn’s road to atlanta 2012 SEASON: 3-9 (0-8 SEC)

Marshall starting to unleash his full potential in Malzahn’s system

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION SCORE Eric Wallace Sports Writer

Aug. 31

Washington State Cougars

Auburn

31-24 (W)

Sept. 7

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Auburn

38-9 (W)

Sept. 14

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Auburn

24-20 (W)

Sept. 21

LSU Tigers

Baton Rouge

35-21 (L)

Oct. 5

Ole Miss Rebels

Auburn

30-22 (W)

Oct. 12

Western Carolina Catamounts Auburn

Oct. 19

Texas A&M Aggies

College Station 45-41 (W)

Oct. 26

Florida Atlantic Owls

Auburn

45-10 (W)

Nov. 2

Arkansas Razorbacks

Fayetteville

35-17 (W)

Nov. 9

Tennessee Volunteers

Knoxville

55-23 (W)

Nov. 16

Georgia Bulldogs

Auburn

43-38 (W)

Nov. 30

Alabama Crimson Tide

Auburn

34-28 (W)

2013 SEASON: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)

62-3 (W)

No starting quarterback under head coach Gus Malzahn had missed a spring practice prior to 2013, yet Nick Marshall hasn’t seemed to be bothered.

In fact, Malzahn said the JUCO transfer has developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in his short time on The Plains.

“What he has done to lead our team and put us where we are at is really unbelievable,” Malzahn said. “He was learning the offense the first four weeks and each week he is getting more comfortable.

“You are talking about the best players in America, and I think at this point in the season, you have to start mentioning his name with a bunch of these other guys.”

Malzahn even said Marshall should be receiving Heisman consideration for his performance this season.

“He should be in the mix, no doubt,” Malzahn said. “I don’t get to watch other teams like all of you do but he should be in the mix. He is one of the better players in college football. He is leading our team.”

Senior fullback Jay Prosch said Marshall “has proven himself on the field” and definitely should be receiving Heisman attention.

“He’s a really smart guy and obviously he can get it done throwing and running the ball,” Prosch said. “People can’t tackle him.”

Malzahn said the junior’s improved decision making is a sign of his progress in the offensive system.

“He is starting to protect the football in the passing game,” Malzahn said. “He is making good decisions on when to not throw it, when to throw it away and when to take off. ” Marshall had four touchdown passes and four inter-

ceptions through the first four games of his Auburn career, but has seven passing touchdowns and only one interception in the last seven games.

His performance in Malzahn’s system has been so good that running back Corey Grant said despite knowing the play, he and the coaches occasionally lose track of the ball, too.

“Nick and Tre (Mason) do a great job of doing the reads,” Grant said. “Sometimes when we watch film, I have, and even coaches have been tricked thinking that Nick had the ball when Tre had it, and vice versa.”

Marshall has one year of eligibility left at the college level, and Malzahn seemed excited about the junior’s potential in 2014.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Malzahn said. “It will be our first time to ever do that, but like I said, we will talk about that after the season.”

Sports B6

The Auburn Plainsman

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RECYCLE

compiled by eric wallace / sports writer All eyes will not only be on Atlanta this weekend. Here are five conference title battles that could have a massive impact on the BCS picture.

The Big 10 Championship will likely have the biggest impact on Auburn’s BCS National Championship dreams.

The Buckeyes narrowly escaped a loss at the hands of a Michigan team that’s lost five of its last seven games last week, and the Spartans will only be the second ranked team Ohio State has faced all season.

@ScoopPhillips Twitter Champion (59–19)

Plainsman! your Plainsman!

TOp five matchups to watch

No. 2 ohio state vs. No. 10 michigan state BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 7:17 P.M. - FOX - INDIANAPOLIS

Kyle Van Fechtmann Sports Writer (59–19)

forget to to Don’t forget

Thursday, December 5, 2013

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Despite usually being the thick of #MACtion, NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch has been garnering Heisman consideration with his 2,457 passing yards, 1,755 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns. An undefeated season will give the Huskies the opportunity to earn a spot in a BCS bowl for the second consecutive season.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Sports B7

The Auburn Plainsman

IRON BOWL REWIND

Run game silences the critics in upset victory ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Reese Dismukes had heard it all week.

“Auburn is going to have a hard time running it against Alabama.”

“They’ve got the No. 1 rushing defense in the country.”

“Auburn must be able to throw the ball against Alabama to win the game.”

After wading through the sea of orange and blue after the Tigers’ 34-28 upset victory against No. 1 Alabama, Dismukes had a message to those who doubted Auburn’s rushing attack.

“I think we just shot all those people in the face,” Dismukes said. “Maybe we’ll finally get some credit for running the ball.”

Although Auburn’s special teams game finished the game in style, the Tigers’ success running the football set the table for a historic victory.

“First of all, they are a great run defense, but we felt like for us to win, we had to run it,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “Our mindset was to run the football. I didn’t want to change anything — I wanted to do what got us here.”

Auburn ran for 296 yards and two touchdowns against the Alabama defense, which averaged allowing 91 rushing yards per game in their 11straight victories to open their quest for a third consecutive BCS National Championship.

Quarterback Nick Marshall, who finished with 126 yards on 17 carries, opened

the day’s scoring with a 45yard touchdown run through the heart of Alabama’s defense.

The dual-threat signal caller went untouched on the run, which was Auburn’s first offensive touchdown against Alabama since Cam Newton’s game-winning touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen in the 2010 Iron Bowl.

After Alabama tied the game early in the second quarter, the momentum went straight to Alabama, thanks to a fumble by junior running back Tre Mason.

The Crimson Tide scored again with the short field and registered another touchdown for 21 unanswered points.

“That was a mistake on my part, but I knew we had to bounce back,” Mason said.

“Get six. Find a way around somebody, through somebody — just find a way.”

The Tigers bounced back right before the second half.

Marshall came close to a 16yard score on a lightning fast, run-only drive, but he was ruled out at the one-yard line after a replay review.

It did not matter to the Auburn offense.

Mason pounded the ball in on the next play, and Auburn was able to tie the game early in the third quarter.

Auburn chalked up 296 rushing yards by the final whistle, which was the most given up by Alabama in Nick Saban’s career in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide defense had not

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KATHERINE MCCAHEY / SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

Tre Mason fighting for extra yards against against Alabama Saturday, Nov. 30.

given up two rushing touchdowns in one game all season.

The most rushing yards it had given up prior to the Iron Bowl was 165 against Arkansas — a mark Auburn was three yards from at halftime.

“It was a statement,” Dismukes said. “We were able to run it well against those guys.

They came in only giving up 91 yards or something like that.

We put up 296 on them. We just played their game, and it worked out for us.”

For the Auburn running backs, the success on the ground against Alabama came with extra motivation.

Opelika native Corey Grant, who started his career at Alabama before transferring in 2011, got the first carry of the game for the Tigers.

He was on the sidelines

wearing crimson during Auburn’s 2010 Iron Bowl victory in Tuscaloosa, and he was on the sidelines wearing navy during Alabama’s two blowout wins in 2011 and 2012.

“It’s a great feeling,” Grant said. “With this being the year I could actually contribute to the team and actually play, it was a great feeling to win this one.”

And Mason’s father, a member of the hip-hop group De La Soul, was in the stands for Auburn’s miraculous victory.

It was the first time all season that he was able to watch his son play live.

“I played for him tonight,” Mason said. “I put on a good show for him. I ran angry and with passion.

“I ran with emotion and figured out a way.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Rushing success starts with Marshall Taylor Jones SPORTS WRITER

One of the key aspects to Auburn’s success on the ground has been the emergence of Nick Marshall.

Marshall passed for more than 2,000 yards twice for Wilcox County High School before signing with Georgia to play cornerback.

Marshall’s last high school game was a state championship victory, played in the Georgia Dome.

Marshall downplayed the connection between his home and the site of the SEC Championship, while admitting that he was happy to be playing in his home state.

“It’ll be great to be back in my home state, but I’m not going to get overwhelmed by it,” Marshall said. “It’s just another team on the schedule, so we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing.”

Marshall eventually transferred to Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas before ending up in Auburn.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn saw Marshall’s speed and versatility and Marshall was thrust into the quarterback competition alongside freshman Jeremy Johnson and sophomore Jonathan Wallace.

Marshall emerged from summer camp as the starter, and had a relatively mild night in Auburn’s opener against Washington State, passing for 99 yards and rushing for 27, while accounting for no touchdowns.

Marshall’s passing game found its stride against Mississippi State, as Marshall threw the ball for 339 yards and two touchdowns.

Marshall said he felt that he really found his stride in Auburn’s seventh game against Texas A&M. “There were some things that we used to do that I wasn’t comfortable with, but it just took more practice time and more effort at practice,” Marshall said.

Marshall passed for 236 yards against the Aggies, but threw two interceptions. Marshall also ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

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You can’t show weakness. That’s something I was brought up on.”

57357

Justin Ferguson

SEMESTER PARKING

—Nick Marshall QUARTERBACK

Marshall has not had to pass the ball often due to Auburn’s rushing success. He has proven he can lead a gamewinning drive.

Marshall delivered the miracle pass to Ricardo Louis on the “Miracle at Jordan Hare” pass.

Marshall also tied the Iron Bowl with a triple-option touchdown pass to Sammie Coates, setting up the gamewinning return by Chris Davis.

“The whole year coach Malzahn said we were going to get that play to work,” Marshall said.

Marshall has accumulated 1,627 yards on 119 completions in 2013.

He has accounted for 11 passing touchdowns, while throwing only five interceptions.

Marshall has also been instrumental on the ground, running the ball 140 times for 922 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Marshall has done all this while suffering a shoulder bruise and recovering while playing.

“You can’t show weakness,” Marshall said. “That’s something I was brought up on.

“If I get banged up I just get right back up to try and help my team with a victory.”

Through it all, the Auburn quarterback attributes his success to keeping calm.

“I just stay calm and keep doing what coach tells me to do,” Marshall said. “Just keep cool, calm and collected and everything will fall into place.”

In the beginning of the season, Marshall wasn’t steady on his feet as the leader of the Auburn Tigers, but as the season has progressed and the Tigers have won, Marshall has watched everything fall into place.

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Nick Marshall finished the Alabama game with 100 yards rushing.

Sports B8

The Auburn Plainsman

Thursday, December 5, 2013

COLUMN

‘Kick, Bama, Kick’ could start new Auburn era Taylor Jones SPORTS@THEPLAINSMAN.COM

When Chris Davis and the Auburn Tigers shocked the college football world with what is being hailed by many as being the greatest play in college football history, the impact was incredible.

The city of Auburn was in chaotic bliss, turning a holiday themed College Street and at Toomer’s Corner into a Winter Wonderland scene of toilet paper.

Students celebrated at Toomers Corner into the wee hours of the night, popping champagne and smoking cigars in celebration.

The immediate affect on Auburn nation is still sinking in for most.

Several things are obvious outcomes of the game.

Auburn is now ranked No. 3 in the BCS rankings, behind undefeated Florida State and Ohio State.

Alabama’s dreams of a third consecutive national championship took a major hit after Davis came through for Auburn with the bizarre and legendary game-winner.

And Auburn must now face Missouri in the SEC Championship Game.

While the immediate implications are obvious, this Iron Bowl victory will resonate deep in

ZACH BLAND / PHOTOGRAPHER

Chris Davis looks back during while returning the game-winning touchdown against Alabama.

Auburn in the long-run too.

In attendance on Saturday, were at least 200 recruits that Auburn is targeting from the class of 2014 all the way through the class of 2017.

Many of these recruits are also considering Alabama, and after seeing the greatest Iron Bowl of all time, the game could strongly influ-

ence the recruits decision in where they will play their football.

One of the recruits present at the game was No. 1 inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

McMillan is a Rivals five-star recruit.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound senior is thought to be considering Alabama as his number one

choice.

He is one of many recruits that could now potentially double-think their previous decision.

Also in attendance were prospects Derrick Moncrief, Raashed Kennion, Anthony Olobia and Elisha Shaw.

The youngest recruit that attended the game was 2017 prospect Alaric Williams, who is listed by Rivals as an athlete at Southside-Gadsden High School.

Stephen Roberts, a senior cornerback at Opelika High School, is a rivals four-star recruit.

Roberts committed to Alabama earlier this year, but after relentless recruiting by Auburn, flipped his commitment after the Georgia game to Auburn.

Auburn hosted the nation’s top recruit, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, who was throughly impressed with his visit, after admitting he wasn’t expecting anything interesting.

Hand is currently a solid verbal commitment to Alabama, but is one of those players who could potentially change his thinking on where he could be best utilized to win a championship.

The nation witnessed potentially the greatest play that has ever happened in the undoubtedly the nations fiercest and biggest rivalry, and Auburn is going to Atlanta as a result.

The future of the rivalry could have been seriously altered when Chris Davis crushed Alabama’s hopes for another championship, but only time will tell if the recruits in question will change their commitment before National Signing Day in February and flip to the Tigers.

ANNA GRAFTON / PHOT0 EDITOR

LEFT TO RIGHT: ESPN College GameDay analysts David Pollack, Paul FInebaum and Chris Fowler speaking to the media Friday, Nov. 29 before the Iron Bowl.

FROM THE EXPERTS

ESPN impressed with Malzahn’s first season on The Plains Will Gaines SPORTS EDITOR

Anyone who lives in Alabama knows about the Auburn turnaround from last season’s dismal 3–9 finish, but it is getting just as much attention in the national media as it is in the local media.

“It’s a remarkable turnaround,” said ESPN’s College GameDay host Chris Fowler. “Anybody who follows this team knows going from 0-8 in the SEC to (winning the division) is remarkable, and I don’t think anybody who covers the sport nationally thought this was possible.”

Now the Tigers are one win away from being crowned champion of the Southeastern Conference just one season after they did not win a single conference game.

Former Georgia player and current ESPN college football analyst David Pollack said last year’s Auburn team was as bad as he has ever

seen.

“That offense they put on the field at Auburn last year was one of the most painful offenses in the history of the world to watch,” Pollack said.

“Everything was ugly about this team last year.”

One year later, new head coach Gus Malzahn has returned Auburn back to a team with national prominance and contending for conference championships.

ESPN Radio host Paul Finebaum has covered college football in Alabama for 34 years, and has been known to be critical of SEC head coaches, but he gave Malzahn his stamp of approval.

“If I had to vote today on national coach of the year, I would vote Gus Malzahn,” Finebaum said. “I don’t think anybody has done a better job. He inherited a mess and that’s courtesy of Gene Chizik. I’ve said this many times that Chizik was the worst coach to ever win a BCS Championship. He would not have won it with-

out Cam Newton and he would not have won it without Gus Malzahn.”

While Finebaum is quick to point out Chizik as the cause of the problems in 2012, Pollack said the youth and lack of talent in 2012 were factors, as well. He credits the return of Malzahn’s offense as helping this team bounce back like they have in 2013.

“I think that talent is a year older, and you played a lot of young guys a year ago,” Pollack said. “The offense is also scoring 40 points a game, and that make defense a little easier to call, because you can be a little more aggressive.”

Pollack was an All-American defensive lineman at Georgia under 2012 Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

Watching last season was tough for Pollack seeing his former mentor have such a bad season.

“He’s still one of my good friends and I still

talk to him all the time because he had a big influence on me, my life and my career for sure,” Pollack said. “When you turn on the film from a year ago and you didn’t see a lot of talent, and I think this year they have done a much better job.”

A year later, Pollack has found that Auburn has more playmakers than he originally thought they had a season ago.

“Dee Ford is really special,” Pollack said. “I think he is one of the better guys in the country and probably needs to get more attention than he has. That dude is explosive, has good awareness and is a really good football player.”

Pollack said he knew last season was not normal for how Auburn football is played, and knew they could bounce back quickly.

“I don’t ever expect Auburn to be down for a long period of time, and I don’t think anybody does. This place recruits too well.”

BASEBALL

Tim Hudson kicks off Iron Bowl weekend with charity home run derby Eric Wallace SPORTS WRITER

The festivities of Iron Bowl weekend kicked off Friday night in Plainsman Park during Tim Hudson’s 10th annual Celebrity Home Run Derby.

Hudson, a former pitcher and outfielder for Auburn and current pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, uses the annual event to raise money for the Hudson Family Foundation, which is dedicated to helping children in need of physical, emotional or financial assistance.

“A lot of the people here are very supportive of what we have going on,” Hudson said. “We get a bunch of guys to come out every year and hit. Former players and current players, we’re excited and hopefully we can put a good show on for these guys and raise some money for our foundation which is such a great cause.”

The professionals participating in this year’s event included three-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, former Auburn and Oakland Athletics third baseman

Josh Donaldson and former Auburn outfielder Brian Fletcher.

“This place brings back so many memories, especially with this weekend being the Iron Bowl, it’s been incredible,” Fletcher said. “The last time I was here was when we were hosting the regional playing against Clemson. This brings back great memories.”

First year head coach Sonny Golloway said it’s important for the Auburn baseball program to have successful former players return to their collegiate stomping grounds.

“We’re just humbled to be a part of this,” Golloway said. “It’s great to have Kim [Hudson] and Tim utilize the ball park and come back and to continue to be great members of the Auburn family. It’s not just Tim, but you think about [Jason] Dufner coming out for this. I thought it was a great twist to have him involved in this too.”

Former Auburn athletes Philip Lutzenkirchen and Stan White also made appearances at the

event, competing in a golf contest with Hudson against Dufner.

Split up into Team Kimbrel and Team Hudson for the home run derby competition, Hudson’s squad rode a seven home run performance from current Auburn hitting coach and former major leaguer Greg Norton to a 16-11 victory.

Capping off the night, the Alabama crimson clad Kimbrel was forced to don an Auburn sweatshirt as a part of a bet made between him and Hudson.

The Hudson family also established the Scott Shockley scholarship for baseball managers at the event, the first of which was presented to Justin Veazey.

Despite his recent signing with the San Francisco Giants, Hudson said his heart will always be in the South.

“This is home,” Hudson said.

“We love Auburn and we’ll always be here. I’ll always be here until the day I die. My kids are going to be in school here in Auburn and we’re going to still live here when I’m not playing ball.”

ZACH BLAND / PHOTOGRAPHER

Tim Hudson celebrating during his annual charity home run derby.