Sports
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Thursday, July 28, 2011
Page B3
Chizik remains collected at Media Day Nicole Singleton Sports Editor
Multiple questions involving the phrase “NCAA investigation” were thrown at Gene Chizik July 21, but they couldn’t sway him from his cool, determined demeanor at SEC Media Day in Hoover. “All of the outside innuendos, speculations, rumors, all those different things whether they be NCAA related or otherwise—it’s just not a big part of what I concern myself with,” Chizik said. Nevertheless, the media still harped on certain situations ranging from Cam Newton to Destin, Fla., where a supposed heated argument took place between Chizik and NCAA vice president for enforcement, Julie Roe Lach. “I said this many times; I feel great about where we are as a football program,” Chizik said. “I sleep really good every night when my head hits the pillow.”
Questions about last season’s scandals took up a surprising amount of time despite the upcoming season being so close. Chizik said he realizes the inexperience of his team, but that won’t stop them from keeping the same goals Auburn always maintains. “Make no mistake about it, the standard for Auburn University and the goals for Auburn University—no matter if we were going to play 22 freshmen—have not changed,” Chizik said. “We graduate our players and win championships.” Philip Lutzenkirchen, junior tight end, offered positive outlooks on the way he believes the offense will perform this upcoming season without Heisman-winner Cam Newton. “The thing about a Coach Malzahn’s offense is that he’ll play to our own strengths,” Lutzenkirchen said. “Last year, with Cam at quarterback, we used him
as a rusher. The year before, we were a play-action team first. We could go back to that. We’ll just have to see this fall.” Mo v i n g f o r w a rd from winning a national championship might be deemed difficult by many people, but Chizik said the Tigers took care of that quickly. “I want to make this really, really clear; the minute our plane hit the ground in Montgomery on Jan. 11, we had moved on,” Chizik said. Emory Blake, junior wide receiver, said he realized the championship win was in the past when he began working out again. “There’s no looking back, just moving forward,” Blake said. Chizik said last year’s team will serve as great inspiration for this season’s team, but all players must look ahead and keep moving forward.
Nicole Singleton / Sports Editor
Gene Chizik spoke before reporters July 21 at the SEC Media Day in Hoover. He answered questions concerning the NCAA investigations and the next football season.
Players anticipate basketball season months ahead Johnson trades his former Clemson uniform for an Auburn one
Alverson may joke with teammates, but it is all competition on the court
Laura Hobbs Writer
After being a Clemson Tiger for a year and a half, Noel Johnson, junior in public administration, decided to make a change to become an Auburn Tiger. “I can bring leadership to the team,” Johnson said. After enrolling at Auburn in January, Johnson, a 6-foot-8-inch guard, will be ready to hit the court after the fall semester and will have one and a half years of remaining eligibility. “As good of a basketball player as he is, he is just as good a person,” said head coach Tony Barbee. “I am excited about what Noel is going to bring to the Auburn family on and off the floor.” Johnson, a three-time team MVP, began his career to success at an early age. As a student at Fayette County High School, he was looked heavily upon by a variety of media outlets and always stayed in the top 60 for prospect ratings.
Kelley Rouse Writer
todd van emst / media relations
Johnson averaged 2.9 points a game at Clemson. In 2009, ESPNU rated Johnson the No. 30 prospect, while Scout. com and Rivals.com rated him No. 56 and No. 53, respectively. After leading the way for his team to the Class 4A state championship his junior year, he received recognition by being named to the first-team All State his senior year in high school while averaging 21 points per game. After signing with Clemson in 2009, Johnson quickly became a viable member of the team. During his freshman year, he played » See johnsoN, B4
q&a with mcalpine
She has it—all the talent and the brains. Blanche Alverson, junior guard and forward on the Auburn’s women’s basketball team, has achieved success on and off the court. The 6-foot-3-inch athlete, originally from Andalusia, started playing basketball when she was 4 years old with her older brother William. She became involved with a recreational league when she was 6. At the young age of 8, she was already playing on a traveling team. By the time she was in seventh grade, college coaches already had an eye on Alverson. “Growing up, that was always a goal of mine to play in college,” Alverson said. After excelling in basketball at Buford High School in Georgia, she decided to continue her ca-
reer by playing at Auburn. She is a fourth-generation Auburn student and has been an Auburn fan her entire life. “All the places I visited, everywhere I went, there was something that reminded me of Auburn,” Alverson said. “So that’s how I knew where I wanted to go. I love it.” Alverson’s teammates love having her here as well. “Blanche is our jukebox,” said Morgan Jennings, senior guard. “You press play, and she’ll just sing any song and get us going on the back of the bus. The genre doesn’t even matter: rap, R&B, country, Justin Bieber in particular.” The team is very close and members enjoy hanging out together, Alverson said. “She’s goofy and sarcastic,” said Jassany Williams, sophomore forward. “She’s smart on and off the court.” This season, Alverson was named to the Capital One Academic All-District IV Women’s Basketball team. She is a junior in pre-med with a 3.62 grade-point average. In addition to being named to the Capital One academic team, Alverson was the first Auburn Tiger for the 2010-2011 women’s
Todd Van Emst / Media Relations
As a freshman, Alverson played in all 31 games and recorded 215 points. basketball season to be named SEC Player of the Week, which she said is one of her greatest » See alverson, B4
McAlpine brings a winning past to AU women’s soccer team future Jake Winfrey Writer
For coach Keidane McAlpine, the timing was just right. After serving as head women’s soccer coach at Birmingham Southern College for five years, McAlpine packed his bags and headed to Auburn. “I came to Auburn in 2006,” McAlpine said. “It was right about the time that Birmingham Southern was going to Division III. I got a call from Karen Hoppa, head coach of Auburn’s women’s soccer, saying she needed a new assistant, so the timing worked out for me to keep working towards my goal of being a Division I coach.” Before coming to Auburn, McAlpine spent a number of years at Birmingham Southern as a player, an assistant and finally, a head coach. McAlpine began playing soccer at BSC in 1992, where he was a four-year starter and captain his senior season. He then served as an assistant coach from 19982000 before being hired as head
mcalpine
coach in 2001. As head coach, he led BSC to its only NCAA Division I Tournament appearance and was named 2004 Big South Coach of the Year. In his five years at Auburn, McAlpine has worked primarily with the midfielders. He has also had his hand in possession attack and assisting Coach Hoppa with the goalkeepers. McAlpine said his biggest accomplishment so far at Auburn is being able to maintain a high level of play, while mixing his style of play with Coach Hoppa’s and still being successful. “Since I have been here, we have made the national tourna-
ment all five times and beaten Alabama all five times we have played them,” McAlpine said. “I am just really glad that I was able to bring my style to an already successful program and maintain its success.” McAlpine is known for his cool, yet intense demeanor and is praised by the team for his knowledge of the game. Amy Berbary, assistant coach, said McAlpine brings a number of good qualities to the team. “I think he brings a good calmness to the program, though he can be pretty intense,” Berbary said. “He is really, really good at breaking down individuals as well as the game itself.” Berbary said it’s McAlpine’s relationship with the team that makes him special. “He is really there for all the girls,” Berbary said. “He is like their big brother.” Ana Cate, junior midfielder, said McAlpine’s coaching methods and experience are good. “First all, he is really laid back,” » See mcalpine, B4