Thursday, September 19, 2013
Sports B3
The Auburn Plainsman
LSU’s most popular fragrance? Eau de corn dog Taylor Jones Sports@theplainsman.com
There are many unique traditions in college football. From Auburn’s rolling Toomer’s Corner to Wisconsin’s “Jump Around” and Les Miles having his pre-game meal of grass, each tradition is unique and beloved by it’s fans. However, there is one tradition, that is unlike any other tradition in today’s sports world. It is an infamously hilarious tradition, one that was started by someone who still has not revealed his true identity, but goes by the name “deepblue” on Autigers.com. I’m referring, of course, to the tradition of telling LSU fans that they smell like corn dogs. It all started, when “deepblue” made a lengthy and poetic post on Autigers.com several years ago. The post started with: “LSU fans smell just like corn dogs.
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When you step on campus (in Baton Rouge), it really smells like corn dogs, almost like you’re at a fair.” —Jake Harris Former Auburn long snapper
Yes, it is often said, but so, so true. LSU fans do smell like corn dogs. I would never tell them that to their face though. This is something better said at internet distances. Even now, I am afraid. I am afraid that they’ll know I said it. I’ll walk past an LSU fan someday, and he’ll see that look in my eye that gives it away. That look that says, ‘Gee, what is that smell? Is it corn dogs?’ The next thing you know, I’ll have flat tires on my car.” The post is quite lengthy, and ranges from pointers on how to handle children around
LSU fans, to safety tips while in Baton Rouge. I think this may be why a lot of fans get beaten up by LSU fans. If you attend a game in Baton Rouge, try to avoid telling them that they smell like corn dogs. Say something else instead. Like, “Wow, LSU sure does have a great team this year. This is going to be a great SEC game.” While the post is satirical, it caught fire. The tradition spread from Auburn to other SEC schools, and then to the entire NCAA. If searched for on YouTube, countless videos connecting LSU and corn dogs will be found, created by numerous fan-bases. Clinton Durst, a former Auburn punter who played for the Tigers from 2008-2009 is a firm believer that the myth is true. Originally from Destin, FL, Durst grew up a Florida State fan before coming to the Plains, and did not hear about the LSU connection to corn dogs until a team meeting with former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville. “It was a team meeting with Coach Tuberville. He was trying to lighten up the mood a
Contributed by LSU athletics
LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
little bit and he referred to them as ‘corn dogs’,” Durst said while laughing. Some of the newcomers on the team were confused as to what Tuberville meant, but Durst claims that when they asked, he simply responded. “You’ll figure it out once you get there,” Durst said. Sure enough, Durst says that the visitors locker room proved the myth as fact. “In the visitors locker room, it smells like a million rotten corndogs.” Durst said. “It smells like they threw a thousand (corndogs) in the locker room and let them mold for a year.” Former Auburn long-snapper Josh Harris, who played for the Tigers from 2008-2012 and is now the long-snapper for the Atlanta Falcons, also corroborates Durst’s story. “When you step on campus (in Baton Rouge) it really smells like corndogs, almost like you’re at a fair.” Harris said. Whether you’re a believer or not of the LSU corndog myth, there is no denying that “deepblue” started arguably the most hilarious tradition in college football.
Katherine Mccahey / sports photographer
Nick Marshall during the Mississippi State game.
A tale of two Tigers’ journeys Contributed by todd van emst
Karen Hoppa has led Auburn to seven consecutive NCAA tournaments.
Assistant Sports Editor
Hoppa working to add to legacy Taylor Jones sports writer
When Karen Hoppa took the head coaching position for the Auburn Women’s Soccer team in 1999, she took the reins of a team that was desperately looking for someone to turn things around. Fifteen years and 166 victories later, Hoppa is a powerful figure in women’s collegiate soccer, as she has seen great success at Auburn and has watched her work pay off as Auburn transformed into a winning program. Hoppa played goalkeeper for the University of Central Florida, starting three seasons from 1989 until 1991. In those three years, Hoppa allowed only 30 goals in 48 games. She also still holds three UCF records for goals allowed (30), goals against average (0.0594) and shutouts (30.5). As a player, Hoppa earned distinctions including being named a 1989 Soccer America MVP Team selection, the 1990 Adidas/ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year and the 1990 NCAA Goalkeeper of the Year award. After Hoppa decided to transition her role on the pitch to the sidelines, she accepted a job as the head coach at Central Florida in 1993. Hoppa wasted no time, winning 74 games in six seasons and winning the Trans America Athletic Conference championship in her first four years. Hoppa left UCF after a 12–8 season, having won 5 of the 6 conference championships during her tenure with the Knights. Hoppa describes her move from Central Florida to Auburn as being her “next step.” “The Auburn position came open, and a friend of mine who coached at Georgia told me I needed to look at (the Auburn job), because it may be a hidden gem,” Hoppa said. “I applied, came here for the interview and fell in love. It’s a place I could live in for a long time.” Hoppa inherited an Auburn team that had not seen much success in its past. In her first year, Hoppa’s Tigers went 6–13. “The team wasn’t very good and we wanted to turn it into a winning program,” Hoppa said. However, Hoppa was determined to change
Justin Ferguson
things on The Plains. “Ultimately we wanted to win the SEC Championship and become a national contender, but the short term was just going from a losing program to a winning program,” Hoppa said. Luckily for Hoppa and the Tigers, her goals have been realized. In Hoppa’s fifteen seasons at Auburn, she has compiled a record of 166–113– 25, with seven SEC West titles, one SEC regular season title, one SEC tournament title and 12 NCAA tournament appearances. In 2002, Hoppa led the Tigers to a 15–2–2 overall record, winning the SEC regular season title and making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Hoppa also recently led the Tigers in 2011 to the SEC Tournament Championship, where the Tigers became the first SEC West school to ever win the tournament. While Hoppa has already seen incredible success at Auburn, she doesn’t plan on becoming content. “At this stage we’ve established ourselves consistently as a top team and an NCAA tournament team, so now our goal is to take the program to the next level,” Hoppa said. Hoppa said the team’s current goal is to make the “Sweet Sixteen,” and then she hopes the Tigers continue their success. Hoppa has had many great memories in Auburn, not even being able to list one specific memory as her favorite. She recalled memories from a 2001 upset win against Virginia, a comeback win against Alabama in the year in which she won her 200th game and when her team beat Florida in 2011 to win the SEC Tournament. Make no mistake, Hoppa plans to make more memories involving trophies on the national stage. “We want to make it to the Final Four, and then it’s on to the National Championship,” Hoppa said. Hoppa will be looking to lead Auburn to their eighth consecutive NCAA tournament berth this season. The Tigers have started off the season 3–3–1.
Their uniforms and playing styles might be different, but Nick Marshall and Zach Mettenberger have taken similar paths to the upcoming clash between rivals Auburn and LSU. Georgia natives Marshall and Mettenberger, who will be the two starting quarterbacks Saturday night in Baton Rouge, both started their college careers playing for their home state’s Bulldogs. After off-the-field incidents led to their dismissals from Georgia head coach Mark Richt’s program, both Marshall and Mettenberger landed in Kansas, a state known for its junior college football. Spectacular seasons garnered the attention of other powerhouse schools, and the two quarterbacks eventually became the starters at their new SEC homes. Marshall and Mettenberger have led their respective offenses in three straight wins to start the 2013 season, and their performances at quarterback have definitely caught the eye of the opposing head coaches. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said he is most impressed with the LSU quarterback’s emphasis on ball security. “I believe (Mettenberger) has nine touchdowns and zero interceptions so far,” Malzahn said in his Tuesday Sept. 17 press conference . “That says a lot. He’s making good decisions.” Mettenberger, who is now 13–3 as LSU’s starting quarterback, only threw for 12 touchdowns in the 2012 sea-
son. Although Louisiana’s Tigers still use a smashmouth pro-style offense, new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s system has given Mettenberger more opportunities to hit star receivers Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry on deep passes. “They have a quarterback that can actually [go deep] now,” said Auburn senior linebacker Jake Holland. “It’s a threat, but they’re still a run-focused team.” Mettenberger was kicked off of the team in March 2010 for a violation of team rules, and he pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery the following month. He restarted his football career at Butler Community College in Kansas, where he led the Grizzlies to the junior college national championship game after a 32-touchdown season. “It was tough, but as I kept going through JUCO and started getting some attention and started realizing that I had a talent that coaches wanted,” Mettenberger told Yahoo! Sports in 2012. “It definitely made some coaches think about the baggage that I had, but I shared with Coach Miles that I was a changed guy and he took a chance on me. And I’m grateful to him for that.” Marshall had a similar journey to becoming a starting quarterback in the SEC’s Western Division. He started his career at Georgia in 2011, but not as an offensive player. The athletic Marshall was a cornerback for the Bulldogs when he was kicked off the team for an unspecified violation of team rules. He allegedly stole mon-
ey from his Georgia teammates, but no charges were ever filed. Marshall then transferred to Garden City Community College, where he led the team in both passing and rushing yards. In his first comments after being named the starter, at Auburn Marshall made it clear that he, like the rest of the Auburn team, was moving on from the past. “I don’t really worry about [my past],” Marshall said. “I’m an Auburn player now.” Marshall will enter Death Valley on the heels of a 339yard, two-touchdown performance against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. His last-second touchdown pass to tight end C.J. Uzomah snapped a 10-game SEC losing streak for his new team. The transfer’s performance in his SEC debut and the rest of the Tigers garnered the praise of LSU head coach Les Miles. “I think Marshall is throwing the ball better,” Miles said. “I think (Auburn) has good schemes. And I think they are improved.” For Auburn, Saturday night’s matchup in a hostile environment will be a perfect time to show the entire country how much it has improved from the 2012 season. For LSU, “The Tiger Bowl” will be the start of its quest for the SEC title against a traditional rival. But for Marshall and Mettenberger, the AuburnLSU game will be another opportunity to take full advantage of their precious second chance at becoming a star on college football’s biggest stage.
Auburn club rugby players are ready for new season to begin Taylor Jones Sports writer
The Auburn rugby team has began preparations as their upcoming season rapidly approaches. The club has attracted many newcomers to the sport, who aspire to succeed with the team. Senior Sebastian Kamyab, vice president of the rugby club, said that the majority of those who tried out had never played. “I would say 90 per-
cent of the people that came out have never played before coming to Auburn.” While there are many new faces to the team and the game, the team will look to help the newcomers acclimate to the new sport and use them as the future of the team. Senior Rob Northup believes that team chemistry will help the team win. “Since we have so many new peo-
ple, we want to get everyone together and on the same page.” Northup said. “We have some guys that have played their whole lives who will show the new guys who have been playing for days the game of rugby, and if we can get everyone to work together we’ll have a successful season,” Northup said Kamyab said that the rookie situation has worked for them in the past. “Last year, a lot of rookies came out
and picked up their game and we had a 5–2 year.” While the team has a young base, Kamyab makes one thing clear: the goal is success. “Our goal for the fall is to have the rookies develop and understand the sport.” Kamyab said. “Once we’ve done that, in the spring we’re going to try and win an SEC Championship.” Junior Ben Winiarczyr says the team has it’s rivals, saying “We don’t
like Ole Miss.” However when asked about who their biggest and most intense game is against? He answered without hesitation. “Of course, Alabama,” he said. The rugby squad will face off against the UAB Blazers in their season opener on Sept. 21, in Auburn at the intramural fields. The fall season has six games scheduled.