Tag: Chizik

Chizik denies allegations

Gene Chizik, the former Auburn coach, has denied allegations from blogger Selena Roberts that he manipulated players grades, ignored drug tests and paid players. He said in a statement: “During my tenure at Auburn, the NCAA conducted a multi-year investigation into the Auburn football program that they called “fair and thorough.” The NCAA focused intently on widespread accusations about Auburn players being paid and other alleged recruiting violations. The NCAA conducted 80 interviews. In October 2011, the NCAA rejected “rampant public speculation online and in the media.” Unfortunately, the recent story published by Selena Roberts is more of the same. It once again portrays Auburn University, current and former coaches, professors, fans, supporters and community officials in a false light.

Read more

Sometimes, it wasn’t that good: Bottom 10 SEC Moments

Don’t worry friends, we’ll get to our ‘Top SEC Moments’ this week, so you can remember fondly the great season that we’ve had a conference (unless you’re Auburn, Tennessee or Kentucky, who combined for 1 conference win between them). But to go up, sometimes you have to start from the bottom. Here are our Bottom 10 SEC Moments (both off and on the field)…. Our song? Oh: Fun’s ‘Some Nights’…. 10) The Fall of Auburn There was nothing nice to say about Auburn football in 2012. They won no games in their conference. They came close at home to LSU, but that was about it. Otherwise, they completely and utterly stunk. Kiehl Frazier justified his ranking as the SEC’s worst quarterback,

Read more

Auburn names Kiehl Frazier starting QB

Auburn has named Kiehl Frazier as its starting quarterback. The sophomore QB threw for just 41 yards and two interceptions last year. But Gene Chizik, Auburn’s head coach, said in a statement: “After a complete and thorough evaluation during spring practice and through the first three-plus weeks of camp, Kiehl Frazier has earned the starting job at quarterback. We expect Kiehl to be a leader for this team and to continue to work hard every day. I am confident in his ability and leadership skills and look forward to watching him progress in both areas.” Frazier beat Clint Moseley and Jonathan Wallace to the starting job – although Moseley’s progress was somewhat hurt by a shoulder injury.

Read more

Auburn suspends WR indefinitely

Auburn has suspended wide receiver DeAngelo Benton indefinitely, Gene Chizik said. In a statement he said: “We have standards and expectations that our football team is expected to uphold and when they do not abide by those, there are consequences. As a result, I have suspended DeAngelo Benton.” He had a list of off-the-field problems. Al.com said that he ‘testified in the robbery trial of former AU player Antonio Goodwin, saying that he bought synthetic marijuana‘, and the website also noted that he was present at the pool party shooting of three Auburn players – and may have been involved in an argument with alleged shooter Desmonte Leonard – although witnesses said that he was not involved. Benton had seven

Read more

SEC Preseason Preview: Can Auburn roar in the SEC West?

There is no school out there that could have had a more horrible off-season than the Auburn Tigers. And only one incident capped it: Two former Auburn Tigers – Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian – and sophomore offensive linesman Eric Mack were shot at a pool party in mid-June. Phillips and Christian lost their lives. The news rocked the University to the core – and it’ll be interesting to see what effect – if any – it has on the Tigers are the start of the year. In less important news, brilliant running back Michael Dyer was dismissed from the team and is now playing FCS football, and Auburn can still roll the Toomer’s Oaks for the 2012 season (although

Read more

SEC Media Days: Chizik gives play-off thumbs up

Auburn Coach Gene Chizik gave the four-team college football play-off his approval at his SEC Media Day Conference in Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday. When asked about a play-off by journalists, he said: “With a four‑team playoff, I’m going to be honest with you, that depends on what glasses you’re wearing. Let me give you an example. In 2010, if we had the four‑team playoff in place, I was at Auburn, just went through this league undefeated, won the SEC championship game, am I in favor of playing another one to prove that I deserve getting into the national championship game? No, I don’t. But if you go back up to 2004 when we were undefeated and we didn’t get in

Read more

SEC Meetings: What to Expect From Media Days 2-3

A few months after the SEC Meetings in Florida, we’re getting a play-off in college football – and it’s all to the SEC’s advantage, because if that group is going to sit and talk about ALL schedules – not just non-conference schedules – then it’s going to be SEC all the way. So anyway, here’s what we expect the coaches to talk about at the SEC Media Days from now on in (sorry about missing Mssrs Pinkel, Spurrier, Franklin and Sumlin, but we’ve been away (but you will be caught up on what they said). We expect: Nick Saban to talk about Alabama’s recruiting, re-tooling after another National Championship, and of course – as happens every year – oversigning. And how

Read more

Trial of Harvey Updyke starts today

Harvey Updyke didn’t play football for the University of Alabama. Harvey Updyke didn’t attend the University of Alabama. But the former Texas State Police Officer did something in Alabama’s name that will love on long in infamy: He poisoned the oaks at Toomer’s Corner, which are always dressed in toilet paper after the Auburn Tigers have victory. In 2010, he called the Paul Finebaum Show and told millions of listeners he had done the dirty deed, so annoyed he was after the Tide lost to their hated Auburn rivals. According to Al.com, Updyke was charged with “two felony counts of first-degree criminal mischief, two felony counts of unlawful damage to property from a crop facility and two misdemeanor counts of

Read more