Local Sports
Auburn analysis: 2007's injuries could be good for 2008's Tigers
By Brandon ShieldsJust how important is this season in Auburn's football program for the next few seasons.
At the rate Tommy Tuberville and his staff are having to play the younger guys, it could be a building block for possibly the championship run Auburn fans have been looking for all decade.
Between suspensions and injuries, there have been plenty of missing faces in the Tigers' starting lineup throughout the season.
The youth of the offensive line was a given coming into the season, and the front line seemed to be exposed early on against Kansas State and South Florida.
However senior King Dunlap has been able to lead the young group to get better and provide better protection for quarterback Brandon Cox and the running backs.
The line took another hit Saturday when Jason Bosley suffered a sprained knee.
"Jason's situation is not looking good right now, and he may be out for a few weeks," Tuberville said. "We had to bring in some guys today that we were wanting to redshirt this season, but that's the situation we're in right now."
As far as running backs go, the majority of the carries this season have gone to sophomore Ben Tate and freshman Mario Fannin.
Tuberville said he hoped that situation will improve even more later this month when Tristan Davis returns from injury.
While they have been effective in recent weeks, they got a big boost this week when junior Brad Lester returned from suspension to run for two touchdowns in the 35-7 win over Vanderbilt.
The defense held Vanderbilt and one of the conference's best receivers in Earl Bennett to less than 200 yards, and it was without sophomore stars linebacker Tray Blackmon and free safety Aairon Savage.
There are advantages and disadvantages that will result from this situation.
Auburn is having to burn some redshirts on the young players that were supposed to sit out a season while the older guys finished out their careers on The Plains and give the young ones time to learn Auburn's system.
Without those players on reserve for next year, recruiting will be affected as the coaches may have to go after a couple of more players to fill positions that they were hoping they might not need as badly for a couple of years.
However, this could be good for the next couple of years.
When today’s young players get the playing time they were expecting to get anyway in the coming years simply because of graduation, they won't be totally new to getting into live situations on Saturday afternoons.
Sports writers around the state will not have to write articles about how they are preparing mentally for their first college football action because they have already seen it.
Recruiting may be affected because of 2007's injuries, but 2008's team will bring with it considerably more experience than previously thought.
That is something the highest rated players coming out of high school can never bring with them.
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Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
Top-ranked Bearcats feel same old blues on road in Russellville
Four turnovers. Two missed field goals. Several blown assignments.
Not many teams can survive that many miscues in the playoffs. Top-ranked Cullman found that out Friday night, getting upended 42-14 at No. 5 Russellville in the Class 5A quarterfinals. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Eagles hold on, defeat Holly Pond in nailbiter
Late in the fourth quarter Friday night, just before a couple of big free throws, Cold Springs High girls basketball coach Tammy West pulled aside Georgia Myrex for a quick pep talk.
Except for one thing: When West placed both hands on top of her star player’s head, it looked a little more like some kind of crunch-time benediction.
Or something like that. - PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Holly Pond stays unbeaten, sets up showdown with defending champs
- Wallace pitcher Holley signs letter of intent with UAB
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CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Top-ranked Bearcats return to Russellville looking for revenge — one year later
Behold the power of three.
Heading into its Class 5A quarterfinal tonight at Russellville, Cullman High’s football team has already avenged two of its three losses from the 2008 season.
In week six, the Bearcats beat Erwin 42-16 to avenge a 25-20 loss from last season. And in week eight, Cullman downed Mountain Brook 28-13 to get revenge for last year’s 49-34 defeat.
Guess who the third target is. -
TALKIN' PREPS: Looks like more basketball parity this season
No juggernauts. No clear-cut favorites. Just a bunch of basketball teams that could beat every other team in the area.
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AUBURN FOOTBALL: Washington may be playing himself into job as kick returner
The road to success has been long for Demond Washington.
Just about as long as his big return last weekend against Georgia.
With his Auburn Tigers trailing 24-17 in the fourth quarter this past Saturday, Washington took a Bulldogs kickoff at his own 1-yard line, weaved in and out of traffic and sped all the way to the end zone for a 99-yard touchdown. -
CULLMAN FOOTBALL: Versatile Adams fills multiple roles in Cats’ offense
Connor Adams has worn several labels over the past 15 months.
Starting running back, injured reserve, H-back, Wildcat quarterback, fill-in running back — those all fit the bill.
But here’s another one Adams can claim, and it’s something a little different:
Blessed. -
PREP BASKETBALL: Raiders give Hulsey family bragging rights
Tristan Hulsey didn’t hear a congratulatory yell from his father when he made a layup to give West Point High a one-point advantage heading into halftime.
His dad had a look of disgust on his face, instead. -
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Aggies hold on, defeat Douglas
airview High’s basketball team stayed unbeaten with a nailbiting win Tuesday night, beating Douglas 52-20.
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