Gameday Activities in and around Jordan-Hare

Transcription

1 September 20, Today in Jordan-Hare: Auburn vs. LSU 8-9 Anders Cover Story: Jason Bosley 13 A Word From Auburn s Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs 49 Where Are They Now?: Alex Lincoln 57 Senior Profile: Merrill Johnson 61 Tiger Tracks: Seniors Achieve Academic Success 64 Tiger Tracks: AU Equestrian Team Rides Into Fall Season Through The Lens (pictorial) 147 University News: AU Athlete s Memoir Now Available 155 Where Are They Now?: Wesley Person 196 University News: Prison Arts Project Gives Inmates Creative Outlet 208 Down Through The Years With David Housel Gameday Activities in and around Jordan-Hare Noon Tiger Gear Store opens (West Side - Stadium) 2 p.m. Tiger Tailgate at Plainsman Park opens 2:45 p.m. Coliseum Ticket Office opens Tiger Team Village opens 4:15 p.m. Suites open Student Gates open 4:45 p.m. Public Gates/ Stadium Box Office opens Tiger Walk 5:15 p.m. Spirit March 5:30 p.m. Pep Rally (Corner of Roosevelt and Donahue) 6:25 p.m. Verizon Wireless Recognition 6:27 p.m. Equestrian National Champions Recognition 6:29 p.m. Pam Sheffield Award Presentation 6:31 p.m. Flight of the Eagle 6:34 p.m. Band Pre-Game Show 6:42 p.m. AU Rev-Up Video 6:43 p.m. AU takes the field 6:47 p.m. Kickoff Halftime LSU Marching Band Auburn University Marching Band

2 Today s Game Presented by by Brad Gust No. 10/9 Auburn hosts No. 6/6 LSU in a battle of Top 10 teams tonight at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It is the sixth consecutive year that both teams are nationally ranked entering the game, and the seventh straight year that at least one team was ranked in the top 10 at the time. The one time during that stretch that both teams were ranked in the top 10 was in 2006, when No. 3 Auburn beat No. 6 LSU, 7-3. Junior wide receiver Montez Billings is averaging 16.3 yards per catch this season Auburn Football Illustrated LSU Quick Hitters LSU will be playing its first road game after home victories against Appalachian State (41-13) and North Texas (41-3)... LSU leads the SEC in rushing offense (241.0) and scoring offense (41.0)... The Tigers are fifth nationally in rushing defense (48.0) and 10th in the nation in scoring defense (8.0)... Charles Scott leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally in rushing (131.0)... Trindon Holliday leads the nation in punt returns (40.8)... LSU was picked to finish second in the SEC West behind Auburn in the SEC Preseason Poll conducted by the league s media... The SEC media members selected OL Herman Johnson, DL Tyson Jackson, LB Darry Beckwith and PK Colt David as first-team Preseason All-SEC picks. Auburn-LSU Series Notes The visiting team won four consecutive games from , but the home team has won the last eight meetings from Seven of the last 13 games have been decided by a touchdown or less, including the last four in a row... Dating back to 1973, only five of the 21 meetings have been decided by more than 14 points... LSU has not rushed for a touchdown against Auburn since In the last three meetings, the winning team has averaged just 16.8 points per game, after the winning team had scored at least 31 points in the six previous games... The winning team posted shutouts in nine of the first 11 meetings in the series... Auburn s secondary has picked off 18 passes in AU s last seven wins over LSU, including six in Two Top Defenses Collide Two of the nation s toughest defenses will be on the field when LSU visits Auburn. Auburn leads the SEC and ranks third nationally in scoring defense (5.0), while LSU is 10th nationally (8.0). LSU is fifth nationally in rushing defense (48.0) while Auburn is ninth (53.0). In total defense, Auburn is 10th nationally (213.7) and LSU is 12th (219.0). With two strong defenses on display, a repeat of the last two games played in Jordan-Hare Stadium might be in order. Auburn won low-scoring games by scores of 10-9 in 2004 and 7-3 in Tale Of The Tigers Auburn and LSU have had as much success as any teams in the SEC in recent years. Since 2000, Auburn has the best record in the SEC in conference games with a mark of 48-17, while LSU is second, just half a game back at Since 2004, Auburn and LSU share the best overall record in the league at The winner of the Auburn-LSU game has represented the SEC West in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game six times in the last eight years (Auburn in 2000 and 2004, LSU in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007). LSU won national championships in 2003 and 2007, while Auburn posted an undefeated season in GameDay In Auburn ESPN s College GameDay Built by Home Depot featuring Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard has been in Auburn this week. It marks the fifth visit to Auburn by the GameDay crew, which last visited for the 2006 Auburn- Florida game. Auburn also hosted GameDay for the 1995 Iron Bowl, a 1997 game against Florida and a 2004 game against Georgia. GameDay was scheduled to be at the Auburn-LSU game on Sept. 18, 2004, but the threat of Hurricane Ivan forced the show to be relocated. It is the ninth time that Auburn has played in GameDay s on-site game. The Tigers are 5-3 in GameDay contests, including a 3-1 mark at home. Listed are Auburn s all-time appearances on GameDay. Date Result Game (Site) Sept. 16, 2006 W, vs. Florida (Auburn) Dec. 4, 2004 W, vs. Tennessee (Atlanta) Nov. 13, 2004 W, 24-6 vs. Georgia (Auburn) Oct. 2, 2004 W, at Tennessee (Knoxville) Oct. 18, 1997 L, vs. Florida (Auburn) Nov. 23, 1996 L, vs. Alabama (B ham) Nov. 18, 1995 W, vs. Alabama (Auburn) Nov. 19, 1994 L, vs. Alabama (B ham) Tigers Tough On Top Ten Auburn has won nine of its last 12 games against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 10. The Tigers have won five of their last seven against top-10 teams and six straight at home. Two of the three losses against top- 10 teams since the 2004 season have come in close calls at LSU, in overtime in 2005 by a score and last season by a

3 score when LSU scored on a 22-yard pass play with just one second left. Auburn has won at least one game against a top 10 team every year for the previous seven years, which is the longest streak in school history. The Tigers have 14 victories over Top 10 foes in those seven seasons. Third Down Domination Auburn s defense has been spectacular on third downs this season, as the Tigers lead the nation by a wide margin in opponent third-down conversions. Auburn opponents have converted just 3-of-46 third downs for 6.5 percent, while the second-best mark in the country is Texas Tech at 19.5 percent. ULM was just 2-of-18 on third downs in the opener, Auburn limited Southern Miss to just 1-of- 14 on third downs Sept. 6 and Mississippi State was 0-of-14 last Saturday. Auburn s defense has not allowed a third-down conversion this season in the second quarter (0-of-12) or third quarter (0-of-10). When the distance to go is only six yards or less, the Tigers have still only given up just one first down in 19 chances (5.3 percent). First-Half Shutouts Under first-year defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, Auburn s defense has yet to allow a point in the first half of a game this season. Auburn nearly played its first seven quarters this season without allowing a point, surrendering its first score of the season with just 2:33 left in the third quarter against Southern Miss after going 102:27 without being scored upon. Spreading It Around Auburn had 11 different players catch passes Sept. 6 vs. Southern Miss, marking the most players to catch a pass in a game for Auburn since 2005 against Ole Miss. The Tigers have already had 13 different players catch passes this season, including nine players with multiple receptions. Winning The Close Ones Auburn has had a knack for winning close ball games since Tommy Tuberville arrived as the Tigers head coach. In his 10 seasons at the helm, Auburn is in games decided by seven points or less and has won 17 of its last 22. Junior defensive tackle Sen Derrick Marks is part of an Auburn defense that leads the SEC in fewest points allowed per game at 5.0. (3-0, 1-0 SEC) Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, 1976) AU Record: (10th season) Career Record: (14th season) Aug. 30 LOUISIANA-MONROE W, 34-0 Sept. 6 SOUTHERN MISS [Raycom] W, Sept. 13 at Mississippi State [ESPN2] W, 3-2 Sept. 20 LSU [ESPN] 6:45 p.m. Sept. 27 TENNESSEE [CBS] 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Vanderbilt TBA Oct. 11 ARKANSAS TBA Oct. 23 at West Virginia [ESPN] 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Ole Miss TBA Nov. 8 TENNESSEE-MARTIN (HC) 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 GEORGIA TBA Nov. 29 at Alabama TBA Auburn 2008 Stat Leaders All Times Central Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD Ben Tate Brad Lester Passing Yards Att. Comp. Yds. TD Chris Todd Kodi Burns Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Rodgeriqus Smith Montez Billings Tackles Total Solo Asst. Sacks Jerraud Powers Antonio Coleman (2-0, 0-0 SEC) Head Coach: Les Miles (Michigan, 1976) LSU Record: 36-6 (4th season) Career Record: (8th season) Aug. 30 APPALACHIAN STATE [ESPN] W, Sept. 13 NORTH TEXAS W, 41-3 Sept. 20 at Auburn [ESPN] 6:45 p.m. Sept. 27 MISSISSIPPI STATE [ESPN2] 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Florida TBA Oct. 18 at South Carolina TBA Oct. 25 GEORGIA TBA Nov. 1 TULANE 7 p.m. Nov. 8 ALABAMA TBA Nov. 15 TROY TBA Nov. 22 OLE MISS TBA Nov. 28 at Arkansas [CBS] 1:30 p.m. LSU 2008 Stat Leaders All Times Central Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD Charles Scott Andrew Hatch Passing Yards Att. Comp. Yds. TD Andrew Hatch Jarrett Lee Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Brandon LaFell Demetrius Byrd Tackles Total Solo Asst. Sacks Harry Coleman Chris Hawkins Auburn Football Illustrated 5

4 Presented by by Jessica Franklin Auburn Football Illustrated Coaches say you never really know what you re getting when you recruit a player. When Auburn recruited Jason Bosley, they got a player who loves the game and loves Auburn; a player that consistently works hard at practice, achieves on the field, and excels in the classroom. What more could you ask for? Jason has done it the way it s supposed to be done, Auburn offensive line coach Hugh Nall said. He comes in, he works hard, he s competitive, he is a good person, and he gets his degree. He ends up being a two-year starter and playing a lot of football. That s what it s all about. With numerous accomplishments under his belt, Bosley is looking to make the most of his senior season playing for the Tigers. Ever the team player, his personal goals for the year are a means to an end towards a national championship. I want to keep getting better every week, Bosley said. Find something to improve on and just focus on always working hard. I hope we win a championship as a team. I missed out on the one in To ultimately get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game would be awesome, and then go to the national championship. The offensive lineman, who started every game in 2007, is a leader on and off the field. Bos is a great leader, Lee Ziemba, a fellow offensive lineman, said. He keeps the offensive line going in the right direction. He s our glue. During his junior year, Bosley stepped up to his role as a team leader for the younger players. The position is something he takes pride in. It s an honor to know you are respected by your teammates and coaches and looked up to, Bosley said. I think I m somebody that people thought was going to be a lifetime scout team guy and never going to play, but I worked hard and I feel like I made myself into an SEC player. Bosley got his chance to prove himself when he was given the opportunity to start in a game as a sophomore in Since then, he has become an anchor of the offensive line. In reference to his future, Bosley is very go-with-the-flow. Like almost every college football player, he says he would love the opportunity to play in the NFL, but for now that s not what he is concerned with. I m not too worried about that right now, Bosley said. I m more worried about this season. Once this season is over I ll sit down and look at all those options, but right now I m just worried about playing football. Playing football for years takes a toll on the body, but Bosley is tough. He is a smart player that understands the game. You can make a coaching change or an adjustment at halftime and he can pick it up, Nall said. He can see something during the game and adjust the offensive line if he needs to. Some players are high rep guys; they have to do it over and over and over before they get good at it. With Jason, you just explain it to him and he can see it. A great example of that was his move during the Southern Miss game on Sept. 6, from center to right tackle. He graded out at a team-best 94 percent with only two practices at the position. The following Monday, he was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Being one of the oldest members of the team at 22 years old, Bosley is subjected to some good-natured teasing from his teammates. We call him old man river because he is older than everybody else and he s got the beard going on, Ziemba said and grinned. We always joke with him and pick at him. But then Ziemba takes a more serious tone. The guy works, Ziemba said. He is the hardest worker I know and he is the smartest guy I know. Playing as a fifth-year senior leads to a little teasing, but Bosley s maturity on the field has earned the respect of his younger teammates. Not only is he older than me, he has been through so many life experiences, Ziemba said. He has been through college; he has done his freshman, sophomore, and junior year. He has been away from home, been away from his parents, he has been tempted with the same things I ve been tempted with. He has just got so much knowledge. Ziemba said he appreciates the friendship the two have formed since his freshman year at Auburn. I look up to him like a big brother, Ziemba added. Anytime I am feeling down about something, either I come to him about it or he sees that I m struggling and he takes me under his wing and talks to me and calms me down. Those friendships with his teammates are what Bosley says he will miss most when he leaves Auburn. I ll miss being around the guys, Bosley said. We have a great group of offensive lineman right now. We are all really close. Obviously I m going to miss Tiger Walk and running out of the tunnel those are a given but mostly just being around the guys and Coach Nall and spending time with everybody. It s kind of surreal when it hits you that this is the last time I m going to get to do all this. It s kind of sad, but it s that point in my life where it s time to move on to

5 something different. Camaraderie among the team is the source of its strength. Nall credits Bosley with being a major contributor to building that aspect of the team. He noted that Bosley is always doing something to better the team in some way, whether it is bringing guys with him to watch game tapes on their day off or getting the guys together to eat on a Thursday night. Bosley says one of his best memories from playing at Auburn was beating Alabama in It was the first time I had started in an Iron Bowl and when we took a knee at the end and started putting up six fingers, that was pretty special, Bosley recalled. That was one of those things that will last a lifetime. Memories you can tell your grandkids one day. Family is one of the most important things in Bosley s life. He has a close relationship with his mom and dad, both of whom give him encouragement and advice. Bosley s dad, Larry, played baseball at the University of Texas at Arlington, and understands the hardships of being a student-athlete and is the one Bosley looks to for guidance. When I was going through different things in college I d call him and be like Dad, what do I do here? I m having a tough time with this. He could really relate to being a student-athlete too, Bosley said. During the offseason, Bosley and his family spend a good bit of time on the golf course or on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico. I love deep sea fishing, Bosley said emphatically. My brother s father-in-law has a boat and we go down to Panama City and go fishing with him every year. It s a lot of fun. As much as he loves fishing, that won t be his first destination after finishing the season. Bosley says the first thing he plans to do after finishing his college career is fly out to the snowy slopes in Colorado and snowboard. People might not picture a 270-pound guy snowboarding, but I can hold my own out there, he said laughing. Snowboarding will have to wait, because Auburn isn t done with him yet. Bosley s confidence and easy-going attitude are the perfect complement to his athleticism. Those three things also make him a great leader, a position Nall said he expects Bosley to continue throughout this year. He has just really gotten to the point where he can be a coach; a player-coach type to the younger kids out on the field, Nall explained. He calms them down when they need calming down or picks them up when they need picking up. This season, I expect him to just keep being Jason. Bos is a great leader, Lee Ziemba, a fellow offensive lineman, said. He keeps the offensive line going in the right direction. He s our glue Auburn Football Illustrated 9

6 Our Vision is to become the preeminent athletics department in the nation. We will achieve this Vision by focusing on five fundamental goals: Winning, educating our student-athletes, managing our fiscal affairs responsibly, complying with all NCAA and SEC rules and providing a positive game-day experience. Today I want to share some of the initiatives we have undertaken in the past several years in pursuit of one of the most critical of our five goals managing our fiscal affairs responsibly. Intercollegiate athletics at the highest level has evolved into a sophisticated business, and that is exactly how we run your athletics department. The annual budget for Auburn Athletics exceeds $70 million, and we operate on a Fiscal Year that runs from July 1-June 30. Throughout the most recent budgeting process, our five goals helped us prioritize our expenditures, and they will continue to guide us as we seek to raise additional revenue so we can continue to compete at the highest level and educate our studentathletes. Following are a few facts that illustrate our commitment to managing our fiscal affairs: Tigers Unlimited, the fund-raising arm of Auburn Athletics, raised more than $168 million through The Legends Campaign, making possible facility improvements across all 21 sports. The Legends Campaign was part of Auburn University s It Begins At Auburn capital campaign, the largest in school history. Tigers Unlimited ranked first in the conference in in money raised from private support (outside Ticket Priority). There are currently 36 members of the Talon Society, which was created to recognize and honor individuals who have contributed $500,000 or more to Auburn Athletics (outside Ticket Priority). One-fourth of the members of the Talon Society have also contributed at least $500,000 separately to athletics and academics at Auburn. Auburn Athletics has been aggressive in pursuing business objectives that have generated additional revenue, including a more lucrative multi-media rights contract with ISP Sports, an apparel contract with Under Armour and a new pouring rights agreement with Coca-Cola. Auburn Athletics has also budgeted revenue to build up our reserves, which along with generating new revenue remains a priority. We continue to review and assess all of our athletics facilities every six months. We have in place a proactive plan to invest in facility improvements and upgrades in a systematic way so that our facilities are not neglected. This keeps our facilities up to par and saves us money in the long run. Instead of sinking tens of millions of dollars into Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum for major electrical, structural and plumbing work that would not have impacted our fans or student-athletes, we instead are building a world-class arena that will elevate our basketball programs to a new level and provide an outstanding venue for other campus and community events. Due to the power of the Auburn brand and the loyalty of the Auburn Family, Auburn continues to excel in merchandise sales and licensing revenue. We recently ranked 12th in the nation in merchandise sales, according to Street & Smiths Sports Business Journal. Interestingly, Auburn and Notre Dame were the two highest-ranked schools that don t include their respective state s name. Prudent management and proactive business initiatives are a key component of our efforts to manage our fiscal affairs. Yet we are keenly aware that the support of President Gogue, the Board of Trustees, donors and fans are absolutely essential. We thank you for your loyalty and ask for your continued support as we strive to become the preeminent athletics department in the nation. God bless and War Eagle! Auburn Football Illustrated 13

7 by James Etter Former Auburn linebacker Alex Lincoln finished his final season on the Plains in 2000 with 82 total tackles and five sacks, setting up what he hoped would be a very successful career in the NFL. But after two years of playing with the San Francisco 49ers, Lincoln suffered a career ending neck injury. His injury experience was unpleasant, so with a degree in health care administration in hand, he set out to improve the sports medicine world. I wanted to set out a way to do things better by putting my playing experience and my education together and forming a career, Lincoln stated. I started a consulting company about five years ago that tried to find better access for athletes of all kinds, male or female, to sports medicine and strength and conditioning. The Lincoln Group faced many ups and downs, but was successful in its goal. The company soon caught the attention of Dr. James Andrews, one of the premier orthopaedic surgeons in the United States. Lincoln and Dr. Andrews came together to form a one-of-a-kind sports medicine institute in Gulf Breeze, Fla. Essentially, I was asked to create an Athlete Refuge, Lincoln said. A place where professional or amateur athletes, or anybody really, could come and experience world-class sports medicine services. But also have it in a very kind environment where the atmosphere was conducive to healing, therapy, training and it would have everything that you would ever need on one campus. The Andrews Institute was completed in 2007 and since then, Lincoln has focused on making all of their programs and services a success, from a financial point of view. To say that it has been a success would be an understatement. Employing nearly 150 professionals, the Florida institute includes eight operating rooms, an enormous rehabilitation and therapy area, a 10,000 square-foot weight room, a cadaver lab for surgeons in training, a restaurant, conference and education rooms and much more. Our mission is to be the best muscular/skeletal facility in the country, Lincoln said. We do that in a couple of ways. One, by having great facilities. And two, by staying in the front of the pack on new techniques and new devices, but the most important thing is service. Lincoln was named the Director of Athletic Performance for the state-of-theart facility and takes his responsibility very seriously. He admits that his position takes lots of time, but his passion for sports medicine makes every second worth the while. To work in such an environment sounds like a dream, but what is the best thing about Lincoln s work? Everyday brings new challenges, which Lincoln expressed is perfect for an aggressive linebacker. It s fresh everyday and I love that, Lincoln stated. I m blessed to have an unbelievable team that works under my direction. I find myself checking in early after a weekend just to dive back in. I m blessed in that way. Lincoln credited his drive for success in his work to his playing days at Auburn with former linebackers coach Joe Whitt. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy and he wouldn t allow you to make excuses, Lincoln said. That level of accountability during my time at Auburn was one of the toughest things I ve ever experienced. The linebacker turned businessman had some amazing times during his years as a Tiger. The 2000 Iron Bowl brought extra excitement to his table when the Tigers took on the Tide for the first time in Tuscaloosa since 1895, not to mention that it was Lincoln s birthday. That day was freezing, Lincoln recalled. It was sleet and rain and was cold with miserable football conditions, but great for a linebacker and a defense. To come out and physically dominate that Alabama squad was something very special and something that I ll never forget. Having it happen on my birthday was even more special for me. That win over Alabama secured a SEC Western Division championship for the Tigers, a feat that no one would have expected. The 2000 squad was two years removed from winning three games and had lost their coach. But through those tough times, Lincoln and his teammates united and committed themselves to winning the division in years to come. Lincoln s devotion during his years at Auburn has proven to be more than useful in his daily life. His enthusiasm about sports medicine makes every day better than the day before, but if he could go back and have one more play on the field, would he or would he rather help an injured athlete? The feeling that you get when you help someone get back or help a young player reach their potential is humbling, Lincoln said. But given the chance, if it was just a one time thing, I d love to (sack) Eli Manning Auburn Football Illustrated 49

8 by Achilles Carmenate If you meet Merrill Johnson off the field, you probably would not guess that he plays linebacker for the Auburn football team. The intensity he unleashes on the opposition is reserved strictly for the playing field. Off the field I am just a real relaxed guy, Johnson said. I will go out every now and then, but I like to play with my dogs and spend time with my daughter. On the field I am a totally different guy. Once you get on the field you get in that zone and it is time to take care of business and you do what you have to do to get the job done. Johnson s willingness to help his friends and teammates is a quality that enhances his status as a senior leader. Running back Tristan Davis has known Johnson since the two first came to Auburn in He will lend a helping hand to anybody, especially since this is a college town and people are always moving, Davis said. We call him Tim the Tool Man as joke, because we always call him if we need help with anything. Davis added that Johnson s methods of leadership is to walk the walk. He is a positive leader, Davis said. His actions speak louder than his words and he leads by example. Davis move to offense helped the two build a friendly competition that both believe benefitted them. Tristan and I used to play on defense, Johnson said. When we went home, we would talk about who would have the hardest hit in practice that day. Then Tristan moved to offense and I would tell him, I m going to hit you or you are going to have to make a move on me. That is how we made each other better. Davis position switch also gave Johnson a chance to get inside the mind of a running back. I d tell him things from a running back s point of view, Davis said. He does the same for me, because we both want to get better. While Johnson has made the most of his opportunities on the field, his athletic abilities opened the door for him to earn a degree in criminology, which he received this summer. It was a great experience to come to Auburn and to get a degree, Johnson said. Where I m from, not a lot of people go to college. I was one of those fortunate enough to get out and do some thing with my life. It was very important to me to not only to go to college, but to graduate. The Butler, Ala., native already has a Johnson s Career Defensive Stats YEAR G/GS TT UT AT TLF-YDS QBS-YDS FF/FR PD I/YDS / /0 0 0/ / /0 0 0/ / /0 0 0/ / /0 0 0/0 Totals 36/ /0 0 0/0 plan to put his degree to use once his football playing days are over. I d like to install security systems in banks and different types of businesses, Johnson said. I will go wherever it takes me. Wherever his career takes him, Johnson is sure to be with his daughter, Aniya. His hard work as a player and future business man is not just for his future, but for hers too. When he is not in school or on the practice field, Johnson can usually be found spending time with Aniya. While sitting around watching cartoons might not top the list of things to do for most 22-year-olds, it is something Johnson and his daughter have in common. I like to watch cartoons, Johnson said. I can sit around and watch cartoons with her all day and it doesn t bother me. Most people would be like, You re watching cartoons? But if she sits around all day watching them, I will sit there with her all day and watch them with her. Any free time I get I like to be with my daughter. When I have time off I like to go pick her up and take her to the park because when I was growing up, I loved to play outside. She is my heart. The challenges Johnson will face running a business is something he has prepared to tackle with the same verocity with which he brings down opposing quarterbacks. We stress hard work on the field, Johnson said. When you get out in to the real world you are going to have to support yourself and the only way to do that is to work hard Auburn Football Illustrated 57