The Texas A&M Game October 27, 2012 Features FOOTBALL ILLUSTRATED 4-5 Today in Jordan-Hare: Auburn vs. Texas A&M 8-9 Senior Feature: Emory Blake 13 A Word from Auburn s Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs 57 Step Back: Auburn vs. Texas A&M, 1986 65 Auburn Student Veterans 69 Olympic Sports Updates 72 A Closer Look at Texas A&M 105 Down Through the Years with David Housel 109 2012 Walter Gilbert Award 113 Senior Feature: Travante Stallworth 116-117 Through the Lens (pictorial) 120 Senior Q&A: DeAngelo Benton 155 University News: Auburn Announces Return of Samford Hall Collection for 2012 163 Know Your NewB: Alex Kozan 188 University News: The Auburn Tiger Trapdoor Spider A New Species Discovered from a College-town Backyard Gameday Activities In and Around the Stadium 10:00 a.m. Auburn Arena Fan Shop opens (North Arena) 10:00 a.m. Auburn Arena Ticket Office opens for ticket pick-up and sales (Southeast Arena) 12:00 p.m. Giant video screen broadcasting College Gameday (Plainsman Park Parking Lot) 2:00 p.m. Coca-Cola Tiger Fan Fest opens (Nichols Center Lawn) 4:00 p.m. Tiger Walk 4:00 p.m. Public/Student Gates open 4:00 p.m. ticket Sales begin at Jordan-Hare Stadium 4:00 p.m. Red Diamond Tailgate Show live from the Plainsman Park Parking Lot 4:00 p.m. Verizon Autograph Tent featuring the 1972 Football Team (Plainsman Park parking lot) 4:40 p.m. Spirit March 4:45 p.m. Pep Rally (Corner of Heisman Drive and Donahue Drive) 5:41 p.m. PEO Aviation Recognition 5:42 p.m. Walter Gilbert Award Presentation 5:43 p.m. Gameday for Heroes Recognition 5:46 p.m. Eagle flight 5:59 p.m. Auburn takes the field 6:02 p.m. Kickoff Halftime Auburn University Marching Band Parachute Jump Team S.O.A.R / Tigerettes / Tiger Hosts
Today in Jordan-Hare Cassanova McKinzy Head Coach Gene Chizik (Florida, 1985) Auburn Record... 31-16 (4th year) vs. Texas A&M... first meeting Overall Record... 36-35 (6th year) vs. Texas A&M...0-1 AUBURN (1-6, 0-5 SEC) Date Opponent Score/Time Sept. 3 vs. Clemson (ESPN) L, 19-26 Sept. 8 at Mississippi State (ESPN) L, 10-28 Sept. 15 LOUISIANA-MONROE (SECN) W, 31-28 (OT) Sept. 22 LSU (ESPN) L, 10-12 Oct. 6 ARKANSAS (ESPN2) L, 7-24 Oct. 13 at Ole Miss L, 20-41 Oct. 20 at Vanderbilt L, 13-17 Oct. 27 TEXAS A&M (ESPNU) 6 p.m. Nov. 3 NEW MEXICO STATE [HC] (CSS) 11:30 a.m. Nov. 10 GEORGIA tba Nov. 17 ALABAMA A&M tba Nov. 24 at Alabama tba All times Central Statistical leaders RUSHING YARDS Tre Mason...474 O. McCalebb...332 PASSING YARDS Kiehl Frazier... 664 RECEPTIONS Emory Blake...30 Philip Lutzenkirchen...15 TACKLES Daren Bates...74 Demetruce McNeal... 64 SCOUTING AUBURN FIRST AND 10 This will be just the third-ever meeting between Auburn and Texas A&M in football; the Aggies have won the previous two matchups The Aggies rank 21st in the USA Today Coaches and Harris polls and 22nd in the AP media poll; Auburn is 97-138- 6 all-time against ranked teams With a 3.94 GPA in animal sciences, senior Ashton Richardson is a semifinalist for a National Football Foundation post-graduate scholarship Emory Blake is just the ninth receiver in Auburn history to record 100 career catches. Blake now ranks ninth in career yardage (1,658); his career best was 118 yards vs. Arkansas Linebacker Daren Bates is second in the SEC (10.6 tackles/game), ranking 12th nationally Coach Gene Chizik is 31-16 in his fourth season as head coach at Auburn; 36-35 in his sixth season overall as a college head coach Tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen is a member of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, one of 11 FBS players honored nationally for community service commitment Onterio McCalebb is just the second player in SEC history to tally more than 2,000 yards rushing (2.348), 1,000 kick return yards (1,130) and 500 receiving yards (528) Auburn has won 75 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points The Auburn field goal defense unit has blocked three kicks this season, two of those by Angelo Blackson and one by Corey Lemonier By Shelly Poe In Night Games In games starting at 5 p.m. or later local time during the Chizik era, the Tigers are 16-6 overall. At home in night games, Auburn is 10-2; the Tigers are 4-3 at an opponent s stadium and 2-1 in neutral site games. Dazzling Debut Linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, a true freshman who recorded 12 tackles in his first career start at Vanderbilt, tallied the second- highest tackle total in an Auburn first start since press box defensive stats became official in 2004. The top 10: 14: Chris Evans vs. South Florida (2007) 12: Cassanova McKinzy vs. Vanderbilt (2012) 11: Jake Holland vs. Utah State (2011); Josh Bynes vs. Tennessee (2008) 8: Jonathan Evans vs. Alabama (2009); Zac Etheridge vs. Kansas State (2007) 7: Jonathan Jones vs. Ole Miss (2012); Demetruce McNeal vs. Utah State (2011); Neiko Thorpe vs. Arkansas (2008) 6: Several tied at six tackles Auburn started three true freshmen on defense -- McKinzy, Joshua Holsey and Jonathan Jones -- against the Commodores, and the trio accounted for 17 tackles, a PBU, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 2013 SEC Schedule In 2013, Auburn will play home football games against Southeastern Conference opponents Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama. The 2013 schedule is considered a bridge schedule and not based on any other previous or future scheduling formats. The SEC Athletics Directors will convene in Spring 2013 to begin formulating schedules for the 2014 season and beyond. Auburn will go on the road to face conference opponents LSU (September 21), Texas A&M (October 19), Arkansas (November 2) and Tennessee (November 9). 4
Today in Jordan-Hare By Texas A&M Media Relations SCOUTING Texas A&M three of a KiNd The Aggies are one of just three teams in the NCAA FBS that rank in the top 20 statisticallys in rushing, passing, total and scoring offense (others are Louisiana Tech and Oklahoma State). The Aggies rank No. 9 in scoring offense (43.0 points per game), No. 9 in total offense (524.6 yards per game), No. 19 in rushing (221.3) and No. 17 in passing (303.3). ProliFiC SCoriNG Texas A&M hit the 300-point plateau after just seven games in 2012 (301 points), which has been done just once previously. Head coach Charley Moran s 1912 Aggies scored 303 points in its first seven games. FrESHMaN leader MaNziEl Aggie redshirt freshman QB Johnny MAnziel is the NCAA s top freshman in three statistical categories: total offense (379.9 yards/g), points responsible for (20.6 points/g) and passing yards (279.4 yards/g). MoorE in rare air Junior DE Damontre Moore was named SEC defensive lineman of the week for the second time in 2012 after making a team-high 10 tackles, with two tackles for loss, a QB sack, a batted down pass and a QB pressure. He maintained his team lead in tackles, and has 62 tackles for the season which ranks No. 52 nationally. He is the leading DL tackler in the nation. offense The Aggies have scored first in 12 straight game dating back to 2011. The Aggies lead the SEC in total offense (524.6 yards/g), rushing offense (221.3 yards/g) and scoring offense (43.0 points/g), and rank No. 2 in passing (303.3 yards/g). Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel generates 379.9.0 yards of total offense per game, which more than 40 teams in the NCAA FBS. Johnny Manziel leads the SEC in total of- fense (379.9 yards/g), points responsible for (20.6 points/g) and touchdown scoring (8.6 points/g). Johnny Manziel has run or thrown for 40 20-yard plus plays in 2012 or 5.7 per game. defense Junior DE Damontre Moore averages 1.36 QB sacks per game, which is more than 24 teams in the NCAA FBS. Damontre Moore lead the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, and is the nation s top defensive line tackler. Damontre Moore is averaging 1.36 QB sacks and 2.43 tackles for loss (TFL) per game, which is on pace for a 16 QBS and 29 TFL season. Von Miller led the nation with 17 sacks and had 21.5 tackles for loss in 2009 on his way to All- America honors. SPECial teams Just a season after ranking among the worst net punting teams in the nation, the Aggies rank No. 4 nationally with a 42.8 average. Last year, the Aggies ranked 94th with a 35.0 average. In the kicking game, punter Ryan Epperson has one touchback on 25 boots and kicker Taylor Bertolet has registered a touchback on 37-of-55 kickoffs. Seniors within range of milestones Senior WR Ryan Swope needs just one TD catch to become the second player with 20 career TD receptions. Only Jeff Fuller, with 34 TD catches from 2008-11, has previously reached the 20 TD catch plateau. Senior WR Uzoma Nwach ukwu is 43 receiving yards away from becoming the fourth Aggie to hit the 2,000-yard level in career receiving yards. Head Coach Kevin Sumlin (Purdue, 1988) Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2 SEC) Date Opponent Score/Time Sept. 8 FLORIDA [ESPN] L, 17-20 Sept. 15 at SMU [FSN] W, 48-3 Sept. 22 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE [FSN] W, 70-14 Sept. 29 ARKANSAS [SECN] W, 58-10 Oct. 6 at Ole Miss [ESPNU] W, 30-27 Oct. 13 at Louisiana Tech [ESPNU] W, 59-57 Oct. 20 LSU [ESPN] L, 19-24 Oct. 27 at Auburn [ESPNU] 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Mississippi State tba Nov. 10 at Alabama tba Nov. 17 SAM HOUSTON STATE TBA Nov. 24 MISSOURI tba All times Central Statistical leaders Ryan Swope Texas A&M Record... 5-2 (1st year) vs. Auburn... first meeting Overall... 29-10 (5th year) vs. Auburn... first meeting RUSHING YARDS Johnny Manziel...703 Ben Malena...462 PASSING YARDS Johnny Manziel... 1,956 RECEPTIONS Mike Evans...625 Ryan Swope...380 TACKLES Damontre Moore...62 Jonathan Stewart...48 5
AUBURN TIGERS FOOTBALL By Claire Fisher Senior feature: Emory Blake It all started when he was 6 years old. There was the one stand-out practice as a child, and then there was no turning back. Emory Blake has never not known football. The game is in his family and has been a part of his life since before he could walk, but it was the practice where he got his first handoff when Blake knew he belonged on the gridiron. There was a really good player that we had on our team, and he came and laid me out after I got the ball, Blake said. It felt like I had broken my arm, but he only bruised it pretty badly. From that point on, Blake--who grew up watching his father play in the NFL from the time he was 1 year old his mind set on playing at running back or receiver, never considering following in the footsteps of his father or uncle. Blake s father, Jeff, and uncle, Robert Jones, both spent several years playing professionally, making them standout role models for Blake during his career. Jones, most notably a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, was picked in the first round of the 1992 draft. In his time at Dallas, he won three Super Bowls and played in the NFL for a total of 10 seasons. As a quarterback, Jeff Blake attended the Pro Bowl in 1995 as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, and played in the NFL for 14 seasons, until Emory was a young teenager. I didn t know anything different because he was in the League since I was 1-year-old, Emory said. It was more of a change for me when he retired than when he was playing. Although Blake has the chance to follow in the footsteps of his family, he has chosen his own path. He chose to go to a different school, instead of the alma mater of his father and uncle, East Carolina University, and Blake has never considered playing quarterback or linebacker. I just always wanted to have the ball in my hand. I wanted to be the one that scored, Blake said. You can score as a quarterback, but it s in a different way. I always wanted to play running back or receiver. While deciding what position he strived to play was never much of a challenge, Blake found himself deciding between two schools 8
AUBURN TIGERS FOOTBALL as a high school student. Coach Malzahn recruited me for Auburn, Blake said. It was between Texas Tech and Auburn, and something just told me to choose Auburn. It was a gut feeling. Instead of playing closer to home, Blake packed his bags to head to the Plains in the summer of 2009 for college--900 miles from his home in Austin, Texas. At first, it was hard for Blake to be so far from his family, but he can now call Auburn home. When I first got to Auburn, it was hard being far away from home, but not anymore, Blake said. You get used to how things work, and you have great people around you to lean on when you start missing home. Fellow Texan and 2009 signee Nosa Eguae became someone for Blake to lean on almost immediately. Sharing the common bond of Texas pride and being the only two currently on the Auburn roster from the state, their friendship took off instantly. We ve been close since we got here, Blake said. There s nothing like someone who s close to where you re from. You can relate t o each other, so we ve been best friends ever since we ve been here at Auburn. While Blake s time in the orange and blue is nearing the end, he is making the most of his final season as he leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. With the next step in his life just weeks away, Blake is grateful for the opportunity to play for Auburn. Playing for Auburn is a great privilege, Blake said. I came here and have done some great things and hope to continue and do some more great things. 9
A Word from Jay Jacobs When Auburn offensive lineman Shon Coleman was undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at St. Jude Children s Research Hospital, an Auburn student serving our country halfway around the world decided he wanted to make a difference. Army Reserve Sgt. Josiah Greene, an avid Auburn football fan who cheers for his Tigers each fall and closely follows recruiting news year-round, was serving a tour of duty in Kosovo. When he read that Auburn signee Shon Coleman had been diagnosed with Leukemia, he did what soldiers do. He sprung into action. Sgt. Greene organized a fundraising effort from Kosovo, using social media and fan message boards to spread the word. The Auburn Family joined the cause, and Sgt. Green s goal of raising $1,000 for the St. Jude Children s Research Hospital was quickly surpassed. Sgt. Greene dedicated a road march through Kosovo in honor of Shon carrying an Auburn flag dedicated to Shon on the 16-mile march. As the story spread to national news outlets, the money began pouring in. Within a matter of days, Sgt. Greene had raised $7,000 as Auburn fans back home rallied to the cause. Months later, the goal was raised to $20,000 and then $30,000. To date, more than $25,000 has been raised for St. Jude. As Shon s treatment progressed and the disease went into remission, he had a unique opportunity to meet Sgt. Greene outside the gates of Jordan-Hare Stadium. Sgt. Greene presented him with an American flag. Today, Shon is a healthy member of our football team. We often hear such stories of support from men and women serving overseas who share with us how much it means to them to follow their Auburn Tigers during their deployments. It is touching and humbling to realize how much bigger Auburn is than just a football game. It is a family that binds us together, no matter where we are or what circumstances we face. Today will also be a special time for Sgt. Greene. Sgt. Greene and four other honorary captains will join our team captains at midfield for the coin toss as we face Texas A&M, an outstanding school with a rich military heritage. They will be flanked by other Wounded Warriors who have made steep sacrifices for our country. In addition to honoring these true American heroes, I want us to be mindful that there are currently 289 self-identified student veterans enrolled at Auburn and an additional 410 veterans dependents. They deserve our respect and admiration. I also want to commend Director Dr. Johnny Greene and the Veterans and Transfer Students Resource Center for the vitally important service they provide to veterans on our campus. The Resource Center provides a place for veterans to connect with a community of other veterans. As Dr. Greene says, that may not sound like much to civilians, but it is a critical component that helps them transition from their military service to campus life. The Veterans and Transfer Students Resource Center provides academic support to ensure that veterans graduate at the same rate as the general student population. Tutoring services, PTSD counseling, marriage and family therapy and career service support are also offered at the Center. All of these and other services will be provided at a new location in Foy Hall beginning Nov. 13, when our nation celebrates Veterans Day. This is a special day for both Auburn University and Texas A&M. My hope and prayer is that is meaningful for the men and women who have sacrificed so that we may live in freedom. Today is their day. Please join me by showing your appreciation to the men and women in uniform among us. God Bless and War Eagle! Jay Jacobs Director of Athletics p r i n c i p a l m o r t g a g e, L L C P. Paul Sumner Partner, NMLS #102184 Craig L. Tindall, ARML Partner, NMLS #215011 W. Adam Stoffregen Partner, NMLS #215039 O. Clyde Prather, III NMLS #421706 Adam D. Jonas NMLS #828402 Setting the Standard principal mortgage, LLC NMLS#85408 Shelby Building 600 Vestavia Parkway, Suite 203 Birmingham, AL 35216 Main: (205) 705-1650 Fax: (205) 705-1651 Toll Free: (866) 432-0112 www.principalmortgagellc.com 13