The Georgia Game November 11, 2006 page 8 page 49 page 56 Today in Jordan-Hare Auburn vs. Georgia...4 Cover Story Kenny Irons...8 Down Through The Years With David Housel...13 Where Are They Now? Thom Gossom...49 Senior Profile David Irons...56 Tiger Tracks Todd Jones From One Tiger To Another...61 Tiger Tracks Sitting Down With Senior Tigers...64 University News AU 2006 Posts Record Year For Fundraising...155 Olympic Sports Feature AU Softball...163 Tiger Tracks Tiger Retires After 20 Years As A Unique Auburn Symbol...167 University News AU Students, Veterinarians Design Canine Heart Monitors...204 page 163 page 167 page 204 Game-Day Activities in and around Jordan-Hare 7:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Coliseum Ticket Office (Will Call/Sales) open (Coliseum 2nd Level) 9:00 a.m. Tiger Team Village (Coliseum Lawn) Auburn Network Tiger Tailgate Show (9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Main Stage) Verizon Autograph Tent featuring: AU Equestrian (9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.) AU Men s Golf (10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.) Interactive Games, Sponsor Sampling, and More! 9:30 a.m. Tiger Tailgate at Plainsman Park (Right Field Patio Plainsman Park) Featuring a pre-game meal and college football on 10 televisions. Open to the public. 9:30 a.m. Tiger Walk (Donahue Dr.) Stadium Gates open Stadium Box Office (Will Call/Sales) opens (West Ticket Booth) 10:10 a.m. Spirit March featuring the Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and Aubie (Donahue Dr.) 11:09 a.m. Silver Wings Presentation 11:17 a.m. Flight of the Eagle War Eagle VI Retirement Ceremony 11:20 a.m. Band Pre-Game Show 11:25 a.m. National Anthem 11:29 a.m. Team Captains come out 11:29 a.m. AU Rev-Up Video 11:31 a.m. AU takes the field 11:34 a.m. Kickoff First TV Timeout Alumni Athlete Recognition Halftime UGA Redcoat Marching Band War Eagle VII Induction Ceremony Auburn University Marching Band
Today in Jordan-Hare uburn wraps up its 2006 home schedule today when the Deep South s Oldest Rivalry resumes for the 110th meeting between Auburn and Georgia. The Tigers are looking for their third straight win in the series, but Georgia holds a 12-9-2 edge all-time in games played in Auburn. Deep South s Oldest Rivalry The Auburn-Georgia series is tied with Oregon-Oregon State as the seventh-most played series in the nation (Division I-A). It is the lone Southern series and one of just 23 in the nation to have reached the century mark in games played. Georgia Quick Hitters Georgia is 21-3 in opponents stadiums since 2001, including a 7-2 mark against ranked opponents... Georgia has four conference losses for the first time since the 1996 Bulldog squad finished 3-5 in the SEC... Georgia ranks fifth in the SEC and 16th nationally in total defense (280.9), and is 10th in the conference and 85th nationally in total offense (315.2)... The Bulldogs have struggled with turnovers, ranking last in the SEC in turnover margin (-.70 per game)... With five interceptions, senior Tony Taylor could become the first Auburn vs. Georgia The Tigers And Bulldogs Square Off For The 110th Time In The South s Oldest Rivalry by Brad Gust Georgia linebacker to lead the team outright in interceptions since Keith Harris had a team-high three in 1973... Brannon Southerland, who has a team-high 48 points, could become the first fullback to lead Georgia in scoring since 1957, when Theron Sapp scored a team-high 30 points... Mikey Henderson is ranked fifth nationally in punt returns, averaging 16.9 yards per return. AU-UGA Series Notes Auburn owns a winning record in Athens (18-9) while Georgia has a winning mark on the Plains (12-9-2). The Tigers have won 10 of their last 12 games at Sanford Stadium... Through 109 meetings, Auburn has outscored Georgia by just two points (1,650-1,648)... In games decided by three points or less, Auburn leads, 8-5-8... In games decided by seven points or less, Georgia leads, 21-19-8... This will mark the 16th consecutive meeting and the 29th time in the last 30 years that one or both schools have been ranked when playing each other. The last time that neither team was ranked entering the game was in 1991... In the last 10 meetings between the two schools, the lower ranked or unranked team has won six times (UGA-1996, AU-1997, AU-1999, AU- 2000, AU-2001, AU-2005), with the higher ranked team winning just four (UGA-1998, UGA-2002, UGA-2003, AU-2004)... Auburn has had more individual 150-yard rushing performances against Georgia (nine) than any other opponent... The Tigers have had at least one rushing touchdown in 17 consecutive games against Georgia and 28 of the last 29 in the series. 100-Yard Rushers Versus UGA Since 1970, Auburn has had 24 100- yard rushing performances against Georgia, including two 100-yard rushers in three games (1974, 78, 79). The Tigers have had a 100-yard rusher in five of the last six years. Rudi Johnson gained 152 Senior linebacker Will Herring s final contest at Jordan-Hare Stadium will also mark his 50th career game. Auburn (9-1, 5-1 SEC) Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, 1976) AU Record: 69-28 (8th season) Career Record: 94-48 (12th season) Sept. 2 WASHINGTON STATE [ESPN2] W, 40-14 Sept. 9 at Mississippi State [LFS] W, 34-0 Sept. 16 LSU [CBS] W, 7-3 Sept. 23 BUFFALO W, 38-7 Sept. 28 at South Carolina [ESPN] W, 24-17 Oct. 7 ARKANSAS [CBS] L, 10-27 Oct. 14 FLORIDA [ESPN] W, 27-17 Oct. 21 TULANE (HC) W, 38-13 Oct. 28 at Ole Miss [LFS] W, 23-17 Nov. 4 ARKANSAS STATE W, 27-0 Nov. 11 GEORGIA [LFS] 11:30 a.m. Nov. 18 at Alabama [CBS] 2:30 p.m. Auburn 2006 Stat Leaders All Times Central Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD Kenny Irons 145 687 4.7 3 Brad Lester 84 416 5.0 7 Passing Yards Att. Comp. Yds. TD Brandon Cox 224 143 1915 11 Blake Field 9 8 47 0 Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Courtney Taylor 47 624 13.3 2 Rodgeriqus Smith 22 363 16.5 3 Tackles Total Solo Asst. Sacks Will Herring 48 28 20 1.5 Eric Brock 45 27 18 0.0 4 Auburn Football Illustrated
yards in 2000, Carnell Williams followed with 167 yards in 2001, Ronnie Brown ran for 124 yards in 2002, Williams went for 101 in 2004 and Kenny Irons rushed for 179 yards last year. From 1982-85, Auburn had four straight 100-yard rushers vs. the Bulldogs when the feat was accomplished by Lionel James (1982, 8-111, TD), Bo Jackson (1983, 18-118), Tommie Agee (1984, 9-115) and Jackson (19-121, 2 TD). AU-UGA Connections Some of the more notable Auburn- Georgia connections include: * Tigers offensive line coach Hugh Nall played at Georgia from 1977-80 and received his degree from Georgia in 1983. Nall was a four-year letterman and member of the Bulldogs 1980 national championship team. * Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was a four-year letterman at Georgia as a safety from 1991-94 and was part of two bowl teams. He was a defensive co-captain as a senior. * Auburn tight ends coach Steve Ensminger was the quarterback coach/passing game coordinator at Georgia from 1991-93. * Georgia offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Neil Callaway was the offensive line coach at Auburn from 1993-96. * Georgia assistant head coach/defensive line/recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner was a nose guard at Auburn from Georgia (6-4, 3-4 SEC) Head Coach: Mark Richt (Miami (FL), 1982) UGA Record: 58-17 (6th season) Career Record: Same Sept. 2 WESTERN KENTUCKY [LFS] W, 48-12 Sept. 9 at South Carolina [ESPN] W, 18-0 Sept. 16 UAB [CSS] W, 34-0 Sept. 23 COLORADO [LFS] W, 14-13 Sept. 30 at Ole Miss [ESPN2] W, 14-9 Oct. 7 TENNESSEE [ESPN] L, 33-51 Oct. 14 VANDERBILT (HC) [LFS] L, 22-24 Oct. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE W, 27-24 Oct. 28 *vs. Florida [CBS] L, 14-21 Nov. 4 at Kentucky L, 20-24 Nov. 11 at Auburn [LFS] 11:30 a.m. Nov. 25 GEORGIA TECH TBA Georgia 2006 Stat Leaders *at Jacksonville, Fla. All Times Central Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD Kregg Lumpkin 111 603 5.4 4 Thomas Brown 62 256 4.1 1 Passing Yards Att. Comp. Yds. TD Matthew Stafford 186 96 1230 4 Joe Tereshinski 57 32 423 3 Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Martrez Milner 21 302 14.4 2 Mohamed Massaquoi 19 282 14.8 1 Tackles Total Solo Asst. Sacks Tony Taylor 73 51 22 3.0 Jarvis Jackson 58 31 27 1.0 1984-88, earning All-SEC honors as a senior. Garner also served in various capacities at Auburn (recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach/ assistant strength and conditioning coach) from 1990-95. Senior Salute Today will mark the final home game for Auburn s senior class. The Tigers group of 21 seniors is the most during the Tommy Tuberville era. The group has posted a 39-9 record over the past four seasons, including a 24-4 mark at Jordan-Hare Stadium, which is two wins shy of the 1989 senior class record of 26-2 over four years at home. The 2006 seniors include: TE Cole Bennett, P Kody Bliss, DL Christopher Browder, K Matt Clark, C Joe Cope, LB Karibi Dede, OT Tim Duckworth, OG Ben Grubbs, WR Lee Guess, DE Marquies Gunn, SS Brant Haynie, LB Will Herring, CB David Irons, RB Kenny Irons, P Patrick Martyn, OL Jonathan Palmer, FS Pete Ruzicka, LB Kevin Sears, RB Tre Smith, WR Courtney Taylor and K John Vaughn. Top 23-Game SEC Run In History Auburn has won 21 of its last 23 SEC regular-season games, which is the best 23- game streak in school history. Auburn had twice gone 20-2-1 over a 23-game stretch, accomplishing the feat from 1956-59 and again from 1987-90. Seniors Tie Four- Year Mark Auburn has already tied the mark for most victories over a four-year period in Auburn history with 39, and has broken the three-year mark with 31 wins. Last year s class set the four-year mark with 39 victories, the threeyear mark (30) and the twoyear record (22). To Protect And Serve Auburn had a shaky start to the season in terms of Senior wide receiver Courtney Taylor became just the fourth Auburn player with 2,000 or more receiving yards and had a career-high 116 last week against Arkansas State. sacks allowed, surrendering 24 sacks through the first 26 quarters of the season. However, since allowing five first-half sacks against Florida Oct. 14, Auburn has not allowed a single sack over its last 14 quarters. In addition, Auburn s offensive linemen have helped the Tigers improve their offensive production, as Auburn is averaging 419.7 yards per game over its last three games, after averaging 329.0 yards over the first seven games. A Special Birthday Today is not only the 110th Auburn-Georgia game, but also the 77th birthday of three-year letterwinner Foy Thompson (1950-52), an offensive guard who happened to wear No. 77. It is also Veteran s Day, which is symbolic as Foy carved the golden eagle located in the Rane Room of the Athletic Complex to honor all Auburn football players who died in the wars. Auburn Football Illustrated 5
Cover Story enny Irons had waited long enough. He had been playing the game of football since he was a young child, and he knew it was time to make something of his efforts. Auburn was embroiled in a tough SEC road contest, trailing Arkansas, 10-6, in Fayetteville last season, and the Tigers needed a strong ground effort in the second half to pull out the win. The coaches turned to Irons, who churned out 126 yards on 23 carries in the final two quarters, both propelling Auburn to a comeback victory and solidifying himself as the Tigers new go-to guy. Irons finished the game with 182 yards rushing, which was then a career-high. All of the running backs had been getting a lot of playing time, Irons said. I just said that this was it. This was my shot. I ran my butt off and, from that game on, the sky was the limit. In the 16 games since, Irons has 8 Auburn Football Illustrated Kenny Irons Patience Has Indeed Been A Virtue For This One-Time Transfer To Become A Star Running Back by Tony Williams climbed pretty high. He is now the latest in a long line of NFL-bound Auburn running backs that includes names like Bo Jackson, Rudi Johnson, Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown. The journey, for Irons, was a long one, and his patience has been the primary reason he found his way to the top. Kenny has always been one to maintain his composure, said his father, David Irons, Sr. Having watched him go through this process, patience was a necessity for him. Irons got his first taste of football when his dad dressed him up as a New York Giant for Halloween when they were living in Camden, N.J. A few weeks later, Kenny found himself in the backyard going through tackling drills with his older brother, David, while his father looked on. They soon got involved in a pee wee league, but Kenny didn t really take to the organized game. I didn t like it at first, but it was such a part of my life with my dad and my brother being involved, Irons said. It was like a bad dream at first, because I couldn t get away from it, but I came around. Thanks to the encouragement of his father, Irons decided to keep at it. He was patient with the game and eventually found that he enjoyed it. He still didn t like to practice, but he loved to run with the ball on game day. Kenny was always more interested in video games than he was in practice, Irons, Sr. said. It took me a while to convince him that he needed to be out there practicing if he wanted to play. Up Close with The next step for Irons was unexpected, and he wasn t sure it was a good one for him. When Kenny was in the seventh grade, several years after his parents divorce, his father took a job in the Atlanta area and moved himself and his boys from their home in New Jersey. Kenny was forced to leave good friends behind, and had to start over with his brother as his only friend. I think having to come to the South and start over really brought my brother and me closer, Irons said. We didn t really know how things were going to go for us, but we gave it time. Eventually, Irons found both football and friends again. The brothers improved on the field and grew closer because of it. Kenny and his brother quickly attained star status at Dacula (Ga.) High School, but they were a
different breed than their teammates. Kenny s happy-go-lucky personality meant he couldn t be flustered, and David wouldn t stop talking. The coaches didn t really know what to make of me and my brother, Irons said. Eventually, we were able to get across to them who we were and what we were about. Then we started making plays and everything fell into place. Irons play on the field earned him the nickname he still carries today: The Franchise. It s a reference to his status as the go-to guy, the one you build the team around. Kenny Irons What is the best thing about Auburn? Tiger Walk. What is something most people don t know about you? I am very genuine and caring for others. People love KI. They say he is great. What are some things you are afraid of? Failure, cockroaches, spiders and snakes. But a franchise isn t built overnight. And Irons found that out at the next stop on his journey. He chose to part ways with his brother, and signed a scholarship at South Carolina. In his second year there, Irons saw that he was the best running back in practice, but not the coaches choice on Saturday. All you can do is go out there and do your job, Irons said. Things happen that you don t expect, and you have to deal with them. I thought I should play. Deciding it was time to find a better situation, Irons left Carolina to attend college with his brother at Auburn. Upon arrival, he heard exactly what he needed to hear from running backs coach Eddie Gran. He told me, we re going to treat you like a freshman, Irons said. That was good enough, because I knew I could earn it if I got a chance. I was willing to work for the respect of my coaches and teammates. After a mandatory redshirt year, Irons joined a crowded running back corps and was one of many options for the Tigers in the 2005 season opener against Georgia Tech. He put up solid numbers three of the next four games, and then took the team on his back at Arkansas. He has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in 20 games and scored 16 rushing touchdowns. As a result, his name and face have become the most prominent of any Auburn Tiger. Fortunately, his personality is magnetic, and his demeanor is such that nothing dampens his spirits. But it s not like Irons to relish the spotlight. Its okay sometimes, but that s not really the kind of person I am, he said. I kind of roll with things. I don t mind being nice to people when they want to talk to me or take a picture. It s easy for me to stay humble about everything, because I think back to the times I thought I wouldn t be here. Irons influences off the field have done plenty to keep him both humble and hungry. His brother, who privately suffered through Kenny s troubles at South Carolina with him, has been a welcome comrade both on the field and off for the tailback. His dad provided constant motivation from the very beginning, and has always been willing to offer advice when needed. His mother, Linda, is his escape. She is always willing to let Kenny be somebody other than a star football player for a few minutes. I owe a lot of my success to my family, Irons said. Each one of them has been there for me and been able to make the hard days a little easier. Irons has seen some hard days this season, missing two games with nagging injuries and seeing defenses key on him when he does play. Nonetheless, he has kept the attitude that has served him and the Auburn offense so well. He keeps running the ball, and eventually he breaks through. The Franchise will play his last game in Jordan-Hare Stadium today against Georgia. He will finish the season with the team and likely embark on a pro career following the NFL Draft next spring. But one thing is for sure, the Kenny Irons story is far from over. At this point, the tailback has learned many valuable lessons. However, he wouldn t have made it without already knowing one. That patience is a virtue. Auburn Football Illustrated 9
Down Through The Years With David Housel What is it about playing these Georgia Bulldogs in years ending in 6? * 1996 Georgia scores on the last play of the game and wins in overtime, 56-49, in four overtimes, which, at that time, was the longest game in SEC history. * 1986 Auburn suffered one of its most disappointing and heartbreaking losses to Georgia ever, right here in this stadium, at this place. All Auburn had to do to earn a Sugar Bowl berth was beat Georgia. And it seemed beyond all reasonable thought that Auburn, with one onepoint loss, would do anything but beat a Georgia team that had struggled most of the season. Auburn was a prohibitive favorite that night, as it is today. But then strange things began to happen. Georgia s starting quarterback, James Jackson, had to go home for a family funeral and missed the game. Wayne Johnson stepped in as the starter and engineered a scaled down ball-control offense that shocked a sputtering Auburn team, 20-16. It was a close game, but Georgia was in control all night and it felt like it was 100 to nothing. It hurt that bad. Then, with ESPN televison cameras rolling, another strange thing happened. Georgia fans stormed the field and instead of waiting and allowing the fans, mostly students, to clear the field, Auburn officials, citing safety concerns, turned irrigation sprinklers on the celebrating Georgia fans, those on the field and those still in the stands. Auburn still hears about that decision. * 1976 Quarterback Ray Goff and the Bulldogs won the SEC Championship by beating Auburn, 28-0, never even bothering to attempt a forward pass. * 1966 Georgia overcame a 13-point Auburn lead in the first half to win 21-13 and give Vince Dooley, an ole Auburn man, his first SEC championship as Georgia s head coach. All of these games were at Auburn. Auburn won in Columbus in 1956, 20-0, but lost in 1946, 1926, 1906 (in Macon) and in 1896 (in Atlanta). Auburn won in 1916 and 1936, both times in Columbus. In all Georgia has won eight of the 11 games played in years ending in 6 and is 4-0 in such games at Auburn. Auburn has not beaten Georgia in a year ending in 6 in 50 years. What does this say about today s game, a game like 1986 in which Auburn is heavily favored? Most would say nothing, nothing at all. But if Georgia wins, look for a run on ouija boards and books about the perceived power of the number 6. If Georgia wins, it won t be perceived anymore! It will be real. Now, on to another matter, one much more important. Imagine, if you will, an Auburn Football Scrapbook. Not a book with only words and pictures, but an actual scrapbook containing memorabilia and treasures from times past, things you keep to remind you of good times, good places, good people. A scrapbook. A treasure book. That kind of book is in the works for Auburn Football. It s called The Auburn Football Vault and it will be available in June. It will be a book a treasure book like none other. It will contain not just pictures of memorabilia, but actual hand-held exact replicas of such treasures as a ticket from the first game played in the new Auburn Stadium, now Jordan-Hare Stadium, and a sideline pass from that 1939 game, a pass to the 1972 Auburn-Alabama game signed by Coach Jordan, a Punt Bama Punt bumper sticker, promotional postcards sent to the media in 1985 when Bo Jackson was in the running for the Heisman Trophy, and, yes, a Honk If You Sacked Brodie bumper sticker. There will be replica mementos from the 1957, 1993 and 2004 undefeated seasons and all the good times in between, old and new. Dave Rosenblatt of the Lovelace Athletic Museum and I are helping with the project to ensure that it will be as good as it can be for Auburn and for Auburn people. It will be all inclusive and Auburn fans are being given an opportunity to join in this celebration of Auburn Football. If you have a pennant, picture, button, program, letter, chin strap, bumper sticker, anything related to Auburn Football that you treasure and think other Auburn people would enjoy having, call us. Your treasure will never have to leave your possession. All we need to do is copy it and make an exact replica to share with your fellow Auburn fans. Right now, we are looking for an I m a Dye-Hard Auburn Fan sticker from 1981, an I Saw it on the Radio! sticker from 1993, a complete set of Coach Bowden s motivational pens from 1993-98, an Auburn 10-Alabama 0 Shutdown, Shutout, Shutup sticker from 1987. And anything you have that might be special to Auburn people now and in years to come. Let us hear from you and we ll have a special party in your honor when the Auburn Football Vault is opened this spring. Call us here at the Athletic Department (334) 844-4750 or email us at Lovelacemuseum@Auburn.edu or Houseda@Auburn.edu. Let us hear from you and be a part of a project Auburn people will treasure for years. Auburn Football Illustrated 13
Where Are They Now? or most former Auburn football players, the last time you saw them was probably as they walked off the field in their last game. That is not the case for Thom Gossom, Jr. You may have seen him in episodes of Boston Legal, Cold Case, The West Wing or ER. Or you may have seen him in movies like Jeepers Creepers II or Senseless. Gossom, who lettered three years as a split end from 1972-74 and was part of the 1972 Amazins, was the second black scholarship football player to complete his eligibility at Auburn. When I was at Auburn, we were going through a huge cultural change in our society, right after the aftermath of Civil Rights, Gossom said. Whenever you have change in our society, particularly cultural change, it s a period of resistance, a period of learning, a period of moving forward. To me, that is what universities are about. Universities are about embracing Thom Gossom Split End 72-74 by Ben Beaty change and welcoming change. I am proud that I came through in that particular period. Now there are so many wonderful things going on at Auburn. After his final football season on The Plains in 1974, he was drafted by the New England Patriots before bouncing around the world of football for a couple of years, including time in the World League and with the Buffalo Bills. Gossom then decided to put his pads away. I was pretty much satisfied with myself, Gossom said. I had a great career at Auburn. I had gotten the football thing out of my system and I went into television news. Gossom went to work with BellSouth in public relations for more than eight years. There, he produced a number of short video presentations for the corporation and for executives. While working as a corporate executive at BellSouth, Gossom started acting. He would work during the day and do theater at night. At the end of his tour with BellSouth, he hooked on with the In the Heat of the Night television series, playing councilman Ted Marcus. With such a high demand for his acting, Gossom left BellSouth and set up his own public relations consulting business, Thom Gossom Communications. He ran that business for 15 years from 1987 until 2002. In the meantime, Gossom was still acting. In 1997, he played the part of Ben Washington in Miss Evers Boys. Gossom then went to Los Angeles and hired an agent. For the next five years, Gossom spent his time acting while running his business. Gossom says that even though he took theater and acting classes at Auburn, he never anticipated the career he has had in acting when he left Auburn. I always enjoyed the general communications field, Gossom said. I didn t get to take a lot of acting classes at Auburn. At that time, being a real good football player and being a theater guy didn t quite go together, but I think it was there in the back of my mind all along. But Gossom wasn t quite finished with football. At one time, he joined a group of investors as minority ownership in Birmingham s NFL developmental league team. In 2004, Gossom founded Best Gurl Entertainment, which creates and produces programs. It was just the next logical step for me, having been in business, Gossom said. It is called show business for a reason. As much as you can control, you just get a little more of a foothold. Under the Best Gurl Entertainment umbrella, Gossom owns a couple of theater projects. He is currently working on a literary project while also working as an actor, putting him full-time in the business while also giving him say-so in what he does. Even with his busy everyday life, Gossom still finds ways to serve the University he loves. He serves on the Dean s Advisory Council in the College of Liberal Arts and also on the Magazine Advisory Board for the Auburn Alumni Association. Auburn has placed an indelible stamp on my heart in that it s a part of me, Gossom said. Auburn talks about family and it really is a family. For that I am forever grateful and proud to be part of the family. Auburn Football Illustrated 49