The Florida Game October 14, 2006 page 4 page 49 page 56 Today in Jordan-Hare Auburn vs. Florida...4 Cover Story Courtney Taylor...8 Down Through The Years With David Housel...13 Where Are They Now? Dameyune Craig...49 Senior Profile Jonathan Palmer...56 Senior Profile Matt Clark...61 Tiger Tracks Auburn Line Looks To Make Pancakes...64 University News Where Athletics And Academics Meet...155 Olympic Sports Feature 2006: A Year Of National Champions...163 Tiger Flashback The 1970 Auburn/Florida Game...167 University News AU On Track With Equine Science Option...204 page 61 page 163 page 204 Game-Day Activities in and around Jordan-Hare Noon 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. Noon - 6:15 p.m. Tiger Team Gear Store open (West Side Jordan-Hare) 2:45 p.m. Tiger Team Village (Coliseum Lawn) Auburn Network Tiger Tailgate Show (4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Main Stage) Verizon Autograph Tent featuring: Tiger Paws (Will appear immediately following Tiger Walk until 5:15 p.m.) AU Men s Basketball (5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) Interactive Games, Sponsor Sampling, and More! 2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Coliseum Ticket Office (Will Call/Sales) open (Coliseum 2nd Level) 4:45 p.m. Tiger Walk (Donahue Dr.) Stadium Gates open Stadium Box Office (Will Call/Sales) opens (West Ticket Booth) 5:20 p.m. Spirit March featuring the Marching Band, Cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and Aubie (Donahue Dr.) 6:23 p.m. Legends Campaign Recognition 6:25 p.m. Women s Outdoor Track and Field National Champions Recognition 6:27 p.m. Leah Rawls Atkins Award Presentation 6:29 p.m. Flight of the Eagle (Spirit) 6:31 p.m. Band Pre-Game Show 6:37 p.m. National Anthem 6:42 p.m. AU Rev-Up Video 6:44 p.m. AU takes the field 6:47 p.m. Kickoff First TV Timeout Alumni Athlete Recognition Halftime Men s and Women s Swimming and Diving National Champions Recognition Auburn University Marching Band
Today in Jordan-Hare ld rivals Auburn and Florida play for the first time since 2002 when the Gators visit Jordan-Hare Stadium tonight. 2002 marked the end of a string of 58 consecutive seasons of meetings between the two teams. Auburn has not played a team ranked as high as Florida s current No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press poll since 2001, when the Tigers stunned then-no. 1 Florida, 23-20, in Jordan-Hare Stadium. GameDay In Auburn ESPN s College GameDay Built by Home Depot featuring Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard is in Auburn for tonight s game. It will mark the fourth visit to Auburn by the GameDay crew, which last visited for the 2004 Auburn-Georgia game. Auburn also hosted GameDay for the 1995 Iron Bowl and a 1997 game against Florida. 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 will be the seventh time that Auburn has played in GameDay s on-site game. The Tigers are 3-3 in GameDay contests, including a 2-1 mark at home. Auburn vs. Florida Auburn And Florida Renew A Rivalry In The 81st Meeting Between The Tigers And Gators by Brad Gust Listed are Auburn s all-time appearances on GameDay: Date Result Game (Site) Nov. 13, 2004 W, 24-6 vs. Georgia (Auburn) Oct. 2, 2004 W, 34-10 at Tennessee (Knoxville) Oct. 18, 1997 L, 10-24 vs. Florida (Auburn) Nov. 23, 1996 L, 23-24 vs. Alabama (B ham) Nov. 18, 1995 W, 31-27 vs. Alabama (Auburn) Nov. 19, 1994 L, 14-21 vs. Alabama (B ham) Rivalry Resumes One of Auburn s longest rivalries resumes with tonight s game. Auburn and Florida first played in 1912, and met every year for 58 seasons from 1945-2002, splitting the games 29-29-1 during that span (two meetings in 2000 due to the SEC Championship game). Tonight s game will be the 81st meeting between the two teams. There are only two schools that Auburn has played more times than Florida: Georgia (109) and Georgia Tech (92). Only One Remains Tre Smith is the only current member of the Auburn football team that played in the game the last time Auburn and Florida met. In the 2002 game in Gainesville, Smith had four kickoff returns for 57 yards, rushed one time for 7 yards and made a tackle on a kickoff return. Auburn-Florida Series Notes Auburn won the last meeting in Auburn, 23-20 over the then-no. 1 Gators in 2001... Prior to the 2001 game, Florida had won three straight game in Jordan- Hare Stadium... Auburn is 24-8-1 against Florida in games played in Auburn... Saturday s game will include the highest combined rankings (No. 2 and No. 11 = Junior quarterback Brandon Cox has completed 76-of-123 passes for 1,017 yards and five touchdowns this season. Auburn (5-1, 3-1 SEC) Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas, 1976) AU Record: 65-28 (8th season) Career Record: 90-48 (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] 6:45 p.m. Oct. 21 TULANE (HC) 1:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Ole Miss TBA Nov. 4 ARKANSAS STATE 1:30 p.m. Nov. 11 GEORGIA TBA Nov. 18 at Alabama TBA Auburn 2006 Stat Leaders All Times Central Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD Kenny Irons 108 514 4.8 3 Brad Lester 35 188 5.4 5 Passing Yards Att. Comp. Yds. TD Brandon Cox 123 76 1017 5 Blake Field 8 8 47 0 Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Courtney Taylor 25 300 12.0 0 Rodgeriqus Smith 12 264 22.0 2 Tackles Total Solo Asst. Sacks Will Herring 33 19 14 0.5 Eric Brock 30 16 14 0.0 4 Auburn Football Illustrated
13) for the two teams since 1997, when No. 7 Florida won at No. 6 Auburn, 24-10... The winner in the last 14 meetings has scored at least 23 points... The losing team has been held to 10 points or fewer in 13 of the last 20 meetings... Ten of the last 23 matchups have been decided by seven points or fewer. Florida Tigers A total of 17 players on the Auburn roster call Florida home. Auburn players from the Sunshine State are: DL Mike Blanc (Pompano Beach), WR Anthony Campbell (Hialeah), DB Brett Carr (Niceville), DB Lorenzo Ferguson (Miami), OL Oscar Gonzalez (Hialeah), OL Tyronne Green (Pensacola), DE Brandon Haley (Lakeland), K Zach Kutch (Milton), DB Patrick Lee (Miami), DB Walter McFadden (Pompano Beach), DL Bryant Miller (Miami), WR Prechae Rodriguez (Tampa), WR Alex Rose (Jacksonville), DL Darrell Roseman (Dunedin), DL Pat Sims (Ft. Lauderdale), RB Tre Smith (Venice) and LB Craig Stevens (Tallahassee). Florida Quick Hitters Florida is off to a 6-0 start for the first time since 1996... The Gators have won their last five games against nationallyranked opponents... Saturday s game will be the second of three straight against Florida (6-0, 4-0 SEC) Head Coach: Urban Meyer (Cincinnati, 1986) UF Record: 15-3 (2nd season) Career Record: 54-11 (6th season) Sept. 2 SOUTHERN MISS W, 34-7 Sept. 9 CENTRAL FLORIDA W, 42-0 Sept. 16 at Tennessee [CBS] W, 21-20 Sept. 23 KENTUCKY [ESPN] W, 26-7 Sept. 30 ALABAMA [CBS] W, 28-13 Oct. 7 LSU (HC) [CBS] W, 23-10 Oct. 14 at Auburn [ESPN] 6:45 p.m. Oct. 28 *vs. Georgia [CBS] 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt TBA Nov. 11 SOUTH CAROLINA TBA Nov. 18 WESTERN CAROLINA TBA Nov. 25 at Florida State TBA Florida 2006 Stat Leaders *at Jacksonville, Fla. All Times Central Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD DeShawn Wynn 64 354 5.5 3 Tim Tebow 41 228 5.6 3 Passing Yards Att. Comp. Yds. TD Chris Leak 156 101 1395 14 Tim Tebow 14 10 152 2 Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Dallas Baker 31 494 15.9 5 Andre Caldwell 21 188 9.0 3 Tackles Total Solo Asst. Sacks Tony Joiner 37 25 12 0.0 Earl Everett 36 22 14 0.0 nationally-ranked opponents for Florida, which beat then- No. 9 LSU, 23-10, last Saturday, and after a bye week, plays Georgia Oct. 28... The Gators lead the SEC in scoring defense (9.5, second nationally) and rushing defense (56.8, fourth nationally)... Florida has converted 50.7 percent of its third-down opportunities, which ranks 10th nationally... Chris Leak s 79 career touchdown passes are the most of any active player in NCAA Division 1-A, and his 9,666 career yards ranks third... Reggie Nelson and Ryan Smith each have four interceptions this season, which ranks tied for eighth in the NCAA. Last Two Games Were Barn Burners Each of the last two games in the Auburn-Florida series were decided in the closing seconds, with each team winning one. In 2001 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Damon Duval nailed a 44-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to lift Auburn to a 23-20 upset of No. 1 Florida. Duval s kick was set up by Karlos Dansby s interception off Gator quarterback Rex Grossman with under five minutes left in the game. In 2002 in Gainesville, Auburn rallied from 16 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but couldn t complete the comeback as Duval s potential game-winning 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left was blocked, forcing overtime. The Gators scored on a 25-yard pass from Grossman to Taylor Jacobs in overtime, then stuffed a fourth-down attempt by Auburn to earn a 30-23 victory. SEC s Top Teams Tangle Since the start of the 2000 season, Auburn and Florida have the two best Senior defensive end Marquies Gunn is tied for second on the Tigers this season with three sacks and is tied for the team lead with five tackles for loss. records in regular season conference games among the 12 SEC schools. Auburn is first with a mark of 39-13 (.750), while Florida is right behind with a record of 38-14 (.731). Battle Of Top Receivers Saturday s game will include a battle of two of the SEC s most accomplished receivers. Auburn s Courtney Taylor and Florida s Dallas Baker are the top two active SEC receivers in both career catches and career receiving yards. Taylor ranks first in catches with 124 while Baker is second with 122. In receiving yards, Baker ranks first with 1,810, while Taylor is second with 1,694. Versus Teams Ranked No. 2 Auburn owns a 2-8 all-time record against teams ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. The last time Auburn played a team ranked No. 2 was in 1992, when the Tigers fell to Alabama in Birmingham, 17-0. Auburn last hosted a No. 2-ranked team in 1989, when Alabama fell 30-20 to Auburn in the Crimson Tide s first-ever visit to The Plains. Auburn Football Illustrated 5
Cover Story ypically, when SEC Media Days rolls around in late July, Auburn and head coach Tommy Tuberville bring an offensive and defensive senior to represent the team. That held true at the 2006 SEC Media Days when Courtney Taylor and Will Herring made the trip to Birmingham to speak to the conference s media. Why should it have been any different, anyway? Taylor and Herring are the backbone of an Auburn program that has grown by leaps and bounds since both arrived prior to the 2002 season, only to redshirt their first year. Taylor and Herring are quintessential Tigers. But Taylor, if one had looked back to his high school days, wasn t always destined to be one. Back in Birmingham, as he always has, Taylor let his words become the focus. I ve always been an outspoken person, someone who s always talking a lot, he said. My teachers used to sit me in Courtney Taylor This Quintessential Tiger Has Become One Of The Most Productive Receivers In Team History by Hank Hager the front of the class because I talked to everybody. I still sit in the front of the class. I think it s just a habit I developed growing up. Taylor doesn t talk in vain. He s not flashy. He won t say anything that s unnecessary. But make no mistake, Taylor will not be afraid to speak what s on his mind. Courtney is one of our leaders, Tuberville said at SEC Media Days. He s more of an outspoken leader of this football team. That s who you want to bring here. For Taylor to be outspoken, as he is, it is phenomenal considering he hails from tiny Carrollton, Ala., a town of less than 1,000 situated about 45 minutes west of Tuscaloosa near the Alabama- Mississippi border. He s certainly looked up to by friends and family in the area, and well, college football fans for that matter. Even if they cheer for the Crimson Tide and not the Tigers. That s one thing I take pride in just to a point where I can represent my county and my town well, he said. I like to say to represent the little guys. I feel like I m setting an example by showing guys in my hometown that it doesn t matter where you are from, you can play with anybody at any level. If you re willing to dedicate yourself, you can go after it. Taylor had help growing up in the form of his father, Joe Walker. It wasn t as though Taylor wasn t attracted to playing sports. Quite the contrary. In addition to football, he played basketball and track and field and didn t even think football was going to be his best sport. But it was his father who pushed Taylor to dedicate himself day in and day Up Close with out. Walker made sure Taylor paid attention to the details. He kept his mind straight and ensured that Taylor would have a chance at the collegiate game. He told me I could play with anybody, Taylor said. He always told me that when I was young. Of course, when Taylor was young, he didn t necessarily see what his father was trying to do. Now that he s older and has a chance to reflect on his athletic upbringing, Taylor sees it from his father s point of view. Back then, I thought he was just pushing me too hard, always striving for me to be the best, Taylor said. But at the same time, I loved it because that s how I developed my competitive edge. To always want to be the best. In some respects, Tiger fans should feel relatively lucky to have Taylor. The fact that he s a wide receiver and one of the most prolific in the Southeastern 8 Auburn Football Illustrated
Conference also is a relative fluke considering his stance in high school. But more on Taylor s performance later. Flat out, Taylor didn t always see himself playing football. As a senior basketball player at Carrollton High School, he averaged better than 20 points and 10 rebounds. That was slightly better than his junior year where he averaged 21 points and six rebounds a game. The athletic Taylor thought he might be headed to the hardcourt in college, even receiving scholarship offers from Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech. But Auburn coaches saw something in him that made them believe he would Courtney Taylor What has been your favorite road trip? It would have to be Tennessee in 2004. It was a hostile environment I ve never seen so many people. Just to come out of there with a huge victory had to be one of my best road games. If you weren t playing football, what would you be doing? I m a very driven person. I don t care what I do, I want to be the best. If I wasn t playing football, I would most definitely be playing basketball. How much do you miss basketball? I don t miss it probably as much as my first two years here. I still play it every once in a while, but it s football now. I love this game. have the speed and the football smarts to be a significant addition to their wide receiving corps. He was a talented high jumper, winning the Alabama Class A state title as a junior. Taylor had always been athletic. Auburn s coaches saw that. But they saw him play quarterback and cornerback at Carrollton, and play those positions well, starting for three years. There was a transition for Taylor, naturally, because he expected to see time at defensive back when he made the jump to college. Players like Devin Aromashodu and Ben Obomanu, guys who Taylor says will be friends for life, had already been established and served to make the transition smoother. I never thought I d play receiver, especially at the college level, Taylor said. To get the opportunity to play receiver was a huge change but I m glad I made it. I had to start from scratch. I had to learn everything. Route terminology, especially coming from a small 1-A school, was nothing like the college level. When I got here, I didn t even know what cover two was. And that s like the most simple coverage there is. I owe all that to coach (Greg) Knox. He s been like a mentor to me. Five years later, Taylor, suffice it to say, has made an impression. He s a lot more mature now, Knox said. Any fifth-year senior is. That s what we as coaches like to have. They have a lot of experience on the field and get the job done. That s really nice to have as a coach. You dream of all fifth-year seniors; it would make your job easier. The 2006 season has brought about many challenges for Taylor, stemming from both the past and the future. Once regarded as one of the SEC s top wideouts, Taylor had a frustrating 2005 season due to an injury suffered early in the season. It left him at less than 100 percent for the rest of the season as he caught just 22 passes for 278 yards. His No. 1 goal entering 2006 was to get healthy. I just expected a lot out of myself, he said of last season. I don t care about injuries. I just never got back into the rhythm or groove of playing receiver. I just expect a lot out of myself. That s why I call it the dark age of my career. That dark age pushed Taylor to rededicate himself. He knew he was going to be the team s top receiver this season and hasn t disappointed, posting a teamleading 25 receptions for 300 yards through the team s first six games. He s off to a good start, Knox said. He s working hard and playing hard. He s making things happen and moving the chains. Maybe the most significant thing about Taylor s season is his figurative role as an on-field coach. He is one of only two seniors the other being Lee Guess among many inexperienced but talented wideouts the Tigers possess. Taylor has had to take on the role of mentor in addition to No. 1 receiver. The best part is that he recognizes the need to take the younger players under his wing and teach them the finer points of the position. I feel like if they weren t good enough, Auburn wouldn t have recruited them and they wouldn t be in the situation they are in right now, Taylor said. I don t really look at it as a drop off. I look at it as, hey, ya ll, it s your opportunity, so let s go out there, make plays and make things happen. He s always been there to step in and let them know what s right and what s wrong, what they can and can t do, Knox said of Taylor in the mentor s role. He s been a guy that they can learn from, which is really good for them. Auburn Football Illustrated 9
Down Through The Years With David Housel The Tiger Trail is Auburn s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Established in 1994 by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, the Tiger Trail honors those whose athletic exploits and endeavors have brought credit and acclaim to Auburn University and, in turn, Auburn, Ala. Thus far, there have been 12 induction ceremonies, each held annually before a selected home football game. Seventy-two Auburn greats, 72 Auburn legends, have been inducted and their names inscribed on individual markers placed in the sidewalks of Auburn, much as acclaimed Hollywood stars have their stars embedded in the sidewalks of Hollywood. The Tiger Trail was the brainchild of Mr. Auburn, Ken Brown, a former city councilman and longtime employee of Alabama Power here in Auburn. He made Auburn better, he made the lives of those who live in Auburn better, and the Tiger Trail is just one of his many special projects that has enriched Auburn and Auburn s legacy throughout the land. One cannot walk the streets of Auburn without being aware of the tremendous and continuing legacy of Auburn s sports programs. It is one thing in which all of Auburn takes pride. A program such as the Tiger Trail is best defined by its inaugural class and the Tiger Trail s first class in 1995 was star-studded: Jeff Beard, Shug Jordan, Jackie Burkett, Tucker Frederickson, Rowdy Gaines, Harvey Glance, Jimmy Hitchcock, Bo Jackson, John Mengelt, Vickie Orr, Chuck Person, Zeke Smith, Pat Sullivan and Travis Tidwell. Outstanding, historic Auburn names all, all outstanding Auburn personalities who contributed greatly to the legend and lore of Auburn athletics and who, in their time, helped make Auburn what it is today. Location of Tiger Trail plaques is determined by blind draw at the induction banquet though Dr. Ed Dyas did request that his be located in front of the pool hall where he spent most of his spare time while at Auburn. A walk through downtown Auburn is literally a walk through the 114-year history of Auburn athletics. Today, six more names are added to the Trail, all selected by a secret and select committee, a committee which, because of its confidentiality, can make its selections free of public, peer and political pressure. To be selected for the Tiger Trail is to be truly deserving. Inducted today are: Joe Ciampi, Women s Basketball Coach, 1979-2004: His 25-year career was the most successful basketball coaching career in Auburn history. None can compare. He has also been inducted into the Women s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Lee DeFore, Men s Basketball, 1964-1967: One of the first truly great big men in Auburn basketball history. He was the standard by which all Auburn big men were judged for two decades, until the days of Charles Barkley and Chuck Person, and even to this day. Joe Cribbs, Football, 1976-79: One of the greatest running backs in Auburn history, set yardage and scoring records. Once scored five touchdowns in a game, a record that still stands. Went on to an outstanding career with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in the NFL and with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL. Shawn Asmuth, Women s Swimming, 1977-1980: A championship swimmer who helped lay the groundwork on which future national championships were built. Married her coach, John Asmuth, and both are still part of the Auburn family, both working at the University and continuing to make Auburn better every day in every way. Mike Fuller, Football, 1972-74: Outstanding defensive back for Shug Jordan s last great Auburn teams and a great kick return specialist. Many of his punt return records still stand, more than 30 years since he played. Averaged 17 and 19 yards per return in 1973 and 1974. He had an outstanding career with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL. Bob Dumas, Men s Golf, 1972-76: Home grown championship golfer who grew up in Auburn and led Auburn to its first SEC golf championship in 1976. Continuing the theme of the hometown success story, Bob Dumas is now the President of AuburnBank, the bank started by Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn s first football team, and the bank to which Jeff Beard, another member of the Tiger Trail, went in 1951 to get a loan so the Athletic Department could keep its doors open, pay its coaches and have a football team in 1951, Jordan s first year. The rest is history. The Tiger Trail in Downtown Auburn. Walk it sometime. Take the Journey. You will be inspired and you will feel a sense of pride. And rightly so. Auburn Football Illustrated 13
Where Are They Now? ormer Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig completed his collegiate career with a 21-17 win over Clemson in the 1997 Peach Bowl. When the Prichard, Ala., native walked off the Georgia Dome field, he had made quite an impact on Auburn football. In two years as a starter, Craig piloted the Tigers to their first-ever Southeastern Conference Championship game and two consecutive bowl wins. He is still the owner of 11 Auburn offensive records. Nine years later, Craig is still impacting the game he loves. He is in his first season as the quarterbacks coach at nearby Tuskegee University. I ve wanted to coach since I was in high school, he said. I made up my mind then that this was something I wanted to do. I just couldn t decide where I wanted to be. Craig got into coaching at the high school level in 2003, working as the quarterbacks coach at his alma mater, Blount High School in Mobile. Craig had an opportunity to return to Auburn as a graduate assistant in 2004 under Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville. He opted instead to take a similar position with Nick Saban at LSU. I was very close to coming back to Dameyune Craig Quarterback 94-97 by Tony Williams Auburn, Craig said. I just felt like I needed to branch out and see things from a different perspective if I was going to be a good coach one day. After helping the LSU Tigers to a BCS National Championship in 2004, Craig followed Saban to the NFL last year, taking a position as a special teams assistant with the Miami Dolphins. Craig has now coached at every level of football, and he has come to a realization about the coaching profession as a whole. It s a lot harder than playing, Craig said. There are so many roles wrapped up into one. You have to be a teacher, a coach, a counselor and a mentor. Craig credits four coaches with helping him to learn the profession, including his former high school coach Ben Harris, former Auburn head coach Terry Bowden, LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and current Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Craig played for Harris and Bowden and coached with Fisher and Muschamp at LSU. Those guys are all great teachers of the game, Craig said. I learned a lot from each of them. There is no doubt, considering the names he mentioned, that Craig has had plenty of help in establishing himself as a coach. Yet, he still considers himself lucky to be able to do what he does for a living. A lot of athletes look for something that can allow them to be competitive after they get done playing, Craig said. That is something that is hard to find. It is what I love most about coaching; I get to compete every day. Working as a quarterbacks coach, Craig s work now relates closely to his playing experience on The Plains. He also notes how similar his employer and his alma mater are when it comes to football. Tuskegee is a lot like Auburn, just on a smaller level, he said. The fans here take a lot of pride in their football team. They are proud to be a part of it and its great tradition. After leaving Auburn in 1997, Craig spent four seasons in the Carolina Panthers organization, including a stint with NFL Europe s Scottish Claymores. His jersey from a game vs. Frankfurt on May 22, 1999 is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Craig threw for a professional football record 611 yards that day. Craig also spent one season with the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League. Craig s fondest memory from his pro football days is, oddly enough, not throwing for a pro football record 611 passing yards. It is playing with the late Reggie White in Carolina during the 2000 season. He was a great guy, as good as or better than his reputation, Craig said. He was a real person with a warm personality who would joke with you all of the time. Away from football, Craig lives in Auburn with his wife, Neke, and their two sons, Devin and Drake. He also has completed his degree in adult education from Auburn. The coaching lifestyle doesn t permit Craig to see many games other than his own, but he has been back in Jordan-Hare Stadium twice as a fan. He returned for homecoming in 2000 and for the 2003 Iron Bowl. That was unbelievable, Craig said of being a fan. It was almost as good as playing. The energy in Jordan-Hare is incredible. Craig is likely forgiven by the Auburn faithful for not making more frequent returns to the site of so many of his best performances. After all, he spends his Saturday afternoons sharing his experiences and shaping the lives of young men through the game of football. Craig is a leader and a sideline role model for the Tuskegee Golden Tigers. Grooming young Tigers is a role in which Craig will find much success. Having earned his stripes at Auburn, it should be an easy transition to directing wins for the Golden Tigers. Auburn Football Illustrated 49