The pregame tradition has been going on since the start of the 2000 season.
One of the best traditions in college football won’t happen this fall.
Auburn announced on Thursday that, as part of new game day policies for the 2020 season, there will be no pregame eagle flight. The tradition began with the first game of the 2000 season against Wyoming and has become a fan favorite.
Fans wanting to visit the eagles are able to go to Auburn’s Southeastern Raptor Center on Saturdays.
“We are still practicing with them just to kind of keep them in shape, keep the routine going — and just in case any policy decision gets changed throughout the year,” said Andrew Hopkins, assistant director of raptor training and education at the Raptor Center.
The rivalry never dies even if it is up in Philadelphia.
The rivalry never goes away, does it?
Former Auburn offensive lineman Jack Driscoll and Prince Tega Wanogho were both selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in this year’s NFL Draft. Their position coach for the NFC East team? Jeff Stoutland, who coached at rival Alabama for two seasons prior to joining the Eagles.
It seems that the two former Tigers are winning the mind battle as they achieved something that is rare: getting a ‘Bama guy to say “War Eagle!”
“These Auburn guys are killing me,” Stoutland said on Friday. “I coached at Alabama, so they made me say ‘War Eagle’ yesterday. It would kill me to say that, but they got me to say it, and they’re doing a really nice job.”
It was a sort of reward for the two lineman doing a good job.
“The whole War Eagle thing, me and Prince did a good rep,” Driscoll said during an online press conference. “I think it was we were doing some sort of board drill or whatnot and we both had a really good rep, and he said ‘War Eagle.’ I’m not going to bank on him saying that again, but I guess it was nice that he said it once.”
Former Auburn coach Pat Dye is battling kidney issues and has tested positive for COVID-19.
Former Auburn coach Pat Dye is hospitalized with kidney issues at age 80. Dye also tested positive for COVID-19, says his son, Pat Dye Jr., an NFL player agent.
“As has previously been reported, my dad has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” Dye Jr. told ESPN in a statement on Thursday. “However, his positive test occurred a number of days ago during a routine precautionary test pursuant to his hospitalization for kidney-related issues.
“He has essentially been asymptomatic for the virus and is resting comfortably. We fully anticipate his release from the hospital in the next few days once his kidney function is stable. On behalf of my family, I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support for Dad and our family upon the reporting of this news.”
Dye coached at Auburn from 1981-92. He was 99-39-4 overall in 12 seasons, including nine straight with winning records. The team won four SEC championships, and Dye was named SEC Coach of the Year three times.
Auburn coaching legend Pat Dye was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and hospitalized in Atlanta.
He returned Auburn to national prominence when he posted a 99-39-4 record with four SEC titles from 1981-92. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. pic.twitter.com/Lfdcak2qb4
Caleb Johnson, a four-star offensive tackle from Florida made is college decision Friday and it came as a blow to Notre Dame.
For the second time in ten days one of Notre Dame’s most desired targets in the 2021 recruiting class has chosen to take his talents elsewhere. Last week it was star running back Will Shipley choosing Clemson over the Irish, Friday afternoon it was offensive tackle Caleb Johnson committing to Auburn over Notre Dame.
The four-star offensive tackle chose Auburn and again, Notre Dame misses out on the second tackle they’ve been trying so hard to add to their ’21 class. His commitment to Auburn bumps the Tigers from 48 in the 247Sports team rankings all the way to 35 as he’s their sixth overall commitment in the class.
You may see Johnson being a Florida guy staying in the southeast, but he grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana which gave many hope that he’d one day wear Notre Dame’s blue and gold uniforms.
The Notre Dame class remains at ten commitments with tackle Blake Fisher and guard Pat Coogan being the two on the offensive line. Not that they aren’t already but I’d expect it to be all systems go on Pennsylvania product Nolan Rucci, a five-star tackle who recently included Notre Dame in his top nine.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Auburn defensive line prospect Marlon Davidson
Auburn defensive line prospect Marlon Davidson learned in the seventh grade that he would never be a quitter.
A dominant, disruptive defender who plays for things much bigger than himself, Davidson recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the tragedy of losing his mother, how she made him the player he is today, and why he’s ready to wreck the NFL.
JM: You made 51 career starts at Auburn, and put up some big numbers along the way. You posted 29.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks, which places 8th all-time in Auburn history. How do you reflect on the last four years?
MD: I have to give all the glory to God. He put me in a position to make plays. He’s the reason I came to Auburn in the first place. I was blessed to play at a high level. I feel like I did everything I could for Auburn. I gave them my all. I appreciate the opportunity that the coaching staff gave me.
JM: After your impressive career, you accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl. Did you feel like you had something to prove out there?
MD: Yeah, I most definitely did. I didn’t have a lot of people that really believed that I could play football at a high level. I’ve always flown under the radar. I went out there to solidify myself as one of the best. I truly believe in my mind that I’m one of the best defensive players in this draft class. It’s all about how I approach the game. My every day life revolves around football. It’s always on my mind. Football is my passion, football is my life. It’s everything to me. There wouldn’t be a Marlon Davidson without football. Who knows what the heck I would be doing right now.
I went down to the Senior Bowl and competed against some great talent. I’m very thankful to the Senior Bowl for giving me the opportunity. I was thrilled to receive an invite. I wanted to show people that I could be versatile and play all over the defensive line. I can play defensive end, I can play defensive tackle. I can line up over the center, guard and tackle. It doesn’t matter to me. I was productive no matter where I lined up. You can play me anywhere and the production will remain consistent.
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JM: You lined up everywhere throughout your time at Auburn. You rushed off the edge a bunch. Some people think you’re a better fit inside at the next level. Where do you think you’ll play in the NFL?
MD: I see myself playing as a big defensive end on the strong side. I’m a Calais Campbell type of guy. I love the way he plays the game. I see a lot of similarities between us. I’m a big guy, but I move well for my size. I can play the five or six technique as well. I can do that with ease. I can play at 290-295 and go out there and work an offensive linemen. I can play at any weight you want me to play at. It doesn’t matter.
JM: What can you tell me about the chemistry that you had with Derrick Brown?
MD: We loved playing together. Being at Auburn with him and practicing alongside him, we were actually roommates as well. We have a different type of bond. A lot of people don’t realize how close Derrick and I are. We’re family men at the end of the day. We both worked extremely hard. You put two hard workers together in the same room, you’re gonna be rewarded with the results that Derrick and I produced on the field.
We always put our best foot forward and gave it everything we had. That’s why we both played at such a high level. We had the energy and will to dominate on every snap. We really enjoyed playing together this past season. You saw a whole lot of #5 and #3 on the highlights. There was no #3 without #5 and vice versa.
JM: I bet the two of you really pushed each other in practice, right?
MD: Oh, yeah. The competition level between us at practice was ridiculous. We were always competing with one another. We always tried to outwork and outperform one another during the one-on-one drills. We did everything we could to get an edge on each other (laughs). We were always talking. Hey, I was better than you were out there today. I did this or that. We always wanted something to hold over the other guy’s head (laughs). We were willing to do anything for that.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
MD: It was a great experience. Having the opportunity to be at the combine and to show the world who I really am as a person was a blessing in it’s own right. It was a chance for me to really showcase my character and my passion for this game. I love the game of football. I appreciated every moment I experienced out there. I enjoyed speaking with all of the coaches and general managers. It was important to me and it was important to my family. It gave me an opportunity to tell people my story. I have a backstory with my mom and everything. I was just blessed to be there.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Your story is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Are you comfortable sharing that with us?
MD: I would be happy to tell you my story. I quit playing football in the seventh grade. I said that was it. I’m done with this. I’m not gonna do this anymore. I walked right off the field. I walked all the way home. We moved out of the country part of town and we were staying in town now. I walked all the way home from practice. My mom used to meet me at practice. I walked home and she was still home at that particular time. She was getting dressed and ready to come meet me at practice like she always did.
Something told me that once I got home, my mother was still gonna be there. As soon as I saw her, I knew I was in big trouble. We had this motto in our household growing up: “No quitting.” There was no quitting allowed in our house. I quit that day. I quit everything to do with football.
Boy, let me tell you how my mom whooped my tail up and down that house (laughs). She tore me up, man. She told me that we never quit what we start. When you start something, you finish it. She told me that the family name means more than that. We’re not gonna associate our family name with quitting. We aren’t quitters. We’re winners, no matter what.
That’s what I pride myself off today. I learned my lesson that day. I’m not a quitter. She made me walk back to practice and I had to apologize to my coaches and to my teammates. That was pretty embarrassing for a seventh grader (laughs). It taught me a good lesson though. I owed them an apology. I did it with grace.
I promised her from that day forward that I would be the person that she wanted me to be. I promised her that one day, she would never have to work for anything ever again. I promised her that she’d never have to beg for anything ever again. She had to work for everything her whole life. She didn’t have an easy life but she did everything in her power to make our life easy. I promised her that she would be right there with me. She would always be right beside me and she would be there when I get drafted. I told her that I would buy her a house right next to mine. I wanted her to be right next to me.
She’s no longer with us. She passed away in 2015. To not have her with me today, it’s heartbreaking, man. I wish she could be here for all of this.
JM: I can’t imagine. I’m sure she’s incredibly proud of the man you’ve become. You’ve held up your end of the bargain.
MD: I’m sure she is. All of this is a dedication to her. All of this, everything I’m going through is a result of her hard work and the way she raised me. This is a result of all of her whoopings, swinging that belt on me when I wasn’t acting right (laughs). She molded me into the person I am today.
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I bet you didn’t dare to quit anything ever again.
MD: No sir, not at all (laughs). I learned my lesson that day. That’s what motivated me to come back to Auburn in 2019. I wanted to play one more year at Auburn. I had to finish what I started. I always said I would be at Auburn for three or four years. Four was better than three. I know she’s happy about that.
JM: I really appreciate you sharing that story with us. It’s both motivating and moving. On the football side of things, what’s the overall impression you think you left at the combine?
MD: I feel like I left an impression that I’m a special kid. I’m one of those rare breeds. I’m a special football player as well. I’m somebody that no team should want to pass on drafting. I feel like a lot of teams got a feel for me and my character. They can see that I’m a tenacious, passionate kid. I love everything about the game of football. I promote football and good habits in everything that I do. I can talk ball all day long. I’m telling you that I love it. You wanna talk about wide receivers and safeties? Let’s do it. I’m just that type of guy.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
MD: Somebody asked me how I tie my shoes (laughs). I thought that was pretty funny. We were right in the middle of talking football, and he asked me how I tie my shoes. I didn’t even know what to say. I said that I just go down and tie them (laughs). I don’t know how else to put it. He was just messing with me. He just wanted to see what type of answer I was gonna give him.
JM: Were you able to get any private visits or workouts in before COVID-19 shut everything down?
MD: I made it out to Chicago. I went on a private top-30 visit with the Chicago Bears. That visit went down right before everybody started getting pulled off the road.
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I’m assuming you’ve moved all of your meetings to the phones since then?
MD: Yup, we’re doing a whole lot over the phone right now. Everything we’re doing is all about the telephones (laughs). I’ve had quite a few calls. Everything is going smoothly right now. A lot of teams are telling me that they like me. They see me as somebody that can play both inside and outside.
JM: Who are some of the teams that you’ve met with via FaceTime and what not?
MD: I’ve met with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
JM: Do you have a preference between playing in the passing game and running game?
MD: Shoot, it doesn’t matter to me. What down is it? If it’s a run play, I’m coming hard after the run. If it’s a passing play, I’m doing everything I can to sack the quarterback and impact the pocket. I can get after the quarterback in multiple ways. That’s just who I am.
JM: Speaking of the way that you get after the quarterback, what can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal?
MD: My favorite move is the stab-trap. I love being able to punch a man and then trap his arm. I want people to feel the strength. That’s what I love about that move. I also love showing people that I can bend, move and turn. I’m a big guy don’t you dare tell me that I can’t move.
JM: What did your coaches ask of you in Auburn’s defensive scheme?
MD: They asked me to be an athlete, at the end of the day. They just wanted me to play strong and make plays in the backfield. I always played within the system. I’m always gonna be a system guy. I played well within that system. We ran a 4-2-5 at Auburn. That was our base package.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Who are some of the best offensive linemen that you’ve ever gone up against?
MD: Andrew Thomas and Alex Leatherwood come to mind. I went up against Jedrick Wills, Jr. a couple of times. I actually think the most impressive tackle I squared off with was Penei Sewell from Oregon. He’s very impressive. I predict that he’ll be a top five pick in his draft.
JM: You had so many great teammates throughout your time at Auburn. If you were going into battle tomorrow and could bring just one with you, who would you bring and why?
MD: I would bring Daniel Thomas with me. He’s such a great guy. He’s a family man. That’s a ball-hawk right there. He’s a great, traditional safety. You can put him in the box or play him in single-high. He’s a football player, period. The thing that stands out the most to me is that he’s a great person. He has great character. Nobody has a bad thing to say about Daniel Thomas. He’s just one of those guys. He’s a very rare person.
JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize and beat up on an offensive linemen?
MD: I love going both inside and outside. I’m gonna show you power first, and then I’m gonna show you speed next. A lot of people think I’m too big to have speed. I can move. I promise you that. I throw the power at them first. I’m gonna hit you with a little speed too. I just alternate between the two. You don’t know what’s coming next. That’s how I get you off balance. I’m versatile and you have no idea what I’m gonna throw at you.
JM: I’ve really appreciated your time today, Marlon. This conversation has been both informative and touching. I’ve really enjoyed picking your mind as a football player, and I appreciate you for sharing that difficult story with me. When a team uses a draft pick on Marlon Davidson, what kind of guy are they getting?
MD: Thank you for allowing me to tell my story. They’re getting a great football player. I’m a smart player at the end of the day. They’re getting a man of God. I’m always trying to be the best man that I can be. You never have to worry about me. Marlon Davidson is always gonna do the right thing. I’m one of those guys that you’re gonna want on your team.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Auburn defensive line prospect Nick Coe
If your favorite NFL team is looking for a defensive line prospect in the 2020 NFL draft who can do it all, Auburn’s Nick Coe should be on their radar.
Coe recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, how playing at Auburn prepared him for the pro ranks, and what kind of player he’ll be at the next level.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
NC: It was definitely a very different experience. You certainly don’t have any experience with anything like it going into the event. It was all new to me. There’s nothing in college that can really prepare you for that. I’m just working hard to reach my goals. It’s part of the process. I enjoyed my time out there.
JM: What do you feel is the overall impression that you left out there?
NC: I believe that I left a pretty good impression out there. I think that I proved that I’m a versatile guy. I played multiple positions across the Auburn defensive line and that’s something that I expect to do at the next level as well. The combine definitely surprises you. You don’t really know what you’re getting yourself into. I’m glad I did it. I paid attention to the finer details. You have to choose your words carefully. Everything you say is very important. It’s basically the biggest job interview of your life. I think it went great for me.
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal interviews out there?
NC: I had a lot of meetings, yeah. It’s all a blur right now. I met with so many teams. We had some great discussions. The informals can get a little hectic. You’re just walking around and chatting. I feel good about it.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
NC: I didn’t get asked anything strange. Whew, what a relief that was (laughs). I’ve heard some of the stories. I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Every question was pretty straight forward. We just talked about life and football. They just asked me some basic questions.
JM: How would you describe your pass rush arsenal?
NC: I would describe it as versatile. I could rush from any stance or position. That’s basically what I did at Auburn. They moved me all over the place. I played some outside linebacker at Auburn. I’m used to standing up as well. I’m a versatile rusher. My pro team can play me at any position across the line really.
JM: How do you switch things up throughout the course of a game to keep an offensive tackle on his toes?
NC: I just try to make sure I’m doing a great job stopping the run and setting the edge. It’s all about playing big. That starts to really get under his skin after a while. He’ll start to lose energy throughout the game. He may not be used to that. Pass rushing is more about having a variety of moves. If you’re switching it up with success, he doesn’t know what’s coming next. You just gotta throw everything at him. That’s the best way to handle it.
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Playing at Auburn afforded you the opportunity to play against the best competition college football had to offer. Who are some of the best tackles you’ve gone up against?
NC: I have to go with my own teammate. Braden Smith was by far the best tackle I’ve ever played against. Jedrick Wills from Alabama was a great one as well. Those are the two that stick out to me.
JM: If you were going into battle tomorrow and you could only bring one teammate with you, who would you bring and why?
NC: I wanna say myself. Can I say that? I would clone myself and bring myself with me (laughs). To be honest, I would bring Marlon Davidson with me. He knows so much more about this country than I do (laughs). He’s just a smart guy. I would definitely want him with me.
JM: What kind of player is Nick Coe going to be at the next level?
NC: They’re getting a trustworthy guy that’s been a productive, versatile player at a big school. I’m an honest guy. I enjoy life. I love life. They’re getting a very happy person.
In the latest roundtable discussion, the team at Longhorns Wire make their case for the best rivalry in college football.
When it comes to college athletics, there is no greater matchup than when you put two bitter rivals on the same field. Throw out their rankings, records and history when it comes to these particular meetings. Hype, hatred and passion play a critical role in the outcome.
There is just something special about these games that causes players to lay it all out on the line in hopes of claiming bragging rights for the next year. Each member of Longhorns Wire made their selections of the best rivalry in college football.
Roll Tide. War Eagle. Hearing those chants can only mean one thing. It’s officially the Iron Bowl game between No. 5 Alabama (10-1, 6-1) and No. 15 Auburn (8-3, 4-3). The Tigers will look to play spoiler to the Crimson Tide, who are still trying to make it into the College Football Playoff. They will have to do it on the road after dominating Auburn in a 52-21 win in Tuscaloosa last season.
It’s been an unexpected two weeks for Alabama, especially on offense. After quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a season-ending injury against Mississippi State, it’s been backup QB Mac Jones who’s had to fill the shoes of the once Heisman hopeful. He’ll need to have the best performance of his young collegiate career against what many consider to be the best defensive line in the country. A dominant performance by Alabama against battle-tested Auburn on the road would make a powerful statement to the selection committee, who is unsure of how successful Alabama can be without Tagovailoa. In last week’s game against Western Carolina, Jones went 10-for-12 with 275 yards and three touchdowns. For Jones and the rest of the offense, it’s all about keeping it simple and relying on the players at the skill positions.
Don’t let Auburn’s record fool you. They may have three losses, but they have come against some of the top teams in the country, including No. 2 LSU, No. 4 Georgia and No. 8 Florida. In his weekly press conference, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn talked about the excitement of this year’s matchup and how last year’s loss will help this year’s team. However, this is the first time true freshman quarterback Bo Nix will get to experience playing in the Iron Bowl. In seven of his last nine games – the losses to Florida and LSU the outliers – he has hit 60 percent or more of his passes. The Tigers dominated Sanford 52-0 in a warmup for this weekend’s game. Nix was a steady 15-for-23 with 150 yards and one touchdown, before being taken out so the backup quarterbacks could get some playing time.
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