Media Days update

Hey everyone. Hope your day is going as well as mine.

Today was Auburn's go at Media Days in Hoover. It's a good time because Tuberville always is in high spirits, the kids aren't tired (yet) of the daily inquisition and it's time to write about football. You all like it most. I like it most. Everyone's happy.

Tuberville meets with the beat writers (and Associated Press ace John Zenor) before his public speech at Media Days. It gives us a chance to ask questions that are more involved, and more directed at what's happening with the team right now. Most of the questions coaches answer in the Big House (Wynfrey Hotel Ballroom B) are very general ... stuff Auburn fans knew a long time ago. Yes, Brandon Cox is back. Yes, Kenny Irons is good. Yes, the Capital One Bowl was a mess.

Anyway, here's a few things Tuberville mentioned in the beat-writer powwow that I found interesting. I'll write about these in more detail tomorrow ... in the Advertiser.

*Tray Blackmon and Kevin Sears will miss a significant number of games (I'm guessing two) for their recent arrests. Sears is replaceable. Blackmon is to a lesser degree, I suppose, with Merrill Johnson now poised to start at weak-side linebacker. Still, I know a lot of fans were ready to see Tray play. That arrival might be delayed.

*The news on recent signees WR Alex Rose and NG Greg Smith isn't good. Tuberville seemed pessimistic about Rose's ability to earn the good graces of the NCAA Clearinghouse. He mentioned a January enrollment as a possibility. Smith, the junior-college All America guy, still is trying to get eligible. Tuberville seemed to think Smith would make it, but his conditioning probably would limit Smith's ability to contribute this season.

*Steve Gandy now is playing outside linebacker. Tuberville said that was something AU did in spring drills, though it was billed as "temporary" at the time. Now it seems permanent. Gandy spent his first two years as a safety.