News of the day, 10/29

Hey everyone. I got some awkward responses to my comparison between Auburn and Rutgers. It was more about Brandon Cox and Mike Teel. People think I'm being too hard on Cox. I said he was fine. He's also pretty tough. He's just not great. Cox needs his wideouts to make plays. I think that's why you're seeing more Mario Fannin these days.

Thanks for rolling in for your daily slug from the trough that has become the HOTTEST Auburn blog on the 'net.

Forward Josh Dollard, perhaps Auburn's best basketball player, will miss the season because of a medical condition. Also, senior forward Quan Prowell has drawn a suspension for a violation of team rules. Losing Dollard is a massive blow. I thought the Tigers were a candidate to qualify for the NCAA Tournament as a 7 or 8 seed. Not now.

``Quan needs to focus on his priorities," coach Jeff Lebo said. ``When
he begins to exhibit the qualities of accountability and dependability,
he will be welcomed back to play with us."

Prowell's suspension will last at least six games.

Coach Tommy Tuberville said something interesting about LB Merrill Johnson. He's been out with a shoulder problem since the Kansas State game. Johnson participated in two plays at Arkansas, but hasn't expanded his role since then. I figured the shoulder still was a problem. Tuberville, though, said Johnson is healthy. He just didn't play very much the other night -- presumably because coaches preferred Chris Evans and Craig Stevens. That was surprising to me. Johnson was outstanding in preseason camp. When DC Will Muschamp said Evans was going to have a place on this team long-term, he meant business.

For those of you who like watching stuff beyond the SEC, you'll be happy to know that ESPN has purchased the rights to this weekend's Oregon/Arizona State game. It'll be televised on ESPN starting around 5:30 CDT. Fox Sports Net had it, but allowed ESPN (for a hefty fee) to take the game to a national market. Should be a good one.

ABC (here) will have Florida State/Boston College.

ESPN2 will have South Carolina/Arkansas. I'm pretty excited because I'll be able to catch some football on Saturday night. That's a rare treat made all the better with my sweet HDTV.

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ON A PERSONAL NOTE: Guitar Hero 3 was released Saturday night/Sunday morning at midnight. My recent purchases of Halo 3 and PGR 4 have precluded me from buying GH3, video-game moderation is imperative, so I'm looking for reviews. If you got it and played it, email me or post in the comments section.

I just watched some guy knock Metallica's "One" out of the park. It got me excited. I'll say up front, though, that I cannot and will not hit this song on expert. No way. No how. Won't happen. Kids today are so good.

My daughter is 5 and she hits Warrant's "Cherry Pie" on easy right now. Seriously. Five years old. If the XBox had been invented when I was a teenager, I don't think I'd have left the house. I know me.