The Let's-Do-Spring-Practice-Again (LDSPA) team

WEDNESDAY MORNING
Post No. 1,196

Hey everyone. Nice work on yesterday's thread. We closed in on the HABOTN comment record before I succumbed to comment anxiety. They make stuff for that. I don't have any.

Since we spent (some) time yesterday talking about spring practice "winners," let's talk about some guys who may not have fond memories of the past month.

• Barrett Trotter: Days after learning he wasn't a finalist for The Job, Trotter tears an ACL during a non-contact drill. That's a double whammy only Philip Pierre-Louis can fully appreciate. Trotter has a bright future, but that clearly won't begin until 2011. Surely the top 2009 quarterback will keep his job into 2010. Right?
  
  
• Ryan Shoemaker: The team's only scholarship punter was hoping to get his job back. Clinton Durst punted better last season, became the starter and acted a fool in January by trying to strong-arm the coaching staff into giving him a scholarship. Shoemaker's window of opportunity slammed on his fingers, though, because Durst apparently was the better kicker again this spring. He also is still here despite not having a scholarship. The depth chart can change in a heartbeat, but Shoemaker clearly is losing relevance.
  
  
• Mario Fannin: Did he perform poorly? No. Did he sulk about not being a tailback? No. Still, I don't think Fannin is thrilled about his (apparent) role on this team. He spent most of spring ball working at inside receiver and only moonlighted at tailback once Eric Smith was lost with a leg injury. Fannin was productive as a receiver at A-Day, so this story could have a happy ending. I just don't think this is what Fannin was hoping to see.
  
  
• Chris Todd: Shoulder surgery limited him throughout spring practice. I never saw him throw a single pass. The senior became a bystander as Kodi Burns and Neil Caudle made meaningful first impressions with new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. Can Todd get back in the race? It's possible. He's supposed to be "healthy" in time for summer workouts and will have a chance to prove himself in two-a-days. Is it too late? I think it is.

SIDE NOTE: As you know, I have no problem being critical of Auburn when I think Auburn makes mistakes. I don't think this UCLA thing is a big deal. ESPN tried to make a love connection there and the Auburn administration wasn't feeling it. So what? Auburn deserved all the hell it endured back in 1999 when it begged bought out its game against Florida State. This is a completely different deal. Plus, when did UCLA become so prestigious that no program in its right mind would turn down a home-and-home invitation?

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University