HAPPY CLIFF HARE - ALEXANDER WRIGHT DAY!!!
Clifford Leroy Hare was a member of Auburn’s first football team in 1892, president of the old Southern Conference, longtime chairman of Auburn’s Faculty Athletic Committee, dean of the school of chemistry, and state chemist from 1930-48. He taught physical and organic chemistry at Auburn for 50 years. He also was an Auburn city councilman. Auburn Stadium was renamed Cliff Hare Stadium in 1949.
Each year, the highest honor an Auburn student-athlete can receive is the Cliff Hare Award (male) or the Leah Rawls Atkins Award (female). The Cliff Hare Award is presented to the senior male student-athlete "who, in addition to athletic and scholarship achievement, exhibits in great degree the qualities of leadership, integrity and courage."
*Alexander Wright was a sooooper fast wideout from 1986-89, playing a vital role in the 1989 Iron Bowl win in Jordan-Hare Stadium. His career 23.6 yards per reception is still an Auburn record."Ace" Wright played a total of seven NFL seasons with the Cowboys, Raiders and Rams. This Auburn graduate was twice named the NFL's fastest man and once ran a 4.09 forty. Yes, that's faster than Bo. Wright set a Dallas Cowboys record with a 102 yard kickoff return in 1991.
I'm very proud of this great Auburn man. I encourage you to read why. After retiring from the NFL, Wright resumed his education, earning an M.A. in Sports Management. He is currently Athletic Director at San Jacinto Christian Academy which, of course, is not in San Jacinto, Texas, but in Amarillo on the high plains of the Texas panhandle.
HONORABLE MENTION:
* Randy Walls: Quarterback who led The Amazin's to a 9-1 regular season record.
* Foster Christy: Started and lettered at FB all four years he was at Auburn. He was inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. This Auburn grad has a Master of Divinity, teaches a weekly men's Bible study (in Steve FC's neighborhood) and is involved in leadership at his home church in Columbia, SC.
* Haygood Paterson, Jr. - Tackle on Auburn's 1932 Southern Conference Champions. (His father lettered in 1903-05).
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Question: How did Cliff Hare end up at #18? After all, they didn't have jersey numbers in 1892.
Answer: There is an 1892 team photo in the AU Archives in which the players have been identified by a number key. Number 18? The great Cliff Hare, who may have been Auburn's first keeper of the clipboard (Dean Hare was not a starter on that team, but certainly was one of its intellectual leaders).
SUBSTANCE!
ReplyDeleteyea THT
ReplyDeletedangit
ReplyDeletewhat am I doing here without substance? glad sean has it
ReplyDeleteHow bout a joint No. 18 day? You brought the substance already, THT!
ReplyDeleteTHT & Jay,
ReplyDeleteI love these player updates everyday. It's great learning about players you aren't so familiar with. Thanks for doing the research, THT.
Eddie, check it out, Arsenal on top...just like the Premier League standings.
ReplyDeleteJust like an Arsenal fan to brag about being on top after one match.
ReplyDeletewhat about the Hammers!?
ReplyDeleteToday is the day we'll begin offering HABOTN caps.
ReplyDeleteThree kinds. Wifey-approved, too.
yeah sean, and as I keep scrolling, they keep falling...
ReplyDeleteAgain, I say Happy(Ryan)Hooker Day!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to check out these hats.
ReplyDeleteBy chance will there be a HABOTN bucket hat?
Jay,
ReplyDeleteI hate being impatient, but where and when do we get to see said wifey approved hats?
thanks, cincy, but I'm afraid there won't be any research tonight. MrsTHT will be on the warpath for me to clean the HUUUUUUUJ mess in my office tonight. She's hosting a party on Saturday for a friend who will be getting married next month. Lots of the attendees will be realtors. MrsTHT wants to leave them with a good impression for whenever we decide to sell
ReplyDeleteRK stole my Ryan Hooker day comment from several days ago. Ryan was a cool guy. Fun to be around.
ReplyDeletefun to be around a hooker?
ReplyDeletesounds interesting, eddie
Expensive?
ReplyDeleteHooker was # 18 wasn't he?
ReplyDeleteHook was really good at XBox football games, too. Certainly the best of his era.
ReplyDeleteCAPS: Should get that post up during the afternoon. Scottie is working up the official order form as we speak.
I'm fairly sure of that RK, I was threw his name out when THT said we might be surprised with his #18 selection, but THT made a great one.
ReplyDeleteI know tomorrow will probably be Jason Campbell day, but I am going to pre-nominate Reggie Slack for #17. Two year starter at QB, two SEC championships and if it wasn't for Deon Sanders shady play in the Sugar Bowl a possible National title.
ReplyDeleteJay G, that cuts me deep...my team isn't Man U where they are a hardware factory...I have to take it when I can get it.
ReplyDeleteOn an HABOTN note, I'm stoked about the caps.
Reggie Slack was my favorite AU fotoball player as a kid. It's the only Jersey I ever had growing up. He is one my all time favorites.
ReplyDeleteThis should be Arsenal's year.
ReplyDeleteI'm liking them more now that Henry is gone.
It's Paul Scholes Day for me!
ReplyDeleteWell the youth factor for Arsenal should start paying dividends this year since they are more experienced. I would love to see them take Chelsea's or Liverpool's place in the top 4.
ReplyDeleteAnyone see Jason Campbell on Sportscenter last night / this morning? He was Chris Mortensen's interviewee on his stop at Redskins camp.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I'm in on the pick 'em! What was the decision, straight-up or ATS?
I played a round of golf with Randy Walls one day and didn't know who he was at all. I found outlater
ReplyDeleteWill HABOTN hats be houndstooth? There is this lady I know who is a fan of such hats.
ReplyDeleteScott Chocolate- That was a good segment on Jason. Jason represent's himself very well, always has.
ReplyDeleteI hope Jason can prove the naysayers wrong.
ReplyDeleteTried to supplant him twice and he took it all in stride, rare site among pro players.
We have not madea formal decision on whether to go with ATS or straight up.
ReplyDeleteDoes blogger allow for polls to be put up?
Kodi Burns deserves mention here. After the way he behaved when Todzilla was named the starter, I have developed a deep and lasting man crush on him.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I don't anticipate any houndstooth HABOTN hats, but stay tuned for the houndstooth toilet paper.
ReplyDeleteStraight up if I get a vote.
ReplyDeleteAnd there ya are.
no houndstooth HABOTN caps MJT, but if you want a Nick Saban-esque straw hat i can make that happen!
ReplyDeleteD Miller, there is a poll gadget available for blogger. I haven't played with it, but it may do what you want.
ReplyDeleteI do prefer to go ATS. Only real men go ATS.
I thought only real men go commando
ReplyDeletedid anyone else notice it's 18 days till football season on the 18th of August?
ReplyDeletenope, I only notice truly important things like when it was 28 days til kickoff on our 28th anniversary
ReplyDeleteATS!!!!
ReplyDeleteStraight up is too easy.
I have joined the fun of picking games.
ReplyDeleteI understand that you all were looking for a very strong picker so I joined.
I will be strong enough to hold up the entire poll as I usually end up on the bottom of this type endeavor
Just as I suspected, it was molasses.
ReplyDeleteI vote for ATS AND commando. I'M A MAN!!! I'M 40 (well, I used to be).
ReplyDeleteI vote for ATS as well.
ReplyDeleteScottie,
What about floppy bucket hats?
ATS.
ReplyDeleteHow about a HABOTN Pith Helmet?
ReplyDeleteATS FTW!
ReplyDeleteThings that you like to read as an AU Football and Baltimore Ravens fan.
ReplyDeleteGrubbs is emerging as one of the top young offensive guards in the game as he enters his third NFL season.
Anyone heard why Kendall Simmons is not playing this year?
ReplyDeleteATS or Straight Up.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter.
Just prepare to lose to a chick.
RK, if you want a floppy bucket hat i think you're outta luck. my vendors don't sell those. i can put it on a beanie, though.
ReplyDeleteNow, where can I get some of that cool houndstooth toilet paper?
ReplyDeleteATS. Either way, the winner will be one of the three people who remember to do his or her picks every week. That's what it always comes down to.
ReplyDeleteTranslation - Michael just conceded defeat.
ReplyDeletein that case i will win. i stay committed to my gambling habits
ReplyDelete"Dean Hare was not a starter on that team, but certainly was one of its intellectual leaders."
ReplyDeleteSo, my question for JGT, since he's more likely to have an answer: who do you consider the 'intellectual leaders' on the 2009 edition of the Auburn Tigers?
Monica, does that mean we should prepare to lose to Michael Jan Terri or to j-z?
ReplyDeleteScott - I thought that was funny until I realized you used "chick" as an insult.
ReplyDeleteHow much are your sexist pig choc lollipops?
Kendall Simmons' knee injury from last year combined with his diabetes seem to be the issue.
ReplyDeleteScottie,
ReplyDeleteBummer on the floppy hat, but I'm sure I'll find a suitable alternative.
They are $1.00 for men and $2.50 for women.
ReplyDeleteI bought my bro-in-law an Auburn bucket hat. Do you like orange or navy?
ReplyDeleteLMAO @ Scott
ReplyDeleteNice.
Good answer Chocolate.
ReplyDeleteNorm = dustupper
ReplyDeleteI love a good bucket hat, except it looks ridiculous on my big ol' noggin.
ReplyDeleteBut not as dumb as they look on Dick and Rove.
I am prone to some goofy statements ... here's one ... Reggie Slack ... Best AU QB ever.
Some people say sexist pig as if it were a bad thing.
ReplyDeletethat's a ten on the goofy meter, Jet
ReplyDeleteTop 5 all-time AU QB = not goofy
ReplyDeleteSlack ... undefeated vs. Florida, Georgia and Alabama ... 2 SEC titles. Did it with average RBs at best.
ReplyDeleteok, maybe you're right. I don't know how to rank them, other than alphabetically:
ReplyDeleteCampbell
Craig
Slack
Sullivan
Tidwell
And come to think of it, wouldn't sexist pigs be a cool school nickname?
ReplyDeleteMon,
ReplyDeleteIt would have to be Navy. I have an orange fitted Auburn hat that I wear to the game, but I'm just not that big of a fan of the Orange on hats.
Jet,
Slack has 3 SEC rings in 4 years, he was just a winner. He wasn't a great QB, but he knew how to win.
Cox has to be in there. Only QB to go 3-0 starting against Bamer.
ReplyDeleteSlack did have the disadvantage of the Joseph/Danley combination at RB not setting the world on fire.
ReplyDeleteHowever our D in the late 80's was amazing.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteCampbell went 3-0 starting vs Alabama as well.
He didn't start the 01 game that we lost. He played in it, but Cobb started it.
In terms of just being a winner, Randy Campbell comes to mind. I believe it was 83 when we went the entire season with a grand total of 13 turnovers. That includes INTs and fumbles. It was simply incredible.
ReplyDeleteOf course, when you have 3 guys named Bo Jackson, Tommy Agee, and Lionel James standing behind you, it helps.
ReplyDeleteThrow Sidwell into the QB list too, although he was before my time.
ReplyDeleteHe also had Steve Wallace and Ben Tamburello standing in front of him.
ReplyDeletey'all can debate the QB all you want, as long as you don't reach a consensus that the all-time best was Charlie Trotman or Pat Washington.
ReplyDeleteBut I refuse to budge on all-time best AU receiver. It was BEASLEY #88!!!
Don't be slammin' my man, Charlie Trotman.
ReplyDeleteYou'll never hear me say Pat Washington was an average QB, much less the best in AU history.
ReplyDeleteMr Trotman is a super fine Auburn man. He may be feelin' the heat, but he's not a ROF-type QB
ReplyDeleteBut I hope we can agree that Trotter is the QB with the most Brady hairstyle.
ReplyDeleteBEASLEY!!!
ReplyDeletePat Washington was another one of those going to be great QBs. He is going to be great. He just ain't quite there yet. Give it a couple of more decades.
ReplyDelete4th down AU trails by 2 with ball on opponents 45 yd line. Who's the holder? Who's kicking?
ReplyDeleteNavy bucket hats
ReplyDeleteKhaki safari hat
Lottsa Auburn hats
if you want to buy a bucket hat & send it to me i can put HABOTN on it. too easy. JG should have the hat info up later today.
ReplyDeletethere are career FG pct stats in the media guide, but I don't think it shows pct for 50+yds.
ReplyDeleteI'll go with Dave Beck or Matthew Motley holding and John Vaughn kicking. Unless it's in Baton Rouge, then I'll go with Jorge Portela.
THT...
ReplyDeleteIf it's our OL from last season, you might as well go ahead an back him up another 5-10 yards.
Al del Greco!
ReplyDeleteplease no bucket hats, safari hats, plaid hats or camo hats
ReplyDeletejust regular "baseball" hats!!
in NFL, Del Greco only 21/40 from 50+
ReplyDeleteI'll take my chances with Vaughn, even in Baton Rouge.
btw, Jorge Portela's niece is an Auburn Equestrian freshman, I think. Perhaps ElTurbo can do some investigative reporting.
ReplyDeletewell, if no one else wants it...
ReplyDeleteDOUG SMITH!!!
Doug Smith, HOLLA!
ReplyDeleteVaughn definitely has a weaker leg than del Greco. Vaughn's thing was accuracy, not power. The guy couldn't kick a touchback.
ReplyDeleteI say Rob Bironas is your real guy though. He kicked a 60 yarder for the Titans. However, he didn't complete his collegiate career at Auburn, so maybe he is disqualified.
Early in his career, Vaughn didn't even kick the long ones. Yost did.
ReplyDeleteI'll take Jason Fitzgerald (went to the same HS as me) on the snap, Jacob Allen on the hold & John Vaughan (from his senior year) kicking.
ReplyDeleteVaughn kicked 52 and 55 yd FGs. That's good enough for me. Yost could kick it far, but which direction?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess I'd have a hard time including Bironas in the discussion; I wish he had stayed at AU :-(
Vaughn was definitely one of the best in Auburn history, but his % over 50 is over a much smaller sample size than someone like del Greco, who had a long pro career. We all know Vaughn was incredibly accurate (save 1 game). Why isn't he kicking in the pros? The same reason he rarely handled kickoff duties. Leg is not NFL strong.
ReplyDeleteIn summation, 44 yards in, I choose Vaughn. Further out, I choose Duval (in a non-sucky year) or del Greco (whose kicking exploits I must admit are only known to me via the NFL) or Bironas (if he is an acceptable answer)
Frank Sanders is floating around the various WJOX shows. I so want him to be good, but so far he's pretty bad. Today he was talking about "camaraderieship" in the locker room. He invents words and butchers words every time I hear him, plus he hasn't really added a lot of insight (at least when I've been listening). Oh well, I guess I shouldn't complain about an AU voice on the B'ham airways, but if he's going to be so bad, he needs to at least sound a little more like an AU homer. For instance, he needs to mention Nix to Sanders at least twice a day.
ReplyDeleteMichael - that sounds most acceptable.
ReplyDeletethe snap, the hold, the kick is away... IT'S GOOD!!! AUBURN WINS!!!
I heard he and Antonio Langham on the radio together here last week. It wasn't as painful as I was expecting. Hearing the two of those guys talk about their rivalry was interesting.
ReplyDeleteBironas did return to Auburn and graduate...didn't Tub kick him off the team?
ReplyDeleteMon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the bucket hat links.
j-z, something like that is the right setting for Sanders. I probably would have enjoyed listening to that. When he is just trying to come up with something to say or a question to ask a guest, I've found myself cringing a few times.
ReplyDeleteAny votes for Robert McGinty as the kicker?...I didn't think so.
ReplyDeleteAnyone seen this?
ReplyDeleteFrom mrsec.com
A couple of months ago, we told you that Ole Miss had reached an agreement to allow a television crew inside their program to create a reality series based on UM’s 2009 football campaign.
Yesterday, we told you that Houston Nutt had changed his mind, worried that the producers would need too much access to his team.
Back in mid-July, Nutt had this to say about the “Gridiron U.” project:
“I just feel pretty good — I’ve discussed things with Gridiron U. and our players. And we’ve got to be able to handle it. And hopefully we put blinders on and go to work. They will be here a total of about two and a half weeks; maybe three if they can get here the last week of workouts in the summer.”
Obviously, that’s all out the window now.
Enter Auburn’s Gene Chizik who apparently isn’t concerned about giving up too much access. It was announced yesterday that AU will be the subject of a weekly 30-minute reality series to air on CSS.
“Auburn Football: Every Day” is being produced by a company called Authentic Films, but the Auburn athletic department will also have a hand in things.
As we said of the Ole Miss idea back in July, this could prove to be a heckuva recruiting tool. And with the Tiger Prowl and Big Cat Weekend, it’s obvious that Chizik and crew know how to create buzz in the recruiting world.
One thing to note on Auburn’s decision to do reality and Ole Miss’ decision not to… these two coaches are in two completely different places.
Chizik is in his first year. He faces mid-level expectations this year. Quite simply, there’s very little to lose. The potential recruiting gains outweigh any potential negatives.
As for Nutt, well, there’s a whole bunch to lose. If Ole Miss’ players couldn’t deal with the spotlight, Nutt would be kicking himself.
And if the Rebels’ season goes down in flames, fans could kick Nutt for allowing a “distraction” to creep into his program.
Auburn looks confident in this move. Ole Miss looks a bit more timid in their decision. But Ole Miss has a whole lot more to lose than Auburn.
The power is out at my office. Has been for the past 45 minutes. It is starting to get warm in here.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if a transformer blew, or if the State forgot to pay the power bill.
I can't do any work, and my cell phone battery is draining quickly.
Personally, I don't really have a problem with the new TV show, although I can't really say I am for it either. It seems like a distraction, but if our billboards now say "Come to Auburn and be a Television Star", perhaps it is worth it.
ReplyDeleteMy #18 entry is for Thomas Bailey. Bailey was the WR opposite of Franks Sanders thus why he's sometimes forgotten. Bailey was just as clutch as Sanders he just never made the memorable plays like Sanders had a knack for. However, Bailey did grab a 4th down pass from Nix in the 94 Florida game while falling out of bounds which set up the famous Nix to Sanders in the Swamp.
ReplyDeleteAs for the kicker debate we must admit since Jarret Holmes we've had some sporadic kickers. For my money though I'll take Scott Etheridge #43 on the 93 team. Hit the big kick against UF in 93 and can't remember any costly misses- granted the team was only on radio so some misfortunes are easily forgotten.
ReplyDelete