"Fast Freddie" Smith was the greatest linebacker ever to suit up in an Auburn uniform. You disagree? I'm sorry, let me explain the rules for today: It ain't open for debate!
Freddie Smith was a high school All-American in Athens, AL, where he played RB and LB. On offense, he had nearly 5,000 yards rushing in his high school career, including over 2,150 as a senior when he led Athens to a state championship. He also had 385 tackles in his 3 year H.S. career. He chose Auburn over numerous other major college offers, including that other school, because Auburn was a friendly place and he felt at home there (don't we all!).
When he arrived in Auburn in the fall of 1976, Fast Freddie didn't care if he was on offense or defense (or both), he just wanted to be on the field helping Auburn win football games. The coaches decided he was needed more on defense, which was OK with Freddie. He decided it was better to give than receive. How quickly did Freddie Smith adjust to the college game? Well, they didn't call him Fast Freddie without reason.In his 2nd game as a true freshman, Freddie Smith led Auburn's defense with TWENTY-TWO tackles in a 15-14 loss to the Baylor Bears. The following week, he decided he needed to step up his game for SEC play as he recorded TWENTY-FOUR tackles in Auburn's 38-28 bashing of the Vols. Fast Freddie finished his Auburn career with 528 tackles, averaging 13.2 tackles/game. No one else is even close.
After his stellar Auburn career, Mr. Smith played with the Vikings in the NFL and starred for the Winnipeg Bombers in the CFL. In 1983 he teamed up with several former Auburn players on the roster of the B'ham Stallions of the USFL. As of 2008, Mr. Smith had been employed by Brasfield & Gorrie in Birmingham for 20 years. He was also inducted into the Limestone County Hall of Fame last year.
We've got some other 31s we should honorably mention: I'll start with Antarrious Williams. Talk about a lunch pail guy that put in a full shift every day - dude could play. And 3 cheers to Rob Pate. The floor is now open for more 31 shout outs.
--compiled capably by TarHeelTiger
Freddie! Freddie! Freddie! Freddie! Freddie! Freddie! Freddie! Freddie!
ReplyDeleteI'm too young to remember Fast Freddie, but from what I read about him it sounds like he was a special player.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to think of another stand out who wore 31...anybody?
Nice job as usual, THT.
ReplyDeletethanks, JGT!
ReplyDeleteCool, nver heard that story
ReplyDeleteTHT...I really appreciate all the work you put into this countdown. It's become something I look forward to everyday now.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I've also started to feel like this is my therapy group. Is it wrong to wake up and hope that Nick Saban dies today?
Schedule note: Newcomers are talking today after practice. That means we'll have commentary and video from people like Tyrik Rollison, DeAngelo Benton, Emory Blake and Nosa Eguae.
ReplyDeletePractice starts around 4:30.
I'm aiming to put up a practice-footage video around 6 and an interview video later in the evening.
Blog updates as needed.
now that's some SUBSTANCE right there JGT. can't wait to check it out tonite.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Coleman likes a couple of these incoming defensive linemen. That is very good news. We could use a bit more depth at defensive end, so I really hope TC gets cleared, but I am feeling better about the DL and DBs, with Washington qualifying.
ReplyDeletej-z - I don't know. Should I be ashamed that your question made me LOL?
ReplyDeleteJayGT - this sounds like a very long day for you and a GREAT day for the HOTTIES!!! I hope you get to talk to War Eguae! Be sure and tell all the newcomers how much the HOTTIES appreciate them choosing Auburn.
jz, i'm wanting to watch him cook in his own juices that is the bama nation. I'd rather see some other things happen and him hash out a 6-6 season again. I want him to be the target of the hillbilly's scorn and see what he has to say back about them. Seems much more appropriate to me.
ReplyDeleteDang...hadn't thought about that. Good point. Seeing him suffer and implode would be much more fun.
ReplyDeletei can't wait to hear some of his responses to criticism when things aren't so gleeful in camelot. You don't think he'd quit and take another job do you? Nah, not nick saban. I think he has a tougher row to hoe than the mouthbreathers think.
ReplyDeleteAnd just so you know, I'm declaring Padma Lakshmi as the winner of the Summer Hottie Bracket by default.
ReplyDeleteCory - Antarrious Williams wore 31.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Fast Freddie Smith moment - As a kid, we used to go sit in the endzones to watch the games. It wasn't hard to find a seat in the '70's. We were playing Ole Mrs and Fast Freddie intercepted a pass.
ReplyDeleteHe immediately switched into running back mode. I'm not good with numbers, but I think he broke 37 tackles and ran it back 114 yards for a touchdown.
He was AUsome!
I am uncertain of how beneficial having so many practices at night and not on the intramural field will be. CTT always had a couple of weeks on the intramural field to separate out the men from the boys.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that injuries tend to occur at two points, either very quickly before a player is warmed up, or after they get tired.
The evening practices will likely reduce the number of pre-season injuries, but will the players be in the kind of shape where they won't tire out in the second half of games.
I don't know if this will generally be Chizik's philosophy, but it is likely something he had to do for this season because of depth.
JGT...
ReplyDeleteWe are extremely fortunate to have you to keep those of us who care and can't be there updated.
I have never looked forward to and had as much apprehension about a season before. It's a very strange feeling.
Fast Freddie looks like a dude you wouldn't want bearing down on you at full speed.
ReplyDeleteI tried to track Freddie down in B'ham. Found a street address but not a phone number :-(. It would have been so cool to actually speak to one of my Auburn heroes.
ReplyDeleteHow about Luke on the HS basketball team. Noone made sure the bench was firmly affixed to the floor like Luke.
ReplyDeleteHopefully his wife didn't know him as Fast Freddy.
Diet Coke just flew out of my nose and across the room thanks to Monica.
ReplyDeleteTHT, did you get my Fast Freddie pic i emailed you?
ReplyDeletethanks JZ - at least someone appreciates my twisted humor
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust kidding...I'm a junkie for every morsel of information.
ReplyDeleteJay G. how does it feel to know you have enslaved my attention? You taskmaster beat reporting machine.
Just kidding you too, Monica.
Sensi, your first guest on the GridIron Breakdown seemed to have a very unique view of college football.
ReplyDeleteScottieB - yep, I tracked it down. I accidentally sent you an email a few weeks ago from my "original" email address which I don't check regularly.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope AU#42 didn't blow out Freddie's knee on that play. Is that photo from the '77 or '79 game in Knoxville?
Auburn really had some good memorable players during the Barfield years. It is ashame we never really turned the corner then. Barfield did have one good season, but it seems that those teams didn't quite live up to their potential.
ReplyDeleteSteve:
ReplyDeleteIs it your assertion that there was some/any benefit (aside from space) to starting practice on the intramural fields?
I always hated the idea and I didn't think anyone would mind.
well, Freddie is still tooooo fast. I couldn't stalk, er track him down at Brasfield-Gorrie. He apparently doesn't work there now. However, the B&G folks are like waayyyy super nice folks and they are trying to find him to let him know he should check out HABOTN.
ReplyDeleteMrs Gorrie and I are related, barely.
oops... I hope I haven't hurt her social standing by that revelation.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteHe called in and quickly realized he had no idea what he was talking about. Forgive him. He is young and a Pitt fan from the Big East. He hasn't seen consistent college football in his 17 years on the planet.
Thanks for listening.
I always thought practice on those fields wasn't a very bright idea. You can practice hard and develop toughness without practicing in dangerous environments.
ReplyDeleteBig Bird- We were able to save the precious grass at the complex, even thou we never had a problem with tearing it all up in the first place, at least not when Bowden was there. I never understood moving everything to the intermual fields. It was a pain to get everything down there and back and the fields were crap. I'm glad they have decided to keep it on the practice fields the whole time this year.
ReplyDeleteI had no problem with the intramural fields. It was a weeding out period for Tuberville. Many coaches have that period, most notably Pat Dye. I think practices like that are more for mental toughness than anything else.
ReplyDeleteSensi, I was thinking the guy just got tongue tied. I had the same issue when I called in to a sports talk show a while back. It took me a minute to get comfortable. That is what I was assuming was going on with that guy. I don't think anyone thinks the ACC is better than the Big 12 in football.
Steve- I can understand mental toughness. I get it, but when you practice at a place that leads to injuries due to the field condition, then I have a problem. That is the main problem I had with it. It was lumpy and caused some unnessary injuries that probably could have been avoided if we had not practiced there.
ReplyDeleteI was there at the tail end of the Dye era and I don't remember the football team ever using those fields so TT's affinity for them was always a mystery.
ReplyDeleteOf course I don't remember a lot of things that happened in the fall outside of JHS......
THT, i've got a large collection of AU pics of you ever need any. lemme know.
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right and no, no one in their right mind thinks the ACC is better in football than the Big 12. Though a Duke vs. Iowa State matchup would set the game back decades.
On my way to Starkville, Hotties.
ReplyDeleteHave fun.
Playing intramural football for 3 seasons I can attest to the conditions of the field: terrible. We had 2 ACLs and multiple ankle sprains and one turf toe brought on due to the field and the way it plays. This was flag football mind you.
ReplyDeleteSensi- Would it set it back as far as the MSU / AU game did the SEC last year?
ReplyDeleteEddie, I thought it strange we played Miss State in a baseball contest so early in the fall. I don't recall a football game being held last year.
ReplyDeleteWell, we were creative in the MSU game. We scored all the points in the game, but only won by 1 point.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, eddie should know a lot more about the intramural field than I do. I have never stepped foot on it and am talking out of my butt, a talent that I use often.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of kicking an already dead horse, the university could have made matters better by simply improving the intramural fields. TT moved out there in an effort to be more open/fan friendly and to mix it up a bit, all of which are admirable pursuits.
ReplyDeleteGood call on leaving the intramural fields. Holding practices there was item #1,437 on my list of things that Tubs did that made me scratch my head.
ReplyDeleteQuote by Tommy Tuberville...I think specifically to the intramural fields.
ReplyDelete“It really doesn't make any difference,”
One thing is constant. You can write this down. I will always disagree with Steve ... on everything. The only thing practice on the intramural fields was good for ... well nothing. The ground is like concrete and I bet cash money that about half the preseason injuries we had would not have occurred on better turf. Sorry, but in this case I think CTT was a complete dumbass.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who haven't noticed yet, JayGT snuck a link on HABOTN main page to his article in today's MA. It's just your typical incomparably superb JGT journalism and you can read it for yourself right here.
ReplyDeleteWhy even have practise felds if you don't use them?
ReplyDeleteIf the still picture wasn't enough, the live footage as gotten out...
ReplyDeleteMakes Men Puke Everywhere, except maybe in the hills of Tennessee
I am loving what I am hearing from Tate and McFadden. There is definitely a big difference between now and this time last season. At this point last season I was starting to hear inconsistencies from both players and coaches. While most things were positive, there were particular inconsistencies in what Tuberville pictured in terms of the running game and what the OC that should not be mentioned was saying. This season it really seems like everyone is on the same page.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS THT....
ReplyDeleteITS HERE, ITS FINALLY HERE!!!!
RIPPEE!
Chizik is trying to keep practice as closed as possible. I think the main reason they're not on the intramural fields is that he doesn't want that many eyes on his team.
ReplyDeleteI'll ask him about that today.
Eddie, thanks for the video, but what the heck is that? Please Coach Chizik, don't copy this Kiffikin thang.
ReplyDeleteI know it's a lot easier for JayGT to report things he can see, but I don't mind a bit if Coach Chizik keeps it all under wraps if it translates into positive outcomes on game days.
ReplyDeleteha @ "rippee"
ReplyDeleteROR
ReplyDeleteOne of the changes I am very interested in is having a single defensive line coach instead of a tackles coach and a defensive end coach. While we have been very good on the DL, I think I like the emphassis shift with having separate safeties and corner coaches.
ReplyDelete"It's good to see the 2010 ambiguously gay recruiting wars have started up early."
ReplyDeleteYeah classic UT
Monica, you have mail.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, incase I haven't mentioned it, get on board the Rollison Express!!!!! Train is pulling out of the station today!!!
ReplyDeleteScottie- Go ahead and get me that Jersey :)!!!!!!
These late practices seem like they would make life rough on reporters like Jay G. I wonder if players will be available before practice. Somehow I can't see that.
ReplyDeleteFine Eddie, you've talked me into it. I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Norm, you will not be disappointed!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly (at least I think so on this particular day), I told antoher friend at lunch Monday that T.R. would quite likely see a decent amount of playing time.
ReplyDeleteI am not certain if it will be Moseley or Rollison, but one of them will likely get significant playing time. I doubt the coaches want the race for QB to be between Caudle and Burns next season.
ReplyDeleteI still cannot believe tenn is seriously puting out a poster like the one in eddys video.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a sayurday night live skit to me.
Steve- Go ahead and scratch Mosely off the list. I assure you he will be redshirted. Rollison Express is alive and well!
ReplyDeleteKiffin is taking the early 90's FSU/Miami approach to winning football games, quite obviously.
ReplyDeleteNorm- I heard from a friend also :)!!!!!
ReplyDeletewhat is the early 90's fsu/miami approach?? Cocaine Ho's and Cash???
ReplyDeletepaul, fer shizzle.
ReplyDeleteEddie...LMAO....that UT video link is hilarious. I picked this out of the comment section:
ReplyDeleteTim Tebow's planning a photoshoot where he benchpresses a Lamborghini while his offensive line is sitting in it. And just to make sure UT knows their place, he'll do it naked.
LOL- Hoopie. That's good.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest issue with incoming players is the mental transition from the high school game to the college game. Many of these players, especially ones like Moseley who was at a small school, were known as one of the best players in their high schools history.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly they come to college where there are other players that are just as impressive. Suddenly they are not the star on the team. Suddenly everything moves faster. Suddenly the big uglies up front can run quick enough to chase them down.
No position has a more difficult transition as with a QB. I think that in the past we have damaged QBs by playing them in games in situations where they were not ready. It happened with Jason Campbell and it also happened with Kodi Burns.
I hope to see the coaches bring these young QBs along slowly. Yea, get them some playing time, but in situations where they aren't going to cost the team a game. Let them know that they aren't expected to be perfect and a mistake isn't going to cost them playing time. They are going in to learn.
Hopefully Rollison and Moseley will be brought along the right way and we will see one come in as a backup and give us a taste of what the future holds.
Scottie B, Got any game pics of our Auburn Tigers sporting the AUsome orange jerseys?
ReplyDeleteThose are hard to come by. There is one of Joe Cribbs that I see every once in a while, but I think Mutt Lange must've bought every print and negative and had them destroyed.
Saw Freddie Smith one time at an off season racketball tournament in early 1980. He 'broke' four balls in one match - as in, he hit them so hard they split in two. One was used. The other three were new.
ReplyDeleteFreddie Smith was the man.
Sullivan013
I saw the video up to 21 seconds, when the guy standing near the left rear wheel picked his nose, and proceeded to wipe his hand with his pants.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnybody know which games have had times set so far? What time?
ReplyDeleteI've seen conflicting reports on a few. Also saw rivals has a time for the LSU game, but I've seen no confirmation of this elsewhere.
Thanks!
Jay, Jay here. LSU time not yet set, according to Auburn University Athletic Dept. Not saying Rivals is wrong, but I don't see how they could know at this point.
ReplyDeleteSomeone should ask the Hawaii coach what he thinks of UT using homoerotic video/photos for promotional purposes. I bet he doesn't answer for fear of losing another 7% of his annual salary.
ReplyDeleteHey all, here is my latest blog post. Hope you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat to Expect the First Two Weeks of Practices
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJay (notGT,notTHT,notSensi) - that schedule takes up too much space on this thread. Here's the link.
ReplyDeletewell rats. I Beasleyed again without even knowing it. I hate when I do that.
ReplyDeleteinteresting. TV for MSU game is listed as FSN.
ReplyDeletethanks THT. That's the schedule I've printed, and the one that I count as official...Rivals having an LSU time threw me for a loop though!
ReplyDeleteWhen's the next campfire?????? I missed the previous ones cause I was out of town
ReplyDeleteEli 6 year 97 million
ReplyDeleteAubie, hit me up with an email if you're serious. i've got a few.
ReplyDeleteBest quote from collegefootballnews.com:
ReplyDelete"watch out for Auburn to be jelled enough at the end of the year to pull off the home win in the Iron Bowl."
Thanks for that link, scottie b.
THT, thanks for your daily player profiles. Really happy to see Freddie Smith today. He was a fantastic player and one of the first guys that I remember paying attention to on defense. (I was in elementary and intermediate school during his playing days.)
holy cow, jhag. Eli's making a mint. Even in a socialist country he'll still be wealthy.
ReplyDeleteChoco- thanks, but all i do is google and plagiarize. Any fool can do that...which I guess makes me the most qualified Hottie.
ReplyDeleteScott Choc, that quote got me a bit excited too.
ReplyDeleteHave any of you folks taken a look at how Satan has handled his top notch recruits in Tuscalooser? four kicked off the team, four with full scholly,s but off the team for medical reasons, three or four greyshirts, one of which was Petey Smith. What a farce. Anyone Satan can't kick off for diciplinary reasons is medically unable to play. Greyshirt? Jay, can you ask Eric how his bro feels about being kicked to the curb. He apparently wasn't one of Sabears top 25.
ReplyDeletescottie b - yeah, and they even carried it over to the part where the predict each team's results for the entire season. Sometimes they're not consistent with their comments relative to their "official" predictions. They've got Bama 10-2 with losses to AU and LSU. They've got us at 7-5, winning all home games but Ole Miss and losing all road games. (I know you've seen this, but thought others might be interested).
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we'll all be enlightened if we click on Feng's link. Who's going first?
ReplyDeleteTHT...
ReplyDeleteThere are at least another dozen Jay's that you forgot to mention that you weren't speaking to.
Translation?
ReplyDeleteScotty C - Let me know what you find.
ReplyDeleteChocoScott...
ReplyDeleteLooks like some web design, marketing, hotels, high rises, and possible assisted living since it showed elderly folks being helped.
Not I Feng Feng. Jump on the bammers site. You may get some hits there.
ReplyDeleteehyou, wait til all your bank accounts are drained of your cash.
ReplyDeleteI fear nothing. In fact, I want to personally whip every single individual that participated in that UT poster shoot.
ReplyDeleteching chong yong wang!!
ReplyDeleteI nominate feng for the RoF
ReplyDeleteehyou, I suppose you ain't got no union card and you went right over there and clicked anyway?
ReplyDeletecan we get feng hired as new recruiting coordinator at UAT
ReplyDeleteDoesn't sound as if Michael McNeil is going to help much this year. I don't think he is even running full speed? If not, we know that leg isn't fully recovered strength wise. That makes safety maybe #1 issue depth wise.
Poof!
ReplyDeleteyep, its here, been checking the sites all day to see if I missed anything. Cant wait to read or see whats happening already. The season can not get here fast enough.
ReplyDeleteFeng, we barely new you. Now you realize you must bring "it". The Hotties know what "it" is: substance.
ReplyDeleteI have wondered why the paysites have not shown photographs of the players summer workouts. Last year they did and this year they didnt. I wonder if it was a new rule put in by Coach Chizik. If you go back and look at them it gave me a quick idea of what players, especially freshman were going to play or not. A kid that hasnt gotten in shape over the summer before he comes to an SEC program is in big trouble. Its either got redshirt or leave the team all over it. I forget the kids name, but the one who is no longer on the team from Tallahassee I believe, with his shirt off he looked like he was sponsered by Hot Pockets.
ReplyDeletePDWT - "sponsored by Hot Pockets" - nice!
ReplyDeleteI am not saying health and fitness go hand in hand with performance, but its a pretty good observation.
ReplyDeleteSo who was Andre Smith sponsored by at the NFL Combine? The Lard Information Council (LIC), perhaps? Andre was probably thought that was the "LIC" in Wonderlic. Check out my new, very temporary, avatar.
ReplyDeleteNotice they only show them from the neck up:
ReplyDeleteYoung and in love
THT, "Sinking like a stone" is desired in SCUBA. You'd be a natural! For those times you want to float at the surface, you're wearing an inflatable vest.
ReplyDeleteTry it. You'll like it. ;-)
Yes, Scott, Andre Snith had man boobs no doubt. He was sponsored by Belks Ladys Undergarments Section for not having moobs. He should have worn the bro, designed by Kramer on Seinfeld.
ReplyDeleteSponge.
ReplyDeleteAuburn was not recruiting Petey Smith. Bama lured him in just to make it a sensational story of winning a recruiting battle against Auburn. I think they planned to make tee-shirts about that victory. I guess the tee shirts will be gray in color.
The guy inflated like a balloon, and went from 4* to 3* his senior year. His profile page does not even list his sr. year statistics. Just tackles and stuff for his jr year.
petey smith profile .. rivals
bammers are doing the same thing with Victor Beasley. Lets hope beasley goes there too.