Days to kickoff: 3

Our Tar Heel Tiger's Auburn Minute is brought to you by the number:

3

How many times do I have to remind you, do your school work first!

Three of our nominees received All-SEC honors during their Auburn careers, but only one was selected Academic All-SEC.

* Jorge Portela: Miami, Fla.; PK 1977-79; ALL-SEC in 1977; ACADEMIC ALL-SEC in 1978 & 1979 with a major in electrical engineering. Ranks in Auburn's Top 10 in career scoring and FGs made. His longest made FG: 52 yards. His best game came during his sophomore year when his five FGs, including a 51-yard kick, enabled Charlie Trotman to emerge a winner in his first start at quarterback. The Tigers entered that Oct 29, 1977, game against the Florida Gators as underdogs, sporting a 3-4 record. John Crane had started the first seven games. Coach Doug Barfield decided to play Trotman for a while, but Trotman had other ideas. He played well enough to stay in the entire game, completing nine of his 14 passes for 177 yards and a TD. Jorge Portela's five FGs provided the margin of victory as the Tigers downed the Gators, 29-14.

Jorge Portela is the son of Cuban refugees. Jorge's niece, Lindsay Portela, signed a LOI to compete in equestrian and recently arrived for her freshman year on the Plains.

HONORABLE MENTION

Gardner Jett: Atlanta, Ga.; PK 1970-72; ALL-SEC in 1970. His 42-yard FG with less than 10 minutes to play put Auburn on the board in the 1972 Iron Bowl. His 2nd PAT put Auburn ahead, 17-16. It was one of the most memorable days of my life, and I believe the FG was the longest of Mr. Jett's AU career to that point.

He nailed a 52-yard kick during the 1972 Gator Bowl as Auburn trounced the Colorado Buffaloes 24-3.

* Kevin Porter: Warner Robins, Ga.; CB 1984-87; ALL-SEC in 1987.

* Al Del Greco: Key Biscayne, Fla.; PK 1980-83; a solid kicker who won the 1984 Sugar Bowl with 3 FGs as Auburn defeated the Michigan Wolverines, 9-7. He ranks in Auburn's Top 10 in career scoring and FGs made. His longest FG at AU: 52 yards. He had even greater success in the NFL, playing 17 seasons with the Packers, Cardinals, and Oilers/Titans. Al spends a lot of his time on the radio these days, as does the man who overshadowed him in the SEC, Georgia's Kevin Butler.

* Rusty Williams - Moncks Corner, S.C.; RB 1996-99; led Auburn in rushing in 1996 and 1997, with a total of 716 yards during those two years.