5.21.2010

Dontae Aycock: We hardly knew ye

Hey everyone. So tailback Dontae Aycock has been dismissed from the Auburn football team, which comes as a bit of a surprise to me.

I never considered him an academic or behavioral risk.

Then again, do we really know anybody? Auburn officially is saying the dismissal stems from a violation of team rules. So it goes.

This surely will be a difficult time for several members of our community who considered Aycock a blossoming superstar. Maybe he was. I didn't hear much about him during the spring (good or bad) and that gave me the feeling that coaches were headed in a different direction.

So now we know: It'll be Mario Fannin, Onterio McCalebb and Michael Dyer this fall.

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.

114 comments:

  1. Aycock lacks substance. :(

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  2. So close--but no cigar!

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  3. Wow that was super fast.

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  4. nope. cigar's all mine.

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  5. i just hope FAH is DAH this fall (durable as hell).

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  6. Scottie B with the nice opening line.

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  7. Unlike Arnold Schwarzeneggar, DA won't be back.

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  8. Aycock....did Lattimore just commit?

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  9. Anonymous2:05 PM

    I hope FAH again becomes FAH, b/c this spring he wasn't.

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  10. funny Eddie, my first thought this morning when i heard of this was of Lattimore. gggrrrrr. why couldn't he have gotten kicked off in january, right?

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  11. I do hope FAH stays healthy, but I seriously doubt he will ever be the feature back. Fannin will likely get the majority of the snaps. He is a proven receiver, so he will be able to contribute catching the ball out of the backfield too.

    My guess for Dyer is he gets about half the carries that Fannin doesn't, which the rest being spread between FAH and Smith.

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  12. CJ2K rushed for 2000 yards in the NFL. He is not a very big dude. They said it couldn't be done.

    I believe OMAC could tote the rock for 1k.

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  13. Fannin is also a proven fumbler. I'm curious to see how that plays out. Dyer will be the mian back with most of the carries by the game 3 or 4 IMO.

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  14. I read where Lattimore has been picked on someone's preseason 3rd string All-SEC team. I find it funny because South Carolina doesn't have an impressive offensive line. He likely will have to do a lot on his own.

    Yea, we had room for Lattimore or Seastrunk, but I think Fannin and Dyer will demonstrate why being the tailback at Auburn is the right move.

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  15. Fannin would have fit in better at UF than AU.

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  16. Fannin as a fumbler is a myth. He does not fumble any more or less than any other player at that position. Look it up if you don't believe me.

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  17. I agree with Eddie, unless he just shows up with the wrong attitude or gets hurt, Dyer will probably be our featured back by the Miss State game.

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  18. Fannin fumbled early in his career, but I don't remember a big problem with it last season. I wouldn't assume that it will be a problem this season, but we shall see. I didn't like seeing him carry the ball in the wrong hand during A-Day.

    Dyer isn't likely to be the go to guy until he proves he can block and catch passes. We have to wait and see. There is more to playing tailback than just running the ball and Malzahn seems to like players that can do multiple things.

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  19. Fannin had some big fumbles in 2007 (USF in particular). it has haunted him since. B.Tate fumbled a few times as well in his career. most recently the 2010 Outback Bowl with the game on the line. he'll be fine.

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  20. Ditto, Scottie. Great minds.

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  21. The lack of attention Eric Smith received this spring kind of baffles me, but I assume it means he may not get a lot of touches.

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  22. I assume Smith will get plenty of chances to showcase his abilities.

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  23. HOLY CRAP

    WHAT A SURPRISE... The Question is WHY!!!!

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  24. Tate's fumbling didn't bother me. He carried the ball a lot. Sometimes it is going to happen.

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  25. Maybe they are opening up spae for Brice Brown...


    yea... lets start that rumour....

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  26. DL, because Chizik said so. Fear the Chiz.

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  27. Did you all know Google has placed a playable game of Pac-Man on its main page?

    Released 30 years ago!

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  28. I remember Tate's fumbles from last year, because if I'm not mistaken two were inside the 10 and took points off the board for us and one was against NW when we could have wrapped the game up.

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  29. I have played a few games of Pac Man on google today.

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  30. Jay, that could be the coolest thing I've seen all week.

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  31. Fannin scares the crap out of me on how he carries the ball. It is very easy to knock it out of his hand and he still hasn't learned to switch the ball to outside when running. I want Fannin to be great, but I just don't see it. I gasp everytime he touches the ball. Either something great or terrible is about to happen.

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  32. Eddie, you worry too much. We're gonna win 'em all.

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  33. Eddie, I understand. I have the same concern and am pretty baffled how the coaches haven't been able to correct that problem.

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  34. hey did yall hear the rumor that Bryce Brown is transferring to AU? i heard it from Dear Leader. :)

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  35. Seanzie- The economy has made my financial mind fragile. Worrying is starting to come naturally, especially in the construction business :)

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  36. I'll admit it, I had a bad case of "Pac-Man Fever".

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  37. Jay, that Google Pacman is pretty cool. I can remember pumping a lot of money into pacman machines in the early 80s. They were the thing to do.

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  38. SFC and Seanzie have it right. Fannin had that one game against USF that got him labeled a fumbler. He's done pretty well since then.

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  39. Drink a Coke. It's like happiness in a bottle.

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  40. Pac-Man without the joystick is not the same. It is cool, but not close to the same.

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  41. I'm still awaiting on Fannin to return in the "War Eagle" that he lead us to a touchdown on, and it has never since been seen.

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  42. JGT

    Please start the Brice Brown watch tread....

    We need this rumor to get some legs... Call your ESPN buddies and ask them if it is true that should stir the puddin..

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  43. Brice Brown could end up being the next Maurice Claurette.

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  44. Collegefootballnews.com's WAY TOO EARLY BOWL predictions:

    January 1, 2011 Jacksonville, FL
    Gator Bowl 1:30 pm ESPN2
    Big Ten No. 4 or 5 vs. SEC No. 6

    Way Too Early Projection:
    Michigan State vs. Auburn

    WHY? It wouldn't be a stunner if Penn State, Wisconsin, or Iowa takes MSU's spot. Auburn, South Carolina, and Arkansas are the most likely options from the SEC.

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  45. I have no official affiliation with ESPN or its associated media partners.

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  46. I played more than a little Pac-Man from 80-82. No lyin'.

    I liked Galaga better ... but that's just me.

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  47. That prediction is definitely way too early. Michigan State was the best team in the state of Michigan last year, but things may change.

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  48. I got a pic last year, in fact, of my daughter playing in the same arcade I frequented as a youngster.

    Mr. Giovanni's, San Diego, Calif.

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  49. I think Central Michigan was actually the best.

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  50. Jay, I am with you. I loved Galaga even though it stole most of my allowances for years.

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  51. You may be right, Seanzie.

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  52. Galaga was great. I am also a huge Centipede fan.

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  53. Old AU buddy of mine got a Galaga game as a b'day present from his wife a few years ago. I think he spent the next three weeks locked in the garage trying to beat his high score from '82.

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  54. Anonymous2:41 PM

    Fannin holds the ball terribly, but hasn't fumbled since his arms became the size of tree limbs.

    Dyer contributing greatly and starting??

    Never bet on a true freshman to substantially deliver. Chris Low just put up the names of the "expected" top SEC freshman from last season that failed to deliver.

    Check it out for a dose of reality.

    Don't Count on Freshmen

    And since I'm linky challenged:

    http://espn.go.com/blog/sec

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  55. I'm a big Galaga fan too.

    I think putting us as the SEC #6 is a little doubting. People forget the strengths of this team, offensive line, running back, and the secondary. I'd say the linebacking corps (although really thin) has two shutdown starters. The experience that Bynes and Stevens have now is invaluable.

    With that, I look at our starting 24 (I threw in Byrum and Shoemaker) and have much higher hopes than 6th in the conference. As far as I can remember, we will not have to use a true freshman to start anywhere. If they come in and dazzle, then the spot should be theirs, but no necessary use at this point.

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  56. Much easier for a RB to come in and start right away than most other positions.

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  57. Anonymous2:51 PM

    Galaga Rawks!!

    The preferred lunch destinations during the early 80's sported Galaga machines.

    Still go to one at a local pizza place when possible. Not too good though, my best score is only a level 20; 150k.

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  58. Anonymous2:53 PM

    RK ...true dat. Still doesn't happen all that often. ...would be nice tho

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  59. hate to further perpetuate uncertainties, but the rumor around campus is that he failed a test... and not the academic or physical kind...

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  60. What difference does it make? He is no longer on the team.

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  61. Who? I've already moved on.

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  62. If you click "Insert Coin' twice on the Google Pac-Man game, it also gives you a Ms. Pacman, but I don't know how to control her (just like a woman, huh?).

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  63. Anonymous3:00 PM

    MERLE!!!

    I hear people talkin' bad,
    About the way they have to live here in this country,
    Harpin' on the wars we fight,
    An' gripin' 'bout the way things oughta be.
    I don't mind 'em switchin' sides,
    An' standin' up for things that they believe in.
    When they're runnin' down our country, man,
    They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
    They're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.
    Runnin' down the way of life,
    Our fightin' men have fought and died to keep.
    If you don't love it, leave it:
    Let this song that I'm singin' be a warnin'.
    When you're runnin' down our country, hoss,
    You're walkin' on the fightin' side of me.

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  64. SC, you can play with both at the same time. use the E,S,D,F, or some mix of those keys & MS PACMAN will chomp!

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  65. Well I was drunk, the day my mom got outta prison.
    And I went to pick her up, in the rain.
    But before I could get to the station in my pickupppppp truck,
    She got runned over by a damn ole trainnnnnn
    Soo I'll hang around as long as you will let me (let me, let me, let me!!)
    And I never minded standin in the rain.
    You don't have to call me darlin', darlin'.
    You never even called me by my name.

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  66. The boys on NFL Live just said "Devin Aromasho-du what you do!"

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  67. Anonymous3:13 PM

    It' Friday ..it's raining ...all of the hillbillies are in the bars drankin', therefore nobody will return my phone calls so i'm gonna just throw this out there:

    rel·e·vant (rÄ›l'É™-vÉ™nt)
    adj. Having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand.

    Why is that term used when a team that is no longer at the top of their game? If can see using that term for a consensus 0-12 team. Even a 6-6 team has to be prepared and accounted for, therefore they are RELEVANT.

    Of course correctly limiting the use of this term would hamper the vocabulary of the Paul Slimeball call-in regulars.

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  68. The only people who are irrelevant are ignorant, knuckle dragging sidewalk alum.

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  69. Seanzie,
    How about a cold diet coke with lime in a can? Supporting your business - just bought a 12 pack of DCL and a 24 pack of Coca Colas.

    Wal-Mart has 12 packs of cokes for $3.98 and a 24 pack for $5.00. Math isn't my strong suit, but I could figure that one out!

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  70. Yeah, they are on crazy special right now.

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  71. We do appreciate the business, Cincy. Tell your friends.

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  72. Anonymous3:25 PM

    Cincy ....There are boneheads that will buy 2-12 paks because $3.98 is cheaper than $5. Some of these type folks work for Ms Hoopie's landscape company. We've actually had to "hep 'em" with their shopping patterns.

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  73. I don't think picking Auburn as sixth in the SEC is unreasonable. Championship teams tend to have two things, an experienced QB and a solid defense. So far we have neither. There is a lot of potential on this team and I can see us challenging for the west, but it isn't a given.

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  74. Just wish they sold DCL in 24 packs.

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  75. Anonymous3:28 PM

    Seanzie ...our neighbor is from the poor side of the Coke family, but still gets dividends. Pepsi is a definite no-no in our neighborhood. I hate Pepsi anyway.

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  76. Wells, why were talking about Aromashodu?

    that's a deal on Coca-Cola.

    speaking of deals, mrs. scottie just called & said the in-laws are buying supper at Hooters in a hour. score!!!!!

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  77. Never understood the 12pk for 4.98 and the 24pk for 5.98 at our grocery spot. That's probably just to confuse the walmartians.

    SFC, if Auburn finishes 6th overall in the SEC I will be extremely disappointed with this team. I think we should finish no worse than 4th overall with possibilities of finishing better.

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  78. Anonymous3:33 PM

    Cincy ...stay with brewed liquids. It's more healthy. Soft drinks, even tho more convenient, are made entirely from man-made chemicals.

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  79. Some think Aromashodu will have a break out year this season.

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  80. Anonymous3:34 PM

    Scottie, that's pretty cool in-laws to pay for dinner at Hooter's.

    Musta been the Paw-in law's idea.

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  81. yup, i double-BEASLEY'd. that's just how i'm rollin' right now.

    yup, pop-in law is cool. he's still happy with me b/c i got him a Johnny Majors/Bill Bates/Health Shuler autographed Tennessee program. :)

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  82. Soft drinks aren't entirely man made.

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  83. Anonymous3:39 PM

    CHB ....Walmart has some incredibly deceptive pricing tactics designed to fool their primary clients. Next, we can talk about impulse buys ...hillbillies are really suckers.

    Walmartians are the easiest to sucker ..anything colored dark pink or any random inaccurate assemblage of statistics featuring years and the #1.

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  84. and the number 12....they made some major coin off that number didn't they.

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  85. As usual, I agree with Hoopie.

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  86. SMEZMERIZATIONS

    Eduardo ... in re transfusion ... that's why I'm a blue blood.

    Fannin = fumbler. Holds the ball incorrectly, wrong hand. Doesn't secure the ball as he's going down or gets into traffic. Got picked from behind the first carry of the Ole Miss game and it went out of bounds. Sorry, Seanzie, I believe my eyes over your numbers. Eduardo is correct. I hope Mario gets it right or Dyer comes up beastly.

    Are we saying that Aycock was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection?

    I'm interested in the well being of Travante Stallworth.

    I am unconcerned with preseason projections.

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  87. I usually drink water, but treat myself to about 2 DCLs per week. I figure a couple can't hurt me :)

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  88. Jet, I usually trust in your smezerations but I just don't think it's an issue. I may be wrong.

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  89. Anonymous4:05 PM

    "Thay's cheatin'"

    ....an on-the-air accusation from the Cedartown, Ga. HS football local AM radio station color commentator during a game against Cartersville,Ga in 2003. Said color commentator was 60+ years old and wearing overalls while up in the booth.

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  90. Preseason predictions don't mean much. We have a lot of question marks and potential.

    I am certain our defense will be improved, but how much I am not sure.

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  91. Seanzie - we won't even let someone bring a Pepsi into our house. Seriously, we ask them to finish it outside and throw away the container or return to their car.

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  92. I have nothing notable to contribute to this subject.

    On another note, who's seen Google.com today? JGT, you would probably appreciate it most. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. WDE.

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  93. I guess it would help if I read the whole feed today. Fail.

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  94. I actually was second to get on that train, mini. Ebro knocked that out this morning. I missed it.

    So I feel your pain.

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  95. I no longer drink any sodas.

    I refuse to ingest 45+ grams of sugar, so the standard versions of those drinks are out.

    Aspartame messes with me for reasons I don't understand. So there goes 95% of diet versions, too.

    I love Vitamin Water Zero, though. It gets me through the night.

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  96. Why is everything that tastes good bad for you or it makes you fat? These are the questions I ponder.

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  97. That, and why God created mosquitos.

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  98. It's a real conundrum, Cincy.

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  99. Good word, Jay. Conundrum, just sounds neat.

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  100. The Armoashodu comments came during the talk about the Bears this season. Apparently they have issues with their old folks not thinking the team currently has the power and desire to succeed. He's got the potential. It'd be great to see a former Auburn wideout do well in the NFL. No one comes to mind as having an All-Star professional career.

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  101. When does the ballgame start and where can I listen to it online?

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  102. No more Aycock jokes? Sad... so sad.

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  103. Don't call him Aycock.

    "Former player" will do.

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  104. SFC,
    Game starts at 630, if you have an all access subscription you can listen to it online at auburntigers.com. Otherwise i dont know of anywhere. The ladies of the diamond are on ESPN2 right now.

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  105. Baseball starts ... now.

    6:30 CDT.

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  106. espn2 just switched to a game in seattle, someone turn it on and tell me if that is snow?

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