5.21.2010

The West has been won

Hey everyone. We have a new Western Division champion.

It is the Auburn Tigers.

John Pawlowski's team earned an 18-4 win at Ole Miss this evening, which caps a really impressive run through the conference portion of the schedule.

Ryan Jenkins led the way with a pair of homers. Auburn hit five in all.

Auburn now is 38-17 overall and 19-10 in the league. It enters the SEC Tournament next week as the No. 2 seed. A trip to the NCAA Tournament is all but assured and the possibility of playing host to an NCAA regional is very real.

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

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

89 comments:

  1. ...or at least SEC Coach of the Year.

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  2. Ding Dong!

    Ring the bells in Samford Hall.

    Rename the dorm Paws Hall!

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  3. Anonymous10:48 PM

    Dongs are flying!!

    Later folks ..gotta go try to convince Ms Hoopie to play hooky from her DDA meeting and go to that game.

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  4. Toomers...glad to see the three students who are on campus holding things down.

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  5. I will settle for nothing less than a shutout of the Rebs tomorrow... I want a 20-0 win for the sweep tomorrow.

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  6. Good luck Hoopie. It'll be worth it.

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  7. I know it's "just" baseball, but how nice is it to be talking about the postseason! War Eagle!

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  8. Lots of dongs this evening.

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  9. Miller,

    I want a win (that'd get us to .667 in the conference!), but everyone doesn't need to see 8 at bats tomorrow. Save some strength for Tuesday (unless your plan is for the walkons to come in with a 10-0 lead and double it).

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  10. I'm headin' to bed with Patsy Cline singing "Sweet Dreams of Hew ..ver."

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  11. 5 ding dongs in one night is a lot for Ole Miss to swallow.

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  12. Anonymous10:53 PM

    Thanks for all of the updates tonight. I was down stairs laying carpet. Nice to get the play by play.

    Hoopie, good luck on going to a game. Let me know if you manage to make it happen. Maybe I can go check it out with you.

    PF, watching a show on different species of animals being found where they do not belong. They were showing some pythons in FL. Those suckers are huge and one even ate a 6ft gayda. You ever seen one?

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  13. Anonymous10:55 PM

    wells, I think you just made the HABOTN R rated.

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  14. Oops. I suppose that could've taken the dong jokes a little too far.

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  15. CH=B,

    Not alive. Saw one in the 8 foot range with it's head cut off laying outside of a boat ramp near the Micossukkee reservation.

    The wildlife folks reported a huge dieoff during the extreme cold snap we had this year, but the locals that run the hunting camps and air boats say that it wasn't anything that would devestate the population. They have only seen small ones dead, and the older ones that are the master reproducers are all alive and well.

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  16. Anonymous11:08 PM

    Swallowing ding dongs and big snakes, I think it is time I retired from this conversation. :) Sweet dreams of an AU sweep!

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  17. Congrats to the Tigers!!! They turned out better than I would have ever guessed.

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  18. Anonymous11:08 PM

    Turn your TV to Discovery they are talking about all kinds of species invading FL.

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  19. Cincy, I don't think anyone said anything about snakes. That's just your dirty mind!

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  20. Anonymous11:10 PM

    Isn't a python a snake?

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  21. Anonymous11:11 PM

    PF was talking about seeing an 8 foot one with its head cut off. That sounds like a big snake to me!

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  22. Re: Tropic Thunder

    Forgot about Tom Cruise. I was definitely rolling on the theatre floor from his character...Hoopie, Ben Stiller may indeed be one of the weakeast parts, but he had some good moments.

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  23. From what I understand, this is the first outright west title we have won since 1995. Man, that is a long time.

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  24. Where would this program be if Paws had been hired the first time he interviewed?

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  25. Interesting that Aycock was the third highest rated player in our recruiting class that season, behind only Rollison and FAH. Yea, we have lost two of the top 3 in that class recently. Lets hope that the attrition ends there.

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  26. Morning Hotties. Rise and shine. War Eagle and congratulations. I do love me some baseball, especially post-season play.

    I'm off for a run followed by meeting the family for breakfast where I'll eat like a pig and then hopefully the fields won't be too wet and we'll have F4* last T-ball game of this season. Those are right entertaining.

    Keep Hate Alive.

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  27. Anonymous5:41 AM

    Morning Norm and the rest of you sleepy head Hotties. Off to walk the hill! Then to an afternoon wedding in Montgomery, so I will miss the ballgame this afternoon. But, we are SEC Western Division Champs!!!

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  28. JGT

    Any update on Brice Browns trip to Auburn?

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  29. War Eagle, baby!!!!! Thank you Coach Paws for doing what you said you'd do.

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  30. Anonymous6:44 AM

    Good morning all. The think with Aycock's story is that he can tell it all he wants yet Auburn can't/won't be able to refute it. If it was a failed drug test as many are speculating I don't think Auburn is allowed to even mention it. I also don't buy it that Chizik would dismiss him for wanting to transfer. Things just don't add up.

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  31. Anonymous6:45 AM

    think=thing FAUWG was up early this morning, but I think I'm still asleep.

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  32. Congratulations to the Auburn Baseball Team and Coaches. job well done and wishes for future success.
    I am not a true College Baseball fan but I will jump on a bandwagon.
    I intend to ride this one west to Omaha and cheer like a true fan,
    Go Tigers!

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  33. OK. I have nothing to offer about Bryce Brown. Recruiting in May? DL, you know me!

    As for Aycock, as I told some assembled HOTTIES yesterday, he's a guy I never considered a behavioral or academic risk. I'm super surprised that he violated a team rule seriously enough to be jettisoned by the team ... but do you really know anybody?

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  34. Please stand and sing:

    It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....

    War Eagle, Baseball Tigers!

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  35. Anonymous8:44 AM

    Aycock definitely got ringing endorsements from the folks in Tampa that knew him in HS. Even the best kids sometime go to school and "experiment". There's no way to get to the whole story so I say we move on for now.

    I'm totally for tight discipline, but would hate to see too tight of discipline chasing kids away. At this point, it's only something to keep in mind.

    SFC makes a good point. Attrition of high rated recruits does not need to continue. That's the primary reason for our current lack of depth.

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  36. Transfer...dismissal...it's all the same in the end. He ain't on the team.

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  37. underground substance

    fantabulous news, Homer. I can tell the homer in you is thrilled.

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  38. Anonymous9:18 AM

    Bryce Brown has too much baggage and I've seen nothing to make me think he has shed it.

    He's still dancing with UT and Kansas. Sure seems to me that this kid has a major self-centered problem that is the root of all of these actions. If he were a team guy, he would stay at UT. If family was his issue, then he would already be back in Kansas. It smells ...don't get near him.

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  39. Anyone on the blog watching Season 4 of Friday Night Lights?

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  40. could this be the start of 90s braves-type run for the tigers? let's hope so.

    bryce brown = a trainwreck full of dumpster fires crashing into a tire fire

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  41. I'll never understand how these look-at-me types think they're advancing their odds of making the NFL by all their immature shenanigans. You look at a guy like Spencer Region who is more concerned with what at this point is nothing more than a remote possibility and Bryce Brown, the no. 1 rated high school player a year ago not enrolled anywhere and basically becoming an "avoid at all costs" player. Seems like some of these kids need some humility. Tell them to shut up and play ball and put in the hard work and good things will follow.

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  42. maybe he told chiz he didn't want to play h-back and insisted he be moved to tb in a less than mannerly way when told he was staying/"needed" at h-back. smith and lutz would seem to have that position locked down. who knows... the mike dyer show definitely begins this fall.

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  43. many times its the people around the kids trying to influence the situation to their own benefit that make the most trouble and in the kid's name. when they have a handler, run, don't walk away. i don't care how good they are.

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  44. chip,
    i think if we manage to keep fletcher and mummey we might just make that run. Although, i'm sure there are some back-ups that have some legit bats as well. But I'm just gonna savor this championship right now and hope 8 days from now I'm savoring an SEC Championship

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  45. region lives in mullettown. the word on the street is there has been tremendous pressure on him and his family since his AU commit. as in: you'll never be able to live here again, your family won't be able to find jobs, AU will not "take care of you" after your football career, your uncle will suddenly get rich if you go to bammer etc... its just a function of the area in which he lives. if we have a great year and can be the spread power run team gus preaches, i think we still have a shot with him at the end.

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  46. maybe when AU has 3 linemen drafted next year he will realize AU may have been the best choice while he is running scout team bammer. dude would definitely have a chance to come in start with the losses after 2010.

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  47. well hotties i'm going to be in the middle of nowhere starting today, so i will be back on thursday

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  48. I am sure the Auburn coaches told Region to go where his heart is and good luck.
    We do not need players if their heart isn't totally in Auburn. I don't care how great they are or think they are.

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  49. Well said, Digger.

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  50. These are the top headlines in the Auburn section of al.com:

    Sports Sound Off: What's the truth on Spencer Region's recruitment?

    • Former coaches: RB Dontae Aycock says he requested transfer prior to dismissal

    • Auburn redshirt freshman RB Dontae Aycock dismissed from team

    • Auburn dismisses running back Dontae Aycock

    • Six Tide players, three Tigers make first team on Phil Steele's preseason All-SEC

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  51. While the attrition concerns me, so far the incoming recruiting class hasn't had all the academic casualties we have become accustomed to. Also, it isn't fair to judge Chizik's first class too much. While Rollison and Aycock seem to be Chizik recruits, rather than Tuberville holdovers, he still didn't have much time to throw the class together. Chiz shouldn't be judged by his first class.

    As for Aycock wanting to transfer so he was kicked off the team, I consider that laughable. I don't buy it. I believe we heard he was going to fill a roll similar to Fannin last season, which makes sense. Him playing some wide receiver and some h-back would make sense. He would be a different type of h-back than Smith or Plutz.

    The drug thing makes sense to me because even a good kid can think, hey, what's the harm and get involved in something they shouldn't, especially with marijuana. There are people with the attitude that it is no worse than alcohol, which is true in some respects, although there is a big difference between what's legal and what's not.

    As for Chizik justifying what he did, bull hockey. He doesn't have to justify it and if Aycock and company feel he has been treated unfairly, take it to court. In Chizik I trust.

    As for Region, I think he has already shown his immaturity as has been mentioned. You can't blame a kid for being immature. That is what kids are suppose to be. It is time for him to just shut up and take the time he needs to figure out what is best for him. People have the opportunity to shut up, but not everyone has the wisdom to do so.

    As for Bryce Brown, I don't know enough of the story. I have read he may be headed to Kansas State. I didn't think too much of him and the way he handled recruiting. I don't really care for a player that would desert his team. Good luck to him, but he is no star. He had an okay first season at UT, nothing more. I will take a Ben Tate over a Bryce Brown any day.

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  52. Steve, great insight. I agree with you on the Aycock situation, no one gets dismissed over requesting a transfer.

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  53. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Aycocks a gonner

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  54. Congrats to the Fungumpry Pink Eagles U8 Soccer team for winning the City Champeenship!!

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  55. I am more saddened that Jhag's goner.

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  56. It's always sad when your Aycock is gone....

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  57. Miller - I don't leave home without it.

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  58. I'm sort of attached to mine as well, norm...

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  59. Auburn Women's softball on ESPN 2

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  60. Or maybe its regular ESPN, y'all check if you need

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  61. Anonymous2:04 PM

    Miller and Norm, TMI.

    Just speculating, but it's possible that Aycock knew he was caught and was trying to request transfer ahead of dismissal.

    I hate to see a kid make a mistake, but I assume he ran up against something with a zero tolerance policy.

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  62. Lady Tigers up 4-0 in the 3rd...

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  63. Auburn Softball up 5-0 and threatening for more in the top of the 5th inning.

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  64. Auburn up 8-0 bottom 5...


    Jax St. just scored it's 1st run, to avoid being run-ruled.

    8-1 AU now.

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  65. I do wish Aycock hadn't screwed up, but with these athletes character matters as much as or more than athletic ability.

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  66. Lady Tigers opened it up in the 7th. Up 15-1. Have to play Ga Tech after this one.

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  67. Anonymous4:11 PM

    The ding-dongs continue. Auburn men up 2-0 in th top of the 1st on a homer by Mummey.

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  68. My iPhone has gone absolutely bezerk.... It's in recovery mode and will not recover. I'm in panic mode.

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  69. I don't think it is fair to the girl for GT... they already get (mostly unfairly) labeled a certain way, but for the poor girl to be named Dike... that's just wrong.

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  70. Could there be multiple huge ding dongs?

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  71. Auburn posts a TD (Byrum with the extra point) in the top of the 3rd ... no dongs .. but leads 9-1.

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  72. Tigers using small ball today...
    They just put up 7 in the 3rd, on 7 hits and 2 errors. Not a single Dong in the bunch.

    Up 9-1 heading to the bottom of the 3rd.

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  73. I love the versatility of this offense.... they can beat you with small ball or with the long dong!

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  74. Anonymous5:24 PM

    I hereby declare this "The Year of the Ding Dong".

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  75. Anonymous5:24 PM

    I heard a rumor that it was being added to the Chinese calendar.

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  76. This is the "Year of the Tiger" according to the Chinese Calendar...

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  77. MSU beat LSU today... and $pUAT beat UT... So, that means $pUAT is the 7 seed in the SEC tourney and AUBURN will play the turds at 9:30 Wednesday morning.

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  78. Anonymous6:36 PM

    I look for a lot of ding-dongs Wednesday morning.

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  79. Dmiller-Does Dhart commit soon to AU?

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  80. Auburn-Ala on Wednesday!

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  81. i see we're close so i'm gonna give it the old THT try!

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  82. DROPS BACK....THROWS DEEP TO.....

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  83. ok, i'm good.

    #89, you my boy homes.

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  84. well done, Scottie B.

    Peter Frankenschmidt said...
    Paws for President!


    He'll be impeached before he ever gets elected.

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