Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.31.12: Men's Golf Tumbles to No. 15 in Second Day

Blayne Barber is tied for 10th

Men's Golf


NCAA Men's Golf Championships
Pacific Palisades, Ca.
Riviera Country Club

The Auburn men's golf team entered Wednesday playing from the No. 2 position. Today the Tigers will tee-off from the No. 15 position.

Auburn struggled early, crippling any chances of a comeback in yesterday's round. Head coach Nick Clinard told auburntigers.com "We had five doubles, a triple and a quad so it's pretty tough to come back, especially on this golf course."

The Tigers will enter competition looking to battle back into the top eight of the tournament. Today will be the last shot the Tigers have at moving into the match play rounds of the tournament.

To follow the Tigers team live, visit golfstat.com.

Shug Jordan Parkway Radio Back on Air 6 p.m. CT


SJ Parkway Radio is back on the air tonight from 6-7 p.m. CT. There are a number of pressing topics to discuss and it will be a full hour of talk. If you want to join the show you can call us at 347.539.5996. You can also email the show at sjparkwayradio@gmail.com.

So you won't be near your computer or smartphone tonight? No worries. You can download the show in iTunes and also listen to the archives from the website. Check out the radio tab on this site to also hear archived shows.

Can Auburn Win Championships in 2012?


I will take a look at Auburn's chances at championships soon. Check back in the next day or two for the featured story surrounding the possibilities.

 I can't wait to start talking Auburn football. The good news is it is right around the corner. Until next time, Happy Thursday and War Eagle!


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.30.12: Auburn Men's Golf Tied for Second in NCAA Championships

Auburn Golfer Blayne Barber
Photo by Tracy Wilcox

Men's Golf


NCAA Men's Golf Championships
Pacific Palisades, Ca. 9:20 a.m. CT
Riviera Country Club

The Auburn men took to the NCAA Championships this week and are currently playing from the No. 2 position in the tournament. A strong start to the tournament has the No. 4 Tigers team three strokes behind the leader, No. 2 Alabama.

The Tigers must maintain their position in the top eight through the first three rounds to advance to the match play rounds of the tournament.

Blayne Barber and Dominic Bozzelli had good days finishing at 2-under 69. Barber is an All-American and Bozzelli is an All-SEC selection for the 2012 season.

Auburn starts on the course early today matching with UCLA and Southern California. The Tigers have to keep to momentum flowing as they push through the second day of the tournament today. To follow the action live visit www.golfstat.com.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.25.12: Track Has a Big Day in NCAA Prelims, Baseball Falls to South Carolina

Harry Adams
Photo via Opelika-Auburn News

Track and Field


2012 NCAA Eastern Preliminaries
Jacksonville, Fl. 4 p.m. CT
Hodges Stadium

Auburn had a strong first day in the NCAA Preliminaries yesterday. The Tigers saw a number of athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships held in Iowa this June.

The Tigers had Stephen Saenz qualify in the discus and Harry Adams and Kennan Brock qualify in the 100-meter. CeCe Williams also had a strong showing in the 400-meter. Williams finished ninth overall in the 400-meter preliminary final.

The Tigers hit the track again today with women's high jump and women's 100-meter hurdles on the docket. Auburn is looking to grow the field of Tigers that will be in Iowa in June.

Baseball


The Tigers baseball team fell to South Carolina 5-3 in an elimination game in the SEC tournament. The Tigers put a valiant effort forth, staying in the game with the Gamecocks until the final out of the ninth inning.

At one point in the later innings, the Tigers had two runners in scoring position but were unable to bring home the tying runs.

Auburn had a decent season on the diamond this year. The Tigers started red hot, defeating Arizona State early and taking 2-of-3 from the LSU Tigers in one of the first SEC match-ups of the year. Auburn battled injuries around mid-season and were unable to recover when key losses mounted on the roster.

The Tigers moved into the final weeks of play with some major flops. Auburn was swept by Georgia, lost to Jacksonville State at home and then lost 2-of-3 to Florida.

As it stands today, the Tigers season is still hanging in the balance. Auburn will find out Monday if they advance into a NCAA Regional. Auburn has a very low RPI. Couple that with the late season losses and it appears to be a tough sale for Auburn to get into a Regional.

A strong showing in a final series against Arkansas late, and the drive into the SEC tournament could rekindle the fire surrounding the Tigers team.

As soon as the brackets are released Monday, the Parkway will update you on the Tigers placement.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.24.12: Baseball Gets Huge Win Over Georgia, South Carolina Next in SEC Tournament

Vasha Hunt | Opelika-Auburn News

Baseball


SEC Tournament
Auburn Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Birmingham, Ala. 4:30 p.m. CT
Regions Field
TV: CSS/ESPN3


Auburn jumped to an early 3-0 lead on Georgia in yesterday's SEC tournament elimination game and the Bulldogs could never recover.

The Tigers faced off against Georgia earlier this season and the Bulldogs swept Auburn in Athens. Auburn had a great pitching performance from freshman Daniel Koger (4-5) and a great showing by the Auburn defense.

The Tigers were able to capitalize early when Jay Gonzalez used his speed to move around the base pass and score two of the Tigers three runs. Justin Bryant hit a solo homerun in the third inning, giving the Tigers the 3-0 lead.

Georgia came back to life in the eight inning, producing two runs off of reliever Derek Varnadore. Varnadore was replaced by Justin Bryant in the ninth inning, who came in and closed out the tight game. The final out was a line drive catch with the bases loaded and the count sitting at 3-2.

Today's game will be even more tough than yesterday's contest as the Tigers face off against South Carolina this afternoon.

South Carolina lost to Vanderbilt in the first round of the tournament and are looking to stay alive with a win over Auburn. The Tigers need this win more than the Gamecocks, but South Carolina is a very talented baseball team.

Auburn and South Carolina met in April in Auburn. The Gamecocks swept the Tigers in the series.


Track and Field


2012 NCAA First Round
Jacksonville, Fla.
Hodges Stadium

The Tigers head into the first round of the NCAA's with eight men and nine women competing in 25 events.

The Auburn track team has fared well throughout the season earning the highest marks in the Texas Relays. Auburn looks poised for a strong showing this weekend.

To qualify for the NCAA Championships the Tigers will need to place in the top 12 in events this weekend. With 25 events on the horizon, expect to see some Tigers stars in the Championships in Iowa this June.

The men's 4x100 relay team is very strong and will be one of the favorites to make it to Iowa.



Shug Jordan Parkway Radio on Air


The Parkway Radio hits the airwaves again tonight from 5-6 p.m. CT. K.C. Whitten and I will discuss a number of breaking news topics in the sports world.

To listen live visit our website on Blog Talk Radio and join the show by calling or emailing us. The contact information for the show and show times are on the SJP Radio tab.

Show archives are also available for download on smartphones and on iTunes.



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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.23.12: Baseball Falls to Florida, Georgia Next Up

Baseball


SEC Tournament
Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Birmingham, Ala. 4:30 p.m. CT
TV: CSS


The Auburn Tigers baseball team took to the first round yesterday needing a big win against the Florida Gators. The Gators quickly extinguished the Tigers hopes for a win, pulling out the victory 6-1.

Auburn heads into today's afternoon game against Georgia with a lot riding on this game. The Tigers are now facing elimination in a tournament that they needed to excel in. The Tigers are also facing a Georgia team that swept them earlier in the season.

Auburn is in a must win scenario if the Tigers are wanting to plan a trip to a NCAA Regional. The Tigers are currently No. 57 in the national RPI rankings. Losing in this game will end the Tigers season.

Auburn has battled injuries this season and have been very inconsistent in run production in the last few months of the regular season. At this point, the high expectations that followed the Tigers fast start this season have all but disappeared.

A win today would boost the Tigers momentum and allow them to force another appearance in the tournament. At this point, making it out of the tournament and into the NCAA's looks daunting and nearly impossible. Only the Tigers control their destiny when they take on the Bulldogs this afternoon.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.22.12: Baseball Begins SEC Tournament

Head Coach John Pawlowski
Todd Van Emst Photo

Baseball


SEC Tournament
Auburn Tigers vs. Florida Gators
Birmingham, Ala. 4:30 p.m. CT
TV: CSS


The Auburn Tigers enter the first round of the SEC tournament as the No. 10 seed. The Tigers slid into the final spot of qualification after a terrible close to the regular season.

Auburn will face Florida for the fourth time in less than two weeks today, as the Tigers and Gators just concluded a series to close the regular season. Auburn won 1-of-3 against Florida, winning the final game of the series 5-4.

Auburn has not done very well against the Gators traditionally, losing the last tournament meeting 7-2 in 2000.

Auburn will head into the tournament playing for more than  just a deep drive into the SEC tournament. Auburn was a promising NCAA tournament team mid-season, but the late season backslide has changed things.

For Auburn to push for a NCAA Regional bid they will need to win at least two games in this tournament. According to auburntigers.com, the Tigers are 2-10 against the teams in their bracket for the tournament. This will be a tough hill for the Tigers to climb.

Auburn will do everything they can to push for a victory. Expect for HC John Pawlowski to pull out all of the stops today, Auburn's post-season chances hang in the balance.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.19.12: Baseball, Softball Losers on Friday; Men's Golf Pushing for NCAA Championships

Lauren Guzman - SS
Photo via Opelika-Auburn News

Baseball


No. 2 Florida Gators (40-15, 18-11) vs. Auburn Tigers (29-26, 12-17)
Auburn, Ala. 1 p.m. CT
Plainsman Park

The Auburn Tigers fell to the No. 2 Florida Gators on Friday 10-1, losing the final series of the regular season. Today will be the final game of the three game series.

Florida exploded in the first inning to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. By the end of the third inning, the Tigers were down 7-1.

Auburn has to win today's game if the Tigers plan to earn a bid to a NCAA Regional. The Tigers are a bubble team currently and with a sweep to end the season, the bubble may burst. Auburn could raise its stock by winning big in the SEC tournament, but at this point making it past the second round seems unlikely.

Auburn heads into the final game of the regular season this afternoon with an opening ceremony to honor the eight seniors on this years team. A win would be a fitting end to their Auburn careers.

Softball


Auburn Tigers (33-22) vs. Texas Longhorns (42-11)
Austin, Tx. 3 p.m. CT
Charline McCombs Field
NCAA Regional Tournament

The Auburn softball team took to NCAA Regional tournament play yesterday facing off against Houston for the first time in program history. The Tigers lost a heart-breaker to the Cougars 2-1.

Auburn battled in the game and worked the score to a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning, but gave up the winning run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch.

Auburn is now playing out of the losers bracket and will face off against a very tough Texas Longhorns team this afternoon. Today's game will be an elimination game, with the winner playing a double-header with the second game marked for 6 p.m. CT.

Men's Golf


NCAA Regionals
Greensboro, S.C. All Day
Grandover Resort

The Auburn men's golf team jumped from the No. 8 spot to the No. 4 spot in tournament play on Friday. The Tigers will enter the final round of competition today only two shots behind third place No. 19 Florida.

The Tigers had another great outing from All-American Blayne Barber when he scored 4-under 68 yesterday.

Auburn needs to have another strong showing today as they attempt to climb position inside the NCAA Regional tournament bracket.

Auburn has a great chance to advance to the NCAA Championships tournament with a top finish today. You can follow the golf team's stats live by visiting www.golfstat.com.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.18.12: Baseball Continues Florida Series, Softball Begins NCAA Regional Competition

Daniel Koger - P
Photo via thecornernews.com

Baseball


No. 2 Florida Gators (39-15, 17-11) vs. Auburn Tigers (29-25, 12-16)
Auburn, Ala. 6 p.m. CT
Plainsman Park

The Auburn baseball team fell 6-0 to the No. 2 Florida Gators on Thursday. Auburn only earned three hits in a game that saw Florida pitcher Hudson Randall pitch the complete game shutout.

Jon Luke Jacobs picked up where he left off in 2009 as the Gators jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the Tigers in the first two innings. Jacobs only registered four outs from the mound before he was replaced on the hill by Jay Wade.

The Tigers entered the series knowing that it would be a tough final stretch of games before the SEC tournament, but the Tigers must win one of the final two games if they intend to push for an NCAA Regional bid.

At this point, Auburn has played its way out of the NCAA tournament. The only chance the Tigers have to gain ground is to win over the highly ranked Florida this weekend, and to advance deep into the SEC tournament.

Auburn will start Daniel Koger in tonight's contest. Koger is 3-4 on the season.

Softball


Houston Cougars (34-22) vs. Auburn Tigers (33-21)
Austin, Tx. 1 p.m. CT
NCAA Regionals
TV: ESPN3


The Auburn softball team enters the first game of NCAA Regional competition today in Austin, Tx. versus the Houston Cougars.

Auburn and Houston will meet for the first time in school history this afternoon. The Regional tournament will run through Sunday.

Auburn will look to continue its tough outings from the mound, as Jenee Loree and Angel Bunner have been great for the Tigers in the last few series.

Auburn will face a hot Houston team that has won five of its last six contests. Auburn has picked up the steam in the last few weeks as well, ending a month long skid that happened in April.

Auburn is the No. 2 seed in the Austin Regional which is hosted by Texas, the No. 6 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

Men's Golf


NCAA Regionals
Greensboro, S.C. All Day
Grandover Resort

Auburn had a decent day on the links on Thursday, landing in the eighth spot in the NCAA Regional competition and three-shots out of fifth place.

Auburn was led by Blayne Barber and Michael Johnson as both played to a 1-over 73 score for the first day of competition.

The Tigers have a lot of ground to make up in the next few days and will attempt to gain ground this morning as they tee off with Indiana and Lamar. Auburn needs to finish in the top six to receive a bid to the NCAA Championships.

Auburn has been a backdoor team all season, using the final rounds of tournaments to push for wins. Expect Auburn to play strong Friday and Saturday as the Tigers battle for a NCAA title.



Auburn University Tigers Mug And Shot Glass Set

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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.17.12: Baseball Begins Final Series of Regular Season, Men's Golf Begins NCAA Regionals Play

Jon Luke Jacobs - P

Baseball


No. 2 Florida Gators (38-15, 16-11) vs. Auburn Tigers (29-24, 12-15)
Auburn, Ala. 6 p.m. CT
Plainsman Park

Auburn enters the final series of the season against the No. 2 Florida Gators. Auburn has not faced off against the Gators since the 2009 season.

Tonight's starter will be Jon Luke Jacobs who has previously faced the Gators during the 2009 season. Jacobs allowed five runs in the 2009 start, but the Tigers went on to lose the game 24-2. Jacobs hopes to have a better outing tonight.

The Tigers have been able to use their speed on the base pass in the past few weeks to push for wins. Auburn is leading the SEC with stolen bases with 104 stolen bases on the season. The Tigers will need to produce runners and play aggressively if they plan to have a shot at beating the top ranked Gators.

Auburn is coming off of a mid-week loss to Jacksonville State. At this point, it doesn't look good for Auburn to receive a bid to the NCAA Regionals. Auburn has locked its spot in the SEC tournament, but the Tigers will need to have a strong weekend and push in the tournament to get a Regional bid.

The Tigers have played themselves out of NCAA Regional competition by losing big in late conference match-ups and adding a few losses to mid-level competition. Auburn is in a must win scenario in this series.

Men's Golf


NCAA Regionals
Greensboro, S.C. All Day
Grandover Resort

The Auburn Tigers men's golf team heads into NCAA Regional play today as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Tigers are currently ranked as the No. 3 team in the country. The tournament will host four top 25 teams.

Auburn will look to rely on Blayne Barber and Will McCurdy during the weekend as Auburn looks to push to the NCAA Championships. Barber currently leads the SEC in scoring average with a 70.66.

The other three ranked teams in the tournament are No. 15 UNLV, No. 18 Florida and No. 19 Duke.

To follow the stats live, visit golfstat.com.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.15.12: Baseball Defeats Florida A&M, Hosts Jacksonville State

Cory Luckie - P
Todd Van Emst Photo

Jacksonville State Gamecocks (23-27) vs. Auburn Tigers (29-23, 11-15)
Auburn, Ala. 6 p.m. CT
Plainsman Park

The Auburn Tigers are coming off of a huge win over Florida A&M on Monday. The Tigers won the game handily, defeating the Rattlers 11-3.

The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and never showed signs of throttling down. Auburn saw Trey Cochran-Gil win his fifth game of the season from the mound. Cochran-Gil is 5-2 on the year.

Auburn will head into Tuesday's contest looking for a second win in mid-week action before the Florida Gators come to town Thursday for the final series of the regular season.

Auburn needs as many wins as possible as they battle toward a NCAA Regional bid. Unfortunately for the Tigers, a win over Florida A&M (7-45) isn't likely to boost their standings with the tournament selection committee as the Rattlers don't provide the Tigers with a quality win.

Look for Auburn to push for another big win today against Jacksonville State, as this game comes at a very good time for the Tigers. Auburn needs to continue to increase its stock for the post-season.

Cory Luckie will get the start for Auburn against the Gamecocks.


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Auburn Football: Why the Trovon Reed Arrest Went Unnoticed

Trovon Reed - WR
Todd Van Emst Photo

So you didn't hear about the arrest on Auburn's team over the weekend? That's odd, because Trovon Reed is one of the most known Auburn Tigers on the 2012 squad. So how did the arrest of a marquee player go so unnoticed?

With college football full of controversy, there seems to be nothing better for rival fan bases to grip onto than current player arrest records. It seems virtually impossible for current athletes to change girlfriends without someone "in the know" taking notice.

The "news" hits message boards in a split second, quickly building a case, trial and decision before most kids make it out from behind the bars of the jail they landed in. So how could this arrest disappear so quickly from the spotlight it never held?

Who Reported It

The first report came from Thibodeux, La. local newspaper the Daily Comet. The second set of reports came out around Sunday afternoon. 

Usually, when you hear about charges or arrests of marquee players, the news pours out within hours. This arrest was first reported on Saturday night at 7:59 p.m. CT. It took twelve hours before secondary reports began to drip.

That shows the lack of "news" that came from the story. There was no controversy as the arrest stemmed from unpaid parking tickets that Reed had received in high school. Tickets he thought were already paid. 

Reed told the Daily Comet "It was an old parking ticket from high school...I thought I had taken care of it, but obviously I didn't."

Why It Has Become a Non-Story

With the only reasoning behind the arrest being warrants from outstanding parking tickets, the teeth of controversy have been quickly retracted. 

There is no meat to a story that could be, and I am sure that many hoped would be. 

After all, it was just a few weeks ago that Michael Dyer was sitting on a stand claiming that he had some issues smoking too much ganja and synthetic weed in his time at Auburn. 

The implication that Gene Chizik had an issue with drugs on his team began to float through the air like the smell from a stale sewer treatment plant. Unfortunately for the haters, the smell seems to be drifting away rather briskly. 

Just ten days ago, Sammy Watkins of Clemson was arrested on drug-related charges. Arkansas has just recently dismissed three players for dorm room robberies. Issues occur everywhere, but the bigger story is what didn't happen to Trovon Reed. 

There were no DUI's or drug arrests that resulted from the traffic stop. Reed was arrested, which is never a positive, but it was not a major issue. It was unpaid parking tickets.

How the Arrest Carried a Positive Sign for the Tigers

Never are arrests good things, but this one in particular has a much bigger message attached to it I think.

After the constant ridicule that the Tigers program has been under after Cam Newton and the recent arrested four, this is a sign to all that the Tigers are building a strong program with talented recruits with strong character. 

Trovon Reed was in a car with a former high school teammate when he was arrested. Neither were arrested for drugs or underage alcohol possession. That's a positive for the Tigers.

Reed made a mistake, but not one that will hinder his progression with the team, or the image of his university. 

With all the bad news that comes across the press wires weekly surrounding college football players, this bit of news was annoying to a player, his family and the program, but not much else.

If this is all that the Tigers have to worry about with its players under Chizik, Auburn will be in good shape. 

Am I saying that no other Auburn player will be arrested for doing something stupid? No. It may happen. Right now, the Tigers program comes out looking much better than some would hope or expect. 

No wonder no one has really been talking about this arrest. There wasn't any bad news or implications attached to it.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.14.12: Baseball Takes on Florida A&M After Big Weekend

Jay Gonzalez - OF
Todd Van Emst Photo

Baseball


The Tigers baseball team had a very productive weekend against No. 13 Arkansas in Fayetteville this past weekend.

The Tigers were able to win 2-of-3 games over the Razorbacks, helping the Tigers regain some traction in the NCAA Regional scene.

The Tigers relied on consistent pitching and a ton of old school run production to earn the victories. The Tigers played very aggressively on the base pass and it paid off.

Auburn heads into the first of two mid-week contests today as they take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M. The Tigers are expected to win the game handily.

Tuesday the Tigers will welcome Jacksonville State back to the Plains to complete a two game mid-week schedule before the final home series of the regular season starts on Thursday when Florida comes to Plainsman Park.

Expect a picther-by-committee type approach to these two games as Auburn will need to have a well rested pitching staff as they head into the Florida series.

Trovon Reed Arrested, Positives that Came From the Arrest


It is never a good sign to have a player arrested, but when Trovon Reed made the news wires with his failure to appear arrest, there were some positives.

I will dive into the Trovon Reed story later today, talking why I think his arrest may actually show signs of positives inside the Chizik program. Strange I know, it will make sense once you see the piece.

Look for the story on Reed this afternoon. Until then, Happy Monday and War Eagle!


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.12.12: Baseball Enters Final Road Game of Regular Season, Women's Golf in Final Round of NCAA Regional Tournament

Harry Adams | Auburn Track 

Baseball


The Auburn baseball team headed to Arkansas Thursday to begin the final regular season road series for the Tigers.

Auburn won the first game in extra innings 3-2, but went on to lose a heartbreaker 5-4 on Friday. Saturday will mark the third and final game of the series and Auburn hopes to secure a sweep against the No. 13 Razorbacks.

Auburn has struggled to find consistency on the diamond from its pitching since around mid-season, but the bats have been productive. Auburn will need to continue on the course of run production if the Tigers plan to earn a second victory in the series.

Ryan Tella and Dan Glevenyak have been very consistent at the plate and on the base pass. Both Tella and Glevenyak have had big weekends and will look to continue their efforts in today's final contest of the series.

Auburn is still ranked as the No. 10 team in the SEC, which solidifies the Tigers position in the SEC tournament. A win in this series would raise the Tigers stock as they aim for a NCAA Regional berth.

Women's Golf


The lady Tigers golf team is heading into the final round of competition today at the NCAA Regional tournament held in Columbus, Oh.

The Tigers are currently playing from the No.6 position in the tournament, the final eight make it into the NCAA Championships. Auburn is being led by senior Patricia Sanz who was 2-over 74 for the day on Friday.

Auburn is in a great position to continue with a strong finish in the tournament and head to the NCAA Championships in Franklin, Tn. at the Vanderbilt Legends Club.

Track and Field


Auburn has performed well in the first two days of the SEC Track and Field Championships in Baton Rouge this weekend. The Tigers picked up three additional points in competition Friday for the men, and four points for the women.

Auburn is currently holding in the top ten in both the women's and men's field. Look for the Tigers today on ESPN3.com starting at 4:30 p.m. CT.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.10.12: Baseball Heads to Arkansas; Softball, Track and Golf All in Tournament Competition; Mr. Penny to Return Home

Angel Bunner - P

Baseball


Auburn Tigers (26-22, 10-14) vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (34-15, 12-12)
Fayetteville, Ark. 6:30 p.m. CT
Baum Stadium at George Cole Field
TV: ESPNU


The Auburn Tigers are coming off of a tough road series against Georgia this past weekend. The Tigers head into the Arkansas series looking to make a splash as they prepare to head into the SEC tournament.

Auburn will start Jon Luke Jacobs Thursday. Jacobs is 5-2 on the season.

The Tigers are currently in 10th place in the SEC conference, placing them in last place for entry into the SEC tournament. Arkansas is the second best team in the SEC West and guaranteed a spot in the SEC tournament.

Auburn will look to win two-of-three from the Razorbacks to get the tread back on the tires as the season draws to a close. Losing the series or getting swept by the Razorbacks will put the Tigers in a very tight spot in the conference, as well as in the NCAA Regional scene.

Auburn holds a three game lead over Tennessee in the conference which virtually locks them into the SEC tournament field of 10 teams, but the NCAA Regional brackets are far from locked. Auburn needs to show up strong in the final weeks of the season.

Softball


Auburn Tigers (33-21, 12-16) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (45-9, 22-6)
Tuscaloosa, Ala. 1:30 p.m. CT
Rhoades Stadium
TV: ESPNU


The Auburn Tigers softball team heads into SEC tournament play today against the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers on Thursday.

The tournament officially kicks off at 11:30 a.m. CT with Florida and LSU hitting the softball diamond.

The Tigers are on a bit of a winning tear in the last few weeks, winning seven of the last 10 contests that they have played. The Volunteers are equally impressive, winning the last 18 games they have played.

Auburn has struggled with run production this season in the big games, that production needs to come alive today.

Auburn will look to have a strong pitching performance to open the tournament, but winning in this first game will be a tall order for the lady Tigers.

Women's Golf


2012 NCAA Regional
Columbus, Ohio

The reigning SEC women's golf champions will take to the NCAA Regional tournament in Columbus, Ohio Thursday.

The Tiger ladies are currently ranked No. 3 in the country and have a head of steam heading into the 14-team Regional as they look to push into the NCAA Championship tournament in Nashville.

Senior Haley Wilson will look to lead the lady Tigers to a strong round and championship berth after this weekends competition.

To follow the team live, visit Golfstat.com for live updates.

Track and Field


SEC Outdoor Championships
Baton Rouge, La.
Bernie Moore Stadium

Auburn heads to Baton Rouge Thursday with a action packed weekend ahead of the Tigers.

Auburn fared well in the recent Penn Relays when the men captured the 4x100 relay.

The tournament will be available on ESPN3 on Saturday and Sunday.

Follow Auburn track on twitter for updates surrounding the tournament this weekend:


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Mr. Penny Update


According to the Opelika-Auburn News, Johnny Richmond (aka. Mr. Penny) is slated to return home after extensive rehab that followed his hospitalization in late February.

Mr. Penny is Auburn. He is what represents a Family and fan-base. His love for the Auburn Tigers is unmatched, and so is his amazing daily push-up numbers.

Mr. Richmond has battled through a wealth of adversity with the help of family, friends and doctors to prepare for his return home.

When first reported, the incident appeared to be fatal. Now, the perseverance, drive, passion and tenacity that defines Johnny Richmond has shown through as he prepares to return home.

War Eagle Mr. Penny, and Godspeed.


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Corey Lemonier Makes Mel Kiper's First 2013 Big Board

Corey Lemonier - DE
Photo by Todd Van Emst

Corey Lemonier is a rising junior heading into the 2012 season.

Despite having two years of eligibility remaining, Mel Kiper feels like Lemonier may be good enough to make an early exit into the NFL.

Mel Kiper released his NFL Draft Big Board for the first time for the 2013 Draft class, and Lemonier landed at the No. 23 spot on the list of top 25 draftees.

The list is riddled with early exit players, as 17 of the 25 are rising juniors.

The list includes nine players from the SEC. Some obvious names that made the list with Lemonier are Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina, D.J. Fluker of Alabama, Jarvis Jones of Georgia and Barkevious Mingo of LSU.

Lemonier finished the 2011 season with 9.5 sacks, placing him at No. 4 in the SEC conference and tied at No. 7 overall in the country.

I would expect that Lemonier will have a huge season for the Tigers. I have no clue what his future intentions are, but I would be surprised if he chose to leave early.

Regardless if he leaves or not, 2012 should be a show when No. 55 is on the field.

To check out the entire Mel Kiper 2013 Big Board, go here.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.9.12: Thomas O'Reilly Leaves for Georgia Tech, Baseball Wins

Thomas O'Reilly - OG
Todd Van Emst Photo

Not a lot is going on in Auburn today surrounding sports.

Well, a lot of preparation, not a lot of competition. The baseball team did earn a victory on Tuesday 18-2 over the Blue Hose of Presbyterian. No real surprise there. On to the previews:

Baseball

Thursday will mark the beginning of the Arkansas series for the Tigers baseball team. Auburn will make its final road trip of the regular season with the first contest being televised on ESPNU at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Auburn heads into the series needing a winning effort, as the Tigers were swept by the Bulldogs last weekend.

Wins in the series will rise the stock of the Tigers as they approach the SEC tournament. Higher seeding means easier first round competition. Look for the push to begin tomorrow when the Tigers begin the series in Fayetteville.

Softball


The Auburn softball team will head into SEC tournament play tomorrow when they take on the lady Vols of Tennessee on ESPNU at 1:30 p.m. CT.

Auburn has a huge hill to climb with Tennessee, the Vols are the No. 5 team in the country.

Auburn needs to have a great showing in the tournament as they attempt to push for a NCAA Regional bid.

Women's Golf


The Tigers ladies golf team will be in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday as they begin play in the NCAA Central Regional.

The Tigers are in one of three qualifying tournaments that are held for the NCAA Championship.

Tomorrow will bring a more detailed breakdown of the tournament field and preview of the expectations for the Tigers.

Thomas O'Reilly Leaves Auburn


It was announced yesterday by numerous Auburn outlets that Thomas O'Reilly has decided to move on with his football career and pursue it further at Georgia Tech.

O'Reilly is an offensive guard that has been at Auburn for two seasons. With the recent addition of a number of highly rated offensive linemen to the roster, it seemed unlikely for O'Reilly to make it into the starting rotation.

With the good graces of the staff, O'Reilly will pursue football further at one of his finalists during his recruitment, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Best of luck to you Thomas.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.8.12: Golf Earns No. 1 Seeding in NCAA Regional, Baseball Back Home Tonight

Blayne Barber
Todd Van Emst Photo

Golf

The Auburn Tigers men's golf team received word on Monday that they are the No. 1 seeded team in the Greensboro NCAA Regional that plays May 17-19.

The Tigers have appeared in 21 of the last 23 NCAA Regional tournaments. Head Coach Nick Clinard has been with the Tigers for three seasons, leading them to three straight Regional appearances.

The Tigers will lead a 14-team field that has four top 25 teams from the Golfweek national rankings. No. 18 Florida is the only other member of the SEC that is in the Greensboro Regional.

A total of eight SEC teams made it to the NCAA Regionals this season. 

The Greensboro Regional will be played at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C.

Baseball

Presbyterian Blue Hose (20-27) vs. Auburn Tigers (25-22)

Auburn, Ala. 6 p.m. CT

Plainsman Park

The Tigers baseball team returns home Tuesday to take on the Blue Hose from Presbyterian for the first time in school history. 

Both programs have been mediocre through the final stretch of the season. Auburn is coming off of a series sweep at Georgia, while the Blue Hose lost two-of-three from Central Florida this past weekend. 

Auburn is 10-1 in midweek games this spring, and they will look to extend that record Tuesday with a win. 

Thursday the Tigers take back to the road as they travel to Arkansas to begin the final weekend road trip of the season. The first game of the Arkansas series will be televised by ESPNU.

Shug Jordan Parkway Radio On Air

The Parkway Radio hits the air again tonight at 5 p.m. CT. K.C. Whitten and myself will bring a number of breaking news topics from all over the world of sports.

If you want to join the show, call us: 347.539.5996

Email the show: sjparkwayradio@gmail.com

If you can't catch us live, find the show archives here, or download the show on iTunes by searching Shug Jordan Parkway. 

Happy Tuesday ladies and gents. War Eagle!

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Bent Burgers of Seattle, Wa. At Your Service, Get There

Photo via Bent Burgers website

Never before have I brought something to these pages that is not purely sports or Auburn related. It is time for a change, just once.

If you find yourselves in Seattle, Wa. anytime soon, you need to stop off at Bent Burgers and have a great burger and brewskie. The guy that runs the joint is Josh Bent, a former Navy Gunner's Mate and a great friend of mine.

Bent works hard to bring tasty stuffs to your plate, and does it with a great atmosphere and even better service.

Not a burger fan? No worries. Dude makes some awesome wings as well.

Don't just take my word for it, get to Bent Burgers. Great locale, food and service are tough to match and impossible to beat. It seriously is worth a trip.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.7.12: The Parkway Lands on Google Currents, No Tigers Teams in Action

Toomer's Corner
Ian Berg | Shug Jordan Parkway Photo Archives

I know, sad day for the Tigers. No athletic teams are in action. The way that the baseball team has been playing, that may be a good thing.

Softball

The Tigers softball team continued pushing for wins, finishing their final series of the season with a 2-1 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The lady Tigers will face off against the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the SEC tournament Thursday thanks to the win.

While it is always a good thing to make it into the tournament, facing the No. 5 team in the country is never the best scenario. It will be a tough road for the Tigers, but don't count them out. The lady Tigers have won big before. They can surely do it again.

Baseball


The Tigers baseball team succumbed to the sweep against the Georgia Bulldogs this past Sunday.

The Tigers will have two more weekend series before the season finishes. Auburn needs wins to win both series as their standing in the SEC tournament continues to tumble with the losses that keep mounting.

Auburn has a talented squad, but for some reason can't seem to put all the moving parts together on a regular basis.

Auburn will face off against Presbyterian Tuesday for a midweek contest.

The Parkway on Google Currents

I am constantly trying to find more ways to get the content of these pages to your fingertips as conveniently and efficiently as possible. Good news, if you have an iPhone or Android, the Parkway is just a few finger taps away.

The relatively  new Google Currents app now hosts a direct feed from the Shug Jordan Parkway. You can download the app and search for Shug Jordan Parkway.

Poof! You can download it. Awesomeness at your convenience.

Currents is a magazine style reader app that carries Forbes, CNet and numerous other magazine type publications and websites. Do yourself a solid and grab the app and follow the Parkway. It is a much cleaner look than the mobile version that you get from your web browser on your smartphone.

If you get the chance, check out my latest hits over on Bleacher Report, good stuff happening over there.

Happy Monday! Don't be a Carpenter's type today, rainy days and Mondays shouldn't keep you down. (It's a song for those under the age of 38)

War Eagle!


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.6.12: Softball Evens Series with Mississippi State, Baseball Falls in 11th

Lauren Guzman - SS
Photo via Opelika-Auburn News

Softball


Mississippi State Bulldogs (33-20, 12-15) vs. Auburn Tigers (32-20,11-16)
Auburn, Ala. 1 p.m. CT
Jane B. Moore Field

The Auburn softball team tied the final series of the season 1-1 with a big win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday. The Tigers won the game 4-1.

It was a great victory for the Tigers with it being Senior Day for the softball team. Three seniors, Elizabeth Eisterhold, Lauren Guzman and Amber Harrison had RBIs in the game.

The Bulldogs took the early lead, heading into the fourth inning it was 1-0 Mississippi State. In the bottom half of the inning, the Tigers bats exploded and they took the lead 2-1. By the end of the fifth, it was 4-1 Tigers.

The win goes to Lauren Schmalz, who moves to 9-8 on the season. Schmalz had six strikeouts in the complete-game performance.

Auburn will face off in the final game of the regular season today before they head into SEC tournament play. A win over the Bulldogs today would be huge for the Tigers, raising their stock and seeding heading into the tournament.

Baseball


Auburn Tigers (25-21, 10-13) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (27-20, 11-12)
Athens, Ga. 1 p.m. CT
Foley Field

The Tigers needed a win on Saturday. They pushed the game into extra innings and fell short despite their efforts at the plate.

The Tigers pushed into the 11th inning with a 5-4 lead, only to see it dissappear with a few strokes of the Bulldogs bats. Derek Varnadore took the loss in the game, falling to 2-7 on the year.

Auburn played well throughout the contest, they just managed to fall short, losing the series to the Bulldogs. The Tigers need a win today to halt the sweep, and to get a crucial win in the SEC conference bracket.

Auburn has been on a bit of a skid in the past month, picking up the pieces with a win today is much needed.

Auburn will start Trey Cochran-Gil who is 4-1 on the year.

Shug Jordan Parkway Radio 5 p.m. CT


Sunday funday brings another hour-long radio spot for your listening pleasure Parkway riders. Huge day today as there are a number of breaking news events in sports.

You can catch the show live by clicking this link, or you can catch us archived on iTunes and the Parkway Radio page.

If you want to join the conversation, call us: 347.539.5996 or email the show: sjparkwayradio@gmail.com


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.5.12: Baseball and Softball Drop Series Openers, Continue Play Today

Ian Berg | Shug Jordan Parkway Archives

After a rough start to the weekend, the Tigers will look to take to Saturday and rekindle winning ways on the baseball and softball diamond. Both teams struggled in later innings, unable to come up with the comeback wins they needed.

As they head into play Saturday, both sets of Tigers will need wins as they continue to pursue higher seeding in their respective SEC tournaments.

Softball


Mississippi State Bulldogs (33-19, 12-14) vs. Auburn Tigers (31-20, 10-16)
Auburn, Ala. 1 p.m. CT
Jane B. Moore Field

The lady Tigers were unable to finish a late inning comeback rally against the Bulldogs on Friday night, falling 3-1 in the contest.

The Tigers had a great effort on the mound from Jenee Loree but the complete game effort did not earn the Tigers the win.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the first inning 1-0, and pushed to a 3-0 lead in the third inning. The Bulldogs bats were held at bay the remainder of the game by Loree, but the Tigers were unable to push runs across the plate until late in the game.

Auburn was able to rally in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases, but only one run crossed the plate.

Auburn will head into today's match-up looking for the must win. Auburn has a lot riding on these final to regular season games as SEC tournament seeding hangs in the balance.

Baseball


Auburn Tigers (25-20, 10-12) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (26-20, 10-12)
Athens, Ga. 3 p.m. CT
Foley Field

Auburn only registered four hits in a losing effort to the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on Friday.

The Tigers were tied 1-1 going into the sixth inning, but the Bulldogs hit rally city.

Georgia was able to milk four walks and a hit batter to help build the rally. They also got two singles in the mix, but the walks were what did in the Tigers.

As the game progressed, the Tigers were unable to battle back and earn a victory.

The Tigers will attempt to curb the losing streak before it starts this afternoon as they place Daniel Koger on the mound. Koger is 3-4 on the season.

Kentucky Derby Day


Kentucky Derby Day has arrived for all my bourbon drinking horse racing fans out there.

I know it has nothing to do with Auburn, but the Tigers do have a good Equestrian team.

I felt as if this deserved a mention. Catch one of the greatest events in sports as the Derby hits the track today friends.

Remember, there is a difference in Bourbon and Whiskey. Don't mistake one for the other, especially in front of a Kentuckian, they get irritable.


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Auburn Tigers Tidbits: 5.4.12: Softball Enters Final Regular Season Series, Baseball at Georgia

Dan Glevenyak - SS
Missy Hazeldine | Auburn University 

The Auburn softball team will host the final series of the regular season this weekend when Mississippi State comes to town. The Auburn baseball team travels to Georgia, with only three series remaining on the schedule.

It has been a slow week for Tigers athletics but this weekend will bring plenty of action back into the fold. Without further delay, here is a look at the weekend ahead for the Tigers.

Baseball


Auburn Tigers (25-19, 10-11) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (25-20, 9-12)
Athens, Ga. 6 p.m. CT
Foley Field
TV: SportsSouth/ESPN3

Auburn heads to Georgia today to begin a three game series in Athens.

Auburn has three series left in the season and one mid-week game that was added against Florida A&M that is set for this coming Monday.

Auburn has a road series at Arkansas and a final home stretch against Florida remaining on the schedule.

The Tigers currently find themselves in the No. 6 position in conference with this series carrying a lot of weight as Auburn looks to head into the SEC tournament on a high note.

The Tigers are leading the conference in a number of categories from the plate. Auburn is leading in batting average, triples and steals to name a few.

Jon Luke Jacobs (5-1) will get the start for the Tigers Friday, hoping to extend his winning ways from the mound in front of a television audience.

Softball


Mississippi State Bulldogs (32-19, 11-14) vs. Auburn Tigers (31-19, 10-15)
Auburn, Ala. 6 p.m. CT
Jane B. Moore Field

The Auburn softball teams heads into the final series of the regular season Friday.

The Tigers will host the Bulldogs of Mississippi State in a series that will determine the seeding for both squads in the SEC tournament. Currently, the Bulldogs are the seventh-seed team in the tournament. Auburn trails them by one game.

Auburn has picked up the steam in the past couple of series after a huge mid-season slump. The Tigers had lost seven straight before winning two series in a row and pushing for five wins in the past six games.

Mississippi State is also on a tear, winning 11-straight games.

The Tigers and Bulldogs have a lot riding on this series. Both squads are playing their best softball of the season, this should be a great series in Auburn.



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Auburn Tigers Tidbits 5.3.12: Baseball and Softball Winding Down Season, Shug Jordan Parkway Radio Back On the Air

Faces of Aubie
Ian Berg | Shug Jordan Parkway Photo Archives

The Auburn baseball and softball teams will take to the diamond again this weekend as they are winding down the regular season for 2012. Auburn has one series remaining in softball and three remaining in baseball.

Both sets of Tigers are staring down NCAA tournament appearances, but the Tigers will need strong showings in the conference tournament to ensure that they land in the tournament.

As the Tigers prep for their games this coming weekend, the Parkway will be updated tomorrow with profiles for both series starts.

Parkway Radio Back on the Waves


The Shug Jordan Parkway Radio is back on the air tonight at 5 p.m. CT. K.C. Whitten and I will host the show as always, talking breaking sports news, with drops of Auburn along the way.

We will be discussing the latest NFL releases regarding the suspensions of current and former New Orleans Saints players and the Junior Seau death.

We will also touch on some Major League Baseball talk, and NBA playoffs updates. It will be a packed hour that we hope you take part in.

Call the show: 347.539.5996

Email us your thoughts: sjparkwayradio@gmail.com

In the downtime between the show and this awesome post, slide over to Bleacher Report and catch my latest articles on impact walk-ons and a defensive line preview.

War Eagle! Happy Thursday. Life's good, don't you forget it Parkway riders.


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Jason Dufner Brings Home First PGA Tour Win Sunday

(AP Photo | Gerald Herbert)

Jason Dufner is not known for his showmanship or quotable lines on the golf course. He shows up, shakes hands and plays. Dufner is savvy. He plays the course hard, overcoming adversity when it lays before him.

On Sunday, Dufner went into the final round of competition with a two stroke lead at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. By the end of the day, he was battling Ernie Els in a playoff to determine the winner. 

Dufner could have made the path a little easier if it wasn't for a drive that landed in the water hazard, but he recovered very well. He landed on the green in four shots, draining a lengthy 40-foot putt to force the sudden death playoff.

With the putt, it was clear that Dufner had regained his swagger and was pushing for his first win. 

Dufner came out the winner after a strong playoff showing, finishing with his first PGA Tour victory. 

It has been a long a tough road for Jason Dufner to earn his first win. He has been on the professional circuit since 2001, bouncing between the Nationwide and PGA Tour circuits. 

Dufner has flirted with big wins before, forcing a playoff in the 2011 PGA Championship in Atlanta. Earlier this year, Dufner led the Masters for much of the weekend before falling away in the final day of competition. 

This past weekend Dufner made it over the hump. He now has an edge that will carry over to wins in the future on the PGA Tour circuit. 

With the win on Sunday, Dufner is now No. 20 in the World Golf Ranking.

If you happen to find yourself in Auburn and you catch a round at the Moore's Mill Golf Club, look out for Mr. Dufner, a War Eagle and congratulations are in order. 

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