American college football season
2008 Jordan–Hare Stadium
Seasons
The 2008 Auburn Tigers football team represented
Tony Franklin, who attempted to implement Tuberville’s new without the proper players suited for the
spread offense in a failed effort to correct the Tigers' offensive struggles in
2007 . Tuberville fired Franklin six games into the season.
Auburn played a seven-game home schedule at
rounded out Auburn's home conference schedule.
Pre-season
Rankings
The Tigers entered the season with high expectations, ranked highly by multiple polls in the preseason. The
Other rankings include:
# 7 – Rivals.com[4] # 8 – Athlon[5] # 9 – Sports Illustrated[6] # 9 – CollegeTop25 Consensus[7] # 10 – ESPN[8] # 13 – Lindy's[9] # 14 – CollegeFootballNews/Scout.com[10]
Watchlists and honors
Pre-season All-SEC Teams
Coaches All-SEC 1st Team – DT Sen’Derrick Marks & P Ryan Shoemaker Coaches All-SEC 2nd Team – RB Ben Tate, OL Tyronne Green, LB Tray Blackmon & DB Jerraud Powers Coaches All-SEC 3rd Team – DE Antonio Coleman
Schedule
Auburn's schedule consisted of eight Southeastern Conference opponents (four home, four away) and four non-conference opponents. AU meets Tennessee-Martin and West Virginia for the first time. The WVU game, a mid-season inter-conference Thursday night matchup, is the first of a two-game home-and-home series between the two teams. Of the remaining ten opponents that the Tigers have previously faced, Auburn holds the all-time series lead against all but Alabama and LSU. Four opponents — #1 Georgia, LSU, West Virginia and Tennessee — were ranked in both the preseason USA Today and AP Polls. Alabama was also ranked in the AP Poll. Tennessee dropped out of the polls before playing Auburn; however, Vanderbilt would enter the polls by the time the Commodores played Auburn.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 30 6:00 pm PPV W 34–087,451
September 6 11:30 am Southern Miss * No. 9 Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL Raycom W 27–1387,451
September 13 6:00 pm at Mississippi State No. 9 ESPN2 [14] W 3–252,911
September 20 6:45 pm No. 6 College GameDay)
ESPN [14] L 21–2687,451
September 27 2:30 pm CBS
W 14–1287,451
October 4 5:00 pm at No. 19 College GameDay
) ESPN L 13–1439,773
October 11 4:00 pm Arkansas No. 20 Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL PPV L 22–2585,782
October 23 6:30 pm at ESPN[14] L 17–3460,765
November 1 11:30 am at Ole Miss Raycom L 7–1757,324
November 8 1:30 pm Tennessee–Martin
* Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL W 37–2085,365
November 15 11:30 am No. 13 Georgia Raycom L 13–1787,451
November 29 2:30 pm at No. 1 Alabama CBS L 0–3692,138
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Game summaries
Louisiana-Monroe
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needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(September 2008 )
Auburn's first possession only picked up 1 first down, but the punt put UL-Monroe in bad field position. On the first play, Auburn Defensive End Antonio Coleman made a huge hit on UL-Monroe's quarterback, forcing a fumble on the UL-Monroe 9-yard line, and the Defense picked it up and took it back for the Auburn Tigers' first touchdown. A few possessions later, Auburn Receiver and Punt Returner Robert Dunn returned a UL-Monroe punt for a TD with 0:04 left in the 1st Quarter. At halftime, Auburn had a 17–0 lead after a Wes Byrum field goal. On the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter, UL-Monroe fumbled the ball and Auburn recovered, leading to a TD run from Brad Lester. Another field goal from Byrum would make the score 27–0 going into the 4th Quarter. Kodi Burns had left the game with a cut in his leg, so Chris Todd played the rest of the game. Later in the 4th, Todd would lead Auburn down the field with an excellent and suddenly effective passing game, ending in a 3-yard Touchdown pass to Chris Slaughter to seal the victory. It was the first shutout for Auburn since a 27–0 wins over Arkansas State on November 4, 2006. It was also the first time Auburn had scored on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams since the 2003 73–7 beating of UL-Monroe. Auburn finished with 406 yards of offense, 321 Rushing yards and 85 passing yards. Auburn picked up 19 first downs while UL-Monroe picked up 12.
1
2
3
4
Total
LA-Monroe
0
0
0
0
0
Auburn
14
3
10
7
34
Southern Miss
Southern Miss returned to the Plains for the first time since the 1993 perfect season . Prior to that meeting, the Tigers had lost consecutive 1-point losses to Southern Miss, then quarterbacked by Brett Favre .
Despite impressive offensive numbers in their opening game where Southern Mississippi put up 633 yards (427 rushing) in a 51–21 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, Larry Fedora 's team did not have an answer for Auburn's tough defense. The Tigers won 27–13, improving their lead in the series all-time to 17–5.[15]
1
2
3
4
Total
Southern Miss
0
0
6
7
13
Auburn
0
14
10
3
27
Mississippi State
1
2
3
4
Total
Auburn
0
3
0
0
3
Mississippi State
0
0
0
2
2
LSU
1
2
3
4
Total
LSU
3
0
14
9
26
Auburn
0
14
0
7
21
Tennessee
1
2
3
4
Total
Tennessee
0
6
0
6
12
Auburn
7
7
0
0
14
Vanderbilt
1
2
3
4
Total
Auburn
13
0
0
0
13
Vanderbilt
0
7
7
0
14
Arkansas
1
2
3
4
Total
Arkansas
3
7
6
9
25
Auburn
7
6
7
2
22
West Virginia
1
2
3
4
Total
Auburn
3
14
0
0
17
West Virginia
0
10
10
14
34
Ole Miss
1
2
3
4
Total
Auburn
0
0
7
0
7
Ole Miss
0
10
0
7
17
Tennessee-Martin
1
2
3
4
Total
Tennessee-Martin
7
6
7
0
20
Auburn
13
7
7
10
37
Georgia
1
2
3
4
Total
Georgia
0
7
3
7
17
Auburn
6
0
0
7
13
Alabama
1
2
3
4
Total
Auburn
0
0
0
0
0
Alabama
3
7
19
7
36
Coaching staff
*Entering season
Depth chart
Starters and backups.[16]
Defense
FS
Mike McNeil
Jonathan Vickers
⋅
WLB
MLB
SLB
⋅
Tray Blackmon
⋅
Merrill Johnson
Josh Bynes
⋅
Courtney Harden
Adam Herring
⋅
SS
Zac Etheridge
Mike Slade
⋅
CB
Jerraud Powers
Ryan Williams
⋅
DE
DT
DT
DE
Michael Goggans
Sen'Derrick Marks
Jake Ricks
Antonio Coleman
A.J. Greene
Mike Blanc
Zach Clayton
Antoine Carter
Raven Gray
Darrell Roseman
Luke Farmer
⋅
CB
Aairon Savage
Walter McFadden
⋅
Offense
WR
James Swinton
Chris Slaughter
Charles Olatunji
WR
Robert Dunn
Terrell Zachery
⋅
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
Lee Ziemba
Tyronne Green
Jason Bosley
Chaz Ramsey
Ryan Pugh
Jared Cooper
Kyle Coulahan
Ryan Pugh
Byron Isom
Mike Berry
Andrew McCain
⋅
Bart Eddins
Bart Eddins
⋅
WR
Rodgeriqus Smith
Montez Billings
Quindarius Carr
WR
Tim Hawthorne
Mario Fannin
⋅
QB
Chris Todd
Kodi Burns
Neil Caudle
RB
Ben Tate
Brad Lester
Tristan Davis
Special teams
PK Wes Byrum
PK Morgan Hull
P
Ryan Shoemaker
P
Clinton Durst
KR
Tristan Davis
PR
Robert Dunn
Rankings
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP
10 9 9 10 15 13 20 — — — — — — — — — Coaches 11 10 9 9 16 14 23 — — — — — — — — — Harris Not released 13 — — — — — — — — — Not released BCS Not released — — — — — — — — Not released
Statistics
Team
Team
Opp
Scoring
208
216
Points per Game
17.3
18.0
First Downs
198
204
Rushing
102
85
Passing
82
101
Penalty
14
18
Total Offense
3635
3813
Total Plays
810
777
Avg per Play
4.5
4.9
Avg per Game
302.9
317.8
Fumbles-Lost
23–13
20–7
Penalties-Yards
74–568
59–500
Avg per Game
47.3
41.7
Team
Opp
Punts-Yards
78-3212
81-3264
Avg per Punt
41.2
40.3
Time of Possession/Game
30:12
29:48
3rd Down Conversions
65/189
49/171
4th Down Conversions
5/12
8/17
Touchdowns Scored
25
27
Field Goals-Attempts
11–20
11–20
PAT-Attempts
23–25
19–22
Attendance
608,402
301,911
Games/Avg per Game
7/86,915
5/60,382
Scores by quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Auburn
63
68
41
36
208
Opponents
16
60
72
68
216
Offense
Rushing
Name
GP-GS
Att
Gain
Loss
Net
Avg
TD
Long
Avg/G
Ben Tate
12–2
159
718
54
664
4.2
3
49
55.3
Kodi Burns
10–7
98
532
121
411
4.2
5
58
41.1
Brad Lester
11–8
80
314
25
289
3.6
2
19
26.3
Mario Fannin
12–3
54
255
17
238
4.4
1
35
19.8
Eric Smith
12–1
21
98
15
83
4.0
0
19
6.9
Tristan Davis
10–4
8
44
0
44
5.5
1
13
4.4
Neil Caudle
2–0
1
4
0
4
4.0
0
4
2.0
Tim Hawthorne
12–1
1
3
0
3
3.0
0
3
0.2
Robert Dunn
12–4
3
6
7
−1
−0.3
0
6
−0.1
Montez Billings
11–11
2
0
7
−7
−3.5
0
0
−0.6
TEAM
7-
9
0
15
−15
−1.7
0
0
−2.1
Chris Todd
7–5
33
47
110
−63
−1.9
0
12
−9.0
Total
12
469
2021
371
1650
3.5
12
58
137.5
Opponents
12
408
1962
295
1667
4.1
7
63
138.9
Passing
Name
GP-GS
Effic
Cmp-Att-Int
Pct
Yds
TD
Lng
Avg/G
Kodi Burns
10–7
97.65
94–179–7
52.5
1050
2
52
105.0
Chris Todd
7–5
106.64
86–156–6
55.1
903
5
58
129.0
Neil Caudle
2–0
133.76
4–5–0
80.0
32
0
16
16.0
TEAM
7-
0.00
0–1–0
0.0
0
0
0
0.0
Robert Dunn
12–4
0.00
0-0-0
0.0
0
0
0
0.0
Total
12
102.01
184–341–13
54.0
1985
7
58
165.4
Opponents
12
113.81
199–369–11
53.9
2146
19
44
178.8
Receiving
Name
GP-GS
No.
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
Avg/G
R. Smith
12–9
30
332
11.1
1
33
27.7
Montez Billings
11–11
24
277
11.5
0
31
25.2
Mario Fannin
12–3
20
223
11.1
2
52
18.6
Tommy Trott
11–2
20
201
10.1
0
33
18.3
Robert Dunn
12–4
18
193
10.7
2
29
16.1
Chris Slaughter
8–1
15
179
11.9
1
42
22.4
Ben Tate
12–2
15
90
6.0
0
27
7.5
Tim Hawthorne
12–1
8
203
25.4
0
58
16.9
Brad Lester
11–8
7
37
5.3
1
16
3.4
Quindarius Carr
11–0
6
63
10.5
0
28
5.7
Derek Winter
8–0
4
27
6.8
0
11
3.4
Gabe McKenzie
12–1
3
33
11.0
0
21
2.8
Darvin Adams
10–0
3
18
6.0
0
9
1.8
Tristan Davis
10–4
2
42
21.0
0
22
4.2
Terrell Zachery
12–0
2
24
12.0
0
17
2.0
C. Olatunji
2–0
2
23
11.5
0
16
11.5
James Swinton
9–1
2
14
7.0
0
10
1.6
Eric Smith
12–1
2
3
1.5
0
2
0.2
John Douglas
3–1
1
3
3.0
0
3
1.0
Total
12
184
1985
10.8
7
58
165.4
Opponents
12
199
2146
10.8
19
44
178.8
Defense
Name
GP-GS
Tackles
Sacks
Pass Defense
Fumbles
Blkd Kick
Saf
Solo
Ast
Total
TFL-Yds
No-Yds
Int-Yds
BrUp
QBH
Rcv-Yds
FF
Jerraud Powers
2–2
9
5
14
1–0
1
1
Antonio Coleman
2–2
6
5
11
3.0–15
2.0–13
3
1
Merrill Johnson
2–2
5
4
9
1.0–6
1.0–6
1
1
Neiko Thorpe
2–0
6
2
8
2
1
Zac Etheridge
2–2
4
4
8
1–0
Craig Stevens
2–2
5
2
7
1
1–6
Chris Evans
2–0
3
4
7
3
Josh Bynes
2–0
1
6
7
Mike McNeil
2–2
2
4
6
S. Marks
2–2
5
1
6
3.5–10
1
Michael Goggans
2–2
5
1
6
1.0–2
1
1–9
Tray Blackmon
2–2
3
2
5
1.0–2
1.0–2
1
Courtney Harden
2–0
5
5
1
Walter McFadden
2–2
4
1
5
1.0–5
1
Mike Blanc
2–2
2
2
4
0.5–0
D'Antoine Hood
2–0
2
2
4
Gabe McKenzie
2–0
3
1
4
Zach Clayton
2–0
3
3
3.0–10
1.0–6
Mike Slade
2–0
3
3
Tez Doolittle
2–0
2
1
3
1.0–4
Drew Cole
2–0
1
2
3
Antoine Carter
2–0
2
1
3
1
Jake Ricks
2–0
1
1
2
1.0–4
Darvin Adams
2–0
1
1
2
Kodi Burns
2–1
1
1
Spencer Pybus
1–0
1
1
1–0
Eric Smith
2–1
1
1
Robert Shiver
2–0
1
1
R. Smith
2–1
1
1
Total
2
80
60
140
16–58
5–27
2–0
9
9
3–15
3
Opponents
2
84
64
148
10–31
2–8
2–17
5
13
3–0
4
Special teams
Name
Punting
Kickoffs
No.
Yds
Avg
Long
TB
FC
I20
Blkd
No.
Yds
Avg
TB
OB
Clinton Durst
70
2947
42.1
58
4
22
18
1
Ryan Shoemaker
7
248
35.4
51
0
1
2
0
Wes Byrum
26
1681
64.7
1
3
Morgan Hull
22
1377
62.6
3
2
Total
78
3212
41.2
58
4
23
20
1
48
3058
63.7
4
5
Opponents
81
3264
40.3
59
7
24
25
0
50
3087
61.7
7
3
Name
Punt Returns
Kick Returns
No.
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
No.
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
Robert Dunn
7
171
24.4
1
66
Marion Fannin
1
24
24.0
0
24
P. Pierre-Louis
1
18
18.0
0
18
Tristan Davis
1
14
14.0
0
14
Total
7
171
24.4
1
66
3
56
18.7
0
24
Opponents
4
17
4.2
0
9
10
212
21.2
0
30
[17]
References
^ "2007 Auburn Football Media Guide – History" . Auburn Athletic Department. Archived from the original on November 28, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2007 .
^ "2008 NCAA Football Rankings – Preseason" . AP. August 16, 2008. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008 .
^ "2008 NCAA Football Rankings – Preseason" . USA Today . August 1, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008 .
^ "Rivals.com 2008 Preseason Top 120 Countdown" . rivals.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "Preseason Top 25 - AthlonSports.com" . Athlon Sports. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ Mandel, Stewart (May 1, 2008). "College Football Power Rankings" . Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "Consensus 2008 Pre-Season Rankings" . CollegeTop25.com. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ Schlabach, Mark (June 25, 2008). "Bulldogs back at No. 1 in updated Top 25" . ESPN. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "Bulldogs top 2008 Lindy's preseason Top 25" . Lindy's Sports. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "CFN 2008 Pre-Preseason Rankings Top 25" . CollegeFootballNews. January 15, 2008. Archived from the original on August 12, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ a b c "Sen'Derrick Marks Named To Walter Camp Award Watch List" . Auburn Athletic Department. August 18, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2008 .
^ "Antonio Coleman And Sen'Derrick Marks Named To Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List" . Auburn Athletic Department. May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2008 .
^ "Jason Bosley Named To Rimington Trophy Watch List" . Auburn Athletic Department. May 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2008 .
^ a b c "2008 Major College Football National TV Schedule" . Associated Press. August 1, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008 .
^ "Auburn vs Southern Mississippi record" . Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2009 .
^ "Auburn Tigers Preview 2008 – Depth Chart" . April 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011 .
^ "Auburn Cumulative Season Statistics" . Auburn Athletic Department. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008 .
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