2009 Auburn Tigers football team

2009 Auburn Tigers football
2009 Auburn Tigers football
Outback Bowl champion
Outback Bowl, W 38–35 OT vs. Northwestern
Conference	Southeastern Conference
	Western Division
Record	8–5 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach	Gene Chizik (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Gus Malzahn (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Ted Roof (1st season)
Base defense	4–3, Tampa 2
Home stadium	Jordan–Hare Stadium
	Seasons ← 2008 2010 →

2009 Southeastern Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Eastern Division
No. 3 Florida x%	8	–	0	13	–	1
Georgia	4	–	4	8	–	5
Tennessee	4	–	4	7	–	6
Kentucky	3	–	5	7	–	6
South Carolina	3	–	5	7	–	6
Vanderbilt	0	–	8	2	–	10
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#	8	–	0	14	–	0
No. 17 LSU	5	–	3	9	–	4
No. 20 Ole Miss	4	–	4	9	–	4
Arkansas	3	–	5	8	–	5
Auburn	3	–	5	8	–	5
Mississippi State	3	–	5	5	–	7
Championship: Alabama 32, Florida 13
# – BCS National Champion $ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Auburn Tigers football team represented

SEC play) and won the Outback Bowl 38–35 in overtime against Northwestern

.

While Auburn was unranked at the end of the season in both major polls, several BCS participating computer rating systems such as Sagarin (#22),^[2] Massey (#22),^[3] Peter Wolfe (#25),^[4] Howell (#24),^[5] David Wilson (#21),^[6] Team Rankings (#18)^[7] and the FACT Foundation (#21)^[8] included the Tigers in their final top 25 rankings.

The offense finished the season ranked 2nd in the SEC and 16th in the nation (with just under 432 yards per game),^[9] while the defense struggled with depth issues and finished 68th and 2nd worst in the SEC.^[10] The pass efficiency defense however was 3rd best in the SEC and ranked 22nd in the nation.^[11]

Coaching change

On December 3, 2008, Auburn University announced that 10-year head coach Tommy Tuberville would not return for an eleventh season. The coaching search ended less than two weeks later when Auburn announced Iowa State's second-year head coach and former Auburn defensive coordinator Gene Chizik as the Tigers' next head coach.^[12] Auburn had interviewed at least eight coaches, including Buffalo's Turner Gill and TCU's Gary Patterson.^[13]

Schedule

Auburn's schedule consisted of eight

Football Championship Subdivision foe Furman visited for the first time since 1956. Auburn began conference play in the second week, hosting Mississippi State. The following week, the Tigers hosted West Virginia, the second game in a home-and-home series between the two teams. The Tigers had previously faced all twelve regular season opponents, with Auburn holding the all-time series lead going into the season against all but Alabama

(33–39–1), LSU (19–23–1), and West Virginia (0–1).

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	6:00 pm	Louisiana Tech*		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	ESPNU	W 37–13	81,143^[14]
September 12	6:00 pm	Mississippi State		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	SECRN	W 49–24	85,269^[15]
September 19	6:45 pm	West Virginia*		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	ESPN2	W 41–30	87,451^[16]
September 26	6:00 pm	Ball State*		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	SECRN	W 54–30	83,118^[17]
October 3	6:45 pm	at Tennessee		Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN (rivalry)	ESPN	W 26–22	102,941^[18]
October 10	11:00 am	at Arkansas	No. 17	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	ESPN	L 23–44	72,559^[19]
October 17	6:30 pm	Kentucky		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	ESPNU	L 14–21	86,217^[20]
October 24	6:30 pm	at No. 9 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (Tiger Bowl)	ESPN2	L 10–31	92,654^[21]
October 31	11:21 am	No. 25 Ole Miss		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry)	SECN	W 33–20	84,756^[22]
November 7	12:30 pm	( FCS) Furman*		Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL	PPV	W 63–31	81,506^[23]
November 14	6:00 pm	at Georgia		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry)	ESPN2	L 24–31	92,746^[24]
November 27	1:30 pm	No. 2 CBS	L 21–26	87,451^[25]
January 1	10:00 am	vs. Northwestern*		Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL (Outback Bowl)	ESPN	W 38–35 ^OT	49,383^[26]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll All times are in Central time

[27]

Depth chart

Starters and backups.^[28]

Defense

FS
Daren Bates^[29]
Demond Washington^[30]
Drew Cole

WLB	MLB	SLB
⋅	Eltoro Freeman	⋅
Adam Herring	Spencer Pybus	⋅
⋅	⋅	⋅

SS
Zac Etheridge
Mike Slade
⋅

CB
Walt McFadden
T'Sharvan Bell
⋅

DE	DT	DT	DE
Antonio Coleman	Jake Ricks	Mike Blanc	Michael Goggans
Cameron Henderson	Derrick Lykes	Zach Clayton	Antoine Carter
⋅	⋅	⋅	Jomarcus Savage

CB
Neiko Thorpe
D'Antoine Hood
⋅

Offense

WR
Anthony Durso
Montez Billings
John Cubelic

WR
Tim Hawthorne
Quindarius Carr
Philip Pierre-Louis

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Lee Ziemba	Byron Isom	Ryan Pugh	Mike Berry	Andrew McCain
A.J. Green	Bart Eddins	Mike Berry	Jared Cooper	Vance Smith
⋅	⋅	Bart Eddins	Rudy Odom	⋅

WR
Mario Fannin
Tommy Trott
Gabe McKenzie

WR
Darvin Adams
Derek Winter
Harry Adams

QB
Chris Todd
Kodi Burns
Neil Caudle

RB
Ben Tate
Onterio McCalebb
Eric Smith

Special teams
PK Wes Byrum
PK Chandler Brooks
P Clinton Durst
P Ryan Shoemaker
KR Mario Fannin
PR Mario Fannin
LS Clayton Tooker

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ 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	—	—	—	—	—	17	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	—	—	—	19	—	—	—	—	25	—	—	—	—	—
Harris	Not released				—	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not released							—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Alma mater	Year entering
Gene Chizik	Head coach	Florida	1st
Gus Malzahn	quarterbacks	Henderson State	1st
Ted Roof	linebackers	Georgia Tech	1st
Trooper Taylor	wide receivers	Baylor	1st
Curtis Luper	Running backs /recruiting coordinator	Stephen F. Austin	1st
Jeff Grimes	Offensive line	UTEP	1st
Jay Boulware	Tight ends	Texas	1st
Phillip Lolley	Cornerbacks	Livingston	1st
Tommy Thigpen	Safeties	North Carolina	1st
Tracy Rocker	Defensive line	Auburn	1st
Kevin Yoxall	Head Strength and Conditioning Coach	TCU	10th

*Entering season

Game summaries

Louisiana Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Louisiana Tech	7	3	3	0	13
• Auburn	10	3	10	14	37

Date: September 5
Location:
CST
Elapsed time: 3:19
Game attendance: 81,143
Game weather: 84°, Partly Cloudy
Referee: Steve Shaw
TV announcers (ESPNU): Eric Collins (play-by-play), Brock Huard (color), Beth Mowins (sidelines)

Source: Louisiana Tech vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - September 5, 2009

Mississippi State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mississippi State	0	17	0	7	24
• Auburn	14	14	14	7	49

Date: September 12
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 6:07 p.m.
CST
Elapsed time: 3:25
Game attendance: 85,269
Game weather: 79°, Mostly Cloudy
Referee: Ken Williamson
TV announcers (SECRN): Bob Rathbun (play-by-play), David Archer (color), Jenn Hildreth (sidelines)

Source: Mississippi State vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - September 12, 2009

West Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
West Virginia	21	0	9	0	30
• Auburn	10	10	7	14	41

Date: September 19
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 7:50 p.m.
ESPN2): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Bob Davie
(color)

Source: West Virginia vs. Auburn - College Football Game Recap - September 19, 2009

Ball State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ball State	7	3	7	13	30
• Auburn	7	26	14	7	54

Date: September 26
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 6:30 p.m.
CST
Elapsed time: 3:19
Game attendance: 83,118
Game weather: 73°, Mostly Cloudy
Referee: Ken Williamson
TV announcers (SECRN): Bob Rathbun (play-by-play), David Archer (color), Jenn Hildreth (sidelines)

Source: Ball State vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - September 26, 2009

Tennessee

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Auburn	6	7	3	10	26
Tennessee	0	6	0	16	22

Date: October 3
Location:
ESPN): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (color), Erin Andrews
(sidelines)

Source: Auburn vs. Tennessee - College Football Game Recap - October 3, 2009

Arkansas

	1	2	3	4	Total
#17 Auburn	0	3	20	0	23
• Arkansas	6	21	7	10	44

Date: October 10
Location:
CST
Elapsed time: 3:22
Game attendance: 72,559
Game weather: 45°, Overcast
Referee: Matt Austin
TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Bob Griese and Chris Spielman (color)

Source: Auburn vs. Arkansas - College Football Box Score - October 10, 2009

Kentucky

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Kentucky	0	7	0	14	21
Auburn	7	7	0	0	14

Date: October 17
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 6:35 p.m.
CST
Elapsed time: 3:24
Game attendance: 86,217
Game weather: 48°, Cloudy
Referee: Tom Ritter
TV announcers (ESPNU): Eric Collins (play-by-play), Brock Huard (color)

Sources: Kentucky vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - October 17, 2009

LSU

Tiger Bowl

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	0	0	3	7	10
• #9 LSU	14	3	14	0	31

Date: October 24
Location:
CST
Elapsed time: 3:21
Game attendance: 92,654
Game weather: 64°, 42% Humidity
Referee: Hubert Owens
TV announcers (ESPN2): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Bob Davie (color)

Sources: Auburn vs. LSU - College Football Box Score - October 24, 2009

Ole Miss

	1	2	3	4	Total
#24 Ole Miss	7	0	13	0	20
• Auburn	3	7	23	0	33

Date: October 31
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 11:21 a.m.
CST
Elapsed time: 3:35
Game attendance: 84,756
Game weather: 57°, Cloudy
Referee: Penn Wagers
TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sidelines)

Sources: Ole Miss vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - October 31, 2009

Furman

2009 Homecoming Game

	1	2	3	4	Total
Furman	3	0	14	14	31
• Auburn	21	21	7	14	63

Date: November 7
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 12:35 p.m.
CST
Elapsed time: 2:54
Game attendance: 81,506
Game weather: 68°, Sunny
Referee: Hubert Owens
TV announcers (PPV): Andy Burcham (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (color), Melissa Lee (sidelines)

Sources: Furman vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - November 7, 2009

Georgia

Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	14	0	3	7	24
• Georgia	0	7	10	14	31

Date: November 14
Location:
CST
Elapsed time: 3:27
Game attendance: 92,746
Game weather: 65°, Clear
Referee: Matt Austin
TV announcers (ESPN2): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Bob Davie (color)

Sources: Auburn vs. Georgia - College Football Box Score - November 14, 2009

Alabama

Iron Bowl

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #2 Alabama	0	14	6	6	26
Auburn	14	0	7	0	21

Date: November 27
Location: Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Game start: 1:40 p.m.
CBS): Craig Bolerjack (play-by-play), Steve Beuerlein
(color)

Sources: Alabama vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - November 27, 2009

Northwestern

2010 Outback Bowl

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Northwestern	7	0	14	14	0	35
• Auburn	14	7	0	14	3	38

Date: January 1, 2010
Location:
CST
Elapsed time: 4:05
Game attendance: 49,383
Game weather: 63°, Cloudy
Referee: Greg Burks
TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Bob Griese and Chris Spielman (color), Rob Stone (sidelines)

Sources: Northwestern vs. Auburn - College Football Box Score - January 1, 2010

References

^ "AndersonSports: The Jeff Anderson & Chris Hester College Football Computer Rankings - Part of the BCS Rankings".
^ "Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings". USA Today. April 1, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
^ "Massey Ratings - CF". Archived from the original on January 13, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
^ "2021 College Football".
^ "2009 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings". www.jhowell.net.
^ "David Wilson's Homepage".
^ "College Football Power Ratings - College FB Team Overall Power Rating".
^ Men's college football standings
^ Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report. Total Offense
^ "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report. Total Defense". NCAA. 2009.
^ "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report. Pass Efficiency Defense". NCAA. 2009.
^ Low, Chris; Schlabach, Mark; Griffin, Tim (December 13, 2008). "Iowa State confirms Chizik taking Auburn job". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
^ "Sporting News: Auburn hires Gene Chizik as football coach". Archived from the original on December 16, 2008.
^ "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
^ "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Ball State Cardinals vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Auburn Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Auburn Tigers vs. LSU Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Mississippi Rebels vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Furman Paladins vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
^ "2009 Auburn Tigers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
^ "Auburn Tigers Preview 2009 Depth Chart". May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
^ Woodberry, Evan (December 2, 2009). "Auburn's Daren Bates Named to All-SEC Freshman Team". The Birmingham News. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^ Brietzke, Luke (December 29, 2009). "Primary Emphasis on Secondary". TimesDaily. Florence. Retrieved August 2, 2011.

[1] "AndersonSports: The Jeff Anderson & Chris Hester College Football Computer Rankings - Part of the BCS Rankings".

[2] "Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings". USA Today. April 1, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2010.

[3] "Massey Ratings - CF". Archived from the original on January 13, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.

[4] "2021 College Football".

[5] "2009 NCAA Division IA Football Power Ratings". www.jhowell.net.

[6] "David Wilson's Homepage".

[7] "College Football Power Ratings - College FB Team Overall Power Rating".

[8] Men's college football standings

[9] Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report. Total Offense

[10] "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report. Total Defense". NCAA. 2009.

[11] "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report. Pass Efficiency Defense". NCAA. 2009.

[12] Low, Chris; Schlabach, Mark; Griffin, Tim (December 13, 2008). "Iowa State confirms Chizik taking Auburn job". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved November 22, 2024.

[13] "Sporting News: Auburn hires Gene Chizik as football coach". Archived from the original on December 16, 2008.

[14] "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2012.

[15] "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[16] "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[17] "Ball State Cardinals vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[18] "Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[19] "Auburn Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[20] "Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[21] "Auburn Tigers vs. LSU Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[22] "Mississippi Rebels vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[23] "Furman Paladins vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[24] "Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[25] "Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[26] "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.

[2009_schedule-27] "2009 Auburn Tigers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2024.

[28] "Auburn Tigers Preview 2009 Depth Chart". May 25, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011.

[29] Woodberry, Evan (December 2, 2009). "Auburn's Daren Bates Named to All-SEC Freshman Team". The Birmingham News. Retrieved August 2, 2011.

[30] Brietzke, Luke (December 29, 2009). "Primary Emphasis on Secondary". TimesDaily. Florence. Retrieved August 2, 2011.

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v t e Auburn Tigers football
Venues	Drill Field (1892–1910) Drake Field (1911–1939) Legion Field (alternate, 1926–1991) Jordan-Hare Stadium (1939–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama: Iron Bowl (Foy–ODK Sportsmanship Trophy) Clemson Florida Georgia: Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Georgia Tech LSU Ole Miss Tennessee Tulane
Culture & lore	History Traditions Aubie "War Eagle" Marching band Toomer's Corner Punt Bama Punt Earthquake Game Prayer at Jordan-Hare Kick Six (Kick Bama Kick) Porter Cup
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks Statistical leaders NFL draftees
Seasons	1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold