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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER> CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'</H1>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER> Tigers Welcome Dangerous WAC Foe Fresno State </H2>
<H3 ALIGN=CENTER> by Scott Stricklin </H3>

<P>
The name isn't one usually associated with bowl games and big wins, but Fresno State, Auburn's opponent tonight at Jordan-Hare Stadium, has had its share of both in recent years.  </P>
<P>
What they bring to the field tonight is a tough, intersectional opponent which should prepare Auburn for the SEC rigors that lie ahead.  And with Auburn fans longing for more interesting non-conference matchups, the Tigers appear to have one on their hands this evening. </P>
<P>
During the decade of the 90s, Fresno State has been bowling on three occasions, including the 1992 Freedom and 1993 Aloha.  The Bulldogs can also name BYU, Washington State, Colorado State, Air Force, San Diego State, Cal and Southern Cal among their victims since 1991. </P>
<P>
Perhaps Fresno State doesn't excite the Auburn faithful the way Florida State will beginning in 1999, but Tiger fans can't complain of boredom tonight the way they have when Auburn matched up against UT-Chattanooga, East Tennessee State and others in the past. </P>
<P>
Fresno State gave Auburn a glimpse of its toughness in last Saturday's season opener.  The Bulldogs led Pac-10 contender Oregon, 24-21, late in the game before the Ducks tied it on a last-minute field goal.  Oregon went on to claim a 30-27, overtime win in a game which was statistically dominated by Fresno State. </P>
<P>
The Bulldogs are led by one of the living legends of college coaching.  Jim Sweeney is in his 19th year at Fresno State and needs just four more wins to reach career victory No. 200. </P>
<P>
During his time at Fresno, Sweeney has had 35 players drafted by the NFL, including Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer and Washington wide receiver Henry Ellard. </P>
<P>

<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B>AUBURN AND CALIFORNIA</B></H3><BR>
The Tigers have an all-time record of 3-1 against schools from California.  Most recently, Auburn defeated Cal State Fullerton, 38-17, in 1990.  Prior to that, the Tigers defeated Pacific (55-0) in 1989 and Southern Cal (16-7) in the 1987 Citrus Bowl. </P>
<P>
Auburn's first game against a California school occurred in San Francisco in 1936, when the 16th-ranked Tigers dropped a 12-0 decision to No. 19 Santa Clara. </P>
<P>
<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B> TIGERS GET A KICK OUT OF HOLMES </B></H3><BR>
<IMG ALT="Jaret Holmes" ALIGN =RIGHT WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=265 BORDER=2 SRC="pic/holmskik.jpg">
You may not get a second chance to make a first impression, but for <B>Jaret Holmes</B> (pictured right), his second impression is definitely the one he wants remembered. </P>
<P>
When Holmes began last April's A-Day game with a kickoff that landed 15 yards shy of the goal line, the crowd of over 30,000 groaned in disapproval. </P>
<P>
A crowd over twice as big cheered Holmes wildly last Saturday in his second outing at Jordan-Hare.  After sending the game's opening kickoff seven yards deep into the endzone, Holmes, a JUCO All-American from Clinton, Miss., proceeded to kick five field goals, add a 47-yard punt and put four of his seven kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks. </P>
<P>
One of his field goals was from 50 yards out, making him the first Auburn kicker in nine years to hit from that distance. </P>
<P>
After his disappointing A-Day performance, Holmes told anyone who would listen that it was a fluke.  After last Saturday, Auburn's players, coaches and fans believed. </P>
<P>
<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B> SPIRIT OF AUBURN </B></H3><BR>

The Spirit of Auburn Festival, an exciting interactive fan exhibit patterned after SEC Fanfare, will be opened in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum Sept. 20-21 during the LSU weekend. </P>
<P>
Planned activities include a kids clinic on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9:30-11:00 a.m.  Former Auburn greats Byron Franklin and Randy Campbell will be on hand to instruct youngsters on basic football skills. </P>
<P>
Fans of all ages will enjoy interactive tests of passing, running and kicking skills.  In addition, a Press Box Stage will feature past heroes of Auburn football such as Quentin Riggins, Jimmy Sidle, Liston Eddins, Billy Hitchcock, Pat Sullivan, Babe McGee, Mike Kolen, Ed Dyas, Buddy McClinton, Zeke Smith, Lloyd Nix, Connie Frederick, Pat Dye, Benji Roland, Darrel Crawford, Terry Beasley and others.
The festival will be opened from 4-10 p.m. Friday night and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. </P>
<IMG ALT="Ricky Neal" ALIGN =RIGHT WIDTH=155 HEIGHT=200 BORDER=2 SRC="pic/nealtjh.jpg">

<P>
<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B> AU NOTES </B></H3>
Nine Tigers made their first career start last Saturday against UAB, including a trio of offensive linemen: James Kiger, T.J. Dunigan and Jeno James ... Another Tiger making his first career start was inside linebacker <B>Ricky Neal</B> (pictured right).  Neal responded by tying for team honors with 12 tackles (six solos, six assists), recording a tackle for loss, causing a fumble and intercepting a pass ... Last Saturday's shutout of UAB was the 41st time in defensive coordinator Bill Oliver's 25 years as an SEC and ACC coach that his defense has produced a goose egg ... Auburn has won its last 14 regular-season non-conference games, dating back to 1991.  Terry Bowden is 10-0 against non-SEC teams in regular-season play. </P>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>&copy; 1997 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>

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	<TITLE>Today in Jordan-Hare</TITLE>

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	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER> CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'</H1>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER> Tigers Welcome Dangerous WAC Foe Fresno State </H2>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER> by Scott Stricklin </H3>

	<P>
	The name isn't one usually associated with bowl games and big wins, but Fresno State, Auburn's opponent tonight at Jordan-Hare Stadium, has had its share of both in recent years. </P>
	<P>
	What they bring to the field tonight is a tough, intersectional opponent which should prepare Auburn for the SEC rigors that lie ahead. And with Auburn fans longing for more interesting non-conference matchups, the Tigers appear to have one on their hands this evening. </P>
	<P>
	During the decade of the 90s, Fresno State has been bowling on three occasions, including the 1992 Freedom and 1993 Aloha. The Bulldogs can also name BYU, Washington State, Colorado State, Air Force, San Diego State, Cal and Southern Cal among their victims since 1991. </P>
	<P>
	Perhaps Fresno State doesn't excite the Auburn faithful the way Florida State will beginning in 1999, but Tiger fans can't complain of boredom tonight the way they have when Auburn matched up against UT-Chattanooga, East Tennessee State and others in the past. </P>
	<P>
	Fresno State gave Auburn a glimpse of its toughness in last Saturday's season opener. The Bulldogs led Pac-10 contender Oregon, 24-21, late in the game before the Ducks tied it on a last-minute field goal. Oregon went on to claim a 30-27, overtime win in a game which was statistically dominated by Fresno State. </P>
	<P>
	The Bulldogs are led by one of the living legends of college coaching. Jim Sweeney is in his 19th year at Fresno State and needs just four more wins to reach career victory No. 200. </P>
	<P>
	During his time at Fresno, Sweeney has had 35 players drafted by the NFL, including Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer and Washington wide receiver Henry Ellard. </P>
	<P>

	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B>AUBURN AND CALIFORNIA</B></H3><BR>
	The Tigers have an all-time record of 3-1 against schools from California. Most recently, Auburn defeated Cal State Fullerton, 38-17, in 1990. Prior to that, the Tigers defeated Pacific (55-0) in 1989 and Southern Cal (16-7) in the 1987 Citrus Bowl. </P>
	<P>
	Auburn's first game against a California school occurred in San Francisco in 1936, when the 16th-ranked Tigers dropped a 12-0 decision to No. 19 Santa Clara. </P>
	<P>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B> TIGERS GET A KICK OUT OF HOLMES </B></H3><BR>
	<IMG ALT="Jaret Holmes" ALIGN =RIGHT WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=265 BORDER=2 SRC="pic/holmskik.jpg">
	You may not get a second chance to make a first impression, but for <B>Jaret Holmes</B> (pictured right), his second impression is definitely the one he wants remembered. </P>
	<P>
	When Holmes began last April's A-Day game with a kickoff that landed 15 yards shy of the goal line, the crowd of over 30,000 groaned in disapproval. </P>
	<P>
	A crowd over twice as big cheered Holmes wildly last Saturday in his second outing at Jordan-Hare. After sending the game's opening kickoff seven yards deep into the endzone, Holmes, a JUCO All-American from Clinton, Miss., proceeded to kick five field goals, add a 47-yard punt and put four of his seven kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks. </P>
	<P>
	One of his field goals was from 50 yards out, making him the first Auburn kicker in nine years to hit from that distance. </P>
	<P>
	After his disappointing A-Day performance, Holmes told anyone who would listen that it was a fluke. After last Saturday, Auburn's players, coaches and fans believed. </P>
	<P>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B> SPIRIT OF AUBURN </B></H3><BR>

	The Spirit of Auburn Festival, an exciting interactive fan exhibit patterned after SEC Fanfare, will be opened in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum Sept. 20-21 during the LSU weekend. </P>
	<P>
	Planned activities include a kids clinic on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Former Auburn greats Byron Franklin and Randy Campbell will be on hand to instruct youngsters on basic football skills. </P>
	<P>
	Fans of all ages will enjoy interactive tests of passing, running and kicking skills. In addition, a Press Box Stage will feature past heroes of Auburn football such as Quentin Riggins, Jimmy Sidle, Liston Eddins, Billy Hitchcock, Pat Sullivan, Babe McGee, Mike Kolen, Ed Dyas, Buddy McClinton, Zeke Smith, Lloyd Nix, Connie Frederick, Pat Dye, Benji Roland, Darrel Crawford, Terry Beasley and others.
	The festival will be opened from 4-10 p.m. Friday night and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. </P>
	<IMG ALT="Ricky Neal" ALIGN =RIGHT WIDTH=155 HEIGHT=200 BORDER=2 SRC="pic/nealtjh.jpg">

	<P>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><B> AU NOTES </B></H3>
	Nine Tigers made their first career start last Saturday against UAB, including a trio of offensive linemen: James Kiger, T.J. Dunigan and Jeno James ... Another Tiger making his first career start was inside linebacker <B>Ricky Neal</B> (pictured right). Neal responded by tying for team honors with 12 tackles (six solos, six assists), recording a tackle for loss, causing a fumble and intercepting a pass ... Last Saturday's shutout of UAB was the 41st time in defensive coordinator Bill Oliver's 25 years as an SEC and ACC coach that his defense has produced a goose egg ... Auburn has won its last 14 regular-season non-conference games, dating back to 1991. Terry Bowden is 10-0 against non-SEC teams in regular-season play. </P>

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