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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000040">Today In Jordan-Hare</H1></FONT>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT COLOR="#FF8000"><I>Auburn vs. Louisiana Tech</I></FONT></H2>
<H3 ALIGN=CENTER>by Meredith Jenkins</H3>

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<IMG SRC="/pic/gross01.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=309 ALT="Gabe Gross" BORDER=1 ALIGN=LEFT HSPACE=5>
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<FONT SIZE=2><B>Gabe Gross is the first true freshman to start at quarterback since 1981.
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<P><FONT SIZE=6><B>H</B></FONT>is dad prepared him for this day. He told him stories about the fanfare, the crowds, the noise and the experiences of being an Auburn football player. Of course, his father, a former All-SEC center at Auburn, also thought his advice would be tucked back in the corner of his son's mind and held for a little while, maybe even a whole season.

<P>But when Gabe Gross was thrust into playing against Tennessee, that advice was suddenly much more pertinent. When Ben Leard came off the field, holding his elbow and hand which had ballooned to twice its size, Gross didn't have much time to think. It was time to react.

<P>On his first play, the 6'3" true freshman lined up behind his friend and fellow freshman, center Ben Nowland on the goal line. Gross stared into a sea of light orange and yelled the count amid the cries of 20,000 Tennessee faithful crammed into the north end zone. A short yard away was pay dirt, and a score would cut Tennessee's lead to 17-10, but nine white Vol jerseys crowded the box making that single yard seem a mile away. None of the center to quarterback exchanges were clean and Auburn was in the same place three plays later.

<P>The Tigers would not score on fourth down either. A running play lost a yard on the last chance and Tennessee took over on downs.

<P>Gross would have scripted himself a better welcome to the SEC. But there is learning with every experience and he, along with first-year players Ben Nowland and Michael Burks, have been quickly indoctrinated into the world of big-time college football this season.

<P>Each of the players made a meteoric rise on the Auburn depth chart, thanks in part because of injuries. A short season ago, they were dominating the high school ranks and dreaming of this day. Gross and Nowland, who share a room, used to laugh to themselves about what it would be like when they finally got to play. When they learned that they would both be starting the Mississippi State game, the conversation suddenly dried up. The experience and everything that goes with it, from the fear to the excitement, was just too much to talk about.

<P>But this is the stuff that stories are made of, and the media has surrounded each player with tape recorders and microphones. Gross, who only had to do a handful of interviews in his first month at Auburn, now meets dozens from the press each Tuesday. Television cameras pack around him and mike clips are pinned all over his collar as he patiently answers each question. By now, many know why he wears #22 (it's his father, Lee's number, #55 turned upside down), how he feels about each opponent, how he prepares for each game and how it feels to compete for the starting job as a true freshman. The questions go on and on and Gross answers each one of them with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

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<IMG SRC="/pic/burks01.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=257 ALT="Michael Burks" BORDER=1 ALIGN=LEFT HSPACE=5>
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<FONT SIZE=2><B>Michael Burks is one of three true freshmen to start games this season.
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<P>Nowland also became a popular story for his rise from high school wrestler to Auburn's starting center. He almost played in the Ivy League for the University of Pennsylvania but at the last moment, he was offered a scholarship to play for the Tigers. During interviews, a grin always seemed to be forming on the corners of his mouth and the sometimes incredulous look on his face seemed to iterate the fact that he wasn't quite sure how he ended up in this place.

<P>The freshman from St. Augustine, FL gained additional notoriety by becoming the third center to break his foot when he was injured on the Tuesday of the Florida game week. Going through five players at one position is almost unheard of, making some question whether the center position may be jinxed. Colin Sears, a sophomore, is listed as the current starter with yet another true freshman, William Clifton of Opelika as his backup. The changes have caused several players to be involved in crash courses in learning new positions and assignments.

<P>Youth and injury have been the dominant themes for Auburn's offense this season. Seven of Auburn's starters on the offensive side of the ball are either freshmen or sophomores. In addition to true freshmen Burks and Gross, five players: Sears, Tellie Embery, Marcus Autry, Tim Castro and Clifton Robinson are all sophomores. Seven players listed as back-ups on the depth chart are also underclassmen. Had redshirt freshman Heath Evans not broken his leg, all four players in Auburn's I-Formation against Mississippi State would have been freshmen. And Gross is the first true freshman in 17 seasons to start at quarterback.
But there hasn't been much time for any of Auburn's young players to reflect on their play or get caught up in the moment. Instead, they're too busy learning.

<P>What a difference a year makes. When Louisiana Tech visited Jordan-Hare Stadium last season, fifth-year senior Dameyune Craig and a host of other upper-classmen led the Tigers to a 49-13 victory. Seniors Hicks Poor, Fred Beasley and Tyrone Goodson scored four of Auburn's seven touchdowns.

<P>Although Auburn's offense has a completely different look, its defense from a year ago is almost the same unit and is currently ranked second in the SEC in team and passing defense. The group is currently only giving up a sparse 266.5 yards per game despite facing three top ten teams in the first six games.

<P>Louisiana Tech's high-flying aerial attack will certainly test Auburn's pass defense. Led by senior quarterback Tim Rattay, the Bulldogs bring the nation's top rated passing offense into the game. This year, Rattay has passed for a gaudy 3,303 yards, averaging 412.9 yards a game. Last season against Auburn, the signal-caller threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

<P> "I've seen their stats and they're an outstanding team," said head coach Terry Bowden. "They have a great passing attack and a very smart quarterback as far as knowing what to do in each situation."

<P>For Auburn quarterback Gabe Gross, it will mark his first game against a non-conference opponent. Having earned his battle stripes against top-five ranked Tennessee and Florida, Gross has been prepared for all kinds of different situations as have his fellow underclassmen. The young players have undergone baptism by fire but this week presents yet another test.

<P>Perhaps some of that advice would come in handy now.

<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> | <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> | <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>&copy; 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


</BODY>
</HTML>
	<HTML>

	<HEAD>

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

	</HEAD>

	<BODY <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">>

	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT COLOR="#000040">Today In Jordan-Hare</H1></FONT>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT COLOR="#FF8000"><I>Auburn vs. Louisiana Tech</I></FONT></H2>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER>by Meredith Jenkins</H3>

	<TABLE WIDTH=162 ALIGN=RIGHT>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<IMG SRC="/pic/gross01.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=309 ALT="Gabe Gross" BORDER=1 ALIGN=LEFT HSPACE=5>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=2><B>Gabe Gross is the first true freshman to start at quarterback since 1981.
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P><FONT SIZE=6><B>H</B></FONT>is dad prepared him for this day. He told him stories about the fanfare, the crowds, the noise and the experiences of being an Auburn football player. Of course, his father, a former All-SEC center at Auburn, also thought his advice would be tucked back in the corner of his son's mind and held for a little while, maybe even a whole season.

	<P>But when Gabe Gross was thrust into playing against Tennessee, that advice was suddenly much more pertinent. When Ben Leard came off the field, holding his elbow and hand which had ballooned to twice its size, Gross didn't have much time to think. It was time to react.

	<P>On his first play, the 6'3" true freshman lined up behind his friend and fellow freshman, center Ben Nowland on the goal line. Gross stared into a sea of light orange and yelled the count amid the cries of 20,000 Tennessee faithful crammed into the north end zone. A short yard away was pay dirt, and a score would cut Tennessee's lead to 17-10, but nine white Vol jerseys crowded the box making that single yard seem a mile away. None of the center to quarterback exchanges were clean and Auburn was in the same place three plays later.

	<P>The Tigers would not score on fourth down either. A running play lost a yard on the last chance and Tennessee took over on downs.

	<P>Gross would have scripted himself a better welcome to the SEC. But there is learning with every experience and he, along with first-year players Ben Nowland and Michael Burks, have been quickly indoctrinated into the world of big-time college football this season.

	<P>Each of the players made a meteoric rise on the Auburn depth chart, thanks in part because of injuries. A short season ago, they were dominating the high school ranks and dreaming of this day. Gross and Nowland, who share a room, used to laugh to themselves about what it would be like when they finally got to play. When they learned that they would both be starting the Mississippi State game, the conversation suddenly dried up. The experience and everything that goes with it, from the fear to the excitement, was just too much to talk about.

	<P>But this is the stuff that stories are made of, and the media has surrounded each player with tape recorders and microphones. Gross, who only had to do a handful of interviews in his first month at Auburn, now meets dozens from the press each Tuesday. Television cameras pack around him and mike clips are pinned all over his collar as he patiently answers each question. By now, many know why he wears #22 (it's his father, Lee's number, #55 turned upside down), how he feels about each opponent, how he prepares for each game and how it feels to compete for the starting job as a true freshman. The questions go on and on and Gross answers each one of them with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

	<TABLE WIDTH=162 ALIGN=LEFT>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<IMG SRC="/pic/burks01.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=257 ALT="Michael Burks" BORDER=1 ALIGN=LEFT HSPACE=5>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=2><B>Michael Burks is one of three true freshmen to start games this season.
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P>Nowland also became a popular story for his rise from high school wrestler to Auburn's starting center. He almost played in the Ivy League for the University of Pennsylvania but at the last moment, he was offered a scholarship to play for the Tigers. During interviews, a grin always seemed to be forming on the corners of his mouth and the sometimes incredulous look on his face seemed to iterate the fact that he wasn't quite sure how he ended up in this place.

	<P>The freshman from St. Augustine, FL gained additional notoriety by becoming the third center to break his foot when he was injured on the Tuesday of the Florida game week. Going through five players at one position is almost unheard of, making some question whether the center position may be jinxed. Colin Sears, a sophomore, is listed as the current starter with yet another true freshman, William Clifton of Opelika as his backup. The changes have caused several players to be involved in crash courses in learning new positions and assignments.

	<P>Youth and injury have been the dominant themes for Auburn's offense this season. Seven of Auburn's starters on the offensive side of the ball are either freshmen or sophomores. In addition to true freshmen Burks and Gross, five players: Sears, Tellie Embery, Marcus Autry, Tim Castro and Clifton Robinson are all sophomores. Seven players listed as back-ups on the depth chart are also underclassmen. Had redshirt freshman Heath Evans not broken his leg, all four players in Auburn's I-Formation against Mississippi State would have been freshmen. And Gross is the first true freshman in 17 seasons to start at quarterback.
	But there hasn't been much time for any of Auburn's young players to reflect on their play or get caught up in the moment. Instead, they're too busy learning.

	<P>What a difference a year makes. When Louisiana Tech visited Jordan-Hare Stadium last season, fifth-year senior Dameyune Craig and a host of other upper-classmen led the Tigers to a 49-13 victory. Seniors Hicks Poor, Fred Beasley and Tyrone Goodson scored four of Auburn's seven touchdowns.

	<P>Although Auburn's offense has a completely different look, its defense from a year ago is almost the same unit and is currently ranked second in the SEC in team and passing defense. The group is currently only giving up a sparse 266.5 yards per game despite facing three top ten teams in the first six games.

	<P>Louisiana Tech's high-flying aerial attack will certainly test Auburn's pass defense. Led by senior quarterback Tim Rattay, the Bulldogs bring the nation's top rated passing offense into the game. This year, Rattay has passed for a gaudy 3,303 yards, averaging 412.9 yards a game. Last season against Auburn, the signal-caller threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

	<P> "I've seen their stats and they're an outstanding team," said head coach Terry Bowden. "They have a great passing attack and a very smart quarterback as far as knowing what to do in each situation."

	<P>For Auburn quarterback Gabe Gross, it will mark his first game against a non-conference opponent. Having earned his battle stripes against top-five ranked Tennessee and Florida, Gross has been prepared for all kinds of different situations as have his fellow underclassmen. The young players have undergone baptism by fire but this week presents yet another test.

	<P>Perhaps some of that advice would come in handy now.

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./" target="_top">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> \| <A HREF="../" target="_top">PROGRAM INDEX</A> \| <A HREF="../../index.html" target="_top">HOME</A></P>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>© 1999 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>


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