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

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<IMG SRC="/pic/leard01.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=186 ALT="Ben Leard" BORDER=1 ALIGN=LEFT HSPACE=5>
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<FONT SIZE=2><B>Ben Leard starts his first game tonight against the nationally ranked Virginia Cavaliers
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<P><FONT SIZE=6><B>A</B></FONT>s sophomore quarterback Ben Leard adjusts his tie and slips on his jacket and prepares to leave the peaceful confines of Sewell Hall to participate in Tiger Walk tonight, he will be taking the first steps in an experience in which no other Auburn signal-caller has ever faced.

<P>Many quarterbacks before him have felt the slap of hands on their backs and had orange and blue pom poms waved in their faces as they make the journey to Jordan-Hare Stadium. And many have done this for the first time before their first collegiate start.

<P>But amid the butterflies and fanfare, Leard comes into tonight's game. with a test unlike any that his predecessors have faced. The native of Hartwell, Ga. will have to lead his Tigers as they host their first-ever ranked opponent in a season opener.

<P>Think back and try to name a team that Auburn opened against at Jordan-Hare Stadium that was ranked in the Associated Press top 25. You won't find one. Virginia, preseason ranked 16th by AP, is the first ranked team in 106 years of Auburn football to come to the Plains for the opening game of the season.

<P>In fact, Virginia is only the fourth ranked team that Auburn has faced in the first game. In 1984, the top-ranked Tigers fell to 10th ranked Miami 20-18 in East Rutherford, N.J. In Auburn's national championship season of 1957, the Tigers upset eighth-ranked Tennessee 7-0 in Knoxville and in 1952, Auburn fell to second-ranked Maryland 13-7 in Birmingham in the first game of the season.

<P>So Leard won't have the luxury of starting his season against one of the 87 schools in Division I-A football that aren't in the top 25. Unlike Dameyune Craig who began his career against UAB which was playing its first game as a Division I-A team, or Patrick Nix, who played at unranked Ole Miss in the season opener, Leard will see his first action against one of the top teams in the nation.

<P>Although Auburn's young OB will be tested early, the dividends will pay off in experience. This season, he will have to face five teams that are currently ranked in the top 25, including three that hold spots in the top 10. Leard, who answered questions all spring and summer about the upcoming challenges, is ready for the starting assignment.

<P> "I feel extremely comfortable with what we're doing," Leard said. "The coaches are taking time and making sure I get everything down pat and building on that."

<P>Virginia's quarterback, Aaron Brooks knows exactly what Leard is going through. Last season, when Auburn traveled to Charlottesville, it was Brooks who was earning his first starting nod while facing a seasoned quarterback in Dameyune Craig. The UVA junior responded by throwing for 305 yards, the most ever for a Virginia quarterback making his first career start, but fell short in leading his team to a win as 16th-ranked Auburn took the game 28-17.

<P>The quarterback roles are reversed this season, but Leard has had the advantage of following and learning from one of Auburn's top field generals in Craig.

<P> "He told me to work on the little things," Leard said. "And he told me to be patient. He said the good days are never as good as you think and the bad days are never as bad as you think."

<P>Although Leard faces an early test, he can draw from the experience and knowledge of his predecessors. As he makes his way through the throng of people on the way into the stadium, it will be just one of many Tiger Walks for Auburn's starting quarterback.

<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=144 BORDER=0>
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<IMG SRC="/pic/bowden10.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=255 ALT="Coach Terry Bowden" BORDER=1>
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<FONT SIZE=2><B>Terry Bowden is undefeated in season openers at Auburn, with a perfect record of 5-0
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<P><B>Changes Galore:</B>

<P>Don't be surprised if you catch Terry Bowden or some of his players taking a quick peek at the  endzone scoreboard. The coaches and team, like the rest of 85,000+ fans at tonight's game, will certainly be interested in the newest addition to the stadium.

<P>The new scoreboard comes complete with live action and replay capabilities. And that isn't the only change to the stadium as video monitors and murals have also been added in the concourses and the new word marks will appear in the endzones.

<P>For more detailed information on the additions to the stadium, please see "Instant Replay" on page 45.

<P>There are other changes that fans will notice for the first time tonight. Auburn's uniform, which has been called one of the prettiest in the nation, will don the new Tiger Eyes mark on the front of the pants. Also, an SEC logo has been added to the top left corner of the jersey.

<P>As Auburn prepares to enter the new millennium, it continues to grow and change. Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum is undergoing a $10 million facelift that will include the addition of coaches' offices overlooking the court and new scorer tables. A new indoor practice facility is being built adjacent to the football practice fields and the first phase of a $2.3 million softball stadium is almost complete. Lights have been added to the Luther Young Tennis Center and Wilbur Hutsell Track. Each of these additions have helped make all of Auburn's athletic facilities some of the finest in the South and in the nation.

<P><B>The Lid-Lifters:</B>

<P>Auburn has an 82-21-2 record in season-opening games. The Tigers won last year's season opener on the road against Virginia, 28-17. Auburn has won 12 of its last 13 season openers. The Tigers lone season-opening loss since 1985 came at Ole Miss in 1992, 45-21.

<P>Auburn has won 14 consecutive season openers played at home since 1976. Memphis was the last team to spoil an Auburn season opener at Jordan-Hare Stadium, winning 31-20 in 1975 in Shug Jordan's last season as head coach. Overall, the Tigers are 39-3-1 when kicking the season off at home.

<P><B>Welcome ESPN, Again:</B>

<P>Tonight's televised game by ESPN marks Auburn 34th appearance on the total sports network, more than any other school in the nation. The Tigers are 20-11-2 on ESPN and have a six-game winning streak on the network with victories over Army in the Independence Bowl in 1996 and wins over Virginia, LSU, Georgia, Alabama and Clemson in the Peach Bowl last season.

<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>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT COLOR="#FF8000"><I>Auburn vs. Virginia</I></FONT></H3>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER>by Meredith Jenkins</H3>

	<TABLE WIDTH=144 ALIGN=LEFT>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<IMG SRC="/pic/leard01.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=186 ALT="Ben Leard" BORDER=1 ALIGN=LEFT HSPACE=5>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=2><B>Ben Leard starts his first game tonight against the nationally ranked Virginia Cavaliers
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P><FONT SIZE=6><B>A</B></FONT>s sophomore quarterback Ben Leard adjusts his tie and slips on his jacket and prepares to leave the peaceful confines of Sewell Hall to participate in Tiger Walk tonight, he will be taking the first steps in an experience in which no other Auburn signal-caller has ever faced.

	<P>Many quarterbacks before him have felt the slap of hands on their backs and had orange and blue pom poms waved in their faces as they make the journey to Jordan-Hare Stadium. And many have done this for the first time before their first collegiate start.

	<P>But amid the butterflies and fanfare, Leard comes into tonight's game. with a test unlike any that his predecessors have faced. The native of Hartwell, Ga. will have to lead his Tigers as they host their first-ever ranked opponent in a season opener.

	<P>Think back and try to name a team that Auburn opened against at Jordan-Hare Stadium that was ranked in the Associated Press top 25. You won't find one. Virginia, preseason ranked 16th by AP, is the first ranked team in 106 years of Auburn football to come to the Plains for the opening game of the season.

	<P>In fact, Virginia is only the fourth ranked team that Auburn has faced in the first game. In 1984, the top-ranked Tigers fell to 10th ranked Miami 20-18 in East Rutherford, N.J. In Auburn's national championship season of 1957, the Tigers upset eighth-ranked Tennessee 7-0 in Knoxville and in 1952, Auburn fell to second-ranked Maryland 13-7 in Birmingham in the first game of the season.

	<P>So Leard won't have the luxury of starting his season against one of the 87 schools in Division I-A football that aren't in the top 25. Unlike Dameyune Craig who began his career against UAB which was playing its first game as a Division I-A team, or Patrick Nix, who played at unranked Ole Miss in the season opener, Leard will see his first action against one of the top teams in the nation.

	<P>Although Auburn's young OB will be tested early, the dividends will pay off in experience. This season, he will have to face five teams that are currently ranked in the top 25, including three that hold spots in the top 10. Leard, who answered questions all spring and summer about the upcoming challenges, is ready for the starting assignment.

	<P> "I feel extremely comfortable with what we're doing," Leard said. "The coaches are taking time and making sure I get everything down pat and building on that."

	<P>Virginia's quarterback, Aaron Brooks knows exactly what Leard is going through. Last season, when Auburn traveled to Charlottesville, it was Brooks who was earning his first starting nod while facing a seasoned quarterback in Dameyune Craig. The UVA junior responded by throwing for 305 yards, the most ever for a Virginia quarterback making his first career start, but fell short in leading his team to a win as 16th-ranked Auburn took the game 28-17.

	<P>The quarterback roles are reversed this season, but Leard has had the advantage of following and learning from one of Auburn's top field generals in Craig.

	<P> "He told me to work on the little things," Leard said. "And he told me to be patient. He said the good days are never as good as you think and the bad days are never as bad as you think."

	<P>Although Leard faces an early test, he can draw from the experience and knowledge of his predecessors. As he makes his way through the throng of people on the way into the stadium, it will be just one of many Tiger Walks for Auburn's starting quarterback.

	<TABLE ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=144 BORDER=0>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<IMG SRC="/pic/bowden10.jpg" WIDTH=144 HEIGHT=255 ALT="Coach Terry Bowden" BORDER=1>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<FONT SIZE=2><B>Terry Bowden is undefeated in season openers at Auburn, with a perfect record of 5-0
	<HR>
	</TD>
	</TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P><B>Changes Galore:</B>

	<P>Don't be surprised if you catch Terry Bowden or some of his players taking a quick peek at the endzone scoreboard. The coaches and team, like the rest of 85,000+ fans at tonight's game, will certainly be interested in the newest addition to the stadium.

	<P>The new scoreboard comes complete with live action and replay capabilities. And that isn't the only change to the stadium as video monitors and murals have also been added in the concourses and the new word marks will appear in the endzones.

	<P>For more detailed information on the additions to the stadium, please see "Instant Replay" on page 45.

	<P>There are other changes that fans will notice for the first time tonight. Auburn's uniform, which has been called one of the prettiest in the nation, will don the new Tiger Eyes mark on the front of the pants. Also, an SEC logo has been added to the top left corner of the jersey.

	<P>As Auburn prepares to enter the new millennium, it continues to grow and change. Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum is undergoing a $10 million facelift that will include the addition of coaches' offices overlooking the court and new scorer tables. A new indoor practice facility is being built adjacent to the football practice fields and the first phase of a $2.3 million softball stadium is almost complete. Lights have been added to the Luther Young Tennis Center and Wilbur Hutsell Track. Each of these additions have helped make all of Auburn's athletic facilities some of the finest in the South and in the nation.

	<P><B>The Lid-Lifters:</B>

	<P>Auburn has an 82-21-2 record in season-opening games. The Tigers won last year's season opener on the road against Virginia, 28-17. Auburn has won 12 of its last 13 season openers. The Tigers lone season-opening loss since 1985 came at Ole Miss in 1992, 45-21.

	<P>Auburn has won 14 consecutive season openers played at home since 1976. Memphis was the last team to spoil an Auburn season opener at Jordan-Hare Stadium, winning 31-20 in 1975 in Shug Jordan's last season as head coach. Overall, the Tigers are 39-3-1 when kicking the season off at home.

	<P><B>Welcome ESPN, Again:</B>

	<P>Tonight's televised game by ESPN marks Auburn 34th appearance on the total sports network, more than any other school in the nation. The Tigers are 20-11-2 on ESPN and have a six-game winning streak on the network with victories over Army in the Independence Bowl in 1996 and wins over Virginia, LSU, Georgia, Alabama and Clemson in the Peach Bowl last season.

	<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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