I will be headed down from Indy for the game on Saturday.  It's my first trip to Common Wealth and was hoping for some help with a good tailgate spot for visitors.  Anything would be appreciated.  Any common areas visiting teams congregate? Thanks for any help ahead of time....and I anticipate a great game!   War Eagle...

Did I mention I hate the 75 word rule on Fan Posts?  It's really iratating to have to keep typing words that really add no value to what you are trying to get across.

I'm headed to Lexington this upcoming weekend for my first game at Common Wealth stadium.  Is there anyone from TET going to the game and tailgating or does anyone have any insight as to a good spot to set up for the game?  I've done some research and there are some parking structures but I'm sure they are not made for tailgating.  Any info. would be much appreciated.  I would like to find a group of fans tailgating together so I can share some food and drinks with them.

On another note I have reserved and already paid for a room in Opelika for the LSU game.  This is for both Friday and Saturday nights.  I won't be making the the trip down for the game and don't want to waste the room.  If anyone could use them I'm willng to give you the information for the room and let you use them for FREE. Just my way of giving a gift to a lucky Tiger.  If your interested then please let me know and we can talk via e-mail.  I will send you the confirmation e-mail from the hotel.

Looks like CGC has completed his staff. Philip Lolley will move from the NFL Relations position to the on field staff.  I'm not sure what he will be doing.  It' nice to see a guy from around my area  (Butler)join the staff.  This is from the AU site:

Phillip Lolley           Hometown: Butler, Ala. Position: Director of NFL Relations Birthdate: 05/18/1954 Joined AU Staff:: 1999

Responsibility:
Handles NFL relations. Organizes the spring football coaching clinic.

Experience:
Helped coach the secondary at Auburn from 2000-03. Served as the conditioning coach at Auburn from 1999-2000. Head Coach at North Jackson (Ala.) High School from 1988-98. Head Coach at Stevenson High School, 1984-87. Defensive Coordinator at Demopolis High School, 1982-84. Head Coach at Warrior Academy, 1978-82. Assistant Coach at South Choctaw Academy, 1977-78.

Personal Information:
Born May 19, 1954 in Butler, Ala. Received B.S. from Livingston in 1977 and M.A. in 1981. Married to the former Ann Miller. One son, Brad, 31 and one daughter, Brittany, 19.

Also, it looks like we also stole Tommy Thigpin from UNC!!!!!!!!!!  I see this as a great add.  Just another GREAT JOB by CGC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Per Jay Tate:

OK. Here we go.

• (@9:22 a.m.) CB Izauea Lanier of Gordo High, an Auburn commitment, said matter-of-factly that QB Tyrik Rollison committed this weekend. Saying that and meaning that are two different things sometimes. Not sure what to make of that.
  
  
• (@9:11 a.m.) DT Jamar Travis from W.S. Neal High in Brewton has received an offer from Auburn. He seemed elated to have received that, but said he remains committed to Southern Miss right now. Travis said he intends to make a final decision tomorrow. Auburn and Southern Miss are the only candidates.
  
  
• LB Joel Kight and WR Travante Stallworth left from an alternate location. That means I wasn't able to get them today. It happens.
  
  
• A couple of administrative things. LBs DeDe Lattimore and Greg King didn't make the trip this weekend as previously reported. So they're not here. They may reschedule; they way not.
  
  
• QB Tyrik Rollison arrived on Saturday (he had a basketball game on Friday night) and won't leave until Monday. Prospects have 48 hours to tour each college. He won't be visible today.
  
  

As reported by Jay Tate we have a good bunch of recruits visiting this weekend.

You can view everything he wrote at   http://jaygtate.blogspot.com/

Auburn has several high-profile prospects headed for the Plains this weekend. Let's take a gander at the list. I'm putting them in order of how much they intrigue me:

• QB Tyrik Rollison (Sulphur Springs, Texas)
  
• DT Jamar Travis (E. Brewton)
  
• LB DeDe Lattimore (Athens, Ga.)
  
• LB Greg King (Memphis, Tenn.)
  
• DL Myles Wade (Eugene, Ore., by way of Arizona junior college)
  
• WR Travante Stallworth (Leesville, La.) **AUBURN COMMIT**
  
• LB Deontae Skinner (Macon, Miss.)
  
• DB Izauea Lanier (Gordo) **AUBURN COMMIT**
  
• LB Joel Kight (suburban Atlanta)
  
• OL Hunter Stout (Tampa, Fla.)
  
• QB Robert Cooper (Daphne)
  

I do have to say that Rollison  intrigues me.  Auburn is in the mix to get this kid along with Kansas State as his top 2.  He has not visited Kansas State.   He is a 4 star recruit at Rivals.....his mechanics will need a lot of work.  If you watch his highlights , he carries the ball away from his body and can't keep his feet still.   Does seem to have alot of upside wit his arm and speed though.

I received this yesterday...did anyone else get it?  If these are the specific characteristics he was looking for I can see why he made the hire.

December 15, 2008 Dear Auburn family, We began our search for a new head coach with a few fundamentally important criteria.   We wanted to find a man who would be the right fit for Auburn University. We wanted to find a man who would be committed to Auburn for years to come. We wanted someone with head coaching experience that would give our current student-athletes the best chance to compete next year. We wanted someone who would represent Auburn with character, class and integrity, who would coach our student-athletes to be successful on the field, in the classroom and in the game of life. We found our man in Gene Chizik. I thought it would be important for me to share what I saw in Coach Chizik in his time at Auburn and again during the interview process, and why I believe without a doubt that he is the right man for Auburn. Most importantly, Coach Chizik is a man of exceptional character and integrity who epitomizes what we should all want in a head coach. During his three years at Auburn, I saw first-hand how his words always matched his deeds. I saw his passion, his relentless work ethic and his burning desire to teach the game of football and build young men of character who will be successful students and good citizens. Throughout the search process, we interviewed a strong group of candidates, but Coach Chizik clearly rose to the top. Everyone we talked with about Coach Chizik spoke about his impeccable character, relentless work ethic, his relationships with his players and his ability to motivate them. During his time at Auburn as defensive coordinator, Coach Chizik was named the nation's top assistant coach. He was a part of back-to-back undefeated seasons at Auburn and then Texas, where his defense helped lead the Longhorns to a national championship. While Coach Chizik was clearly still in the process of building the program at Iowa State, he had a blueprint that he never deviated from and was continuing to build upon. Of all the coaches we interviewed, Coach Chizik best understood where Auburn is and where we can be. He outlined a clear plan for the future that will put us into position to consistently compete for championships. Other important factors that weighed heavily in my decision were Coach Chizik's experience competing in the Southeastern Conference and his reputation as a relentless recruiter. Coach Chizik is well known and highly respected among high school coaches throughout the Southeast and beyond. Those relationships will be invaluable during the recruiting process. I also wanted to share a few final thoughts about the search process we just concluded. We began with a list of six top candidates and worked diligently to find out which man was the best fit for Auburn. We did not talk to any coaches without first going through the proper channels and following the proper protocol. That is the way we are going to conduct business now and in the future, regardless of what is said or written. The search to find the right man for Auburn reminded me how fortunate we are to be a part of something bigger than any one of us. We have an opportunity to impact the lives of countless student-athletes and to bring credit to Auburn University on the football field and far beyond. In closing, please know that whatever differences we may have about the best way to get where we all want to go, I personally appreciate the passion, devotion and love you have for Auburn University. As a former football player and as your Athletics Director, I share that passion for, and belief in, Auburn. Just imagine how strong we will be if we can all pull in the same direction, united in our belief that Auburn is a special place that we are all blessed to be a small part of now and forever. Bright days are ahead for Auburn football, and it will be exciting to experience it together. Thank you for your support of our new coach, our student-athletes and your University. God bless, and War Eagle! Jay Jacobs Director of Athletics   AUBURN ATHLETICS ABSOLUTE VALUES: Always tell the truth. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

More Experience Gill VS Chizik:

Gill
Assistant Coach - 15 years (neb, N Tx, SMU, GB Packers)
Coordinator - 0 years
Head Coach - 3 Years (15-22 at Mac School - Buffalo)

Chizik
Assistant Coach - 7 years (Clem, MTS, SFA)
Def Coordinator - 9 Years (SFA, Aub, TX) - Won NC & Broyles Award
Head Coach - 2 Years (5-19 at Big 12 school - Iowa State)

Chizik was a coordinator at Auburn ( a known quantity like Zook was at FLA). Who really has the most experience, and produced the most? Looks like the liberal media is trying to spin this for their agenda. Is it really Racism?

Kind of nice to see it all in one place isn't it?

I have gone through a wide range of emotions the past 5 hours. Mad as hell, confused, speachless, confused again, and I actually cried for a bit. 

My picks....Davis or Gill.  Neither are coming to AU.  With that said we have Chizik...let's look at the positives;

1) Very strong DC leading Auburn to an undefeated season in the past and Texas to a NC.

2) He knows the South and is a strong recruiter

Now I know each one of you can give me a list of the negatives....though I believe I have heard them all at this point.   This is what we have....let it sink in for a bit and get back on the horse and ride again.   This is Auburn, The Plains, Blue and Orange, War Eagle country......we MUST support this man!  We must support our team....our boys!  Does it hurt...yes.....for now.  I love Tommy....I love this school...I love being a Tiger.  Let's suck it up and move on.

I hope all of you stay on for the ride, but if you don't then good luck with whomever you support...I choose to stay with my school...my heritage....my team.