Healthier People are Happier People Staying active keeps us healthier and socializing makes us happier. That’s why Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is proud to sponsor athletics across the state. Learn more about getting healthier and happier at AlabamaBlue.com/Happy.Make escape part of your winning game plan. Escape every day at Wind Creek Casino and on the Casinoverse app. Aruba • Atmore • Bethlehem Chicago Southland • Curaçao Montgomery • Wetumpka (866) 946-3360 | WindCreek.com ©2023 Wind Creek Hospitality.4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 .................................................................... 2023 Schedule 6 .................................................................Scouting Auburn 8 ...............................................................Scouting Samford 10 ....................................................................Auburn Roster 12 ..................................................................Samford Roster 14 .............................................. Opponent Outlook: Samford 16 .............................................................. Auburn Traditions 18 ..................................................................... Depth Charts 20 .............................................................. Stat Comparisons 22-24, 73 ...................................... 2023 Homecoming Court 28-30 ........................................... Head Coach Hugh Freeze 32-36 ........................................................ Assistant Coaches 38 .................................... University News: Facilities Updates 40 .............................................................Auburn University 42 ..................................................Auburn Board of Trustees 44 ..........................................................University President 46 .......................................................... Director of Athletics 48 ....................................................... Through the Lens: Cal 50 ........................ University News: Alumni Teacher Spotlight 52 ....................................... Meet the Coaches: Marcus Davis 54 .......................................... Jordan-Hare Stadium Diagram 56-57 .............................. Jordan-Hare Stadium Parking Map 60 .................................................. Heisman Trophy Winners 62 ................................................................... All-Americans 64 ............................Auburn Being Auburn: Toomer’s Corner 66 ..............................................Postseason Trophy Winners 68-69 .........................................................Tigers in the NFL 75 ......................................University News: Auburn at Work 77 .................... Cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and Marching Band 79-90 ........................................................... Auburn Players 91 ............................ University News: Everybody Loves Aubie 93 ......................................................... Undefeated Seasons 95 .................................University News: Alabama Extension 97 .................................................Southeastern Conference 99 ..............................Olympic Sports Update: Women’s Golf 102-103 ......................................... Auburn Sports Properties Cover: Auburn Traditions TABLE OF CONTENTS AUBURNTIGERS.COM2023 AUBURN SCHEDULE 5 AUBURNTIGERS.COM THE RIVER REGION'S OFFICIAL BROADCAST PARTNER OF AUBURN ATHLETICS IF YOU'RE NOT THERE, LISTEN HERE 9.2 UMass Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 9.16 Samford Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 10.28 Mississippi State Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 9.9 Cal Berkeley, Calif. California Memorial Stadium 10.21 Ole Miss Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 10.14 LSU Baton Rouge, La. Tiger Stadium 9.23 Texas A&M College Station, Texas Kyle Field 11.4 Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn. FirstBank Stadium 9.30 Georgia Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 11.11 Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium 11.18 New Mexico State Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 11.25 Alabama Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium Blue - Home Orange - Away 2023 AUBURN SCHEDULE6 SCOUTING AUBURN HEAD COACH Hugh Freeze (Southern Miss, 1992) Auburn Record ...............................................................2-0 (1st Season) Career Record ........................................................77-48 (13th Season) vs. Samford ................................................................................................0-0 AUBURN (2-0, 0-0) Sept. 2 ............................UMASS ..................................................W, 59-14 Sept. 9 ............................at Cal .......................................................W, 14-10 Sept. 16 ..........................SAMFORD .................................................6 p.m. Sept. 23 .........................at #23 Texas A&M ...................................11 a.m. Sept. 30 .........................#1 GEORGIA ................................................TBA Oct. 14 ............................at #14 LSU ......................................................TBA Oct. 21 ............................#17 OLE MISS...............................................TBA Oct. 28 ...........................MISSISSIPPI STATE ...................................TBA Nov. 4 .............................at Vanderbilt .................................................TBA Nov. 11 .............................at Arkansas ....................................................TBA Nov. 18 ............................NEW MEXICO STATE ..............................TBA Nov. 25 ...........................#10 ALABAMA ............................................TBA HOMECOMING ON THE PLAINS n Auburn (2-0) hosts the Samford Bulldogs (1-1) in the 2023 Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. ESPN+/SEC Network+ will televise the 6:00 p.m. CT non-conference matchup. A capacity crowd is expected; no tickets remain for sale through the Auburn ticket office. n Auburn has an 84-8-4 Homecoming record since the first game was played in 1924; the Tigers have won their last 31 Homecoming games, including a 17-14 overtime over Missouri last year. n Members of the Homecoming court: Hannah Kelley (bio- medical science/pre-med); Ellie Korotky (nutrition dietetics); Loren Lindsey (law and justice); Kate Shackelford (hospitality/ event management); and Isabella Weyerman (political sci- ence and vocal performance). n Fans are encouraged to wear blue to Saturday’s game. Rec- ognitions include U.S. Women’s Amateur golf champion Me- gan Schofill, the Pamela Wells Sheffield Award winner Becky Richardson, the Walter Gilbert Award winner Gary Godfrey and members of the 2023 SEC champion equestrian team. SERIES HISTORY n Auburn leads the all-time series against Sam- ford 28-0-1. Of the Tigers’ victories in the series, 19 are shutouts, including each of the first seven games. Auburn leads the series 14-0 in Auburn, 8-0-1 in Birmingham and 6-0 in Montgomery. This is the sixth straight game in the series played in Auburn. n The last time the two met anywhere other than Auburn was a 38-0 Tiger win in Mont- gomery in 1945, the fourth meeting in the state capital in six seasons. The two teams met 20 times from 1903-33; this is just the fifth match- up since 1945, all coming since 1992. n Auburn is 74-1-1 all-time against current members of the Southern Conference with 37 shutouts. The Tigers have won 36 straight games against SoCon members since a 19-14 loss to Wofford in 1950. The only other game against a Southern Conference opponent Auburn didn’t win was a 9-9 tie against Samford in 1927. IN SEPTEMBER n Auburn is 186-60-5 (.751) all-time in the month of September; the Tigers are 119-23-1 (.836) all-time at home in September, and 67- 37-4 (.633) away from Auburn in that month. Since 1970, the Tigers have had a winning record in the month of September in 45 of 52 seasons. n The Tigers are 5-1 all-time in games played on September 16 and 4-0 in Auburn on that date. KICKOFF COVERAGE n Hugh Freeze, the 31st head coach in Auburn football histo- ry, is 2-0 in his inaugural season with the Tigers. n The 10 points allowed by the Auburn defense at California were tied for the fewest the Tigers have allowed against a Power 5 opponent since defeating Arkansas 34-3 in 2018 [also 10 vs. Texas A&M (2022) and at Arkansas (2019)] n Linebacker Eugene Asante is the SEC defensive co-player of the week, recording a career-best 12 tackles along with a sack, 1.5 TFL, 2 QB hurries and a pass breakup in Auburn’s win at California. n The Tigers lead the SEC in red zone defense (.333; second nationally behind Syracuse) and in third down conversion percentage defense (.185). n Robby Ashford rushed for three touchdowns against UMass, the most by an Auburn quarterback since Cam Newton in 2010. n Against UMass, Auburn rushed for six touchdowns for the first time since 2019 vs. Kent State and Mississippi State. Only three FBS teams have had more rushes of 40 or more yards this season. SCOUTING AUBURN AUBURNTIGERS.COM Eugene Asante Committed to playing with a purpose. We’re all about that gameday energy. At Alabama Power, we share your passion for the team— and your pride for where we live. We love big wins, but celebrate all victories that push our state forward. For over 100 years, we’ve been committed to proving what we accomplish together, on and off the field, makes us stronger. It’s Power for a Better Alabama. We proudly support the Auburn Tigers. alabamapower.com © 2023 Alabama Power Company8 SCOUTING SAMFORD HEAD COACH Chris Hatcher (Valdosta State, ‘95) Samford Record ......................................................52-39 (9th Season) Career Record .....................................................173-96 (24th Season) vs. Auburn ....................................................................................................0-1 SAMFORD (1-1, 0-1 SOCON) Aug. 31 ...........................SHORTER ............................................W, 69-14 Sept. 9 ............................at Western Carolina .............................L, 7-30 Sept. 16 ..........................at Auburn ...................................................6 p.m. Sept. 23 .........................CHATTANOOGA ...................................2 p.m. Sept. 30 .........................ETSU............................................................12 p.m. Oct. 7 ..............................at Wofford ..........................................12:30 p.m. Oct. 14 ............................FURMAN ..................................................12 p.m. Oct. 21 ............................at VMI ...................................................12:30 p.m. Oct. 28 ...........................THE CITADEL ...........................................2 p.m. Nov. 11 .............................at Mercer ....................................................2 p.m. Nov. 18 ............................UT MARTIN ..............................................12 p.m. THE KICKOFF n For the second time in as many weeks, the Samford Bulldogs hit the road as they travel to SEC foe Auburn for an All- Alabama match up. The Bulldogs head to the Plains with a 1-1 record after falling 30-7 at Western Carolina last time out. n Samford and Auburn are meeting for the 30th time on Saturday and the fourth time since 2011. Auburn leads the all-time series 28-0-1. The lone tie in the series came in 1927, back when Samford was known as Howard College. n To open Southern Conference play, Samford fell 30-7 to Western Carolina in Cullowhee. The game featured a nearly six hour lightning delay. Michael Hiers went 21-for-34 with 315 yards and one touchdown through the air against the Catamounts. Ty King had 96 of those yards on three receptions. Noah Martin paced the Bulldog defense with his first double digit tackling performance of the year. n Samford is looking to repeat as league champions for the first time since 1935-36, when then-Howard College Bulldogs won back-to-back Dixie Conference championships. n The Bulldogs are led on offense by a pair of Preseason All-Americans as the dynamic duo of quarterback Micheal Hiers and Chandler Smith return for the 2023 season. Hiers was named to almost every conceivable preseason list there is after tossing for 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns. Smith caught a team-high 100 passes for 1,071 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022. SERIES NOTEBOOK n To close out the longest road swing of the 2023 season, Samford heads to the Plains for an All-Alabama showdown with the Auburn Tigers of the SEC at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game can be streamed on ESPN+/SEC Network+ with Clay Matvick and Aaron Murray calling the action. n Samford and Auburn are meeting for the 30th time in program history with the Tigers of Auburn holding a 28-0-1 record in the series. The two squads have played each other sporadically since 1903, including three times since 2011. Samford’s lone tie in the series came in 1927, when the two teams played to a 9-9 final. n In the Chris Hatcher era of Samford football, the Bulldogs are 0-1 versus Tigers. n To close out the 2019 season, Samford fell 52-0 to a nationally-ranked Auburn squad. The Bulldogs only had 116 total yards in the contest, with current Bulldogs Jay Stanton, Jocquet Jiles, Ty King, Chandler Smith, Michael Vice and Joseph Mera appearing in the box score. n Samford is 2-80-3 against the SEC all-time with the two victories coming against Mississippi State in 1909 (6-0) and Ole Miss in 1934 (7-6). n To go along with the Auburn tie in 1927, Samford famously tied Alabama 7-7 in 1935 for the “Tied Tide” game. The only other SEC tie came in 1922 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. NUMBERS TO KNOW n When graduate student Michael Vice found the end zone with 7:03 remaining in the first quarter against Western Carolina, it was Vice’s first touchdown in a Bulldog uniform since his 58-yard sprint to the end zone at Florida on Nov. 13, 2021, a span of 665 days. Vice was a freshman All-American and All-SoCon player for the Bulldogs from 2019-21 before transferring to Troy for the 2022 season. n Samford’s 35 second quarter points against Shorter are the most points scored in a single quarter in program history, surpassing the 32 scored in a 80-0 victory over Troy in 1961. n After rushing for 690 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022 and 53 yards through the first two games, Jay Stanton needs 554 yards on the ground to surpass Jerome Russell’s 3,122 yards for the second most career rushing yards. Chris Evans holds the Bulldog record with 4,575. n Samford has an all-time record of 7-1 in games played on Sept. 16 with the first game being played in 1932. The last time that the Bulldogs play on Sept. 16 was a 42-14 loss at Georgia in 2017. The last victory on Sept. 16 came in 2010, when Samford raced past Newberry, 38-15. SCOUTING SAMFORD AUBURNTIGERS.COM Michael HiersPlease visit our website at www.vcom.edu/outcomes for a copy of our Outcomes Report. ©2023 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. www.vcom.edu to become a physician? The Auburn campus of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine was created with a clear purpose to alleviate the physician shortage in Alabama. VCOM-Auburn constantly works to recruit students from rural and underserved areas. It is our hope that they will return home to serve their community and improve health outcomes across the state. Visit us online to find out how we are inspired to make a difference in our communities and beyond.Next >