SMITHS STATION — Smiths Station opened the Mark Rose era with a convincing, 34-6 win over Hardaway, Ga., on Thursday night in a jamboree.

Last season, Craig Stevens did everything his coaches told him to do on the field.

Auburn’s ranks of walking wounded got a little thinner Wednesday, when senior tailback Brad Lester participated in his first practice in a week.

High school football fans will get their first look at three area teams today.

BEIJING — Former Auburn All-American Kerron Stewart, seeking her second medal of this Olympic Games, has advanced to the finals of the women’s 200 meters.

TUSCALOOSA — It was a catch that flashed all the potential and expectations surrounding Alabama’s freshman class.

Ever since Gabe McKenzie first arrived on Auburn’s campus in the summer of 2005, Auburn’s defensive coaches have had their eye on
him.

While new defensive end Gabe McKenzie was learning the ropes at his new position, the rest of Auburn’s tight ends were dealing with a suddenly unsettled depth chart.

TUSCALOOSA — Some position “experiments” on the Alabama football team indicate where Nick Saban feels his team is sound and where he’s still looking for help.

Sophomore Kevin Patterson and junior Joseph Sanders were both recognized for their solid summers playing in the Cape Cod League as the duo was named to the All-League Team on Tuesday.

BEIJING — Former Auburn track and field star Kerron Stewart opened her quest for a second individual medal at the Olympic Games on Tuesday, competing in the first two rounds of the women’s 200 meters.

Ask anyone ... Auburn’s got a problem.

Sen’Derrick Marks is having a pretty good preseason.

Well, we now have both preseason polls out for the 2008 college football season, and Georgia is the favorite of both the media and coaches to win the national championship.

Monday, Atlanta linebacker Jonathan Atchison announced his plans to sign with Auburn in February.

When Kodi Burns first set up his class schedule for the fall semester, the slate included a class at 8 a.m. on Mondays — including today, the first day of classes at Auburn.

Auburn’s season opener against Louisiana-Monroe is just 12 days away. Preseason preparation is almost entirely over.

And the Tigers’ quarterback race keeps running.

TUSCALOOSA — Nick Walker can’t believe it. The tight end from Brundidge is preparing for his senior season at Alabama.

BEIJING – Kerron Stewart tied for second in the finals of the 100 meters as part of a Jamaican sweep of the top three spots Sunday, earning the first track and field medal for former Auburn athletes competing at the Olympic Games.

We don’t know how many catches he had during Saturday’s closed scrimmage.

But we do know this about Auburn true freshman wideout Philip Pierre-Louis: “Oh, yeah,” Auburn junior tight end Tommy Trott said. “He’s just fast.”

Auburn’s offense had its moments during Saturday’s scrimmage, head coach Tommy Tuberville said.

BEIJING — Three Auburn swimmers earned medals Saturday night without breaking a sweat.

TUSCALOOSA — The numbers were there, and the offense continued to make big plays, but Alabama football coach Nick Saban sounded as if something was missing from the 2 1/2-hour scrimmage Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

BEIJING — Former Auburn track and field athlete Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago placed seventh in the finals of the men’s 100-meter dash Saturday at the Olympic Games.

Smiths Station High School played host to the Triple Crown Championship, a running event made of various races on Saturday.

The Auburn football team is ranked 10th in the Associated Press preseason poll, which was released Saturday. 

BEIJING — The women’s 200m backstroke and men’s 50m freestyle at the 2008 Olympics turned into a big advertisement for Auburn University’s swimming program.

Philip Pierre-Louis isn’t very big. It’s the first thing anyone notices about him.

Today’s scrimmage is put-up or shut-up time for Auburn’s true freshmen.

You know it’s been a good day when the worst thing the head coach can find is the fact it got dark a little quicker than expected.