When others counted Ben Leard out, Tommy Tuberville came to his defense.

TUSCALOOSA — Get out front. Stay out front.

CINCINNATI — B.J. Raymond scored a career-high 32 points against an Auburn defense that already knew better than to leave him open, and No. 14 Xavier remained undefeated Wednesday night with an 81-74 victory, Sean Miller’s 100th as coach.

Senior DeWanna Bonner picked up her second double-double of the season as the No. 13 Auburn Tigers (8-0) rolled to a 95-74 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies (3-3).

The Alabama Independent School Association will hold its annual All-Star football game today inside Stanley-Jensen Stadium in Prattville.

Auburn High picked up a win in its first game of the Tiger Communications Classic by beating Notasulga, 53-38.

Forty current and former Auburn’s men’s and women’s swimmers will be in action this week at the 2008 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming Short Course National Championships at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta.

Saban wasn’t celebrating Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville’s resignation on Wednesday.

“There eventually gets to be an expectation that no one’s ever satisfied. Nobody’s ever satisfied,” Saban said. “It happens all the time. And it’s too bad.”

“TOMMY TUBERVILLE RESIGNS AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT AUBURN”
Release states: “The buyout portion of Tuberville’s contract will be fulfilled, from which no state or university funds will be used.  All assistant and contractual staff will be paid according to their respective contracts.“

Tommy Tuberville resigned as Auburn’s coach Wednesday afternoon, but will still receive most of his $6 million buyout.

Auburn High got its Class 6A-Area 8 season off to a good start with a sweep at Benjamin Russell.

For the 24th year, Auburn High will play host to its holiday boys basketball tournament — the Tiger Communication Holiday Classic.

Anytime the Auburn women’s basketball team even thinks about looking past an opponent, coach Nell Fortner reminds them about 2004.

Robertson will have a chance to take out his disdain against the Musketeers tonight and, perhaps, grab some of his favorite chili after the game. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at the Cintas Center.

Tommy Tuberville’s status as head football coach seemingly remains in limbo after an inconclusive Tuesday morning meeting with athletic director Jay Jacobs.

Tuberville’s future on the Plains still uncertain

TUSCALOOSA — Top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide remained unbeaten after a 36-point win over Auburn on Saturday.

Let the screaming begin!

Auburn senior Jessica Glover became the first Tiger to make one of the Southeastern Conference’s postseason teams in eight years, as she was named to the All-SEC Second Team, the league announced Monday.

Led by Jakeitha Carr’s 14 points, the Auburn High junior varsity girls basketball team beat Opelika, 38-13, on Monday.

Tommy Tuberville has a contract that says he will be the head football coach at Auburn until 2013.

In keeping with the belief that he will be back for 2009, Tommy Tuberville said Sunday he is close to whittling his list of potential offensive coordinators down to four or five candidates.

Like the mythical Corleone family in the Godfather series, Alabama settled all family business in a November to remember.

MIAMI — Alli Smalley scored 21 points as the 15th-ranked Auburn women’s basketball team (7-0) picked up a 63-52 win over Florida International (1-5) to win the FIU Thanksgiving Classic tournament title.

Three Tigers scored in double figures as the No. 15 Auburn women’s basketball team (6-0) picked up a 66-51 win over North Carolina State (4-3) in its first game of the Florida International Thanksgiving Classic in Miami.

Northern Iowa’s offensive execution and distinct size advantage gave Auburn fits throughout the Tigers’ 67-61 loss Saturday in their final game of the Chicago Invitational Challenge.

The ice bags covered Antonio Coleman’s shoulder, but it didn’t sooth his most
gaping wound.

Earlier this week, Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads’ name popped for a head coaching vacancy.

Tommy Tuberville said he’s young enough, plenty motivated and a few moves here and there from putting Auburn back among the elite teams in college football.

He says he wants to. He’s ready. He’s “committed.”