TUSCALOOSA — Alabama unveiled its depth chart Monday for the Clemson game.

John Pawlowski’s first season as Auburn’s head baseball coach will have the usual tough Southeastern Conference schedule, plus a handful of intriguing non-conference games.

It didn’t take long for the Auburn soccer team to be recognized by the Southeastern Conference. 

The Auburn women’s basketball team ended last season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the program’s first NCAA tourney appearance in four years. The Tigers, who released their schedule Monday, hope to finish even better this year.

Auburn’s coaches didn’t have to spend much time selling Gabe McKenzie on the merits of a position switch.

The question has dominated discussion of Auburn football since before the Tigers’ first preseason practice: Who will be AU’s starting quarterback?

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s game this Saturday against Clemson is an unusual season opener for the Crimson Tide, but the players are eager to see where they stand.

Kara Kasten’s second goal of the year was the difference-maker in a highly offensive contest with little to show for it on the scoreboard as the Auburn soccer team improved to 2-0-0 on the year with a 1-0 win over UAB on Sunday night.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, a former star at Auburn High, will have season-ending surgery on his injured left knee.
Umenyiora was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Jets, and Dr. Russell Warren told the team on Sunday that an MRI found a tear in his lateral meniscus.

Before the 2007 season, Tommy Tuberville’s philosophy on freshmen was clear: The Auburn head coach preferred all but the most talented rookies to redshirt, saving a year of eligibility and gaining a year of exposure to the playbook and the weight room.

TUSCALOOSA — University of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson either owns or will own nearly every passing record in school history by the end of this season.

BEIJING — Track and field competition at the Olympic Games concluded Saturday, with the exception of the men’s marathon, as former Auburn Tigers added a fifth medal to their count.

Gray skies and heavy rain were not enough to dampen the fun as members of the Auburn football team, cheerleading squad and Aubie signed autographs and posed for pictures for the children at Storybook Farm Saturday afternoon.

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Ballard Christian’s 8-man football team improved to 2-0 on the season, beating Praise Academy, 66-16, on Friday night.

There are plenty of explanations for the success Auburn defensive tackle Mike Blanc has enjoyed this preseason.

Auburn took things slow in Friday’s preseason practice. The Tigers hardly had a choice.

Spence McCracken just wanted to see effort Friday night.

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s best running backs are eager to be more versatile in offensive coordinator Jim McElwain’s new offense.

BEIJING — Marc Burns of Trinidad and Tobago became the third former member of the Auburn track and field team to win an Olympic medal in Beijing, earning a silver medal in the men’s 4x100-meter relay Friday.

LANETT — It may not have counted toward the regular-season schedule, but it was played like it counted.

Auburn used a relentless offensive attack which resulted in nine goals and a school-record 51 shots as it shutout Grambling State, 9-0, in the season-opening soccer match for both clubs.

ALEXANDER CITY — Auburn High raced out to a big lead and held on for a 28-27, jamboree win over Benjamin Russell on Thursday night.

When Auburn coaches offered wide receiver Robert Dunn a chance to play as a true freshman in 2005, he jumped at the chance.

Antonio Coleman says he isn’t caught up in preseason awards or hype.

PHENIX CITY — Central head coach Ron Nelson walked away pleased.

BEIJING — Kerron Stewart and Leevan Sands both won bronze medals at the Olympic Games on Thursday, as Stewart took third in the women’s 200 meters and Sands was third in the men’s triple jump.

In exactly one week, the 2008 high school football season will get under way in full force.

TUSCALOOSA — Senior center Antoine Caldwell jumped in the middle of the Alabama football team as it completed warm-ups before Thursday’s practice.

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.