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.

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.