Published: July 04, 2009 11:30 pm      

Changes evident at Auburn

Know this about the state of Auburn football: A 5-7 record, without a bowl appearance, is not going to please the masses. And when you lose 36-0 to rival Alabama, somebody’s got to go.

Out with Tommy Tuberville (80-44). In with Gene Chizik.

After that disastrous 2008 season, the culture surrounding the Auburn program has changed dramatically, thanks to an offensive uprising in April’s spring game.

Funny that Chizik was the defensive genius behind the undefeated 2004 Auburn team and added a national title to his resume as co-defensive coordinator at Texas.

Still, after his hiring, there were fans and alumni not happy with the hire.

Such is the life in football-crazy Alabama.

There didn’t seem to be much wrong with Auburn’s offense when the Tigers traveled to Morgantown last October. Well, at least not at first.

Auburn built a 17-3 lead, behind a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kodi Burns to Matt Lester, a nine-yard Burns scamper and a field goal.

But WVU, behind two Patrick White TD passes and a late 30-yard Noel Devine run, ended up winning the game 34-17.

Chizik may be an defensive guru, but there’s no doubt that the Tigers’ move toward a wide-open spread offense has fans starting to get excited about Auburn football again.

Burns is back, but might not be the starter. One of the stars of that Auburn spring game, junior Neil Caudle (6-foot-3, 199 pounds) is said to be deadlocked with Burns, with offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn calling the duel a dead heat.

There is no question at running back, where Ben Tate is the starter. He has 1,295 career rushing yards. Mario Fannin (238 yards last year, including 29 against WVU) is also back along with Lester.

The Tigers did lose three receivers, with Fannin and tight end Tommy Trott (4 receptions for 34 yards last year in the WVU game) the leading returnees.

Defense will be key if the Tigers are to improve on last year’s bowl-less campaign.

Zac Ethridge, a 6-0, 204-pound junior at safety, returns to lead a talented secondary. He led Auburn with 75 tackles last year. Walter McFadden, who had an interception to start a scoring drive in last year’s game, is also back.

Eltoro Freeman, a 5-11, 222 pounds junior linebacker, is expected to have a breakout season.

Still, sophomore Devine had a career-best 207 yards rushing against the Tigers in last year’s game.

Chances are, when the Mountaineers travel to Auburn Sept. 19, the Tigers will be 2-0, opening with Louisiana Tech and Mississippi State, both at home. It will be the Mountaineers’ first road game of the season and the first road start for incumbent quarterback Jarrett Brown, who is taking over for White.

The Mountaineers have won five straight games against teams from the vaunted Southeastern Conference.