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American college football season
The 2008 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season . Tommy Tuberville served his tenth and final season as head coach at Auburn. He was joined by a new defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin , who attempted to implement Tuberville’s new offense without the proper players suited for the spread offense in a failed effort to correct the Tigers' offensive struggles in 2007 . Tuberville fired Franklin six games into the season.
Auburn played a seven-game home schedule at Jordan–Hare Stadium , while traveling to Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia for the Tigers' first ever meeting with the West Virginia Mountaineers .[ 1] The Tennessee Volunteers returned to the Tigers' schedule for the first time since Auburn defeated Tennessee twice in AU's undefeated 2004 season . LSU , Arkansas , and Georgia rounded out Auburn's home conference schedule.
The Tigers entered the season with high expectations, ranked highly by multiple polls in the preseason. The Associated Press Poll placed Auburn at #10[ 2] while the USA Today Coaches' Poll , a component of the Bowl Championship Series rankings, had Auburn at #11.[ 3] Other rankings include:
# 7 – Rivals.com[ 4] # 8 – Athlon[ 5] # 9 – Sports Illustrated[ 6] # 9 – CollegeTop25 Consensus[ 7] # 10 – ESPN[ 8] # 13 – Lindy's[ 9] # 14 – CollegeFootballNews/Scout.com[ 10]
Watchlists and honors [ edit ]
Pre-season All-SEC Teams [ edit ]
Coaches All-SEC 1st Team – DT Sen’Derrick Marks & P Ryan Shoemaker Coaches All-SEC 2nd Team – RB Ben Tate, OL Tyronne Green, LB Tray Blackmon & DB Jerraud Powers Coaches All-SEC 3rd Team – DE Antonio Coleman
Auburn's schedule consisted of eight Southeastern Conference opponents (four home, four away) and four non-conference opponents. AU meets Tennessee-Martin and West Virginia for the first time. The WVU game, a mid-season inter-conference Thursday night matchup, is the first of a two-game home-and-home series between the two teams. Of the remaining ten opponents that the Tigers have previously faced, Auburn holds the all-time series lead against all but Alabama and LSU. Four opponents — #1 Georgia, LSU, West Virginia and Tennessee — were ranked in both the preseason USA Today and AP Polls. Alabama was also ranked in the AP Poll. Tennessee dropped out of the polls before playing Auburn; however, Vanderbilt would enter the polls by the time the Commodores played Auburn.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance August 30 6:00 pm Louisiana–Monroe * No. 10 PPV W 34–087,451
September 6 11:30 am Southern Miss * No. 9 Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL Raycom W 27–1387,451
September 13 6:00 pm at Mississippi State No. 9 ESPN2 [ 14] W 3–252,911
September 20 6:45 pm No. 6 LSU No. 10 ESPN [ 14] L 21–2687,451
September 27 2:30 pm Tennessee No. 15 Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry ) CBS W 14–1287,451
October 4 5:00 pm at No. 19 Vanderbilt No. 13 ESPN L 13–1439,773
October 11 4:00 pm Arkansas No. 20 Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL PPV L 22–2585,782
October 23 6:30 pm at West Virginia * ESPN[ 14] L 17–3460,765
November 1 11:30 am at Ole Miss Raycom L 7–1757,324
November 8 1:30 pm UT Martin * Jordan–Hare Stadium Auburn, AL W 37–2085,365
November 15 11:30 am No. 13 Georgia Raycom L 13–1787,451
November 29 2:30 pm at No. 1 Alabama CBS L 0–3692,138
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Total
Warhawks
0
0
0
0
0
No. 10 Tigers
14
3
10
7
34
Statistics
ULM
AUB
First downs
12
19
Total yards
220
406
Rushing yards
84
321
Passing yards
136
85
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
31:09
28:51
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Louisiana–Monroe
Passing
Kinsmon Lancaster
20/38, 136 yards
Rushing
Frank Goodin
15 rushes, 39 yards
Receiving
Zeek Zacharie
8 receptions, 61 yards
Auburn
Passing
Chris Todd
9/18, 70 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Ben Tate
13 rushes, 115 yards
Receiving
Rodgeriqus Smith
5 receptions, 57 yards
Total
Golden Eagles
0
0
6
7
13
No. 9 Tigers
0
14
10
3
27
Statistics
USM
AUB
First downs
20
22
Total yards
305
380
Rushing yards
37
132
Passing yards
268
248
Turnovers
3
4
Time of possession
29:40
30:20
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Southern Miss
Passing
Austin Davis
33/50, 268 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Damion Fletcher
13 rushes, 29 yards
Receiving
Shawn Nelson
12 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD
Auburn
Passing
Chris Todd
21/31, 248 yards
Rushing
Ben Tate
15 rushes, 71 yards, TD
Receiving
Ben Tate
3 receptions, 51 yards
At Mississippi State [ edit ]
Total
No. 9 Tigers
0
3
0
0
3
Bulldogs
0
0
0
2
2
Statistics
AUB
MSST
First downs
14
6
Total yards
315
116
Rushing yards
161
38
Passing yards
154
78
Turnovers
3
1
Time of possession
32:13
27:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Auburn
Passing
Chris Todd
14/26, 154 yards
Rushing
Ben Tate
20 rushes, 92 yards
Receiving
Montez Billings
3 receptions, 68 yards
Mississippi State
Passing
Wesley Carroll
10/25, 78 yards, INT
Rushing
Christian Ducre
16 rushes, 49 yards
Receiving
Co-Eric Riley
3 receptions, 26 yards
[ 15]
Total
No. 6 LSU Tigers
3
0
14
9
26
No. 10 AUB Tigers
0
14
0
7
21
Statistics
LSU
AUB
First downs
20
16
Total yards
398
320
Rushing yards
178
70
Passing yards
220
250
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
31:00
29:00
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
LSU
Passing
Jarrett Lee
11/22, 182 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Charles Scott
21 rushes, 132 yards
Receiving
Brandon LaFell
4 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Auburn
Passing
Chris Todd
17/32, 250 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Ben Tate
19 rushes, 45 yards, TD
Receiving
Tim Hawthorne
2 receptions, 87 yards
Total
Volunteers
0
6
0
6
12
No. 15 Tigers
7
7
0
0
14
Statistics
TENN
AUB
First downs
9
15
Total yards
191
226
Rushing yards
124
97
Passing yards
67
129
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
27:15
32:45
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Tennessee
Passing
Jonathan Crompton
8/23, 67 yards
Rushing
Montario Hardesty
10 rushes, 35 yards, TD
Receiving
Austin Rogers
1 reception, 14 yards
Auburn
Passing
Chris Todd
14/23, 93 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Ben Tate
19 rushes, 70 yards
Receiving
Robert Dunn
6 receptions, 54 yards, TD
At No. 19 Vanderbilt [ edit ]
Total
No. 13 Tigers
13
0
0
0
13
No. 19 Commodores
0
7
7
0
14
Statistics
AUB
VAN
First downs
15
15
Total yards
208
263
Rushing yards
110
106
Passing yards
98
157
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
29:57
30:03
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Auburn
Passing
Chris Todd
8/16, 70 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing
Ben Tate
27 rushes, 108 yards
Receiving
Mario Fannin
3 receptions, 56 yards, TD
Vanderbilt
Passing
Mackenzi Adams
13/23, 153 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Mackenzi Adams
13 rushes, 54 yards
Receiving
Sean Walker
4 receptions, 66 yards
Total
Razorbacks
3
7
6
9
25
No. 20 Tigers
7
6
7
2
22
Statistics
ARK
AUB
First downs
19
11
Total yards
416
193
Rushing yards
188
56
Passing yards
228
137
Turnovers
3
3
Time of possession
35:02
24:58
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Arkansas
Passing
Casey Dick
17/32, 222 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Michael Smith
35 rushes, 176 yards, TD
Receiving
Greg Childs
3 receptions, 61 yards
Auburn
Passing
Kodi Burns
7/18, 119 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
Kodi Burns
15 rushes, 38 yards, TD
Receiving
Tim Hawthorne
1 reception, 38 yards
Total
Tigers
3
14
0
0
17
Mountaineers
0
10
10
14
34
Statistics
AUB
WVU
First downs
16
25
Total yards
260
445
Rushing yards
149
271
Passing yards
111
174
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
35:19
24:41
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Auburn
Passing
Kodi Burns
13/21, 111 yards, TD, INT
Rushing
Kodi Burns
15 rushes, 82 yards, TD
Receiving
Tommy Trott
4 receptions, 34 yards
West Virginia
Passing
Pat White
13/21, 174 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Noel Devine
17 rushes, 207 yards, TD
Receiving
Alric Arnett
3 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Total
Tigers
0
0
7
0
7
Rebels
0
10
0
7
17
Statistics
AUB
MISS
First downs
17
21
Total yards
394
373
Rushing yards
75
233
Passing yards
319
140
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
29:04
30:56
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Auburn
Passing
Kodi Burns
27/43, 319 yards, 3 INT
Rushing
Ben Tate
5 rushes, 35 yards, TD
Receiving
Chris Slaughter
8 receptions, 131 yards
Ole Miss
Passing
Jevan Snead
15/30, 140 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Cordera Eason
14 rushes, 104 yards
Receiving
Shay Hodge
6 receptions, 62 yards, TD
Total
Skyhawks
7
6
7
0
20
Tigers
13
7
7
10
37
Statistics
UTM
AUB
First downs
16
26
Total yards
323
452
Rushing yards
38
290
Passing yards
285
162
Turnovers
3
3
Time of possession
25:13
34:47
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
UT Martin
Passing
Cade Thompson
27/46, 285 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Brandyn Young
7 rushes, 19 yards
Receiving
Mike Hicks
12 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD
Auburn
Passing
Kodi Burns
12/20, 130 yards
Rushing
Kodi Burns
13 rushes, 158 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Tommy Trott
3 receptions, 39 yards
Total
No. 13 Bulldogs
0
7
3
7
17
Tigers
6
0
0
7
13
Statistics
UGA
AUB
First downs
20
19
Total yards
351
303
Rushing yards
136
124
Passing yards
215
179
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
29:11
30:49
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Georgia
Passing
Matthew Stafford
15/24, 215 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Knowshon Moreno
22 rushes, 131 yards
Receiving
A. J. Green
5 receptions, 81 yards, TD
Auburn
Passing
Kodi Burns
16/30, 179 yards, TD
Rushing
Mario Fannin
8 rushes, 59 yards, TD
Receiving
Montez Billings
6 receptions, 66 yards
Total
Tigers
0
0
0
0
0
No. 1 Crimson Tide
3
7
19
7
36
Statistics
AUB
ALA
First downs
8
21
Total yards
170
412
Rushing yards
57
234
Passing yards
113
178
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
24:23
35:37
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Auburn
Passing
Kodi Burns
9/23, 113 yards
Rushing
Mario Fannin
8 rushes, 28 yards
Receiving
Mario Fannin
3 receptions, 44 yards
Alabama
Passing
John Parker Wilson
8/16, 134 yards, TD
Rushing
Glen Coffee
20 rushes, 144 yards, TD
Receiving
Nikita Stover
1 reception, 39 yards, TD
*Entering season
Starters and backups.[ 16]
Defense
FS
Mike McNeil
Jonathan Vickers
⋅
SS
Zac Etheridge
Mike Slade
⋅
DE
DT
DT
DE
Michael Goggans
Sen'Derrick Marks
Jake Ricks
Antonio Coleman
A.J. Greene
Mike Blanc
Zach Clayton
Antoine Carter
Raven Gray
Darrell Roseman
Luke Farmer
⋅
Offense
WR
James Swinton
Chris Slaughter
Charles Olatunji
WR
Robert Dunn
Terrell Zachery
⋅
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final AP 10 9 9 10 15 13 20 — — — — — — — — — Coaches 11 10 9 9 16 14 23 — — — — — — — — — Harris Not released 13 — — — — — — — — — Not released BCS Not released — — — — — — — — Not released
Team
Opp
Scoring
208
216
Points per Game
17.3
18.0
First Downs
198
204
Rushing
102
85
Passing
82
101
Penalty
14
18
Total Offense
3635
3813
Total Plays
810
777
Avg per Play
4.5
4.9
Avg per Game
302.9
317.8
Fumbles-Lost
23–13
20–7
Penalties-Yards
74–568
59–500
Avg per Game
47.3
41.7
Team
Opp
Punts-Yards
78-3212
81-3264
Avg per Punt
41.2
40.3
Time of Possession/Game
30:12
29:48
3rd Down Conversions
65/189
49/171
4th Down Conversions
5/12
8/17
Touchdowns Scored
25
27
Field Goals-Attempts
11–20
11–20
PAT-Attempts
23–25
19–22
Attendance
608,402
301,911
Games/Avg per Game
7/86,915
5/60,382
Total
Auburn
63
68
41
36
208
Opponents
16
60
72
68
216
Name
GP-GS
Att
Gain
Loss
Net
Avg
TD
Long
Avg/G
Ben Tate
12–2
159
718
54
664
4.2
3
49
55.3
Kodi Burns
10–7
98
532
121
411
4.2
5
58
41.1
Brad Lester
11–8
80
314
25
289
3.6
2
19
26.3
Mario Fannin
12–3
54
255
17
238
4.4
1
35
19.8
Eric Smith
12–1
21
98
15
83
4.0
0
19
6.9
Tristan Davis
10–4
8
44
0
44
5.5
1
13
4.4
Neil Caudle
2–0
1
4
0
4
4.0
0
4
2.0
Tim Hawthorne
12–1
1
3
0
3
3.0
0
3
0.2
Robert Dunn
12–4
3
6
7
−1
−0.3
0
6
−0.1
Montez Billings
11–11
2
0
7
−7
−3.5
0
0
−0.6
TEAM
7-
9
0
15
−15
−1.7
0
0
−2.1
Chris Todd
7–5
33
47
110
−63
−1.9
0
12
−9.0
Total
12
469
2021
371
1650
3.5
12
58
137.5
Opponents
12
408
1962
295
1667
4.1
7
63
138.9
Name
GP-GS
Effic
Cmp-Att-Int
Pct
Yds
TD
Lng
Avg/G
Kodi Burns
10–7
97.65
94–179–7
52.5
1050
2
52
105.0
Chris Todd
7–5
106.64
86–156–6
55.1
903
5
58
129.0
Neil Caudle
2–0
133.76
4–5–0
80.0
32
0
16
16.0
TEAM
7-
0.00
0–1–0
0.0
0
0
0
0.0
Robert Dunn
12–4
0.00
0-0-0
0.0
0
0
0
0.0
Total
12
102.01
184–341–13
54.0
1985
7
58
165.4
Opponents
12
113.81
199–369–11
53.9
2146
19
44
178.8
Name
GP-GS
No.
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
Avg/G
R. Smith
12–9
30
332
11.1
1
33
27.7
Montez Billings
11–11
24
277
11.5
0
31
25.2
Mario Fannin
12–3
20
223
11.1
2
52
18.6
Tommy Trott
11–2
20
201
10.1
0
33
18.3
Robert Dunn
12–4
18
193
10.7
2
29
16.1
Chris Slaughter
8–1
15
179
11.9
1
42
22.4
Ben Tate
12–2
15
90
6.0
0
27
7.5
Tim Hawthorne
12–1
8
203
25.4
0
58
16.9
Brad Lester
11–8
7
37
5.3
1
16
3.4
Quindarius Carr
11–0
6
63
10.5
0
28
5.7
Derek Winter
8–0
4
27
6.8
0
11
3.4
Gabe McKenzie
12–1
3
33
11.0
0
21
2.8
Darvin Adams
10–0
3
18
6.0
0
9
1.8
Tristan Davis
10–4
2
42
21.0
0
22
4.2
Terrell Zachery
12–0
2
24
12.0
0
17
2.0
C. Olatunji
2–0
2
23
11.5
0
16
11.5
James Swinton
9–1
2
14
7.0
0
10
1.6
Eric Smith
12–1
2
3
1.5
0
2
0.2
John Douglas
3–1
1
3
3.0
0
3
1.0
Total
12
184
1985
10.8
7
58
165.4
Opponents
12
199
2146
10.8
19
44
178.8
Name
GP-GS
Tackles
Sacks
Pass Defense
Fumbles
Blkd Kick
Saf
Solo
Ast
Total
TFL-Yds
No-Yds
Int-Yds
BrUp
QBH
Rcv-Yds
FF
Jerraud Powers
2–2
9
5
14
1–0
1
1
Antonio Coleman
2–2
6
5
11
3.0–15
2.0–13
3
1
Merrill Johnson
2–2
5
4
9
1.0–6
1.0–6
1
1
Neiko Thorpe
2–0
6
2
8
2
1
Zac Etheridge
2–2
4
4
8
1–0
Craig Stevens
2–2
5
2
7
1
1–6
Chris Evans
2–0
3
4
7
3
Josh Bynes
2–0
1
6
7
Mike McNeil
2–2
2
4
6
S. Marks
2–2
5
1
6
3.5–10
1
Michael Goggans
2–2
5
1
6
1.0–2
1
1–9
Tray Blackmon
2–2
3
2
5
1.0–2
1.0–2
1
Courtney Harden
2–0
5
5
1
Walter McFadden
2–2
4
1
5
1.0–5
1
Mike Blanc
2–2
2
2
4
0.5–0
D'Antoine Hood
2–0
2
2
4
Gabe McKenzie
2–0
3
1
4
Zach Clayton
2–0
3
3
3.0–10
1.0–6
Mike Slade
2–0
3
3
Tez Doolittle
2–0
2
1
3
1.0–4
Drew Cole
2–0
1
2
3
Antoine Carter
2–0
2
1
3
1
Jake Ricks
2–0
1
1
2
1.0–4
Darvin Adams
2–0
1
1
2
Kodi Burns
2–1
1
1
Spencer Pybus
1–0
1
1
1–0
Eric Smith
2–1
1
1
Robert Shiver
2–0
1
1
R. Smith
2–1
1
1
Total
2
80
60
140
16–58
5–27
2–0
9
9
3–15
3
Opponents
2
84
64
148
10–31
2–8
2–17
5
13
3–0
4
Name
Punting
Kickoffs
No.
Yds
Avg
Long
TB
FC
I20
Blkd
No.
Yds
Avg
TB
OB
Clinton Durst
70
2947
42.1
58
4
22
18
1
Ryan Shoemaker
7
248
35.4
51
0
1
2
0
Wes Byrum
26
1681
64.7
1
3
Morgan Hull
22
1377
62.6
3
2
Total
78
3212
41.2
58
4
23
20
1
48
3058
63.7
4
5
Opponents
81
3264
40.3
59
7
24
25
0
50
3087
61.7
7
3
Name
Punt Returns
Kick Returns
No.
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
No.
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
Robert Dunn
7
171
24.4
1
66
Marion Fannin
1
24
24.0
0
24
P. Pierre-Louis
1
18
18.0
0
18
Tristan Davis
1
14
14.0
0
14
Total
7
171
24.4
1
66
3
56
18.7
0
24
Opponents
4
17
4.2
0
9
10
212
21.2
0
30
[ 17]
^ "2007 Auburn Football Media Guide – History" . Auburn Athletic Department. Archived from the original on November 28, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2007 .
^ "2008 NCAA Football Rankings – Preseason" . AP. August 16, 2008. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008 .
^ "2008 NCAA Football Rankings – Preseason" . USA Today . August 1, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008 .
^ "Rivals.com 2008 Preseason Top 120 Countdown" . rivals.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "Preseason Top 25 - AthlonSports.com" . Athlon Sports. Archived from the original on August 4, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ Mandel, Stewart (May 1, 2008). "College Football Power Rankings" . Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "Consensus 2008 Pre-Season Rankings" . CollegeTop25.com. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ Schlabach, Mark (June 25, 2008). "Bulldogs back at No. 1 in updated Top 25" . ESPN. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "Bulldogs top 2008 Lindy's preseason Top 25" . Lindy's Sports. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ "CFN 2008 Pre-Preseason Rankings Top 25" . CollegeFootballNews. January 15, 2008. Archived from the original on August 12, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008 .
^ a b c "Sen'Derrick Marks Named To Walter Camp Award Watch List" . Auburn Athletic Department. August 18, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2008 .
^ "Antonio Coleman And Sen'Derrick Marks Named To Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List" . Auburn Athletic Department. May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2008 .
^ "Jason Bosley Named To Rimington Trophy Watch List" . Auburn Athletic Department. May 7, 2008. Archived from the original on September 29, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2008 .
^ a b c "2008 Major College Football National TV Schedule" . Associated Press. August 1, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2008 .
^ Meyer, Craig (September 13, 2023). "Auburn-Mississippi State: Remembering 3-2 debacle from 2008 team" . Montgomery Advertiser . Retrieved November 22, 2024 .
^ "Auburn Tigers Preview 2008 – Depth Chart" . April 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2011 .
^ "Auburn Cumulative Season Statistics" . Auburn Athletic Department. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008 .
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