Auburn looks forward to bowl
For a brief moment on Sunday, the talk at Auburn was about football.
For the last week, Tommy Tuberville's contract negotiations and apparent courting from Arkansas have dominated the headlines. Football players have gone about their business with school work -- finals begin later this week -- as well as workouts with strength and conditioning coach Kevin Yoxall.
On Sunday, the Tigers finally gained another opponent when No. 22 Auburn (8-4) accepted a bid to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta against 15th-ranked Clemson. That gave Auburn a chance to talk a bit about football, which defensive end Quentin Groves did.
Groves said he's eager to pit his defense, ranked second in total defense in the Southeastern conference, against a powerhouse offense like Clemson.
Clemson (9-3) is ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense (412.4 yards), second in rushing (158.8), second in passing (253.6) and first in scoring offense (34.2 points per game).
"You get a chance to see what your defense is about when you play a team like Clemson," Groves said. "They have a great running attack. We pride on stopping the run around here."
The Tigers will have their hands full with Clemson's talented running back duo of C.J. Spiller and James Davis. The two have combined for more than 1,600 yards rushing, led by James Davis with 992 yards and nine touchdowns
Things don't get any easier for the Auburn defensive unit since Clemson also possesses a top-rated passing attack as well. Clemson junior quarterback Cullen Harper was second in the league behind Boston College's Matt Ryan with 2,887 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. He averaged 240 yards passing per game. His favorite target, junior Aaron Kelly, pulled in 84 catches for 1,045 yards and 11 touchdowns.
"No. 80, Aaron Kelly, he's a great vertical threat," Groves said. "He can pose a lot of problems. Cullen Harper, he's probably the ACC player of the year. They have a lot of weapons that can hurt you if you let them."
Groves said he saw Clemson on television and ESPN replays, many of which left him wondering if James Davis and Spiller were as fast in person.
"Now, we'll get a chance to see," said Groves, who is tied with Gerald Robinson atop Auburn's career sacks chart with 26.
The Auburn defense shut down a number of top running backs during the regular season with perhaps their best outing coming against Heisman Trophy hopeful Darren McFadden. Auburn held Darren McFadden to 43 yards rushing.
"Anytime you can hold probably the Heisman winner to 43 rushing yards, that's big," Groves said. "And Felix Jones, too. Those two are thunder and lightning. If we can stop them, I pray to God we have a chance of stopping C.J. and James."
Tuberville spent the weekend in New York City before attending the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame activities.
Sunday, athletics director Jay Jacobs spoke about other teams' interest in Tuberville during the bowl teleconference, saying, "There have been a lot of things blowing up, if that's what you'd call it, but there's never been any doubt in my mind or Tommy's he's going to be our coach for many years to come."
Asked if he agreed, Tuberville said, "I concur."
AUBURN VS. CLEMSON When : 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31
Where : Georgia Dome, Atlanta
TV/Radio : ESPN/
WVRK-FM 102.9
See more at www.ledger-enquirer.com
