2009 Auburn Tigers football team

2009 Auburn Tigers football
Outback Bowl Champions
Outback Bowl vs Northwestern, W 38–35 OT
Conference Southeastern Conference Western Division
2009 record 8–5 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach Gene Chizik (1st year)
Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof
Base defense 4–3, Tampa 2
Home stadium Jordan–Hare Stadium
(Capacity: 87,451)
2009 SEC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Eastern Division
#3 Florida x‡   8 – 0         13 – 1  
Georgia   4 – 4         8 – 5  
Tennessee   4 – 4         7 – 6  
Kentucky   3 – 5         7 – 6  
South Carolina   3 – 5         7 – 6  
Vanderbilt   0 – 8         2 – 10  
Western Division
#1 Alabama x†#   8 – 0         14 – 0  
#17 LSU   5 – 3         9 – 4  
#20 Ole Miss   4 – 4         9 – 4  
Arkansas   3 – 5         8 – 5  
Auburn   3 – 5         8 – 5  
Mississippi State   3 – 5         5 – 7  
Championship: Alabama 32, Florida 13
# – BCS National Champion
† – BCS representative as conference champion
‡ – BCS at-large representative
x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by first year head coach Gene Chizik. Despite playing the 12th toughest schedule in the nation,[1] the Tigers finished the season 8–5 (3–5 in SEC play) and won the Outback Bowl 38–35 in overtime against Northwestern.

While Auburn was unranked at the end of the season in both major polls, several BCS participating computer rating systems such as Sagarin (#22),[2] Massey (#22),[3] Peter Wolfe (#25),[4] Howell (#24),[5] David Wilson (#21),[6] Team Rankings (#18)[7] and the FACT Foundation (#21)[8] included the Tigers in their final top 25 rankings.

The offense finished the season ranked 2nd in the SEC and 16th in the nation (with just under 432 yards per game),[9] while the defense struggled with depth issues and finished 68th and 2nd worst in the SEC.[10] The pass efficiency defense however was 3rd best in the SEC and ranked 22nd in the nation.[11]

Coaching change

On December 3, 2008, Auburn University announced that 10-year head coach Tommy Tuberville would not return for an eleventh season. The coaching search ended less than two weeks later when Auburn announced Iowa State's second-year head coach and former Auburn defensive coordinator Gene Chizik as the Tigers' next head coach.[12] Auburn had interviewed at least eight coaches, including Buffalo's Turner Gill and TCU's Gary Patterson.[13]

Schedule

Auburn's schedule consisted of eight Southeastern Conference opponents (four home, four away) and four non-conference opponents. Auburn opened the season against Louisiana Tech. It was the twelfth matchup between the schools and the first meeting since 2004. The Tigers also hosted Mid-American Conference opponent Ball State for the third time. Also, Football Championship Subdivision foe Furman visited for the first time since 1956. Auburn began conference play in the second week, hosting Mississippi State. The following week, the Tigers hosted West Virginia, the second game in a home-and-home series between the two teams. The Tigers had previously faced all twelve regular season opponents, with Auburn holding the all-time series lead going into the season against all but Alabama (33–39–1), LSU (19–23–1), and West Virginia (0–1).

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 5 6:00 PM Louisiana Tech* Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL ESPNU W 37–13   81,143[14]
September 12 6:00 PM Mississippi State Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL SECRN W 49–24   85,269[15]
September 19 6:45 PM West Virginia* Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL ESPN2 W 41–30   87,451[16]
September 26 6:00 PM Ball State* Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL SECRN W 54–30   83,118[17]
October 3 6:45 PM at Tennessee Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN ESPN W 26–22   102,941[18]
October 10 11:00 AM at Arkansas #17 Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR ESPN L 23–44   72,559[19]
October 17 6:30 PM Kentucky Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL ESPNU L 14–21   86,217[20]
October 24 6:30 PM at #10 LSU Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA (Tiger Bowl) ESPN2 L 10–31   92,654[21]
October 31 11:21 AM #24 Ole Miss Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL SECN W 33–20   84,756[22]
November 7 12:30 PM (FCS) Furman*dagger #25 Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL PPV W 63–31   81,506[23]
November 14 6:00 PM at Georgia #25 Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry) ESPN2 L 24–31   92,746[24]
November 27 1:30 PM #2 Alabama Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL (Iron Bowl) CBS L 21–26   87,451[25]
January 1 10:00 AM vs. Northwestern* Raymond James Stadium • Tampa, FL (Outback Bowl) ESPN W 38–35 OT  49,383[26]
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

[27]

Depth chart

Starters and backups.[28]

Defense
CB
Walt McFadden
T'Sharvan Bell
⋅
CB
Neiko Thorpe
D'Antoine Hood
⋅
Offense
WR
Anthony Durso
Montez Billings
John Cubelic
WR
Tim Hawthorne
Quindarius Carr
Philip Pierre-Louis
LT LG C RG RT
Lee Ziemba Byron Isom Ryan Pugh Mike Berry Andrew McCain
A.J. Green Bart Eddins Mike Berry Jared Cooper Vance Smith
⋅ ⋅ Bart Eddins Rudy Odom ⋅
WR
Mario Fannin
Tommy Trott
Gabe McKenzie
WR
Darvin Adams
Derek Winter
Harry Adams
QB
Chris Todd
Kodi Burns
Neil Caudle
RB
Ben Tate
Onterio McCalebb
Eric Smith
Special Teams
PK Wes Byrum
PK Chandler Brooks
P Clinton Durst
P Ryan Shoemaker
KR Mario Fannin
PR Mario Fannin
LS Clayton Tooker

Rankings

Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week.
Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Final
AP – – – – – 17 – – – – – – – – – –
Coaches – – – – – 19 – – – – 25 – – – – –
Harris Not released – 19 – – – – – – – – –
BCS Not released – – – – – – – –

Coaching staff

Name Position Alma mater Year Entering
Gene Chizik Head Coach Florida 1st
Gus Malzahn Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Henderson State 1st
Ted Roof Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Georgia Tech 1st
Trooper Taylor Assistant head coach/Wide receivers Baylor 1st
Curtis Luper Running backs/Recruiting Coordinator Stephen F. Austin 1st
Jeff Grimes Offensive line UTEP 1st
Jay Boulware Special teams Coordinator/Tight ends Texas 1st
Phillip Lolley Cornerbacks Livingston 1st
Tommy Thigpen Safeties North Carolina 1st
Tracy Rocker Defensive line Auburn 1st
Kevin Yoxall Head Strength and Conditioning Coach TCU 10th

*Entering season

Game notes

West Virginia


1 234Total
West Virginia 21 090 30
• Auburn 10 10714 41
  • Date: September 19
  • Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
  • Game start: 6:30 Am EST
  • Source:


Tennessee


1 234Total
• Auburn 6 7310 26
Tennessee 0 6016 22
  • Date: October 3
  • Location: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
  • Game start: 7:45 p.m. EST
  • Source:



References

  1. ↑ http://www.andersonsports.com/football/ACF_frnk.html
  2. ↑ "Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings". USA Today. April 1, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  3. ↑ http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cf#FBS
  4. ↑ http://prwolfe.bol.ucla.edu/cfootball/ratings.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.jhowell.net/cf/cf2009.htm
  6. ↑ http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~dwilson/byrate.html
  7. ↑ http://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/ranking/overall-power-ranking-by-team
  8. ↑ http://prwolfe.bol.ucla.edu/cfootball/rothman.txt
  9. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&div=B&rpt=IA_teamtotoff&site=org
  10. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&div=B&rpt=IA_teamtotdef&site=org
  11. ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&div=B&rpt=IA_teamdefpasseff&site=org
  12. ↑ ESPN.com: Auburn to name Chizik as coach
  13. ↑ Sporting News: Auburn hires Gene Chizik as football coach
  14. ↑ "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  16. ↑ "West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Ball State Cardinals vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Auburn Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Auburn Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Auburn Tigers vs. LSU Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Mississippi Rebels vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Furman Paladins vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  27. ↑ "2009 Auburn Tigers football schedule". Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  28. ↑ "Auburn Tigers Preview 2009 Depth Chart". May 25, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2011.