Darvin Adams News

A plaque with three goals hangs in the Nicolet Football Center, the Wildcats' meeting room adjacent to Ryan Field.

When junior receiver Tim Hawthorne elected to end his Auburn career after graduating earlier this week, it ended a surprising season in which veteran receivers contributed little and others emerged seemingly out of nowhere.

Every year, there are players who fly in under the radar to have big seasons. We've gone through and picked the 10 best players in the SEC that you really didn't know about when the 2009 season began that everybody knows about right now.

Auburn has turned the middle of December into a recruiting whirlwind. The Tigers, who signed four players on Wednesday, picked up a commitment from a defensive back Friday.

After the Iron Bowl, Auburn took two weeks off. In that time, players healed up, studied up and rested up for the final week of the semester and, subsequently, the postseason.

Fog persisted but the rains cleared Sunday, allowing the Auburn football team to move back outside for a full-pad, two-hour workout during its second practice prior to the Outback Bowl.

You may have noticed of the 10 schools in the Georgia High School Association state championship games this weekend at the Georgia Dome, half are from schools south of Macon and half are from north of that.

It's not often that a well deserving player isn't recognized in some form or fashionA at the end of the season, butA a true tragedy occurred when theA the 1st and 2nd All-SEC teams were announced earlier this week.

According to www.outbackbowl.com , the Northwestern Wildcats that Auburn will face off on New Year's morning.

Game of the Weekend: No. 2 Alabama's 26-21 win over Auburn This year's Iron Bowl nearly cost Alabama its chance at the BCS title game.

Terrell Zachery scores on a reverse to help Auburn to its fast start This story appears in Saturday's Birmingham News: AUBURN -- Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn pulled dozens of rabbits out of his hat at the beginning of the Iron Bowl on Friday.

THUMBS UP Auburn's defense: This group has been troubled all year by almost every problem imaginable.

The Alabama Crimson Tide survived trick plays and a lackluster rushing performance Friday to beat the Auburn Tigers 26-21 in the Iron Bowl.

It was methodical, draining, frustrating and, ultimately, predictable. As the minutes and seconds melted away during Alabama's march from its own 21-yard line to deep within Auburn's territory, so did the Tigers' chances of pulling one of the biggest upsets in the history of this 116-year-old, in-state rivalry.

Auburn receiver Darvin Adams said the Tigers will have to raise their level of play in today's Iron Bowl.

Greg McElroy was poised and precise when No. 2 Alabama needed him. The oft-criticized quarterback likely won over even his most ardent doubters in leading the Crimson Tide to the decisive touchdown in a 26-21 win over Auburn on Friday, overcoming a sub-par performance from Heisman Trophy contender Mark Ingram.

What did we learn yesterday? Well, if nothing else, the Iron Bowl is back. To cap a decade filled with a one-sided streak and blowouts, Friday's showdown was a thriller that had an entire state -- and much of the nation's sporting landscape -- on edge for more than three hours.

AUBURN, Ala. - No. 2 Alabama found its championship form in the nick of time. Outplayed most of the game, the Crimson Tide stayed unbeaten with a 26-21 victory Friday over Auburn, taking the lead with a nearly perfect drive that was capped by Greg McElroy's 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left.

AUBURN -- Darvin Adams believes Auburn will play its best game of the season Friday.

Darvin Adams generally is chatty during inter views. His best answer Tuesday was surprisingly direct.