Auburn bringing in players from across the nation for Big Cat III recruiting weekend

By Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times al.com

Daphne running back T.J. Yeldon: Scheduled for Auburn's Big Cat (Jon Hauge / Press-Register)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Curtis Luper said Big Cat Weekend was invented during a brainstorming session with his fellow Auburn coaches.  

"We asked, 'What can we do to be different?'" he recalled.  

Coining a catchy phrase, inviting big-time football recruits to campus for a special weekend and staging an event where bonding is more important than running the 40 has paid off for the Tigers.  

Auburn has 26 Big Cat alums on its roster after two years, and hopes to add more from Big Cat III, an event for which some players will begin arriving tonight.  

The last two Big Cats have helped Auburn finish in the Top 3 in recruiting nationally, at least according to some recruiting websites, the last two years.

Luper, Auburn's running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, said Big Cat is different than most recruiting weekends.  

"The recruits get an opportunity to bond like none other because at most places they're running, they're jumping, they're doing some type of agility and physical activity. There is none of that here," Luper said. "There is essentially no football. We use it as an opportunity for recruits to get to know one another, our players, our coaches. For us, it's just a big family reunion."  

 

For full article go to:  http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/05/auburn_bringing_in_players_fro.html

Mullen, Bulldogs face high expectations in 2011

MSU looking to build on last year’s 9-4 record

By DOUG BARBER - dmbarber@sunherald.com

BILOXI -- Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen said expectations will be higher for his Bulldog football team in 2011.

And that means handling success in the right way.

Mullen came to the Biloxi Yacht Club Monday night for the second stop of the BancorpSouth Road Dawgs Tour. He was joined by Athletic Director Scott Stricklin and MSU President Mark Keenum.

Mullen

 

As the bus pulled up, Mullen, in his third season, was greeted by cheering alumni and the school fight song.
“It’s a very different year for us -- for our team, for our fan base,’’ Mullen said. “We have expectations this year. Last year we went out to prove people wrong -- we wanted to prove we could be better than what they expected of us. Now we have high expectations. Now we have to prove people right this year.’’
The Bulldogs are coming a 9-4 campaign, one that concluded with a 52-14 rout of Michigan in the Gator Bowl.

“We had four overall guys drafted,’’ he said. “That shows we can develop pro players in this program. They helped us in our program. But we have some big shoes to fill now.’’

Coast players like Chris White of Vancleave and J.C. Brignone of St. Stanislaus have graduated. But the Coast still figures big in State’s picture. Senior Vick Ballard, who played at Pascagoula High School and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, is back to carry the load at running back.

“We expect an All-SEC performance out of him this season and want him to take his game to the next level,’’ Mullen said. “We expect him to be a leader of our team, carry our offense and team through next season.’’
Quarterback Dylan Favre, the nephew of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, is coming off a redshirt season. Senior Chris Relf is listed No. 1 on the spring depth chart. Favre and sophomore Tyler Russell are battling for playing time as well.

“That job is wide-open like all our jobs on the team,’’ Mullen said. “Dylan will be freshman next year and has his whole career ahead of him. We expect great things out of Dylan Favre in the future.’’
The Seal family recently donated $12 million to the athletic program.

“I want to thank Leo Seal and the family for what they’ve done for us,’’ Mullen said. “That allows us to get our facilities caught up with everybody else in the Southeastern Conference. We will start building soon, within the next few months.’’

Stricklin expressed the same sentiments.

“The gift from the Seal family -- $12 million to athletics -- is the largest we’ve ever had in school history,’’ he said. “That gives you resources where you can win over a long period of time.’’
Stricklin said he enjoyed the start of the trip.

“One of great things is doing events like this to get to see the energy from our fan base and alums,’’ Stricklin said. “As a university, we have a lot of momentum. We want to let people know we are excited as they are.’’
Mullen complimented the fans, then said his guys have to rise to a new level.

“It’s fun to be out here and thank everybody,’’ Mullen said. “Our fan base has a lot to do with us winning in my two years here. But we still have a lot to do.

“Are we improving from year to year? It will be a challenge for us, and how we handle the adversity of success, Everybody is patting our kids on the back. We need to take that next stop and not be satisfied with where we are.’’

Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/05/09/3096691/mullen-bulldogs-face-high-expectations.html#ixzz1M32QZWZN