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. 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.
Preseason Rankings The Tigers entered the season with high expectations, ranked highly by multiple polls in the preseason. The Associated Press Poll placed Auburn at #10 while the USA Today Coaches' Poll, a component of the Bowl Championship Series rankings, had Auburn at #11. Other rankings include:
# 7 – Rivals.com# 8 – Athlon# 9 – Sports Illustrated# 9 – CollegeTop25 Consensus# 10 – ESPN# 13 – Lindy's# 14 – CollegeFootballNews/Scout.com
Watchlists and honors Walter Camp Award watchlist – Sen'Derrick Marks(DT) Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlist – Antonio Coleman(DE) and Sen'Derrick Marks Outland Trophy watchlist – Sen'Derrick Marks Dave Rimington Trophy watchlist – Jason Bosley(C) Playboy All-American – Sen'Derrick Marks
Preseason All-SEC Teams Coaches All-SEC 1st Team – DT Sen'Derrick Marks & P Ryan ShoemakerCoaches All-SEC 2nd Team – RB Ben Tate, OL Tyronne Green, LB Tray Blackmon & DB Jerraud PowersCoaches All-SEC 3rd Team – DE Antonio Coleman
Schedule 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.
Game summaries
Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics ULMAUB 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 StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Kinsmon Lancaster 20/38, 136 yards Rushing Frank Goodin 15 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Zeek Zacharie 8 receptions, 61 yardsAuburn Passing Chris Todd 9/18, 70 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ben Tate 13 rushes, 115 yards Receiving Rodgeriqus Smith 5 receptions, 57 yards
Southern Miss
Statistics USMAUB 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 StatisticsSouthern 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 TDAuburn 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
Statistics AUBMSST 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 StatisticsAuburn Passing Chris Todd 14/26, 154 yards Rushing Ben Tate 20 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Montez Billings 3 receptions, 68 yardsMississippi State Passing Wesley Carroll 10/25, 78 yards, INT Rushing Christian Ducre 16 rushes, 49 yards Receiving Co-Eric Riley 3 receptions, 26 yards
No. 6 LSU
Statistics LSUAUB 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 StatisticsLSU Passing Jarrett Lee 11/22, 182 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Charles Scott 21 rushes, 132 yards Receiving Brandon LaFell 4 receptions, 92 yards, TDAuburn 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
Tennessee
Statistics TENNAUB 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 StatisticsTennessee Passing Jonathan Crompton 8/23, 67 yards Rushing Montario Hardesty 10 rushes, 35 yards, TD Receiving Austin Rogers 1 reception, 14 yardsAuburn 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
Statistics AUBVAN 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 StatisticsAuburn Passing Chris Todd 8/16, 70 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ben Tate 27 rushes, 108 yards Receiving Mario Fannin 3 receptions, 56 yards, TDVanderbilt Passing Mackenzi Adams 13/23, 153 yards, 2 TD Rushing Mackenzi Adams 13 rushes, 54 yards Receiving Sean Walker 4 receptions, 66 yards
Arkansas
Statistics ARKAUB 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 StatisticsArkansas Passing Casey Dick 17/32, 222 yards, 2 INT Rushing Michael Smith 35 rushes, 176 yards, TD Receiving Greg Childs 3 receptions, 61 yardsAuburn Passing Kodi Burns 7/18, 119 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kodi Burns 15 rushes, 38 yards, TD Receiving Tim Hawthorne 1 reception, 38 yards
At West Virginia
Statistics AUBWVU 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 StatisticsAuburn Passing Kodi Burns 13/21, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kodi Burns 15 rushes, 82 yards, TD Receiving Tommy Trott 4 receptions, 34 yardsWest 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
At Ole Miss
Statistics AUBMISS 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 StatisticsAuburn Passing Kodi Burns 27/43, 319 yards, 3 INT Rushing Ben Tate 5 rushes, 35 yards, TD Receiving Chris Slaughter 8 receptions, 131 yardsOle 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
UT Martin
Statistics UTMAUB 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 StatisticsUT 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 TDAuburn Passing Kodi Burns 12/20, 130 yards Rushing Kodi Burns 13 rushes, 158 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tommy Trott 3 receptions, 39 yards
No. 13 Georgia
Statistics UGAAUB 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 StatisticsGeorgia Passing Matthew Stafford 15/24, 215 yards, 2 TD Rushing Knowshon Moreno 22 rushes, 131 yards Receiving A. J. Green 5 receptions, 81 yards, TDAuburn Passing Kodi Burns 16/30, 179 yards, TD Rushing Mario Fannin 8 rushes, 59 yards, TD Receiving Montez Billings 6 receptions, 66 yards
At No. 1 Alabama
Statistics AUBALA 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 StatisticsAuburn Passing Kodi Burns 9/23, 113 yards Rushing Mario Fannin 8 rushes, 28 yards Receiving Mario Fannin 3 receptions, 44 yardsAlabama 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
Coaching staff Name Position Yearsat AU* Alma mater (Year) Note Tommy Tuberville Head coach 9 Southern Arkansas University (1976) Resigned following the season. Replaced Mike Leach asTexas Tech head coach following 2009 season Tony Franklin Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks 0 Murray State University (1979; M.S., 1989) Fired after week 6 of the season Hugh Nall Offensive line 9 University of Georgia (1983) Eddie Gran Running backs, Special teams 9 California Lutheran (1987) Steve Ensminger Tight ends 5 Louisiana State University (1982) Became Offensive Coordinator after week 6 of the season Greg Knox Wide receivers, Recruiting Coordinator 9 Northeastern State (1986), Northeastern State (1990) Paul Rhoads Defensive coordinator, secondary 0 Missouri Western (1989), Utah State (1991) Became Iowa State head coach following the season. Don Dunn Defensive tackles 9 East Tennessee State (1976), Union College (1980) Terry Price Defensive ends 9 Texas A&M (1992) Joined Rhoads at Iowa State initially,but was hired by Ole Miss before 2009 season began. James Willis Linebackers 2 Auburn University (2003) *Entering season
Depth chart Starters and backups.
Rankings
Statistics
Team 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
Scores by quarter
Offense
Rushing 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
Passing 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
Receiving