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Auburn notebook: Freshman quarterback Wallace debuts in Wildcat role
By: Ryan Wood | Opelika-Auburn News
Published: September 23, 2012 Updated: September 23, 2012 - 12:16 AM
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AUBURN - Finally, the time was right for Auburn freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace.
Playing a Wildcat role during a 12-10 loss Saturday night to LSU – the same job starting quarterback Kiehl Frazier had last season – Wallace ran for 15 yards on three carries.
It was the first time the former Central star got on the field in four games.
“It was a lot of fun, and it was exciting as a freshman getting able to play,†Wallace said.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik said the true freshman deserved playing time.
“Jonathan has made a pretty consistent track in terms of improvement out of practice, and we like his poise,†Wallace said. “He is an extremely intelligent young man when it comes to the game of football. He was very successful in high school with his team, and he earned the right to play.
“That is as simple as I can put it, and he will continue to earn the right to play some more.â€
Loeffler likes view from the sideline
Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler usually stays in the coaching box during games, calling plays down to the field.
Against LSU’s stout defense, he and Chizik decided it was better to be able to have personal interaction with their young starting quarterback. So for the first time this season, Loeffler coached from the sideline Saturday.
“We thought it was best that I could be face-to-face with Kiehl,†Loeffler said. “It was good to be face-to-face with him to make adjustments.â€
Loeffler said he will likely coach from the sideline when Auburn plays Arkansas in two weeks at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Defensive tackles get penetration
No matter which players rotated in, Auburn’s defensive tackles had struggled to get into the offensive backfield this season.
Junior Jeff Whitaker said the tackles penetrated more Saturday, one of the primary changes that led to defensive improvement. The reason, Whitaker said, was a better understanding of run fits in defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s system.
“We’re in this defense, it’s a new defense and each week we’re getting better and better with understanding what are the things that you can and can not do, and what are your gap responsibilities,†Whitaker said. “I think it’s just coming all together, and plus we played together today.â€
Auburn plays with heavy hearts
Auburn had an emotional Saturday night for a much more important reason than its close loss to LSU.
Before the game, Chizik said he and the team learned Joe Bagwell, a 23-year-old student assistant coach from Huntsville, had died. The cause of death was not revealed.
“It is a very heavy heart for myself and a lot of our players and a lot of our coaches right now,†Chizik said. “The young man, who was a student assistant with us in football, passed away shortly before the game unexpectedly, and it is very tragic. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.â€
Bagwell was a student trainer for Auburn last season.
Quick hits
With his 59 return yards Saturday, senior running back Onterio McCalebb now has 1,058 kick return yards for his career, making him the first player in Auburn history to have more than 2,000 rushing, 1,000 kick return and 500 receiving yards. The last SEC player to accomplish that feat was Kentucky's Derrick Locke (2007-10). ... Cody Parkey's 40-yard field goal ties him with Wes Byrum for the longest streak of made field goals with nine in a row. ... Emory Blake's 56 receiving yards gives him 1,455 for his career, moving him into 11th all-time atAuburn, passing Ronney Daniels (1,446). ...Auburn lost just its third game under Chizik when leading at halftime. The Tigers are now 23-3 when taking a lead into the break. ... The first-quarter safety was the first Auburn has given up since the 2008 Mississippi State game. That game ended in a 3-2 Tigers' victory in Starkville, Miss.
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