NewsNews:2012-02-02T18:33:06ZCopyright (c) 2012, Carla NelsonExpressionEnginetag:thecornernews.com,2012:02:02Students get on their feet for a causetag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.174002012-02-02T17:25:05Z2012-02-02T18:33:06ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Dance Marathon, a nationally recognized charity event for the Children’s Miracle Network, is an event that takes a year of fundraising to build up to the main event, a dance marathon, on Feb. 4, 2012.
In 2009, Miss Auburn made the Auburn University Dance Marathon the platform for her title. The event was originally a charity for Habitat for Humanity. The first event raised $12,000 and interested the Student Government Association to continue sponsoring the event for the next three years with Habitat for Humanity for Lee County. This is the first year that the SGA has been nationally partnered with The Children’s Miracle Network to raise funds to benefit children’s hospitals.
“Dance Marathon is a national event and the No. 1 fundraiser for The Children’s Miracle Network,” said Maddeline Bourgerie, public relations coordinator for the Auburn University Dance Marathon.
There are about 180 universities that host Dance Marathons to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The event is entirely student funded and raises thousands of dollars to help its cause. The Auburn community is a new addition to the 180 participating universities.
The participating students spend a year learning leadership and social skills. The students raise money in a variety of ways, such as garage sales, and spend their time interacting with the children and families at the children’s hospitals.
The year is completed with a 12 hour long event. The students stay on their feet for 12 hours, rotating through dancing, games and entertainment stations in honor of the patients and the money raised that year. This year, the event will include a line dance. At the end of the event, there will be a grand reveal of the amount of money raised. The Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon’s mission statement is: “We dance for those who can’t.” The Auburn community is excited to join and follow that mission statement.
“I hope it becomes an Auburn tradition,” said Bourgerie.
This year’s event will be in the Auburn Student Center Ballroom from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. where hundreds of Auburn Students are expected to attend. There is a $25 sign up fee.
“This year our main goal is to get our name out there,” said Bourgerie. “We want to encourage everyone to join.”
Guest speakers include children and their families form Columbus Regional Hospital who will be telling their stories to the dedicated participants who have raised money for their cause.
The event has grown exponentially since beginning in 2009 and is The Children’s Miracle Networks most profitable fundraiser.
]]>Texas legend makes marquee at Supper Clubtag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.173602012-02-01T16:05:34Z2012-02-01T17:10:35ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Playing around 150 shows a year, this seasoned topical writer will be performing in Auburn at the War Eagle Supper Club on Feb. 19. This is an event that has been in the making for two years, when Standard Deluxe owner Scott Peek began talking to McMurtry’s manager about his tour dates.
“I had been in contact with his manager and when I heard James McMurtry was going to be in the Auburn area, I wanted to make sure we booked him when a date was available,” said Peek.
Peek first saw one of James McMurtry’s live shows four years ago in Austin, Texas.
“He played every Thursday at The Continental Club in Austin and started at midnight,” said Peek. “My buddy and I were in Austin and heard he was playing downtown, so we couldn’t miss it.”
McMurtry’s work has been influenced by other Texas legends such as Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen, but his songs undeniably have their own distinct sound.
Besides giving a definition to Texas country and Texas rock, McMurtry's music is a blend of Americana and folk with a Texas twang.
“Style is based on limitation,” said McMurtry. “I do what I can do.”
Fortunately, ‘doing what he can do’ makes a power-house performance that mesmerizes his audiences.
“Our show begins as a trio: electric guitar, drums and bass,” said McMurtry. “Then about an hour into the show, our sound guy comes and plays guitar. We go from being a trio to a four piece band.”
The band performs mostly original songs, but performs a few covers such as Town Van Zandt's, “Reckless Blues.”
“‘Choctaw Bingo’ is a crowd favorite,” said McMurtry. “It’s a fun party song. There are no protests in that one.”
However, it’s McMurtry’s protest songs that have gained him nationwide attention from other artists.
In 2011, McMurtry’s song, "We Can't Make It Here" was cited among the nation's "Best Protest Songs Ever." The song won the Americana "Song of the Year" in 2006. Currently, Joan Baez wants to do a rendition of the song for the Occupy Wall Street campaign. “Hopefully we can get her vocals, and Steve Earl’s as well,” said McMurtry.
Robert Earl Keen, another Texas legend, covered McMurtry’s “Out Here in the Middle.”
As for songwriting, McMurtry’s skills go beyond most.
“He is a fairly well-known songwriter,” said Peek. “His songs have meaning. As for songwriting, I think he’s one of the best out there.”
McMurtry has written 10 albums worth of songs.
“I hear a couple of lines and a melody in my head,” said McMurtry. “If it keeps me up at night, I finish the song, but I usually don’t finish the ones I start.”
McMurtry changes up his travels by playing with his band on some shows, and playing others solo.
“His live shows are a lot better than the ones you usually see,” said Peek.
McMurtry began playing guitar when he was 7 years old, when he learned his first chord from this mother.
McMurtry has listened to his influences since he was a young age and was inspired to pursue music by his idols’ stage presence.
“I saw Johnny Cash play when I was young, and then Kris Kristoferson,” said McMurtry. “During those shows, everyone on stage seemed to be having a good time, and that’s what I wanted to do.”
It wasn’t until he attended boarding school and college (not caring for either one), was a bartender, and was in a few movies, that McMurtry decided to put his foot in the door of the music business.
McMurtry recalls his last visit to Auburn in 1989, when he opened for The Bodeanes at a fraternity party in 25 degree weather.
Since his days of playing for the fraternity circuit, McMurtry has made a big foot print on the music industry.
On his website, McMurtry boasts flattering quotes about his music from a range of notable sources such as John Mellencamp, USA Today and even Rolling Stone.
McMurtry’s first album, “Too Long in the Wasteland,” was produced by John Mellencamp in 1989. This album became the first of many for Columbia and Sugar Hill records.
In 1996, McMurtry received a Grammy nomination for his music video of “Where’d You Hide the Body.”
His album, "It Had to Happen” received the American Indie Award for “Best Americana Album” in 1997.
In 2009, McMurtry and his band took their music overseas for their first European tour. The band then released its first live DVD, “Live in Europe.” The DVD features performances from the band as they traveled to Germany, Amsterdam, Ireland and a spread of European countries.
On Feb. 1, 2011, two of James McMurtry's most popular albums, “Childish Things” and “Live in Aught-Three” were reissued by Lightning Rod Records and were re mastered since their debut and turned into a vinyl album.
Through all of his endeavors, McMurtry remains humble about his accomplishments.
“My greatest accomplishment in my career is staying in business for 20 years,” said McMurtry.
McMurtry is still writing and performing and isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.
“We have a couple of new songs that we’re trying to scrape up for another record,” he said.
The Standard Deluxe in Waverly, Ala., is known for its outdoor concerts and events. However, with the weather being unpredictable and having the fear of a rained out show, the Standard Deluxe is hosting the concert at the War Eagle Supper Club.
The concert expects several hundred McMurtry fans.
“We couldn’t put on this event without Supper Club,” said Peek. “This will be a combo show, and it’ll be a good one.”
McMurtry is scheduled to perform at the War Eagle Supper Club on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door.
For more on McMurtry, visit jamesmcmurtry.com.
]]>10 prospects Auburn has its sights on for Signing Daytag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.173102012-01-31T17:11:37Z2012-01-31T18:19:38ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
With only 15 committed prospects -- and with the Tigers in the running for a bunch of high-profile players -- Wednesday (or Tuesday night) will be a make or break day for Auburn's Class of 2012.
Here are 10 prospects Auburn has its eye on, listed in order of probability the Tigers will land them.
(Note: OL Jordan Diamond (Feb. 3) and WR Stefon Diggs (Feb. 10) are making their choices after Signing Day, so they're not included on this list. Decision time information gleaned from AuburnSports.com.)
WR Ricardo Louis, 6-2, 200, Miami Beach, Fla. (Miami Beach Senior High)
247Sports: 4-star, No. 29 WR
ESPN: 4-star, No. 5 ATH
Rivals: 4-star, No. 27 WR
Scout: 4-star, No. 29 WR
What's his deal?: Committed to AU in May before committing to FSU last week, then opening up his recruitment a couple days after. That's a good sign for the Tigers.
Decision Time: 12-1 p.m.
For the rest of this story, visit oanow.com.
]]>AU’s Gogue accepts solution regarding Toomer’s Oakstag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.173032012-01-25T19:18:29Z2012-01-25T20:33:30ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
That call will be made after the trees' fate becomes more certain next season, Clardy said.
“All the decisions that have been made so far are contingent upon the fact that we have to wait until the spring to see if the trees are going to survive,” Clardy said beneath the iconic oaks Wednesday. “Our Toomer’s Oaks Task Force believes it will be some time around April before they know if the trees are going to put out new leaves.”
If the trees at Toomer’s Corner are replaced, they would be with larger trees, Clardy said.
“One of the things the committee had to decide was to replace the oaks with saplings or larger trees and based on the feedback we got from alumni, employees and students, they wanted larger trees,” Clardy said.
The Committee to Study the Future of Rolling Toomer’s Corner met last week and decided to recommend that one or more large oak trees be planted in that location, assuming the trees are not going to live, said Debbie Shaw, committee chair. The committee also decided on recommendations of how to address the continued rolling tradition should that take place.
The trees at the corner of College Street and Magnolia Avenue were allegedly poisoned with a potent herbicide shortly after the 2010 Iron Bowl.
If the existing trees do not survive as expected, a group will be put together to decide what will be done with the wood from the trees.
At some point there will be a meeting between AU and City of Auburn officials to determine what a temporary rolling structure at Toomer’s Corner might be, Clardy said.
If the existing trees do not survive, a group will be put together to decide what will be done with the wood from the Toomer’s Oaks, Clardy said.
“Obviously we don’t want to be here having this conversation," Clardy said. "If we had everything to do over again, the trees wouldn’t have been poisoned and we would be celebrating every fall with these two trees. But we have to make some plans for the future. Fans and their kids want to come up here for generations and we want to do what we can to protect that tradition, and if that means two new trees, that’s what's going to happen.”
]]>Gettin’ fit in 2012tag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.172692012-01-25T16:20:51Z2012-02-01T17:10:52ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
One tool that can help those looking to eat healthier in the New Year is the USDA’s food tool MyPlate. In June of last year, First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled the MyPlate to serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate is an icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to ChooseMyPlate.gov. The MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups.
“This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating and as a mom, I can already tell how much this is going to help parents across the country,” Obama said of the tool.
Vilsack added that with so many food options available to consumers that it is often difficult to determine the best foods to put on our plates when building a healthy meal.
“MyPlate is an uncomplicated symbol to help remind people to think about their food choices in order to lead healthier lifestyles,” he said. “This effort is about more than just giving information, it is a matter of making people understand there are options and practical ways to apply them to their daily lives.”
MyPlate has replaced the MyPyramid image as the government’s primary food group symbol as an easy-to-understand visual cue to help consumers adopt healthy eating habits consistent with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The site also has an online tool that consumers can use to personalize and manage their dietary and physical activity choices. SuperTracker can help you plan, analyze and track your diet and physical activity. The SuperTracker can help assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce their risk of chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight. SuperTracker offers consumers the ability to personalize recommendations for what and how much to eat and amount of physical activity; Track foods and physical activity from an expanded database of foods and physical activities; Customize features such as goal setting, virtual coaching, weight tracking and journaling; Measure progress with comprehensive reports ranging from a simple meal summary to in-depth analysis of food groups and nutrient intake over time; and Support family and friends by adding their individual profiles.
The site also offers tools on how to eat better on a budget, nutrition tips and more.
The federal government also offers a list of simple dietary guidelines for Americans that include:
• Enjoy your food, but eat less.
• Avoid oversized portions.
• Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
• Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
• Make at least half your grains whole grains
• Compare sodium (salt) in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals, and choose foods with lower
numbers.
• Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
The state of Alabama hosts a yearly program to encourage Alabamians to lose weight and exercise more. Scale Back Alabama is a 10-week program in which teams of four people, including a team captain, compete to see if all team members can lose at least 10 pounds or about one pound per week. Teams must maintain all four original members and each member must lose 10 pounds during the 10-week contest. Registration began Jan. 21 and runs through Jan. 27.
Participants can register as private or public and must be 18 years of age or older, live or work in Alabama, cannot have had surgery for weight-loss within the past year and must weigh in and out during the specified weeks. The program ends on April 30 and three eligible team names will be drawn to win prizes. The first team will win $1,000 per team member, the second team will win $500 per team member and the third team will win $250 per team member.
Sisters Olivia Ward and Hannah Curlee from the TV show "The Biggest Loser," will be the spokeswomen and role models for the 10-week contest. Each week all participants will receive a health tip through email with additional encouragement from the sisters.
Complete Nutrition, a local nutritional supplement retail store, offered five tips to ensure your fitness objectives are met successfully and safely this year.
1. Set realistic goals: Be honest about your timeframe: The most important thing in any fitness plan is to do it in a healthy way. Plan for weight loss or gain to happen slowly and steadily.
2. Choose a date: Just like in horseshoes and hand grenades, timing is crucial when it comes to fitness regimens. Consider what's going on in your life before you set your start date. But once you do, make it definitive. If you have work, school or relational issues that may make your goals difficult to reach, try to resolve them before you begin.
3. Progress is key: Focus on meeting your goals, not the after picture, and you'll achieve them. Make daily plans to meet them.
4. Track your progress: Before you begin, establish how you're going to measure your progress. Is it on a notebook, an iPad? Be consistent, and you'll find satisfaction watching those daily accomplishments add up.
5. Reassess and amend: Frequently evaluate where you stand compared to your larger goals. Are you on pace to reach them? If not, consider whether they were realistic in the first place. Rather than continue to over- or under-perform in relation to your expectations, it may be time to revisit tip No. 1.
Find a place to get fit that works for you
If you're looking to join a local gym to meet your fitness goals, check out some pricing information on a few.
Fitness for Women
720 East Glenn Ave., Auburn
$40 sign up fee and $9.95 per month
Buy one year for $199 and get one free
Fitness Together
2021 S. College St., Suite D, Auburn
Promotion through Feb. 14 - small group personal training gift cards for new clients that include a rate of $149 per couple for two weeks of small group personal training (includes three times per week sessions), and a $50 dinner gift certificate.
Healthplus Fitness Center
1171 Gatewood Dr # 101, Auburn
Offering free sign up fee for the month of January
All inclusive monthly fee is $53 a month
Max Fitness
189 East University, Auburn
Promotion on Monday, Jan. 30 - one day sign up fee of $5
Monthly fee is $19.95 a month
World Gym
1655 South College Street, Auburn
Promotional rate through Jan. 31 - $59 sign up fee and $9.95 per month
Usual rate - $19.95 per month
3-day no commitment trial
]]>Chipotle chain spices up Auburntag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.172672012-01-24T20:57:19Z2012-01-24T22:03:20ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Chipotle’s chain has reached four cities in Alabama; two locations in Birmingham, one in Tuscalosa and its newest location in Auburn. Chipotle expanded its chain into Auburn, at 346 W Magnolia Ave., with hopes that it would attract the Auburn campus with its healthy meal options and convenient near-campus location. The lunch line has been out the door since Chipotle’s grand opening on Jan. 17.
Chipotle’s burritos are a generous serving size at a reasonable price, and have already been a big hit on campus.
“The favorite menu item so far is the chicken burrito,” said general manager, Isa Reinmiller.
Chipotle takes pride that its menu includes a large variety of healthy choices. The beef, pork and chicken contain no synthetic rBGH horomones, the veggies are seasonally organic and the beans are 45 percent organic. Burritos, salads, tacos and burrito bowls are a few of the menu options available. At the service counter, the customer can observe as their meal is made in front of them and can add their favorite ingredients.
“We are a fast food restaurant, but we care about the freshness of our food, and our service,” said Reinmiller. “The quality of our product is important and it’s important to make sure our employees provide great customer service.”
Chipotle also offers a beer selection, and house margaritas.
“The philosophy of Chipotle is to ‘share the story’,” said Reinmiller. By sharing the story, Chipotle hopes to spread their establishment’s good name from customer to customer and to keep the line out the door.
For more, visit chipotle.com.
]]>Scot Loeffler hired as Auburn offensive coordinatortag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.172402012-01-23T15:36:46Z2012-01-23T16:52:47ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Scot Loeffler, who served as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Temple this past season, is Auburn’s new offensive coorindator.
Loeffler replaces Gus Malzahn, who was announced as Arkansas State's new head coach on Dec. 14, three days before the Owls ended a 9-4 campaign with a 37-15 win over Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl.
Loeffler's Owls offense finished seventh in the nation in rush yards per game (256.4), 39th in scoring offense (30.6 points per game), 63rd in yards per game (383.2) and 116th in pass yards per game (126.8).
Temple ran 76.3 percent of the time in 2011, as it built its offense around running back Bernard Pierce, who ran for 1,481 yards and 27 touchdowns.
The Owls were 33rd nationally in passer efficiency (142.79) and tied for third nationally in turnovers, giving the ball up 12 times and trailing only LSU and Wisconsin.
Loeffler was the quarterbacks coach at Florida in 2009-10 and coached Tim Tebow in Tebow's last season with the Gators.
Tebow passed for 2,895 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2009, finishing his senior year with a passer efficiency of 164.17.
“Scot is a rising star who has worked with some very good quarterbacks, and has achieved a tremendous amount of success,” Chizik said. “He is a tireless worker, is an outstanding recruiter and knows the rigors of competing in this conference.”
Loeffler coached quarterbacks for the Detroit Lions in 2008 and held the same position at Michigan, his alma mater, from 2002-07, helping guide Chad Henne to four all-time Wolverines passing records.
The Tigers' new offensive coordinator has worked with six quarterbacks at the college level that went on to play in the NFL: Tebow, Henne, Tom Brady, Brian Griese, Drew Henson and John Navarre.
"Auburn is one of the special jobs and special places in college athletics with a tremendous amount of history and tradition," Loeffler said. "It’s an honor to be joining Coach Chizik’s staff and I’m very appreciative of this opportunity.”
Loeffler, 37, was a quarterback at Michigan from 1993-96, then served as a student assistant on the Wolverines' national championship squad in 1997.
"Scot is a team guy, one of those coaches who will call a game with the mindset of doing whatever it takes to win," said Lloyd Carr, Michigan's head coach from 1995 to 2007. "Some days it may be to protect the defense and some days to light it up. He will call his offense that will give the team its best chance to win.
"His strength is that he is honest and up front with players and they will respect him because he has a wonderful knowledge of the game.”
The Barberton, Ohio, native was also Central Michigan's quarterbacks coach in 2000-01, serving on the same staff as new Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder in 2000.
Chizik hired VanGorder on Jan. 9, nearly five weeks after former defensive coordinator Ted Roof left for the same position at UCF, only to be named defensive coordinator at Penn State about a month later.
Auburn’s offense, which set records in its first two years under Malzahn, sputtered last season, finishing 100th nationally in yards per game (337.8), 105th in pass yards per game (155.5), 31st in rush yards per game (182.3) and 70th in points per game (25.7).
Loeffler will be announced as the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator at a press conference Monday morning.
]]>Man cave barbershop makes the cut in Auburntag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171942012-01-19T16:04:07Z2012-01-19T17:10:08ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
“We’re not a salon, that’s too girly. We like to call ourselves an upscale barbershop,” said Trim owner Justin Koenn.
Trim is anything but girly, the man cave atmosphere of Trim makes it an enjoyable place for any guy to get a haircut.
“It’s a fun environment,” Koenn said. “If you have to wait, it isn’t boring. You won’t be just staring into space.”
It would be nearly impossible to get bored in this barbershop. From the ping-pong table to the dart board hanging on the wall, Trim offers more than just your ordinary hair cut.
The $18 package includes a wash, shampoo, hot towel facial wrap, massage, style and your choice of beer, soda or water.
Military, firefighter, policeman, fraternity brothers and father/son discounts are available for $15. Also, a one time Facebook friend discount is available.
Aside from cutting hair, Trim offers face shaves, bald head shaves, beard trims, quick cleanups and waxing services are coming.
“We don’t charge a premium for a guy’s haircut; it’s a man’s haircut after all,” said Koenn.
Clients are warmly greeted by five female licensed cosmetologists. Each one of their six cutting stations is equipped with a television, providing entertainment even when getting one of their many services.
“We’re selling our atmosphere most of all,” said Koenn.
Koenn encourages clients to contribute to the shop's walls by bringing in their own deer heads, or other mounted animals to decorate. He also encourages clients to bring in pictures to be put on the shop's “brag board.”
“The goal is to make the place more macho,” said Koenn.
Trim also has a Kids Corner that provides toys, a DVD player and a white picket fence in case costumers want to play some pool.
Trim is open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call Trim at 821-6774.
]]>Buy and trade sporting equipment at Play It Again Sportstag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171932012-01-19T15:55:12Z2012-01-19T17:02:13ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Owner Casey Waid graduated from Auburn University and was working locally in his families’ business. When the family sold the company, Waid began looking for another career path. His friends gave him the idea to open a Play It Again Sports in the area.
“Some friends of mine started a lacrosse league last year and there wasn’t anywhere to get lacrosse equipment,” Waid said. “Some of the people were familiar with Play it Again Sports. Everybody knew I was looking for something new too. They said, ‘Hey, you ought to open a Play it Again Sports. We need one of those here.’”
Waid liked the idea.
“I got to thinking about it,” he said. “I’ve always loved sports. I’ve got three boys and, you know, coach basketball, coach the travel team, rec teams. I coach about everything. I got to thinking about it thought it would be fun to do. I went on the website and made contact and it went from there.”
Waid opened the store on Dec. 1.
Play It Again Sports is a retail store that also buys, sells and trades used equipment.
“It’s about 50/50 new and used,” Waid said. “In the used you get a pretty good value. Our general rule of thumb is we try to price it about half of what you’d buy new.”
Waid said most customers think the store is just consignment, but most of the equipment is bought up front with cash.
“That or we do trade credit,” he said. “We give a little more for trade credit. We will do consignment on some items, if it’s a big ticket item, but for the most part I don’t want to be consigning a $10 baseball glove.”
Waid said the store looks for quality sporting goods. They will sometimes take an item in a little worse condition if it’s something they really need.
A donation program is also available at the store. If the customer donates an item, the store takes what they would have given the customer in store credit and donates it to the Chizik families’ YouTurn foundation, whose mission is to partner with non-profit organizations in Alabama that focus on equipping youth with effective tools to make positive choices, allowing them to become successful citizens..
The store sells sports equipment that ranges from football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, golf and more. They also sell home fitness equipment, bicycles, and have just started offering performance apparel such as Nike and Adidas clothing.
Prices range greatly at Play It Again Sports. Customers can buy a bicycle from $20 to $600 and a treadmill from $50 to $1,000.
Play It Again Sports is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
For more, visit playitagainsports.com.
]]>Cool Gadgets 2012tag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171822012-01-18T18:06:26Z2012-02-01T17:11:27ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com TheKube2
The miniscule theKube2 MP3 player has been sold through 7-Eleven stores in Singapore and has now made its way to the U.S. Manufacturer Bluetree Electronics calls it the "smallest touch MP3 player in the world."
It is made of aluminum, has changeable skins and comes with a 4GB microSD card, which can be upgraded to hold more songs.
TheKube 2 will retail for around $60.
Sportiiiis
Sportiiiis is a virtual personal trainer that can attach to any pair of sunglasses to give the user visual and audio cues about their workout performance. The user stores their workout goals and the boom communicates with an ANT+ device, such as heart rate monitors, foot pods and bike sensors to see if the user is meeting their targets. If the user is taking it too easy or going too hard, it will alert them with a blinking red light. If they are on target, it lights up green, and if they are somewhere in the middle, it blinks yellow. The Sportiiiis also delivers audio prompts to update performance, and can cycle through heart rate, cadence and pace stats when the user double-tapps the side of the device.
The Sportiiiis is available from 4iiii.com for preorder now and costs $199.
Kinect for Windows
Microsoft's announced it would release its motion sensing input device Kinect for PC in February of this year. Microsoft claims it updated the multi-core exemplar, making the device 20 percent faster than it was in the last release. Users must run the Windows 7 operating system and Windows 8 developer preview.
Retail price will be around $250.
Splash 100
The Splash 100, from the German pro-audio company Behringer, is a spherical Bluetooth waterproof speaker that floats in your pool. The speaker will have a 230-foot range and deliver 3.5 hours of sound from its rechargeable battery. It will be released later this year and will retail for around $99.
Project Fiona Gaming Tablet
The company Razor recently introduced Project Fiona, a gaming PC that takes the tablet form and adds controls on either side of the screen. The tablet has a 10 inch multitouch screen with a dual analog stick design on the sides. The tablet will run all existing PC titles without any need to port the games.
The system, which will be released later this year, is projected to retail around $1,000.
SpareOne
Targeting consumers as an emergency cell phone, the SpareOne cell phone is the first phone to be powered by a single AA battery. The phone operates on the GSM dual band network, gets 10 hours of talk life and holds a charge for 15 years - the same shelf life of the Energizer Ultimate Lithium battery, the recommended battery for the SpareOne. Users provide their own SIM card, but 911 calls are available without the card. The phone also has an integrated flashlight.
The SpareOne phone will retail for $49.99.
Intouch Smart TV Camera System
The Intouch Skype HD camera system brings 720p web video chat to your regular TV screen and includes apps like YouTube, Google News and Weather and a full web browsing experience, supported by a full QWERTY remote control with directional scroll buttons. The camera can be placed on top of the TV or any nearby flat surface and has a range of 30 degrees.
The camera system will be available in March and costs $199.99.
mRobo Ultra Bass
mRobo is a portable speaker that doubles-up as a dancing robot. The device allows users to upload around 500 songs and select tracks with a remote. The music is played through an integrated speaker, with the ability to produce bass at 40Hz. mRobo, which can listen to its own music, music from other devices or music streamed via Bluetooth, and will instantly transform, growing a head, legs and arms, will move through a series of pre-programmed dance moves to virtually any genre of music.
mRobo Ultra Bass will launch in the fall and is expected to retail for $199.
]]>Pair of top recruits have high interest in Auburntag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171772012-01-16T16:43:39Z2012-01-16T17:45:41ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
And quick.
The 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman — one of the top prospects in the Class of 2012 — has graduated early from Pleasant Grove (Calif.) High and wants to start classes at the college of his choice for the spring semester.
He just needs to figure out where he’s going: to California — where he’s already enrolled for classes — USC — where he originally committed in the summer of 2010 — Notre Dame — where he said he’s already filed paperwork — or Auburn, which he said he’s “probably” enrolled at now as well.
Armstead, who took his final official visit, and first on the Plains, this weekend, said Tigers coach Gene Chizik told him he could get him into classes by Tuesday.
“I've got a good relationship with all the coaches,” Armstead said. “You know, they've been out to California a lot, so I thought I would respect them, and I respect them a lot so I came out here and took a look for myself."
Five-star wide receiver Stefon Diggs doesn’t have quite the time crunch Armstead does — he doesn’t expect to make his choice until after Signing Day on Feb. 1 — but he’s also got Auburn on his radar.
Diggs, a 6-0, 185-pounder from Olney, Md., took his first official visit to Auburn this weekend and plans to take two more before coming to a decision, one to Florida next weekend and one to an undetermined school after.
“This probably was my best visit yet — officially or unofficially,” said Diggs, who said Cal, USC and Maryland are also in the running. “I felt comfortable here. It's a family. Just felt at home.”
Which means Auburn is factoring heavily in the thought process of two of the nation’s top recruits.
Armstead is a five-star recruit on both Scout.com and 247Sports.com and a four-star on Rivals.com. He’s the No. 1 offensive tackle nationally on Scout, the No. 1 athlete on 247Sports and the No. 4 defensive tackle on Rivals.
Armstead said he spoke extensively with new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and defensive line coach Mike Pelton over the weekend, and he can see himself playing on an end or at the 3-technique for the Tigers.
“(VanGorder) knows what it takes to get to (the NFL), so if I came here, he'd be able to help me,” Armstead said. “He knows the ins and outs of it, and that's what I want to do, play in the NFL.”
The lineman from California also has two extra aspects to consider that most recruits don’t have to deal with.
First, he wants to play basketball at the next level. Armstead said he met with Tigers coach Tony Barbee — who played with his AAU coach — during his visit and took in Auburn’s Friday practice.
Second, his brother, Armond.
Armond Armstead started on USC’s defensive line for two years before sitting out the 2011 season with an undisclosed medical condition.
The elder Armstead, who has one year of eligibility left, is seeking a transfer and said he and his brother could be a package deal.
“That's what we want if it worked out. We have to talk as a family,” said Armond Armstead, who accompanied Arik to Auburn this weekend. “It might not work out, but it might work out where we can play together.”
He said he didn’t know if USC would grant him a waiver to play a year at an SEC school, but it’s “definitely possible.”
As for Diggs, the receiver had visited Auburn unofficially before, but he had never gotten a chance to sit down with Chizik.
Once he did this weekend, he came away impressed.
]]>Kentucky outlasts Auburn, sends Tigers to 3rd straight losstag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171702012-01-12T16:02:33Z2012-01-12T17:08:34ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Partly because he doesn’t like trying to beat the player whose Indianapolis living room he frequented on recruiting trips, the one who played at Massachusetts for him, then coached under him with the Minutemen and at Memphis.
And partly because he knows what kind of game to expect more times than not from a Barbee-coached team, a game that’s tight to the end, no matter the other factors involved.
“At one point I said to my staff, 'This isn't about X's and O's, boys,’” Calipari said. “‘We could be going down.’”
That’s how it looked with Auburn nursing a 2-point lead and generally outplaying a superior Kentucky team with 10:52 in front of a sellout crowd of 9,121 at Auburn Arena on Wednesday night.
But the Wildcats found their footing right about as the Tigers lost theirs, seizing control of the game, exerting their will inside and running away with a 68-53 win that was closer than the score indicates.
The Tigers (10-6, 0-2 SEC) scored only 6 points after two Rob Chubb free throws put them up 47-45 with 10:52 to go, knocking down only 2-of-11 shots down the stretch.
Auburn held a 31-15 rebounding edge at one point over the taller Kentucky (16-1, 2-0) squad, only to have the Wildcats grab 14 of 18 rebounds down the stretch.
The Tigers had an impressive amount in the tank — especially following two awful showings on the road — but it just wasn’t enough.
“Moral victories only get you so far, but it shows the direction we need to be moving,” said Chubb, who finished with a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds. “We did take a big step forward today. We showed ourselves what we could do.
“Hanging to two points with five minutes left with the No. 2 team in the nation, that’s saying something.”
If only they could have held on a little longer.
Kentucky started the deluge with an Anthony Davis follow to tie the game at 47, then two Marquis Teague jumpers to stake the Wildcats to a 51-47 lead with 6:05 to go.
As Auburn struggled to find offense, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller hit back-to-back 3-pointers to build the lead to 57-49 at the 3:37 mark.
Davis definitively slammed the door shut on an alley oop from Lamb with 1:30 to go, building the Wildcats’ lead to 62-51 and serving as the exclamation point to a 23-6 Kentucky run to end the game.
Davis finished with 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks, Lamb scored 14, and Teague and Terrence Jones each added 12.
In the end, Kentucky’s phalanx of playmakers was too much for the Tigers to withstand.
“I think we figured some things out tonight,” Barbee said. “Now can we take the next step? I am disappointed in the loss. The guys fought their tails off tonight. We have to take this and expound on it and go to the next level.”
Chris Denson supplemented Chubb’s night with 12 points, and role players Josh Wallace and Adrian Forbes played their roles well, with Wallace being a sparkplug on defense and Forbes bodying up the Wildcats’ bigs, grabbing five rebounds and taking two charges in 20 minutes.
They helped exhibit the tough, gritty style Barbee said his team played with regularly last year, the style he hopes will carry over from the Kentucky effort.
And he’s still looking for “catalysts” like Frankie Sullivan and Varez Ward — who finished with a combined 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting — to step up.
“When it matters, that’s when those catalysts perform,” Barbee said. “We haven’t quite figured out who that is going to be for us.”
]]>Do-it-yourself Countrytag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171682012-01-11T15:41:39Z2012-01-25T17:25:40ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
“I just sat and watched what he taught my older brother and every time they put the guitar down I would get it and go practice it,” Newcom said.
From the time Newcom picked up the guitar he began writing his own songs. As he began to perform in bands, singers and guitarists would come and go until finally he decided he would do both. This “do it yourself” attitude has stuck with him throughout his career.
While working on his own career, Newcom, who lived in Arkansas at the time, would travel to Nashville, Tenn., and help other musicians with theirs. He recorded and played the music on albums by country artists such as Luke Bryan and Craig Campbell. He eventually began shooting music videos.
When Campbell got a record deal Newcom went with him to a meeting with his management company who wanted to set up a video shoot for his single.
“They were saying you can get a video done for this amount of money,” Newcom said. “When we left the meeting I said ‘I could do it.’ So I went and bought the gear and started shooting his videos.”
Newcom shot Campbell’s debut at the Grand Ole Opry and the behind the scenes video for his “Family Man” video, and has been producing music videos since.
Newcom, whose influences range from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard to Waylon Jennings and Ronnie Milsap, said he got his love of country music from his father. But Newcom said he has also played every kind of music there is, even heavy metal. He was part of the heavy metal band Clowndog Riot in high school and would perform in Auburn at the Supper Club.
Supper Club owner John Brandt remembers the band and said they were a big act who played music like Rage Against the Machine.
The metal band eventually brought him back to his country roots.
“We would always want to do it as authentic as possible because we would be out on the road screaming and playing metal and when we’d come back we would want to get as far away from it as possible and play as country as we could,” he said.
Five years ago, Newcom made the move to Nashville and has been focusing on his own country band - Indian Rodeo. The band performs music written solely by Newcom, but he said he didn’t want it to be a solo act.
“I chose a band name because I always love live music. Some artists you go see and you see that front person and the rest of them are kinda told to stand back and not shine too much,” he said. “I always thought that was kinda dumb because you go to a show and you want to leave there excited and seeing more than you can take in. I always wanted it to be a band so when you showed up at the show you’d look at it as the whole picture.”
Anywhere from three to seven members perform in Indian Rodeo, depending on what Newcom hopes to accomplish at each show.
His style of doing everything himself has stayed with him while working on his own music. Newcom records his own albums, in which he plays every instrument, and shoots and produces the videos for each song.
“All of that stuff sort of came about the same way,” he said about his approach to do things himself. “We would go record somewhere and I wouldn’t like it or I didn’t think it was worth the money they were charging or it wasn’t the quality that I wanted. So, I just said ‘I’m going to do it myself.’”
But Newcom had a different approach than most when it came to promoting his music. He decided that he wanted everyone to have access to all of his music at no cost.
“Nobody buys music anymore. Nobody can afford to buy music anymore,” Newcom said. “The numbers are kind of crazy. We’ve got billions of people in the world, but if you sell 500,000 records and go ‘Gold’ you’re celebrated as a star. That sounds ridiculous really … any other business that would be a failure.”
Newcom said he decided he probably wouldn’t make much money selling records anyway, so why not give them away? All of Indian Rodeo’s music is free to download on the website of Newcom’s label Warpaint Entertainment at warpaintentertainment.com. The site averages about 5,000 downloads each month.
Fans from as far as Russia and Germany are enjoying the band’s music. Newcom said he feels allowing people to listen to the music at no cost is a great way to get people talking about it.
“People who would never be able to get to a retail store or buy them in a normal way, they have been downloading like crazy and telling people about it,” he said.
At the moment there are 15 free songs available, and more to come.
“I want it to be always like that,” Newcom said.
In 2008, Indian Rodeo caught its first break. Newcom shot the video for the band’s first single, “Radio,” off its first album, “1,” and hired a video promotion company to promote it. The company was hired on Tuesday, and by Thursday of the next week the video was in rotation on Country Music Television (CMT.)
“It happened so quickly that we didn’t really have a chance to think about it,” Newcom said. “About two weeks later we got on the voting page of the countdown and then we debuted at number four.”
Since, the band has had two more videos in rotation on CMT, Great American Country (GAC) and The Country Network (TCN). The band’s second video, “That’s What Happens,” a playful love song about his wife that suggests "That floor would look a lot better covered with your clothes," was featured on GAC and was nominated for one of the top 30 videos on CMT for 2011.
The band’s third video, “If I Could Go Back,” in which Newcom reminisces about time spent with family, was featured in a show called “Breaking Out,” in which Newcom hosted on TCN.
Newcom, whose wife and two daughters are featured in all of the videos, said he plans to put out a video for every song he records.
Newcom and Indian Rodeo will perform at the Supper Club in Auburn on Sunday, Jan. 15. Tickets are $5. The show starts at 10 p.m.
Brandt said Newcom began playing acoustic for him while still performing with Clowndog Riot and was blown away by his talent and sincerity.
“Josh started playing acoustic for me every now and then and it just completely blew my mind,” Brandt said. “He did stuff like Rage acoustic, but at the same time he'd play Merle Haggard. He's multi-talented. He's one of the most talented and one of the most sincere guys I've ever met in business.”
Newcom and his band aren’t signed with a record label, and that’s the way he likes it. He’s a do-it-yourself kind of guy and doesn’t care what anyone thinks.
“We’re just doing our own thing and not really caring what anyone else is doing,” he said.
His first single, “Radio,” perfectly sums up his thoughts on the music business and everyone else’s expectations.
“I write my own damn songs, even if you think I’m doing it wrong,” he sings. “If you don’t like the way this song sounds then turn your radio down.”
]]>Tiger Café offers steak, souvenirs and moretag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171672012-01-11T15:33:16Z2012-01-11T16:38:17ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
The couple began selling Auburn football souvenirs on their website, auburnsouvenirs.com, last year and wanted to expand the business. David also has restaurant experience, he managed several local restaurants in the ‘80s, so the couple decided to expand their souvenir business into a restaurant.
Tiger Café, located at 815 East Glenn Ave., sells Auburn souvenirs such as Auburn clocks, chairs, tailgate equipment and more and also offers a full-service restaurant in which they serve steaks, gourmet sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads vegetables and more. The Mitchells also buy arts and crafts from local artists on consignment and sell them in the store.
The restaurant offers a healthier dining option. Everything is baked or grilled and most meats and produce are bought locally.
The daily lunch specials include a soup and salad for $5.95; a meat, vegetable and tea for $6.95; and a New York strip, vegetable and tea for $8.95. Lunch meats also include roasted chicken, country style barbeque ribs, grilled boneless pork loin chop and grilled ground beef. Vegetable options include corn on the cob, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet peas, potato salad and broccoli.
The service offered during the day is fast casual.
“Basically you come up and you order your food and if it’s stuff that we’ve already got, like the baked chicken and vegetables and stuff, by the time you sit down you’ve got your food,” David said. “If it’s something I’ve got to grill, within about five to 10 minutes you’ve still got your food.”
The restaurant also serves dinner which includes Sirloin, Filet Mignon, New York strip and Rib Eye. The steaks start at $10.95 for an eight oz and $13.95 for a 12 oz. Gourmet sandwiches are also served, which range from $9.95 to $12.95, and include a New York strip, Roasted Chicken and Roasted Pork Loin. Everything on the menu is offered at all times.
David said he is particularly proud of the steaks served at Tiger Café.
“It’s hard to get a reasonable New York strip that’s cooked right in a short period of time,” David said. “We want to be an affordable place for you to go out and get steaks.”
Tiger Café also offers events and specials each night. On Mondays land a Cornhole shot and get 50 percent off a meal; on Tuesday nights Tiger Café hosts a Cornhole tournament; Wednesday night is $5.95 Burger Night; Thursdays is Comedy Night; on Friday nights Tiger Café hosts live music; and Saturday night is Date Night in which a dinner for two, which includes two salads, two New York strips, and two baked potatoes or another side, is $19.95.
Tiger Café also hosts parties and is available for catering. The business is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For more on the restaurant, visit tigercafeauburn.com.
]]>Auburn names VanGorder new defensive coordinatortag:thecornernews.com,2012:index.php/news/3.171072012-01-09T19:33:28Z2012-01-09T20:39:30ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family at this point in my career, both professionally and personally, to become the defensive coordinator at Auburn,” VanGorder said. “I’m looking forward to working at a school with the success and tradition of Auburn, and for a coach like Gene Chizik, who has led the program to a national championship. I’m very appreciative to the Atlanta Falcons and Coach Mike Smith for the experience of the last four years. It’s a great organization and will have continued success in the future.”
VanGorder, 52, has been the Falcons' defensive coordinator for the past four years -- after one year as their linebackers coach -- and has been defensive coordinator at the collegiate level at Grand Valley State (1989-91), UCF (1997, after serving as linebackers coach for two seasons), Central Michigan (1998-2000) and Georgia (2001-04), where he won the Frank Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach in 2003.
That year's Bulldogs defense finished third nationally in scoring defense and fourth in total defense.
He also served as head coach at his alma mater Wayne (Mich.) State (1992-94) Georgia Southern (2006).
Chizik replaced VanGorder as defensive coordinator at UCF in 1998 and went toe-to-toe with his defenses while he was defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2002-04.
VanGorder's Falcons defense ran a 4-3 style compatible with Chizik's Tampa 2 tendencies, one that finished 12th in the NFL in yards per game allowed (333.6), sixth in rush defense (97.0 ypg) and 18th in points per game allowed (21.9).
The Falcons' season ended Sunday with a 24-2 loss to the New York Giants in the first round of the playoffs, after a 10-6 regular season.
"From the beginning of this process, I had one person in mind, and that was Brian,” Chizik said. “He has achieved success at every level, both professionally and collegiately, which is a testament to his ability as a coach. He has been one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, has won a Broyles Award at the college level, and understands what it takes to succeed in the Southeastern Conference. We’re pleased to welcome Brian and his family to Auburn.”
VanGorder replaces Ted Roof -- who left for the same post at UCF on Dec. 7 -- and takes over an Auburn defense that has set program records in yards allowed in each of the past three years and broke a 32-year old program record for yards allowed per game (408.0) this year.
The Tigers finished the 2011 season ranked 80th in total defense, 78th in scoring defense (28.9 points a game) and 94th in rush defense (189.2 yards a game).
Like Roof, VanGorder also served as tandem defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Georgia.
VanGorder, a Jackson, Mich., native also served as linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005.
