NewsNews:2010-09-01T22:01:46ZCopyright (c) 2010, Carla NelsonExpressionEnginetag:thecornernews.com,2010:09:01Gigi’s brings unique cupcake choices to areatag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115912010-09-01T19:45:45Z2010-09-01T22:01:46ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Gigi’s Cupcakes is a franchise that originated in Nashville, Tenn., and now has stores all over the country. The Gigi’s in Auburn was opened by Patrick and Jennifer Cooper, both Auburn University alumni.
The Coopers were introduced to Gigi’s in Nashville and later learned it was a franchise when visiting another location in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“We had always wanted to come back to Auburn and thought this was a great way to get back here,” said Jennifer Cooper, co-owner of Gigi’s.
Cooper said that she loves that customers are excited about their product.
“I think the best thing about owning a Gigi’s is the look of excitement when customers come in for the first time and see what we have to offer,” she said.
Gigi’s is considered an upscale gourmet boutique.
“These cupcakes are nothing like you would find at the grocery store. All of the ingredients are fresh and each cupcake is made that morning,” Cooper said.
Gigi’s sells cupcakes individually or by the dozen and also offers custom catering services for weddings or any other special event. Cupcakes are $3 individually and $2.75 each when buying by a dozen. Gigi’s is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are closed on Sunday.
Gigi’s has a wide variety of unique flavors.
“Some of the best selling flavors here in Auburn is the Red Velvet, Carrot Cake and Peanut Butter Cup, which tastes just like a Reese’s Cup,” said Cooper.
Gigi’s menu will be changing to a fall menu soon.
“Some of the flavors we are excited about getting this fall include Rocky Road, Grasshopper and Sweet Potato,” said Cooper.
To learn more about Gigi’s Cupcakes visit gigiscupcakesusa.com.
]]>Yogurt cafe offers self-serve varietytag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115902010-09-01T19:42:06Z2010-09-01T20:45:08ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
“Auburn is a home away from home for us,” she said of her and her family. “It’s near and dear to my heart. We felt like it was a really good fit for what we wanted to do.”
Malugen opened Chill in July at 234-B W. Magnolia Ave. and opened a location in Columbus a week later. The self-serve yogurt cafe offers 24 different yogurt options to choose from daily.
“We have 16 flavors and we strategically pair them so we can have an interesting third combination,” Malugen said. “Our goal is to provide the most unusual combinations that anybody has seen but are delicious.”
The store also offers more than 50 toppings to choose from. The toppings range from fresh fruit and cookies to cereal and nuts.
“We want to provide as many toppings as we can fit in our store,” Malugen said.
After choosing your yogurt and toppings the cup is weighed at the cash register. The price is 45 cents an ounce, minus the weight of the cup.
“We want to be a fun, cool place for people to come and get a great treat, but also to be a good value,” Malugen said.
Malugen also added that they take flavor suggestions from the customers and plan to bring new flavors during football season such as pairing blueberry with orange sorbet to make a gameday flavor.
Chill is open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but the closing time is flexible for the customers. For more, visit chillyogurtcafe.com.
]]>Donate to clean the coast by hanging at your favorite local bartag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115892010-09-01T19:33:00Z2010-09-01T20:57:02ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
“Crawl for the Coast” will kick off at 5 p.m. and go until 2 a.m. and will include seven bars and 11 band. There will also be discounts offered at Little Italy, Mellow Mushroom, Pita Pit, Calypso’s and Big Blue Bagel.
Tickets are on sale now for $25 at Da Gallery, Little Italy and Bourbon Street.
Participating bars include SkyBar, 17-16, The Vault, Big Blue Bagel, Speakeasy, Ale House and Bourbon Street.
Big Blue Bagel General Manager John Mark Davis said they decided to participate because they thought it was a worthy cause.
“We at the Big Blue Bagel decided to participate in the ‘Crawl for the Coast’ because, being from the south and spending numerous memorable times on the gulf coast with family and friends, we felt doing anything we can to help would be a worthy cause,” he said.
Fernandez, a New Orleans and Mobile native, came up with the idea of “Crawl for the Coast” over the summer. He and Ager started planning the event back in June.
“I am from the coast, and that fact alone is the main reason of my involvement with the event,” Fernandez said. “I have very strong feelings towards the devastation the oil spill has caused right in my backyard. It’s affecting everyone, and this is a fun and easy way for college students to get involved in helping out with the relief.”
Community Foundation of South Alabama, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Greater Escambia Community Foundation are four organizations that have been involved with relief funds for the Gulf Coast. Money raised from the bar crawl will be given to these organizations.
“The proceeds from ‘Crawl for the Coast’ will provide food, shelter and mental health services to the thousands of distressed individuals and families,” Ager said.
The original idea that Ager and Fernandez came up with was to have a bar crawl in all of the SEC school’s towns to generate friendly competition among students and a way for them to become involved with the relief fund.
“We challenge all the SEC schools to do their own bar crawl and show these families we care,” Ager said.
All bars downtown will still be open for regular business Thursday night. Those with a $25 bracelet will have access to all bars participating in the “crawl,” food discounts and the grand finale, Big Gigantic, at Bourbon Street from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m.
]]>2010 Auburn Football Previewtag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115812010-08-31T16:46:11Z2010-09-01T17:05:13ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
The 2009 season introduced an Auburn program with a new head coach as well as a completely new staff and style. Tiger fans as well as players had no clue what to expect on game day as Auburn kicked off against Louisiana Tech. Chris Todd ended up leading the team to an 8-5 season that was capped off with an overtime win against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. In the second year of Head Coach Gene Chizik’s tenure, the Tigers have felt the influx of talent from a top five nationally ranked recruiting class that has many Tiger fan’s expectations on the rise as the season opener against Arkansas State quickly approaches.
A feat that is unheard of in the SEC these days, Chizik’s whole coaching staff from last season returns. Fans can expect to see more of Trooper Taylor prowling the sideline, swinging his towel and drawing intensity from everyone around him. Guz Malzahn returns with a continued demand of perfection from every part of his fast-paced high power offense.
Fifth year lineman Mike Berry said a goal of the offseason has been focusing on penalties.
“Penalties will really hurt you in a game,” Berry said. “Attention was also on executing at a faster pace than last year’s offense. That’s an area where we really didn’t do a good enough job last season. I know a lot of people may think we did, but we don’t think so.”
Coach Grimes has challenged his offensive line, that returns four experienced starters, to strive to be the toughest line in the country and fuel the now multi-faceted rushing attack.
Mario Fannin will start the season at starting tailback and he will be backed up by a beefed up Onterrio McCalebb who has spent the off-season stacking on a few pounds to absorb the brutal SEC tackles. Expect to see true freshmen Michael Dyer, the top rated recruit of the 2010 class, contributing from the backfield as well.
The announcement that Cameron Newton will be the starting quarterback for the 2010-11 season gives the Tigers a physical running threat from the quarterback position. Measuring in at 6’6 and 250 lbs., Newton has the ability to zip passes to receivers with accuracy. Newton’s already done a good job taking leadership of the offense and helping fuel the confidence of the peaking unit.
Newton said that he is striving for success.
“Coach Chizik says you don’t ever want anyone to have more want for something than you want for yourself. I don’t know anyone who has more want for success than I have for myself,” Newton said. “I just wanted to show my teammates that I’m willing to do things to gain the trust of this team.”
Newton will be backed by Barrett Trotter who has pushed Newton for the starting position up until the end this summer.
When asked what expectations were set for the Tiger’s 2010-11 season, Berry said they were already looking towards the SEC championship.
“Shooting to win championships ... that’s what we are shooting for,” Berry said. “Having depth now so when one guy goes down we have others ready to step up will be huge, especially towards the end of the season where those really come in to effect.”
On the perimeter, Auburn returns all of their top receivers from last season including break-out duo Darvin Adams (60 catches, 997 yards, 10 TDs) and Terrell Zachery (477 yards on 26 catches with five TDs) Kodi Burns (five TDs, four TDs total vs. Mississippi St) and Quindarius Carr. Add Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton to that group who return with the benefit of another year of learning in the offense. True freshmen speedster Trovon Reed, Shaun Kitchens and Antonio Goodwin have all come in and had great showings at practice and scrimmage. Philip Pierre-Louis also looks to have recovered from last season’s knee injury and looks to contribute.
Defensively, Safeties Coach Tommy Thigpen has seen injured veterans return in Mike McNeil and Zac Etheridge. All-SEC Freshman Darren Bates has made the move to outside linebacker this off-season and Eltoro Freeman has made the move to support Craig Stevens at the weak side linebacker position. Freshmen Jessel Curry and Jake Holland look to add much needed depth to the Linebacker core.
Jeffrey Whitaker and Corey Lemonier have impressed Defensive line Coach Tracy Rocker. They will lead a group of young talent that will bolster the defensive line.
Defensive Coordinator Ted Roof said the young players have to be ready to contribute.
“With our schedule and playing 11 games without a break, we’ve got to have those players ready to contribute,” Roof said. “We’re ready to see them play hard and play physical.”
The cornerbacks lost Walt McFadden but have seen Neiko Thorpe step up in his spot while Aairon Savage and Demond Washington will play opposite of him. T’Sharvan Bell and Ikeem Means have also had great off-seasons and should see substantial game time in cornerback heavy formations.
Chizik tells the players that a focus on the team’s success and pursuit of championships will help lead them each to their individual goals.
“He tells us that if the team plays wells there is a greater chance of us all achieving our personal goals,” Berry said. “Look at the 2004 team and how many of them are still in the NFL and having great careers.”
You can expect much of the same from the Auburn game-Day experience. There will still be the same great tailgating parties, Tiger Walk, and a campus covered with orange and blue.
As the Tigers ramp up for the Sept. 4th opener against Arkansas State, expectations for this season are as high as they have ever been. What the season has in store no one can say, but Newton had a clear message.
“We’ve got a lot of warriors on this team that have been ready and waiting for the season to start,” he said. “I’m hoping to give the fans what they have been wanting to see and have been waiting for a long time. It’s time to put up or shut up. Go hard or go home. Time to seize the moment, as some coaches would say, and we’re ready to do that.”
Freshman Profiles
Expectations for the upcoming Auburn football season have been set high by the fans, coaches and players and one of those reasons is this year’s freshman class of new talent.
The new talent includes running back Michael Dyer, defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker and wide reciever Trovon Reed. These three were ranked high as recruits and have added to the excitement of the upcoming season.
These guys are also excited about the freshman class.
“This class has got great character,” Whitaker said. “I think we’re going to have to feed off eachother, which we already are. I think this class is a class that, on the field we don’t know yet, but I think this class will be a great part to Auburn for now and the future.”
Michael Dyer
Brad Goslin
For The Corner News
One of the gems of the Tiger’s top five nationally ranked recruiting was running back Michael Dyer of Arkansas. Born on Oct. 12, 1990, and hailing from Little Rock Ark., Dyer is one of the highest touted recruits on the plains this season after having a phenomenal high school football career where he set the record for all-time career rushing yards in the state with 8,097 yards rushing and 84 touchdowns. Dyer was ranked as a five star recruit on Rivals, Scout and ESPN, an Under Armour All-American, the number one back in ESPNU’s 150, bringing high hopes and a ton of potential to a university known for loving top-notched runningback talent.
Dyer brings a quiet natured, relentless work ethic with him to Auburn. In his short length of time he’s been on campus, Dyer has come on and already solidified a piece of the running back position. Coach Curtis Luper, assistant running backs coach, and Gus Malzahn, offensive coordinator, have both guaranteed that he will contribute to the team’s success this season.
“He’s playing, so is Onterio, so is Mario. They’ll all play,” Luper said of the three running backs. “At the end of the day, they kind of determine how much they’ll play based on the amount of success they have when they play. I don’t decide who plays, they do.”
Dyer has never aspired to play like any NFL greats or attempted to mold his play style to match other greats before him. Dyer has never focused on matching expectations.
“I’ve always just gone out and just ran and played as hard as I could,” Dyer said.
Dyer’s main challenge has been picking up the art of pass blocking which is something he wasn’t asked to do a lot in high school. But Mario Fannin and Onterio McCalebb have been steadily helping him through it.
“They’re doing a good job of teaching me how the plays go, how to line up and how to run different plays and the formations and signals,” Dyer said.
As a true freshmen in a talented backfield, Dyer will get plenty of opportunities to show off his talents and develop into his style one touch at at time. What he makes of these chances will be up to him.
“When the season starts and I first get in, people will know the reason why I came here and why I wanted to play for this team because of my abilities and the reason why I run,” Dyers said. “I think the first game, people’s eyes are going to open not just for me, but for the team because of all our abilities.”
Trovon Reed
Carla Nelson & Andrew Gribble
thecornernews.com
Freshman wide reciever Trovon Reed, considered the top recruit from Louisiana, played quarterback for his final three years at Thibodoux High.
The Auburn coaches decided to try Reed at wide reciever.
“Going from quarterback to reciever is a big change, Reed said. “You’re used to having your hand on the ball every play and now you have to work to get the ball. So, it’s kinda hard.”
Reed did make it to Auburn early, in May, and said the extra training has helped with the transition.
“I’m glad I came early because I wasn’t that strong coming out of high school,” he said. “I got stronger, faster.”
Reed’s speed is a strong asset to the team and Coach Yox tells him he needs to be first in every drill because of his speed and strength and conditioning coach Kevin Yoxall told him he needed to be first in every drill.
“I just try to be first, push myself hard,” Reed said.
Reed said that that it’s taken a little time to transition from high school to college.
“It’s different from high school,” Reed said. “My first day, I was waiting for the bell to ring. When I saw everyone walk up and get out, I was like ‘Where they going?’ “It was a big adjustment for me.”
Off the field, Reed said he might be better equipped than others to handle the homesickness that can strike a freshman, especially one that’s as far away from home as he is. Reed’s mother, Roszaina Johnson, died March 6, 2009, from stomach cancer, a life-changing event that has made him “used to being on (his) own.”
That made saying “No” to in-state LSU easier, too. Even though his high school coach, Dennis Lorio, blatantly disagreed with Reed’s decision at his own commitment ceremony, and even though he received endless hate mail from die-hard LSU fans, Reed never waffled.
“Auburn is not what I expected,” Reed said. “It’s better than what I expected.”
There’s no reason to doubt that Reed will be on the field in some way, shape or form when the Tigers open the season against Arkansas State.
Though Auburn is loaded with depth at wide receiver, there hasn’t been a player who has truly embraced the third receiver role behind Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery. Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton both have loads of potential, but neither performed well enough during their respective freshman seasons to guarantee breakout sophomore campaigns.
Reed said he’s working at the second receiver spot behind Zachery.
“Mentally, I think I am (ready). Physically, I think I am,” Reed said. “It’s about you won’t know until game time. If you freeze up on game day, that’s it.”
Even if Reed doesn’t win the job right away, it will be tough to keep him off the field.
Auburn is in the market for a new punt returner and could also be scoping out its options at a Wildcat quarterback — two places Reed thrived at in high school.
Whatever happens, Reed said that he plans to keep working hard this season.
“I feel like if God gives you a talent and he sees you trying to work at it, that’s when he’s going to reward you,” Reed said. “If he sees you slacking with the ability he gave you, that’s when he’s going to take it from you.”
Jeffrey Whitaker
After speculation that defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker would play at Georgia or Miami, the 17th best defensive tackle prospect in the country, per ESPN Scouts, chose Auburn.
The Warner Robins, Ga., native said Auburn is where he felt comfortable.
“During reqruiting I made my decision off of ... it felt like home. Home away from home,” Whitaker said.
We spoke to the 6-3, 295 lb. tackle after his first official practice with the team at the beginning of August. He described his first practice as exciting.
“I was excited,” he said. “Just trying to learn ... just trying to learn the best that I can.”
Whitaker said that summer training went well with Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Kevin Yoxall .
“We worked pretty hard and I feel good about the summer workouts,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker said that the veterans on the team like Nick Fairley, Mike Blanc and Antoine Carter, helped the younger guys during summer training.
“They’ve been a great help with learning the plays, what we need to do, time management, just everything,” he said.
Whitaker added that he has easily adjusted from high school to college.
“It was an easy transition,” he said. “Coming to college and being away from home ... it was kinda hard, but at the same time I’m just two hours away.”
Whitaker lost is mother at age 12 and said he learned to be more responsible through that experience.
“I think that kinda helped me learn how to be more responsible with the little things,” he said.
Whitaker said that he hopes to get a lot of playing time early on in the season, but it’s hard to tell how the team will play until they are all in pads.
“We’re all in shorts now ... everybody looks good right now,” he said. “You separate the men from the boys once you put on full pads.”
On the street - gameday eddition Tripp Schlereth
Q. Are you going to the game this weekend?
A. No.
Q. What is your score prediction?
A. Auburn wins 28-12.
Q. How will you prepare for the game?
A. Buying beer and tailgating on campus.
Q. Which game are you looking forward to most this season?
A. The Iron Bowl - We have to beat them! We were so close last year!
Amanda Hazi
Q. Are you going to the game this weekend?
A. Yes.
Q. What is your score prediction?
A. Auburn wins 34-14.
Q. How will you prepare for the game?
A. Tailgating, getting super excited and pumped up!
Q. Which game are you looking forward to most this season?
A. Auburn vs. Clemson. Because I've never seen the two tigers play against each other live.
]]>CrossFit offers a new way to get fittag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115762010-08-30T19:22:49Z2010-08-30T20:25:50ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
CrossFit is a fitness method developed by gymnast Greg Glassman.
CrossFit combines cardio activities like biking and rowing with weight lifting, all while maintaining a high intensity.
Ard explained that the CrossFit method was developed about 15 years ago and has since evolved into a brand with affiliates around the world and an athletic competition called the CrossFit Games.
Ard first became interested in the CrossFit method a few years ago. He has since become a certified level one CrossFit trainer with a specialization in nutrition. He is also a certified Fitness Together trainer.
Ard explained why he enjoys CrossFit training.
“CrossFit focuses on group training,” Ard said. “It has a group dynamic. The people around you create an energy to motivate you, push you and keep you accountable.”
CrossFit on the Plains offers an alternative to those tired of typical workout routines and affords them a chance to work out like athletes, Ard said.
“We want people to train hard and get slightly out of their comfort zone,” he said. “This isn’t a place where people come in and sit on a bike and watch TV or ride the elliptical. We don’t have any TVs. We don’t have any mirrors. There’s not a lot of flash. There’s not a lot of shiny equipment. It’s mostly free weights. It’s mostly equipment where you can move around. We allow people to train like athletes.”
Ard encourages people who are curious about the CrossFit method to stop by the gym and observe a class firsthand. The month-to-month unlimited rate is $175 per month and the one year unlimited rate is $125 per month. Ard also offers a 10 percent discount to students, members of the military and firefighters.
CrossFit is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The gym is closed Sundays. For complete price listings visit crossfitontheplains.com or check out the Facebook page.
]]>Brew, barbecue and bandstag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115222010-08-25T18:06:54Z2010-08-25T20:01:55ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.comFine Wine and Beer by Gus, and Lisa Beck, owner of the Event Center Downtown, are excited to bring the first beer festival to the area.
The two discussed the idea before Beck opened the event center in downtown Opelika.
“There’s no brew festival around this area,” Beck said. “They have brew fests in large cities like Birmingham or Atlanta, but I have not been familiar with anything like that here. So, Gus and I started talking about possibly having a brewfest and, of course, barbecue fits well with beer.”
The Event Center Downtown has now been open for a few months and the BBQ & Brewfest is set for this Saturday.
The event will offer guests more than 30 beers to sample and will also offer live music and barbecue from the Barbecue House in Auburn.
The live music will feature Atlanta bluegrass band Cedar Hill, eight-piece all-female acapella group Cheaper Than Therapy, seven-piece show band Glow, Athens bluegrass band Packway Handle, and local funk band The Good Doctor.
“We’re going to have some very diverse music,” Beck said.
And the beer will be as diverse as the music. Great Divide Brewing out of Denver, Colo.; Unibroue out of Canada; Choc, a microbrewery that’s more than 100 years old; Thomas Creek out of South Carolina; and Back Forty Beer Co. out of Birmingham are just some of the breweries offering tastings of their beer. Beers that range from high gravity to pale ales will all be available.
“We’re trying to have beers from one end of the spectrum to the other,” Clark said.
The BBQ & Brewfest will take place this Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. when the first band takes the stage. The barbecue and beer tasting will be available from 6 to 9 p.m. The music will last until 1 a.m.
Tickets are $25 and will be available in advance and at the door.
Beck and Clark are both excited about the event and plan to make BBQ & Brewfest an annual event.
“Our area, for the first time in history, has been able to carry these new beers,” Clark said. “How exciting that is! In order for people to have a venue to be able to taste these, we had to do something like this.”
Win tickets to this event beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday here!
]]>CouchSurfing - Connecting the world one couch at a timetag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.115012010-08-24T19:45:49Z2010-08-31T18:00:51ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.comCouchSurfing.org.
CouchSurfing.org. connects people around the world that are looking to stay at homes while they travel or host travelers in their homes. But according to the founders, CouchSurfing isn’t just about finding a free place to stay.
“CouchSurfing is not about the furniture, not just about finding free accommodations around the world; it’s about making connections worldwide,” say the founders in their mission statement. “We make the world a better place by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives.”
CouchSurfing.org was registered as a non-profit in 1999, the site launched on Jan 1, 2003.
Wilson Sims, 21, a senior at Auburn University, drove cross-country with a friend this summer and never stayed in a hotel.
Sims saw an ad on Facebook last year for CouchSurfing and signed up.
Sims says he decided to use CouchSurfing for a few reasons.
“The practical side is equally as important as the esthetic side of it,” he says. “One side would be somewhere to sleep that’s free and presumably safe. The other side of CouchSurfing is it’s very social.”
Sims stayed with a variety of people that included a nurse and her sister in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; a cancer researcher and her roommate in Albuquerque, New Mexico; a married couple in Spokane, Wash.; a guy and his five roommates in Southern California; and a girl from Germany in Chico, Calif.
Sims says through his travels he met people who were kinder and more generous than he thought possible. Hosts showed them around town, took them to parties, filled up their gas tank and even prepared meals.
“My buddy and I didn’t have much money, so when people would make us dinner or breakfast ... when you’re eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day, that kind of thing is huge.”
Sims says CouchSurfing is better than staying in a hotel or hostel because real connections are made and he got to experience other people’s lives.
“It was really neat because we had front row seats to people’s authentic lives,” he says. “It might not be what you want to show a guest, but it was honest.”
And it seems the hosts enjoyed the experience as much as Sims.
Anna Vestling, who Sims stayed with in Albuquerque, describes Sims as interesting, relaxed and easygoing.
“He joined my friends and I at a going-away party, and really fit in,” Vestling commented on the site. “He’s a pleasure to meet, if you get the chance!!”
Bridgette Bernier, of Sioux Falls, also enjoyed hosting Sims.
“I had the enjoyable experience of hosting Wilson and his friend Brett,” she says. “While their stay was short, it turned out to be a great night of rich and vibrant conversation.”
Rocky Sanguedolce, 32, of Montgomery, Pa., has been a member of CouchSurfing.org for about eight years. He enjoyed his experiences so much that he decided to become part of the media team.
“I’ve always loved traveling and being around people who traveled,” Sanguedolce says. “Here in central Pennsylvania I wasn’t traveling, I was permanent for a while, and figured what better way to experience traveling than by hosting other people who are traveling in my area. I signed up as a host and now I basically invite absolute strangers into my house.”
Sanguedolce has hosted a range of travelers from a white/Algerian/African/French man who was in his mid 60s to a man from England who picked up a shirt at a thrift store of a local winery in Pennsylvania and decided to visit.
“He decided to fly here and check out the winery and has been involved in hosting and surfing since,” Sanguedolce says.
Sanguedolce has traveled around the world using CouchSurfing to places that include Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Seattle and Florida.
“What really got me into CouchSurfing was that I was traveling through Japan for a while and I was able to meet up with some locals there and they were able to show me things in the area that a regular tourist would never have been able to see - the things that only locals knew about,” he says. “I realized that if you’re going to travel, the best way to experience an area is to have local people who can show you the most interesting things in the area.”
One issue that most people think of when hearing this concept is safety.
“I thought about it, Sims says. “But not near as much as my Mom thought about it.”
CouchSurfing has implemented several precautionary measures for the benefit of its surfers, hosts and community.
Every user is linked to the other users in the system through a network of friend links, references and vouching. There is also a voluntary verification process that checks the member’s identity and address.
Sims says that the peer reviews are a good tool to go by when using CouchSurfing.
“If you can stay somewhere where there’s 60 reviews of a place and every one is great, you feel pretty comfortable that they’re not going to become a serial killer on their 61st guest,” Sims says.
But Sims does add that he wouldn’t feel comfortable with his sister or girlfriend CouchSurfing alone.
“I know it’s a double standard,” he says. “But guys are just built different. I would recommend intelligent CouchSurfing. I would recommend CouchSurfing to guys and perhaps girls in groups.”
The site has over a 99 percent positive experience rating. Sims and Sanguedolce did say that they’ve never felt unsafe CouchSurfing.
“The nice thing about CouchSurfing is that you know more about the people that you’re going to stay with or host than you do about the average person that you walk up to in the street,” Sanguedolce says.
Sims adds that CouchSurfing is also a way to meet new people, whether you stay together or not. There is an option of just having coffee or a drink.
“We talked to a lot of people that when they would move somewhere new the first place that they would go to meet people would be CouchSurfing.com to meet people with similar interests,” he says.
Auburn student Leslie Ann Galati, 21, has yet to participate in CouchSurfing, but signed up because of all of the stories she has heard from friends who have.
“I loved the idea of the site, to allow people to connect all over the world who all share a common love of traveling and meeting new people,” she says. “I just love the idea of connecting people and making the world a little bit smaller.”
Sims says that his CouchSurfing experiences have changed him.
“Admittedly, I had become pretty cynical, which I think is easy to do,” Sims says. “If you watch the news three nights in a row it’s pretty easy to become sure that you should lock yourself in your house. But we had a little bit of faith and we just went and this country was good to us. This network was a real community nation wide.”
]]>AU football coaches evaluate who’s readytag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.114982010-08-24T16:49:22Z2010-08-24T17:52:23ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
“Big,” the offensive coordinator said of Ladarious Phillips. “Very heavy.”
Saturday, Malzahn and the rest of the Auburn team got to see a healthy dose of the freshman from Handley High.
“That’s probably the most reps he’s had,” Malzahn said. “He was dead tired by the end of it ... He’s 290 pounds. He doesn’t look like a running back. He looks like a pulling guard.”
That’s what Saturday’s “half scrimmage” was all about, coaches said, narrowing down who’s in and who’s out.
“Again, just trying to make some final decisions on who we think will help and who can’t,” Chizik said. “It was a half scrimmage, so a lot of the players that are freshmen and young guys that we just needed to really continue to evaluate got a chance to play a lot, which was good to see them.”
And now, it’s evaluation time.
“I think after today, we’ll have a real good idea about the guys we’re going to go with,” said Malzahn, who also added nothing in particular stood out since the coaches were focused mostly on “the dirty work.”
With less than two weeks before the opening game against Arkansas State, the window of opportunity to make an impression is closing.
“Obviously, we’re in the two-week time frame right now, so, obviously, we’re going to be very smart about how we proceed from here,” Chizik said.
Malzahn ‘close’ to naming backup QB
Cam Newton gave a very short answer regarding the backup quarterback race.
“That’s not up to me,” Newton said. “That’s Gus Malzahn. I’m just Cam Newton.”
He’s also the starting quarterback.
Another scrimmage came and went without an “official” backup signal-caller.
“(We’re) getting closer,” Malzahn said. “Getting real close.”
All four quarterbacks – Newton, fifth-year senior Neil Caudle, sophomore Barrett Trotter and redshirt freshman Clint Moseley – all saw action, according to Malzahn during Saturday’s scrimmage, with the latter three getting most of the reps with Auburn’s younger players.
“They all got a chance to show what they can do one more time,” Malzahn said. “This is the fourth scrimmage, so it’s good. We’ve got a lot of information. We’ve got a good idea of what we’re doing, so it was good to see.”
Malzahn is steadfast on how comfortable he feels with any of the four quarterbacks having to play if the season started tomorrow.
“As for where we’re at right now, we feel solid about our overall quarterback situation that we have four of them we feel like can go in the game and execute really our entire offense,” the offensive coordinator said. “We’ve got four quality quarterbacks. Cam’s our starter, and if something happens, we’d feel good about putting all of them in. And that’s pretty rare. That’s pretty rare. I’ve never had it before.”
Etheridge back at full speed
As he was walking off of Pat Dye Field on Saturday, senior safety Zac Etheridge had a thought.
“I was talking to Aairon Savage walking off the field and I was like, ‘Last time I came out here, I didn’t walk off the field,’” he said. “I’m just blessed to walk off the field after a scrimmage at the stadium.”
For the first time in nearly 10 months after a serious neck injury, Etheridge was able to practice fully with his teammates. He said he didn’t have any concerns or hesitations when he took the field for the first time.
“When I was out there, I was just having fun,” Etheridge said. “I didn’t think about it at all. I came in up in some piles a little bit. I didn’t hesitate.”
What right tackle?
When asked who the starting right tackle will be, offensive line coach Jeff Grimes did his best Gus Malzahn.
“You know how I am … I’m going to hold out as long as I can on that deal because I want those guys keep working, keep battling,” Grimes said. “Guys are all getting better, and that’s what is most important. We’d like to settle on a guy as soon as we can, but really it’s not the big priority for me.
“The much bigger priority is getting the best guys ready, and, either way, we’ve got to develop some depth. That’s something we didn’t have last year.”
Former Auburn High standout John Sullen, A.J. Greene and Brandon Mosley have all been working at the right tackle spot this preseason.
Tigers ranked No. 22
After being ranked No. 23 by the coaches in the USA Today poll earlier this month, Auburn moved up one spot in the Associated Press poll, released Saturday.
With 296 points, the Tigers enter the season at No. 22, according to the AP, 90 points ahead of No. 23 Georgia. Auburn is just four points behind No. 21 LSU.
Alabama was voted No. 1 overall, garnering 54 first-place votes, while No. 2 Ohio State received three first-place nods.
In all, six SEC teams are in the Top 25. Florida is ranked fourth, while Arkansas comes in at No. 17. South Carolina and Ole Miss are also receiving votes.
]]>Tigers promise depth at cornerback spottag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.114552010-08-18T14:51:07Z2010-08-18T15:54:08ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Afterward, while their teammates were still wiping sweat off their foreheads, the duo was all smiles. This was their definition of fun.
“It seemed like every play was coming your way,” Thorpe said. “It really tests your stamina a lot, but you just have to keep fighting.”
This was nothing new for either player. Just another day at the office.
“It’s really unheard of,” cornerbacks coach Phillip Lolley said. “I’ve just never seen too many kids that can play that many reps in this league. We were fortunate we had some kids last year with a lot of intestinal fortitude.”
Lolley wants that intestinal fortitude to hold strong this season. He just hopes his starting cornerbacks don’t have to tap into their supply on a weekly basis.
Lolley wants to be three-deep at both cornerback positions. He has two veterans with experience in Thorpe and Washington, a backup who was impressive at the Outback Bowl but hasn’t seen the field much in T’Sharvan Bell, a work-in-progress in Anthony Morgan and two athletic freshmen in Chris Davis and Jonathon Mincy.
Add that up, and that’s just enough to go three-deep. It wouldn’t be smart money to bet Davis and Mincy will remain on the sidelines very long in the Tigers’ season opener against Arkansas State.
“We need them and that’s the reason we signed them,” Lolley said. “It’s a long season, but I expect them to be playing.”
There might not be a coach on Auburn’s staff that has to do more teaching than Lolley. Thorpe and Mincy are the only two members of his group who have been true cornerbacks since high school.
Bell was a quarterback at Osceola (Fla.) High while Morgan, Davis and Washington served as do-it-all offensive threats at their respective schools. Morgan was even considered an offensive option first at Auburn before he made the position switch midway through his freshman season.
“It’s different than I thought it would be,” Morgan said. “You’ve got to be physical and know a lot of stuff. I’m adjusting to it pretty well.”
Lolley’s top two options, though, remain an area of minimal concern.
Thorpe had his ups and downs as a sophomore, as he often was on the wrong end of SportsCenter highlights during Auburn’s three-game losing streak. The rest of the season, though, Thorpe was tough to beat and his potential is considered as high as anyone’s on Auburn’s roster.
Last week, ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. wrote that Thorpe was the most “NFL ready” player on the Tigers.
“He’s the type of leader that leads by example,” Lolley said of the soft-spoken Thorpe. “He’s going to excite the team with a big hit, his hustle. He’s not one to cheerlead. He just does his job and he leads that way.”
Washington, meanwhile, has no trouble talking a little smack to the receivers he shuts down.
One of the most affable and outwardly confident players on Auburn’s roster, Washington can now add “comfortable” to his list of superlatives. When Zac Etheridge went down with a severe neck injury last season, Washington was forced into action at safety, a position at which he had no experience.
He performed better than expected and rarely made noticeable mistakes, but his true home was at cornerback. Only another worse-case scenario will force Washington to leave his position.
“I feel like they’re putting me in a great position to make plays this year,” Washington said. “So I’m feeling very comfortable.”
Lolley has certainly noticed. He hasn’t heard the end of it.
“Confidence is one thing that Demond Washington does not lack,” Lolley said. “If you ask him tonight, he’ll tell you he’s the best tailback on this team, he’s the best receiver, he’ll tell you he’s the best (defensive back). That’s the kind of kids I like.”
Lolley can’t make all his cornerbacks play with the swagger that Washington does. All he can do is make them play, which is something all six, young and old, should expect sooner rather than later.
“It’s my job to bring them along,” Lolley said. “And that’s what I plan to do.”
]]>Setting Up Shoptag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.114492010-08-17T20:19:05Z2010-08-31T18:01:06ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com NOW OPEN
Marco’s Pizza
Marco’s Pizza, the only pizza franchise in America founded by an Italian citizen, just opened a store in Auburn on Monday, Aug. 9. Marco’s offers pizza, subs and meatballs made with fresh ingredients.
“We make all of our dough in the store everyday,” said Paul Watson, general manager of Marco’s Pizza. “Our pizza is never refrigerated or frozen. We don’t use a frozen product. We’re more of a fresh ingredient type of pizza, and our sauce is made into sauce less than six hours after the tomatoes have been picked.”
To celebrate its grand opening, Marco’s Pizza is offering large two-topping pizzas for $9.99, medium two-topping pizzas for $8.99 and subs for $5.
Marco’s Pizza offers online ordering, delivery, dine-in and carryout. The store is open everyday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., except on Friday and Saturday when it stays open until midnight. Marco’s Pizza is located at 231 N. Dean Rd. across the street from Kroger.
“We love to be here and hope we can provide ya’ll with the best pizza in town,” Watson said.
For more information on Marco’s Pizza or to order online, visit marcos.com.
Earth Fare
Earth Fare, which opened in June at 1550 Opelika Road, wants to create a new healthy lifestyle for Auburn residents.
The store offers fresh meat, produce and dairy items. Unlike a conventional grocery store, none of Earth Fare’s products contain trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives or antibiotics.
In addition to organic items, Earth Fare also aims to provide local food options, including produce and dairy items.
The produce section at Earth Fare includes colored labels to denote which items are locally grown, which are organic and which are conventional items, said Kristi Kanzig, a marketing representative for Earth Fare.
“We offer a compromise for people who haven’t gone all organic,” Kanzig said. “So, they’re going to be able to come find everything they want.”
In addition to local and organic items, Earth Fare also provides shoppers with a wide assortment of vegetarian and gluten-free options, ranging from cereal to frozen dinners.
“That’s always the misconception that healthy supermarkets don’t have a frozen food section, but we do have an extensive frozen food section,” Kanzig said. “You’re going to be able to get the frozen dinners and the things that are easy and convenient.”
Earth Fare also offers ready made food for lunch and dinner with seating available in the store. Earth Fare is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pretty Please Nail Salon
Pretty Please Nail Salon has set up shop in the former Brand X spot at 153 N. College St., and owner Lan Ma, 23, is striving to make the store a different experience than your average nail salon.
Ma has been in the nail business for the last seven years and has worked in 10 different salons. When she and her mother decided to open Pretty Please together, Ma said her past experience helped her design the business the way she thought would work best.
“I know people think ‘she’s only 23,’ but I think it really helps being in 10 different salons because I got to see what people like and don’t like in a lot of aspects,” Ma said.
One aspect of the nail salon that differs from most is that Pretty Please offers complimentary drinks that range from martinis to mimosas. Ma said that she worked at a salon in Florida that did so and she thought it was a good idea.
Ma will occasionally have specials that will include a manicure and martini, but the martinis are offered only during special occasions. Mimosas, champagne and wine will be offered on a regular basis.
Pretty Please Nail Salon will offer several types of manicures and pedicures ranging from $10 to $40.
Pretty Please Nail Salon is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday.
Adjective
Robin Massey, 24, recently opened Auburn’s newest boutique - Adjective. Massey’s family is from the Auburn area and after she graduated from Georgia’s Kennesaw State University, her father helped her start her business.
“I’ve worked in retail since I was 16,” Massey said. “I always had a passion for clothes. I graduated and decided I wanted to open my own store.”
Massey said that she wanted the store to be fun and affordable.
“I want it to be fun, affordable, something that describes all girls,” Massey said. “Our motto is ‘let us describe you.’”
The boutique sells clothes, jewelry, purses and will have shoes in the fall. One unique aspect of the boutique is that they offer clothes that range from extra small to 4X.
“I try to do stuff for the fashionable college girl, but we also have stuff that caters to all shapes and sizes,” Massey said.
Prices for tops range from around $20 to $90 while dresses start higher, jewelry from around $8 to $30 and purses from around $20 to $40.
Adjective is located at 113 Mithcam Ave. The store is open 10:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, and is closed on Monday.
OPENING SOON
The Locker Room of Auburn
George and Davis Wilder plan to fill a void in Auburn. This week the men plan to open the family business in Auburn.
George Wilder founded The Locker Room in Montgomery in 1977. The store sells suits, modern casual wear and accessories for men.
Wilder managed a store called The Locker Room in Tuscaloosa years ago and when he opened his own store decided to use the name.
Recently Wilder decided to open a store in Auburn.
“It was a void that needed to be filled and we were the logical people to do it because the history that we have and the respect that my father has earned in this business,” George’s son Davis said. “There really isn’t a specialty men’s store in Auburn. We’re going to have really exclusive and high end lines that you just can’t really find in Auburn.”
Davis added that when the former Private Gallery store, located at 127 E. Magnolia, became available they knew the time was right.
Davis will run the Auburn business for his father.
“I grew up in this business,” he said. “We go to market a couple of times a year to buy clothes for the upcoming season. I went to my first market when I was about 15 years old. So, I grew up doing this. This business is all I’ve ever known.”
The Locker Room of Auburn will sell brands that include Southern Tide, Vinyard Vines, Southern Point, Robert Talbott and more.
T-shirts will start around $20, while knit shirts will range from around $50 to $100. Suits and sport coats will range from around $295 to $695.
“In the men’s business it’s easy to just go in and throw in really expensive stuff,” Davis said. “But we’re going to be careful about doing that and start out slowly and make things a little bit more accessible.”
Irish Bred Pub & Restaurant
Business partners Joe Garofalo and Paul Marmol moved from New York to Jonesboro, Ga., 16 years ago and bought a bar called Benefields. Since then, the guys have owned 15 businesses in Georgia ranging from catering halls and sports bars to nightclubs and pubs.
The guys are now opening one of their franchises, the Irish Bred Pub and Restaurant, in Opelika. They bought the first Irish Bred Pub 12 years ago from a woman in Rex, Ga.
“The woman was born and bred in Ireland,” Garofalo said. “We bought the pub from her and started to realize that pubs were probably the most appealing place to own. A pub is a central place for people to meet. Pubs have the greatest appeal for families, business people and younger people.”
The men now have six different franchises around the metro Atlanta area.
Marmol has been attending Auburn football games with his friend John Ford, an Auburn alumni, for years. Ford kept urging Marmol to open a franchise in the area and when the men opened a franchise in West Point, Ga., they were close enough to pursue it. They found the perfect location at 833 Railroad Ave. in Opelika.
“We looked in Auburn and couldn’t find anything that was the right size,” Garofalo said. “We like to find two-story buildings, that way we have a more traditional pub downstairs and upstairs is a place for entertainment.”
Garofalo and Marmol, along with business partner Cherry McDonald, will open the Irish Bred Pub on Monday, Aug. 30.
The pub will have a full menu that will include bar food and Irish specialties such as fish and chips and shepard’s pie. They will also offer lunch, dinner and drink specials every day.
The two-story bar has a large balcony, a full bar which will include 12 beers on tap, high gravity beer and a wide selection of Irish whiskey. They also have a 26-seat bus to pick up and drop off customers.
Garofalo said that they also plan to offer entertainment every day which will include karaoke, trivia, poker, live bands and DJs.
The Irish Bred Pub will be open 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. until 12 a.m. on Sunday.
The Viper Motorcycle Company
The Viper Motorcycle Company is announcing its plans to begin manufacturing motorcycles in Auburn. The company will move its operation from Minnesota to Auburn as soon as possible with full production beginning in 2011. A new facility in Auburn Technology Park West will become the new headquarters and production facility for Viper Motorcycle Company. Company officials expect the creation of 100 new jobs in Auburn over the next two years.
Viper Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Viper Powersports, produces high performance, super cruiser motorcycles for bike enthusiasts. The motorcycles are produced with more than 80 percent of proprietary parts designed and manufactured by Viper.
“The Auburn facility and community support places us in a position to achieve our annual goal of 2,000 motorcycles and 2,000 aftermarket engines within five years,” said John Silseth, CEO of Viper Powersports.
Company officials say the timing is ideal to relocate their operation and that Auburn has all of the assets for the company to expand and satisfy the increased demand.
Andrew Broadley, Technical Director of Viper Motorcycle Company sees the proximity to Auburn University as an opportunity to integrate a wealth of knowledge and expertise from students and faculty.
“The ability to develop a relationship with such a high-quality university is of particular interest on the technical side, which will allow us to expand our research and development capability towards new projects,” said Broadley. The company sees unique opportunities for creative students to be involved in design and engineering.
Balcony Bar
Auburn native Louis Williams was running his own bar in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina hit. He moved back to Auburn and is now hoping to bring some of that New Orleans style with him.
Williams will soon open Balcony Bar at 114 West Magnolia Ave., in the former Coldstone Creamery location.
“I want to bring a little bit of the New Orleans corner bar mentality to the bar scene in Auburn,” Williams said.
Williams said when the location became available he thought it would be a great space for a bar.
“When I saw the space I thought it had a great view of Toomer’s Corner,” he said. “And I just thought ‘that will be great after games and it’s in the center of downtown between The Vault and SkyBar.’ So it’s another location for people to kinda of chill out and have a drink and enjoy the nights here in Auburn.”
Williams wants Balcony Bar to be a laid back spot to grab a drink.
“We just want to be a laid back, neighborhood type feel,” he said. “We want everyone from the university, everyone from the service industry and everyone from the city to feel comfortable coming.”
Williams said that Balcony Bar will have big screen TVs and a pool table. He also added that drinks will be competitively priced.
“Our drinks will be comparable to other people’s specials all the time,” he said.
Williams hopes to open Balcony Bar by the week of Aug. 23rd. It will be open from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m. daily.
“All of the other days that places are kinda slow we hope to build a steady crowd of people who like to hang out there,” he said.
]]>Fitting the Pieces - Putting the pieces together to get the job you wanttag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.113712010-08-10T19:30:23Z2010-08-31T18:01:24ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Carter thought getting a master’s degree would help her employment outlook. Instead, the current recession has given her a big zip.
“It’s frustrating because I can’t even get the job I had before I started on my master’s,” she said.
Carter’s predicament reflects what many graduates are facing, indeed, what unemployed people everywhere face. It is a tough time to get a job.
Today, successful job seekers are those who are willing to think outside of the box and apply a little elbow grease beyond answering want ads and sending off resumes. The following are some of their most effective resources and strategies.
Take advantage of the Auburn University Career Center. Anyone who is an Auburn student or alumni would be well advised to consult the experts in this office.
“We help with resumes and cover letters,” said Meghan Weir, student employment program advisor. “We conduct mock interviews, and we also teach job search strategies using the Internet.”
Weir also added that they help students locate internships, which often lead to full-time jobs.
“We have two career expos, fall and spring, which can have as many as 150 employers,” she said.
The center publishes a blog, tigersprepare.blogspot.com, with the latest tips that will help everyone seeking employment.
Discover the Alabama Career Center System. This may be the best free resource that people don’t know about. Funded by tax dollars, the facility at 2300 Frederick Road has on-site career counselors who are available for consultation. The web site, joblink.alabama,gov, lists job openings all over the state, along with other helpful information.
“The Alabama Job Link links to everything from job training to employment opportunities,” said Mike Grier, site manager. “We have workshop classes that teach about job searches. We give tips and how-tos and all that. “
Peggy Bridges, assistant site manager, added that they also help with resumes and more.
“We have federal dollars that will help you,” she said. “We help with networking through companies we’ve worked with. There is an on-the job training federally funded program which pays half the salary.”
Do the homework. In applying for a job, those who make the best impression are those who research the company first, and then tailor their resume and cover letter to the job.
“Don’t send out generic marketing tools, but be sure that the skills you’re highlighting relate to the job and employer you’re applying to,” said Weir.
Those who make a bad impression are those who neglect to spell check their resume, or who don’t read job information thoroughly.
Network more. Successful job seekers are those who work at widening their circle of acquaintances, joining clubs and professional associations and being active in the community.
“The main thing we’re pushing is networking,” said Weir. “If you can find a connection through an alumni network, your family or friends, that is the best way to find a job.”
Weir also stressed that meeting others in person is vital, so that prospective employers have a face to put with a name.
Learn to use social networks. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter have become the next great thing in job hunting. Dan Schawbel is one of the foremost authorities on using these resources for job searches. He advises that job hopefuls spend 90 percent of their search time working the social networks.
“Twitter has become the ultimate utility to connect directly with recruiters and employees at companies you want to work for,” he said in an article published on mashable.com.
“By conducting Twitter searches, following recruiters on your account and using the “@” sign to communicate with them on occasion, you will start to learn a lot about them and their companies,” he said.
He cautioned seekers to be sure they have a completed profile and a professional looking avatar.
LinkedIn.com, a business-oriented social networking site, has become the mainstay of many recruiters.
“You want to fill out your entire profile,” Schwabel advised. “You’ll also want to get at least one recommendation from a supervisor or friend. Import all your contacts and build your network as much as possible.”
Other suggestions by Schwabel including placing an ad on Facebook (facebook.com/advertising), subscribing to blogs that have job listings, and even starting a blog that highlights personal and professional strengths. (Wordpress.com is a place to start.)
Schwabel also reminds job seekers to link their social networking tools together.
Pursue target companies. In these days when companies don’t advertise openings, those who are getting jobs are those who go after the position they want.
Atlanta resident Teresa Howard found her ideal job when she acted on an article she saw about a professional business trainer in a publication.
“I called him and told him I wanted to work for him,” she said. “He was not hiring but invited me to come to one of his trainings the next week. I came with resume in hand. Two months later he was my boss.”
It may seem importune, but Schwabel advocates that people search for information on employees of businesses they would like to work for, and then build relationships with these employees through social networking.
“Social media has broken down barriers, to a point where you can message someone you aren’t friends with,” said Schwabel.
For searches he recommends Technorati.com, wink.com, Facebook and Twitter.
Advice on “netiquette skills” and how to approach these individuals may be found on the Tigerprepare blog.
Get a foot in the door. Successful employment may often be found on by those willing to humble themselves with a “starter” position and work their way up.
Lindsay Glover graduated from Auburn University with a degree in education. She loved her internship with the Auburn school system, but knew it would be difficult to obtain a position there.
“After I graduated, I used the contacts I made through the internship to get steady work as a substitute,” she said. “Then I used the contacts I made through substituting to get my current job as a teacher assistant, which I hope will lead to a classroom position.”
Communicate character strengths. Employers are looking for integrity, not just skills and knowledge. Those who are hired find ways to stress character strengths in their resume and interviews.
Peter Berry, vice president for operations at Liasion Technologies, has been in a position of hiring for corporate America for many years.
“I feel that an employee with a technical aptitude can be trained for just about any situation. Character is the hardest to change or train,” he said.
Berry looks for responsibility, a work ethic and honesty.
“I’m looking for someone who sees a challenge through to the end,” he said. “A serious work ethic shows up in little things, such as showing up for the interview on time, coming prepared to take notes, or learning something about the company before showing up on our doorstep.”
Transparency is vital.
“I can’t hurt the team by adding someone who isn’t going to play it straight with all of us,” said Berry.
Jack Frederick, principle systems engineer for Raytheon, makes hiring decisions based on the ability to work well with others.
“People skills are valuable more than technical knowledge because that most defines an employee’s long term success,” he said.
Always be professional. Candidates who impress are those who put effort into preparing for an interview, and conduct themselves with thoughtfulness and decorum.
“Regardless of the job, they need to come professionally dressed,” said Stacie Money, owner of Fringe. “They don’t need to come in with shorts and a T-shirt on.”
“Come prepared with some questions about the company, the department, or your role,” advised Berry. “Always enter an interview with confidence, but never with swagger. Try to listen more than you talk. Be interested and try to learn as much as you can about the job.”
Leave a good impression. A few final details can make or break a prospective employee. Interviews should be followed up with a thank you note. References should be contacted to be sure they are willing and prepared. And of utmost importance, a candidate’s Facebook should be cleaned up, along with anything else that may surface if an employer conducts a search.
“I’m going to look at their Facebook, it’s one of the main things I take in to consideration,” said Money.
Back on the job front, Sara Carter doesn’t plan to give up. “You’ve got to put yourself out there, keep trying,” she said.
She has found, like many others, that it’s work to find work. But maybe it’s not so much like banging against a brick wall as it is learning to find the openings in the wall. There are new strategies that work and people who can assist.
“We’re here to help,” said Grier. “If there’s a job possibility for you, we try to find it.”
]]>Trotter fights for back-up QB roletag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.113192010-08-10T17:45:20Z2010-08-10T18:48:21ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
That’s the mindset Barrett Trotter has brought into his third fall camp at Auburn, the third consecutive camp in which Trotter is on the outside looking in at the starting position.
“You’re going to work hard, no matter if you’re first, second or third,” Trotter said. “So for me, it really doesn’t change anything.”
An Al Borges recruit, Trotter didn’t play during his first season at Auburn, though former coach Tommy Tuberville flirted with the idea momentarily while Kodi Burns and Chris Todd failed to bring much efficiency to the position.
With a wide open competition set for his redshirt freshman season, and an entirely new staff evaluating the talent on hand, Trotter had as good of a shot as anyone to seize the starting job.
His time in the competition lasted just 13 practices. He tore his ACL in the practice before the 2009 A-Day game, rendering the entire season a wash.
Trotter started throwing with the rest of his teammates near the end of the 2009 season and was completely healthy for spring practice. Like the other three returning quarterbacks, though, Trotter lost the spring battle to upstart transfer Cameron Newton.
His spirits, though, remain buoyed.
“It’s good to get out of summer workouts and get back having the ball in your hands,” he said. “For me coming back off an injury, spring was good, and then just getting back into it now, it’s good to get back to completely normal.
“Getting back into the swing of things is fun.”
Despite Newton’s rise, Trotter had a strong spring. He was arguably the best quarterback at this year’s A-Day game, throwing for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s a great competitor,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “He’s one of our more accurate guys. He throws a very catchable ball. As far as our timing passing game, he does a very solid job.”
Tigers ranked
Auburn won’t have to win its first five games just to get a number next to its name this season.
The Tigers came in at No. 23 in the USA Today preseason coaches poll. They were one of six SEC teams to crack the top 25, including No. 3 Florida and overwhelming No. 1 Alabama.
The defending national champions received 55 of 59 first-place votes to carry a significant voter points lead over No. 2 Ohio State.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik is not one of the coaches who vote. The SEC is represented by Florida’s Urban Meyer, Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino, Alabama’s Nick Saban and South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier. Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville also has a vote.
Auburn has been ranked heading into in seven of the last eight seasons. The lone exception was last year, when the Tigers didn’t crack the top 25 until Week 6 after starting the season 5-0. Auburn peaked at No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and finished just outside the top 25 to end the season.
Pierre-Louis on the mend
Oft-maligned wide receiver Philip Pierre-Louis is setting a record for fastest rehab from an ACL injury, wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor said.
Pierre-Louis hurt his knee during Auburn’s second scrimmage of the spring. Wearing a brace on the injured knee, Pierre-Louis has appeared to be back to speed during Auburn’s first three weeks of practice.
Pierre-Louis tore his ACL on the first play of his Auburn career in 2008. It’s been an uphill climb ever since, as he found himself in the Taylor’s and Chizik’s doghouse throughout the 2009 season and only saw the field sporadically on punt returns.
Taylor said the former problem child has turned a corner.
“For me, he’s really shown that he wants to be here and has done things right, because we set a standard and I didn’t know if he could live up to it when he first started,” Taylor said. “If you had asked me last year, could he live up to that standard, if I was a betting man, I would have lost, because I would have said no.”
]]>Long-forgotten kicker now consistent option for Tigerstag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.113122010-08-04T20:41:46Z2010-08-04T21:44:47ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Coming off a nearly perfect season as Auburn’s field goal kicker, Byrum has been largely forgotten by the prognosticators who make college football a 365-day-a-year sport.
Perhaps a victim of too few attempts in 2009 because of Auburn’s remarkably efficient red zone offense, Byrum received preseason, second-team billing from the media last week and was left off the coaches’ teams completely. College football expert Phil Steele put Byrum on his fourth team All-SEC.
Byrum missed just once all of last season, a wayward 46-yard attempt that didn’t have any effect on Auburn’s 26-22 victory over Tennessee.
Guess he should have been perfect if he wanted to supplant the likes of Georgia’s Blair Walsh, Florida’s Caleb Sturgis or LSU’s Josh Jasper.
“You think he made strides with consistency?” special teams coordinator Jay Boulware asked sarcastically this spring. “What was he, 98 percent?“
Factor in Byrum’s 54-for-54 mark on extra points and yes, the 69-for-70 mark clocks in at 98.5 percent.
“I really try not to think about it much at all,” Byrum said near the end of last season. “When I go out there, it’s just like the attitude I have now is just like practice. Just go out there and kick the ball.“
His resume
Byrum Gator-chomped his way into the hearts of all Auburn fans as a true freshman in 2007.
Wth the upset-minded Tigers tied with No. 4 Florida in the Swamp, Byrum made a game-winning 43-yard field goal as time expired. He had to do it twice because Florida coach Urban Meyer called a timeout shortly before his first kick went through the uprights. Byrum famously celebrated the second kick by running around the field, Gator-chomping the entire time, as devastated Florida fans looked on.
He finished that year with another game-winner on the road, when he booted a 21-yard chipshot to beat Arkansas. His accuracy that first season wasn’t great (73 percent) but there was unprecedented promise directed toward Byrum at a school where field goal kickers had recently labored.
Then 2008 happened. It’s a season Byrum doesn’t like to talk about. Byrum hit just 11-of-19 field goals and missed a handful of extra points in 2008.
“It just got tough,” Byrum said. “Overall, the team wasn’t doing well, and I wasn’t helping at all on my end of it by putting points up on the board when we were struggling.“
Suddenly, the awkward form he used to boot field goals was a source of major scrutiny and, suddenly, Byrum had to try out for his job in an open competition the following spring.
He beat out Morgan Hull and Chandler Brooks and hasn’t looked back. His relationship with former Auburn kicker John Vaughn has provided a major confidence boost.
“He’s missed before, he’s made,” Byrum said of Vaughn. “So it’s nice to have someone that I can relate with and level with on it.“
Why he’s important
This one’s easy. Is there any position that has more pressure per snap than field goal kicker?
Even when the kick isn’t to win or lose the game, a field goal can directly affect the momentum of a game, no matter when it’s attempted.
Think of the extra point Auburn blocked and returned for a two-point conversion last season against Ole Miss. The Rebels had just scored their second touchdown in less than two minutes and were in a position to cut Auburn’s lead to two possessions, 31-21. Instead, Joshua Shene’s kick was smacked away and deflected into the hands of Demond Washington, who ran it all the way back to put Auburn up by 13 for a three-point swing.
Ole Miss didn’t score the rest of the game.
Byrum never had the direct fate of the game lying on his foot last season, but he also changed the course of some by hitting clutch field goals throughout them. His 49-yarder as time expired in the second quarter against Louisiana Tech put the Tigers ahead, 13-10, heading into halftime, a game they’d ultimately win, 37-13. Against Tennessee, Byrum hit a clutch chipshot with 39 seconds to play that put the Tigers up by two possessions.
Who’s behind him?
Hull is gone, but Brooks was still around this spring to keep Byrum competitive.
Brooks briefly held first-team status last spring before Byrum overtook him. Boulware said the two kickers have each gotten better because of their repore in practice.
“He made Byrum better last year, whether we realize it or not,” Boulware said. “Because he was consistent in his field goals at practice, and that forced Byrum to be consistent with field goals at practice, and that’s translated over to the football games.“
Cody Parkey, one of the highest rated high-school kickers in the country, will join the group next week. If Byrum does what he did last season, there should be no reason for Parkey to burn his red shirt.
]]>Recruitment Style Booktag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.112792010-08-04T16:16:57Z2010-08-24T20:49:58ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.comTips from the Pros
Tiny Waist Targeter
Wearing a triangle shaped skirt gives the illusion of fuller hips while emphasizing a small waist.
Create Some Curves
Lacking those curves? Try a waisted dress with a belt or tie to instantly give you an hourglass silhouette!
Accent Your Assets
Not lacking curves? A broad shouldered jacket draws the eye upward while skinny jeans slim your backside!
It's All About Eyes!
Smoky eyes are back again for Fall 2010 and are hotter than ever featuring hints of metallics: Gold, Silver, Bronze or even a Metallic Green or Blue! Youngblood's New Fall Eyeshadow Quad, Starlet combines the perfect colors for a great smokey eye like this!
Read My Lips
With so much color on the eyes, you'll need to stick with a more neutral lip to keep from looking overly made up. Two to try: Youngblood's fabulous nude shades: Coy, a soft peachy-pink, or Guava, a sheer pink gloss.
Bronzed Beauty
Bronzer can seem tricky, but it's as easy as 1,2,3. Simply apply the bronzer by sweeping a large "3" on each side of the forehead, sweep around to the temple and over the cheekbone, stop. Then sweep back out and around finishing the "3" under the center of the jawline. Pictured: Lunar Dust by Youngblood in Sunset.
Beachy Curls
Use a wide-tooth comb to detangle wet strands without disturbing curl formation.
Next, apply a spray get and scrunch hair using palms and fingers; let air dry.
Note: If your hair texture is super straight or very curly, you will have to heat-style to obtain this finish.
Blow-dry smooth, then apply a glossing cream.
Next, set with large hot rollers.
Finally, loosen curls with fingers and mist with hairspray.
Messy Top Knot With Headband
Blow-dry messy with volume enhancing mousse or use dry shampoo on dirty hair.
Flip head over and pull strands into a high ponytail using fingers.
Flip head back up and secure at the top of head with a rubber band.
Wrap and pin sections of hair from the tail around the base of the elastic; continue until all has been pinned up into a messy-looking topknot.
Add your headband of choice and VOILA!
Finish with a spritz of shine spray.
Sleek Pony
Work anti-frizz cream through hair and comb to ensure even distribution.
Next, brush strands into a tight pony at the back of the head and be sure it is centered at the crown.
Secure with an elastic band, but conceal the band by wrapping a small section of hair around it.
Fasten it with a bobby pin.
Finish with a firm hold hairspray.
Sleek Curls With a Deep Side Part
Begin by creating a side part above the center of one of your eyes.
Dry hair and straighten roots with a flat iron.
To create or enhance your curls, twist your hair around rollers and let curls set.
Use a curling iron to tighten curls and comb to separate your spirals and add shine.
Use a finishing spray to add hold and gloss to your style.
Get your coupons here: http://www.thecornernews.com/index.php/site/stylebook_coupons/
]]>Shoemaker to get opportunity as puntertag:thecornernews.com,2010:index.php/news/3.112372010-07-28T19:45:33Z2010-07-30T15:11:34ZCarla Nelsoncmerrill@thecornernews.com
Sure, the first punter to represent his team in Media Days history is a little biased, but his coach, Mark Richt, had his back.
“It truly is a third of the game,” Butler said of special teams. “If you can win that aspect, and you can win offense or defense, you have a leg up on the competition.”
OK, so punting is probably one-sixth. And when it’s considered that field-goal kicking puts actual points on the board and can truly decide wins or losses, it might get bumped to one-eighth.
Regardless, it’s still a vital component to the game.
All indications point toward Auburn senior Ryan Shoemaker resuming his role this season as the Tigers’ point man on punts, which means his presence on the roster is as vital as any.
On a team in which the defense is still unproven, every yard is crucial. The difference between a touchback and a ball downed inside the 5 could very well be the difference between a field goal and a touchdown for the other team.
That’s where Shoemaker will score and defend points.
Filling old shoes
Shoemaker was a star in the making after redshirting his first year with the Tigers.
Filling the shoes of Kody Bliss, Shoemaker was named to the All-SEC freshman team after ranking second in the SEC (16th nationally) with a 42.4 yards-per-punt average. Heading into the 2008 season, Shoemaker was a preseason All-SEC selection as just a sophomore.
And then walk-on Clinton Durst beat him out for the job. Twice.
Shoemaker’s one appearance during the past two seasons was forgettable. While Durst nursed a fever during Auburn’s game against LSU in 2008, Shoemaker averaged just 35.4 yards per punt and helped set up a short field late with a poor 25-yarder. That one bad punt ultimately helped LSU win the game.
With Durst gone, Shoemaker was the lone punter on Auburn’s roster during the spring. His coach, special teams coordinator Jay Boulware, was impressed, saying Shoemaker was ready to seize the job.
“He has just been better each and every week,” Boulware said in April. “He’s striking the ball really, really well right now.”
Last season, Auburn won just three games when it had a worse average starting field position than its opponent. Four of its five losses came when it was worse.
The punter isn’t fully responsible for this statistic, but he certainly plays a huge part in its evolution. Just think, a punt that touches down and falls with topspin, tumbling into the end zone for a touchback, can mean a difference of as many as 19 yards of field position.
There’s a fine line, and punters like Shoemaker have to walk it. Yes, the way punts land is sometimes a matter of pure luck. But over the long haul, the good punters have more punts bounce their way than the bad ones.
Moments like the one Shoemaker faced against LSU two years ago can define a punter because it’s a position where anonymity is desired.
Punters who have their names come up after games more often than not are typically infamous, not famous.
Who’s behind him?
The starting job is by no means a lock for Shoemaker, though. It’s his to lose.
When camp opens next week, Steven Clark, one of the nation’s most touted high school punters and a player Boulware personally recruited, will join Shoemaker for what could be a down-to-the-wire competition. Clark looks like a prototypical NFL punter, Boulware said, and he’s obviously respected enough to land a full scholarship.
Boulware said Shoemaker’s intensity amplified when Clark stopped by the Auburn athletic complex for a visit shortly before Signing Day. On top of the big-time experience that Clark simply doesn’t have at this juncture, Shoemaker will have to maintain that focus if he wants to finish his Auburn career away on the field.
“He does have a big leg, and he does have the potential to be a lot better than what he is currently right now,” Boulware said of Clark. “I’m really looking forward to having a chance to coach him.”
