Power of Caring
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20. Auburn

A sense of urgency pervades the Tigers' practices these days. "It's not because of what the media likes to print about coach [Terry] Bowden—you know, 'If he doesn't do it this year, he might be gone next year,'" says junior linebacker Takeo Spikes. "It's us. We're tired of having 8-4 seasons, especially 8-4 seasons that could've been 9-3 ... or 10-2."

Seasons like 1996. In the span of five weeks, the Tigers went from a 5-1 team ranked No. 16 in the country to a 7-4 team reeling from a 41-point blowout at the hands of Florida, a heartbreaking four-overtime loss to Georgia and a gut-wrenching 24-23 letdown against cross-state rival Alabama.

The 56-49 Georgia defeat, in which a 30-yard touchdown pass by the Bulldogs with one second remaining forced overtime, still haunts Auburn. "I've been a head coach 13 years, and that was the toughest loss I've ever had," says Bowden, whose team led 28-14 before being held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

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Auburn team page 1997 schedule

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Spikes remembers too. Plays the nightmare out every day in practice. Feels it. Uses it as a motivator. "We practiced so hard for that Georgia game," he says. "I think everybody's hopes got so high that by the fourth quarter when it happened, we just couldn't believe it. After that game, we sort of went downhill. That game cursed us."

The Tigers recovered in time to defeat Army 32-29 in the Independence Bowl (the Cadets missed a game-tying 27-yard field goal with 29 seconds left), but that victory was bittersweet for a team that had gone 11-0 in '93 and 9-1-1 in '94. "There was a time when a bad season for Auburn was five or six wins," Bowden says. "These guys have gotten Auburn to a point where eight wins make them feel unfulfilled. That's why we're excited about this year, because we're ready to be fulfilled again."

The centerpiece of the defense is Spikes, an honorable mention All-America last season, who is among 10 returning defensive starters. He and fellow inside linebacker Ricky Neal combined for 230 tackles in '96. On offense, senior quarterback Dameyune Craig, who passed for 2,296 yards and 16 TDs in '96, will again be looking for senior wideout Tyrone Goodson and junior wideout Karsten Bailey. Senior Fred Beasley, who began his career as a 200-pound tailback, has bulked up to 220 pounds and will start at fullback. Sophomore Rusty Williams, who started six of Auburn's last seven games at tailback and rushed for a team-high 439 yards on 80 carries, will try to pick up where he left off.

Will this be another 8-4 season? Could be, with Virginia replacing Alabama-Birmingham as the season opener and an SEC schedule that includes LSU, Florida, Mississippi State and Alabama. Bowden, however, says his players have a new resolve. "A season like last year serves to make you hungry again," he says. "It makes you realize how close you are to winning a lot of ball games."
—Robbi Pickeral

TELLING STAT
27-3 The Tigers record under coach Terry Bowden when they score first.
TWO GAMES TO WATCH
OCT. 18 VS. FLORIDA The Tigers gave up an average of 50 points in their '95 and '96 losses to the Gators. NOV. 22 VS. ALABAMA This one should go down to the wire. Five of the last six meetings have been decided by eight points or less.
RETURNING LEADERS
Passing	Dameyune Craig, Sr.	169 comp., 310 att., 2,296 yds., 16 TDs
Rushing	Rusty Williams, Soph.	439 yds., 4 TDs
Receiving	Karsten Bailey, Jr.	45 catches, 592 yds, 3 TDs
Tackles	LB Takeo Spikes, Jr.	119
Interceptions	FS Brad Ware, Soph.	4
	CB Jason Bray, Jr.	4