Ben Tate Ready To Step Into Spotlight For Auburn

What a year it has been for freshman running back Ben Tate. What had expected to be a red-shirt season, blossomed into something much more. Now with a game to go in his rookie campaign, Tate has a chance to take things to the next level.

The Maryland high school career rushing leader is on the verge of moving to second-string behind Kenny Irons for Monday's Cotton Bowl against Nebraska. With Brad Lester suspended for the game and Irons still banged up, it looks as if Tate will get the call early against the Cornhuskers.

Senior Tre Smith has been working as the number two back all month, but things have started to shift in practice over the last two weeks. Running backs coach Eddie Gran is now thinking about moving Tate up on the chart.

"I want to get Ben in early and see what he can do," Gran said. "It didn't start out that way. He's got a chance now. Now he's doing what we're asking him to do and he's doing it right."

After graduating early from high school and enrolling in Auburn last winter, Tate impressed coaches during spring practice. However, most believed that this season would result in a red-shirt for the talented runner.

Everything changed during the Tulane game when Tate rushed for 156 yards against the Green Wave. He followed that up two weeks later with 93 yards against Arkansas State.

Running up yardage against Tulane and Arkansas State is one thing. Running through that big red defensive line of Nebraska is entirely different. With Lester gone and Irons still gimpy, the outcome of the game may very well rest on the legs of the freshman from Newark, Maryland.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

12-28-2006 @ 8:48AM

Al Thorn said...

Yes Jake we know the Tigers suck. If Tubs could just bring Auburn up to speed with the program in Tuscalooser. We can just disregard the fact the Auburn is 3-1 in it's last 4 bowls, 32-5 in the last three seasons, 23-3 in it's last 26 SEC games, 2006 wins over Florida & LSU, have the 3rd highest winning percentage in all of college football over the past three years and finally that 'thumb thang' (not that's really a big deal - Bama is 1-11 vs Auburn, LSU & Tennesse over the past 4 seasons). Based on these facts Jake - I think a 63-3 Nebraska victory is more realistic - don't you?

12-28-2006 @ 9:52AM

JWTiger said...

That's what you get for thinking Jake. I expect a close game. Nebraska is no 9-4 Sloutch, but did they beat anyone who was favored?

Everyone has this AM kick-off and last year's CapitalOne Bowl fiasco on their minds. Bowl games are hard to predict. Especially meaningless ones. In this case I go with the team that has played in the toughest conference and already has beaten two BCS teams.
Auburn 27- Nebraska 21

12-28-2006 @ 11:43PM

Pat S. said...

So what has Bama done lately? How about the last 10 years? Even over the last 20 years, Auburn has a better win-loss record, won more Iron Bowls and has had changed coaches twice.

The senior Bama football players have seen more coaching changes just since they were recruited.

12-28-2006 @ 11:37AM

Michael Pursley said...

This bowl game with Nebraska may be meaningless in terms of a National Title, but it's important for other reasons. National exposure, recruiting, bowl records, postseason pride, momentum going into next year, looking at juniors and sophomores that will lead us next year...all of these issues are impacted by AU's performance in Dallas. Make us proud Tigers. War Eagle!

12-28-2006 @ 12:42PM

edward said...

i really have to agree with you jake,all these so call auburn fans and they cant sell tickets.its sad when fans say they like a team and dont buy tickets.i see the score close but to many cornhuskers fans and not enough tiger fans cornhuskers 28 tigers 24

12-28-2006 @ 4:04PM

Bob said...

Please go back and read Jake & Edward's posts to realize the level of intelligence of the average Alabama fan. Sidewalk alumni...

12-28-2006 @ 3:44PM

thanks for your input bob,now go buy a cotton bowl ticket.

12-28-2006 @ 5:24PM

Pat - Bama has been impressive over the past ten years. Other than their win over Texas Tech in last year's Cotton Bowl, if Bama can beat Oklahoma State today, it will be only their third bowl victory in the past ten seasons. The only other victory was the impressive 14-13 crushing blow over Iowa State in the...you guessed it - the mighty Independence Bowl in Shreveport. Speaking of Shreveport - I assume that being the dedicated fans that Jake & Edward, they are making their posts today on their laptops at the hotel in Shreveport. While you are there fellows, you may want to get your secretaries to spell-check before you post to correct your grammar and punctuations. But I'm not at all questioning your Bamer intelligence. There's no question about Bama's storied tradition. It's all they have but it's a thing of the past. There is no doubt which program rules the state of Alabama today. I see they are digging up Pat Summerall for the Cotton Bowl. Has anyone heard if the Bear will be dug up and shipped to Shreveport?

12-28-2006 @ 5:46PM

Jon in Auburn said...

I love listening to Bama fans these days. You guys couldn't stand that your team wasn't even mentioned in this article so you had to open your yaps and renew the whining. I'm watching the Indy Bowl and they keep showing sections full of OSU fans and just individual shots of rednec - I mean - Bama fans. Wonder why that is? Maybe they figured it'd be better to stay at home instead of doing what they always do - start leaving halfway through the 4th quarter when their team is down. Mal Moore and his buddies vacated their booth with 5 minutes left in the Iron Bowl, played this year at Jordon-Hare field #2. I wonder at what point they'll leave today.

12-28-2006 @ 9:15PM

i hear all you auburn fans ,i know this is auburns 32 bowl game won 17 lost 13 and tied 2 wow what a record you might want to go dig up pat dye.i think alabama has won 30 games just about the number auburn has been.

12-29-2006 @ 11:59AM

Hey Edward. The last time I checked, Pat Dye is still among the living. I imagine even Bear Bryant would tell you guys to get over this legacy thing and move on. He'd probably also tell you to start using punctuation and capital letters, too. He'd probably do all those things except for one fact - he's dead and you guys are running out of his cronies to hire for coaches. For us Auburn fans, it's like watching a soap opera. Some of us are even starting to feel kind of embarrassed for you.

12-29-2006 @ 1:12PM

please dont jon just go buy a cotton bowl ticket,auburn makes the sec look bad,the sec is embarrassed because auburn never sells there bowl tickets.

12-29-2006 @ 1:34PM

It's 'their' bowl tickets. Not 'there'.

12-30-2006 @ 3:13PM

MarkthaTiger said...

You know, forty yeas ago ARMY was one of the strongest programs in the nation, multiple bowl wins, etc. TRADITION, TRADITION, TRADITION.....To the Bama
fans clogging this blog, a: you have one of yor own, so bother them and b:Bama has been an average program
since Bear retired. I frankly couldn't give two cold
turds for what happened in 1970....Now is NOW, and AU
is now just as strong a power as Bama(I wouldn't be so
arrogant as to say stronger...even though it's true).
All I know is Bama fans should thank SMU. You would have gotten the DEATH PENALTY instead of lengthy probation, had the NCAA not seen what that penalty did to SMU, and the Southwest Conference. They couldn't afford to do it again(and kill the SEC). So whine all you want, try and beg ANOTHER coach to come there to UN-realistic expectations, fans who are basking in wins from forty years ago, and recruiting sharks all around. Did you ever think there is a REASON Bama can't seem to hire a coach???? Rodriguez was told by several other coaches that Bama is a coaching Graveyard, and it is. If you don't win 10 games and beat AU immediately......FIRED!!!! Yeah, ain't tradition great....I bet old West Point alums
sit around the same way, mumbling "remember when our program was great????" Never Fear though, we play again next year, and we have 5 more fingers to go.

12-30-2006 @ 3:21PM

By the way Edward, Auburn took 4700 more fans to Dallas than Bama "bused" to Shreveport........Man, them Rammer Jammers just FLOCKED to the Gasoline Bowl...NOT!!As for me, I didn't go to Dallas, I spent that cash renewing my Auburn Season Tickets. After all, I wouldn't miss next year's "Bama Spank Fest" at
Dye Field. You are welcome to attend, but tickets are scarce(unlike the 35000 Bama tickets on ebay this year BEFORE the season started) Go find a coach, and
have a shot or two of something, Y'all need it.

12-30-2006 @ 8:21PM

LadyTiger said...

Edward and Jake are the very same bammer people that told me to stay off their boards. I guess they own them all. There is that bammer arrogance that makes everyone in the football world consider them a joke.