Auburn hosts talking (would-be) heads

There will be a whole lot of talking going on at the Student Center on the Auburn University campus tonight as the Alabama Gubernatorial Forum 2010 comes to town. The debate will be held at 7 p.m. in the Student Center ballroom.

All gubernatorial candidates who declared candidacy prior to Sept. 25 were invited to participate in the forum. Participating candidates are Robert Bentley, Bradley Byrne, Artur Davis, Kay Ivey, Tim James, Bill Johnson and Ron Sparks. The moderator for the event is Jeremy Campbell of TV station ABC 33/40 in Birmingham.

Sponsors for this event are the League of Women Voters of East Alabama, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. The event is hosted by the Center for Governmental Services, a division of Auburn University Outreach.

Complimentary tickets for admission to this public are available through the sponsoring organizations. Parking is available in the parking lot between the stadium and the Petrie Annex, or in the stadium parking deck.

Alumni Hospitality Tent Canceled

Because of the potential for inclement weather, the Alumni Hospitality Tent for the Auburn-Ole Miss game (Saturday, Oct. 31) has been canceled. Kickoff for the game is scheduled at Jordan-Hare Stadium at 11:21 a.m.

Thanks for your understanding, and we hope to see you at the Alumni Hospitality Tent before the Nov. 7 homecoming game against Furman.

War Eagle!

SGA President's Letter

SGA President Jacob Watkins wrote a letter to the student body on Thursday afternoon commending the football team for never quitting on the field and encouraging fans to do the same in the stands.

Watkins described Quarterback Kodi Burns' dedication to the game against LSU last weekend. " Kodi Burns took a shot to the chin that cut open his lip and knocked out two of his teeth. Kodi came to the sidelines with the teeth in his hand. The trainers sewed his mouth up, wiped off the blood and Kodi went right back in the game and ran the ball as hard as ever. He never quit."

The least we can do, as fans, is support the Auburn Tigers on the field by being in the stands and being loud until the last minute of the game.

The game this weekend is our chance to be bowl-eligible and the team needs us in the stands. SGA made "11:21" stickers to remind everyone that the game may be early, but we need to be there, ready to go, just like the players.

Watkins ended his letter by urging students to "be the difference."

11:21. Be early. Stay late. Be loud. Be the difference.

WAR EAGLE!

An American domestic shorthair kitten that was struck by a car is Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Critical Care Case of the Year. Cletus' owners, Tom and Elaine Lawrence of Auburn, rushed him to the college's Small Animal Teaching Hospital in August.

"When Cletus arrived, he had numerous injuries--including a severely torn muscle, a broken leg, multiple soft-tissue wounds and a torn bladder," said emergency and critical care veterianarian Mitch Potter '98. "He was in shock and rapidly decompensating from the extensive trauma."

Over the next several weeks, Cletus underwent a series of surgeries to repair the damage. The Lawrences report he's recuperating well. "It was really difficult to pick the case of the year," said Douglass Macintire '88, P.B. Griffin Distinguished Professor of Acute and Critical Care Medicine.

"We had so many great patients who fought so hard to survive and owners who sacrificed so much to help their pets. This little guy, Cletus, though, really stole our hearts. He never stopped purring or trying to play no matter what we did to him or how badly he hurt. He was very lucky to be adopted by such a wonderful loving family. Cletus and his owners represent what this award is all about--perseverance, hope, and love."

Auburn's Critical Care Program is a same-day referral center designed to serve the needs of veterinarians in the Southeast. AU's veterinary program is the oldest in the South and the seventh-oldest in the nation.

Beta Beta Beta Goes Batty

Beta Beta Beta, the National Biological Honor Society, is hosting its annual Bat Walk in the Davis Arboretum today at 5:30 p.m. The event will include a walk through the arboretum with night vision goggles and bat detectors to search for bats. According to the press release, this event is free, open to the public and for children of all ages. There will be live bats and door prizes. The Bat Walk seems like a great way to get outdoors and enjoy our fall weather!

For more information, click HERE.

Game Day Hospitality

Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs wrote a column for newspapers in the area commending Auburn's hospitality toward visiting teams. Auburn's ability to welcome any team to the plains has always been one of the (many) things that makes me proud to be a Tiger.

In his article, Jacobs wrote, "Our fans and our game-day atmosphere are second to none, and each of you plays an important role in keeping that tradition alive. Providing a positive game-day experience is one of our five strategic goals for the department, and we can't do that without your help."

He also included quotes from fans of visiting teams describing their game day experience on the plains. This article recognizes a special quality in Auburn men and women. When you call a place like Auburn home, what is there to be inhospitable about?

Click HERE to read Jay Jacobs' article and HERE for more information.

AU Celebrity Baseball Game TONIGHT!

The Auburn baseball team is hosting its annual Celebrity Home Run Derby and Fall Scrimmage tonight at 6 p.m. at Plainsman Park. All proceeds benefit the Lee County Boys and Girls Club and admission is $1. Raffle prizes will be given out throughout the night including autographed baseballs and Under Armour Gear.

The Auburn baseball team will hold a nine-inning scrimmage after the home run derby. "The Home Run Derby will feature former Tigers Bo Jackson, Frank Sanders, Hal Baird, Gabe Gross, Tim Hudson and David Ross as well as long-time Auburn fan and 16-year Major League Baseball veteran Todd Jones," according to the campus announcement.

Click HERE to read more about the Celebrity Home Run Derby and Fall Scrimmage.