European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday August 26, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 23college football 87 Sec tigers May rattle National cages Auburn s defense provides time to find missing offensive pieces by Cut Anderson a Rcd Only 288 Yards a game to opponents the uni h i m i. R i i a i n _  inti Irupe Chr up first irm a it of to lev tinny , Ala. A some new parts May be needed to Rev up Auburn s offensive machine his sea son but coach Pat Dye s defense should be solid in Mich to keep the tigers in Contention in the South Eastern conference. Standing squarely in the Road to a title however is one of Auburn s toughest schedules in years an Offen Sive line that must be rebuilt and a Lack of seasoning at tailback. Because of these obstacles. Dye has downplayed predictions of Sec titles or a repeal of Auburn s no. 6 finish nationally last season i think that anybody who said we re favored to win the conference ought to go for a brain scan he said pointing la a schedule that opens with Texas and includes North Carolina. Tennessee Florida Flor Ida slate Georgia and Alabama. "1 think you d have lobe crazy fifteen starters return from last year s team that went 10-2 and beat Southern California in the Florida Citrus bowl gone is All America Tail Back Brent fill i Wood who combined with 1985 Heisman trophy Winner to Jackson Over the past five seasons to gain 7,092 Yards and score 67 ouch Downs. A a Jiff Burger the top returnee at tailback this year is Sophomore James Joseph who has carried inc bait 52 times for 26 Yards so far As a College performer. Several other players including senior Curtis Stewart and freshman Harry Max will Battle Tor the spot. At tailback we feel like we have three or four Good enough to play and who we end up playing will be up to them Dye said. The defense is the Strong suit of the team with eight starters returning from last year s squad that surren Dere unit includes three first team All Sec selections big play outside linebacker aundray Bruce leading Tacker Kurt Crain at inside linebacker and tackle Tracy Rocker. Depth is Dye s main worry on defense particularly in the secondary. If everything Falls into place depth wisc and if we play with All of the intangibles going for us. We could develop into an outstanding defensive football learn Dye said. Senior quarterback Jeff Burger whose suspension Over alleged plagiarism on a term paper was lined last week is the Anchor on offence. Burger last year completed 56 percent of his passes and threw for 1,671 Yards but Dye said his senior leadership is perhaps most important to inc team. If Burger has the time to pass behind an offensive line that must be rebuilt he will throw o a receiving corps that is deep and experienced. Lawyer Tillman is the lop returnee catching 35 balls for 730 Yards in 1986, Good for a per catch aver age of 20.9 Yards. Perhaps More important is inc re turn of Freddie Weygand a sure handed end who led the Sec in Yards per catch in 1984after sitting Outhie 19s6season. At Back is sensor split end Scon Bolton one of he fastest players on the team and tight end Waller Reeves who Dye said May be the Best to Ever play he position at Auburn. There Are holes to fill on the offensive line following the graduation of All America Center Ben tamburello and guard Vann Cowan. Stacy scares and Jim Thompson arc solid Al the tackles but Dye said the key is How Sophomore Center John Hudson develops. We have the makings of a food offensive line but right now we Are a Bunch of individuals Dye said. Handling the punting will a Brian shul Tan who was Seton Din the Sec last year with a 44.1-Yard per punt average. The place kicking duties will fall to one of three players with senior Chris Knapp the most experienced Dye is sounding a note of cautious optimism As he enters his seventh season at Auburn where the tigers All Southeastern conference it Tracy Rocker will play this year in a newly renovated Jordan Hare stadium seating 85,000, there is no double that the 1987 team is one of his most Alen cd taking the Field 30 years after Auburn s 1957 National title team thai went 10-0. Well have to have a lot of Luck and Well have to come a Long Way to be a championship Caliper football team he said. I think the nucleus and he foundation is there it s a matter of pulling together All the  beef eco up line clears Way for prime leu offence by Austin Wilson Baton Rouge la. A Nacho Albergamo was uncomfortable with the attention that goes with being a highly regarded lineman on Louisiana Sale University s sixth ranked football learn. I m a can scr. I m not used to it he said. Albergamo 6-2 and 257 pounds and guard Eric Andolick 6-2 and 275, Are on at least a half dozen checklists for postseason honors so it s hard for them to remain Anonymous. They re senior veterans of teams that have been ranked in the nation s top 20 for each of the past three Yean and they be played in bowl games with All the attendant hoopla three straight Yean. And a fourth straight year in the polls and bowls is Likely Albergamo says. The Only loss could be to ourselves he said. We beat ourselves twice last year Miami of Ohio and Mississippi the Only learn that beat us was in the sugar bowl Nebraska we just got beat that game after the sugar bowl Mike Archer became head coach in fact As Well As title. The leu Board of super visors confirmed Archer then 33 years old As the replacement for Bill Arnsparger on dec. 23, but Al Lowed Arnsparger 10 coach the team through the sugar bowl before leaving to Lake Over As athletic director at Florid. One of Archer s first comments As head Man came Afler the 30-15 pounding by Nebraska. He said his team was Loo weak to handle the Nebraska of College football and some 50 members of the leu i Raj spent the summer on and around the Campus taking Pun in a weight program. Andolsek Bench presses 490 pounds and Albergamo 465.albcrgamo brushes off speculation that inc offensive no Ion for Iago Mcm leu Guird Eric Andolsek line is one of flow question Marks on an otherwise who football team. Last year s critic .1 defensive front and two members of inc offensive front finished their collegiate eligibility in the sugar bom we be had All Spring together and we be been Here All summer. As a group we ii be belter than bit year Albergamo said. The iwo new Guys Jim Hub ii and Ruffin Rodrigue Are great athletes there s no question about the so called skill positions on offence. Quarterback Tom Hodson set school records As a freshman last year for a program that has produced such passers As . Tittle and Bert Jones Hodson completed 173 of 288 passing attempts for 2.261 Yards and 19 touchdowns and he was intercepted just Highl limes. Senior wide receiver Wendell Davis caught �0 of those passes for 1,244 Yards and i touchdowns de Spile drawing double coverage through most of the season. Sophomore Harvey Williams and senior Sam mar tin share the tailback spot. Williams. 6- and 210. Is the starter and Martin generously listed As 5-11 and 175, the role player. Williams rushed for 700 Yards task season and Martin sped for 356 and an average of -4.9 Yards a carry. The schedule includes five of last year s bout teams including both halves of the Cotton bowl Texas aim and Ohio Sale. The other three bowl teams Georgia. Ole miss and Alabama come Over a four week Span. The opener is at Tenas am another team with legitimate aspirations to a High ranking and a Post sea son bowl. Well know Pijie on Chr evening of Sipl 5. J1" How Good a foot Ball learn we Are Archer said. Sure. I d rather open against a lesser opponent and on of Wade in blow but Llin a Chiluk Are made Way in Advance and t can t do anything about ii soc re Juii going la get our feet wet in a  we Tell our kids thai in order to be the Best they be got to play inc Best hut you do sort of wonder if they pc la come four in a in like  hi1 did