Selma Sports Writer

The days of opposing defenses stacking the line of scrimmage against the powerful Auburn University running game are over.

That was the message delivered Tuesday night by Tommy Tuberville when the Tigers’ head coach spoke to the Selma Quarterback Club.

Tuberville told those attending the club’s second meeting of this season that the Tigers would feature a West coast offense this season, with a more prolific passing attack led by fourth-year starting quarterback Jason Campbell.

“When you’re a four-year starting in this league,” Tuberville said

of Campbell, “you’re doing something right.

“We’re going to run more crossing routes and short passes,” the Tigers’ coach added. “We can still throw the ball deep downfield. This offense is going to suit Jason Campbell very well.”

Another player Tuberville expects to have a solid season is redshirted freshman tight end Carl Stewart.

Stewart is a former Tennessee High School Player of the Year and is expected to be one of Campbell’s top targets this season.

“He’s also going to be a very good special teams player for us,” Tuberville said.

Although the Tigers look to be much improved offensively, Tuberville said much of the conference is in the same boat.

“One thing I’ll tell you,” he said, “is you’re in for a treat this year in the SEC because there’s not a lot of difference between the top and

bottom.

“This is one of the most unusual years I’ve seen in 10 years,” Tuberville added. “Everybody has good players at some point. Some may be stronger than others. But since I’ve been here, it’s never been the team that’s picked to get over (to the SEC championship).”

Tuberville also announced that John Vaughn had won the starting job at placekicker over senior Philip Yost.

Tuberville said it was simply time for a change after the Tigers had converted just 11-of-19 field goal tries last season.

The Tigers open their season Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe – a team they put a 73-7 loss on last season. Tuberville said he regrets the blowout score, but said there was little he could do to stop it from happening.

“You never want to be on the sidelines of a game when you can’t control the score,” he said. “I put in the second team after the first quarter.

“Their coach was pretty mad at me,” Tuberville said. “What was I going to tell him? I wasn’t going to play.”

Tuberville also said Auburn University will open next month an academics building beside the football complex. Tuberville said the building would be staffed by tutors to help his players get any study help they may need.

“Coach Tuberville is a great talker,” said Selma Quarterback Club captain Bill Porter, himself a 1966 graduate of Auburn University. “He’s very easy to talk to and there’s no trouble getting him to come. He’s been here every year since he’s been at Auburn.”

The Selma Quarterback Club’s next meeting will be Tuesday. The club will hold its Ladies Night and host guest speaker Paul Finebaum.