BY RYAN BLACK | rblack@ledger-enquirer.com

@wareagleextra | Like the blog on Facebook

AUBURN, Ala. — Nothing lasts forever.

This holds true for anything in life, and War Eagle Extra is no exception. The article you are reading is the final piece of content that will be posted to this blog. Have no fear, though. War Eagle Extra isn’t going away — it’s just moving. Yes, five years after staking out on its own, War Eagle Extra is being integrated back into the Ledger-Enquirer’s homepage.

It’s been quite a run, comprising five different beat writers (David Ching, Andy Bitter, Joel Erickson, Aaron Brenner and myself) and totaling close to 4,800 posts. Auburn is now working on its third different football coach during that span, which began in the final season of the Tommy Tuberville era, with a national title and a fired coach (Gene Chizik) bridging the gap to current head man Gus Malzahn.

Aside from the pages looking slightly different, you shouldn’t notice any variation as readers. The content won’t change. You’ll still be able to read the notebooks, features and other articles about Auburn’s football team as well as watch video of their interviews.

Don’t view this as an end as much as a new beginning.

In an ode to the blog’s past, I’m reminded how War Eagle Extra’s first reporter, Ching, ended his introductory post: “This should be a lot of fun…”

Click here to visit War Eagle Extra’s new home. Take a look around. Looks pretty similar, doesn’t it?

So join me as we begin our transition and begin to (literally) write the next chapter in War Eagle Extra’s history.

It should be a lot of fun.

BY RYAN BLACK | rblack@ledger-enquirer.com

@wareagleextra | Like the blog on Facebook

AUBURN, Ala. — Robenson Therezie was a late entry into Auburn’s lineup on Saturday, being inserted at the team’s hybrid safety/linebacker position known as the “Star.”

Junior Robenson Therezie had the best game of his career on Saturday, intercepting two passes (one seen above) and tallying seven tackles in Auburn’s 31-24 victory over Washington State on Saturday night. (ROBIN TRIMARCHI/Ledger-Enquirer)

Therezie then went out and played like one.

He picked off two passes in Auburn’s 31-24 victory on Saturday, becoming the first Tiger since Josh Bynes in 2010 (against Arkansas) to tally two interceptions in a single game. What made the feat even more impressive is that the junior didn’t have an interception to his name prior to kickoff.

And he didn’t just excel in the passing game, also finishing as the Tigers’ second-leading tackler — behind only Jonathon Mincy’s eight takedowns — on Saturday, tallying seven tackles (six solo, one assisted).

Though he was tasked with filling the void left by Justin Garrett — the team’s A-Day MVP — Therezie said he didn’t place any additional expectations on himself to perform.

“Oh, I didn’t feel the pressure at all,” he said. “I knew we had to execute. We have really good backups, and I just wanted to stay in the game. It was my first start, ever, in college football, and I just wanted to stay on the field.”

Therezie pilfered his first pass in the opening period off Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday, snagging the ball at the Tigers’ 48-yard line and taking it back to the Cougars’ 28-yard line.

The only thing Therezie didn’t do right when recalling the play?

He forgot what number teammate Jake Holland wore.

“I was trying to get to the flats, but No. 2 didn’t spot (it),” he said, though Holland sports jersey No. 5. “It was fast and I ended up right by him and there was a tip ball and I got to it.”

Auburn didn’t let the turnover go to waste, as it scored a touchdown four plays later.

His second interception was perhaps even more important. With 4:57 remaining, the Cougars were on the Tigers’ 8-yard line, looking to score a touchdown to knot the contest at 31-all. Halliday took the snap and fired the ball toward the right corner of the end zone.

Therezie was there, though, making a leaping grab on a pass intended for receiver Ricky Galvin to thwart Washington State’s last scoring opportunity of the game.

The magnitude of the moment wasn’t lost on the Miami native.

“I had to make a big play there,” he said. “We knew as a defense they were going for the end zone right there and we communicated the right read and I made the play.”

Coming off his best game as a Tiger made Therezie appreciate Saturday even more, especially in the light of his career up to this point, which has seen him shift around from position to position without a real home.

“It was very different. I felt great,” he said. “I felt like I got back to my old self, because I was kind of lost for two years. Now I feel good.”

Adams ‘thankful for the opportunity to make an impact’

Montravius Adams didn’t have an inkling he would be on the field for so many snaps on Saturday.

The true freshman defensive tackle showed out, ending with two tackles (one for loss) and notching the first sack of his career in a pasting of Halliday in the second quarter.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to make an impact this first game,” he said.

He introduced himself immediately, as the sack was his first play of the game.

“I didn’t want to let the team down,” he said. “At the snap of the ball, my only focus was to push down the quarterback, and I did.”

In a statement that will likely induce headaches for opposing offensive coordinators later this season, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn believes Adams only scratched the surface of his abilities on Saturday.

“Montravius is a big athlete, but he’ll improve each game,” he said.  “You know freshmen — what usually happens is they’ll improve each game.”

A first half full of ‘firsts’

“First” stood for far more than the opening 30 minutes of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

It also was a statistical achievement for many of Auburn’s players. Along with Therezie, four other Tigers made their first career start: quarterback Nick Marshall, left guard Alex Kozan and defensive ends Craig Sanders and LaDarius Owens.

Like Therezie, safety Josh Holsey notched his first career interception on Saturday, making a leaping grab of a wayward Halliday pass on the final play of the opening period.

The Tigers’ special teams had its share of firsts as well: Ryan White pulled off a feat that hadn’t occurred for Auburn in seven years in the first quarter, as he scored on a two-point conversion. It was the first time the Tigers had successfully converted a two-point try since doing the same against Alabama in 2006.

Junior Corey Grant scored his first touchdown as a Tiger in emphatic fashion, scampering 75 yards in the second quarter, which gave Auburn a 22-21 lead with 6:18 remaining before halftime.

Injury updates

Malzahn updated the status of both Garrett and defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker in his postgame press conference — to an extent, anyway.

He didn’t get into specifics of either player’s absence, but explained the reasoning that was behind each of them sitting out Saturday.

“You know it’s kind of been one of those things where it was a game-time decision,” Malzahn said of Garrett, who sprained his foot in the Tigers’ second scrimmage of fall camp and was initially expected to play Saturday. “We decided to hold him out, but Therezie came through and played well. ”

While Garrett should be back soon, the same couldn’t be said of Whitaker. The senior from Warner Robins — who was replaced by Gabe Wright in the starting lineup — was seen on crutches prior to kickoff.

“Jeff’s going to be out for a while,” Malzahn said. “He had a procedure done last week and so he wasn’t able to play. … We’ll see when he gets back.”

Quick hits

With the win, Auburn improved to 93-26-2 in season opening games all-time and 96-15-3 in home openers. … The Tigers have now won 78 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points and 294-4 overall. Auburn’s only loss against a non-SEC foe when scoring 30-plus came in 1979, when it lost to Wake Forest 42-38. …  Washington State scored two rushing touchdowns on Saturday. In 12 games last season, they totaled just six scores on the ground. … Cody Parkey’s 47-yard field goal in the second quarter was a career-long for the senior from Jupiter, Fla. … Auburn’s undefeated 1993 squad was honored in a pregame ceremony as part of its 20-year reunion.

BY RYAN BLACK | rblack@ledger-enquirer.com

@wareagleextra | Like the blog on Facebook

AUBURN, Ala. — Alex Kozan has seen how quickly things change in major college football.

After redshirting last season, Alex Kozan has put himself in position to start at left guard this fall. (Todd Van Emst/Auburn University)

Auburn’s redshirt freshman guard recalled how intense the recruiting process was for him, one of the top players in Colorado in the Class of 2012. Now, many of the coaches who pushed hardest for his signature are no longer employed by the universities they once touted so strongly. One of them, of course, is Auburn, where Gene Chizik’s staff was let go after the Tigers’ dreadful 3-9 season.

Kozan said it’s just a sign of the times.

“Football is constantly changing,” he said, “and it just speaks to competition at this level.”

That’s why Kozan immediately began to acquaint himself with the techniques offensive line coach J.B. Grimes brought with him. Though they differ from the concepts Jeff Grimes — the Tigers’ former line coach and no relation to J.B. — taught, Kozan believes his skill set makes him equally adept at both.

“I think both schemes fit me,” he said. “I wouldn’t say one particular offensive style fits me best. It’s definitely good to learn different offensive styles because you never know who you could be playing for one day if you make it to the NFL.”

Kozan became accustomed to learning new offenses at the drop of a hat during his high school days in Castle Rock, Colo. Each year, he never knew what kind of system the team would lean on.

“We had an offensive coordinator who mixed it up every year based on our personnel,” Kozan said. “One year, we were straight veer-option, then the next year we were a spread offense. I’ve been around different offenses throughout my career.”

Sitting out last season gave Kozan the opportunity to take stock of himself. Upon arriving at Auburn, he immediately saw how many things he needed to learn. Used to being able to physically overpower nearly every player he faced off against in high school, Kozan quickly realized he wouldn’t be able to rely on strength alone.

“There’s different techniques you’ve got to use in order to block those three-techniques and nose guards, as big and strong as they are,” he said. “A big problem I had was not being able to stay low enough. I’d always played so high in school because I was strong enough to overcome that. Learning how to play with technique makes you a more sound a fundamental football player.”

Kozan said his improved flexibility was thanks to Ryan Russell’s strength and conditioning offseason program. But he believed sharpening his mental game was every bit as important as any physical gain.

“Well, I just tried to come out every day and try to get better,” he said. “The main thing I try to do is not make the same mistakes I made the previous day, so once you make a mistake, learn from it and keep progressing forward.  … If you make mental mistakes, the offense can’t function right.”

It didn’t take long for Auburn’s coaches to notice the progress Kozan has made since the end of last season. Grimes praised him during fall camp, and head coach Gus Malzahn did the same at Tuesday’s press conference.

“Alex Kozan’s a guy that (has) really improved since the first day of spring,” Malzahn said. “He’s getting more mature. He’s a strong guy. We were a little concerned about his mobility early, but he’s answered that question. He’s gotten a lot faster and quicker. He’s had a very good fall camp.”

The admiration was mutual. Malzahn simply sees the game differently than his peers, Kozan said.

To prove his point, the guard provided a detailed example of what he meant.

“For instance, if we were to run a zone play, most coaches would look at what their quarterback is doing, what are the running backs’ and receiver’s eyes doing — where are their eyes?” Kozan said. “(Malzahn) will notice what the right guard’s foot placement is. Things like that. A lot of coaches will leave that up to the line coach. He’ll pull you aside 15 minutes later and say, ‘Hey, on that play, what were you doing?’ That’s impressive, I think, for any football player who has the opportunity to work with him.”

A near-lock to start at left guard, Kozan has high hopes for those laboring on Auburn’s line this fall. His goal is to see it develop into a feared unit, one that will give Nick Marshall time to throw as well as pave the way for the Tigers’ stable of running backs.

Kozan and his fellow linemen will get their first opportunity to do so this Saturday.

“I’d say the biggest thing we’re trying to be is a tough, physical team that teams look at every week and say,’We have to get ready to play Auburn this week. They’re tough and they’re going to come strap it up against us every single play, (they take) no plays off and they’re going to execute.’”

BY RYAN BLACK | rblack@ledger-enquirer.com

@wareagleextra | Like the blog on Facebook

AUBURN, Ala. — No one can say exactly when the moment happened.

Gus Malzahn will lead Auburn on the field in the season opener against Washington State next week in his first game as the Tigers’ head coach. (File photo)

It was well before the final seconds ticked off in the season finale against Alabama. The same goes for its loss to Georgia two weeks before that defeat to the Crimson Tide. At some unknown juncture in the middle of 2012, Auburn reached the point where the season was a lost cause. For weeks on end, whether Gene Chizik would keep his job took center stage, becoming every bit as newsworthy as the on-field results with bowl hopes already out of the equation.

That’s what makes today so special: One week from now, the Tigers will take the field for their 2013 season opener, marking the first game under coach Gus Malzahn’s leadership. And once more, the focus will be back where it should be: on football.

While 2012 won’t be forgotten, next Saturday will mark the first opportunity for the Tigers to start distancing themselves from it in both a larger context (the program as a whole) and a smaller (individual) one, as they begin repairing the psyches of those (players, fans, etc.) who witnessed last season’s debacle up close.

Next week’s game is a long-awaited moment for everyone with a vested interest in Auburn.

Unlike when things turned south last year, it won’t be difficult to deduce when it occurs.

1. I normally link to recent posts in this spot; however, since I did a post Friday night which sole purpose was to link to everything added to the blog since Monday, that would be, say, a tad redundant, correct? But what the heck, I’ll toss out one, anyway. If you missed my feature story on Auburn’s depth at running back, give it a read when you find the time.

2. A pair of interesting features from the duo at AuburnTigers.com. Charles Goldberg spoke with former Auburn linebacker Mike Kolen, who visited the White House earlier this week. Kolen was a member of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Noting that “there was a lot going on with Watergate,” Miami never got a chance to travel to Washington, D.C. to be honored by President Richard Nixon. Meanwhile, Goldberg’s counterpart, Phillip Marshall, spent time with Auburn equipment manager Dana Marquez, as the Tigers try to stay on the cutting edge of safety.

3. In SEC West news, Ole Miss released its first depth chart on Friday, and not surprisingly, defensive end Robert Nkemdiche — the nation’s consensus top prospect in the Class of 2013 — was listed as a starter. LSU coach Les Miles believes his offense ‘is really going to respond’ to new coordinator Cam Cameron, while sophomore safety Landon Collins is expected to take on a much bigger role on Alabama’s defense this fall.

4. Outside of the SEC, Hueytown, Ala., native Jameis Winston was named Florida State’s starting quarterback. Glad to see the city known for NASCAR’s “Alabama Gang” — consisting of the Allison family and Neil Bonnett — back in the headlines again. And it will be interesting to follow how Winston performs stepping in where E.J. Manuel left off.

5. ESPN pulled out of a project with PBS’ “Frontline” which centered around the NFL’s response to head injuries and concussions. The league was not pleased, and let ESPN, one of its coverage partners, know about it last week. Thus, the partnership with “Frontline” is no longer.

The takeaway, as always, is that business interests come first, with “everything else” running a distant second.

6. To shift away from sports for a brief moment, I’d like to praise two of the most high-quality stories I came across this week. One came from my former stomping grounds at The Red & Black, which had the compelling and heart-breaking tale of a University of Georgia student who said she was raped in a classmate’s dorm room last year. It’s tragic. There’s no other way to put it.

The other article came from The New York Times, which talked with “Saturday Night Live” alums about the nail-biting audition process, a make-or-break proposition for any comedian aspiring to make it to the big-time. (I know some people believe SNL’s glory days have long since past, but just like most other things in life, each cast can be hit-or-miss.)

7. Keeping with our tradition of ending with a fun link or video, I give you “football coaches as on-the-job food philanthropists.” Two different instances caught my attention Friday: First, there was Clemson coach Dabo Swinney delivering Dunkin’ Donuts to fans who camped out for tickets to the Tigers’ season opener against Georgia. Then there was Southern Cal coach Lane Kiffin (along with his top player and Heisman Trophy candidate Marqise Lee) hopping in an ice cream truck and driving it onto a practice field to serve the school’s band. (Video of that is below.) And to finish it off, I found out about Iowa State coach (and former Auburn defensive coordinator) Paul Rhoads showing up to greet incoming freshmen with candy.

I don’t care who you are or what school you root for, it’s pretty cool that each of them did this. Who knows? Maybe Malzahn can do something similar in the future. Barbecue, anyone?

And again, the fantastic video of Kiffin and Lee in an ice cream truck is below.

BY RYAN BLACK | rblack@ledger-enquirer.com

@wareagleextra | Like the blog on Facebook

AUBURN, Ala. — In a way, it could be said Dee Ford is going back to the future.