1979 Auburn Tigers football team

The 1979 Auburn Tigers football team achieved an overall record of 8–3 under head coach Doug Barfield, which would be his best season as head coach. The Tigers went 4–2 in the SEC.[1] They finished the season ranked #16 in the AP poll, but were not ranked in the UPI due to probation.

1979 Auburn Tigers football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
APNo. 16
Record8–3 (4–2 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeVeer, I
Defensive coordinatorP. W. Underwood (4th season)
Home stadiumJordan-Hare Stadium
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
1979 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Alabama $ 6 0 0 12 0 0
Georgia 5 1 0 6 5 0
No. 16 Auburn 4 2 0 8 3 0
LSU 4 2 0 7 5 0
Tennessee 3 3 0 7 5 0
Kentucky 3 3 0 5 6 0
Ole Miss 3 3 0 4 7 0
Mississippi State 2 4 0 3 8 0
Vanderbilt 0 6 0 1 10 0
Florida 0 6 0 0 10 1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Prior to the start of the season, on May 11, Auburn was placed on probation by the NCAA as a result of an investigation into violations dating back to 1974.

Five players were named to the All-SEC first team for 1979: running back James Brooks, running back Joe Cribbs, linebacker Freddy Smith, defensive tackle Frank Warren, and offensive tackle George Stephenson. Joe Cribbs was also named the SEC Most Valuable Player for that year.[2]

During the 1979 season, the offense used a combination of the veer and I formations and both Joe Cribbs and James Brooks gained over 1,000 yards rushing.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 15Kansas State*W 26–1850,132[4]
September 22Southern Miss*
  • Jordan-Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
W 31–945,226[5]
September 29at TennesseeL 17–3585,936[6]
October 6No. 14 NC State*
  • Jordan-Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
W 44–3151,146[7]
October 13VanderbiltNo. 18
  • Jordan-Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
W 52–3545,615[8]
October 20at Georgia Tech*No. 14W 38–1454,236[9]
October 27at No. 18 Wake Forest*No. 13L 38–4234,060[10]
November 3FloridaNo. 20
  • Jordan-Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL (rivalry)
W 19–1358,754[11]
November 10at Mississippi State No. 16
  • Jordan-Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
W 14–359,136[12]
November 17at GeorgiaNo. 15W 33–1363,000[13]
December 1vs. No. 1 AlabamaNo. 14L 18–2577,918[14]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2]

Roster

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1979 Auburn Tigers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 5 Joe Sullivan Fr
RB 20 Joe Cribbs Sr
RB 21 James Brooks Jr
OT 72 Jeff Smith Fr
OT 78 Keith Uecker So
WR 82 Byron Franklin Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 66 Frank Warren Jr
DE 99 Edmund Nelson So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

References

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  1. ^ 2011 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide, Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, pp. 182–4,150–151 (2011). Retrieved August 19, 2011
  2. ^ a b 2005 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide, Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, pp. 142–143, 178–180 (2005). Retrieved August 19, 2011
  3. ^ Auburn Tigers Have Veterans Returning "The Harlan (KY,) Daily Enterprise, August 27, 1980. Retrieved August 21, 2011"
  4. ^ "K-State gives Auburn big scare in 26–18 loss". The Salina Journal. September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Auburn wins one for Doug". The Anniston Star. September 23, 1979. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Moore sparks Tennessee". The Daily Advertiser. September 30, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Auburn rolls by Wolfpack". The News and Observer. October 7, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Cribbs, Brooks lead Auburn past Vandy, 52–35". The Atlanta Journal & Constitution. October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Brooks powers Auburn past Tech". The Pensacola News-Journal. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Auburn baptized by Deacon rally". Rocky Mount Telegram. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Auburn squeaks past Gators". Fort Myers News-Press. November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Auburn flattens Mississippi State". The Commercial Appeal. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Cribbs, Brooks smash 'Dogs". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Defense holds off Tigers". The Montgomery Advertiser. December 2, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.