We can argue all day about which Auburn record is least likely to be broken. Some nominees include Single-Season Total Offense (Cam Newton in 2010; 4,327 yards) and Single-Season FG Percentage (Wes Byrum in 2009, 93.8%) and Career Rushing Yards (Bo Jackson, 4,303).
My pick? Career starts at quarterback, a subtle-yet-intriguing leaderboard topped by Stan White. Now an excellent analyst on the Auburn IMG Sports Network, White started 45 games during his four-year career. He started every game Auburn played during his time at Auburn. Jason Campbell is in second place with 40 starts while Brandon Cox is in third place with 36.
Even with the rise in number of games played per season, which gives current and future quarterbacks more opportunities to start, I can't imagine a situation where one player holds that position for such a long period these days. Players good enough to start that long often will make their way to the NFL before their senior seasons or will succumb to injury or ineffectiveness at some point.
Forty-five starts is an amazing number at a very difficult position.
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Some good games there. The most thrilling had to be that 2011 game against the hated Bulldogs, who were squelched by safety Ryan Smith during the game's final play. MSU quarterback Chris Relf, a Montgomery native, was going in for what could have been the equalizing touchdown with a few seconds remaining. Instead, Smith went low, stopped Relf in his tracks and the ball was spotted (correctly) a few inches short. It was an amazing play.
The '77 game against Arizona was a grind. Joe Cribbs, then a sophomore, scored the first touchdown of his illustrious career to open things. That touchdown was prefaced by a punt blocked by Fast Freddie Smith, who was beginning what would be an excellent sophomore season. He also had 13 tackles including three sacks that day. The game was tied going into the fourth quarter, but kicker Jorge Portela, making the first appearance of his career, connected on three field goals during that final period while senior defensive end Tommy Hicks tackled the UA quarterback in the endzone to consummate a safety. That 11-point rally was the difference in a 21-10 victory. (Portela hit four field goals in all that day, which tied an Auburn record at the time. Portela died in 1997 from a brain tumor; his niece, Lindsay Portela, competed in equestrian at Auburn from 2009-12.)
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Happy Birthday to former assistant coach Greg Knox, who turns 52 today. He's been at Mississippi State since the 2009 season and works with the Bulldogs' running backs and special teams. I've already told you the story about James Willis passing notes under Knox's door about Jerrel Jernigan. My next best story involving Knox is how he used to make wideout James Swinton jog to the trees at the far end of the intramural field when he'd mess up a route, which was pretty often in 2006 and '07. Knox told Swinton to bring back a twig to prove he'd made the trek in full. We all renamed it "The Swinton Forest" and Knox got a kick out of that when we told him the first time. He's not really a laugher, so that was a good day.Also, Happy (Belated) Birthday to former linebacker Jake Holland, who turned 24 on Wednesday. I'm happy that Jake has moved on because he was such a polarizing figure on the Bunker -- because of his playing style, not anything he said or did -- but he worked hard and studied hard and did everything that was asked of him.
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