< Previous2020 HOMEC OMING C OUR T 21 MADISON BIRCKHEAD HOMETOWN: CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. MAJOR/SCHOOL: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT & FAMILY SCI- ENCE/COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES If you could play any position in football, what would you play and why? If I could play any position in football, I would play wide receiver. There is so much action that comes from the position and I would enjoy being one of the top playmakers on the team. What is your major and what made you want to pursue it? My major is Human Development & Family Science and I am attending graduate school next Fall in pursuit of my mas- ters in Higher Education Administration. Knowledge of human development is integral to working with and serving others, which is ultimately my goal no matter which position I hold. What is your favorite Auburn tradition and why? My favorite Auburn tradition is saying “War Eagle!” – this makes the Auburn family feel tangible no matter where you are. If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be and why? If I could walk in someone else’s shoes, I would love to know what a day-in-the-life was really like for Jesus. I think this experience would expose me to a new level of grace and empathy and truly show me the meaning and depth of mercy that I could better apply to my own life and relationships. What does it mean to be on the Homecoming Court? Being on the Homecoming Court has been such an honor, and one of the most fun experiences I have had at Auburn. This opportunity means being able to share my passion for my platform with the Auburn campus and community. Raising awareness for Auburn Cares and the incredible resources and support they provide to students is the most important part of this campaign and I am so humbled by the chance to do so. Homecoming is all about unifying the Auburn Family, and I believe the Homecoming Court is able to do this well by sharing our platforms and focusing on the importance of the human touch. What has been your favorite class at Auburn and why? My favorite class at Auburn was Ethics and the Health Sciences because it taught me a newfound level of reason- ing and how to better communicate and defend my view- points. This course also exposed me to a plethora of different perspectives held by other students and allowed for healthy debate and conversation. Describe Auburn to someone who has never been here. Auburn is truly indescribable. A beautiful campus, na- tionally ranked academics, unparalleled research, and a commitment to excellence set Auburn far apart from the rest. However, it is and always will be Auburn men and women that truly make Auburn home. ALICIA PERALTA HOMETOWN: OPELIKA, ALA. MAJOR/SCHOOL: NURSING/SCHOOL OF NURSING MINOR/SCHOOL: SPANISH/COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS If you could play any position in football, what would you play and why? If had to pick one, I would pick center. They are the right- hand man to vital players of the team. Also, they are there to protect their teammates. Center is someone who must main- tain focus throughout all the direction surrounding them. This revolves around knowing the plan and knowing alternatives in case something goes differently than what was expected. I’m observant when it comes to my surroundings and having a plan of action, so I think being center would make the most sense. What is your major and what made you want to pursue it? When choosing majors, I wanted to pick a career where I can interpersonally connect and serve members of my com- munity in ways they might not be able to. Thus, picking nurs- ing came easy to me once I got the chance to see how much of an impact nurses make daily. The amazing role models of nurses I’ve seen gives me the motivation to become a shining A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M 2020 HOMECOMING COURT (continued on page 23) 2020 HOMEC OMING C OUR T 23 light to people, even if I only get to encounter them on their potentially darkest days. As I’ve learned from nursing school, the role of a nurse is extremely complex and versatile, which I love. It is all about the patient and their needs, and your ca- pability and confidence to help them! I love the idea of being able to holistically care for someone and their lives. What is your favorite Auburn tradition and why? My favorite Auburn tradition is watching the eagle flight across the stadium and land on the field. The overflowing sense of love and excitement throughout the Auburn com- munity is overwhelming in those moments. I get chill bumps every time! Plus, it’s impressive for an eagle to do that in front of potentially 80,000+ people! If you could walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, who would it be and why? I would pick Clara Barton, for sure! Clara was a nurse during the Civil War and ended up founding the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross one of the most influential organiza- tions that helps those with emergencies, as well as a set network of donors, volunteers, and partners that help those in need. Clara’s gracious efforts in wanting to serve the people around her in the late 1800’s is inspiring. When I graduate, I strive to be like her in my career one day as a nurse. Going above and be- yond for my patients and being able to use my career to provide opportunities for those in my community is my dream. What does it mean to be on the Homecoming Court? It is still surreal to be on Homecoming court. I know that this could not have been possible without my gracious friends encouraging and pushing me along the way. This honor not only represents my achievements and future impact, but it’s also representative of the influential Auburn women that I have looked up to all my life that helped shape me to the person I am today. Ever since I could remember, the most prominent women that inspired me went Auburn. Through this moment of my life, it gives me greater appreciation for the supportive community and overwhelming love I have for the university that gave me every chance to succeed. My love for Auburn is endless, and I hope to represent it proudly. What has been your favorite class at Auburn and why? Although I have several honorable mentions, my favorite class is one of my first semester nursing classes called Nursing Patho- physiology. I love how my professor structured the class and gave everyone plenty of opportunities to thrive and grow in our study- ing habits. Whenever I learn something new, I always like to dive in deeper and wonder how it came about. Pathophysiology is all about the reasons why your body reacts the way it does and how it’s able to function, regardless of whatever disease, illness, or stress that affects it. It’s super interesting, and it further validates my point that the human body is an amazing thing! Describe Auburn to someone who has never been here. Auburn is a home where students, faculty, alumni, fans can all come together to celebrate and honor the vast history of where it was founded upon. In Auburn, the phrase “War Eagle” is given in a multitude of contexts, and you better be ready to say back with pride. Quickly, you’ll notice that the impact of Auburn extends globally, to alumni and supporters willing to sustain the influence and notable reputation we keep. The Loveliest Village on the Plains keeps our fondest memories of the times that we enjoyed the company of those who also enjoy our symbolic traditions and history. BARRETT RAMSEY HOMETOWN: ALPHARETTA, GA. MAJOR/SCHOOL: MANAGEMENT/RAYMOND J. HARBERT COLLEGE OF BUSINESS MINOR: MARKETING/ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CHANGE If you could play any position in football, what would you play and why? I would be a running back because that position allows you to do something different every play. They have to be willing to help out the team by running the ball, catching passes, block- ing, and getting the chance to score some touchdowns too! What is your major and what made you want to pursue it? I am a Management major. I am a people person and love being able to lead and serve those around me. Through man- agement, I have been able to learn my style of leadership, and my involvement at Auburn has allowed me to put what I have learned into practice. What is your favorite Auburn tradition and why? My favorite Auburn tradition is saying War Eagle! I love that you can be anywhere in the world, and if someone sees another Auburn fan, they always say War Eagle to each other! This happened to me while I was studying abroad in Spain and it was so cool having that connection away from home. Saying War Eagle to each other shows that Auburn is not just a university or a place, it’s a family! A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M (continued from page 21) 2020 HOMECOMING COURT (continued on page 51) A L OOK B A CK A T THE 2010 GEORGIA GAME 25 A LOOK BACK AT THE 2010 GEORGIA GAME #2 Auburn 49, Georgia 31 Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn, Ala. Nov. 13, 2010 A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M 299 Cam Newton finished with 299 yards of total offense against Georgia as he threw for 148 yards and a pair of touch- downs and rushed for 151 yards and a couple of scores against the Bulldogs, becoming the first player in SEC history and just the eighth in NCAA history to total 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. 4 The victory clinched Auburn’s fourth trip to the SEC Championship Game and clinched the Tigers’ second 8-0 home record in program history and first since 1988. 577 Auburn’s 49 points gave the Tigers 471 points on the season, which passed the 438 points scored in 1995 for a new school record. Auburn went on to score 577 points on the season, which was second in SEC history at the time. HEAD C O A CH GUS MALZAHN 27 In seven years as head coach at Auburn, Gus Malzahn has led the Tigers to seven consecutive bowl games, a Southeastern Conference Champi- onship, two SEC West Division titles and an appearance in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game. Malzahn has directed Auburn to five New Year’s Day bowl games. Malzahn, 71-34 in eight seasons as a head coach, has directed teams to seven conference championship game appearances in his 14 seasons as a collegiate coach, including a pair of SEC Championships at Auburn (2010, 2013) and a Sun Belt Championship at Arkansas State in 2012. The 2013 Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden, Eddie Robinson, Home Depot, Sporting News, SB Nation, Liberty Mutual and Associated Press National Coach of the Year, Malzahn earned SEC Coach of the Year honors after guiding Auburn to the biggest turnaround in SEC history. He led the Tigers to a 12-2 record and one of the most memorable seasons in school history in 2013, with historic wins over Georgia and Alabama and a record-setting SEC Championship win over Missouri. He became just the third coach in SEC history to win an SEC title in his first year at a school, joining LSU’s Bernie Moore in 1935 and Ole Miss’ John Vaught in 1947. The second-longest active tenured head coach at one school in the SEC, Malzahn is one of only nine active FBS head coaches that have played in a national championship game. During his time at Auburn, the Tigers are one of three SEC schools to play in multiple SEC Championships games and play for a national championship. Last season the Tigers had one of the nation’s most difficult schedules while posting a 9-4 record with wins over na- tionally ranked Oregon and Alabama to bookmark the regular season schedule. Auburn’s schedule included four games against teams in the top nine of the final CFP rankings. Senior Derrick Brown was a consensus All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year while help- ing a Tiger defense rank in the top 20 nationally. Offensively, Auburn was led by true freshman quarterback Bo Nix, who was named the SEC Freshman of the Year. The Tigers concluded the reg- ular season third in the SEC in scoring offense and fourth in total offense. In 2018, the Tigers posted an 8-5 regular season record while facing six opponents that were ranked in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 (four of those played away from home), including four teams of the top 11 teams. The Tigers capped the season with an impressive 63-14 win over Purdue in the Music City Bowl. With Malzahn at the helm calling the plays, the Tigers’ 63 points were a new SEC bowl game record for points, and the 56 first-half points were the most ever by a college football team in one half of a bowl game. In 2017, Malzahn’s team reached as high as No. 2 in the College Foot- ball Playoff Poll and played in the SEC Championship Game for the second time in five seasons, knocking off No. 1 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama in a No- vember to remember on The Plains. It was the first time in poll history that a program has defeated two top-ranked teams during the same regular season. The 2017 Tigers were one of four FBS teams to average more than 225 yards rushing and 225 yards passing and averaged 37.1 points per game in league play. Auburn averaged 40.9 points and 491.1 yards in SEC action, both program bests, while winning five of seven con- ference games by 21 points or more. In 2016, Malzahn’s team won six consecutive games, the third longest win streak by Auburn in 12 years, while finishing second in the nation’s most difficult division, the SEC West. Under his direction, the 2016 Tigers ranked in the top 50 nationally in total offense and total defense, an Auburn first since 2005. Auburn’s balance in 2016 was dis- played by a team that ranked first in the SEC and sixth nationally in rushing, cou- pled with a defense that was seventh in the country in scoring defense and 28th in total defense. The special team units, traditionally been a strong point under Malzahn, were led by the strong leg of All-America and Groza Award finalist kicker Daniel Carlson. In 2015, the youthful Tigers, which lost 14 players to the NFL from the previ- ous season, faced 11 bowl teams en route to a Birmingham Bowl victory over Mem- phis. Malzahn’s 2014 team was ranked in the nation’s top 10 for a majority of the season before finishing 8-5 after navigating the nation’s most difficult schedule featuring seven ranked foes. He has produced 15 1,000-yard rushers in 14 seasons as a college coach, including Heisman Trophy finalist Tre Mason (1,816) and Nick Marshall (1,068) in 2013 and Cameron-Artis Payne (1,608) in 2014. Kamryn Pettway ran for 1,123 yards in 2016 despite missing significant time with injuries and Kerryon Johnson led the SEC with 1,320 yards in 2017. On three occasions, Malzahn has had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season: 2013 (Auburn), 2010 (Auburn) and 2006 (Arkansas). Malzahn has also coached five 1,000-yard receivers and three 3,000-yard passers. His 2007 Tul- sa team had three 1,000-yard receivers. Since Malzahn’s arrival, Auburn has the top rushing offense in the SEC, averaging 234.6 yards per game. In 2013, Auburn led the nation in rushing at 328.3 A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M GUS MALZAHN HEAD COACHCONECUH - Auburn REV 8.19 Full.indd 18/15/19 12:25 PMHEAD C O A CH GUS MALZAHN 29 yards per game, the first SEC team ever to do so. Three of the top six team rushing totals in SEC history (2010, 2013, 2016) have come under Malzahn’s leadership. Auburn was just the second team in SEC history to gain more than 7,000 yards of total offense in a season in 2013, finishing the year with 7,018 yards; the other was Texas A&M in 2012. The Tigers set a school record with 48 rushing touchdowns in 2013 and set a school record against SEC opponents with 677 yards of total offense vs. No. 5 Missouri in the SEC Championship Game. The Tigers set SEC Championship Game team records with 26 rushing first downs, 74 rushing attempts, 545 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Tre Mason, a Heisman Trophy finalist and 2013 SEC Player of the Year, ranked third in the nation with 23 touchdowns, was fifth nationally with 1,816 yards rushing, sixth with 10.7 points per game, sixth with 169.57 all-purpose yards per game and eighth with 129.7 rushing yards per game. Mason set the Auburn single-season record with 1,816 rushing yards and 2,374 all-purpose yards and was second with 317 rushing attempts. His 46 rushing attempts and 304 rushing yards vs. No. 5 Missouri set SEC Championship Game records and fell three yards shy of the Auburn record. In Malzahn’s seven seasons, a total of 32 players have been selected in the National Football League draft, includ- ing four first round draft picks, includ- ing Derrick Brown (No. 7) and Noah Igbinoghene (No. 30) in the 2020 NFL Draft. Malzahn’s other first round picks including Greg Robinson (No. 2 overall) and Dee Ford (No. 23) of the 2014 draft. In the last two drafts, 12 Auburn players have been drafted, the most in a two- year span in the common draft era. Malzahn has coached 13 All-Amer- icans as head coach at Auburn: RB Tre Mason (2013), RS Chris Davis (2013), OT Greg Robinson (2013), C Reese Dismukes (2013-14), PK Daniel Carlson (2015-16-17), DL Carl Lawson (2016), DL Montravius Adams (2016), OL Alex Kozan (2016), OL Braden Smith (2016- 17), DB Carlton Davis (2017), DL Jeff Holland (2017), RB Kerryon Johnson (2017) and DL Derrick Brown (2019). Brown won the Lott IMPACT Trophy last season, Dismukes was named the 2014 Rimington Award winner as the nation’s top center and Carlson was a three-time Lou Groza Award finalist. The Tigers have faced the nation’s most difficult schedule collectively during Malzahn’s seven years on The Plains facing 34 ranked opponents, including 18 in the top 10. Auburn was the nation’s only program in 2016 to face both the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked programs and in 2017 it faced three of the four CFP Semifinalists a total of four times, earning two wins. Malzahn and his coaching staff have been highly successful on the recruiting trail, recording five consecutive Top 10 nationally ranked recruiting classes, a first in the program’s history. Six of his eight recruiting classes have been in the Top 11 nationally. Academically, Malzahn’s Tigers have excelled as nearly 200 players have graduated since his arrival. Malzahn, who won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach in 2010 while helping the Tigers to the national title, returned to Auburn after serving as the head coach at Arkansas State in 2012, where he led the program to the Sun Belt Conference title. As offensive coordinator, Malzahn made an immediate impact during his tenure at Auburn, highlighted by a record-setting offense in 2010 when the Tigers finished 14-0 and claimed the school’s first national title since 1957. Malzahn’s arrival in 2009 and style of offense marked a drastic turnaround from the 2008 season when Auburn struggled offensively. In a two-year pe- riod, the Tigers improved from a tie for 110th to seventh in the nation in scoring offense (from 17.3 to 41.2) and from 104th to seventh in total offense. The 2010 Auburn offense set nine school records, while leading the SEC and finished in the top 10 nationally in six statistical categories. He coached Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who had one of the best single-season performances at the position in college football history. Newton threw for 2,908 yards and 30 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,586 yards and 20 TDs. Newton, the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, also won the Davey O’Brien, Manning and Maxwell Award. During two seasons (2007-08) at Tulsa, Malzahn’s offenses were among the nation’s finest, ranking first na- tionally in total offense. Tulsa’s offense in 2007 established nine team and 12 individual school records; the 2008 Tulsa offense averaged 569.9 yards per game and was second nationally aver- aging 47.2 points per games. Malzahn spent one season at Arkansas as of- fensive coordinator, coaching Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden and helping the SEC West champion Razorbacks finish fourth nationally in rushing offense. Malzahn’s coaching career began in his home state of Arkansas at the high school level. In 14 seasons as a high school head coach, Malzahn led seven teams to the state championship game and won three titles. In July 2013, he was inducted into the Arkansas High School Sports Hall of Fame. Born in Irving, Texas, Malzahn gradu- ated from high school in Fort Smith, Ark., and played football at Arkansas and Henderson State, earning his bachelor’s degree from Henderson in 1990. Malzahn is married to the former Kristi Otwell and they are the parents of two daughters, Kylie (Collin) Peek and Kenzie (Charl) Stander. The Malzahns have two grandsons, Anderson James Peek (March, 2018) and Arthur Elliott Peak (December, 2019). A UBURNTI G ERS.C O M MALZAHN AT A GLANCE Personal Born: Oct. 28, 1965 Hometown: Ft. Smith, Ark. Wife: Kristi (Otwell) Children: daughters: Kylie, Kenzie Grandchildren: Anderson and Arthur College: Henderson State (B.A. 1990) Playing Experience: Arkansas (1984-85) Henderson State (1988-89) Coaching Experience 2013-current: Auburn Head Coach 2012: Arkansas State Head Coach 2009-11: Auburn Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks Coach 2007-08: Tulsa Assistant Head Coach/ Co-Offensive Coordinator 2006: Arkansas Offensive Coordinator 2001-05: Springdale High School (Ark.) Head Coach 1996-00: Shiloh Christian High School (Ark.) Head Coach 1992-95: Hughes High School (Ark.) Head Coach Bowl Experience Coach: 2020 Outback Bowl 2019 Music City Bowl 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 2017 Allstate Sugar Bowl 2015 Birmingham Bowl 2014 BCS National Championship 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl 2011 BCS National Championship 2010 Outback Bowl 2008 GMAC Bowl 2007 Capital One Bowl Player: 1985 Holiday Bowl 1984 Liberty BowlNext >