ScreamingTiger
09-26-2005, 09:26 AM
from the Mobile Register:
The normally loose-lipped and engaging Kenny Irons slipped into a monotone voice and sounded like he was reading from a script on Sunday.
In a way, he was.
Irons has been craving this weekend's game against South Carolina since he left Columbia and transferred to Auburn more than a year ago.
Running backs coach Eddie Gran knows the bitterness that Irons holds toward his former university, so he had the Tigers' starting tailback muzzled on Sunday.
"He didn't want me to say anything," Irons said. "He was like, 'No, don't go talk about South Carolina. I don't want you to talk to the media for a week. I want you to stay focused.'"
Irons was focused on harmless clichés when he met with reporters Sunday, but the memo never reached his older brother.
David Irons, Auburn's starting cornerback, aired his brother's grievances against the Gamecocks and their ex-coach Lou Holtz without hesitation.
David Irons said the problems at South Carolina started when coaches made ridiculous promises to tailback Demetrius Summers during the recruiting process and then showed favoritism to the newcomer throughout the 2003 season.
Summers, who David Irons called "horrible," has since been booted off the team.
Irons family members aren't the only Tigers to have a beef with South Carolina. Columbia native Travis Williams, now a star linebacker for Auburn, is still stung by snubs he said he received during the recruiting process five years ago. He said he was treated poorly by coaches but still would have signed with South Carolina if he had been offered a scholarship on signing day. As it turned out, he was never offered by the Gamecocks and went to Auburn instead.
"This is the biggest game," Williams said. "This is my Alabama. I've been waiting on this game for five years."
The normally loose-lipped and engaging Kenny Irons slipped into a monotone voice and sounded like he was reading from a script on Sunday.
In a way, he was.
Irons has been craving this weekend's game against South Carolina since he left Columbia and transferred to Auburn more than a year ago.
Running backs coach Eddie Gran knows the bitterness that Irons holds toward his former university, so he had the Tigers' starting tailback muzzled on Sunday.
"He didn't want me to say anything," Irons said. "He was like, 'No, don't go talk about South Carolina. I don't want you to talk to the media for a week. I want you to stay focused.'"
Irons was focused on harmless clichés when he met with reporters Sunday, but the memo never reached his older brother.
David Irons, Auburn's starting cornerback, aired his brother's grievances against the Gamecocks and their ex-coach Lou Holtz without hesitation.
David Irons said the problems at South Carolina started when coaches made ridiculous promises to tailback Demetrius Summers during the recruiting process and then showed favoritism to the newcomer throughout the 2003 season.
Summers, who David Irons called "horrible," has since been booted off the team.
Irons family members aren't the only Tigers to have a beef with South Carolina. Columbia native Travis Williams, now a star linebacker for Auburn, is still stung by snubs he said he received during the recruiting process five years ago. He said he was treated poorly by coaches but still would have signed with South Carolina if he had been offered a scholarship on signing day. As it turned out, he was never offered by the Gamecocks and went to Auburn instead.
"This is the biggest game," Williams said. "This is my Alabama. I've been waiting on this game for five years."