Talking Tigers Podcast

In May of 2012 Josh Wetzel, while serving in the U.S. Army, stepped on an I-E-D in Afghanistan. He lost both of this legs that day. His wife, Paige, was living in the state of Washington. Five days later, Josh and Paige began a two year road to recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. They met at Gadsden State while he was playing baseball and she was playing volleyball. Paige went on to play at Jacksonville State. Josh eventually flunked out of school and enrolled in what he thought would be a 20 year career in the Army.  

Kate Larkin, with the Auburn University Alumni Association, and her daughter, Anna, reached out to Josh and Paige at Walter Reed. Now the Wetzels live in Auburn and Josh works for Auburn Athletics, with a college degree in hand. Paige is a fulltime home school Mom to their two daughters.

Their book, Beautifully Broken, An Unlikely Journey of Faith, has now been released. Book info: PaigeandJoshWetzel.com

For this Veteran’s Day Week, The story of Josh and Paige Wetzel, the book they’ve written and how they become a part of Auburn Family is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.

Ben Leard grew up, as he called it, in the shadow of the University of Georgia campus. How did he end up at Auburn? A recruiting visit from Rodney Garner started the process. Leard came to the Plains with Terry Bowden as the head coach. His career finished with Tommy Tuberville at the helm. He took over for Dameyune Craig and struggled. By the time his senior year rolled around, Leard was playing his best football and was part of an SEC Western Division Champion.

 

Like so many Auburn Student Athletes, Leard and his family have made their home in Auburn. His defensive coordinator in high school told him that should be a factor in his recruitment. 

Ben Leard is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles

Games against ULM, Kentucky, Arkansas, LSU, and Ole Miss

He held Auburn’s record for 3 pointers in a season for two decades, until 2019. Bryce Brown took care of that. Lance Weems came to Auburn as a sharpshooter out of Clay County High School in Ashland, Alabama.  He played for his father in high school, Hall of Famer Jerry Weems. Before coming to the Plains, the Weems connection won back to back Alabama State Championships. At Auburn he played for the late Tommy Joe Eagles and Cliff Ellis. By the time he was done, Weems held the Auburn record for three pointers in a game and a season.

Lance was part of the Home Court Series featuring his former teammate and current assistant coach Wes Flanigan. That conversation is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles

This Week In Auburn Athletics 10 - 22 - 20 by auburntigers

Imagine never playing football until high school, getting a scholarship to play at Auburn and starting as a freshman.  That’s the story of Tony Richardson.  He starred at Auburn as a fullback, then played 17 years in the NFL.  Tony grew up in a military family and until high school bounced back and forth from Germany and the U.S.   Football for Richardson until high school was soccer. For his 10 years in Kansas City, Richardson was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame.   He was named to the NFL Team of the 2000’s and in 2010 was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year.  When his playing days ended, the NFL came calling to work with retired players make the transition from the league.  Tony Richardson is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles

Talking Tigers Podcast With Andy Burcham - 82 - Tony Richardson by auburntigers

This Week In Auburn Volleyball 10 - 12 - 20 by auburntigers

Haven Fields grew up in a single parent household in Miami. He grew up a Florida State fan and thought he was headed to Tallahassee to play for Bobby Bowden. That is until, his son, Terry, sent Jimbo Fisher south Florida to recruit Fields. Haven played for Terry Bowden, Brother Oliver, then Tommy Tuberville in his first season at Auburn. After two years in the CFL, Fields finished his master’s degree at Auburn and began a career in athletics administration with Tigers Unlimited. After stints at South Alabama and the University of Illinois, he is in his first year as the Deputy Athletic Director at Ball State. Former Auburn Linebacker Haven Fields is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.

This Week In Auburn Cross Country 10 - 12 - 20 by auburntigers