Talking Tigers Podcast

Talking Tigers Podcast With Andy Burcham - 68 - Ben Obomanu by auburntigers

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, with Paige and his mother by his side, 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.

The story of Josh and Paige Wetzel, the book that they're writing and how they came to be part of Auburn Family is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.

Talking Tigers Podcast With Andy Burcham - 67 - Josh & Paige Wetzel by auburntigers

By now you've probably heard about The Basketball Tournament that will be held in Columbus, Ohio, next month. The team out of Tampa, Florida, has a unique Auburn flavor. Former Tigers, Horace Spencer, Bryce Brown, Leron Smith and Desean Murray will be suiting up for the War Tampa team. Chuma Okeke, Marquis Daniels, Austin Wiley, Mustapha Heron, New Williams and KT Harrell are supporters of the team. War Tampa will face House of 'Pain, featuring Illinois alumni, in the first round. The winning team will take home $1,000,000. Horace Spencer, who played for Auburn's SEC Regular Season Champion and was part of the Final Four Team spent his first year of pro ball in Argentina. He passed up a chance to play overseas to play for War Tampa. Horace Spencer is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.

Talking Tigers Podcast With Andy Burcham - 66 - Horace Spencer by auburntigers

Nosa Eguae came to Auburn from Texas. His mother and father came to the United States from Nigeria. After paying for tuition, Nosa's father had $136. His mother was still a year away from coming to the U.S. They built a life and started a family, his father a micro biologist and his mother a nurse. Nosa started in both of Auburn's National Championship games, a victory and a title against Oregon and heartbreaking loss to Florida State three years later. In between those two games, was two years of heartache for teammates lost and a coaching change.

In 2018, Nosa gave a Ted Talk on the disease of low expectations to a group of children in Chicago, where he lives. He continues to inspire today. The story of Nosa Eguae is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.

Talking Tigers Podcast With Andy Burcham - 65 - Nosa Eguae by auburntigers

Ronnie Brown wanted to be a baseball player as much or more than football coming out of Cartersville, Georgia. He committed to Tennessee, then took his official visit to Auburn and he found a community that reminded him of home. Five years later, Brown was the second overall pick in the NFL Draft to the Miami Dolphins. The current sideline reporter for the Auburn Sports Network, now works with athletes, among others, to secure their financial future. The story of Ronnie Brown is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.

Talking Tigers Podcast With Andy Burcham - 64 - Ronnie Brown by auburntigers

Quentin Riggins has worked for three governors in the state of Alabama in his career. He played football for a pair of Hall of Fame Coaches, Spence McCracken and Pat Dye. An algebra teacher in high school also made a profound impact on Quentin's life. Riggins played on three SEC Championship teams at Auburn and he was part of history in 1989 taking the field in the first Iron Bowl held at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Rather than meet Bo Jackson on his official visit at Auburn in 1985, Quentin and his father left at halftime so he could go to work. The story of Quentin Riggins is featured in this Talking Tigers Podcast, presented by Wickles Pickles.