The Auburn Observer

Justin and Painter — who is *not* the PA announcer for the Birmingham Barons, by the way — discuss Auburn football’s hire of former Dallas Cowboys scout Drew Fabianich as its general manager and director of scouting and development. The guys look at the move from both sides and what kind of impact this new position could have on the Tigers’ longterm future.

Then it’s a switch to the release of the latest Blue-Chip Ratio and how Auburn has made the cut once again, but the wiggle room is shrinking. What do the Tigers have to do to maintain their spot as one of college football’s top 15 or so recruiters, and how do they compete against the insane talent stockpiles at several SEC rivals?

The guys also talk about the Summer League showings for Jabari Smith, Sharife Cooper and JT Thor before previewing Auburn’s turn at SEC Media Days in Atlanta later this week.

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

Justin and Painter open the show by looking back at the Nick Marshall-led 2013 squad and the lethal simplicity of the Tigers’ offense. They shout out the USFL, CFL and any other league that will pay players for being good at football — including the college game.

Then it’s a look to Jabari Smith’s first weekend in the NBA Summer League in Vegas and why any hot takes about him are extremely premature. They also discuss Walker Kessler’s official addition to the Utah Jazz roster and why it could end up being a great spot for him to start his career.

The back half of the show centers on Auburn football — first on a secondary that might be stronger than you think in 2022, then on the big-picture outlook for the Tigers ahead of SEC Media Days in Atlanta next week. What’s the right temperature for the program heading into the fall?

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

This premium episode of the podcast has been unlocked for anyone to listen for free.

Returning champion Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic joins Justin and Painter to give her insight on the Big Ten’s jarring additions of USC and UCLA and what Auburn’s neighborhood of the SEC might do next. They talk about the lack of big-picture leadership in college football, how everyone is basically looking out for themselves and why athletes and fans might be the biggest losers of this new era.

In the second half of the episode — after a discussion of picking up golf as a worthwhile hobby — Justin and Painter look at the SEC’s next steps, Auburn football’s addition of Karmello English, Jabari Smith’s trash talking of the Houston Astros mascot and the levels of insanity for several SEC West fan bases.

Follow Nicole (@NicoleAuerbach), Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

To add the premium feed to your favorite podcast app — basically all of them except for Spotify — click the “Listen in podcast app” option and add the feed to your app of choice. This new feed will include both free and premium episodes, so you can unsubscribe from the free feed to avoid clutter in the app.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

(Note: This podcast was recorded before Auburn picked up a commitment on Monday from 4-star wide receiver Karmello English. Look for a newsletter on his addition to the class Wednesday morning.)

Justin and Painter open the show with a discussion of USC and UCLA’s stunning move to the Big Ten and what that means for the future of power conferences in college football. Then they break down what they see in new Auburn running back commitment Jeremiah Cobb, the major impact of Cadillac Williams and Zac Etheridge on the trail, and how this could be the start of a much-needed big month for recruiting on the Plains.

The episode ends with a deep dive into the scheduling news for Auburn basketball, starting with a look at the home and road splits in the SEC and wrapping up with a preview of the Atlanta showdown with Memphis in December.

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

Justin and Painter open the show by putting a bow on Auburn baseball’s memorable postseason and discussing the impressive progress Butch Thompson has made with the Tigers.

Then it’s a switch over to the main topic — Auburn’s historic showing in the 2022 NBA Draft. They talk Jabari Smith surprisingly going No. 3 overall to the Houston Rockets and what exactly happened with the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder, plus Walker Kessler’s intriguing fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The guys close with a look at the last time Auburn football won double-digit games in back-to-back seasons and how that compares to the rest of the SEC. Can the Tigers get back there in the near future, even with the growing challenges on the shifting schedule?

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Jacob Taylor/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

After Painter shares his experimental idea for Chick-fil-A sauce and grits, Justin breaks down Auburn football’s new transfer addition of Western Kentucky graduate edge rusher Marcus Bragg. They discuss this much-needed addition to the roster and salute some rotational heroes of the past.

Then it’s a conversation with Bennett Durando of the Montgomery Advertiser, who returns to recap Auburn baseball’s opening loss in the College World Series to Ole Miss and preview Monday afternoon’s elimination game against Stanford.

The episode concludes with some basketball talk following a first look at Bruce Pearl’s 2022-23 squad during an open practice ahead of its upcoming overseas trip to Israel. There’s some NBA Draft chatter towards the end and, yes, Justin gets to brag on his Golden State Warriors for winning another title.

Follow Bennett (@BennettDurando), Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

As Painter wonders if the goatee is making a comeback in contemporary life, Justin takes the start of preview magazine season in college football to ask a question — is Auburn’s 2022 roster being undervalued, considering its returning star power, or are the major doubts in the passing game that big of a deal?

The bulk of this episode is a discussion of Auburn’s nine All-SEC picks in the new Athlon preview and what it would take for the Tigers to overcome their question marks at quarterback and wide receiver.

The episode opens with some baseball chatter — including a breakdown of antagonistic fan bases in the SEC in light of Tennessee’s Super Regional exit — and closes with a look at Jabari Smith’s growing odds to become the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

After a brief discussion of airports, Justin and Painter dive into Auburn football’s latest transfer addition — former LSU wide receiver Koy Moore. The guys discuss what Moore could bring to the Tigers’ offense in Year 1, Bryan Harsin’s transfer policy in this pivotal offseason and the state of the roster as summer workouts get rolling on the Plains.

Elsewhere in the episode, there’s talk of Auburn baseball’s massive showing in a host regional, Allen Flanigan’s return to Bruce Pearl’s team, the positive vibes across plenty of athletic programs heading into the summer, the hold-up surrounding SEC football scheduling and what to expect from the basketball schedules once Texas and Oklahoma join the league.

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

Painter is joined by Blake Lovell of Southeastern Fourteen. They talk about the easiest coaches to like and who is most annoying. Blake agrees to play a made-up game of “Fill in the Blank.”

Later in the show, they discuss Alabama’s commitment to staying ahead, Eric Musselman joining the upper crust of good and obnoxious coaches, Georgia hiring Mike White from Florida and Florida being OK with that. Then Painter wonders aloud why people are mean to Will Wade.

They wrap up with a conversation about a growing restlessness at Kentucky, the duality of man in Rick Barnes and a brief examination of where Auburn should set expectations ahead of the next season.

Follow Blake (@theblakelovell) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Matthew Shannon/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe

Justin and Painter open the show with a late (and lengthy) discussion of the war of words between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher over NIL and recruiting. They wonder what the reaction would be like if Auburn was the team drawing the attention of Alabama’s head man and look back on the discourse around the Cam Newton saga in 2010.

The bulk of the episode centers on Auburn football’s newest transfer additions, what fans should expect from them, and what it all means as Bryan Harsin tries to build a program that can “consistently compete” with the likes of Alabama and Georgia.

Toward the end, there’s some basketball talk — mainly about Allen Flanigan’s good showing at the G League Elite camp in Chicago and some new notes about Bruce Pearl’s 2022-23 roster.

Follow Justin (@JFergusonAU) and Painter (@paintsharpless) on Twitter.

If you’re receiving this free podcast episode and would like to upgrade to a paid subscription that gives you access to all stories and premium podcast episodes, subscribe using the button below or clicking this link.

Photo Credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.auburnobserver.com/subscribe