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Over the years, we’ve done different countdowns to kickoff (or tipoff). This year, we’re putting a twist on the classic “Best Auburn Player to Ever Wear Each Number” list. Football is all about lighting up the scoreboard in 2021, so let’s take a walk down memory lane and review the last time a player in each uniform number put up points.
#30 — Eric Hines-Tucker
Game — Auburn vs Alabama-Birmingham, August 31, 1996
Unlike some other large institutions in this state, Auburn is not afraid to play UAB in athletics. While the basketball rivalry is more well-known, and there’s usually a mid-week home-and-home series during baseball season, Auburn also played UAB in football to open the 1996 season. However, the game was nearly a perfect microcosm of the hazards of playing that kind of game:
- UAB had zero chance to win at any point
- Auburn didn’t look impressive because it was the opener with a new starting quarterback
- This was UAB’s Super Bowl, and it was their first game as a D1 football team.
- Even a 29-0 decision was viewed as a positive for UAB and a negative for Auburn in the Birmingham newspapers (OH LIKE YOU’RE EVEN SURPRISED AT THAT ONE)
Dameyune Craig threw a couple of interceptions in his first career start, Fred Beasley struggled to get traction as a tailback, and Auburn had to settle for 5 Jaret Holmes field goals before former JUCO transfer Eric Hines-Tucker finally found the end zone at the start of the fourth quarter.
Markeith “The Lizard” Cooper would add a touchdown for the final margin. This was the only touchdown of Hines-Tucker’s career. After picking up several carries in the first four games of the season, Hines-Tucker would have just 6 carries the rest of the season.
Auburn’s effort in this game led Lee Corso to proclaim on the next Thursday evening that Fresno State would upset Auburn.
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Nice call Coach.
I’m honestly a bit stunned we had to go this far back for a touchdown from #30. We even had a false alarm because the AUfficial site lists Chris Butler as wearing number 30 in 2001, but he wore 38 his entire career. Why isn’t #30 a more popular number?
As it stands now, it is owned by walk-on WR Tommy Nesmith and LB Desmond Tisdol. My money would be on a special teams touchdown from Mr. Tisdol. Perhaps a blocked punt? Hopefully Jordyn Peters passed down his kick blocking wizardry to someone before he moved onwards and upwards.