McKenzie Making the Right Moves

Check me out this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST as Auburn plays #1 Alabama in the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa. Apparently, like Tom Cruise, I'm making all the right moves.

WAR EAGLE!!!

November 23, 2008

McKenzie making the right moves

Bryan Matthews
AuburnSports.com Publisher

Gabe McKenzie has changed positions twice this season. Both moves have turned out positive for him and Auburn.

The junior moved from tight end to defensive end just a couple of weeks before the season opener tallying 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and returning an interception 24 yards for a touchdown in 10 games as a backup.

McKenzie has four career TD's including an interception return against LSU this year.

He was back at tight end for the Georgia game, catching two passes for 27 yards.

"At the beginning of the season, because of the spread and all, the best way for me to help the team, because we were short on d-ends, was to go to the other side of the ball," McKenzie said. "With everybody coming back and getting healthy and Zach Clayton becoming big and now that Trott's gotten hurt, I'm on the other side of the ball.

"It's the best way I can help the team."

McKenzie moved back to tight end the Sunday before the Georgia game. He ended up playing a lot more snaps than expected after starter Tommy Trott was sidelined with a knee injury.

With Trott undergoing ACL surgery last week, McKenzie is set to start at tight end in the Iron Bowl this Saturday.

"That kind of worked out pretty good," AU head coach Tommy Tuberville said. "Gabe is doing good. He's still a little rusty, but he gives us a bigger guy blocking. We'd obviously love to have Tommy out there."

McKenzie said he learned a lot at defensive end including some insights that will help him at tight end.

"It helped me understand different stances," McKenzie explained. "Sometimes you can read if they're slanting and stuff like that and if they play a safety valve."

But even with 10 games on defense, McKenzie didn't have any trouble making the transition back to offense.

"I've been playing tight end five-plus years. That's why everything came back to me within a day," he said.

While McKenzie admits he loves the tight end position, he may find himself back at defensive end next year. It's a position that probably gives him the best chance to play at the next level.

For now, however, McKenzie is focusing on just one goal -- beating Alabama for the seventh-straight time.

"I'm excited because this is the biggest game of the year," he said.

After a couple of days off, Auburn returns to practice Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT.

Purchase of ther Year

I'm sure most of us don't reflect on and identify the best purchase we've made all year, but in the interest of helping my fellow man (particularly my fellow father), I thought I'd go ahead and forgo December and give the award out early.
Now the best purchase of the year does embody a certain criteria, and the individual consumer dictates that criteria for the most part.
For me, without question, the purchase of the year, for the value for money and the necessary purpose it serves in our household is...

The Black & Decker Dustbuster

This is an absolute must for families with kids. We use this everyday without fail. Our basic, affordable model cleans biscuit crumbs, cereal, raisins, crisps, dirt/pebbles, and of course... dust. If you have kids that leave a trail of snacks all over the house, do yourself a favor and pick one of these bad boys up ASAP. You'll appreciate it more than your iPod.