It was said by some (cough, cough) that upon the hiring of Gene Chizik (COUGH, COUGH) and Trooper Taylor (COUGH, WHEEZE, COUGH, HACK, COUGH) that Auburn was about to enter the world of “Big Time Recruiting.”

Despite the fact that I know of no school who has finished in the Rivals Top 5 anytime in the last few years that used recruiting strategies such as riding around one state in a bad promnight ride wearing equally bad bowling shirts during almost an entire evaluation period, you had to give them credit for their ingenuity.  Wait…ingenuity isn’t the word I was really going for…oh, yes…their lack of shame.  You have to give them credit for their lack of shame.

One of the first stops on the “prowl” was at tiny Ariton High School, where the Auburn staff and their ridiculous shirts (one of which Chizik saw fit to wear to Ross Bridge…Coach, please stop by the clubhouse and take a look around to get a clue about proper golf attire…you’re not in Ames, anymore) tried to work that SuperLuperTrooper magic on 4 Star DE Craig Sanders.

Well…he commited to Alabama tonight.

Auburn fan reactions:  “We didn’t want him anyway.  Our coaches just happened to be on their way to visit the Boll Weevil monument, and they thought he’d feel bad if they didn’t at least stop by.”

All I can say is, “I’m glad you guys enjoyed the monument.”  Who said you can’t chest-bump a statue?

UPDATE (11:50 PM, May 19, 2009):  We have just received information that the boll weevil has committed to Auburn.  Congrats to the Tigers on their big time pickup.