IN THE EMPIRE STATE
Auburn will be making its first trip to the Empire State in 62 years when it travels to Syracuse this weekend. The Tigers are 0-3 all-time in games played in the state of New York. Auburn lost at Army in 1922 and ‘23, 19-6 and 28-6, respectively, and fell to Manhattan, 7-0, in 1939.

NON-CONFERENCE ROAD GAME
The Tigers' trip to Syracuse will mark their first non-conference road game since a 28-17 victory at Virginia in the 1997 season opener. In the 1990's, Auburn made just two non-conference road trips during the decade--in 1997 to Virginia and in 1991 at Texas (W, 14-10).

In the last 20 years, Auburn has made 10 non-SEC road trips, posting a 7-3 mark in those games. Listed are Auburn's non-conference road games since 1981:

1997 at Virginia W, 28-17
1991 at Texas W, 14-10
1989 at Florida St. L, 14-22
1987 at Georgia Tech W, 20-10
1987 at North Carolina W, 20-10
1984 at Texas L, 27-35
1984 at Florida St. W, 42-41
1983 at Georgia Tech W, 31-13
1981 at Nebraska L, 3-17
1981 at Georgia Tech W, 31-7

TUBERVILLE IN NON-CONFERENCE ROAD GAMES
Tommy Tuberville is 2-0 as a head coach in non-conference road games. While at Ole Miss, Tuberville guided the Rebels to wins at Memphis (34-3, 1995) and Tulane (41-24, 1997).

LOOKING FOR A 3-0 START
Auburn will be attempting to start the season 3-0 for the third consecutive year this Saturday. In the program's 108-year history, the Tigers have opened the season 3-0 on 33 occasions. Since 1988, Auburn has won its first three games eight seasons including four times (1996, 97, 99, 2000) in the last five years.

BEGINNING 2-0
In the last 20 years, Auburn has started the season 2-0, 15 times. In 13 of those seasons, the Tigers have gone on to win at least eight games.

NEW YORK TIGERS
Junior rover Ronaldo Attimy is the lone Tiger that hails from the state of New York. Attimy's home, Spring Valley, is approximately 35 miles northwest of New York City.
Auburn defensive coordinator John Lovett was born in Nyack, N.Y., and graduated from C.W. Post (1973) which is located in Brookville, N.Y., on Long Island. Nyack is approximately 30 miles north of New York City on the west bank of the Hudson River.

AGAINST THE BIG EAST
Auburn is 10-7-2 all-time against Big East opponents, having faced Boston College (1-2), Miami, Fla. (7-4), Syracuse (0-0-1), and Virginia Tech (2-1-1). The Tigers are 5-4 on the road against Big East teams.
The last meeting against a team from the Big East Conference was a 16-16 tie against Syracuse on January 1, 1988, at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. Auburn's last victory over a Big East school was on December 18, 1982, when the Tigers defeated Boston College, 33-26, at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
This marks the first time since the 1984 Kickoff Classic versus Miami in East Rutherford, N.J., that the Tigers have played a regular season contest versus a Big East foe.

A FIRST FOR TUBERVILLE
The Syracuse game will mark the first time as a head coach that Tommy Tuberville has faced a Big East opponent.
Tuberville is no stranger to Big East institutions, as he was an assistant coach at Miami from 1986-93.

TUBERVILLE'S FACED THE ORANGEMEN
While an assistant at Miami, Tommy Tuberville coached against Syracuse three times, all victories. In 1990, Miami defeated the Orangemen, 33-7, in Miami. Two years later, the Hurricanes won 16-10 in the Carrier Dome and in 1993 shut out Syracuse, 49-0, at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

INDOORS
Auburn is 2-3-1 in domed stadiums. The Tigers last game inside was the 2000 SEC Championship Game against Florida (L, 6-28). The Carrier Dome will be the fourth indoor facility that the Tigers have played in. Auburn has also played in the Astrodome, Georgia Dome, and Superdome.

THE 1988 SUGAR BOWL
Auburn and Syracuse's lone meeting was a 16-16 tie in the 1988 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. A 9-1-1 regular season record and the 1987 Southeastern Conference championship earned the Tigers a trip to New Orleans and a trip to the Sugar Bowl against the unbeaten Orangemen.
Sophomore place-kicker Win Lyle's 30-yard field goal with one second remaining in the game gave the Sugar Bowl the first tie in its 54-year history, a 16-16 deadlock.

ON ASTROTURF
The Syracuse game will be Auburn's 83rd game all-time on astroturf. On astroturf, the Tigers own a 38-41-3 (.482) record.

FAMILY TIES
Auburn fullback Michael Owen's is a cousin of former Orangemen basketball star Billy Owens.

THE SERIES
at Syracuse 0-0
at Neutral Sites 0-0-1
Last Meeting AU 16, SU 16 at New Orleans, La.; Jan. 1, 1988