Two offensive linemen leave Auburn
Posted: Saturday August 22, 1998 02:32 PM
AUBURN, Alabama (AP) -- Auburn's offensive line took a big hit when two projected starters, T.J. Dunigan and T.J. Meers, left the team.
Both were coming off offseason knee surgery but were penciled in on the preseason depth chart as starters -- Dunigan at center and Mears at right tackle.
They told coach Terry Bowden they were leaving Friday.
Dunigan, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound junior, started all 13 games at center last season and posted the best pass blocking grades of all Auburn regulars in four of the last seven games. Meers, a 6-6, 306-pound sophomore, started 11 games last year.
"The good thing is that it's the one place where we're deepest," Bowden said. "We'll go forward. It's a good thing they told us now that their hearts aren't in it."
Second on the depth chart at right tackle is senior Kendell Mack, who played in all 13 games and started one last season.
Cole Cubelic is listed at second-string center. Cubelic backed up Dunigan in 10 games last year.
Dunigan and Meers had both missed practices recently, with Bowden's permission, to attend to family problems. Dunigan showed up to camp well overweight.
"My life is going in a different direction at this time," Meers said. "I just don't want to play football anymore."
The departures add to a long list of key Auburn players who have left for various reasons.
Receiver Robert Baker is in jail on a drug conviction, strong safety Martavius Houston was kicked off for violating team rules and linebacker Takeo Spikes left after his junior year for the NFL.
Line coach Rick Trickett has been known as a tough taskmaster. He frequently complained about the work ethic of former tackle Victor Riley, who was selected in the first round of the NFL draft this year.
Bowden said the latest losses weren't a big surprise to him, because of the nature of the work of an offensive lineman.
"Offensive line is the toughest position out there," he said. "When you were growing up, you didn't practice blocking. You were throwing, catching and running."
Trickett said he still feels the unit is a team strength. Coming into camp, the Tigers had 15 offensive linemen returning.
"We have 11 guys we can win with in the SEC right now," Trickett said. "I still feel we can have a pretty good offensive line."
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