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Sports Report: Automatic Al

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Sports Report: Automatic Al

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Written by Chuck Cavalaris

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Al DelGreco kicked a football through the uprights with enough consistency to earn the nickname "Automatic Al" during a 17-year NFL career.

It all started when the Green Bay Packers signed the Auburn standout as a free agent just before Thanksgiving in 1984. DelGreco also played for the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Oilers and made key contributions to the Tennessee Titans Super Bowl season in 1999.

The four-year starter at Auburn during the early 1980s went 2-2 against Tennessee. This background will provide an interesting perspective on September 27 when the intense Southeastern Conference rivalry is renewed.

After all, Tennessee against Auburn used to be the way both schools began SEC play. The winning team usually went on to enjoy a really nice season and the losing team was forced to regroup in September.

"I think it's another great match-up," DelGreco said. "I'm also glad this game is back on the schedule because it went away for several years."

It will be the 50th meeting between the teams and Auburn leads the series 25-21-3. Looking back, you can see Ralph "Shug" Jordan, General Robert R. Neyland, Pat Dye, Johnny Majors, Tommy Tuberville and Phillip Fulmer.

There's Bo Jackson or Reggie White in one highlight reel; Pat Sullivan or Peyton Manning in others.

There's a physical style of defense - and unforgettable game day pageantry - that makes the SEC the envy of college football fans around the country.

So, what can fans expect this time?

The final score might be even closer than the series has been and there's a healthy dose of the unknown. It's two pretty good reasons why college football tends to be so exciting.

"Tennessee to me is a very surprising team," DelGreco said. "I don't think anybody thought Tennessee had the most talent in the SEC East last year and yet they ended up at the conference championship game - that's a compliment to coach Fulmer and the job he does year after year. There are a lot of questions about Tennessee this season and it starts with the departure of Erik Ainge. Jonathan Crompton may be just as good of a quarterback - he may be better - but you just don't know yet.

"I think playing in Auburn is going to be a big plus for Auburn," DelGreco said. "It's much like the SEC as a whole: This league is so competitive that a couple of bounces of the ball may go your way or cause you to lose. It's become very, very difficult for someone to go undefeated in this conference."

Interestingly, the Vols team hotel is about 55 miles away in Montgomery, Alabama.

DelGreco grew up in Miami, Florida, and can relate to trying to find a quiet place off the beaten path.

During his career at Auburn, he used to marvel at the passion of SEC fans. This was especially true at LSU at night.

"I think that was the toughest college environment that I ever tried to play in," he said. "Those fans just weren't very good to you and it was the same with every opponent. They didn't like you - to them, you were the enemy - and they just wanted to cheer their team on.

"It was pretty much the same at Tennessee, especially with over 100,000 fans in the stadium. Or if you went to Athens, the Georgia fans were going to be loud.

"But - and I think this is very important to point out about SEC fans - they were not mean. They were just there to support the home team and that type of enthusiasm just makes the game that much more exciting."

There was so much excitement leading up to kickoff that DelGreco's favorite time was just running onto the field to start warming up before a game. He relished the ovation before the stadium was full.

"The whole student section would go crazy," DelGreco said. "We didn't have the best team by any means, but we definitely had a lot of great fans. It was a very special time to be an Auburn Tiger."

Many players - and coaches - have developed an appreciation for fan loyalty around the South. Of course, there were times when a mute button would have come in handy to tune out a fight song, too.

This is particularly true at Alabama and it's also true at Florida, Tennessee and LSU, among others.

"Going up against Alabama in the Iron Bowl wasn't much fun when Alabama was winning nine years in a row," said DelGreco, who was part of the Auburn program that ended this streak. "You'd walk into the stadium and hear this really loud song and they were singing, `Hey, Auburn! We're going to beat the hell out of you!' And you know what? There was absolutely nothing you could say."

Of course, the tide has since changed in Auburn's favor the past six consecutive years.

Times have changed in Nashville, too. Instead of being the new kid on the block, the Titans have been around for 10 years. The transplanted NFL franchise has developed a strong following and identity of its own. The stands no longer are filled with fans in bright orange. The backdrop is virtually all light and dark blue now.

"Back when the team played in Memphis or in Nashville at Vandy, you always saw UT stuff," DelGreco said. "Then we had the magical year in 1999 and the 2000 run deep into the playoffs and all that kind of changed. People started buying Titans stuff to wear and flags to put on their cars or in front of their house. It gave people another option - other than just University of Tennessee stuff - and it was nice to see it happen."

Did You Know?

• Al DelGreco has a morning talk show on WJOX 94.5 FM in Birmingham with former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker and long-time radio personality Tony Kurre.

• DelGreco converted 347 of 449 field goals (77 percent) and 551 of 554 extra points (99 percent) in the NFL and his 1,584 points ranked 11th all-time.

• He was successful on 110 of 111 PATs at Auburn and set an SEC record for field goal attempts (seven) against Kentucky in 1982. He made six and still holds the school record for most points in a game (18) by a kicker.

• DelGreco also is a scratch golfer and is the head golf coach and kicking coach at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama. The Spain Park golf team is the defending state 6A champions.