COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : AROUND THE NATION : Auburn Accused of Using Illegal Ploy

A Louisiana Tech secondary coach accused sixth-ranked Auburn of using an illegal trick to get into position for the go-ahead field goal Saturday during a 16-14 victory over Louisiana Tech.

Secondary coach Gary Bartel told the Monroe, La., News-Star that Auburn kept a 12th man on the field, putting him out wide with two other receivers, until Tech’s secondary rotated to cover the overload. Then the 12th man left the field, leaving Tech with too many defenders on that side and not enough on the other.

Attempting to deceive a team is an infraction, even if the 12th man leaves before the snap.

Auburn offensive coach Larry Blakeney denied using any illegal tactics and characterized Bartel’s complaints as sour grapes from a coach who lost a close game.

Blakeney said that if Auburn was in error, it was only a mistake born of confusion. He also said the 12th man didn’t affect the coverage. “I graded the films, and they covered that play the way they had been covering that situation every time,” he said.