NumerAUlogy — 66 Days

Frank Warren drops Buck Belue to put Auburn on the board in Athens

Over the years, we’ve done different countdowns to kickoff (or tipoff). This year, we’re putting a twist on the classic “Best Auburn Player to Ever Wear Each Number” list. Football is all about lighting up the scoreboard in 2021, so let’s take a walk down memory lane and review the last time a player in each uniform number put up points.

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#66 — Frank Warren, DT

Game — Auburn @ Georgia, November 17, 1979

Auburn and Georgia each entered the 1979 rendition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry with a chance for an SEC title. The Dawgs were 5-4 overall, but 5-0 in conference play*. Meanwhile, Auburn entered 7-2 and 3-1 in the SEC**.

After their opening drive stalled out around midfield, Auburn downed a punt at the Georgia 2. Frank Warren didn’t waste any time getting Auburn on the board and knocking Georgia quarterback Buck Belue out of the game.

While the Bulldogs would bounce back to lead 10-9 at halftime, Auburn caught fire with a 17-point 3rd quarter, and outscored Georgia 24-3 in the second half for a 33-13 victory. Auburn’s win established the possibility for a 3-way split of the SEC Championship between Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama, but let’s not discuss why that didn’t happen.

As for Frank Warren, he would go on to be drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1981, and spent his entire career with them before retiring in 1996. He is one of just seven players to be drafted by the Saints, play for 10+ years, and retire without playing for another NFL team.

*—Georgia started the season ranked #12, but then lost to Wake Forest, Clemson, and South Carolina, then after rebounding to 4-3, they got skunked by Virginia 31-0 on Homecoming. Yikes.
**—Auburn meanwhile had lost only road games to Tennessee, and what I can only assume is the greatest Wake Forest team in history prior to the one that won the ACC in 2006.

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