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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said Tuesday that Daniel Cobb will start at quarterback in the Tigers' season opener, citing the sixth-year senior's knowledge of the offense.
Cobb, who received a sixth year of eligibility in January, beat out sophomore Jason Campbell, who started eight games last season. Cobb made four starts after coming off the bench to lead the Tigers to a win over then-No. 1 Florida.
"It was a difficult decision because both of them are good athletes, good players and good quarterbacks," Tuberville said. "We went with the player that we thought knew a little bit more about the offense that we're running.
"That's not to say that Jason couldn't run it, but we feel like mentally, Daniel is a little further ahead."
Cobb completed 89-of-158 passes for 1,165 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2001.
Campbell's stats were nearly identical: 89-of-142 passing for 1,117 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Campbell was benched in favor of Cobb following the Florida game, then regained the job after Auburn's 31-7 loss to rival Alabama. The Tigers then lost their last two games of the season -- 27-14 at LSU and 16-10 to North Carolina in the Peach Bowl -- tossing the job back in the air.
"It has been a long road," said Cobb, who originally signed with Georgia and came to Auburn via Butler County (Kan.) Community College, where he won a JUCO national championship in 1999.
"I feel like I can produce for this offense and do the right thing," he said. "I'm comfortable knowing what to do on the field with the progressions and the right checks at the line of scrimmage. My job is to do that, take care of the football and help this team win games."
Cobb, 23, missed the 1997 and 1998 seasons because of symptoms, surgery and rehabilitation for Paget von Schrotter Syndrome, which caused a blood clot in his throwing shoulder.
The NCAA allows athletes additional playing time if there were special circumstances preventing the student from participating for four years.
Auburn opens Sept. 2 at Southern California. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
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