April 10, 2018
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Freddie Smith arrived at Auburn expecting to play offense and left as the Tigers' all-time leading tackler, a distinction he still holds four decades later.
"I came here as a running back," Smith said. "They asked me to swap over, so it's better to give than to receive."
Smith gave plenty. His 528 career tackles from 1976-79 are 75 more than Gregg Carr, No. 2 on Auburn's all-time list with 453.
"I've met a lot of guys who played that position that I played, and they're always wondering who that guy was," Smith said. "Some of them met me and said, 'You're not that big.' I said, 'It's not about the bigness of it. It's about how well you're able to do what you're supposed to do.'"
Smith is one of six Auburn greats in the Tiger Trail Class of 2018, joining fellow football letterman Ben Tamburello, women's basketball star DeWanna Bonner, golf coach Kim Evans, track and field standout Jerry Smith and Susan Nunnelly, who received special recognition.
"I was kind of surprised," said Smith, who was known as "Fast Freddie" when he played for the Tigers. "It's a great honor to have this to happen."
Freddie Smith made 193 tackles in 1977, Auburn's season record. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics" style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywidenew/13247652.jpeg"> Freddie Smith made 193 tackles in 1977, Auburn's season record. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics
An All-American center in 1985-86, Tamburello and his fellow inductees were honored Friday at a reception at Auburn Arena and recognized before Saturday's A-Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"That means the world to me," Tamburello said. "It's really neat with the other inductees. They're all so special and part of Auburn history. It's just a real unique situation and a real big honor for me."
Ben Tamburello was an All-American offensive lineman for Auburn in 1985-86. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics" style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywidenew/13247625.jpeg"> Ben Tamburello was an All-American offensive lineman for Auburn in 1985-86. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics
Like previous Tiger Trail inductees, the Class of '18 will have plaques displayed in downtown Auburn on the sidewalk. The Auburn Chamber of Commerce created the Tiger Trail in 1995.
"It's an Auburn honor," Tamburello said. "It's in a class by itself. You walk down the streets of Toomer's Corner, you see all these names. Just to be one of those mentioned, it's really a neat deal. I'm just thrilled to death."
Under Evans, Auburn's women's golf program excelled, winning eight SEC championships from 1994-2015.
"It's a big dream come true," Evans said. "It's just a tribute to all of those student-athletes I recruited, and they did the work. They have their handprints on this stone.
"There's a legacy here. People who have protected the legacy, who have earned their place in history. It's just amazing to be here, to be able to hug everybody's neck. I'm in awe of them."
"The Nun," as Nunnelly is affectionately known, has been the public address announcer for women's basketball for 36 years.
"It's incredible," Nunnelly said. "I'm honored beyond any of my expectations. The people who have already been inducted, and certainly this group of inductees this year, I'm honored and privileged. What an opportunity."
"Honored beyond any of my expectations."
🗣Susan Nunnelly, on being part of the 2018 @AuburnTigers Tiger Trail.
Susan received special recognition for her contributions to Auburn from 1973-present. pic.twitter.com/Xxje14RBjj- Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) April 10, 2018
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer