It was one of the most memorable games in college history. No. 1 ranked Auburn went into the lion’s den to close out the regular season, against blood enemy Alabama in Tuscaloosa to face the reigning national champions.

And the Crimson Tide played like a champion… for a half. The elephant heads had a 24-0 lead on Auburn and the hounds-tooth-decked crowd was delirious.

Then, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton went nuts. He threw four touchdown passes and ran in a fifth touchdown, leading Auburn in one of the greatest comebacks in recent decades to defeat Alabama 28-27.

Alabama had a safety that day by the name of Mark Barron. The Bucs first round draft pick doesn’t want to remember that game — his two national title rings help ease the stinging memory — but he does remember Newton.

Now, Newton is the quarterback of the stinking Panthers and Barron is about to tangle with Newton once again, this time in Barron’s first NFL game, his first NFL start.

Barron told Joe that there’s a little bit of difference between Newton as a college quarterback and Newton the professional.

“I would say he is looking to pass a little bit more than he was in college,” Barron said. “I would say he was quicker to take off and run in college. But now, he has patience. He’s still dangerous, most definitely, but he is more patient.”

Barron dearly wants to win his first start and he wouldn’t mind getting some payback from that awful November day in 2010. But the most important thing is a win, no matter who he is facing, no matter if the game is his first NFL start.

Who his opponent is, doesn’t matter in the long run, Barron said.

“Every time I go out I want to go out and get a win.”

Last week Bucs coach Greg Schiano stated that Doug Martin is the Bucs No. 1 running back. Given the fact Schiano wants a two-headed monster to carry the ball, it’s a given that LeGarrette Blount will get his share of carries.

And he will. But Schiano said, though he has an idea how he wants to use the two backs, it is the game that will dictate who gets how many carries.

“A lot of it is by feel, yeah, because things change,” Schiano said. “Now, do we have a plan? Sure, we have a plan. But I think [who gets how many carries is determined by] how things are going. If a guy gets hot, you don’t want to take him out. He is hot for a reason, let him go.

“To say ‘This is how it is going to unfold… ‘ I can’t do that. As long as we get them their reps in practice so they can do their role. It is clearly communicated to each player what their role is this week. That may change next week. This week this is your role and you have to go out and execute your role.”

Schiano also talked about how rookies always hit the dreaded “wall” and that some players can handle it and some cannot. This all but tells Joe that Martin’s carries will be measured in order to help him get through the rookie wall later in the season.

Former Bucs defensive tackle Amobi Okoye — he was with the Bucs just about long enough to wolf down a chicken and yellow rice dinner at La Teresita — doesn’t seem to be too happy with Bucs coach Greg Schiano.

Okoye was quickly re-signed by the team from whence he came from, the Bears, and he quickly took Schiano to task for being less than accountable.

Okoye spoke with Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times and not only believes he was rushed back too quick from his knee surgery, which kept him off the practice field, but believed Shiano doesn’t practice what he preaches.

“It’s too bad to hear the unfortunate things he’s saying about my knee,” Okoye said. “It’s kind of unfair of him to say what he said to the media, painting a bad picture like my knee was always bad.

“It really makes me question the character of he himself, because, while I was there, he was trying to mold us to be kind of like him. It made me question all the things he was teaching me, as far as TBA — Trust, Belief and Accountability — his way of doing things,” Okoye said. “It’s like, ‘Wow, what type of guy is this?’ That really hurt.”

It was a puzzling decision to let Okoye go, in many ways. One was the Bucs are so thin at defensive tackle, why not put Okoye on the PUP list? How exactly would that hurt the Bucs?

The Bucs gave Arrelious Benn plenty of time to rehab despite not being able to participate for almost the entire preseason. Odd that Okoye wasn’t afforded the same length of rope.

The voice you hear on 98.7 FM today from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. will be that of Joe, who will take to the airwaves to talk all things Bucs, Rays and a lot more.

You can listen live online at the station’s website. You can call in at (888) 998-7987.

One of the backup defensive linemen that sort of caught Joe’s eye in training camp was George Johnson. A former Rutgers player (surprise!), the thing that jumped out at Joe was Johnson’s ability to swat down passes.

Clearly Johnson was a bubble guy when the Bucs were whittling their roster down to 53 late last week. And Johnson survived.

Johnson also had the smile of a survivor when Joe spoke with him after practice today.

“Aw, yeah,” Johnson grinned about avoiding the NFL’s version of the grim reaper. “I remember last year, same time, I thought I was on the team and I was being on the edge all the time, checking the computer, you are never not going to be on the edge, but this is a job, you don’t feel secure.

“It just comes with the territory, playing on the edge all the time, one of these days; I will feel comfortable in my position.”

Johnson admitted that Saturday night, he slept like a log, knowing he was on the Bucs final roster.

Bucs middle linebacker Mason Foster saw enough of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton last year to learn a big lesson:

Don’t focus too much on stopping Newton.

The Panthers are not a one-man team, despite the heroics of Newton. Trying to shut down Newton might result in getting roasted by one of Newton’s teammates.

“You definitely have to keep him in the pocket and try to keep him from scrambling but at the same time they have a lot of other weapons that make a lot of plays,” Foster said. “You just have to play all around good defense.

“You have to focus on [Newton] definitely; he’s a great athlete who makes plays with his feet. At the same time they have a lot of other weapons around him so you have to play him like a regular team. Have to compete and make plays and keep them from making big plays.”

Foster tried to downplay that stopping Newton and the Panthers is akin to stopping Superman. The NFL is full of stud players, Foster said.

“Every game is a big challenge, if it’s not Cam Newton it is somebody else,” Foster said. “If it’s not tackling DeAngelo Williams it is tackling Jonathan Stewart. Every week is a big challenge, just take it in stride and compete at the highest level and make plays.”

The leader of the New Schiano Order isn’t talking much about gameday personnel decisions.

Asked today about his starting right guard, who will replace Davin Joseph, Greg Schiano was vague at One Buc Palace.

“[Ted] Larsen is working there,” Schiano said. “We got a couple of other things going. I’d rather wait to later in the week.”

Schiano also wouldn’t offer a name when asked about his starting punt returner, only to say he’s got one.

Schiano did say that the Bucs could keep four running backs on the active roster, so long as most play special teams.

Joe will have more later today from One Buc Palace. The Bucs have their regularly scheduled day off tomorrow and resume practice Wednesday.

Got tickets for the Bucs-Panthers game on opening day, Sept. 9?

Joe’s friends at Tilted Kilt in Clearwater are going to get you there — in style.

Bucs fans can start their opening-day tailgate at Tilted Kilt and then get on a chauffeured luxury bus at 3 p.m. to Raymond James Stadium for the 4:25 p.m kickoff against Carolina. Then the luxury bus will return you right after the game to Tilted Kilt, where you can keep the party going into the night.

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That’s a huge savings! Crap, parking at the stadium would cost you $15 to $25.

Parking is safe, easy and convenient at Tilted Kilt. And you can bring Tilted Kilt food on the bus, and your own adult beverages. … Joe’s friends at Paradise Worldwide Transportation are doing the driving, which means it will be top-shelf service.

Buy your seat now below. After purchase, you’ll get an instant receipt and parking/pickup specifics emailed to you within 24 hours.

Now that the dust has cleared, for the most part, on NFL teams setting their 53-man rosters, it seems that all the gnashing of teeth and slamming of beer bottles on the bar over some high profile player pink slips in recent months was quite astute by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.

Disc-spinning, pants-on-the-ground toes-on-the-line detractor Kellen Winslow was cut loose by Seattle, Tanard “Bongs” Jackson has, again, been busted, suspended and very likely has consummated his quest to smoke himself out of millions of dollars and a promising NFL career, and today hobbled Brian Price was cut loose by the Bears.

What does this tell Joe? That Dominik knew what he was doing with a couple of malcontents and a talented player who, because of a freak injury, is pretty much physically unable to play on the NFL level.

Joe remembers both Bucs fans and NFL media types roasting Dominik (and Bucs coach Greg Schiano) after booting K2 to the curb.

Joe remembers many Bucs fans wanting to storm One Buc Palace in outage over Jackson being turned loose.

Joe even noticed a few Bucs fans angry that Price was traded to the Bears.

Now all three are unemployed. Now all three are on the threshold of the end of the NFL careers.

Who is laughing now?

The carousel at the bottom of the Bucs roster turned again today with the re-signing of DE/DT Wallace Gilberry and the release of former Eagles guard Julian Vandervelde.

Gilberry did some good things in preseason and made the 53-man roster Friday, only to be yanked off the field at Saturday’s practice because he was cut. Now he’s back, the Bucs announced this morning. Gilberry was a defensive end for Kansas City the past four seasons and has a lot of experience rushing inside. He’s also got a seven-sack season under his belt. Greg Schiano had praised his versatility.

The Gilberry move is a bit curious and makes Joe wonder whether the Bucs have a medical concern about someone else on the defensive line. Otherwise, why would they expose Gilberry Saturday if they wanted him back?

As for Vandervelde, chalk him off the list of guys possibly replacing Davin Joseph. Joe expects the Bucs will name a starting right guard today or Wednesday.

Bucs beat writer Woody Cummings, of The Tampa Tribune, dusted off a fancy suit and really goes deep in this News Channel 8 video preview of the Bucs’ season. Among other things, Cummings says the Bucs are a “seven or eight” win team, maybe even 9-7. He also downplays the loss of Davin Joseph, “I don’t think it’s that devastating,” and makes interesting points about how the Bucs won’t overuse Doug Martin.

World famous popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame, serves up a short preview on the Bucs. Interestingly, King dials in on the Bucs’ cornerback play, plus Greg Schiano’s attitude.

Update, 12:01 p.m.: Here’s where the Bucs practice squad stands afer more shuffling. T Bradley Sowell, LB Jacob Cutrera, TE Drake Dunsmore, WR Dale Moss, WR Bert Reed, LB J.K. Schaffer, QB Adam Weber and DE Markus White.

The Bucs likely will announce their eight-man practice squad later today, but NFL.com has served up five names on its practice-squad tracker that are your newest Buccaneers.

Joe finds it very intriguing that the New Schiano Order has gone after two wide receivers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TE Drake Dunsmore, OL Brian Folkerts, WR Dale Moss, WR Bert Reed, QB Adam Weber.

The quarterback, Weber, was on the Broncos practice squad in 2011 after being undrafted out of the University of Minnesota, and he was in camp with Peyton Manning this season.

Moss is an interesting rookie project, a former basketball player who was released by the Packers, per ProFootballTalk.com.

Moss, the South Dakota State receiver, will be a player to follow in Packers camp. A four-year basketball player for the Jackrabbits, Moss used his extra year of eligibility to play football. He wound up leading South Dakota State in catches, yards, and touchdowns in 2011.

Moss stands 6-foot-3, 213 and ran a 4.52 at the South Dakota Pro Day. More impressive were Moss’ explosive, 10-foot-10 broad jump, 41 1/2-inch vertical, and 4.13 short shuttle. He is an exceptional athlete.

Reed was the fifth all-time receiver at Florida State (164 receptions) and landed undrafted to the Browns, who actually featured him on their website this summer. In a Florida panhandle TV interview this weekend, Reed said he was a Bucs fan as a kid in Panama City. Check out the video below:

WMBB News 13 – The Panhandle’s News Leader

Joe absolutely loves greyhound racing. If you haven’t been to Derby Lane, the top track in the country, you need to get your butt over to the Gandy Boulevard landmark today. There are huge cash giveaways and great food specials during the Labor Day afternoon event. … And don’t forget, Derby Lane has the best poker room in the Bay area, hands down. Click below to learn more.

The Bucs were so damn awful last season even the Panthers don’t want to watch Bucs film to prepare for Sunday’s home-opener in Tampa.

Now Joe’s exaggerating a bit, but not too much. Panthers head coach Ron Rivera told the Charlotte Observer he’s dialed in to watching Rutgers game tape because it’s a better indicator of what to expect Sunday.

New head coach Greg Schiano brings in his own coaching strategies, and the Panthers’ coaching staff is looking at Schiano’s old team for pointers. Carolina is looking at film from last year’s Schiano-led Rutgers team for guidance.

“When you look at what Greg’s done in the past, and it’s not just in Chicago, where both he and Rivera coached, it’s what he did in Miami, at Rutgers as the head coach, I think that’s where you really get the feel as to what he’s all about,” Rivera said. “We have spent time watching the Rutgers tape… He’s grown and changed as a coach as well. If there’s one thing you can say about what Coach Schiano is going to do, they’re going to go out and be a hard-nose, physical football team.”

Not that Joe’s counting, but in 42 days the 2013 Hooters Calendar goes on sale at HootersCalendar.com. Check out HootersCalendar.com now to enjoy videos and so much more. The calendar is an amazing, affordable, eye-pleasing gift.

Could Bucs running back LeGarrette Blount be the Bucs Fernando Rodney and close out games?

One of the biggest surprises in baseball this year has been the lights out performance of Rays closer Fernando Rodney. The guy, who wasn’t even scheduled to be the Rays closer when he was signed in the offseason, has been dominant in slamming the door on Rays opponents late in games.

And after securing a save, Rodney then does his bow-and-arrow routine to chalk up another victory for the Rays.

LeGarrette Blount may just do that for the Bucs. No, there is no such thing as a closer in football, but in theory there is. Blount just may be used in the fourth quarter to exploit tired defenses and help secure wins, so writes Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.

The idea of possibly being a closer, the runner who takes on a tired defense in the fourth quarter of a game in which his team is ahead by a score or a couple of points, is just one of them.

“Yeah, that would be fun,” Blount said as his smile morphed into a sly grin. “And it’s definitely possible. Anything’s possible. But I really don’t know what my role is yet. It really hasn’t been defined.”

How cool would it be if Blount was just used in the fourth quarter when opposing defenses are sucking air and peels off a 30-yard run for a score and then does Rodney’s bow-and-arrow routine?

Though Joe doesn’t expect Greg Schiano to use Blount in this manner, it’s a neat thought, if for no other reason than to see Blount firing off imaginary bows in the end zone.

Undrafted rookie tight end Danny Noble, the pride of the University of Toledo, chatted with Joe yesterday after learning he made the Bucs’ 53-man roster.

JoeBucsFan.com: What were your feelings waiting to find out if you made the Bucs roster? How did that go down for you?

Danny Noble: The way we did it, you really didn’t find out if you made the team until you showed up at practice [Saturday]. So, you know, I was nervous all night waiting on a phone call if they did call me. But the call never happened so I woke up and came to practice feeling good, but at the same time you have to be focused. We’ve got a game in a week.

Joe: Do you have a story on how the Bucs found you, through a certain scout or coach?

Noble: I’m not even sure. People were talking to somebody. I’m pretty sure my agent knew somebody out here and I’m pretty sure the Bucs got hold of the little college film that I did have. But I’m not really 100 percent on how they found me. When I came to the tryout I got a lot of opportunities to show what I can do and they ended up liking me.

Joe: Did you have other tryout options?

Noble: There were a couple of other teams but the opportunity seemed best here.

Joe: You broke your leg last season. Are you 100 percent?

Noble: Yeah, I’m 100 percent. The injury was a big injury and I had to come back. There’s always going to be something there. You know how injuries work. But besides that, I couldn’t be better than I am today.

Joe: As the roster sits now, there is no backup fullback and three tight ends. Are you cross-training at fullback?

Noble: Last preseason game I got a chance to get in at fullback. You know, coaches just wanted to see how it worked for me. It was cool. Something new. I like contact, so you know fullback’s a pretty nice spot even though I’m tall to be a fullback. But I’m learning technique along the way. We’ve got great coaches. Wherever they want me to be I’ll be there.

Joe: Anything fans might find interesting about you? Any nicknames we need to know?

Noble: (laughs) All the cats on the team call me Shwag. But you know I don’t really know how I got that. I stay clean.