AUBURN, Ala. - Quentin Groves doesn't have to look far for a reminder of what happened to the Auburn Tigers in their last bowl game.<br>
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The 10th-ranked Tigers were bullied by double-digit underdog Wisconsin, losing 24-10 but getting thoroughly dominated in a forgettable Capital One Bowl performance. And Groves didn't want to forget that losing feeling.<br>
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``I have a picture on my wall of me with my head down and my helmet on,'' said Groves, an Auburn defensive end. ``I hate that feeling. I didn't want to send our seniors out like that.''<br>
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Auburn (10-2) returned to practice Thursday hoping for a better showing in the Cotton Bowl against No. 22 Nebraska (9-4) on New Year's Day.<br>
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The Tigers were down 17-0 at halftime in last year's bowl game and wound up allowing 548 total yards and managing a feeble 236.<br>
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``We played against a team that played with a lot of emotion and we didn't,'' coach Tommy Tuberville said.<br>
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Strength coach Kevin Yoxall has helped make sure the players don't forget that game. He wears a Capital One Bowl sideline pass at practices and has been constantly reminding players during workouts that ``we're only as good as our last game,'' noseguard Josh Thompson said.<br>
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Tuberville isn't taking a much different approach to preparations this year after that lackluster performance. He said the Tigers would likely not meet and practice so early in the morning because ``last year we looked a little tired.''<br>
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Tuberville might not break out that game tape to motivate his players, though.<br>
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``We burned that film a long time ago,'' he joked.<br>
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Tuberville has always emphasized that he wants players to enjoy bowl trips. But Groves said he and his teammates might have focused a little too much on having fun last season.<br>
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``We just kind of changed our mentality that, 'Hey, it's football first,''' he said. ``We're still going to have fun because it's a bowl game and it's a reward. At the same time, we still know we're coming to win. We're coming to play football.<br>
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``We had a lot of fun (last year). I think a lot of us got focused probably two days before the game instead of being focused before we got there.''<br>
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The team will practice in Auburn through most of next week and then meet in Dallas on Dec. 26.<br>
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The Tigers haven't played since Nov. 18, giving players with nagging injuries like quarterback Brandon Cox, tailback Kenny Irons and wide receiver Courtney Taylor time to heal.<br>
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All were limited late in the season by leg injuries. Taylor sat out almost all of the regular-season finale against Alabama with a hamstring injury.<br>
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``We all know we were beat up during the season,'' Tuberville said. ``It was good to see Brandon out there today and not have to use a case of tape on him just to go through practice, Kenny Irons running around and enjoying practice.<br>
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``It is good to see them all back out there with smiles on their faces rather than just trying to survive a practice getting ready for a game.''<br>
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TIGER TALES: Groves said he expects to return for his senior season instead of leaving for the NFL. ``I've pretty much made it up in my head that I'm coming back,'' he said. ... Tight end Bart Eddins was working on the offensive line during Thursday's practice, and the coaches could use bowl practices for other experiments with position changes. ... The seniors headed for Birmingham for a banquet hosted by the Jefferson County Auburn Club.
