Because of early Election Day-deadlines on Tuesday, I wasn't able to get any quotes from Demond Washington and Daren Bates into the paper, so I wrote Thursday's newspaper story about Auburn's safety situation in the wake of Zac Etheridge's season-ending injury. Here's how it starts:

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn’s Demond Washington fired off a list of positions he’s played in his career: cornerback, wide receiver, running back, quarterback, punt and kick returner.

Safety had never been one of them until Tuesday.

“First time ever,” he said.

Washington, a transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, has been thrust into a starting role at safety, charged with the unenviable task of having to fill the shoes of Zac Etheridge, who is out for the season after suffering a neck injury against Ole Miss last Saturday.

He’ll be paired with true freshman Daren Bates, the unlikely veteran of the group with all of nine games experience.

“As you make your stretch run, you’d rather be putting in experienced (players),” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “But that’s where we are.”

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