AUBURN, Ala. — Onterio McCalebb is ready to be an every-down back for Auburn, and he’s packed on the pounds to prove it.

The speedy McCalebb has added 10 pounds to his frame, putting him at 175. His goal by next season is 185, hoping it’s enough to take a pounding from SEC defenses.

“I slept, I ate, I worked out real hard,” McCalebb said. “When I first got here, I was a freshman and I wanted to party and stuff like that. Now I’m trying to become a leader. It’s not about going out and partying. It’s game time.”

With highly touted freshman Michael Dyer, ESPN’s top overall running back recruit, not joining the team until the summer, now is the time for Auburn’s returning backs to make an impression. McCalebb, a sophomore, joins senior Mario Fannin and redshirt freshman Dontae Aycock in the backfield this spring.

Despite the added weight, McCalebb doesn’t think he’s lost his trademark speed, which helped him run for 565 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman.

“The only time I can notice it is when I walk,” he said. “I walk heavy now. I can feel it in my feet. They weigh me down.”

Asked if he was still the fastest guy on the team, McCalebb didn’t hesitate: “Yes, sir.”

Here are some other notes and quotes from today's round of interviews:

• Head coach Gene Chizik on the second day of spring practice: "Second day I thought was better. I thought the tempo was a little bit better than yesterday and it needed to be. The excitement of the first day was gone, obviously, so today I felt was more of a focus on the details of the things we didn't do good yesterday. Obviously have a long way to go but I thought the tempo of practice was really good. Again, a good second, learning day. Obviously tomorrow we're in pads for the first day. We've got some things that we've got to evaluate tomorrow when we get into pads but overall today, good day and we're looking forward to our first day tomorrow in pads."

• Fannin on McCalebb: "Onterio is back and he’s healthy, and he’s doing everything he can to stay healthy. That’s what I admire about him – he’s a small guy, but he has the heart of a big guy, and that’s something you have to have in the SEC. Coaches understand he has the heart of a lion, and that’s why I commend him so much. He’s a real tough guy." Fannin also described McCalebb as "getting more ripped."

• Fannin feels at home playing tailback again. "It’s a blessing being able to play tailback at Auburn," he said. "There have been a lot of great guys who have come through here, so being part of that tradition is big." He's prepared all offseason as though he'll stay there. "I’m definitely working on being quicker," he said. "I’m definitely working on building my leg strength up. I’m definitely working on being mentally tough. If you’re tired, you have to push yourself. If you want to come out after the third play of the drive, and you’ve broken a run for 25 yards and a 5-yard run, you’ve got to push yourself through it. Mainly, you have to be mentally tough and build my endurance up."

• With Mike Berry recovering from minor offseason knee surgery, senior Bart Eddins has worked with the ones at left guard. Eddins’ career has been slowed by three surgeries on his right knee, procedures that require him to wear large ice packs after every practice. “I get up and I feel like a 70-year-old man grunting and moaning getting out of bed,” he joked. Naturally, he relishes the opportunity to play, particularly after getting his first and only career start at Tennessee last year in place of a suspended Byron Isom. “It’s motivation. It’s addicting,” Eddins said. “(Tennessee) was just one of the things that I’m going to remember for the rest of my life. It just makes you want to go back for more.”

• Finding playing time could be difficult this season, however. Auburn returns four starting linemen, with junior college transfers Brandon Mosley and Roszell Gayden expected to battle for the vacant right tackle job. Eddins thinks he can fit in where needed. He can play guard on both sides and has experience as a center. “I’ll be here to sub in or anything like that,” he said. “I’ll be here for the team.”

• Auburn will host its Junior Day this afternoon, with 128 prospects expected to attend. Among the visitors will be Spanish Fort, Ala., center Reese Dismukes, one of the state’s top prospects for 2011. He has both Auburn and Alabama on his list. Other expected visitors, according to the Auburn Sports Blog, include Russellville, Ala., linebacker/running back Brent Calloway, Valley, Ala., safety Erique Florence, Gadsden, Ala., safety Anthony Swain, Valdosta, Ga., tight end/defensive end Jay Rome, Adel, Ga., linebacker Shannon Brown, Griffin, Ga., safety Corey Moore and Marietta, Ga., offensive lineman Thomas O’Reilly. Cullman, Ala., offensive lineman Spencer Region, an Auburn commit, is expected to attend as well.

• The wide receiver depth chart isn't set yet, but it's starting to take shape. Darvin Adams and DeAngelo Benton are working at one outside spot; Terrell Zachery and Quindarius Carr at the other. In the slot, Emory Blake, Kodi Burns, Jay Wisner and Derek Winter are all getting reps.

• Benton on a third receiver stepping up behind Adams and Zachery: "It's all about working hard when you got out there, all of us competing. On the other hand, we're trying to make each other better. Whoever get the spot, you know they've earned it."

• Chizik said he expects big things for linebacker Eltoro Freeman. "I got very, very high expectations for him. The standard as I told him and our whole football team has gone up. Certainly for him. He's been in two years now. We've got to keep him healthy, obviously. He's got to learn a lot of football and he's got a long way to go but I think he's being very humble. He knows that he's got a lot of football to learn. If he'll do that and stay humble, he'll be a lot better football player than he was last year and he'll contribute a lot better to Auburn than he did last year."

• DT Nick Fairley said fundamental work was important for him as last season progressed, and it was starting to show toward the end of the year, when he got more playing time. His position coach, Tracy Rocker, agreed. "When you are departing from JUCO or departing from high school, you got to break some of the habits," he said. " That’s part of it. We spend a lot of time just talking about how to play, breaking those habits.As you saw as the season ended last year, he understood a little bit more technique-wise, fundamental-wise. That’s what’s important."

• Senior Antoine Carter and sophomore Dee Ford are working on what Rocker referred to as the "quick end." Senior Michael Goggans and redshirt freshman Nose Eguae are working on the other side.

• Daren Bates showed off quite an elaborate tattoo before doing an interview. He has MEMPHIS tatted (as the kids say) across the top of his chest in big. block letters from shoulder to shoulder. Says he got it before the bowl game. I guess if playing with a torn labrum doesn't hurt you, getting a big tattoo won't either.

Auburn safety/linebacker Daren Bates played the latter half of his SEC All-Freshman season in considerable pain after tearing the labrum in his left shoulder against LSU.

"I didn't really tell the trainers because I didn't want to not play," Bates said after practice Friday.

Bates had surgery for the problem in January and is limited to doing light drills and 7-on-7 work this spring. He likely won't face contact until two-a-days in August and has to build up his weight again. After surgery, he lost 13 pounds. He wants to be back in the 215-220 range.

In the meantime, he'll adjust to a new position. The sophomore will play a linebacker spot that head coach Gene Chizik has said is more like a nickel position.

"It's all right. You've just got to adjust," Bates said. "I still have my safety tendencies. Instead of shuffling, I'll backpedal. But as time goes on, I'll catch on to that."

Some other quick notes:

• Auburn practiced in helmets and shorts today. Tomorrow is the team's first full day in pads.

• Gene Chizik didn't know if Auburn would do any kind of mini-scrimmage tomorrow. He's going to look at the injury report before making a decision.
  

• Demond Washington, who moved to safety in a pinch last season, is back at corner.

• Mario Fannin is looking forward to playing tailback again. "It's a blessing," he said. "Being able to play tailback here at Auburn, a lot of great guys have come through. Being able to be a part of that tradition is pretty big to me."

• Senior Bart Eddins has been working with the ones at left guard in place of Mike Berry (knee), who has done light work since offseason surgery.

• WR Emory Blake is working at the slot position. He's there with Kodi Burns, Jay Wisner and Derek Winter.

I'll be back with more later.

Here's how today's story about new Auburn basketball coach Tony Barbee starts:

AUBURN, Ala. — Tony Barbee made it a point to reference Auburn’s apex as a basketball school shortly after being introduced as the Tigers’ new coach Thursday evening.

He effortlessly rattled off the marquee hoops names in the school’s history — Sonny Smith, Charles Barkley, Chuck Person, Wesley Person — at a dais set up at midcourt of the still-under-construction, $92.5 million Auburn Arena he’ll soon inherit.

“When you talk about the great players, great teams, great coaches … there is a precedent that has been set with this program and that it has been done before,” Barbee said. “And when you look at the Auburn Arena, why can’t it be done again? That is why I am here.”

Read the full thing here. And follow the blog on Twitter for instant updates, especially since spring football is underway.

Oh, but that's not all the Barbee coverage you'll be getting today. Also have a look at ...

• This article I wrote about Barbee's relationship with mentor John Calipari, who has Kentucky one step away from the Final Four.

• Want to hear what Barbee had to say? Click on this blog post for a video.

• Just interested in reading the quotes instead of hearing them? Or perhaps you'd like to read comments by athletics director Jay Jacobs and guard Frankie Sullivan? Click on the blog post.

• If you want more information on Barbee's contract terms, this blog post has the details from the letter of understanding Auburn released Wednesday.

• And lastly, this is interesting. Barbee will be in New York to be an analyst on the CBS College Sports Network's coverage of the NCAA tournament.

The Auburn baseball team, which has won seven straight, hosts South Carolina in a three-game series starting tonight at Plainsman Park. Read all about it here.

Here are the probable pitchers for the weekend:

Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET

• South Carolina: Blake Cooper (Sr. RHP) 3-0, 2.90 ERA, 31.0 IP, 11 BB, 32 SO
• Auburn: Cory Luckie (So. LHP) 1-0, 5.40 ERA, 16.2 IP, 7 BB, 19 SO

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET

• South Carolina: Sam Dyson (Jr. RHP) 1-0, 5.40 ERA, 23.1 IP, 6 BB, 27 SO
• Auburn: Cole Nelson (Jr. LHP) 4-0, 3.67 ERA, 27.0 IP, 11 BB, 31 SO

Sunday, 2 p.m. ET

• South Carolina: Tyler Webb (Fr. LHP) 1-1, 2.53 ERA, 21.1 IP, 9 BB, 23 SO
• Auburn: TBA

OK, finally got the video of Tony Barbee's introductory press conference up. The whole thing went down in the still-unfinished Auburn Arena at midcourt. Enjoy.

I just finished writing my newspaper stories for tomorrow's paper. It's given me a chance to sift through a mountain of quotes. Here are some highlights. I hope to have a video a little later:

New Auburn head coach TONY BARBEE

(On the Auburn job)
"Auburn athletics is about winning championships. That is the reason why, as I looked at Auburn University and their men's basketball program, it is my responsibility to live up to that bar that has been raised by all the athletic programs at this great university. When you talk about the great players, great teams, great coaches, Sonny Smith in 1986, one game away from a Final Four, when you talk about that, the great players from Chuck Person to Wesley Person to obviously Charles Barkley, there is a precedent that has been set with this program and that it has been done before. And when you look at Auburn Arena, why can*t it be done again? That is why I am here. "

(On his commitment to Auburn)
"The commitment I make to you is to take this men's basketball program to heights it has never been before. That is my commitment to you. We will play an exciting style of basketball. It will be fun for the fans. It will be entertaining. It will be fun for the players. In my 19 years in college basketball, I have been in postseason play 18 of 19 years. And I am madder than heck that one year we missed it. We started at UTEP, and we built to where I left it. The one thing I know about this style, is it is built to win in March."

(On recruiting)
"We are not going to be afraid of going after the best players in the state of Alabama. We are not going to be afraid of going after the best players in the Southeast region. We are not going to be afraid to go after the best players anywhere in the country. I promise you that. Not only will we be recruiting student-athletes who I think can succeed here, academically and athletically, we will be recruiting the media, for exposure, we are going to be recruiting the community, for support, and we are going to be recruiting the students, because my responsibility is to rekindle that love affair between the Auburn community, the Auburn Family and this storied program. That is my challenge and I accept it whole-heartedly."

(On talking to his mentor, Kentucky's John Calipari)
"There hasn't been a major decision in my life personally and professionally, since I've known Coach Cal, that I haven't seeked his advice. As successful as he has been, I wouldn't be very smart if I didn't do that. He knows what a special place Auburn University is. The advice he gave me as I was going through the process was that if you can get the Auburn job you run there. So that tells you what his affection is for this place. For me it was very quickly learned why he understood the potential in this program."

(On closing the gap on Kentucky)
"There's one way you get to the top: You go after the people that are at the top, and right now that's where Kentucky sits. That was our challenge in Conference USA. And we didn't hesitate to go in the backyard and get some players that I thought could have played at Memphis, could have played anywhere in any league in the country. That's why we had the success that we had this year, and finally overtook Memphis in Conference USA."

(On telling Calipari he's gunning for him)
"Absolutely. I told him that same thing when I left his staff and went to UTEP. We laughed, we joked, but he knew I was serious. There's one thing he knows about me, that I'm a competitive you know what. But I know the same thing about him. I'm not backing down from him, he's not backing down from me, but that'll never affect our friendship, our relationship and the passion that we have for one another."

(On not having stepped foot in Auburn before taking the job)
"This is the second job in a row that I have taken without visiting. My wife doesn't appreciate that, but for me it is not about the bricks and the mortar. It is about people. From getting to know Jay (Jacobs) in a very short period of time, his staff and the people I've met today, there is a passion for this great university. It is my job to extend that passion to the men's basketball program. It is a challenge, but that has been the challenge everywhere that I have been. I look forward to taking on that challenge."

(On his preferred style of play)
"My style is based around one word, that's pressure. We're going to oppose pressure to our opposing team for 40 minutes starting on the defensive end of the floor. That's where you win and compete for championships, on the defensive end of the floor. I believe in a man-to-man, hard-nosed, in your face, 40 minutes full-court selectively, when you can, (defense). I want to create a lot of our offense off of our defense. We'll play an up-tempo style that's fun and exciting for the team to play, fun and exciting for the fans to watch, but it's not helter-skelter. It's not run and gun. There's a discipline you have to have to play at a pace I want to play at while limiting your turnovers. You have to be disciplined. At the same time, any good coach is going to base his style around the personnel he has at the time and that's part of the evaluation process I'm going to have to go through initially to figure out if we can employ this style immediately or is it going to take time to build, but that's part of the process that I'm going to have to go through."

(On if there's significance in being the basketball program's first black head coach)
"Absolutely there is. Very similar to the significance of me being the first African American coach at UTEP, with the Glory Road tradition and the background. And it's very similar here. And I'm very honored and privileged and humbled to be the first African American coach here at Auburn. And I know what it means to this community, but at the end of the day, this is about the success we're going to have in this community on the court and in the class room."

Athletics director JAY JACOBS:

(On when he knew he was going to hire Barbee)
“The first few minutes of the interview — it was unbelievable. You knew he was the right guy, the right fit for this basketball team. I told (the team) that I was going to hire the best guy for them. When we sat and visited with Tony, it was obvious very early in the process that he shared the same values that the Auburn family shares, he has a passion and he hates to lose. He's very focused on the student-athlete graduating. He embraced the Auburn creed and working and hard work. All those things -- he laid out in his plan."

(On Barbee's $1.5 million annual salary)
“I think he deserves it and I think he’s going to earn his living. It’s the right thing for Auburn, it’s the right thing for this team. I believe I said in our last sit down was that we were going to pay the market value to get a great basketball coach and that’s what we did.”

Guard FRANKIE SULLIVAN

(On the process of changing coaches)
"It's been tough because at any point in time, we didn't know what was going on, we didn't know what was going to happen in your next point of life. Just be patient, that's what Bernard Hill and Mr. Jacobs told us because they're going to hire the best candidate, not just any candidate, the best candidate. I think they went out and did that."

(On if he'll fit in well with Barbee's style)
"I think I'll fit in real well. In high school I was a pressure team, run and gun but also disciplined. Not taking any shot, but taking the shot the team wanted. Being unselfish -- unselfish is a great thing to have on the team. I think we have great players on our team now that's going to play that way. Coach is going to instill discipline in us and I think that's going to work out for us in the end."

(On Barbee's enthusiasm)
“Anybody that’s ambitious for us, I like. Anybody that supports Auburn family is a great guy or a great person. I think he’s going to instill that into the fan base and get some wins.”

You're looking live from the still-under-construction Auburn Arena, where Tony Barbee is being officially introduced as the Tigers' head coch.

Here's what's happened so far:

• We're underway. Athletics director Jay Jacobs is here introducing Barbee.

• Said it was apparent within the first few minutes of the interview that Barbee was the choice for Auburn.

• "It was a tough decision, but an easy decision," Jacobs said.

• "War Eagle!" Barbee said. "I learn quickly, don't I."

• Said it was difficult to leave UTEP. "It's all about family. But when I looked at Auburn and I looked at this wonderful university, first class, when I looked at this wonderful community, first class, when I looked at this beautiful arean, wow, when I looked at all of those things, that hard decision became very, very easy to make."

• Wants to make this the best basketball university in the state of Alabama.

• "Jay, I won't disappoint."

• "Auburn athletics is about winning championships. It is my responsibility to live up to that bar that has been raised by all the athletic programs at this great university."

• Just referenced Sonny Smith, Chuck Person, Wesley Person and Charles Barkley. Somebody must have given him a media guide.

• "There is a precedent here that this has been done before. And you look at the Auburn Arena, why can't it be done again. That's why I'm here."

• "No one is going to out-work my staff. No one is going to out-work my team."

• Call the Auburn Arena the finest arena in the SEC, "if not the country." Says it shows the school's commitment to the basketball program.

• "My commitment to you is to take it to heights that it has never been before."

• Promises an exciting style of basketball. Fun for fans, players.

• He's made the postseason 18 of 19 years as a player or coach. "And I'm mad as heck about that one year."

• Promises a team that plays deep into March.

• To the returning players: "We're going to have a lot of fun."

• Wants people to say about his team: "That's the hardest playing team I've seen."

• "I've never been afraid of working hard."

• Plans to contact the incoming recruiting class soon.

• "Let's all get on the train. Let's all enjoy the ride."

• Two most difficult things to do: scheduling and recruiting. "We're going to go after and we're going to attract the best players in the country. The best. That fit with me. That fit with Auburn University and the Auburn family and what it stands for. We're not going to be afraid to go after the best players anywhere in the country."

• Will be recruiting the media for exposure, the community for support, the students. "My responsibility is to re-kindle that love affair."

• Immediate goal is focus on returning players. "Change is never easy." He's evaluating them to see if they're the right fit for him, too. "It's a challenge I'll take on."

• Scheduling philosophy: "It's about getting into that NCAA tournament."

• On John Calipari: "He's my mentor. He'll always be my coach."

• "We're going right after Kentucky and right after Coach Calipari. It's not an easy thing to do, but once we catch him, guess where we'll be?"

• "Hasn't been a major decision that I made in my job."

• "The advice he gave to me, if you can get the Auburn job, you run there."

• Has not visited Auburn before taking the job. This is the second time he's done that.

• "My style is based around one word: that's pressure. We're going to apply pressure for 40 minutes. And that starts on defense."

• "It's not helter skelter. It's not run-n-gun. There's a discipline that you have to have."

• Hard to pinpoint when he knew he would take the job.

• On the subject of not being able to win at a football school: "I'd say, why can't you?" He thinks it's his job to embrace Auburn's football success. He cites Florida as an example of how you can win at a football school.

• He challenged the students to embrace the program. "We need you."

Auburn has agreed to pay new basketball coach Tony Barbee $1.5 million annually over six years, according to a letter of understanding released by the school this afternoon.

Here are some of the finer points:

• Barbee becomes the head coach effective today.

• His total yearly compensation is $1.5 million. That's $225,000 for a base salary. Endorsements, radio, television, Internet rights, fund-raising and personal appearances account for the other $1.275 million.

• The contract's term will be six years.

• He is eligible for academic and performance bonuses on top of his $1.5 million income.

• He is in charge of assembling a staff of assistants.

• He'll get two dealer cars or two car allowances equal to five percent of his salary.

You're obviously wondering where that puts Barbee in the SEC pecking order for salary. He's fifth. Jeff Lebo, by comparison, made only $750,000 a year, lowest among SEC coaches.

Here's an updated list:

• John Calipari, Kentucky: $3.9 million
• Billy Donovan, Florida: $3.5 million
• Bruce Pearl, Tennessee: $2.4 million
• Anthony Grant, Alabama: $1.8 million
• Barbee, Auburn: $1.5 million
• Mark Fox, Georgia: $1.3 million
• Trent Johnson, LSU: $1.2 million
• Rick Stansbury, Mississippi State: $1.2 million
• Darrin Horn, South Carolina: $1.1 million
• Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt: about $1 million (not subject to public record)
• Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss:$800,000
• John Pelphrey, Arkansas: $795,000

Pretty ingenious of Auburn to hire a basketball coach under the smoke screen of spring football practice beginning. I'll be honest: it blindsided me a little. I didn't think things would wrap up that quickly.

As a result, yesterday was packed full of news. Here's everything you might have missed:

• Auburn's 12-day search to replace Jeff Lebo ended when the Tigers hired Tony Barbee of UTEP. Read the full story here.

• Junior college transfer Cam Newton, the presumed frontrunner in Auburn's quarterback race, spoke to the assembled media for the first time since enrolling in January. Here's that full story.

• If you want to get a sense of what Newton is like, check out this video of the highlights of Wednesday's interview. He is definitely an engaging subject.

• Or if you'd like, you can see him in some brief on-field action in this video shot from practice Wednesday.

• That reminds us, apparently yesterday was the first day of spring football practice. Find out who's off the roster and who will re-evaluated the situation at the end of the semester by clicking here.

• There was so much excess football info that it spilled over into a blog post. Read about those odds and ends by clicking here.

• The Auburn baseball team kept on rolling with an 8-6 win against Alabama in Montgomery in the Capital City Classic. That's seven straight wins for the Tigers.

• And lastly, the men's swimming and diving team will have to wait another day to defend its national title. The 2010 National Championships at Ohio State have been delayed a day because 18 swimmers and one coach were treated for possible gastrointestinal illness. No Auburn athletes were affected. Yup, might want to get that cleared up before anybody gets in a pool.

And while we're blogging a bunch of links, click here to follow the blog on Twitter. Yesterday was a good day for Twitter followers. Let's keep that train a-rollin'.

The blog will be back this evening for Barbee's introductory press conference, so check back later.

And we have the quotes to prove it:

Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs:

“We are thrilled to welcome Tony Barbee into the Auburn Family. Coach Barbee has a vision of competing for championships at Auburn, and the passion to get us there. He is a phenomenal coach, an outstanding recruiter and a fierce competitor. Coach Barbee also shares Auburn values and is the right man to lead our team and represent Auburn University and the Auburn Family. The bottom line is Tony Barbee is a winner. We could not be happier to have him as the new face of Auburn Basketball as we prepare to open a new era in a new arena next season.”

New Auburn coach Tony Barbee:

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the Auburn Family and proud to be the next head coach at Auburn,” Barbee said. “We have challenges in front of us, but we also have great opportunities with everything Auburn has to offer—a great university, outstanding community, tremendous fan support, and a terrific new arena and practice facility. The time is now to take Auburn basketball to new heights.”

Barbee, 38, will be formally introduced as Auburn’s 20th head coach Thursday.

Auburn also sent out this bio box of Barbee:

TONY BARBEE QUICK FACTS

Personal

• Born: Aug. 10, 1971
• Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.
• Wife: Holly
• Children: daughter Hayden, son Andrew
• Education: B.A. from Massachusetts (1993)
• Playing Experience: Massachusetts (1989-93)

Coaching Experience

• 1995-96: UMass, Graduate Assistant
• 1996-98: UMass, Assistant
• 1998-99: Wyoming, Assistant
• 1999-00: UMass, Assistant
• 2000-06: Memphis, Assistant
• 2006-10: UTEP, Head Coach

Head Coaching Record

• 2006-07: 14-17, 6-10, C-USA/10th
• 2007-08: 19-14, 8-8, C-USA/t-6th
• 2008-09: 23-14, 10-6, C-USA/t-4th
• 2009-10: 26-7, 15-1, C-USA/1st
• Overall: 82-52, 39-25