The 2017-18 Auburn Athletics year saw a lot of success. Multiple sports made it to postseason play and won consistently. But was it the best overall athletic year in Auburn history? The E2C Network Staff takes a look at the Auburn University sponsored sports to decide.

Baseball

2017-18 record: 43-23 (19-19); Raleigh Regional Champions

The Auburn baseball team had a historic and record breaking season in 2018. They won a regional tournament for the first time since 1999, and won the program’s first ever super regional game ever against the then-number one team in the nation. Auburn won a historic 43 games, the most during the Butch Thompson era and outscored arch-rival, Alabama, by a score of 49-12 over the course of 4 games. I would argue Auburn baseball had their best season since 1999 and the future only looks brighter returning star players that include Will Holland, Steven Williams, Edouard Julien, Cody Greenhill, and Tanner Burns. Auburn extended Head Coach Butch Thompson’s contract through the 2024 season and under Coach Thompson and his staff, I see Auburn baseball only continuing to do better, eventually ending the season with a trip to Omaha, and possibly even a national championship.

Chandler Fullman, Co-Host of Hitchcock Hecklers

Men’s Basketball

2017-18 record: 26-8 (12-6); SEC Regular Season Champions; Round of 32 in NCAA Tournament

Records are meant to broken. That held true with this basketball team, shattering multiple records from Auburn’s history book. When you have a drought of success like the Tigers, streaks of wins are the perfect reason for casual fans to pack out the Arena. Top it off with a championship and NCAA Tournament birth, 2018 was beyond fun. This team had so much character, from coach to walk-on that might be a coach. If Auburn fans didn’t fall in love with this team – the personalities, the chemistry, and the hustle – then something was wrong. Unfortunately for Auburn, the college basketball season is a long one. Injuries and fatigue took its toll on the Tigers, and the post season run wasn’t as memorable as many had hoped. Still, partying like it was 1999 was well worth the wait. And the heart attacks.

Clint Richardson, Co-Host of Inside the Jungle & Hitchcock Hecklers

Women’s Basketball

2017-18 record: 14-15 (5-11)

Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy’s squad had a losing season after a hot 10-3 start. The Tigers lost twelve of their last sixteen to finish 14-15. Despite all that, the Tigers were able to sign the 12th best recruiting class and extended Coach Flo’s contract through the 2022-23 season. It’s very possible and expected that the she and the Tigers will return to the NCAA Tournament soon and compete in the SEC. Senior guards Janiah McKay and Erica Sanders will lead the team next year hoping to make it back to the Big Dance.

Equestrian

2017-18 record: 13-4; 2018 National Champions

Another year, another successful season for Coach Greg Williams and the Auburn Equestrian team. All they did was win their fifth national championship (second in three years) since the program became a varsity sport in 2002. If Greg Williams hasn’t cemented his self as one of the all-time great coaches at Auburn, in any sport, what else can he do? The Tigers on horses will be back next year to defend their title and continue to run through the Southeastern Conference.

Football

2017-18 record: 10-4 (7-2); Peach Bowl vs. UCF

No team had ever beaten two #1 ranked teams in the same season. Then Auburn did. They weren’t walk-off style wins or getting lucky like some might think. These two wins were utter thumpings. Once again the Iron Bowl was the deciding factor the SEC West and a trip east to Atlanta. Again, Auburn fans stormed Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium to celebrate. The highs of the 2017 season were really high. But ask some pessimistic Auburn fans, and the lows were just as low. While Auburn failed to win at LSU for the first time in a decade, failed to defeat Georgia for a second time on the season, and struggled mightily in the Peach Bowl against our National Champions, the season wasn’t a total loss. A new quarterback earned some fantastic experience and already has his name in the running for the Heisman Trophy. The head coach that many have a love/hate relationship with was signed to a large contract. Auburn fans won’t have to play the silly season game again for a while.

Men’s Golf

2017-18: Men’s SEC Tournament Champions; Final Four of NCAA Tournament

The Auburn men’s golf team won the SEC for the first time since 2002, with a winning putt on the 18th green over Alabama. They also were able to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Auburn’s Trace Crowe and Brandon Macheno both won their respective matches against Alabama golfers in the conference tournament. That led the way for freshmen Wells Padgett to sink a 20-foot putt to defeat the Tide and clinch the title for the Tigers. All three players will be coming back next year to defend their Southeastern Conference championship. Auburn was also able to bring home wins in two tournaments during the season. Junior Trace Crowe tied the program record for low score with a 63 in the Kentucky-hosted Gary Koch Invitational. The previous mark for low score was also set at this tournament in 2009.

Women’s Golf

2017-18 Highest Finish: 3rd at UCF Challenge; reached SEC Tournament Quarterfinals

The women’s golf team did not see as much success as their men’s counterparts, but showed success in some areas. The Tigers were unable to win any tournament they participated in. Auburn did compete well, placing in the Top 5 on thirteen competition days throughout the season. The Tigers will look to rebound next year adding two freshmen to their team. Head Coach Melissa Luellen will lead the Tigers into their fourth season under her watch and look to continue to impart her wisdom gained from winning a national title with Arizona State in 2009.

Gymnastics

2017-18 Average: 196.496; finished 8th in SEC, 3rd in NCAA Regional

Auburn gymnastics has been on the upswing the last handful of seasons. After making the final round of the NCAA Championship in 2015, the Tigers have been able to keep the momentum going even with the loss of great talents. The 2018 team was a young one, and the growing pains hurt. The Tigers only won two head-to-head meets, but the scores are what really mattered. Auburn’s 196.496 scoring average was good enough to place 14th in the country. Unfortunately, though, six teams in front of Auburn were fellow SEC members. When the conference is as tough as it currently is, it can be tough to break through. Auburn learned that this season. The Tigers return a majority of the roster for the upcoming season, with only two seniors on the team last year.

Soccer

2017-18 record: 8-7-5 (4-2-4); Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Auburn Soccer entered the 2017-2018 season coming off of a historic run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Hoppa faced the challenge of filling six senior spots from the previous year, including her second-leading goal scorer in All-SEC First Team and NSCAA All-American, Casie Ramsier, and All-SEC and NSCAA All-South Region stalwart defender, Kiana Clarke. Clarke played every minute of her senior campaign, creating a large hole to fill. Coach Hoppa was able to reload her roster by bringing in transfers and freshmen to complement her already established veterans.

The season presented unique challenges for this new team, especially on the road. Highlights of the regular season included wins over #22 Texas A&M, rival Alabama on the road, and a nail-biter triumph over #10 Florida at home. The defense grew together as a unit throughout the season proving to be the backbone of the team, ultimately leading to a return to the NCAA Tournament. Auburn hosted Hofstra in the first round and were able to cruise to a win before being knocked out by eventual national champion Stanford in the second round. This would mark the second year in a row that Auburn would be eliminated by the eventual national champion. While history is often difficult to repeat, especially in the SEC, the 2017-2018 season proved that Head Coach Karen Hoppa and her staff have the ability to reload for continued success and program stability.

Peter Green, Co-Host of Stoppage Time

Softball

2017-18 record: 41-17 (11-13); Tallahassee Regional

The first season of the Mickey Dean era began on the Plains and no one quite knew how it would go. The Tigers advanced to the Tallahassee Regional, where they went 1-2, with losses to eventual national champion Florida State and to Jacksonville State in an elimination game. The Tigers won 41 games in Dean’s first season which saw phenomenal performances by Victoria Draper, Kaylee Carlson, and Courtney Shea. All three seniors finish their Auburn careers as some of the best to come through the program. Mickey Dean’s first recruiting class will come in next year and look to get Auburn back to Oklahoma City and in the Women’s College World Series once again.

Volleyball

2017-18 record: 15-12 (8-10)

The Auburn volleyball team had a mediocre season, but have a very young roster with lots of experience. With only two seniors on this upcoming year’s squad, the Tigers were picked to finish in the upper half of the conference. This year’s newcomers were part of the #7 recruiting class nationally and are expected to have an effect immediately. Coach Rick Nold enters his eighth year of being the lead man for the volleyball program and looks to get his Tigers over the hump. Auburn’s volleyball team has always had a backing when the Tigers play inside Auburn Arena. They’ll need it again this year.

It was undoubtedly one of the most successful years across the board for the Auburn Athletic Department. But was it the best? Those against that notion have cited the success Auburn had back in 1999. What are your opinions? Were you around for both seasons? Let us know what you think in the comments or reach out to us on Twitter at @E2C_Network or on our Facebook page.