09/12/02

AUBURN -- It's not uncommon for Auburn players to go to Dante Booker. The 24-year-old reserve defensive tackle has many things that his younger teammates want.

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For example, Booker has an ID. Some Tigers, especially ones who have yet to celebrate their 21st birthday, often want to borrow it.

"I don't give it to them," Booker said. "They try, though. I tell them to chill out, we've got a practice tomorrow."

Others come to him asking for a specific favor.

"I haven't made a beer run," Booker said. "I'm proud of myself for that. Oh, I've been asked to make it, but I've declined."

On other occasions, younger teammates have come to Booker for life advice. Booker, an always-smiling 6-foot-3, 273-pound senior from Akron, Ohio, turns 25 years old on Oct. 9. Last season, he played in 11 games, recording nine tackles and one sack. The road to the playing fields of the Southeastern Conference was a long one.

Booker did not graduate from Ellet (Ohio) High School, where he played football as a freshman but quit so that he could focus on his first love, basketball. Instead, he worked on his own to receive his GED and finally enrolled at a junior college in Scranton, Penn.

When it became obvious that there was not a market for 6-3 power forwards, Booker turned his attention to football. He made a videotape to show his athletic prowess, a highlight reel that included pictures of him dunking a basketball and running drills. Garden City (Kan.) Community College took a chance, signing him to a football scholarship.

During two-a-days, Booker tore knee ligaments. He spent the year rehabilitating on his own. When his knee finally healed, Booker moved closer to home, enrolling at Montgomery (Md.) Junior College. There, he attracted the interest of a handful of college programs.

Booker was set to sign with Cincinnati when Auburn called. The Tigers' coaching staff did not have to ask twice.

Booker earned the nickname "Daddy Book," last season from his teammates. Only sixth-year quarterback Daniel Cobb, who turned 24 last month, can relate to him from an age perspective.

"That's our connection," Booker said, laughing. "We confide every so often because we're the old guys. That's our bond."

Booker laughs off the age questions.

"It's not that big of a gap," he explained. "It's a little different. It's an experience, mostly. I'm learning a lot from these younger guys. There's never a dull moment, I tell you that. It's always a lot of fun. These guys like to joke around and they're silly, but it's all right."

If anything, Booker sometimes serves as a confidant for a young teammate with questions.

"Every so often, they come along and ask my advice and I give it to them," Booker said. "It's not every day, but sometimes they ask, 'What should I do?' They know the situations I've been in. It happens."

Booker hopes to do something with youth when his playing days are over. He said he would like to work at an urban center, serving as a role model for young people in a community of his choosing. For now, however, he is focused on football.

Because of the fragile health of starting defensive tackles DeMarco McNeil and Spencer Johnson, there is the opportunity for playing time for reserves Booker, Wayne Dickens and T.J. Jackson. Booker is taking advantage of his chance. He recorded one tackle in the season-opening loss at Southern California, then had six in Auburn's 56-0 win over Western Carolina.

Entering Auburn's Southeastern Conference opener on Saturday morning against Vanderbilt, Booker is convinced that his best football is ahead of him. His coaches agree.

"He's in a lot better shape," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "He understands football a lot more. He didn't play football for three or four years, so he's just now learning how to play football at this level, to play at the speed he needs to play at.

"We're going to need him. We can't depend on but about 25-30 plays a game from DeMarco after this stretch."

"I feel a whole lot better," Booker said. "I feel like a new player. I'm getting the speed of the game now and I'm understanding, like Tubs said, the speed of the game. It takes a lot of concentration and effort really, and I'm starting to understand that. I played one year of juco ball, but it was like pickup ball. It was hard, but I've made the adjustment."

Auburn fans can only hope so. So far this season, opponents have averaged just 85 rushing yards per game. Teams have had more success through the air, picking up 238.5 yards per game. That trend is likely to continue unless Booker and the rest of the Tigers' defensive linemen can mount more of a pass rush.

"It's extremely important," Booker said. "I think we need to rush the passer more. It just seems like they've been doing more quick passes than anything else. You know you need to get a pass rush and make a rush move, but you know they're going to throw it quick."