Remembering Phillip Marshall: A Pillar of Auburn Athletics and a Giant in Southern Sports Journalism
AUBURN - For more than 50 years, Phillip Marshall didn’t just cover Auburn athletics-he lived it, breathed it, and gave fans a front-row seat to the heart of the program. On Friday, Jan. 30, Marshall passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy that stretches far beyond box scores and stat lines.
Marshall’s career was defined by consistency, credibility, and a deep-rooted passion for storytelling. He was a fixture in Alabama sports media, beginning his career at local newspapers before rising to become one of the most respected voices in the state. From his early days at the Montgomery Advertiser, where he served as sports editor, to his 17-year run at the Huntsville Times, and finally to his longtime home at Auburn Undercover, Marshall built a career that mirrored the evolution of Auburn athletics itself.
He came by the profession honestly. His father, Benny Marshall, was a 10-time Alabama Sportswriter of the Year, and Phillip followed in those footsteps with purpose and pride.
He eventually earned the same honor twice himself and served as president of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. In 2022, he was named one of the AWSA’s “50 Legends of Alabama Sports Writing”-a title that couldn’t be more fitting.
Over the course of his career, Marshall chronicled the stories of 26 head coaches across Auburn football, men’s basketball, and baseball-not including the interims. He was there for six trips to Omaha with Auburn baseball, five Final Fours between the men’s and women’s basketball teams, and two Women’s College World Series appearances.
He covered three Heisman Trophy winners and countless All-Americans. If it happened on the Plains, chances are Phillip Marshall was there to see it, pen in hand.
And he didn’t just report. He connected.
Marshall had a rare ability to translate the pulse of a program into words that resonated with fans, players, and coaches alike. He wasn’t just telling stories-he was preserving history.
Even in his final days, Marshall remained committed to the job. His last column was published Thursday morning, a testament to the work ethic and passion that defined his career. He was still riffing on the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, still giving his readers the kind of perspective only he could provide.
Known affectionately by colleagues and readers as “PMarsh,” he leaves behind his wife, Teresa, sons Ben and Jonathan, daughter Chrissie, and several grandchildren. But his extended family includes generations of Auburn fans who grew up reading his work, trusting his insight, and feeling like they knew him.
In the hours after his passing, tributes poured in from across the Auburn and SEC communities:
- Bruce Pearl, Auburn men’s basketball coach, called him a “friend and Auburn legend,” adding, “Glad he got to see our basketball program become competitive again. May his memory be a blessing.”
- Gabe Gross, Auburn baseball assistant and former dual-sport athlete, recalled, “He was the first person to interview me after I signed to play football for Auburn.
He was a friend from that moment. Amazing writer - loved Auburn - loved covering the men and women who played and coached at Auburn.”
- Gus Malzahn, former Auburn football coach, described him simply: “A legend, truly one of a kind.”
- Herb Vincent, SEC associate commissioner, said Marshall “wove stories, in print and in person, like few others,” adding that his presence will be missed “in press boxes, on press rows and in media rooms across the SEC.”
- Hugh Freeze, Auburn’s current head football coach, shared that he was “devastated” by the news and called Marshall “someone I loved getting to know.”
- Nathan King, a fellow Auburn Undercover reporter, offered a heartfelt memory from last year’s basketball postseason run. “After the Final Four, he put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘It’s been a pleasure, my friend.’
Rest in peace, P-Marsh. Lucky to have called you a friend.”
Phillip Marshall wasn’t just a sportswriter. He was a steward of Auburn’s story.
He gave voice to its triumphs, its heartbreaks, and everything in between. And through it all, he never stopped doing what he loved-telling the stories that mattered to the Auburn family.
Rest easy, PMarsh. You’ve earned it.