Everyone's favorite Idahoan will take the stage in mere moments.
Rain and storms rage outside the CFHOF. Interesting.
*****
Harsin laughs gleefully as he strides to the podium. It's raining. He thinks it's funny.
He memorializes Buddy Davidson, aka BUDDY D, who passed away earlier this week. The guy was an absolute Auburn legend. "He saw every game, home and away, for 61 years."
On February: "There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable. It was unfounded. It presented an opportunity for people to personally attack me and my family. And also our program. And it didn't work."
"What it did ... it united our football team. I'm really proud of our guys ... for how they stepped up and handled it. They're here and they're doing a fantastic job."
"If you want any more information on it, go Google it."
He speaks fondly of Derick Hall, John Samuel Shenker, Tank Bigsby.
He says of Tank: "His work ethic is second to none."
"I'm very fortunate to work with fantastic people and work with fantastic kids."
NOW IT'S QUESTION TIME, KIDS.
Dude asks about what Hars learned in Year One. He says self-evaluation is key to growth. "For myself, just being a leader, being the head football coach ... how did I do those things? How did I lead? The vision I provided ... was it executed? In a lot of ways, yes, but there are ways to improve."
Notes that they brought in some new coaches, new players through the portal.
"My biggest take from last season ... as we build, we've got to continue to lay out the expectations. We're bringing some guys in that are helping to make that happen as well."
"Anybody who thinks they've got it all figured out — they're wrong."
Dude asks about what's harder ... harder to put together a football team or a car. "There's a lot less pressure rebuilding a car. Building cars, being around cars, is what I grew up with and what I enjoy doing. Our football team is my focus."
He says he enjoys doing the HUDDLE WITH HARS® podcast. says he spends four or five (!!) hours doing it. "We've got fantastic people — and that's really the reason behind it."
He speaks of the team's identity, but doesn't explain the identity.
My friend @TWRMikeG21 asks about that identity and also how he fights against negative recruiting. "The message is: Watch. We get to go out there and play. You have the opportunity to go out there and settle the score. There is a great energy in our program right now. There's alignment within our program. Now we've got to put a product on the field that players want to be a part of."
More on the team's identity: "We're all about development ... so when they leave, they're ready to go on and be successful. That's one of the best gifts you can give anybody."
Dude asks him about assistant coach Ike Hilliard: "Immediate impact. Ike is one of those individuals that has a presence about him. You know he knows what he's talking about. Everything those guys want to do, Ike's done it. This guy is phenomenal. I love his energy ... enthusiasm ... everything he brings to the table."
Dude asks about Zach Calzada. "Zach has been awesome." (He said a lot more stuff, too, but it's usual stuff.)
Dude asks about AU's schedule and the first five games being at home. "It's great to be in Jordan-Hare Stadium. When we were flying over here ... we were talking about difference places they've played. Our stadium, I don't think there's a better one in the country. We're excited about it and we're looking forward ... to those five games at home. Hopefully, we've having success through those five games. That stretch (away from home), that's the one that determines ... who's going to be in those playoff games."
My friend Joe Goodman asks about the February inquiry. Oops. "Anytime we're going backward and talking about the past, we're not in the present and we're not talking about the future. This has brought our team closer."
Dude asks about Texas and their learning curve when they join the league. "I've always appreciated people who were part of their program. When it comes time ... who knows by then, there could be a few more changes ... we're bringing two really good programs into this conference."
Dude asks Pat Dye getting the Iron Bowl back to Auburn (question from a UGA reporter): "Everybody I've talked to thought that was the right move. What Pat Dye did, making that happen ... I don't think you get that in another venue. Everybody knows ... what the Iron Bowl is. If you watch college football, you know that game. People are going to be viewing that. It's just different."
The effervescent Bob Holt asks about playing Arkansas last season and then changing coordinators. "We were very fortunate to win that game. The second half of the season didn't go our way, but there are reasons why. Right now, Jeff Schmedding and Eric Kiesau ... I do know them, but they're very qualified to be in the roles they're in."
He says of Schmedding: "Is one of the best football coaches I've ever coached with. He knows the game. He prepares himself as well as I've ever seen. He's one of those guys as a head coach that you don't have to worry about. It's more important to him than it is me."
He says of Kiesau: "He can organize people. He can align people. He can get his vision across very clearly."
He also lauds Roc Bellantoni, the special teams coordinator.
"You just want to be surrounded by people like that ... who are driven and motivated."
OUR OWN @Henry Patton asks if there's a position group that will shock people this year. "I like our tight ends. That's a part of what we do in our offense. I'm excited where the O-line is at. That's a group that, since I got to Auburn, has been under the microscope. We'll see where our secondary ends up. We've got some good, young players there."
Nubyjas from AL.COM asks about his spring barnstorming tour and keeping the UGA and Ala games going. "Anytime you're with Bruce Pearl, it's fun. I wouldn't say there was a bad one. Bruce and I, Cole Cubelic, Andy Burcham ... those are always a good time. That's an important part of what we do."
On scheduling UGA and Ala: "Those games ... go back. It's Georgia and Auburn. There's history. Alabama-Auburn. There's history. Our players are excited about playing those teams. And they really fit into our footprint in recruiting. Those are important games for Auburn ... those are the games where if ... you win those games, it changes your season."
That's a WRAP.
-30-
Rain and storms rage outside the CFHOF. Interesting.
*****
Harsin laughs gleefully as he strides to the podium. It's raining. He thinks it's funny.
He memorializes Buddy Davidson, aka BUDDY D, who passed away earlier this week. The guy was an absolute Auburn legend. "He saw every game, home and away, for 61 years."
On February: "There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable. It was unfounded. It presented an opportunity for people to personally attack me and my family. And also our program. And it didn't work."
"What it did ... it united our football team. I'm really proud of our guys ... for how they stepped up and handled it. They're here and they're doing a fantastic job."
"If you want any more information on it, go Google it."
He speaks fondly of Derick Hall, John Samuel Shenker, Tank Bigsby.
He says of Tank: "His work ethic is second to none."
"I'm very fortunate to work with fantastic people and work with fantastic kids."
NOW IT'S QUESTION TIME, KIDS.
Dude asks about what Hars learned in Year One. He says self-evaluation is key to growth. "For myself, just being a leader, being the head football coach ... how did I do those things? How did I lead? The vision I provided ... was it executed? In a lot of ways, yes, but there are ways to improve."
Notes that they brought in some new coaches, new players through the portal.
"My biggest take from last season ... as we build, we've got to continue to lay out the expectations. We're bringing some guys in that are helping to make that happen as well."
"Anybody who thinks they've got it all figured out — they're wrong."
Dude asks about what's harder ... harder to put together a football team or a car. "There's a lot less pressure rebuilding a car. Building cars, being around cars, is what I grew up with and what I enjoy doing. Our football team is my focus."
He says he enjoys doing the HUDDLE WITH HARS® podcast. says he spends four or five (!!) hours doing it. "We've got fantastic people — and that's really the reason behind it."
He speaks of the team's identity, but doesn't explain the identity.
My friend @TWRMikeG21 asks about that identity and also how he fights against negative recruiting. "The message is: Watch. We get to go out there and play. You have the opportunity to go out there and settle the score. There is a great energy in our program right now. There's alignment within our program. Now we've got to put a product on the field that players want to be a part of."
More on the team's identity: "We're all about development ... so when they leave, they're ready to go on and be successful. That's one of the best gifts you can give anybody."
Dude asks him about assistant coach Ike Hilliard: "Immediate impact. Ike is one of those individuals that has a presence about him. You know he knows what he's talking about. Everything those guys want to do, Ike's done it. This guy is phenomenal. I love his energy ... enthusiasm ... everything he brings to the table."
Dude asks about Zach Calzada. "Zach has been awesome." (He said a lot more stuff, too, but it's usual stuff.)
Dude asks about AU's schedule and the first five games being at home. "It's great to be in Jordan-Hare Stadium. When we were flying over here ... we were talking about difference places they've played. Our stadium, I don't think there's a better one in the country. We're excited about it and we're looking forward ... to those five games at home. Hopefully, we've having success through those five games. That stretch (away from home), that's the one that determines ... who's going to be in those playoff games."
My friend Joe Goodman asks about the February inquiry. Oops. "Anytime we're going backward and talking about the past, we're not in the present and we're not talking about the future. This has brought our team closer."
Dude asks about Texas and their learning curve when they join the league. "I've always appreciated people who were part of their program. When it comes time ... who knows by then, there could be a few more changes ... we're bringing two really good programs into this conference."
Dude asks Pat Dye getting the Iron Bowl back to Auburn (question from a UGA reporter): "Everybody I've talked to thought that was the right move. What Pat Dye did, making that happen ... I don't think you get that in another venue. Everybody knows ... what the Iron Bowl is. If you watch college football, you know that game. People are going to be viewing that. It's just different."
The effervescent Bob Holt asks about playing Arkansas last season and then changing coordinators. "We were very fortunate to win that game. The second half of the season didn't go our way, but there are reasons why. Right now, Jeff Schmedding and Eric Kiesau ... I do know them, but they're very qualified to be in the roles they're in."
He says of Schmedding: "Is one of the best football coaches I've ever coached with. He knows the game. He prepares himself as well as I've ever seen. He's one of those guys as a head coach that you don't have to worry about. It's more important to him than it is me."
He says of Kiesau: "He can organize people. He can align people. He can get his vision across very clearly."
He also lauds Roc Bellantoni, the special teams coordinator.
"You just want to be surrounded by people like that ... who are driven and motivated."
OUR OWN @Henry Patton asks if there's a position group that will shock people this year. "I like our tight ends. That's a part of what we do in our offense. I'm excited where the O-line is at. That's a group that, since I got to Auburn, has been under the microscope. We'll see where our secondary ends up. We've got some good, young players there."
Nubyjas from AL.COM asks about his spring barnstorming tour and keeping the UGA and Ala games going. "Anytime you're with Bruce Pearl, it's fun. I wouldn't say there was a bad one. Bruce and I, Cole Cubelic, Andy Burcham ... those are always a good time. That's an important part of what we do."
On scheduling UGA and Ala: "Those games ... go back. It's Georgia and Auburn. There's history. Alabama-Auburn. There's history. Our players are excited about playing those teams. And they really fit into our footprint in recruiting. Those are important games for Auburn ... those are the games where if ... you win those games, it changes your season."
That's a WRAP.
-30-
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