Always a dandy.
LIST OF AFFILIATES AND LINKS
PREDICTION: With three consecutive losses in the rear-view mirror, I expect a lot of positivity.
*****
ZACCHEUS "ZAC" ETHERIDGE is on the mic. He coaches defensive backs. He is a former Auburn safety who signed with the Tigers out of Charles Henderson HS in Troy, Ala. He suffered a serious neck injury during a home game against Ole Miss late in his career. We all thought he wouldn't play again, but he did. His hometown is very proud of Zac. He's a very tough individual.
(Not Andy is the only guy today; Andy is in the Bahamas.)
On Iron Bowl memories: "Growing up in this state ... the Iron Bowl is something you always wanted to be a part of. The one that sticks out was the year we won the national championship."
On the 2010 Iron Bowl, biggest play: Antoine Carter running down Mark Ingram, forcing the fumble and former Tallassee Tiger Demond Washington getting the recovery.
On the 2010 team being honored before the game: "It would be really exciting to see some of those former teammates before the game."
On talking about the rivalry with the players: "There's a lot of guys who know about this rivalry. It's about playing for each other. No records dictate what this game can be. Do what you've got to do to win."
On the defensive backs having some troubles of late: "Just the discipline. Getting lined up fast, getting your eyes in the right spot ... and keeping everything in front of us."
On Ro Torrence: "Just seeing his body and his mindset and growth over time ... his development through time ... I'm really excited about what he's done."
On Alabama '21: "They do a great job of putting the ball in their playmakers' hands. They mix in the run game in to make sure you honor it."
On coaching Roger McCreary: "Roger is a guy ... he's very quiet. He doesn't say much, but he comes in there to work. He wants to go against the best guys. He's trying to do his job every single play. He's got that dog in him."
**COMMERCIAL BREAK**
CHANDLER WOOTEN is on the mic. He plays linebacker at Auburn.
On his biggest area of growth on the field since arrival: "My love for the game, my maturity."
On his biggest area of growth off the field since arrival: "I'd say my maturity again. Having a son — it changes your perspective on life. I have a whole new outlook on life."
On beating Alabama in '17 and '19: "We knew it was going to be a fight coming into (those) games. If we can lock in this week, we'll give ourselves a chance to win."
On the 1-0 mantra: "That simplifies it for a lot of people. You can simplify it and understand that the winning is in your preparation."
On his aspirations: "My ultimate goal is to be a coach one day. I just want to impact others and pay it forward."
His mom, Sandra, does all the cooking. Chandler loves the sweet potato pie!
**COMMERCIAL BREAK**
BRYAN HARSIN is on the mic. He's the head coach of the Auburn Tigers.
On the team's schedule: Too mundane to quote.
On coaching in the Iron Bowl: "This is one of the games everybody knows during the year is being played. You're going to tune in. It is a game that you want to be in. It is a game you want to have an opportunity to coach in. I've always wanted to coach in a game like this. That's why you take the chances to be at a place like this."
"We've got to be prepared to (play) at the highest level."
On the 1-0 mantra: "It's one game — like every single week. We know what game were playing in, but it's really about that mentality. It's about waking up and deciding that you're going to prove yourself again. Also, have a little fun, too. We have to make sure we enjoy it. Finish the game, finish each and every play like we know we're capable of."
Julie/Juli emails us from Arizona. She wants to know if there is an opponent where you beat them and it makes everything better. He mentions a rivalry between Boise State and Idaho. "That went away over time as those teams changed conferences."
**COMMERCIAL BREAK**
On what lessons can be applied to this game: "You ... need to be able to explode on offense at times. You've got to take your shots 1-on-1 and then you have to hit those."
He notes that Alabama QB Bryce Young is a problem in the run game as well.
Rocky emails us from Georgia. He wants to know how players and coaches use losses to trigger growth. "When you don't win, you still wake up the next day. People still love you. At the same time, there's a responsibility to the team aspect. You look back and you need to really reflect ... if I didn't get it done, what did I do to cause that result. If we get into a position where we don't own it ... then we're not growing and developing. Most of our guys do that."
**COMMERCIAL BREAK**
Matt emails us from Jacksonville, Ala. He wants to know how halftime adjustments work. "You have your stuff and you have your counters to it. You also have second-half openers — maybe a new coverage or a new blitz. Overall, the second half comes back to execution. As the game goes on, you should get better and the execution should be more on-point than it was in the first half. We've got another week to work on it."
On taking advantage of players being on (school) break this week. "There is more time for work. We make sure everybody has a place to go (for Thanksgiving). There's a lot to be thankful for. Auburn is a great place. We have great people here."
On Thanksgiving at the Harsin home: "I used to eat a lot of pumpkin pie. I've had a lot in my day."
Harsin offers a firm "War Eagle" to close.
BE GOOD. BE YOU.
Let's make great decisions out there.
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