We're back. We've got Auburn and UMass this weekend, toe meets leather at 2:30 p.m.
LIST OF AFFILIATES AND LINKS
• PREDICTION: Candor!
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HUGH is here right off the field. He blows his whistle to prove that he just got off the field. GUFFAWS ALL AROUND.
He says the love Auburn people have for Auburn football is "second to none."
On preparations: "They're ready. It's hard for me, this time of year, to not be anxious. We've got so many new faces, new people. It's time for us to find out and then start improving."
NOT ANDY asks about what practices are like on Thursdays. "It's family night for us. I give the staff ... an assignment to do with their families, especially ones with young children. It really just creates conversation around the table, which I think is missing. Thursday (practices) should be pretty mistake-free."
ANDY asks about Friday. Hugh says landmarks and special teams are the areas of emphasis, they go in tshirts and shorts. "I'm big on not having a team on the field that looks tired. Friday night, they can be loose at the meal. We'll have a lot of meetings tomorrow night and then have our last walk-through on Saturday before we get on the bus."
***COMMERCIAL BREAK***
ANDY asks about Jarquez. "I don't really make a comment on players ... who's playing and who's not. Let's keep it like that."
HERB is in the house. He likes fast offense. Will we see that? "If you don't, there's a problem. When I was at Ole Miss, we were probably the fastest team in the country. It hurt our defense. How often we go fast (Saturday) is based on how our defense is playing."
ANDY asks about play-calling duties. "It's going to be a combination. He's really helped me a lot and freed me up to recruit more. If things are going well, I'm all for staying out of it. There are certain situations I want to be in charge of. We have a good plan for that. I expect (Philip Montgomery) to call the majority of them."
JULI/JULIE is in the house. She wants to know about if it's good (for Auburn) that UMass played last week. "I'd probably say it's more advantageous for them to get the kinks out. I don't think it's a huge advantage."
ANDY asks about the UMass defense. "Chaos. Tons of overloads and confusion. The chance of them having some negative plays are pretty good. You're going to get a call wrong on the offensive line from time to time. It can happen."
LELAND is in the house. He is young and brave to ask a question. He asks about the best part of Hugh's job. "The Auburn fans and the Auburn people."
***COMMERCIAL BREAK***
ANDY asks about the UMass film. What did Hugh see? "Totally different (offense.) It starts at quarterback. Last year, they were a top-10 defense in the country ... but they couldn't score. You just didn't fear them throwing the ball very much. Certainly, with his legs and the trailback transfers and the receiver transfers ... their skill people have made them a different unit for sure."
WALKER is in the house. He wants to know about Payton Thorne. "I thought he looked good today. We've missed on some deep shots in practice that I sure hope we don't miss on (Saturday). Roddy has thrown it well this week, too."
MICHAEL is in the house. He has two questions. The better one is how many times he's lost to @BrianStultz in golf. "Brian has never beaten me straight-up in golf. That's the way I remember it."
BUSTER is in the house. He says this place reeks of optimism. He then mentions Tiger Walk being fun. He doesn't have a question. "I can't wait to experience that. I sense the hope and the optimism.I so badly want to offer you a product ... that keeps up that optimism. How quickly can we do that? I don't know that we're deep enough at every spot. If you give us time ... we're going to get it done for you."
***COMMERICAL BREAK***
SCOTT/SCOT is in the house. He's in from DC. He wants to know if High can see the eagle fly on Satutday. "When does that happen. Seventeen minutes (before the game?) Hmmm. I'd love to see that. I'm going to try my best."
SCOTT gets a $10 gift certificate for that question for some reason. OK.
NOT ANDY asks about what Hugh does right before he runs out of the tunnel. "I don't get really uptight. I'll be anxious and ready to go. The one thing I think I have on game day is ... I'm (the players') biggest fan unless they do something selfish. I'm looking forward to seeing what our kids do."
ANDY asks if Hugh is a rah-rah guy. "Yeah, I kinda am. That would be my go-to."
NOT ANDY asks if Hugh wasn't here, what would be his ideal date-night with Jill. "We don't date during football season. Our ideal Thursday night ... we'd grill a burger. We'd have a burger, sit on the back porch for a minute and watch football together. I'm not the most romantic guy during football season."
ANDY asks if Hugh has family in town. "I don't think we have room to sleep anymore else. (GUFFAWS ALL AROUND) We've got a house full, a pool house, Reagan's house, Jordan's house. They've just got to get out of here pretty quick afterward because I have to move on."
HUGH FREEZE ends with a quiet yet confident WAR EAGLE to close.
Good show. So much better than we've had the past 15 years.
See you Saturday.
BE GOOD. BE YOU.
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