Dec. 21, 2016
By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - For Carnell Williams, it was fitting that Auburn wore its home uniforms in the 2005 Sugar Bowl. Cadillac says it felt like a home game.
"It was awesome to be playing inside the Superdome," said Williams, Auburn's record-holder with 45 career rushing touchdowns. "Seeing all of the Auburn people. Seeing all of the fans. It was loud. It was ecstatic. The feeling was very rare, overwhelming. Auburn fans are going to support their team. There was a lot more orange and blue than there was the maroon of the Virginia Tech people."
Auburn beat Virginia Tech 16-13 to complete a 13-0 season, earning a No. 2 national ranking.
Four months later, Williams was one of four Auburn players picked in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, along with Ronnie Brown, Carlos Rogers and Sugar Bowl MVP Jason Campbell.
"The Sugar Bowl is an awesome bowl," said Williams, who rushed for 61 yards against the Hokies. "I think the Sugar Bowl people are fantastic hosts. Most of all, I can remember just being with the guys. Being undefeated and trying to close out that win in New Orleans. It brings back a lot of memories."
Bret Eddins, a senior defensive lineman on Auburn's 2004 SEC Championship team, has fond memories of the bowl trip, some clearer than others.
"A few of us got down there a night early to try and take in New Orleans as best we could, without having practice the next morning," Eddins said. "It probably took us 72 hours to recover from that one night. It was a great trip. I joke around when I tell folks about it. `I was told I had a great time on Bourbon Street.'
"You'd grown up hearing about the Sugar Bowl, and knowing how special it was, especially in the South. Then you get to be, in a way, the focal point of it. It takes on a life of its own. New Orleans, as a city, is an amazing place, and the Sugar Bowl is amazing. Getting to go down there and be one of the players in the Sugar Bowl was very exciting for everybody on the team, and all of the Auburn folks you spoke to. It was just a great trip and you're kind of the talk of the town anywhere you go. Everybody kind of knows you're one of the Sugar Bowl players, so everybody's eyes are on you."
Motivated by being left out of the Orange Bowl, which featured unbeaten USC and Oklahoma, the Tigers' leaders set the tone for their teammates.
"I do remember a lot of the older guys, Coach (Travis) Williams, and a lot of the defensive players especially, kind of making the point, `We're not in the BCS Championship game, but if we lose this game, if we overlook a very good Virginia Tech team, we're going to be an afterthought at best. So we really need to focus, and the Sugar Bowl is obviously a huge deal.'
"We were all really excited about that, regardless. I do think there was some sour taste left in some guys' mouths because of being overlooked by the voters even after putting up a historic season through the SEC. Especially on the defense, but even of the offense, a lot of times like we had a chip on our shoulder anyway that season. So it probably fit our personality pretty well."
Travis Williams was amazed by the Tiger Walk turnout at the 2005 Sugar Bowl." style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12326753.jpeg"> Travis Williams was amazed by the Tiger Walk turnout at the 2005 Sugar Bowl.
Travis Williams, Auburn's linebackers coach, says the 2005 Sugar Bowl Tiger Walk was one of the biggest in which he has participated.
"It was awesome. We have the best fans in college football. It's not even close," Williams said. "They travel to every game for Tiger Walks, rain or sun or cold, they're there. I'm very thankful for the fans that we have. They give us that extra boost when we're out there on the field. It's been great ever since I was a player. While I'm a coach, it's still great. That's one of the favorite parts of gameday for me."
Carnell Williams says Auburn's combination of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson reminds him of the 1-2 punch Cadillac and Ronnie Brown provided.
"As far as the running back position, Auburn is in really good shape," Carnell said. "I'm just looking forward to going, to see those guys and see how things turn out in the Sugar Bowl."
Eddins is impressed with Auburn's 2016 defense, which allows an average of only 15.6 points per game.
"Really enjoyed watching great defensive football again," he said. "You could tell that the guys have really taken to Coach (Kevin) Steele, and his teaching skills, the defenses he calls. Especially, just on the fundamental side, it seems like this group is a little more focused, a little sharper on the tackling, the coverage, making the smart play when it's there. Guys, for the most part, have stayed healthy. That's been a big part of it, being able to have all of those guys out there."
"Then you look at the kind of players they have, that Coach Malzahn has brought in, that the program helps build. They're great leaders, they're great kids. I've had the opportunity to meet a fair number of them. If they never played a down of sports, the vast majority of those kids would still be considered great kids. They're all going to be successful in life.
So it's been really fun just to watch it from a fan's perspective, and from somebody who's gotten to know a few of these kids, to see them have the success on the defensive side of the ball that we kind of knew as routine, but they're starting to see it now. Hopefully the younger guys on the team realize just how much hard work those guys have put in to get it to this level and what it takes to be really great at defense. The future is looking bright, so I'm excited about it."
Auburn won the 2005 Sugar Bowl to complete a 13-0 season in 2004." style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12326752.jpeg"> Auburn won the 2005 Sugar Bowl to complete a 13-0 season in 2004.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer