'A great experience' at Auburn football's women's camp

'A great experience' at Auburn football's women's camp'A great experience' at Auburn football's women's camp

AUBURN - One by one, Auburn's assistant coaches took turns addressing the crowd Saturday in the Tigers' indoor practice facility.

On explosive plays, yards after contact, blocking schemes, special teams, defensive philosophies and fundamentals.

At the end of the day, Gus Malzahn fielded questions, just as he had two days earlier at SEC Media Days in Atlanta.

But the occasion was not a coaches clinic or a press conference. It was Auburn's annual women's camp, the largest yet, with 600 attendees.

"I loved it. I'm a huge, huge football fan to begin with," said Janine Slick, who retired to nearby Dadeville, Alabama, after nearly 37 years at Auburn University as an information technology specialist.

"Just seeing what they do," she said. "Seeing the diagrams and everything, and having it explained. I sit in the upper deck, so I get to see the play develop. It's nice to be able to say, 'Oh, that's what they're doing.'"

Kristi Malzahn joined her husband on stage for a question-and-answer session to conclude the camp.

"One of our most fun days of the year," Kristi said. "I love every minute of it, because they get it. Best fans in the world."


Campers toured the Tiger Walk Club in the new Harbert Family Recruiting Center at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

The campers toured the weight room and the new Harbert Family Recruiting Center at Jordan-Hare Stadium, checking out the new locker room and Tiger Walk Club, a premium space offering indoor tailgating.

"To go into the new locker room and see how they've enhanced that and made that great for the players. It just looks so fresh," said Eileen Mitchell, who became an Auburn fan when she moved to Alabama 28 years ago when a friend told her she had to pick a side.

"I loved sitting in the team meeting room," Mitchell said. "That was just too cool. Now, every time I see that in the future, I'll know exactly where that was. I learned a lot."


Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn gave campers a tour of the Tigers' new locker room. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

The behind-the-scenes tour appealed to many of the campers.

"The fact that we have access to areas you normally don't," said Lyn Holt, whose parents attended Auburn games during the 1957 national championship season. "How nice all of the coaches are and how gracious they are. They thanked us every time they got up and spoke, telling us thank you for being here. It was a really nice day. The schedule was perfect. Everything was on time. Everything moved along beautifully and it's a great experience. We've just had an awesome time."


Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey shares coaching video at Auburn's women's camp. Photo: Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics

This was not a camp for novices. The football-savvy group included longtime season ticket holders and the mothers of several current Auburn football players.

"Auburn fans are pretty well educated about football," head coach Gus Malzahn said. "It was great to spend time with our Auburn family. It was a great group, great turnout and I really appreciate that."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer