NASHVILLE – After Friday's 63-14 win over Purdue in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, it was clear that Auburn was playing for its senior class. That group kept coming up time and time again during post-game interviews.
"We did it for the seniors," defensive end Big Kat Bryant said.
"It's the right way to send the seniors off," added safety Jeremiah Dinson. "I'm happy for them."
"I just wanted to make sure Dontavius (Russell), Andrew (Williams), Deshaun (Davis), Darrell (Williams) and (Montavious) Atkinson went out on a bang," defensive lineman Marlon Davidson said.
It might not have been the season they all had envisioned back in August, but that didn't matter Friday or in the weeks leading up to the bowl game. All that mattered was that they finish their careers on a high note and play one final game that they will always remember.
Mission accomplished. None of the seniors will forget this Music City Bowl and the record-setting performance put on by the Tigers.
"It means everything to me because I know what this team has been through," senior linebacker Deshaun Davis said. "Our senior class, we've been through a lot. We wanted to send those young guys into next season with a lot of momentum. We didn't want them to have that bad taste in their mouth. This win is good for the program, not just the seniors."
Wow ... it's come to an end 😫 I'll miss playing in front of you guys ‼️Auburn I will forever love you‼️ Thank you for the love, thank you for the memories, thank you for the best years of my life!!! #WarEagleForever
— ⭐️Deshaun Davis⭐ (@_Davis_Boy12) December 29, 2018
It was a sweet send-off for quarterback Jarrett Stidham, too.
Though he's not a senior, Stidham was also playing his last game at Auburn after the junior signal caller declared early for the NFL draft earlier in the month. And while there were plenty of ups and downs this season, he played arguably his best game Friday as he went 15 of 21 for 373 yards and set a new Auburn bowl record with five touchdown passes.
In a game he could've easily chosen to sit out, Stidham was named the MVP.
"I mean, it's nice personally to have a great day," he said. "But for me, at the end of the day, it was all about the team. In my short two years here, I've grown so close to these guys. I could never imagine not finishing the season with them. I'm happy, more than happy, I came back to play in this bowl game with these guys. It's been a tremendous honor to play with each and every one of them."
Stidham, who was criticized at times this season, will finish his career sixth among Auburn's all-time passing leaders with 5,891 yards and fourth in program history with 470 career completions.
"Obviously this season didn't go the way we wanted," Stidham said. "Lots of ups and downs. But we found a way. When it mattered at the end of the year, to find a way to get it done and win the right way, I'm happy to be an Auburn Tiger."
It was Stidham and the senior class that held it together when things looked bleak this season, and they were rewarded Friday with a bowl win that will stay with them forever.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @greg_ostendorf