AUBURN, Ala. – Mamie Morgenstern knew just what to give her daughter for Mother's Day, a mother-daughter outing to the Auburn Football Women's Camp.
"I have enjoyed the personal contact and Kristi, Coach's wife," said Morgenstern, who traveled 50 miles from Wetumpka, Alabama.
Mamie and her daughter, Heather Catchings, were two of 500 participants Saturday in the sixth annual camp.
"I really like learning about how Coach Malzahn develops a play," Catchings said. "I know you can always armchair quarterback. It gives you perspective on what goes into the coaching. I really like that."
Catchings also enjoyed the equipment presentation by Auburn associate athletic director Dana Marquez in Auburn's locker room.
Associate athletic director Dana Marquez in Auburn's locker room
"The technology that goes into that," she said. "The scope is incredible. It really teaches you a lot about football. I'm a fan, but this is more hands on."
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and Director of Athletics Allen Greene welcomed the campers before director of strength and conditioning Ryan Russell led them in the same warmup as Auburn's football players.
"They're part of our Auburn family," Malzahn said. "Anytime you have a chance to interact with the Auburn family it's a really special thing. It's something all of our staff looks forward to each year."
The women divided into four groups for the afternoon sessions, taking turns hearing from coordinators Kevin Steele and Kenny Dillingham along with Auburn's assistant coaches.
After Gus Malzahn conducted a clinic on play-calling, his wife, Kristi, joined him for a question-and-answer session.
"I love the Q and A," Kristi Malzahn said. "It gives me an opportunity to let them in. It's good to know these moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters are out here supporting our boys."
Kristi and Gus Malzahn field questions from campers
In each session, campers asked Kristi about her gameday routine, which includes connecting with prospective student-athletes and their families.
"I don't think they always realize the amount of recruiting that the coaches' wives are involved in," she said. "They love to know how we balance things. I always laugh because, in SEC football, there's no balance. It's full throttle, all the time."
Many of the questions revealed an extensive football knowledge. "Are we going to base out of 20 personnel or 11 personnel?" one camper wondered.
Veteran SEC official Andy Britton updated campers on rule changes and outlined what a typical week consists of for Southeastern Conference officials, including pregame and postgame meetings and weekly evaluations.
"It allows us an opportunity to interact with the fans, to show that we're human and not just the zebra with the hat on," said Britton, in his ninth season officiating SEC games and his 19th in college football.
"The main goal is to communicate the rule changes so everyone is up to speed and very knowledgeable. It's not just 12 or 13 days a year where it's just the game, it's everything that goes into it, starting work in the spring, the physical and mental requirements of being an official, and how we apply that."
A lifelong Auburn fan, Montgomery native Linda Locklar concluded her day touring the locker room, which opened last season.
"Seeing the faces, and how friendly all of the coaching staff is, and getting a behind-the-scenes look, the access," Locklar said. "I'll be back."
So, too, will Mamie and Heather. The mother and daughter duo, both first-timers, said they intend to return in 2020 for the seventh annual camp.
"I can't think of one thing I don't like about it," Mamie said.
Heather, enjoying her Mother's Day gift, added, "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer