AUBURN, Ala. – For senior offensive tackle Jack Driscoll the journey from his home in Connecticut, to UMass, and then to Auburn was an unexpected one, but he is now proud to be a part of the Auburn Family.
After graduating at UMass in three years with a hospitality and tourism management degree, Driscoll opted to use his final two seasons of eligibility on The Plains while pursuing an MBA. That decision was in large part because of Auburn's amazing football history and the chance to win a championship.
"It was my top choice," Driscoll said. "The coaches truly care about the players and helping us get to where we want to go."
Driscoll also loved Auburn as a town and enjoyed the small town feel of the community. With Auburn over 1,000 miles away from his hometown of Madison, Connecticut, he was looking for strong relationships with the other players. When he visited campus, he quickly found that bond with teammates Jarrett Stidham and Tucker Brown.
"Those guys really made me feel like I fit in and taught me about the Auburn experience as a whole," Driscoll said.
Stidham and Brown have both moved on, but Driscoll still has one year left. It's his time to give back to Auburn and the fans for all the support he has received.
It's not just Driscoll, though. The entire senior class has made a commitment to work as hard as they can to make this last year a special season for them to remember. The goal is to win the SEC Championship, and they know that will take hard work. It will also take a group of low-ego guys who care about the team, and this year's team is filled with those type of players.
The goal for Driscoll, individually, is to be the best he can for the team. Being on the offensive line, he enjoys being part of a selfless unit that doesn't get the most attention or notoriety but is necessary for the team to win.
That low-key attitude starts as soon as Driscoll arrives at the stadium on game day. For the 6-foot-5, 296-pound offensive lineman, pregame is not about getting hyped up as much as it's a time to get focused and relaxed. His go-to pregame music is a wide range of genres that includes artists such as Future, Flume and Kygo. But as the game gets closer, he likes to tone it down with music from the Allman Brothers and the Beatles.
The only poster currently hanging in his room? The Beatles.
Believe it or not, football wasn't Driscoll's only love growing up. As a native of New England, he also played and enjoyed lacrosse. But there was something about the camaraderie of football that made him enjoy it more and turn his focus that direction in college.
And though Auburn doesn't have an official lacrosse team, that doesn't mean that Driscoll hasn't embraced other sports since he's been on campus. Sure, you can see him on the football field every Saturday in the fall. But he also enjoys watching gymnastics meets and basketball games. He's especially proud of the men's basketball team for the historic season they just had.
When his time at Auburn is up, Driscoll hopes to get his shot playing in the NFL – a lifelong dream of his. He says he simply wants to keep playing football as long as he can. However, if football doesn't work out, he is also interested in finance and financial markets because he grew up not far from New York City.
Auburn is not quite New York City, but there's an authenticity about it that's unmatched.
"Everyone is like a close-knit family," Driscoll said. "The people on campus, alumni and fans truly care about your success and well-being."
To those Auburn fans, Driscoll wants to say thank you for the support through all the ups and downs. The team truly does play for its fans because it is a family, and there's no better evidence of that than attending a home football game on The Plains.
"When Jordan-Hare gets rocking, there is no place like it," Driscoll said.