AUBURN, Ala. – While at SEC Media Days in Atlanta, we talked with the likes of Ryan McGee (ESPN), Andy Staples (The Athletic), Cole Cubelic (SEC Network) and Takeo Spikes (SEC Network) about the upcoming season, what makes Jordan-Hare Stadium the toughest place to play in the league and the growing buzz around Tank Bigsby.
Q: What is the outlook for Auburn in 2022?
Cole Cubelic, SEC Network: "A lot of the kids have taken that 'Us against the world' mentality. Some of that was going to happen either way with where the media is going to select them because it will most likely be sixth or seventh in the division. I can remember. We were picked to finish last in the division at Media Days in 2000, and we won the division. It can happen. Crazier things have happened. And I think there are some pieces in place."
Ryan McGee, ESPN: "The best thing that happens to Auburn football is when we don't expect a lot from them. I'm talking about we as in the national crew. Because you think about the history of Auburn football, the greatest seasons I would argue happened in years where maybe our expectations weren't that high. And they caught us all off guard. So, I think there's some juju there. And for all the pain that the winter was – when I talk to Bryan Harsin, what I hear is the best thing that can happen to a locker room is an event or a common enemy. They've got all that now. And so, I think there's focus there that maybe wasn't there when they were in the middle of everything last fall."
Takeo Spikes, SEC Network: "I've been through coaching changes. When you're accustomed to a certain guy who has created a culture that had been there for several years and then you have somebody new coming in, you're going to have resistance. I think (Harsin) feels like he has it at a point now to where all of the guys, especially the student-athletes, they have bought in and they want to be there and they want to do whatever it takes to get the nasty taste out of their mouth from last year."
Andy Staples, The Athletic: "If you wanted to do something to galvanize the locker room and the coaching staff, they've probably done that. How that all works out, I don't know because that schedule is pretty brutal. And Bryan Harsin mentioned that in the main room. Is there any easy schedule in the SEC? There's not. But especially when you're brining in Penn State and you play an SEC West schedule and Georgia is your annual opponent. It's tough. If you're Bryan Harsin, there's not much you can do except do the best job you can and then let the chips fall where they may. It certainly seems like that is the attitude he's taking. I'm very interested to see how that works out."
Q: What makes the atmosphere at Jordan-Hare Stadium so unique?
Cubelic: "Passion from the fans has to be there, first and foremost. No matter where you're going to go, it's got to be loud. If it's not loud, then you're never going to classify it as that. But there are obviously a couple of other really cool traditions at Auburn. When that eagle flies before the game, I don't think there's anything like that in college football. The fans do an awesome job. People might say it's a little corny, but I think Auburn's band is incredible. That does a lot going toward getting people involved, how it sounds, how it feels. It helped me when I played there, but that's usually not how we decipher places to play. People want to hear about how it worked against you, and I've heard Trevor Knight and Greg McElroy and other guys say it's the toughest place they've played. If I get opponents to tell me that, then I believe that it's the most difficult place in the SEC to play."
McGee: "There's an energy. Auburn is a true college town, and there's just a difference. It's not just about Jordan-Hare. To me, it's about when you hit the town limits on Friday. I went to Auburn twice last year. When we rolled in, you felt it at lunch time on Friday. From there, it kind of builds toward the 'War Eagle.' It kind of builds toward the team hitting the field. It builds toward the actual game. For me, that's what it's about. It's not just about those few hours in the stadium. It's about everything around it."
Spikes: "I know Texas A&M is considered the 12th Man, but you really feel like, 'We coming out here on the field today, and I know my people got my back.' That's the comfort level that Auburn provides for all of the players. The atmosphere is exciting. Going back, they didn't have this when I was there, but the eagle flying around and coming down on the middle of the field. I think all of that matters. When you look around and you see nobody is sitting down, that's something I never want people to take for granted because that's how strong the tradition is."
Q: There's been a lot of buzz around Tank Bigsby. What makes him special?
Cubelic: "You just don't get a lot of guys at his size that can run you over, can run through tackles, and then have the ability to run away from people as well. You mentioned growth. It's something that I've seen, not just this offseason, but his entire career. He developed a little bit more patience, he worked his vision, he has a better understanding of what the offense needs from him. And if they get that stretch play going this year, which I know will be a point of emphasis, he's a guy that is perfect to take that thing toward the sideline, put one foot in the ground and get north and south. There are not many guys in college football I'd rather have to be able to ride toward that than Tank Bigsby."
McGee: "He's the X Factor. You think about these seasons we talk about with Auburn where maybe we didn't expect a lot, and then Cam Newton happens, right? We didn't expect a lot, and then all of a sudden, we get a season or a game out of a player we didn't expect. We all know Tank is good, but I think he's sneaky great. And so, he's the key. And he knows that."
Staples: "Hearing the other players say that Tank is the most improved player on the roster – he was already pretty good – that's very exciting to think about: what he could do. I've always loved the way he runs. When he was a freshman the first couple times he got the ball, you looked at him like, 'Woah, this guy could be awesome.' The fact that he's now got that much experience under his belt and kind of understands what his place is and what his role is on the team and what he is as a leader – and now he's auditioning for the next level, really – that's a lot to put together with the incredible package of physical tools he already has. You've got to be excited about that."
