AUBURN, Ala. – Night games at Jordan-Hare Stadium exemplify the pageantry of college football.
Next Game:
Texas A&M
Nov. 12, 2022
6:30.m. CT
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
This week's matchup features an extra jolt of adrenaline, the first home game for Auburn interim head coach Carnell Williams.
Go crazy, Cadillac.
"I don't know how I am going to feel," Williams said. "I do know I have a job to do to get this team ready to play, get these guys prepared and lead these guys.
"I know I can't make this about me, but I am going to sit in the moment, and I am going to enjoy it. I am excited and honored for that moment."
In Williams' head coaching debut last week at Mississippi State, the Tigers showed resilience, overcoming a 21-point deficit by taking the lead twice in the fourth quarter before falling 39-33 in overtime.
"That was Auburn football," Williams said. "I told those guys what we lack in numbers or talent, we can make that up with our effort. We can make that up by being precise and being disciplined. They were relentless. They played together and they did their job, and the main thing was with effort."
Two teams desperate for a win will meet Saturday night on Pat Dye Field. Auburn and Texas A&M share identical records: 3-6 overall, 1-5 in the SEC. Not where they want to be, not where they expected to be.
After the shockwaves of last week's coaching staff shuffle, Williams, co-offensive coordinators Will Friend and Ike Hilliard, tight ends coach Joe Bernardi, quarterbacks coach Mike Hartline and offensive line coach Kendall Simmons are each adjusting to new roles.
"This is a different animal," Williams said. "Knowing that all that responsibility falls on me, and I am truly making the decisions, is a lot. I thank God for my staff. I don't know it all. I'm still learning, and I am leaning and depending on my guys, my coaching staff. They know that. I thought overall it was not bad for my first time."
The Tigers and Aggies kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network on Military Appreciation Day on the Plains in what figures to be a memorable night at sold out Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Three questions with OL Kameron Stutts
Q: Go back to last Saturday. What changed at halftime?
A: I don't know how much of a change it really was. It was so much of us continuing to fight. Coach Cadillac talked all week about serving each other, and I think we did a really good job of coming out and continuing to fight for each other and fighting for him and fighting for the coaches. I think everybody did a really good job of that.
Q: What has it been like with Coach Williams now in charge? How have you adapted?
A: It's been a tough week. Going through that kind of stuff is always tough, but I think Coach Lac has done a really job along with the other coaches stepping up into their roles and doing the things that they have to do. The players have done a really good job adapting to it and continuing to work. I think the message has been to serve each other. We're doing this for each other. We've got three games left. Just continue to work for each other.
Q: Saturday's game is sold out. There's a lot of buzz around town. How excited are you about this Texas A&M game and playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium?
A: I know the atmosphere is going to be crazy. I'm excited about that. We haven't been home in a couple weeks, so getting to do that will be fun. I know the fans will be jumping. I know they're excited about it. Just getting to go out there and compete with my teammates will be a great time. Tiger Walk is always great, but running out of the tunnel, especially during a night game, is always crazy. I know that's going to be fun.
Inside the Series: Texas A&M
Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Auburn 7-5. The teams first met in Dallas in 1911, a 16-0 Texas A&M victory and played again in Dallas at the end of the 1985 season in the 1986 Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day (a 36-16 Texas A&M win).
Prior to Auburn's 28-14 win at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2018, the visiting team had won every matchup since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012. The trend continued in 2019 when the Tigers were a 28-20 winner at Texas, but the Aggies have won the last two, including a 20-3 victory in College Station last season.
By the Numbers
100: Robby Ashford rushed for 108 and two touchdowns at Mississippi State, becoming the first Auburn quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since Nick Marshall did it at Mississippi State in 2014. Ashford also ranks fourth in the SEC and 13th nationally in passing yards per completion, averaging 14.02 yards per completion.
2,614: Tank Bigsby has cracked the top 10 among Auburn's career rushing leaders. The junior ranks 10th with 2,614 career yards, passing Onterio McCalebb (2,586 from 2009-12) last week. Bigsby leads the SEC with six rushes of 30 yards or more.
8: First-year defensive lineman Jeffrey M'Ba recorded his first forced fumble and first career sack at Auburn in Saturday's clash with Mississippi State. Eight Auburn defenders now have sacks to their credit this season. Sixteen have had a hand in at least one TFL.
59: Senior tight end John Samuel Shenker has tied T.D. Moultry's school record appearing in 59 career games. He can break the record Saturday against Texas A&M.