ATLANTA – Auburn kicked off the 2023 AMBUSH tour Tuesday in a city that's home to thousands of alumni and some of the most fertile recruiting ground in college athletics.
"From a recruiting standpoint, this has been unbelievable for us," said men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, referencing stars such as Jabari Smith, Walker Kessler and Isaac Okoro. "They play great basketball here. We've had six players from Atlanta drafted in the last six years. If you do a good job with them, you can keep coming back. It's great to be here to thank our fans for all their support."
Pearl, a veteran of Auburn's annual spring alumni circuit, welcomed athletic director John Cohen and football coach Hugh Freeze for their AMBUSH debuts in front of more than 200 guests.
"Atlanta is huge, football-wise," Freeze said. "We've got to build the majority of our team from the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida. Within the Atlanta area, there are so many SEC-caliber players. We've got win our share of battles here.
"Anytime we can get here and continue to enhance or build new relationships with the Auburn family who are going to carry the War Eagle banner around town, it's always a very positive step."
Monday will mark six months on the Plains for Cohen, who came to Auburn from his alma mater, Mississippi State.
"It's been a tremendous experience," Cohen said. "It's everything I thought it would be and more. It is a special place. When you get inside, you realize it is everything that you heard. It's a happy place with a great vibe and the people are so welcoming. I can't imagine living anywhere else."
Andy Burcham, the Voice of the Auburn Tigers, moderated a discussion between Pearl, Freeze, Cohen, men's golf coach Nick Clinard and equestrian coach Greg Williams.
"Just being around Auburn people and talking about Auburn is my favorite thing," said Williams, who has led the Tigers to six SEC championships, six national championships and a runner-up finish in 2023. "To get to talk about our girls, coming off a great season. We still feel the sting of a final loss, but it was a great year, great team and a super bright future."
Men's golf will host an NCAA Regional May 15-17.
"It's fantastic," Clinard said. "It's an opportunity to play at the Auburn University Club, sleep in our own beds, be comfortable in your environment, you know where everything is. It's a great opportunity to get out and compete and welcome teams to our great city of Auburn."
The AMBUSH tour continues Thursday in Huntsville and wraps up with stops in Nashville on May 16 and LaGrange, Georgia, on May 17.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Auburn kicks off AMBUSH tour in Atlanta
