AUBURN, Ala. – Starting his third preseason camp at Auburn, head coach Hugh Freeze challenged his team to embrace the upcoming grind.
“Once you get a depth chart that is close to equal to those that you’re playing, I do think culture and chemistry will make a difference,” Freeze said. “That’s something we work hard at and are very transparent with. Like I told them last night, why not go all in? For this given time, we have committed to be a family. We’ve committed to being a team.
“Being at Auburn University is a pretty dang good situation for a young man to have. It is a mental battle and it’s a mental game and I think the teams and staffs that do the best at changing the mindset to buy into that we’re a team for this given period of time and we get to represent one of the greatest universities and greatest fans in the country. Do not waste this moment and these moments that we have to stack these days to be prepared for these opportunities.”
At his annual summer retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains, Freeze came up with Auburn’s camp theme: expectant.
“We’re expectant of being a really good football team that competes in every game and has a chance to win every game,” he said. “Hopefully we’re better in those critical moments and we flip some of those close losses into wins, and we’re expectant of that.”
Preseason camp, says Freeze, plays a key role in developing confidence, hopefully leading to success on Saturdays.
“They are expectant and do have confidence, but it’s not until that confidence is credible that you really grow,” he said. “The only way for it to be credible is first to have success out here in fall camp, doing things and finding out that this is who we are, we can do this, and our players know we can do this.
“When it really takes off is when you have success in the win column. That’s what we have to do. This team really has a chance to be a really exciting team to watch. Right now they have a pretty good swagger about them. Hopefully, we can grow that throughout camp by the success we have, but really we need to go get a W and then they will really be confident.”
Auburn’s first opportunity to earn a victory comes 30 days after the start of camp when the Tigers visit Baylor on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. CT in Waco, Texas.
“A great test for us,” said Freeze, who altered Auburn’s traditional practice schedule to Friday scrimmages and Saturday off days to acclimate to the nontraditional opener. “The whole camp is designed for that.”
Before taking questions Wednesday at his press conference, Freeze reiterated his message from SEC Media Days, expectant that Auburn can compete with the SEC’s top teams this season.
“Pumped,” he said. “Told our team last night in our first team meeting that I’m probably more excited about this fall camp than I can remember in a long time. I think they sense that from our staff, and I sense it from them.
“I think they’re locked in. Excited about what I see in the chemistry in our building, and obviously I hope we can have a physical camp but stay safe. That’s a challenge. You can’t win in this league without physical football, so you have to have that. We’re going to pray that we can stay healthy as we go through it.
“I think it’s evident all throughout the building as they walk around with the body language I see, which is a billboard for your attitude. Excited to get really started today.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer