AUBURN, Ala. – Friday’s season opener at Baylor cannot arrive soon enough for Auburn senior Damari Alston, slated to start at running back after three seasons as a backup.
“This is what I dreamed of,” Alston said. “Being ready for this moment, a prime-time game for the first game. I’m so excited for that and excited to put on a show with my brothers.”
Beginning his third season on the Plains, head coach Hugh Freeze shares Alston’s anticipation.
“It’s finally here,” Freeze said Monday at the outset of his game week press conference. “Our kids are excited, and our fans are. Hopefully we can play mistake-free and clean in game one to give us the best chance to win against a very talented team.”
Even when you have an entire preseason to prepare, sometimes less is more.
“You can’t get everything repped in practice, and you better rep the things you think you’re going to need to win the game over and over again against the different looks and give your quarterback all of those looks.”
Returning starting quarterback Sawyer Robertson, thousand-yard rusher Bryson Washington, Baylor started clicking last season when the Bears settled on a starting offensive line, averaging 40.8 points per game in October and November.
“They’re coming in very confident in who they are and returning staff and returning a lot of key players,” Freeze said. “It’s a great task to open the year out there, and we’re looking forward to it, expectant of big things. I like our team, I like where we’re headed, and this will be a great test for us.”
For the Tigers, Jackson Arnold debuts as Auburn’s starting quarterback, returning to the Lone Star State where he became the national player of the year at Guyer High School, two hours north of Waco, Texas.
“I played all four of my high school years in Texas, so I understand what Friday Night Lights mean out there,” Arnold said. “I like these challenges week one. It sets the tone for our team and for our season. I’m super grateful for this opportunity.”
“I am full of excitement of this team,” Freeze said. “I’ve been around enough to know when you have enough talent to win games, and we do, and we’re not going to run from that. We’re excited about it, and now we have got to go prove that.”
Throughout preseason camp, Freeze shared videos from former players, leading up to his theme the season opener: Run your race.
“There’s a cloud of witnesses that are cheering you on, that are for you, that believe in you and believe you can right the ship and bring glory back to Auburn football, but it’s very important that you understand your race,” Freeze said.
The 133rd season of Auburn football starts Friday at 7 p.m. CT at McLane Stadium on Fox with Jason Benetti, Robert Griffin II and Alexa Landestoy on the broadcast. On the Auburn Sports Network, Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell and Ronnie Brown will team up for play-by-play, analysis and sideline reporting.