SEC Media Days: ‘Identity’ key for Auburn’s Alex Golesh

TAMPA, Fla. –  Making his first appearance at SEC Media Days, Alex Golesh began with gratitude and ended by defining success in his debut season as Auburn’s head coach.

Before taking questions Tuesday in the Tampa Marriott Water Street ballroom, Golesh thanked the Auburn family, president Dr. Chris Roberts, Auburn University’s Board of Trustees and athletics director John Cohen.

“John gave us the ability to go hire the most incredible staff that I've ever been a part of,” Golesh said.  “Every time I walk out of our staff meetings, I’m just wowed by the professionals in there, the men and women we were able to bring into this program to help us build Auburn back to where it belongs.”

Golesh saved his final thank you for his players. 

“Change is incredibly hard in this day and age, and these guys have embraced change,” Golesh said. “I'm beyond grateful to our kids in our program.”

Three Tigers joined their coach at SEC Media Days, including quarterback Byrum Brown, who played for Golesh in Tampa for three seasons at South Florida.

“One of the best football players I've ever been around,” Golesh said. “Byrum Brown represents everything that's right about Auburn football and the identity that we're building. 

“When your quarterback can be one the toughest guys on the team, one the hardest workers on the team, have the most elite process on the team on top of being one of the best leaders on the team, when it's driven by that quarterback, both the offense and the defensive guys can point to him and say, that's who we follow, you can do something special.”

Seniors Champ Anthony and Alex McPherson also represented Auburn in Tampa after overcoming injuries and illness, respectively. 

“Inspirational in every way,” Golesh said of Anthony, a defensive back who missed parts of the previous two seasons with leg injuries. “He is the first guy I see every morning when I walk into the building rehabbing to get right. He is finally cleared. He's ready to rock and roll. Champ represents everything you want an Auburn man to be.”

In his fifth season on the Plains, McPherson has made 40 of 45 career field goal attempts, the highest percentage (88.9 percent) in program history.

“Continues to fight through to be one of the best kickers in the history of Auburn,” Golesh said. “Represents everything you want an Auburn man to be. You talk about our identity: physically and mentally tough. Leader. His process is elite. He's an Auburn man as they come.”

Golesh answered what he called the most pressing question before it was asked. 

“The biggest question I've gotten as I've gone through this journey the last seven months is, what's a successful year one look like?” Golesh said. “How do you gauge it? What are your goals? I don't really have any goals, other than laying a foundation for what Auburn football is going to be for years to come. That starts with building an identity.”

For Golesh, that identity starts with toughness. 

“That's what Auburn football was built on, physical and mental toughness,” said Golesh, who added that he wants to build a connected team that’s player led and detail oriented. 

“Are you detailed in the margins that win football games?” he said. “That's what I want our identity to be. If we can leave year one and we have a foundation that's built on our identity I would tell you it's a successful year one. I don’t set goals. I set standards.” 

With a 22-game sellout streak at Jordan-Hare Stadium and four consecutive seasons of season ticket sellouts, Auburn plays its home opener Sept. 12 vs. Southern Miss in Kickoff on The Plains.

“The wins will take care of themselves as long as our identity is what it is,” he said. “If we are physically and mentally tough. If we are detailed. If we are player led. If we are connected as a team. We win in the margins.” 

Auburn begins preseason camp in two weeks and kicks off the Golesh era vs. Baylor Sept. 5 in Atlanta in the Aflac Kickoff Game. 

“I love where our talent is,” he said. “We are plenty talented enough to go win every single game. This is a really talented league with elite players and elite coaches, so what wins football games? The teams that can play on Saturdays and score one more point than the other because they have a true identity of who they are.

“Year one will be successful if we leave and know exactly who we are and we have proof of concept to continue to build to.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer