AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -Though the Auburn Tigers aren’t used to being treated unkindly going into a season it doesn’t seem to faze either them or new coach Gene Chizik.
The Tigers have heard the criticism throughout the offseason, from hiring a coach with a losing record to the unstable quarterback situation and last year’s miserable finish.
It’s a strange feeling for a team that was a popular choice to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division a year ago.
Now, they’re only picked to finish ahead of Mississippi State.
“We’re using that as motivation,” tailback Ben Tate said. “When you’re picked high, you still want to come out and work because you have that bullseye on you. Being picked so low, that’s motivation. We want to finish at the top.”
It hasn’t hurt their confidence.
to be very positive in the season and we’re not going to let any media hinder us.”
Chizik replaced Tommy Tuberville after going 5-19 in two seasons in a difficult rebuilding job Iowa State. He absorbed the heat and assembled a coaching staff that included offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and was heavy on well-regarded recruiters.
“We’re setting a foundation for the long-term here at Auburn,” he said.
Chizik’s confidence seems to have rubbed off on the players.
“He’s brought a different vibe to the football team,” defensive end Antonio Coleman said, “which I think has made us bring our swagger back.”
Chizik and the Tigers have more to overcome than just the negative attention.
He inherits a team that went 5-7 last season and fell 36-0 to rival Alabama, prompting the exit of Tuberville after 10 seasons and at least a share of five SEC West titles. He also faces depth problems on both sides of the ball and an overly crowded race to be the starting quarterback.
Kodi Burns, Neil Caudle, Chris Todd – even freshman Tyrik Rollison – have been splitting practice snaps in fall camp under Malzahn, who directed Tulsa to a pair of top 2 finishes in total offense during his two-year stint. Only Burns and Todd have significant college experience, and neither fared all that well last season. Todd had offseason shoulder surgery.
be catching their passes.
Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery could land the starting nods after combining for only five catches last season. Montez Billings has the most experience but missed the first spring in the new offense for academic issues.
Much of the spotlight has been on freshmen DeAngelo Benton and Emory Blake, two of the new staff’s biggest recruiting coups. The 21-year-old Benton is a former high school All-American who had twice signed with LSU but failed to qualify.
This appears to be Tate’s first shot at being Auburn’s fulltime starter at tailback, though he has gained nearly 2,000 yards the past three seasons.
Defensively, Auburn got a big boost when the All-SEC performer Coleman decided to return for his senior season. But safety Mike McNeil broke a bone in his leg during spring and cornerback Aairon Savage sustained a torn Achilles tendon in June.
Free safety Zac Etheredge led the team in tackles last season while corner Walter McFadden also returns.
The Tigers could need newcomers to shore up the defensive line and linebacking corps.
They open the season Sept. 5 against Louisiana Tech.
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