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What Cadillac Williams said about Auburn’s 41-17 win against WKU Updated: Nov. 20, 2022, 1:32 a.m.|Published: Nov. 19, 2022, 6:48 p.m. ~4 minutes Cadillac Williams talks 'respect' for Nick Saban, running a 2004 play against Western Kentucky Auburn closed out its 2022 home slate with a second consecutive win Saturday. Cadillac Williams improved to 2-1 as the Tigers’ interim coach, as Auburn used a dominant second half to put away Western Kentucky, 41-17, Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers got dueling 100-yard rushing performances from Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter for the second week in a row, and the defense turned in another suffocating effort after halftime to help Auburn improve to 5-6 on the year and keep its bowl hopes alive. Williams met with the media after the game to recap Auburn’s win. Here’s a quick rundown of what he had to say: CADILLAC WILLIAMS -- Cadillac Williams can’t keep the smile off his face. “I am honored to be part of the Auburn family.” -- Shouts out the 24 seniors, who have been through two head coaches, multiple position coaches, coordinators, COVID, the George Floyd killing and ensuing protests, as well as everything else. “The way they have responded... they done had every reason to fold, every excuse.” -- Cadillac Williams is just overwhelmed by the support he has gotten from everywhere these last three weeks, and it has built up his confidence. He wanted these wins for the seniors, and this team, badly. -- Says he doesn’t know who Auburn’s next coach will be, nor does he care: “My seat doesn’t dictate my service. Now, it can impact it, but it doesn’t dictate how much I serve, regardless.” -- Tips his hat to Western Kentucky, which “didn’t blink” after falling behind 17-3. -- “Being tied 17-17 going into half, to hear (Derick) Hall and the seniors step up and rally these troops.... man, them guys went in there, and I honestly left the room and let them handle it.” -- On the running game’s resurgence in the second half: “I’ve been around a lot, a lot of good coaches, and the one thing the really good coaches got in common is getting the ball to their best players -- somehow.” -- He expresses confidence in Robby Ashford, notes he’s “so raw but so talented.” -- Williams challenged the offensive line and the running backs at halftime. They responded. -- On Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter finishing the game with long touchdown runs: “That’s music to my ears.” -- Williams told Tank Bigsby after Auburn signed Jarquez Hunter that “27 is gonna be the best thing that happened to you.” The two have complemented each other well in the backfield. -- Williams says Auburn is “bringing back some big boy football,” coming at teams and punching them in the mouth. -- Williams told Jarquez Hunter that the halfback pass was going to be a touchdown. He should know; he did it in 2004 against Georgia. -- Williams on the Iron Bowl next week: “I’m on fire. I mean -- man, I got a lot of respect for the great Nick Saban. A lot of respect.” Saban recruited Williams out of high school, back when Saban was at LSU. -- On the defense’s second-half performance, Williams calls DC Jeff Schmedding a “heck of a coach,” and also credits the staff. “When I say they are locked in, they believe they can shut people out.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

The Auburn Tigers beat Western Kentucky 41-17 Andrew Stefaniak 6–7 minutes Auburn beats Western Kentucky 41-17 to end their home schedule on a high note. This makes Coach Carnell Williams 2-1 in the games he has coached this season. Now the Tigers will focus their minds on rival Alabama as they look to win the Iron Bowl and become bowl eligible. 41-17 Auburn 5:52 4Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily The Hilltoppers have put in a new quarterback. Dylan Brooks records a sack for the Tigers. Hayden Brice the senior sacks the quarterback and that will do it, the Tigers win 41-17. 34-17 Auburn 7:48 3Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily DJ JAMES pick six. Auburn leads 41-17. Wow this game has taken a turn in the Tigers favor. 27-17 Auburn 1:08 3Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Auburn will kick it away with a ten point lead. Auburn makes another stop and the Hilltoppers will punt it away. A Koy Moore drop will lead to a Tiger punt. The Hilltoppers have moved the ball into Tiger territory. It is fourth and 23 the Hilltoppers are deciding whether or not to go for it or attempt a field goal. They will go for it on fourth and 23. Turnover on downs. The Tigers will get the ball back with great field position. Auburn Touchdown! Jarquez Hunter takes it 40 yards to the house. Auburn leads 34-17. 20-17 Auburn 7:17 3Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Auburn will kick it back to the Hilltoppers with a three point lead. Auburn makes the stop. The Tigers will get the ball back. Touchdown Auburn! Tank Bigsby takes it to the house from 35 yards out. Auburn leads 27-17. 17-17 15:00 3Q Austin Perrymann/AU Athletics Auburn will receive the second half kickoff looking to retake the lead. The Tigers go three and out and punt it back to the Hilltoppers. Jaylin Simpson intercepts the pass to get the ball back to the Tigers. Auburn has to capitalize on this opportunity. The Tigers can't capitalize. They go three and out and will punt it back to the Hilltoppers. The Tigers get a much needed stop. The offense will get another shot at it. Back to back good runs have Auburn set up in Hilltopper territory. Ashford connects with Johnson for a huge gain. This will set up the Tigers first and goal. A fumbled snap stalls the drive. Auburn will settle for a field goal try. The kick is good Auburn leads 20-17. 17-10 Auburn 4:35 2Q Todd Van Emst / AU Athletics The Tigers will get the ball back up seven. The Tiger drive stalls and they will punt it to the Hilltoppers. DJ James just dropped a sure fire interception. That one hurts. Western Kentucky has move it into Auburn territory. Western Kentucky scores. We will head to half with the game tied 17-17. Rough ending to the half for the Tigers. 17-3 Auburn 7:21 2Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily The Tigers will boot it away with a big lead. A big play and a unnecessary roughness penalty will set up the Hilltoppers in the red zone. Western Kentucky scores and cuts the Tiger lead to seven. They are reviewing to make sure the receiver caught the pass. The touchdown stands. 10-3 Auburn 10:36 2Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Auburn will get the ball back with a seven point lead. The Tigers have moved the ball into WKU territory. Jarquez Hunter connects with Koy Moore for a touchdown. Yes you read that correctly. They are reviewing to make sure Moore completed the catch. After review the touchdown stands. Coach Williams drew up a beautiful trick play there. Auburn leads 17-3. 10-0 Auburn 0:35 1Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Auburn kicks it to the Hilltoppers with a ten point lead. On fourth and eight the Hilltoppers will punt it back to the Tigers. A great return sets up the Tigers with great field possession. A sack stalls the Auburn drive. The Tigers will punt it back to Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky has moved the ball into the red zone. The Tigers make the stop and the Hilltoppers will settle for a field goal try. The kick is good. Auburn still leads 10-3. 7-0 Auburn 7:16 1Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily The Tigers will kick it away with a seven point lead. The Hilltoppers go for it on fourth down and the Tigers get the stop. Auburn will get the ball back with good field position. Ashford connects with Brandon Frazier to pick up the first down. Great play from the big tight end. The Auburn drive stalls and they will settle for a long field goal try. McPherson nails it and the Tigers go ahead 10-0. 0-0 15:00 1Q Eric Starling/Auburn Daily Auburn will kick the ball away to the Hilltoppers. After driving down the field the Hilltoppers will have to settle for a field goal try. The field goal is missed and the Tigers will take over. Bigsby is stopped short of the marker on a screen pass. The Tigers will keep the offense on the field for fourth down. Robby Ashford connects with Shedrick Jackson to pick up the first down. On third and ten Ashford connects with true freshman Jay Fair to pick up the first down. The Tigers have it first and goal from the one. Touchdown Auburn! Tank Bigsby runs it in for the one yard score. Auburn leads 7-0. Series history Auburn leads the all-time series vs Western Kentucky 2-0. The two teams first met in Jordan Hare Stadium in 2003 and the Tigers won 48-3. Two years later, Auburn won the most recent battle between the teams in 2005 and won 37-14. Fun fact From Auburn's release, in games against current members of Conference USA, the Tigers are 36-7-1 overall and 34-4-1 at home. That includes contests against UAB (1-0), Florida Atlantic (2-0), Louisiana Tech (12-0-1), North Texas (1-0), Rice (0-2), Southern Miss (18-5), and Western Kentucky (2-0). The most recent matchup was a 24-13 Auburn home win over Southern Miss in 2018. Must Read Stories Auburn Tiger Walk photo gallery Auburn updates the depth chart vs Western Kentucky Betting odds for Auburn vs WKU Three-star QB commits to Auburn Tank Bigsby moves up the all-time rushing list National show host predicts Auburn's next head coach Auburn's NIL collective is way ahead of Ole Miss Engage with Auburn Daily on Socials! Join the Discord Follow Auburn Daily on Twitter Like Auburn Daily on Facebook Subscribe to Locked On Auburn on YouTube Buy Auburn Daily Merch

Lane Kiffin addresses reports of being Auburn's top target after loss to Arkansas Updated: Nov. 20, 2022, 6:43 a.m.|Published: Nov. 19, 2022, 11:52 p.m. ~4 minutes Auburn Football Lane Kiffin addresses Auburn candidacy: ‘Maybe if they watched the 1st half, I wouldn’t be No. 1′ Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)AP Lane Kiffin is aware his name has been heavily associated with Auburn’s head coaching vacancy this fall. Kiffin’s name has been linked to Auburn since before the Tigers fired Bryan Harsin on Halloween, and the buzz has only picked up in the almost three weeks since new Auburn athletics director John Cohen began his search for the program’s next coach. Kiffin has been the candidate most associated with the job on the Plains, and multiple reports have suggested he’s the Tigers’ No. 1 target. Read more Auburn football: Updating Auburn’s coaching search Cadillac Williams on respect for, history with ‘the great Nick Saban’ Auburn AD John Cohen discusses coaching search, deadline for making a hire Kiffin was asked about those reports again Saturday night after Ole Miss’ double-digit loss to Arkansas, as well as a report earlier this week that said the Rebels offered him a new contract and raise to remain in Oxford, Miss. “Fair question,” Kiffin said when asked about being viewed as Auburn’s top target. “Like I said, I love being here. I don’t want to look to next year already with a regular-season game (still to play), but this is not one of those years where you were, ‘We’re going to lose all these guys.’ There’s a lot of people coming back, and a lot of new guys offensively, especially. So, very excited about the future. So, I don’t know all that stuff out there — No. 1 (candidate) stuff. Maybe if they watched the first half (against Arkansas), I wouldn’t be No. 1 anymore.” Ole Miss lost to Arkansas, 42-27, in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday night. The Rebels trailed 35-6 at halftime while turning the ball over twice, punting twice and missing a field goal. It was Ole Miss’ second straight loss after opening the season 8-0, having lost to Alabama a week earlier. Despite that loss to the Tide, a report surfaced earlier this week about Ole Miss extending a new contract to Kiffin that would have made him one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in the country. Kiffin, who currently makes $7.25 million a year and is the 11th-highest paid coach in college football this season, declined to address that report head-on, noting he “never” discusses such things, and while he expressed appreciation for the administration at Ole Miss, he didn’t exactly put to bed any talk of a potential exit from Ole Miss after the Rebels wrap up their regular-season slate with the Egg Bowl against rival Mississippi State on Thanksgiving Day. “I’m very happy here,” Kiffin said. “I mean, I’m not happy right now, but that has nothing to do with being here. I’m not happy with the outcome (against Arkansas) because I wanted to get to 9-2 and get to 10-2 next week, so that’s all I’m worried about. So, I’m very happy to be here. I’m very appreciative of leadership here and the stuff they do to give us a chance to win.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Energized Auburn seniors go out in style after halftime talk Phillip Marshall 4–5 minutes A 17-3 lead over Western Kentucky had become a 17-17 tie as Auburn players headed to the locker room Saturday at Jordan Hare Stadium. After a crisp first quarter, the second quarter had been frustrating and disappointing. And seniors playing their last game on Pat Dye Field were not happy about it. Interim Auburn head coach Cadillac Williams sat back and listened to what the team’s seniors had to say to their teammates, and he believed everything was going to be OK. “They said we’re not going to have it,” Williams said. “Self-inflicted wounds. This isn’t Auburn defense. We’re not serving each other. … On offense, those guys made up their minds. Going to get rid of the stupid penalties, the self-inflicted wounds, all this talking back and forth. They were going to win their one-on-one battles and do what they were supposed to do. That’s what I kept hearing over and over. It made our job as coaches a lot easier.” The Tigers went back to the field and dominated the final two quarters, outscoring the Hilltoppers 24-0 an winning 41-17. Cornerback Jaylin Simpson said it started in the locker room. Derick Hall a winner in his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (Photo: Greg McWilliams, 247Sports) “When we came into the locker room the seniors came in here, they gave us a not-so-nice talk, if you want to call it that,” Simpson said. “They just gave us some words of wisdom. “And, you know, I think that changed the energy for everybody, the whole team.” Edge Derick Hall will likely be in the NFL next season, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing in his last game at the stadium that has been such a part of his life. “My time here has been nothing short of amazing,” Hall said. “Auburn is a very special place. I came here as a 17-year-old boy and I'm leaving as a 22-year-old man. Auburn has done a lot for me, and I'll forever be indebted to this place. I'll be forever indebted to the people here, but I know one thing about Auburn: They say if you love Auburn, then Auburn will love you back. And that is true.” Twenty-four players were honored on Senior Day, and it was an emotional moment for Williams, who was named interim head coach after Bryan Harsin was fired on Oct. 31. “I am honored to be part of the Auburn family,” Williams said. “Twenty-four seniors have been through three head coaches, multiple position coaches, COVID, George Floyd and what happened the past three weeks. ,,, They have had every reason to fold, every excuse. They have given me so much confidence to do this job. I go from the first week of being a scared puppy to watching guys come by my office and say ‘Coach, we believe in you. Coach, we are so happy.’ “The love. Former teammates. Former players. The students on campus. It’s unreal. I want it so bad for them.” After the game had been played and the interviews had been done, many of Auburn’s seniors returned to sit inside the arena where they had so many memories and reflect on it all. Some smoked cigars, which is something of a tradition. “Just going back down memory lane and thinking of the great times on that field,” linebacker Owen Pappoe said. “Spending time with my teammates there, too. I was sitting next to Derick (Hall), Colby (Wooden), (Brandon) Council. We’ve all been here for a while. The fact that this is the last game in Jordan-Hare is crazy to think about. We were just sitting there soaking up the moment.” Wide receiver Koy Moore, a transfer from LSU, is in his first Auburn season. And Williams, he said, has made it special in just three games. 8COMMENTS “When he is telling you something, you have to respect it,” Moore said. “… Having a guy that believes in you shows how good he is. Everyone is playing hard for that man. He is probably the best coach that has ever run into us, so I appreciate him for that.” Williams has at least one more game as Auburn’s interim head coach. The Tigers go to Tuscaloosa next Saturday to play Alabama. Should the pull an upset, they will qualify for a bowl bid. ">247Sports

Auburn goes 'old school' to kick running game into high gear Jason Caldwell 3–4 minutes AUBURN, Alabama—A rushing offense that struggled to find much room at all up front for much of the year, the Auburn Tigers starting building some confidence in losses to Ole Miss and Arkansas, but since the move of Cadilac Williams to interim coach and Will Friend moving to the play-caller for the Tigers, the running game has kicked into high gear. On Saturday against Western Kentucky, Auburn’s running game took on an old-school look at times with the Tigers going back to the days of Williams and Ronnie Brown in the backfield while running Al Borges’ offense. Lining up in the I-formation with John Samuel Shenker leading the way, the Tigers got a pair of big touchdown runs by Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter in the second half to run away from Western Kentucky for the win. Williams said it’s all about a mindset for this team and how the Tigers want to finish things. “We are bringing it back to some big-boy football,” Williams said. “You know, coming downhill, hitting you in the mouth and being able to fight or quit.” It’s that type of attitude and hard-nosed approach that felt good to Auburn senior left tackle Kilian Zierer. While he’s still relatively new to American football, the native of Germany has learned what old school football is like from Friend and he enjoyed busting it out against the Hilltoppers. “We went old school,” Zierer said. “We knew if we ever got in a third and short or that situation, we were going to run a play like that. We went back and watched film from 15 years ago and it worked. It’s fun for us O-linemen to play old school football.” Maybe the biggest part of playing old school football is finding a way to get your best players the football with an opportunity to do some damage. In 2004 that meant lining Brown up at fullback a good bit of the time to get Auburn’s two running backs on the field together. Auburn is doing some of the same things with Bigsby and Hunter playing in some of the same sets. 6COMMENTS Getting them more involved and feeding the running game has resulted in back-to-back 100-yard games for both of Auburn’s ball carriers the last two weeks. Williams said it’s no secret what they want to do and how they want to be successful because it’s as old as the game itself. “I have been around a lot, a lot of good coaches,” Williams said. “And one thing the really good coaches have in common is getting the ball to their best players. It's not about what system we run. I'm a firm believer that you've got to do what's best for your team, the strength of your team. “So if that's us lining up and running different ways and using Robby (Ashford) with his legs to run the football — and right now, that's where we’re at. And as we go along, the game of football, life is about confidence. They gain confidence and now you add a little bit from there, and that's all it was.” ">247Sports

Cadillac Williams on respect for, history with ‘the great Nick Saban’ Published: Nov. 19, 2022, 9:31 p.m. 4–5 minutes Cadillac Williams has a minor grievance with Nick Saban that predates his time at Alabama. It was back in 2005, when Saban had just taken over the Miami Dolphins and Williams was fresh off an All-America senior campaign and undefeated season at Auburn. The Dolphins had the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft that spring, and Williams was one of the top running backs in the class—and that was a position of need for Miami. Read more Auburn football: Auburn turns back the clock with halfback pass ripped straight from 2004 Georgia game Auburn adds 2023 quarterback recruit Keyone Jenkins What Alabama players said about the Iron Bowl after Saturday’s win The problem for Williams? His backfield mate on the Plains, Ronnie Brown, was also available. “He did pass on me in the 2005 (NFL) Draft, and he took Ronnie Brown over me,” Williams laughed Saturday night. “That still hurts me a little bit, but I’m over it now.” Williams was picked three spots later by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now after an NFL career and a climb up the coaching ladder, he’s the interim head coach at Auburn and preparing for his first head-to-head meeting with Saban. Auburn visits Alabama in the Iron Bowl next weekend as the teams close out their regular-season schedules. Williams is no stranger to the Iron Bowl, of course. He played in three of them during his four years at Auburn, winning two of them, and he has coached in three more as an assistant on the Tigers’ staff. Now he’ll get his third different vantage point in the storied rivalry — as Auburn’s interim head coach next weekend when the Tigers visit Bryant-Denny Stadium. “I tip my hat off to the success that that university has had, but look, we are going to play football, Auburn football,” Williams said after Auburn’s 41-17 win against Western Kentucky. “Whether that’s (playing the) Dallas Cowboys, (the) University of Alabama, the great Nick Saban, these kids not going to blink. We’re not blinking.” Auburn will most certainly be an underdog when it travels to Tuscaloosa next weekend. It’s just 5-6 on the year, and while the team has won two in a row under Williams’ guidance, the Tigers are still fighting just to become bowl eligible. A win on the road against eighth-ranked Alabama would promise Auburn one more game, a bowl berth for the 10th year in a row. Auburn hasn’t won in Tuscaloosa since the Camback in 2010, as Nick Saban’s program has dominated the series in Bryant-Denny Stadium during that stretch, going 5-0 with an average margin of victory of 27.6 points —almost four touchdowns. Saban has built a juggernaut across the state, and although the Tide has two losses already this season and no path to a championship, Williams views Saban in high regard, and has for more than two decades. When Saban was at LSU in 2001, he recruited Williams out of Etowah High, even paying him an in-home visit during the process. Williams, of course, ultimately signed with Auburn. “I’ve got a lot of respect for the great Nick Saban, a lot of respect,” Williams said. “He came and sat on my couch in 2001, when he was at LSU. My mom, my dad, we were very impressed by Coach Saban.” That will all come full circle for Williams this week, as he prepares to go toe-to-toe with Saban for the first time as a head coach. Auburn will celebrate its win against WKU on Saturday night, but come Sunday, the focus will be strictly on Alabama and trying to figure out a way to snap that losing streak in Tuscaloosa. “We’re excited for this opportunity,” Williams said. “We want to send these seniors off. Like I told them, us giving our best doesn’t guarantee that we’re going to win, but what we can do is we can look ourselves in the mirror and we can be happy with whatever results happen. We’re going to lay it on the line and see what happens.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Joseph Goodman: History is here for the Iron Bowl Updated: Nov. 20, 2022, 7:52 a.m.|Published: Nov. 20, 2022, 6:50 a.m. 6–7 minutes Fifty-two years separates the player for Auburn football who broke the color barrier in the Iron Bowl and the Auburn head football coach who will do it next Saturday. There might be an interim tag line ahead of coach Carnell Williams, but he is making permanent history for the state of Alabama. Iron Bowl week is here, and with it comes a new measure of significance for this game that stands also as a cultural lodestone. Williams will be the first Black head coach in the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama. Let me repeat it. Williams will be the first Black head coach in the rivalry between Auburn and Alabama. It matters in a way that is more than twice as important as the game itself. RELATED: Auburn rides running game for Cadillac’s second win RELATED: Updating Auburn’s search for a football coach RELATED: Auburn turns back clock with trick play for touchdown RELATED: This victory against a cupcake was different for Alabama Waste not these days of Thanksgiving in celebrating that truth. Do not shy away from the moment, or leave it for another generation to fully appreciate. Williams is a Black man from Attalla, Alabama, and now he is a beloved Black head coach in the Iron Bowl. And the man they call Cadillac is doing it in brilliant, beaming, beautiful style. Williams is 40 years old. This is his first time being a head coach at any level of football. Before this, he coached the running backs. When Auburn fired its previous head coach on Oct. 31, Williams was unexpectedly given the duty of interim head coach. Almost overnight he changed the trajectory of Auburn football. In the history of the SEC, there have only been five Black head football coaches. For the past two seasons, there hadn’t been any before Williams was promoted under impossible circumstances. He was thrust upon this stage without seeking it, and yet he was innately prepared for it. Williams was asked about Auburn’s coaching search. Let his answer be cast in bronze and displayed at Toomer’s Corner. “I really don’t care,” Williams said. “My seat doesn’t dictate my service. Auburn is special. Those kids are special.” God, I love it. Williams is new-school swag with an old-school soul. And he is destined to lead. Maybe Williams will have to go elsewhere if he wants to be a permanent head coach, but that’s not on Williams. I’ve head people say maybe Williams could do it in the future. Yeah, maybe so, but Williams is good enough to be Auburn’s permanent head football coach now, and he has proved beyond a doubt that he brings something to the table that no on other coach could. He’s not just a good fit for Auburn. Williams is Auburn. He is Alabama. James Owens of Fairfield, Alabama, is the player who broke the color barrier for Auburn football. The 1970 season was his debut with the varsity team. Owens was a running back for the Tigers, but he actually played linebacker in his first Iron Bowl. Alabama jumped out to a 17-0 lead at Birmingham’s Legion Field, but Auburn stormed back behind quarterback Pat Sullivan and won 33-28. Owens passed away in 2012 at the age of 65. Looking back on his time at Auburn, he later said that his role as the first Black football player for Auburn was done in service for people other than himself. Here on the 10-year anniversary of Owens’ death, Williams is echoing those same words. The power of his message is bright and awe-spun. It has transformed the image of Auburn. It has brought people together. Just think of all the people in Alabama who are going to wish for a Cadillac for Christmas. There is an enchanting quality to what Williams has accomplished, but it was not done by magic. It happened because Williams is good at his job. Auburn is 5-6 on the season, and the team celebrated its 41-17 victory against Western Kentucky on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium like it had just clinched the SEC West. The scenes from Jordan-Hare Stadium gave me goosebumps and not for the first time. It has been an extraordinary fortnight on The Plains, and it was made possible by the potential of college football in the Deep South to reveal the power of opportunity. Williams simply asked people to believe, and so now reflect on all that has been gained from the energy radiating from Auburn in these forms of love and faith. There is a purity to what Auburn has unlocked with an interim coach — a Black head coach — that was hidden inside a box I never knew existed. Look at what Williams has accomplished in such a short amount of time. Auburn is going into the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa as a team of new hope. Williams is 2-1 as interim head coach and the only thing separating Auburn and a perfect record with Cadillac is an overtime loss on the road to Mississippi State after just a handful of days to prepare. And Auburn stormed back in the second half in that game. The result of the Iron Bowl matters, of course, but a loss for Auburn at this point will do nothing to take away from what Williams has accomplished. Auburn football is playing with a spirit that no other coach could have inspired except for the one turning three weeks in November into a march towards the power of togetherness and the shattering of perceptions. But, make no mistake, Williams isn’t going to Bryant-Denny Stadium in search of a moral victory or a pat on the back from Nick Saban. Williams is taking Auburn to the Iron Bowl to win the game. “Whether it’s the Dallas Cowboys or the University of Alabama, we aren’t going to blink,” Williams said. “We’re going to lay it on the line and see what happens.” I’ve seen what happens with Williams as the coach of Auburn, and it’s like the barriers that seemed so insurmountable only a few weeks ago have all been run over by a tank. Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama: A season of hope and the making of Nick Saban’s ‘ultimate team’”. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

the hell you say............

has anyone seen these? ebay has a handful averaging 65 bucks a pop.

he is right tho. the left has been bashed repeatedly about this. ask yourself if al lied about it? go have a whataburger bro. the russians also had net trolls trying to influence the election as well. as for those buddhists i never heard that in my life. but one would almost think those buddhists are as bad or worse than the russians.

why is it when bama has to stream you can go to youtube and watch without downloading apps? auburn? last night auburn basketball was streaming but would only show the announcers. why can we not have the same privilege? i hate downloading apps because they run your battery down. this sounds like a small thing but when you are old and live alone battery life is everything. if my battery gives out at the wrong time i could be toast. so does anyone know the reason?

you would be right. it was in one of the dye or bear autobiographies.

good lord ya"ll.

#PMARSHONAU: For Cadillac Williams, it's about family and giving back to Auburn Phillip Marshall 9–11 minutes Carnell Williams did not hesitate when he answered the question Thursday afternoon. What were his thoughts about what his future would hold when he is no longer Auburn’s interim head football coach? “I haven’t had time to think about it,” Williams said. “I’ve always lived my life in the present. I am kind of in the mindset that I don’t worry about what’s next. My now will take care of what’s next. I’m in the moment. I have enjoyed it. “One thing I don’t do is let my position dictate my service. Whether I’m the head coach or a position coach, whatever, I truly feel like I was put on this earth to serve, to give back and pour into people’s lives. It doesn’t matter if I am the head coach or the running backs coach or something else.” That answer is what the man they call Cadillac is all about. And it comes as no surprise to his mother, Sherry Williams, or his wife, Evan. “When he was in high school, he was like that,” his mother said. “He always wanted to take people with him and help other people. He’s always been like that.” Evan Williams sees the same person running Auburn’s football program that she saw when they met at Haley Center the third week of their freshman year in 2001. “He was pretty shy, actually,” Evan said. “People who know him know he’s pretty reserved. We dated for a long time. Even friends I have who were friends with when we were dating joke that they didn’t even know he could talk until about five years later. “I guess I was more surprised that he wasn’t a typical athlete. He was pretty shy and polite. I liked that about him.” *** Growing up in Gadsden, life was often not easy for Williams and his family. His mother worked multiple jobs to provide for her six children. Little Carnell promised that one day he was going to take care of her. “My mother my whole life has been my why,” Williams said, “why I do what I do. My whole life has been to help her better her life. I’ve seen her struggle. That has been my whole passion, my whole dream to take care of her.” In 2011, Williams married the love of his life. He and his wife, Evan, have two sons – 8-year-old Cole and 6-year-old Cuin. “My wife and my family have become my why,” Williams said. “We have two beautiful young boys. I could not do it without her. She is a great person, a great mother, a great friend. I can’t brag enough about her. The women in my life keep me humble. They keep me on a straight line.” (Photo: Greg McWilliams, 247Sports) As he grew, the little boy who so loved his mother became one of the great running backs in Alabama high school history at Etowah. Birmingham sportscaster Mike Raita dubbed him “Cadillac,” a name that stuck. He signed with Auburn and became an All-American and one of the more popular players in recent program history. Only Bo Jackson rushed for more yards in an Auburn uniform. He played seven years in the NFL. He kept his promise. “God is so good,” Williams said. “I have been blessed in my life to have so many people contribute to my success and help me along the way. This success is for many, many other people that poured into me and helped me pursue my dreams and accomplish a lot of my dreams.” Among those who knew him best, Williams was known as much for his ferocious work ethic and his compassion for those around him as he was his unique talent. It all started with his mother. “He is always giving me credit, and I’m grateful, but I always tell him to give God the credit,” Sherry Williams said. “If it wasn’t for God, I wouldn’t be where I am today and he wouldn’t be doing what he is today. I have always believed if you want something, you are going to have to work hard and get out there and get it.” When Williams arrived on campus in the summer of 2001, he was the crown jewel of Auburn’s recruiting class. As is the way of college football, his teammates would call on him to prove himself. They dubbed him “Pinto,” saying he had to show he was a Cadillac. On the first day in pads, linebackers coach Joe Whitt put standout D.T. Thomas in to go against the freshman Williams. And Williams won the drill. “I think that was the moment I kind of got everybody’s attention,” Williams said. “I was probably a buck 80. I was a quiet guy, a chill guy. The question was ‘What will Pinto do when he gets in pads?’ I said ‘I’m going to hit him before he hits me.’ I think I earned the guys’ respect just with tenacity.” Soon, he was Cadillac again. Williams fought through season-ending injuries as a freshman and sophomore, winning yet more respect. He was a driving force in Auburn’s 13-0 season in 2004 and was chosen by the Tampa Bay Bucs with the No. 5 pick in the 2005 NFL draft. After fighting through more injuries, he retired in 2011. He coached at Henderson State, was a graduate assistant at West Georgia, coached at IMG Academy and finally for the Birmingham Iron in the ill-fated Alliance of American Football. In 2019, then-head coach Gus Malzahn called him home to coach Auburn’s running backs. *** Monday, Oct. 31, was like any other Monday for Williams. Auburn had struggled badly in a 42-27 loss to Arkansas two days earlier. After Williams got to work, everything soon changed. Head coach Bryan Harsin was fired, which was not a significant surprise. That’s when Williams got the call he did not expect. He would be Auburn’s interim head coach. He would be the first African-American to lead Auburn’s football program. (Photo: Greg McWilliams, 247Sports) “It’s awesome,” his mother said. “When I heard about it I thought everybody was playing a joke on me. It just blew my mind. When I did find out, I said ‘This is crazy. How can a running backs coach be a head coach?’ To God be the glory. I am so happy.” At home, Evan was proud and excited, and she knew her life was going to be different, too. “Oh, man,” she said. “We have gotten very little sleep. That first week, I think between the two of us we got about 12 hours sleep that whole week. I was just making sure my husband was OK. This is a huge undertaking. He was concerned about doing all the right things, making sure he was taking care of his players and taking care of his staff. He’s a very giving person. He gets that from his mom. They will work themselves into the ground. “I knew he was going to work his butt off for Auburn, for his players and his staff. My job as his wife is to make sure I am serving him so he is able to do all that.” Even as a player, Williams, who overcame a childhood stuttering problem, was not comfortable in interview situations. When he was named interim head coach, his mother and his wife wondered how would handle in the interview demands that came with it. They need not have worried. He has earned nothing but praise for how he has handled those times. “To me, it is a big deal,” Evan said. “That’s not how he would want to spend that time. I am impressed that he has overcome that fear. He used to hate those press conferences. He was always so nervous. He did overcome stuttering, and that bothered him. It’s a big deal that he is so much more comfortable. “He is just being who he is, country boy and all.” With little time to prepare, Williams took his team to Mississippi State for his first game as interim head coach. The Tigers fought back from a 21-0 deficit to take the lead, but Mississippi State won 39-33 in overtime. Even in defeat, Auburn people saw a team playing with passion and heart. A week later, Texas A&M visited Auburn. Jordan-Hare Stadium was sold out for a game between two teams with 3-6 records. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish. “These kids, this staff, the way they have responded, everybody is locked in,” Williams said. “I have to tip my hat to the Auburn family. I mean, come on. We were a 3-6 team and you would have thought we were playing for a national championship. It was unreal. It’s a credit to these players, these coaches, to the Auburn family and to Auburn University and how great this place is.” Dozens of Williams’ former teammates were there. His family was there. His wife’s family was there. They saw Auburn win 13-10. “It was so fun,” Evan said. “I’m on the field after games anyway, but it was different. Our family was there – his mom, his brothers, his nieces, his nephews, our kids. My parents were there, my brother. Tons of friends and family were in the stands. It was just so much fun.” When it was over, Williams did an interview with sportscaster Cole Cubelic, a former teammate. He had a hug waiting at every turn. His shirt was soaked from the ice water his players had dumped on him as time ran out. He held his son, who gave him an enthusiastic hug. Before he could go celebrate in the locker room, he had one more thing to do. Waving a towel, he ran across the field, where the student section was still packed. The cheers were loud and long. In the locker room, his players gave him the game ball. In two weeks, Williams has revived Auburn football. 10COMMENTS When the celebrating was done, Williams had a chance to reflect on what had just happened, what he had shared with his family. “It brought so much joy to my heart that my family could experience that with me,” Williams said. “It’s something nobody can ever take away from them.”

si.com Carnell Williams previews the game plan vs Western Kentucky Zac Blackerby ~3 minutes The Auburn Tigers will look to play they did a week ago against Texas A&M. If they do, it should be enough to get a win against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Thursday night at Tiger Talk, interim head coach Carnell Williams was asked about the offensive and defensive game plans this weekend. "I know they throw it around the yard a lot," Williams said on the WKU offense. "We have to contain the explosive plays. We have to rally around the football and put a cap on that. They get the football out really quick. They throw a lot of screens and a lot of gap schemes. They do a good job of complimenting their run game with the passing game. I’ll tell you what, I know our defense is up to the challenge, I’m looking forward to seeing them play." When asked by Voice of the Auburn Tigers Andy Burcham if they planned to pound the ball on offense, Williams didn't shy away. "Yeah, I’m a former running back and I believe in running the football. When Auburn is at its best, we play really good defense and run the football. But of course, we are going to have to give the receivers and tight ends opportunities. We are going to play a lot better in the passing game. We will play better on third downs. I believe that. We had a good week of practice, those guys have confidence. We will be ready to play Saturday." Brad Law asked a follow-up on the offense and how Auburn has ran it effectively over the past few weeks. "I think one of the greatest feelings in life is when a team knows you’re going to run the ball and they can’t stop it. To me, that is an attitude thing. It starts with the offensive line. They are playing tough, nasty, hard-nosed football. The wide receivers blocking on the perimeter. It’s not just running backs, those guys are moving the pile. You add on Robby’s ability to run the football, it is dynamic. Running backs have to win the one on ones and they have done a good job getting yards after contact."

Western Kentucky vs. Auburn by the numbers Published: Nov. 19, 2022, 7:00 a.m. 6–7 minutes Western Kentucky (7-4) at Auburn (4-6) 3 p.m. CST Saturday (SEC Network) Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn 2 Previous games between Auburn and Western Kentucky. The Tigers defeated the Hilltoppers 48-3 on Nov. 27, 2003, and 37-14 on Nov. 24, 2005. 2 Auburn players have recorded at least 20 sacks and 30 tackles for loss this century – Quentin Groves with 26 sacks and 37 tackles for loss from 2004 through 2007 and Antonio Coleman with 24.5 sacks and 46.5 tackles for loss from 2006 through 2009. Auburn LB Derick Hall needs 0.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss to join the group. MORE SEC FOOTBALL BY THE NUMBERS: · TOP 10 FOR WEEK 12 · TOP 10 FROM WEEK 11 3 100-yard rushing games for Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter. In each, Auburn RB Tank Bigsby also ran for 100 yards. In a 60-10 victory over Akron on Sept. 4, 2021, Bigsby had 119 rushing yards and Hunter had 110. In a 62-0 victory over Alabama State on Sept. 11, 2021, Hunter had 147 rushing yards and Bigsby had 122. In last week’s 13-10 victory over Texas A&M, Hunter and Bigsby had 121 rushing yards apiece. Bigsby had 12 100-yard rushing games in his career. 3 Years since Western Kentucky’s previous non-conference November game. The Hilltoppers defeated Arkansas 45-19 on Nov. 9, 2019. Since then, Western Kentucky’s November schedule consisted of Conference USA contests until Saturday’s game. That’s one of four victories for the Hilltoppers against SEC opponents. WKU also defeated Kentucky in 2012 and 2013 and Vanderbilt in 2015. The Hilltoppers have won four of their past nine meetings with SEC opponents. 3 SEC players have scored more points than Auburn K Anders Carlson, who has 410 in his career. Auburn’s Daniel Carlson, Anders Carlson’s brother, holds the SEC record with 480 points from 2014 through 2017. Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship scored 440 points from 2016 through 2019, and Georgia K Blair Walsh scored 412 points from 2008 through 2011. 5 Victories without a loss against Conference USA opponents for Auburn. The Tigers defeated Tulane in 2006, Southern Miss in 2008 and 2018, Florida Atlantic in 2013 and Louisiana Tech in 2014. 6 First downs have been gained by the Auburn offense via a penalty against the opponent’s defense, tied with Air Force and Army for the fewest in the nation this season. Western Kentucky has gained 20 first downs through its opponents’ penalties. 8 Auburn players have had more rushing yards than RB Tank Bigsby, who moved into ninth place by passing Ronnie Brown on the school’s all-time list in the Tigers’ previous game. With 2,731 rushing yards, Bigsby is 58 behind No. 8 Brent Fullwood. 30 Takeaways for Western Kentucky this season, three more than any other team in the nation. The Hilltoppers are tied with Illinois for the national lead with 17 interceptions and have recovered 13 of their opponents’ fumbles in 2022. Western Kentucky has a turnover margin of plus-14, tied for the second-best in the nation. Auburn, which has lost 20 turnovers this season, has a turnover margin of minus-10. Only five teams in the nation are worse. 32 Years since Auburn lost a non-conference game in November. The Tigers’ most recent loss in a non-conference game in the 11th month came on Nov. 10, 1990, when Auburn fell to Southern Miss 13-12. Since that game, the Tigers have won all 23 of their non-conference games in November. In those games, Auburn has beaten Louisiana-Monroe five times, Samford three times, Alabama A&M, New Mexico State and UCF twice apiece and Louisiana, East Carolina, Arkansas State, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin, Furman, Chattanooga, Idaho and Liberty once each. 45 Receiving yards are needed by Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley to reach 1,000 for the 2022 season. Corley has 70 receptions for 955 yards and seven TDs this season. 46 Consecutive victories for Auburn in home games against unranked non-conference opponents. The most recent non-SEC team to come into Jordan-Hare Stadium unranked and upend the Tigers is South Florida, which scored a 26-23 victory on Sept. 7, 2007. Both Auburn and South Florida went 9-4 that season. 60 Games for Auburn TE John Samuel Shenker, the most in school history. In last week’s 13-10 victory over Texas A&M, Shenker passed LB T.D. Moultry for sole possession of the record. Moultry played in 59 games from 2017 through 2021. 127 Consecutive games without being shut out for Auburn, the second-longest streak in school history. Auburn’s most recent shutout loss came 49-0 to Alabama on Nov. 17, 2012. Auburn’s record scoring streak lasted 149 games, starting with a 55-16 victory over Richmond on Oct. 4, 1980, and ending with a 17-0 loss to Alabama on Nov. 26, 1992. 151 Points have been scored in the second quarter this season by Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers have a 94-point scoring advantage in the second period in 2022. Auburn has been outscored 104-67 in the second quarter this season. 549 Rushing yards for Auburn QB Robby Ashford, which ranks 10th on the Tigers’ all-time freshman list. Two other current Tigers are on the list – RB Tank Bigsby in second with 834 rushing yards in 2020 and RB Jarquez Hunter in ninth with 593 rushing yards in 2021. 3,550 Passing yards for Western Kentucky QB Austin Reed this season, the second-most in the nation. Reed has completed 299-of-441 passes with 31 TDs and seven interceptions. FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Auburn AD John Cohen discusses coaching search, deadline for making a hire Published: Nov. 18, 2022, 7:28 p.m. 5–6 minutes John Cohen wants to know if a coach if right- or left-handed. That’s just one of the 58 items on his detailed checklist of questions and criteria to sort through during the process of identifying Auburn’s next head football coach. Why is that important for him to ask? As a left-hander and former coach, Cohen had to train himself to think like a right-handed player when working with middle infielders during his baseball coaching career. Read more Auburn football: Updating Auburn’s football coaching search Auburn hopes to do right by star-crossed senior class in home finale against WKU The story behind Cadillac Williams’ dapper gameday suit “Coaches who have to demonstrate to kids who are right-handed who are left-handed, they have to act right-handed, right?” Cohen said during an in-house interview with Voice of the Auburn Tigers Andy Burcham. “So, it’s just one of the many questions that we’ve asked.” Cohen detailed a few of the other criteria included on that handy 58-item list he first held up during his introductory press conference on the Plains last week. It included family background, relationships, recruiting prowess, social media presence and connectivity with not only a city and state, but an ability to connect with the Auburn base. Again, as he mentioned during that press conference, fit is important to consider. “Not one of those things is the factor, but it certainly is a factor,” Cohen said. “You got to get to the bottom of all of it.” During his sitdown with Burcham, Cohen provided a little more insight and a peek behind the curtains of Auburn’s ongoing coaching search. Auburn parted ways with then-coach Bryan Harsin on Halloween, less than two years into his contract and just hours before Cohen was officially named athletics director, and elevated Cadillac Williams to interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The search for the Tigers’ next full-time coach is in full swing, and while Cohen didn’t divulge too many specifics — or discuss any potential candidates — he went a little more into his process and a deadline for making a hire. “Well, it’s an information-gathering process, and it takes a while,” Cohen said. “We don’t have a long period of time… but it’s important that you’re not overwhelmed by a deadline. Having done this before, it’s important you’re not in a speed race; you’re after the right person. You can get into recruiting deadlines and things of that nature, especially now with the transfer portal, but the most important thing is to get the right person. “Obviously, there’s the basic three—there’s the X’s and O’s, there’s the recruiting and there’s the culture piece the head coach brings, then there’s a variety of other things you have to find out as well. Especially coaches that have a long, long track record, getting to the bottom of everything they’ve ever accomplished is an important thing also.” As he previously stated, Cohen has enlisted a search firm to help with the process, particularly from a logistics standpoint. The firm isn’t identifying candidates, but it is being used for background checks and to help facilitate meetings between Cohen and candidates. “This isn’t all about secrecy, but at the same time, while you’re going through this process, it’s important for it to stay small until it gets big,” Cohen said. “If we can get that accomplished, that’ll be a big part of the success of this.” Though Cohen is being judicious with the process, he also understands the looming deadline and need for urgency. The transfer portal opens on Dec. 5, and the early signing period is just more than a month away, beginning Dec. 21. That timeline has made the search Cohen’s top priority, with other athletics department personnel decisions and any facility matters being pushed to the side until a coaching hire is made. This process is dominating Cohen’s schedule, 24/7, he said. “We’re going to work expeditiously, but the tick, tick, tick isn’t going to rule what we’re doing, but we’re going to move quickly,” he said. Auburn has used in-house committees to assist with coaching searches in the past, including during the 2020 search that led to the hiring of Harsin from Boise State, but that isn’t the case this time around. Cohen is running point on the search, with the assistance of deputy athletics director Rich McGlynn, thus keeping information close to the vest. That hasn’t stopped him from seeking input from other sources during the process, however. “I will have some input from some former players, I’ll have some input from some former coaches, I’ll have some input from our administration,” Cohen said. “I want that information, but at the end of the day, this is going to be a John Cohen hire.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Takeaways from No. 13 Auburn’s 72-56 win against Texas Southern Updated: Nov. 18, 2022, 10:08 p.m.|Published: Nov. 18, 2022, 9:07 p.m. 7–9 minutes Tempers flared early in the second half at Neville Arena after K.D. Johnson drew a hard foul on a fastbreak. A Texas Southern player stood over Johnson while he remained down on the floor. Then Auburn assistant Steven Pearl stepped onto the court to try to defuse the situation as Allen Flanigan came racing in, prepared to defend his teammate. When things finally settled down, Texas Southern’s Zytarious Mortle was tagged with a flagrant foul, sending Johnson to the line for two shots plus possession. Johnson split the free throws, but in the end, it was he and Auburn who got the last laugh in a 72-56 win Friday night. The heated sequence with the flagrant foul came at the tail end of a 14-2 Auburn run that saw it claim its first double-digit lead of the night after Texas Southern grabbed a lead early in the second half, as Bruce Pearl’s team never looked back on its way to its fourth straight win to open the season. Just minutes after that exchange, Johnson drilled a 3-pointer, then followed it up with a steal and an off-the-backboard lob to Allen Flanigan for a reverse dunk that put Auburn in front by 13. “When it did get elevated, our guys definitely responded, and that was a bit of a turning point,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “...I thought our guys definitely responded to the physicality and all the talk.” Johnson finished with a team-high 16, while Jaylin Williams and Chris Moore scored 14 apiece for Auburn, which finished off its four-game season-opening homestand with its undefeated record intact as it heads to Mexico next week for the Cancun Challenge. “I just think we did what we needed to do in this four-game homestand,” Pearl said. “I do think we’ve gotten better. I do think we’ve learned, and we’ll go from there.” Here are AL.com’s key takeaways from Friday’s action: Johni Broome’s absence was felt, but Jaylin Williams stepped up Johni Broome had his best game in an Auburn uniform on Tuesday against Winthrop, dominating the Eagles with an 18-point, 13-rebound, five-block effort. Auburn didn’t have the luxury of his presence down low against Texas Southern, as he was sidelined after banging his knee against Winthrop and was only available in an emergency scenario. Broome’s absence meant an altered rotation at the five for Auburn, with Dylan Cardwell drawing the start, and freshman Yohan Traore and Stretch Akingbola working into the rotation. Traore has mostly played the four to this point, but he signed with Auburn as a “combo forward” who could play multiple spots in the frontcourt. Auburn was also forced to go to a small-ball lineup late in the first half, with Jaylin Williams at the five after Traore picked up his second foul. Of Auburn’s big men, it was Williams who stepped up most against Texas Southern. The senior finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks. Williams led Auburn in rebounds, assists and steals on the night. “Four steals?,” Williams said, looking down at the box score. “Looks like I was on 2K.” Cardwell was efficient in his start, finishing with six points on 3-of-3 shooting and adding three blocks, as he has blocked at least three shots in each of Auburn’s four games to open the year. Cardwell also finished a team-best plus-27 for the game. Traore struggled, as the freshman was scoreless, committed four fouls and turned the ball over three times in 12 minutes. Akingbola was also scoreless, going 0-for-3 from the floor in eight minutes off the bench. Broome’s absence was most felt in the paint, though, as Texas Southern matched Auburn in points in the paint, with 36 on the night, and scored 16 second-chance points at Neville Arena. “I thought Jaylin played well,” Pearl said. “I didn’t think his first rotation was good. Same thing with Dylan. I think they both needed to play better earlier when your starting center is out. It just took a little while for those guys to get going. But, the sum of our parts, that’s our greatest strength.” Inconsistent shooting, turnovers a problem Auburn’s shooting woes continued Friday, as the team’s slow start to the season continued in that aspect. Auburn finished the game against Texas Southern shooting 17-of-25 on dunks and layups but just 8-of-31 (25.8 percent) on the rest of its shot attempts, that included just 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) from 3-point range, with three of those makes coming from Chris Moore, who was 3-of-4 from deep. Auburn’s first-half shooting, combined with turnovers (more on those in a second) allowed Texas Southern to keep it close at the break. Pearl’s team was 7-of-14 on dunks and layups in the first half but just 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) on the rest of its shot attempts in the opening 20 minutes. That included a 3-of-15 start from beyond the arc. On the turnover front, Auburn committed 20 on Friday, which led to 25 Texas Southern points. Eleven of those turnovers came in the first half, including three from Wendell Green Jr., who was coming off a performance against Winthrop in which he had five assists without committing a turnover. Those 11 turnovers in the first half led to 14 Texas Southern points, as the visiting Tigers were able to keep it a two-point game going into halftime, with Auburn ahead 29-27. Green finished with a team-high five turnovers against just three assists, to go along with four points and four rebounds. “I think, obviously, from a scouting standpoint, Wendell had been playing so well in our first three games that Johnny just wasn’t going to let Wendell beat us, and so they doubled him a lot in those ball-screens, and it bothered him,” Pearl said. “But that’s what your teammates are for. I thought that we had a bunch of guys respond.” A strong start for Chris Moore Chris Moore has adjusted well to his starting role at the three to open the year, and Friday was his best game to date this season. Moore finished with a season-high 14 points, shooting 4-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from deep. Eleven of his points came in the second half, and he finished two points shy of matching his career high of 16, which he set last season against ULM. That was Moore’s only double-digit game last season, and the only other one during his career prior to Friday night was an 11-point effort against Missouri as a freshman. “It was just being aggressive,” Moore said of his second half. “I don’t know if y’all see on the sidelines, Coach goes crazy when I don’t score the ball this year. I ain’t ever played for a coach who gets on me for not scoring the ball. So it was just being confident, just trusting in my abilities and my coach’s belief.” Along with his scoring outburst, Moore pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists while adding a steal and a block. The junior has settled in well early this season now that he’s fully healthy. He played last season with a stress fracture in his shin, and he underwent surgery in the spring that sidelined him for three months. “He was a beast,” Pearl said. “I love his physicality.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

5 takeaways from Auburn's 72-56 win over Texas Southern Nathan King 7–9 minutes AUBURN, Alabama — For the second straight Friday, Auburn slogged through early turnovers, then used its depth to pull away in front of an energetic home crowd. The Tigers brushed off 11 first-half turnovers and got production from several spots in their lineup, as they closed out a four-game home stand to start the season with a 72-56 win over Texas Southern on Friday night. “We beat a good team tonight," Bruce Pearl said. "Beat a team that’s got a chance to win the SWAC and be an NCAA tournament team." Here are Auburn Undercover's immediate takeaways. First-half turnover frenzy Neither team found a consistent offensive flow in the first because, well, they weren’t holding onto the ball much. Each team had 11 turnovers in the first half, with Auburn and Texas Southern turning it over on a near-even 32.4 percent and 31.4 percent of their total offensive possessions, respectively. "We were sloppy with the ball, and that was an issue for us," Pearl said. "... That was a problem.” Auburn had success in the paint but struggled to find its shooting stroke, missing its first six 3-pointers of the game before a make by K.D. Johnson. The home Tigers missed nine of their first 10 looks from downtown. Texas Southern made four of its last five shots heading into the break, though, and were only down 29-27 at halftime. Senior delivers for thin frontcourt Auburn was without starting center Johni Broome due to a bone bruise suffered in the win over Winthrop on Wednesday, giving fellow junior Dylan Cardwell his first career start. And without Broome, who dominated with 18 points and 13 rebounds Tuesday, Auburn’s most experienced big man stepped up in a big way. Jaylin Williams delivered with 14 points, his most in a game since last January in a home win over Florida (18 points), plus a team-high eight rebounds. The 6-foot-9 power forward was just as effective on the defensive end, too, with three steals and two blocks in the first half and a team-high 95.8% percent stop rate for the game. Senior center Stretch Akingbola played his most minutes of the season (eight) in Broome’s absence, and struggled severely. He went 0-of-3 from the field, including an airballed hook shot, and was beaten on defense for a Texas Southern bucket on two straight possessions in the first half. Cardwell, who entered the game second nationally at 4.97 blocks per game, had an efficient night, making all three of his shots and tallying three blocks. Five-star freshman Yohan Traore got into early foul trouble and saw little usage, attempting just one shot and playing only 12 minutes, with three turnovers and four fouls. Broome's defensive presence was missed, too, as both teams had 36 points in the paint. Pearl elaborated on Broome's injury postgame: He "banged knees" with a Winthrop player Tuesday. Pearl said Broome should be available for the Tigers' next two games in Cancun. The gravity of K.D. Johnson There was a sequence midway through the second half where the entire building felt as if it would bend to K.D. Johnson’s will. Having his best game of the season already, Johnson drilled a 3-pointer to put Auburn up by 11. The energetic guard then grabbed a steal near midcourt and had no defenders anywhere near him. He chose to lob it off the backboard to Allen Flanigan for a slam, as Auburn’s student section went ballistic. The visiting Tigers traveled on their next possession, prompting the under-12 media timeout, which Johnson celebrated right in front of Texas Southern’s bench. A few TSU coaches took offense, and Johnson, unsurprisingly, jawed right back. An unintimidated Texas Southern squad attempt to challenge Johnson’s energy, and the junior responded with Auburn’s best scoring performance of the game. With 16 points off the bench, Johnson paced Auburn’s offense right out of the gate, with 8 points in the first 7 minutes. "He was still intense, he was still aggressive, but he was under control," Pearl said of Johnson. "He did it with purpose. He's been working really hard to do that, to letting us coach him. He was obviously really effective out there." Auburn pulls away in transition Starting point guard Wendell Green Jr. didn’t score until 17:10 left in the second half — but his bucket, plus Williams’ second 3-pointer of the night, an offensive rebound for the senior forward, and a forced turnover by Flanigan on a routine inbound pass were as part of an 11-0 run for Auburn go up by 9 points, the Tigers’ largest lead of the game to that point. Following a chippy flagrant foul that led to assistant coach Steven Pearl and Texas Southern forward Joirdon Karl Nicholas exchanging words on the floor, it was a 14-2 run for Auburn to go up 10. Texas Southern was a veteran and physical bunch, and Pearl told his players as much heading into the game. He was glad for the wake-up call, though, and for the way his team responded when they were trailing early in the second half. "I think that surprised my kids when I said, 'No, this is going to come down — it's going to be fairly close,'" Pearl said. "I just think they've been kind of able to just blow people out. When it did get elevated, our guys definitely responded, and that was a bit of a turning point." The home Tigers pulled away by stringing together several defensive stops and converting them into transition buckets. Auburn had 16 fastbreak points in the second half and 28 for the game. "The key to that was the rebounding," Pearl said of transition scoring. "The key to that was the fact that Jaylin or Chris or whoever it was, Al, got on the boards. Wendell had four defensive rebounds. Al had four defensive rebounds. We got out and we went. That was really key. That easy offense made a big difference, but it started with defending and rebounding and then we got those outlets and really hurt them in transition." Moore's strong start continues Pearl continues to start junior Chris Moore at the 3 spot over the more experienced Flanigan. And continues to produce. Making 3-of-4 attempts from beyond the arc, Moore had 11 points of his 14 points in the second half, plus seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in the victory. It was Moore's first game scoring double digits since his career-high 16 points in the second game of last season against Louisiana Monroe. "It was just being aggressive," Moore said. "I don't know if y'all see on the sidelines, Coach goes crazy when I don't score the ball this year. I ain't ever played for a coach who gets on me for not scoring the ball. So it was just being confident, just trusting in my abilities and my coach's belief." With Williams logging some extra minutes at the 5 to make up for Broome's absence, Moore had to moonlight some at the 4 spot. 4COMMENTS "Obviously, Chris Moore played really well," Pearl said. He's a team favorite, fan favorite—just because he's a great kid and works so hard and has been so unselfish kind of waiting his turn. It’s good to see him play with confidence." Auburn has now had three double-digit scorers (Johnson, Williams and Moore on Friday) in three of four games.