aubiefifty

t rob is not high on my list. the last time we played SCe he and boom were laughing at auburn and it pissed me off.i have not forgotten that. beamer tot did the same thing but he never coached of played here so it did not hurt as bad but it still stung. does no one else remember that? and i do not remember them being that great on D there anyway.

if this is true he can keep his behind right where he is at. i do value redemption when it is sincere. to me there is nothing worse than rewarding bad behavior but how do we know he has not been rehabilitated? it is hard to believe what you hear anymore. this is why i would hope they more than make sure he toes the line. it is my understanding freeze wants to be back in the big time and someone will give him a chance down the road.most coaches have big ego's and want to prove their worth. and since he and gus are friends i imagine he would know what he was getting into.

1. personally i think auburn goes with grimes. he loved auburn when he was here and he has been around long enough to know whats what. 2. if freeze is hired which is a real possibility i just hope they add in his contract no stupid stuff and make the penalty harsh is he breaks his word instead of giving him a hefty buy out.#. i think stoops is a great coach but it took a minute or two for him to get kentucky and this is a worry as we have so much catching up to do.4. i like lane and i think he would do well but we would need to get a dang good D guy. % none of these are in order or even who i want so much as what i think. i really think lanning would do well here as well. he sure knows talent.and if he came here he might bring bo back. i blame harsin for bo. i heard he was not being a prima donna but wanted harsins schemes to be more friendly towards him. also at the end of the day i am just a fan and probably would not know the difference between my behind and third base. and my being quicker is selfish in that i want to see us winning again before i kick.

of course you do. i for one appreciate what you bring to the table.

you lost me a fightint? not sure what you are talking about. i must have missed something?

what about the kid that buried that d guy after road grading him for several yards? yes i understand i think we got a bad call but that is the kind of nasty we need right? was his name wright? i hope we get him back next year. is he not a D guy learning to play on the O line? i was thinking help him up and hit him again.

why was it not called? it looked legit and i am not sure how the refs missed it. was it a no call or did we get a bad call?

If players really know you love them they will play hard for you. he can recruit. he would save us a ton of money tho i would hope he had enough incentives in his contract to make up for it. but the man loves auburn. yesterday was a special day. he earned a ton of respect yesterday. and he would not be running to another school if offered a better deal down the road because of his love for the school. now i know it is probably not going to happen but everyone has their favorites. i will get behind the next coach and support him unless it turns into a clown show like with coach hars.

i think caddy knocked it out of the park.they found out monday close to noon harsin was gone and coaches needed to step up. three days to re imagine everything you have been taught for the most part made this almost impossible to me. he handled it very well and i believe he got everything out of those players that he could. i mean they played hard for him when all looked lost and he needed players to step up they answered. if we got the right staff behind him i would have no problems with him as a head coach. is he green? yes. he looked it but it was just nerves wanting to do well for the uni that has given him so much. i believe in my heart he can get it done but my fear is he might not be retained with the new staff.

Auburn players share Bryan Harsin's last message to team after firing Nathan King 5-6 minutes STARKVILLE, Mississippi — Owen Pappoe had one thing on his mind. Momma Goldberg’s. The senior linebacker and team captain was really looking forward to lunch Monday afternoon. He had a good morning. He was walking out of the building, business as usual before the team’s defensive film session in the afternoon. On his way out, walk-on safety Sammy Cohen stopped him: “You good?” Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t he be? “He goes, ‘You didn’t hear?’” Pappoe said. “I’m like, what?” “Look on Twitter,” Cohen instructed. “Soon as I saw on Twitter Bryan Harsin’s trending …,” Pappoe said late Saturday night after Auburn’s 39-33 overtime loss at Mississippi State. “It was all a shocker to me — I didn’t know it was going to happen, like, during the year.” Senior edge rusher and fellow team captain Derick Hall was on the golf course with tight ends Luke Deal and Brandon Frazier, and longsnapper Reed Hughes, “just having a good time and trying to get our mind off of football for a little bit.” Hall will never know what he would have shot Monday. They piled into their trucks and drove back to campus for a team meeting. Bryan Harsin wasn’t afforded the chance to tell his players first that he had been shown the door — like Gus Malzahn did in 2020. After Auburn made the decision and informed Harsin, it sent out a press release, then the news quickly spread. Redshirt junior cornerback Jaylin Simpson was working with a trainer Monday before the news dropped shortly before noon Monday. He also saw it on social media: “One of my teammates just said to check Twitter.” Harsin called a quick team meeting. He left the building for the last time with offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell, who were also fired, along with a few support staffers. Cadillac Williams was named the interim coach a couple hours late. “Coach Harsin addressed the team and just thanked us for all that we've done for him,” Hall said. “He really enjoyed his time here. You've gotta respect it. The way he handled it was first-class, and we wish him nothing but the best. But we have to move forward.” Appreciation was a common buzz word among Auburn players who shared some of Harsin’s message Saturday. A few players said Harsin told them he’ll be following their careers and will keep in touch. “He just came in, thanked us for all we did for him and for playing hard for him,” running back Jarquez Hunter said. “He just said he’s going to miss us and that he loves us.” Added Simpson: “We didn’t panic (when the news broke). Coach Harsin talked to us — he came in and was very professional. He said what he had to say. We wish him nothing but the best.” The Tigers fell into a 24-3 hole early in the second quarter but mounted a furious rally under Williams’ direction, scoring 22 straight points from late in the second quarter until Tank Bigsby’s 41-yard touchdown gave them a lead with 6:36 left. Mississippi State punched back with a touchdown, then Hunter scored from 8 yards out to give Auburn the lead back with 65 seconds left. The Bulldogs hit a 44-yard field goal to tie the game, though, and Auburn wasn’t given a chance to win the game in regulation after a kickoff hit running back Sean Jackson, bounced off and was picked up by Mike Leach’s team. After a missed field goal by Anders Carlson, Mississippi State running back Jo'quavious Marks walked it off with a 5-yard touchdown. The same losing streak Harsin left Auburn with has now extended to five games, although he wasn’t on the sideline for it. But the mood postgame was still one of positivity about the possibilities for the future of the program — while players still expressed gratitude for Harsin’s time as head coach. “He told us how much he appreciated his time here and being around us, everything we did, everything we went through and how we were able to overcome it and stick together,” quarterback Robby Ashford said. “It was hard. But at the end of the day, it's a business and you hate to see it happen — but we're just players, so we can’t make the decisions. It was sad, but he wished us nothing but the best. “He let us know he'd be fine and that we'd be good, too.” 2COMMENTS *** 60% OFF: Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more ***

Auburn doubles down, doesn't blink in Cadillac Williams' 'special' debut Published: Nov. 06, 2022, 12:44 a.m. 5-7 minutes Cadillac Williams is a gamblin’ man. Auburn’s new interim coach has an affinity for poker; it’s a longtime pastime of his. He even won a weekend poker tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock casino in Tampa, Fla., during the summer months. So, it should come as no surprise that he instilled that same mindset in his team as he prepared Auburn for its first game after a tumultuous week that began with Monday’s firing of former head coach Bryan Harsin and culminated with Saturday’s 39-33 overtime loss to Mississippi State on the road. In Williams’ mind, Auburn had nothing to lose in Starkville, Miss., regardless of what the scoreboard read at the end of the night. “We know nobody gives us a chance in anything,” defensive lineman Colby Wooden said. “So, like Coach ‘Lac says, let’s play with house money. Let’s gamble on us. No one gives us a chance. It’s just us. It’s all we need. Let’s go out there and play.” Auburn did that against Mississippi State. The Tigers came out flat, falling behind 24-3 midway through the second quarter, the Bulldogs’ lead hitting 21 on a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 8:12 to go in the first half. But the Tigers doubled down and showed resiliency, rallying with 22 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game with 6:36 to go in the fourth quarter. That came on a 41-yard touchdown run by Tank Bigsby that sent Auburn’s sideline into a frenzy. “It was just energy on the sideline, man,” linebacker Owen Pappoe said. “We loved it. Loved it.” What followed was a back-and-forth final stretch. Mississippi State reclaimed the lead on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Rara Thomas with 3:49 to go. Then Auburn surged in front again with 1:05 to play on an 8-yard touchdown run by Philadelphia, Miss., native Jarquez Hunter. The Bulldogs tied it at 33-33 with 29 seconds to go on a 44-yard field goal, then they won it in overtime with a 5-yard touchdown run that was preceded by Anders Carlson’s missed 38-yard field goal to open the extra period. “It hurts like every loss does,” quarterback Robby Ashford said. “We fought our butts off, came back (from) down 24-3. But end of the day, you’re just proud of everybody, because we fought our butts. Everybody fought. It’s been a crazy past five, six days with everything that’s happened. To see the fight we put out there, I mean, yeah, we didn’t win and, definitely, losing in overtime hurts. But at the end of the day, I’m just proud of everybody.” Ashford ran for two touchdowns as well as a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter, finishing the night with 108 yards on the ground, the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. He, Bigsby, Hunter and a resurgent Auburn defense sparked the rally in regulation, helping breathe life into a program that was gasping for air after a whirlwind week. Williams had a difficult time putting into words what this week was like inside Auburn’s athletics complex. The coaching change came suddenly, and while Williams was immediately promoted to interim coach, six other staffers—including offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell—were fired as well. That resulted in a shuffling of Auburn’s remaining staff, and an on-the-fly week of preparation as Will Friend and Ike Hilliard assumed co-offensive coordinator duties while splitting play-calling on the field Saturday. “You’ve seen what happened, but you have no idea the week that we just had with the lack of preparation because what went down on Monday and a couple things throughout the week that went on,” Williams said. “We were just putting out fires everywhere.” The hectic week of uncertainty left Williams short on sleep. He got maybe eight hours total between Monday and Thursday. Friday night, at least, he said he got close to four hours of rest. Then he woke up feeling not just hopeful, but confident as he headed into his first game as a head coach at any level — even with the chips stacked against his team. His message to the team: Auburn was going to win in Starkville. That didn’t quite come to fruition, the Tigers coming up just short in overtime. Even in defeat, he and players said, the Tigers felt triumphant on this night. “This night was special for me,” Williams said. “All day, it just felt right…. The energy was just different. You’ve seen it in those kids’ eyes, and then to get in this stadium (and fall behind 24-3)… man, them kids, they didn’t blink. They did not blink. Like, ‘Coach, we got you. Nobody’s quitting. We’re going to continue to serve. We’re going to continue to bleed. We’re going to continue to fight. We’re going to continue to fight on offense, man.’ We laid an egg in the first half, challenged those guys, and they responded. They responded.” Auburn didn’t fold under the circumstances, and even though the Tigers came up short at Davis Wade Stadium, they seem to be all-in on Williams and ready to bet on themselves during this final stretch of the season. “It felt like a win,” Pappoe said. “We felt like we got better. This is something we can build upon. Like I said earlier, we’re disappointed we didn’t get the W, but it was still a win for us in a sense.” 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.

What interim HC Cadillac Williams said following Auburn’s loss to Mississippi State Ethan Stone 4 minutes Cadillac Williams was this close to capturing his first win as a head coach. Auburn led with under a minute remaining, but ended up falling in overtime to Mississippi State, 39-33. He spoke postgame about how he felt about his team’s effort. He seemed most impressed by the fact that nobody quit. Cadillac Williams: “Nobody quit. I haven’t experienced Auburn football in that way this year.” — Nathan King (@NathanKing247) November 6, 2022 He made a lot of Auburn fans proud Saturday night too, taking the blame for the loss in the end. He went on for some time about that. Auburn interim HC Cadillac Williams: “We’ve got to get better on the discipline part. We did some things that will get you beat… That’s starting with myself. It ain’t on all these kids, man. They fought their tails off. I could’ve done some things better. I really could have.” — Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 6, 2022 Despite the loss, Williams sees a lot of lessons the Tigers can take from battling against a strong Bulldogs squad. Auburn interim HC Cadillac Williams: “We’re not gonna take this as a loss. We didn’t complete the mission… but there are so many, so many, so many life lessons these kids are gonna learn.” — Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 6, 2022 Here’s more from Cadillac Williams’ postgame interview. this is the most emotional press conference I’ve ever been a part of, bar none Cadillac Williams is just pouring his soul out here — Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 6, 2022 Auburn interim HC Cadillac Williams on what happened at halftime: “I told them, ‘Forget the scoreboard. We’re gonna keep fighting. Keep punching.’ Those kids did not blink. They did not blink. They said, ‘Coach, we’ve got you.'” — Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 6, 2022 Auburn interim HC Cadillac Williams: “This night was special for me. All day, too. Just felt right. Honestly, when I woke up, I told those guys, ‘We’re gonna win this game. We’re gonna win this game.’ The energy was just different. You could see it in their eyes.” — Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 6, 2022 Auburn interim HC Cadillac Williams: “First of all, I tip my hat to Mississippi State. Wow. Those kids fought hard. You play this game of football, and you’re not gonna win them all. But I’m so proud of my guys.” — Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) November 6, 2022

247sports.com Cadillac: Nobody quit and Auburn played with a different energy Mark Murphy 3-4 minutes STARKVILLE, Mississippi–Down 17-0 Saturday with almost nothing going right, Auburn's football team showed the grit and fight interim head coach Cadillac Williams asked for prior to the game, but the Tigers came up short in heartbreaking fashion, losing 39-33 to Mississippi State in overtime. “I am so proud of my guys,” Williams said. “They fought. Two things we talked about all week were serve and believe, and I think those guys exemplified that. They showed it. “My message to those guys is we are not going to take this as a loss,” he said. “Yes, we didn’t complete the mission, we lost. Yeah, we lost, but there are so many life lessons, so many life lessons these kids are going to learn from.” Asked about the momentum change that allowed the Tigers to come back and take in the lead in fourth quarter on an eight-yard run by Jarquez Hunter with 1:05 left, Williams said, “Defense, early on, gave up yards, but they just kept serving, kept fighting. We said yesterday we are either going to fight or quit and see who is going to quit. Nobody quit. I haven’t experienced Auburn football that way this year. The energy, the belief those kids had it was just wow. “Like I told the guys, I know the Auburn family is proud of those guys,” the coach added. “They have got nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.” Williams said any blame for the loss should fall on his shoulders. “We have just got to get better with the discipline part of it. We did some things that will get you beat and that is starting with myself. It is not on all of these kids. They fought their tails off. I could have done some things better–I really could have.” Carnell Williams answers questions following his first game as Auburn's interim head football coach. (Photo: Mark Murphy, Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports) Last week Williams was the running backs coach working with Hunter and the other backs. Being a native of Mississippi, the sophomore said it really hurt to lose the game to the Bulldogs. 10COMMENTS The same was true for senior linebacker Owen Pappoe. “There are a lot of emotions going on, but I am alright,” he said. “I am disappointed with the outcome of the game, but I am proud of everybody on this team. They fought their hearts out. “We talked about it all week–let’s just come out with energy," Pappoe said. "It just felt different on the sideline. Guys weren’t sitting around, moping around. Defense was supporting the offense, offense was supporting the defense.” ">247Sports

Auburn storms back but falls in overtime at Mississippi State WVTM 13 Digital 2 minutes Auburn lost in overtime at Mississippi State 39-33 Saturday night. Auburn had trailed by as much as 21 before storming back to force overtime. Auburn moves to 3-6 on the season.Auburn possessed the ball first in overtime and Anders Carlson missed a field goal to take the lead. Mississippi State punched it in on the ground just a few plays later to finish off the Tigers.Auburn struggled on offense most of the night. Quarterback Robby Ashford went 7 for 22 for just 70 yards through the air. Ashford added 108 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. On Monday, Auburn parted ways with head coach Bryan Harsin. Saturday was Carnell "Cadillac" Williams' debut as interim head coach. MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. — Auburn lost in overtime at Mississippi State 39-33 Saturday night. Auburn had trailed by as much as 21 before storming back to force overtime. Auburn moves to 3-6 on the season. Auburn possessed the ball first in overtime and Anders Carlson missed a field goal to take the lead. Mississippi State punched it in on the ground just a few plays later to finish off the Tigers. Auburn struggled on offense most of the night. Quarterback Robby Ashford went 7 for 22 for just 70 yards through the air. Ashford added 108 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. On Monday, Auburn parted ways with head coach Bryan Harsin. Saturday was Carnell "Cadillac" Williams' debut as interim head coach.

247sports.com AU news, notes & quotes: big rally comes up just short vs. Mississippi State Guy Rhodes 5-7 minutes STARKVILLE, Mississippi–For sophomore running back Jarquez Hunter’s his team’s 39-33 overtime loss at Mississippi State was a highly emotional game. With his position coach, Cadillac Williams, elevated to interim head coach, the Tigers just missed pulling off an upset on Saturday night. “I think we just had to believe ourselves and strain, and I think we came out in the second half and did what what we had to do. “We started off slow, but in the second half we came out and hit in the mouth and started pushing the ball,” Hunter said. “We came out with more energy.” The running back scored a go-ahead touchdown for the Tigers with 1:08 to play, putting Auburn on top 31-30. Robby Ashford then scored on a scramble for the two-point conversion, but the Bulldogs drove for a field goal in the closing seconds and won the game with a touchdown in overtime. “I am from Mississippi so it is always great to score here and make plays,” said Hunter, who noted it was tough to take losing in overtime after the Tigers had rallied from a 17-point first half deficit. “The offensive line coach (Will Friend) was calling the plays so we had our mind made up we were going to run the ball,” said Hunter, who finished with 54 rushing yards on a dozen carries. * First-time starters for Auburn were safety Caleb Wooden, cornerback J.D. Rhym and wide receiver Camden Brown. * This is Auburn’s second overtime game this season (also Missouri, won, 17-14) and the first overtime game in the Auburn-Mississippi State series that goes back to 1895. * Robby Ashford is the first Auburn quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since Nick Marshall (100) at Mississippi State in 2014. Ashford finished with 118 yards and on 18 carries against the Bulldogs. * John Samuel Shenker is appeared in his 59th career game, tying the Auburn record set by T.D. Moultry (59 games from 2017-21). * Shenker is the Auburn career leader in tight end receptions (68). Shenker is now 2nd in tight end career receiving yardage (779). The career leader is Cooper Wallace (829 from 2002-05). * Tank Bigsby now has 2,614 career rushing yards, to rank 10th all-time at Auburn, passing Onterio McCalebb (2,586 from 2009-12). Next is Ronnie Brown (2,707 from 2000-04), Bigsby had 13 carries for 94 yards against Mississippi State. * Bigsby scored his eighth rushing TD of the season against the Bulldogs and the 23rd of his career. * Hunter scored his sixth rushing touchdown of the season and the ninth of his career. Jarquez Hunter is congratulated after his touchdown run in the fourth quarter. (Photo: Greg McWilliams, Inside the Auburn Tigers, 247Sports) * Ashford scored his 4th and 5th rushing touchdowns of the season. His 20-yard rush was his longest TD run this year. This is his second game with multiple rushing scores (also against Ole Miss). * Ashford ranks third among all-time Auburn freshman passers with 1,369 passing yards. Second is Stan White (2,242 in 1990). * Ashford is fourth in freshman pass attempts (195). Next is Gabe Gross (197 in 1998), Stan White (338 in 1990). Ashford is 3rd in pass completions (98). N next is Stan White (180 in 1990). * Ashford ranks 11th among Auburn freshman rushers with 485 yards, passing Ben Tate (392 in 2006) and D.J. Williams (400 in 2019), Rusty Williams (439 in 1996), Mario Fannin (448 in 2007), Tre Smith (454 in 2002), James Brooks (467 in 1977), Stacy Danley (468 in 1987), Chester O’Neal (480 in 1981) and Michael Burks (483 in 1998). Next is Onterio McCalebb (547 in 2009). * Jaylin Simpson recorded his first interception of the year and second of his career. * Dylan Brooks recorded his first fumble recovery and Jeffrey M’Ba had his first forced fumble and his first career sack. * Colby Wooden registered his second fumble recovery of the season and third of his career. Wooden has 5.0 sacks and 10 tackles for loss (TFL) for the season and 14.0 sacks and 28.5 TFL in his career. * Derick Hall recorded his second forced fumble of the season and fifth of his career. Hall now has 7.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles this season and 19.5 sacks and 28.5 tackles for his career. * Lideatrick Griffin’s 92-yard kickoff return score was the first kick return TD against the Tigers since Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle in 2019. * Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers had 59 pass attempts with 42 completions with three touchdowns and 357 yards. He has passed for nine touchdowns against the Tigers the past two seasons. * Auburn’s 10 penalties for 115 yards against the Bulldogs were season highs. The previous high was 10 penalties against Georgia and for yards was 85 against San Jose State. * Offenses sputtered for Auburn and the Bulldogs in the first half. After gaining only 29 yards in offense in the opening quarter, Auburn outgained Mississippi State 79 to only 34 yards in the second quarter. The Bulldogs piled up 153 yards in the opening quarter as they scored on their first three possessions. Total offense in the first half was 297 yards for Mississippi State to 108 yards for the Tigers. the night was completed, Auburn had 320 yards to 357 for Mississippi in total offense. * Ashford joined permanent captains Hall, Pappoe and Shenker as a captain against Mississippi State. *Oscar Chapman has 10 punts of 50 yards or longer this season. ">247Sports

247sports.com Auburn finds 'new energy' in first game post-Harsin Nathan King 5-7 minutes STARKVILLE, Mississippi — Cadillac Williams set his priorities early. Wednesday, in his first public comments since being named Auburn’s interim coach, he told reporters, “I don’t know if we’re going to win a ball game or not.” His focus was, instead, on ensuring his players were mentally stable after their head coach was fired Monday, along with a few other staff members. All he asked after that was for them to fight this week — “for themselves and for the Auburn family,” he said So that mindset from Williams carried over throughout the week, and eventually into Friday. Once the team got settled after its flight to Starkville, he told the Tigers, “We can’t lose no matter what happens.” Then something shifted on game day. Williams, who admitted he was probably running on six-to-eight combined hours of sleep from Monday to Thursday this week, popped out of bed. He still didn’t want to pressure the Tigers into a must-win mindset. But he had to share what he was feeling. “All day, it just felt right,” Williams told reporters postgame. “Honestly, when I woke up, I told those guys, 'We're going to win this game.'” He was almost right. A double-digit road underdog, the Tigers rallied back from down 21 points in the second quarter and scored two separate go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter before ultimately running out of gas in overtime in a 39-33 loss at Mississippi State on Saturday night. From a packed Tiger Walk, to a roaring road contingent of fans, to a scrappy group of players who — against a bevy of circumstances from the week, not the least of which was a reshuffled assistant coaching staff — nearly won just their second Power Five game in the past 11 tries, it was apparent Auburn was a team reinvigorated. With what, it’s not clear. Hope? Something as simple as a reset button? Maybe it’s toughness. “I feel like it was as tough as we played all year,” quarterback Robby Ashford said. Yeah, it might be toughness, Williams echoed. He challenged the Tigers to match his intensity: Don’t quit until I do. Of course, Williams never would. Auburn didn’t appear to do so at any point of the overtime loss, either. “Ever since yesterday, we said we’re either going to fight or quit, and we’re going to see who’s going to quit,” Williams said. “Then nobody quit. I mean, I haven’t experienced Auburn football in that way this year; this is Year 4 for me, and man, the energy, the belief the kids had, man, that’s just — wow. “Like I told them guys: I know the Auburn family’s proud of them guys. They’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.” “You all have no idea” what Auburn’s players have been through this week, Williams said. Harsin was pushed out Monday, as was offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell. A couple analysts were moved to on-field roles. Wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau and offensive line coach Will Friend took on co-coordinator tags for the offense. Then it was time to practice — three days to brush off a head coach firing and play a road game. But somehow, as a few players expressed late Saturday night, outside their locker room at Davis Wade Stadium, there was a feeling of new life. A fresh start. “We love Coach Harsin,” defensive tackle Colby Wooden said. “But I feel like there was a new energy.” Auburn’s offense had just one first down across its first four drives, while Mississippi State — namely quarterback Will Rogers, who hit 12 of his first 15 passes with two touchdowns — came out cooking. A 17-0 deficit turned to 24-3 after Lideatrick Griffin returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Then the Tigers had two strip sacks in the second quarter, then started in Mississippi State territory three of four drives in the third quarter thanks to a muffed snap on a punt, a shanked punt and an interception. Eventually, the Tigers’ offense finally broke through, with 149 yards in the fourth quarter and two touchdowns. Mississippi State kicked a tying field goal with 29 seconds left, then received a miracle when its kickoff bounced off Auburn running back Sean Jackson, eliminating any chance for Auburn to win the game with one last drive in regulation. Anders Carlson missed a 38-yard field goal in overtime, and Jo’quavious Marks scored a walk-off touchdown from 5 yards out. An animated Williams on the sideline still found his players matching his intensity at every turn, though. As he and several players expressed, that typeof determination hasn’t been a given this season. "The energy was just different,” Williams said. “You see it in those kids’ eyes. … I don’t know how much we went down, but like I told them, forget the scoreboard. We’re going to keep fighting, keep punching. Came into halftime, we’re down literally 24-6, something like that, maybe, I don’t know. But man, them kids, they didn’t blink. They did not blink: “‘Coach, we got you. Nobody’s quitting.’” *** 60% OFF: Subscribe to Auburn Undercover for the latest news and intel, podcasts, recruiting coverage and more *** *** Get Auburn news straight to your inbox with the Auburn Undercover newsletter *** ">247Sports

i see this as some tough love. i could not say that with harsin in charge. he lost my trust a long time ago. the uni did not investigate him just to be mean.

WATCH: Cadillac Williams delivers passionate speech to Auburn players ahead of first game as interim head coach Nick Schultz 3 minutes Auburn interim coach Carnell Williams has received a commitment from the No. 1 JUCO IOL. Saturday will be a big day for Auburn and Carnell “Cadillac” Williams. It’ll mark Williams’ first game as the Tigers’ interim head coach after the firing of Bryan Harsin. This marks a new chapter of his journey from Auburn star to NFL running back to, eventually, a member of the Tigers’ coaching staff. He’s not taking the opportunity lightly, and that’s evident by the speech he gave to his team ahead of his debut. “It’s truly, truly, all about the ball, man,” Williams started. CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel Football changed Williams’ life. He walked the players through his journey to becoming a No. 5 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Football also provided him an opportunity to get a college degree, and he’ll represent his alma mater as interim head coach Saturday against Mississippi State. “A lot of you guys know my story. I’ll try not to get emotional,” Williams said. “Raised at home, a single parent, six kids. All I had was a dream, and I fell in love with the game of football. I made it all about this ball. And I will be forever indebted to this ball here because it has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. It has opened up doors. It has brought people in my life. Brought me to Auburn University. Got me a degree. Got me to play in the NFL. The ultimate thing, helped me provide for my family, take care of my mom. Changed the trajectory of my family. “So, I say, ‘All about the ball,’ truly all about the ball.” Sorry i cannot get the video to load. they print what he said. i need to up my puter skills.

i have never been big ob bashing players. i slipped with bo because i fell for the prima donna mess. aside from that i have pretty consistent. something popped in my head this morning so i pose this question to you guys? in the days of NIL and basically paying players does this mean they are not considered amateur anymore? and if that is the case is it fair to bash a player now? what do you guys think? i would love to hear a mods view as well. lets have those opinions ....................grins

SEC to study ways to keep fans from storming field Published: Nov. 04, 2022, 11:13 a.m. 3-4 minutes SEC SEC to study strategies on crowd control, keeping fans from storming field Tennessee fans tear down the goal post after defeating Alabama 52-49 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com The SEC has formed a working group to “address post-game spectator incursion” — AKA storming the field/court — after a number of high-profile incidents in recent weeks. The conference already has an escalating fine structure in place for schools whose fans invade the playing area en masse in football and basketball, which typically occurs after significant or unexpected victories by the home team. However, little is done by on-site security to keep large numbers of fans off the field or court in real time once the game has ended. The new working group, made up of “athletics directors, event management directors and campus security personnel” from across the SEC, will study the issue and any policy changes that might be made. Such recommendations will be introduced at the 2023 SEC Spring Meetings, with implementation likely for the 2023-24 athletic year. “Current conference policies need to be reviewed and improved with a focus on addressing field and court incursions by spectators after contests,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “The SEC’s Working Group on Event Security will focus its efforts on reviewing existing policies, developing new strategies and identifying best practices to enhance crowd management and more effectively address field and court incursions at future SEC athletics events.” Though field/court storming happens several times a year in the SEC, it seems the spark that led to calls for change occurred in the aftermath of Tennessee’s 52-49 victory over Alabama in Knoxville on Oct. 15. Thousands of fans rushed the field at Neyland Stadium to celebrate, resulting in at least one physical altercation between Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton and a female Volunteers fan. Alabama coach Nick Saban said afterward that he and many of his players — including Burton — felt unsafe while trying to exit the field. Despite widespread calls for public discipline, Burton was not suspended and played the following week vs. Mississippi State. Tennessee was fined $100,000 by the SEC as a second-time offender of its policy for “Access to Competition Area.” LSU was fined $250,000 after fans entered the field following a victory over Ole Miss in Baton Rouge on Oct. 22, the third such incident at Tiger Stadium since 2014. The SEC Working Group on Event Security include athletics directors Greg Byrne of Alabama, Mitch Barnhart of Kentucky and Josh Brooks of Georgia, among others. Kelvin King, head of campus security at Auburn, is also a member of the group. “Providing consistent and appropriate levels of safety and security remains the common goal of SEC member institutions,” Sankey said. “Our institutions remain current and vigilant in crowd control best practices and continue to work with local law enforcement to develop effective security protocols at SEC venues and we need to continue the adaptation of Conference policies to address emerging realities.” If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Can Cadillac Williams continue 2022 trend of fast starts for interim coaches? Published: Nov. 04, 2022, 11:00 a.m. 4-5 minutes Cadillac Williams doesn’t know what the next month holds, or anything beyond that, frankly. All he knows is that, as of Monday, he bears the weight of his alma mater on his broad shoulders. Williams was named Auburn’s interim coach Monday, shortly after the program fired Bryan Harsin less than two years into his six-year contract. Williams will guide Auburn for the next four games as the team tries to salvage a disappointing season, the Tigers sitting at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in SEC play heading into Saturday’s matchup with Mississippi State (6:30 p.m., ESPN2). Read more Auburn football: Cadillac Williams reflects on “bittersweet” opportunity, “heavy” burden as Auburn’s interim coach Cadillac Williams on recruiting plan: “Only at Auburn do dreams come true” Scarbinsky: With football, Auburn’s president means business “What I told those guys, what’s going to make me happy these next four weeks, there’s no promises,” Williams said. “I don’t know if we’re going to win a ballgame or not.” It’s a daunting task ahead for Williams and a retooled coaching staff — six other football staffers, including offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Eric Kiesau and tight ends coach Brad Bedell, were fired Monday afternoon — but one the former Auburn All-America running back and program legend is embracing. It will mark his first time serving as a head coach at any level during his still-fledgling career, which only just began in 2015 at Division II Henderson State. Williams is just the third interim coach in Auburn history, following Bill Oliver (1998 following the firing of Terry Bowden) and Kevin Steele (2020 after Auburn fired Gus Malzahn). Oliver went 2-3 in five games in that role, while Steele lost his only game as interim coach, the Citrus Bowl against Northwestern. While interim coaching tags have been relatively rare on the Plains, there are already several across college football this season, as the coaching carousel began spinning early this year. Auburn is the seventh FBS team to make an in-season coaching change this fall, while UAB also has an interim coach in Bryant Vincent after Bill Clark’s sudden retirement in June. So far this season, those interim coaches are 14-15 overall. Wisconsin’s Jim Leonhard (2-1) and Charlotte’s Pete Rossomando (1-0) are the only ones with winning records. Vincent (4-4) and Georgia Tech’s Brent Key (2-2) have their respective teams at .500 under their watch, while Nebraska’s Mickey Joseph (2-3), Arizona State’s Shaun Aguano (2-3) and Colorado’s Mike Sanford (1-2) haven’t quite been able to turn things around for their programs since taking over. Five of those seven coaches started off their interim tenure with a win: Key, Sanford, Leonhard, Vincent and, most recently, Rossomando last week. Williams has a chance to succeed at Auburn, which despite its struggles this season has what on paper looks like a manageable November schedule. Along with Saturday’s trip to Starkville, Miss., to take on a Mississippi State team that has lost two in a row, Auburn hosts a Texas A&M team that is also on a four-game skid and at the bottom of the SEC West after entering the year with sky-high expectations, then finishes its home slate with a nonconference matchup against Western Kentucky at Jordan-Hare Stadium. That, of course, is followed by a difficult road trip to Tuscaloosa to take on rival No. 6 Alabama. Auburn needs to win three of those four games to make a bowl for the 10th straight season, but the team’s record over the next month isn’t Williams’ chief concern as he tries to hold the program together amid its second coaching change in two years. “One thing that’s going to make me happy is if we play good football — and hard, Auburn football,” Williams said. “I honestly — that’s what I want to get these kids to do, man — play hard and compete. At the end of the day, I told these kids, win, lose or draw, if we do that, not only will we make ourselves proud, but I know the Auburn family will be proud of us, too.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

Joseph Goodman: It’s time to ride with Cadillac Updated: Nov. 04, 2022, 6:50 p.m.|Published: Nov. 04, 2022, 6:45 a.m. 6-8 minutes Carnell Williams paused when I asked him about his first message as head coach to his Auburn football team. It was a long pause for a phone interview, but a short one when measured against history. About the time it takes for a game-winning 50-yard field goal to clear the uprights from foot to forever. Williams gathered his emotions as best he could and took a deep breath. This is what the first Black head football coach of Auburn University said to his team. “Honestly,” he said. And then he stopped, catching himself. He could not hide, even on the phone, how much this all means to him and through him Auburn. Carnell Williams represents the soul of not only Auburn University, but the state of Alabama and everything that is right about this thing that is college football in the Southeastern Conference. RELATED: Highlights from Tiger Talk with Auburn coach Carnell Williams RELATED: Three questions facing Auburn and Carnell Williams RELATED: Carnell Williams reflects on ‘bittersweet’ opportunity JOE VS. THE PRO AND THE HERO: Week 10 picks are here From Attalla, Alabama, to this. So many memories. So much history. Think of all the experiences. Wins and loses. Injuries and injuries and then the injustice of the BCS. Coming back home to Auburn to finish a degree, and then coming back home to coach. From Tommy Tuberville bringing Auburn’s entire coaching staff to Williams’ childhood home on a Monday night in January 2001, to another life-changing Monday when Williams, at 40 years old, with a life shaped by Auburn University and molded in the crucible of the SEC, was made the interim head coach after the firing of Bryan Harsin. Williams looked at his team, and he saw himself, and then he spoke a truth that came from a heart weighted by humility. “Honestly, it was two things,” he said. “One thing I stressed on was family. Two decades ago, that is one of the main reasons that I chose Auburn University, because of the family atmosphere. “I grew up in a big family, and I came here and I loved everything about it, that blue-collar mentality, how not only do they love Auburn football but love Auburn and just love people. So, the people within these walls are what made Auburn great, so that’s one thing I hit on with these players. “The second thing is just the hard work, that blue-collar mentality — that relentless effort, you know? Finishing on every play, never quitting, just outworking your opponents in each and every thing you do. Everything that our creed is exemplified by, that is honestly what I shared with those guys in that team meeting.” This just feels right, doesn’t it? There is something about Williams picking up Auburn off the mat, and putting Auburn on his back during these moments, that just feels like things are instantly better. Auburn could lose every game for the rest of the season, but I already know that with Williams as the coach Auburn’s spirit is not going to be defeated. And I am not alone in this feeling. I don’t know who’s going to be Auburn’s next permanent head football coach, but I do know that Auburn is ready to ride or die with Cadillac. After one interview with Williams, I know that Auburn football is in good hands until a decision is made about the future and a permanent coach is hired. Auburn has beaten itself up for a long time over football, but with Williams the healing has already started and a path out of the darkness is clear. Who used to coach Auburn football? I can’t remember. Call it COVID brain fog. Doesn’t matter now anyways. By so many degrees, Williams is the start of something new and meaningful for Auburn and for Alabama. He’s the first Black coach of an SEC football team in the state, and at a time when there are no other Black head coaches in the entire league. That means something. If you’re an Auburn grad, if you’re a resident or a native of Alabama, then that should make you proud. Y’all, I am beaming. Auburn plays at Mississippi State on Saturday night, and then is back at home at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov.12 for Texas A&M. It’s under the lights, too. Kickoff at 6:30 p.m. What a night that will be. What an inspiring turn towards destiny with one decision. Williams was coaching running backs for the Birmingham Iron at Legion Field in 2018. The Iron’s entire league folded in the middle of its first season. Williams was out of work. Gus Malzahn’s staff brought him home. What a trip. I asked Williams some pointed questions in his first media session. He crushed them. His answers were perfect. Of course they were, though. Williams is an SEC lifer. He gets it. He’s ready for this. Williams knows what it means to be a coach in the SEC because Williams was raised by these ways. First question: Do you have any interest in being the permanent coach? “Honestly, all I’m trying to do is win a football game this week and do my best for these players and this staff and the Auburn family,” Williams said. “Honestly, I’m taking it one day at a time — literally, one minute at a time. I’m not even focused on all the what if’s. I’m honestly being where my feet are — not only myself, but also this team.” Second question: Do you have a plan in place for recruiting? “Yes, sir. I do,” Williams said. “I actually do. One of the things I definitely want to get out to recruits and the rest of the world: only at Auburn do dreams come true. I’m forever indebted to this institution. It changed the whole trajectory of the Williams family. “I met my wife here; my two boys — Auburn has been so good to me. Every dream I wanted to accomplish, this place gave me the opportunity. Now for me to be in this position, I just want to get it out there: only at Auburn do dreams come true. It’s a lot of guys, from the Bo Jacksons to the Cam Newtons to the Karlos Dansbys to the Carlos Rogers — all the guys that came here and were able to accomplish their dreams and do a lot of great things.” Williams doesn’t have to convince anyone of who he is and what he represents. All he has to do is be himself. Williams is the real thing, and his opportunity is not by luck or chance. History is here for Auburn with sudden beauty because it was united by common dreams all along. 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.

What exactly is the GOP saving America from these days? Robert Emmett Curran Fri, November 4, 2022 at 9:46 AM While exploring the Millstone Festival in Richmond earlier this month, my wife and I came upon the Republican Party headquarters in the historic Glyndon Hotel. I thought back to 2016 when the Glyndon had been the Democratic Party’s quarters. I had gone there looking for Clinton bumper stickers and was taken aback to discover that they had none. The Madison County Democrats had abandoned the Democratic nominee for president. Eight years of a Black Democrat in the White House had put Kentucky too deeply in the column of Red America. Donald Trump was the perfect candidate to enable the Republican Party to gain near-total hegemony, as its takeover of the Glyndon announced to all passersby. Prominent in the Glyndon’s front window display was a “Save America” sign. If anyone had any doubts about who controls the Republican Party, she need look no further than that sign. “Save America” being the latest call-to-arms by the twice impeached former president currently under multiple civil and criminal investigations. But what, I wondered, are Republicans saving the country from? From teachers who dare lay out to their white students the racism which has permeated our history or to widen their horizons about the boundaries of gender? Are they saving it from asylum-seeking immigrants demonized as criminal invaders? From those labeled socialists for seeking to empower government to promote social and economic justice? From those dismissed as job wreckers for recognizing and calling for critical action to address the climate crisis? From an inflationary cycle largely brought on by non-political forces? From “tax-and-spenders” who dare to insist that a progressive tax system is the only way for government to fulfill its constitutional obligation to promote the general welfare? Does a party “save America” by packing the courts with judges pledged to combat labor, public education, women, voting rights, gun regulation, and campaign financing reform, as well as the administrative state in general? Does a party save it by protecting the hedge fund vultures who are systematically destroying a vital prerequisite for an informed citizenry, an independent, well-staffed press? Or by nominating to the highest offices in the land persons blatantly unqualified? Or by running on a platform of retribution against opponents it deems enemies? First to feel the Republican wrath will surely be the January 6 committee, which has revealed to all the world the dishonorable complicity of a majority of Congressional Republicans in Donald Trump’s failed coup. In the main, Republicans, particularly since Trump hijacked the party, have increasingly focused on cultural issues, both to sustain the dark grievances and fears cultivated by the vast right-wing media-sphere, as well as to distract from the worsening economic, ecological, and political threats to the well-being of this republic. And the threat that Republicans want most to distract from is the war which the vast majority of them is waging against the infrastructure of our democracy. At the center of this war is the “Big Lie,” the fiction that rampant fraud prevented Donald Trump from being re-elected. That bogus claim led to multiple efforts by Trump and his circle, including congressional allies, to overturn the election, culminating in the January 6 insurrection. And the war continues, in the passing of voting restrictions and changes in the certification of elections in Republican-controlled states. It continues in the candidacy of election deniers across the country for key offices, including governor and secretary of state. It all represents a massive effort not only to undermine trust in our elections, but to ensure permanent Republican rule, even though they very much constitute a political minority. - ADVERTISEMENT - If all this resonates with you as appropriate means toward the noble goal of saving America, the Republican Party is counting on your vote. Indeed, your vote will help confirm the decision of Republicans like Mitch McConnell and Hal Rogers to choose survival and power over constitutional duty. If, however, you see such behavior leading, not to America’s salvation, but its further destruction as a democracy; if you think it crucial for the seditionists, both active and passive, to be held accountable, your civic duty this November could not be plainer. VOTE. Robert Emmett Curran Robert Emmett Curran is Professor of History Emeritus at Georgetown University and author of the forthcoming American Catholics and the Quest for Equality in the Civil War Era 3).

An Oath Keeper thought the Electoral College was a place where politicians 'went to get educated,' defense lawyer says at trial C. Ryan Barber 5-6 minutes Kenneth Harrelson, pictured below the green arrow, entered the Capitol in a military-style stack formation on January 6, 2021, prosecutors say.US attorney's office in Washington, DC Defense lawyers argued at trial the Oath Keepers were a community-minded service group. A lawyer for one Oath Keeper said his client was "apolitical" and not invested in the 2020 election. That Oath Keeper, Kenneth Harrelson, "didn't know" there was a House or Senate, his lawyer said. Standing before the jury Thursday, defense lawyer Bradley Geyer hoped his client would forgive him for the story he was about to share in the trial of five Oath Keepers charged with plotting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power on January 6, 2021. When he met Kenneth Harrelson more than a year ago, Geyer said, the Oath Keepers member hardly knew of the institutions or processes involved in the certification of the 2020 election. "He didn't know there was a House of Representatives and a Senate. He didn't know anything about the Electoral College," Geyer said, adding that Harrelson thought at the time it was a place where "politicians went to get educated or whatever." Geyer professed Harrelson's ignorance in an opening statement defending him against charges he participated in a seditious conspiracy to interfere with the certification of the 2020 election and keep former President Donald Trump in power. In a half-hour address to the jury, Geyer argued that Harrelson was so disinterested in politics that he could not have had the intent to stop the transfer of power from Trump to now-President Joe Biden. "Kenny is literally apolitical," Geyer said, and holds "no deeply held political positions either way." "He had no anger about the certification," Geyer added. "He frankly didn't care." Geyer's opening statement kicked off the Oath Keepers' defense in a high-profile January 6 prosecution that involves the most serious charges brought to date in a case stemming from the Capitol attack. Earlier on Thursday, federal prosecutors rested their case after calling their final witness, FBI agent John Moore, to the stand. In their month-long case, federal prosecutors presented text messages and other evidence detailing the Oath Keepers' planning ahead of January 6. Prosecutors have shown jurors evidence that the Oath Keepers stockpiled weapons in a hotel outside Washington, DC, for so-called "quick reaction forces" that could be summoned into the nation's capital. At the conclusion of their side of the case, prosecutors presented a message Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes drafted urging Trump to take drastic action to overturn his loss to Biden in the 2020 election. Rhodes sought to warn Trump, "If you don't then Biden/Kamala will turn all that power on you, your family, and all of us. You and your family will be imprisoned and killed." But the message, drafted in the days after the January 6 attack, was never sent. Rhodes is standing trial alongside Harrelson and three other Oath Keepers members — Jessica Watkins, Kelly Meggs, and Thomas Caldwell — on charges related to January 6. His lawyer said at the outset of the trial that Rhodes would testify in his own defense. Geyer on Thursday said the Oath Keepers' "commitment to disaster-relief services" attracted Harrelson to the far-right group. Harrelson, he said, was drawn not to "politics and political rallies" but rather to what he saw as an opportunity to apply his past Army training to "service to his community." "Politics is not his thing," Geyer said. On January 6, he said, Harrelson entered the Capitol while serving as a "personal security detail." Prosecutors painted a starkly different picture of Harrelson's conduct on January 6. On Monday, prosecutors called a former Oath Keepers member, Grayson Young, who recalled entering the Capitol in a military-style stack formation, with his hand on Harrelson's shoulder. Young, who pleaded guilty to felony charges linked to the January 6 attack, was pictured standing next to Harrelson as he took a picture inside the Capitol. In another opening statement Thursday, a defense lawyer for Oath Keepers member Kelly Meggs argued that the group was providing security on January 6. The lawyer, Stanley Woodward, previewed what he called an "alternative theory, an alternative motivation for Mr. Meggs' presence in Washington, DC, on January 6." "The testimony in this case will show the Oath Keepers chose community involvement, disaster recovery, security, personal security," Woodward said. Woodward noted that the Oath Keepers have provided security for prominent Trump allies, including the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Roger Stone. Of Stone, Woodward said he is "known for many things." "He has a tattoo of Nixon on his back," Woodward said. "He's an outspoken supporter of former President Trump." Read the original article on Business Insider