The Tigers arrived at the 2015 SEC Media Days in unrivaled style.
Coach Gus Malzahn was accompanied in Hoover by senior cornerback Jonathon Jones, senior linebacker Kris Frost and junior quarterback Jeremy Johnson.
Malzahn expressed his excitement about the 2015 Tigers, and said the team's theme this year is "Count on me."
"What that is is just our players to be able to count on each other on and off the field," Malzahn said. "They've done a very good job of that so far. Also our coaches to be able to count on our player, players to be able to count on our coaches."
Auburn lost several players to the NFL draft and the closing of their eligibility this year. Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber are expected to step up in the backfield in place of big names such as Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne. Xavier Dempson and Ole Miss transfer Austin Golson are currently battling for the center position, which Malzahn has often referred to as the second-most important position on the team.
"We ask a lot of our center," Malzahn said. "We play fast. He's got to make calls. He's got to ID fonts and everything that goes with it."
Johnson and the Auburn offense were a hot topic, specifically how the offense is geared toward the quarterback position. The offensive philosophy and foundation will remain the same as every year, but the offense will be built around the quarterback's strengths.
"Nick Marshall was one of the better zone read quarterbacks in recent history," Malzhan said. "Jeremy has the ability. He can flat out throw it. I started recruiting him in ninth grade, and he ran a very similar offense. The fact this will be his third year ... I feel very good about where he's at. His coaches and teammates have a lot of confidence in him, and he's earned that."
Quarterback, defense and transfers aren't the only things new for the Tigers this season. The addition of the largest video board in collegiate football to Jordan-Hare Stadium will be "something else" for Auburn.
"The atmosphere, it will do nothing but help our atmosphere, which is already off the charts," Malzahn said. "I know our players are going to enjoy it. Me, as a coach, there will be times I'll look at the scoreboard either on a replay or during a certain play, especially if the ball's in the middle. It will take me a little getting used to, but I'm really looking forward to having it."
Following the 2010 championship season, Alabama coach Nick Saban posted the sign "never again" throughout the Alabama complex following the Iron Bowl loss.
Malzahn said revenge isn't a part of the equation after the 2014 loss in Tuscaloosa.
"We're really just focused on playing better defense," Malzahn said. "We're playing at home this year and I like our chances."
SEC West conference teams have won the conference title six seasons in a row. Malzahn spoke on playing in the West, and the journey the Tigers make every season.
"In my opinion, the West is the toughest conference in football," Malzahn said. "It's a man's league. There's no off weeks. Everybody asks about the SEC and all that, and the thing that really stands out to me is the grind. If you're not in it, you don't understand it. So the grind every week, week in and week out, and then you win the West, and you've got to play the champion of the East, and then you get into the four-team playoff. It's just a matter of surviving the grind," Malzahn said.
The Tigers will take on Bobby Petrino and the Louisville Cardinals in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 5.
"I know that they're a top 25 team," Malzahn said. "We're going to have to play extremely well to have a chance to win that game."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
