A-Day translated into "Big Play Day" Saturday, as Auburn played its annual spring game.
While the Auburn passing game remained holstered, amassing only 221 yards, the rushing game provided the ammunition, going for big gain after big gain.
Led by Onterio McCalebb, the Tigers ran for 280 yards, averaging almost 10 yards per carry.
McCalebb, Ben Tate and Terrell Zachery each had touchdown runs for more than 45 yards.
Tate got the show started, taking a Kodi Burns handoff 46 yards to pay dirt on the fifth play of the game. Tate punched in another 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to put the offense up 15-4.
Zachery and McCalebb picked up where Tate left off, finding daylight for 70-yard touchdown runs in the second and third quarter respectively.
After the game, Tate handed off the accolades to the big men in the middle.
"The offensive line was great," Tate said. "The O-line opened some holes and made it easy, so I just ran."
McCalebb, a freshman from Fort Meade, Fla. found his first day in front of fans in Jordan-Hare Stadium to be a reward, one his mother had the chance to see him enjoy.
"It means a lot to me because my mom came up to see me," McCalebb said. "It is her first game that she has ever seen me play."
McCalebb didn't disappoint his mother or the fans, ripping off a 70-yard touchdown run in the third quarter -- a run the offensive line told him to watch for.
"I was in the huddle and an offensive lineman told me, 'Hey, McCalebb you can take this one to the house,' and I had (to) believe him, so once I got past the line I had to make sure no one would catch me," McCalebb said.
While the running backs showed off their wheels, the quarterbacks and wide receivers were kept in check by the defense.
Burns and Neil Caudle faced pressure from the defensive line, which racked up two sacks and allowed only one passing touchdown.
Many passes ran errant for the two, sailing over the heads of receivers or dropping short at their feet.
Chizik was critical of the play, but focused on the drops that seemed to plague first and second-string wideouts.
"The wideouts right now have to catch every ball that is thrown to them regardless of where it is put," Chizik said. "It can be high low, inside outside, right on, it doesn't matter. They have to be able to catch the football. At the end of the day when you've become a very effective receiving corps is when you can catch every ball that is thrown to you, and we are certainly not there yet."
One receiver that stood out was sophomore Darvin Adams, whom Chizik singled out for his 100-plus yard performance, including a 34-yard touchdown pass from Caudle.
Despite sticking to the basics on both offense and defense, Chizik said he was pleased with the effort from the players.
"I think there were some good things that happened out there on both sides of the ball and on special teams," Chizik said. "The idea today was to go out and play a lot of base defense and base offense and kind of let the chips fall where they may. I think the kids had fun and the fans got a decent look at where we are going to be offensively and defensively next year."
More than 45,000 fans packed Jordan-Hare to watch Chizik's inaugural game on The Plains.
Chizik said players and coaches noticed the level of excitement and support before the game.
"Unbelievable," Chizik said. "I mean it just shows you right now to me how my hat's off to all the Auburn faithful. I mean it is really awesome. Let me tell you why I am so excited about it because our kids noticed it today. You can hear them talking about it. When you beat each other up for 13 days now, you have to have something to look forward to, and they did. They looked forward to today and let me tell you, the fans delivered. It was a great crowd, but it is the Auburn way, and it was nice to see that today."
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