Before Saturday, Auburn first-year head football coaches had a record of 16-8-1 for first game play, Head Coach Gene Chizik has brought that record to 17-8-1.
The Tigers beat Louisiana Tech 37-13, bringing their record to 1-0, 0-0 SEC.
"It's great to win your opening game," Chizik said. "It was certainly one of our goals to win the opening game. I have weight on my shoulders for every game, we have a lot put into this. The kids have a lot put into this. So, every game is important, but again it was great to win the first game."
Auburn took the lead early with a 25-yard field goal, the first of three, by junior Wes Byrum. LA Tech soon answered with a touchdown by senior Dennis Morris.
With 1:33 left in the first quarter, junior Kodi Burns, as quarterback, scored the first touchdown for the Tigers. Burns lost the starting quarterback position to senior Chris Todd before the start of the season and is now playing the positions of wide receiver and wildcat quarterback.
"We told Kodi he was going to help us win football games," Chizik said. "Whatever his role is, that is who he is. He is here for the team.
He is a team guy. He is an Auburn man. I said it before, and I will say it again, it was really awesome to see that young man score."
Junior wide receiver Terrell Zachary also put points on the board for Auburn, catching a 93-yard pass from Todd in the end zone in the third quarter.
"Chris made a great throw and 'T' ran under it and the rest is history," Chizik said. "That was a huge turning point in the game. That was something that we definitely needed. It sparked us at that time."
Todd threw for 255 yards and completed 17 of 26 passes and wasn't intercepted. He gave a lot of the credit to the offensive line.
"They did a great job," Todd said. "They kept LA Tech off me the entire night. I got popped one time, but that was my fault. It was a protection call. They did awesome all night, and I am extremely happy with the way that they played."
Other notable points-earning players were Byrum's 49- and 47-yard field goals and touchdowns by sophomore wide receiver Darvin Adams and freshman running back Onterio McCalebb.
"It was awesome," McCalebb said. "I had my people in the stands. My step-mom and my little brother were able to be here. It was great to have them here for that and to have them see me take it in the end zone."
McCalebb led the Tigers for rushing with 148 yards, senior running back Ben Tate rushed for 118, Burns for 24 and Zachary for 10.
McCalebb is the first freshman since Bo Jackson in 1982 to rush for more than 100 yards in his first game.
"Onterio is a very good football player," Chizik said. "He needs to stay very humble, which he will. I think Gus (Malzahn) and our offensive staff do a great job of moving him around and finding different ways of getting him the ball, so there are some means to the madness there. He has a chance to be a very good football player here at Auburn."
Junior running back Mario Fannin caught eight passes for 82 yards, Adams gained 65 yards on four receptions, Zachery led the Tigers with receiving yards with 98 on three receptions and senior running back Ben Tate gained 10 yards on two receptions.
The Tigers face-off against Mississippi State at home 6 p.m. Saturday.
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