As each player takes his turn in the spotlight in the Rane Room of the Auburn Athletic Complex, there is a sense of timid optimism.
The Tigers have had a tumultuous offseason in which they let their leading rusher Michael Dyer leave, fielded an uncountable number of questions as to who the starting quarterback will be and dealt with the tragedy of the June 9 shooting.
And yet, as the players stepped in front of the media one by one, all of their answers had the same ring to it.
Wednesday's practice kicked off the beginning of the second installation of both a new offense and a new defense, but the players and Gene Chizik seemed happy with where they are after what Chizik called a "really solid day."
Although Wednesday's practice was just in shorts, the players agreed that the practice reaffirmed how hard they worked in the spring and summer.
"It's amazing how quick we all bought into the system," said red-shirt freshman linebacker Kris Frost of new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's system.
On the offensive side, potential starting quarterback Clint Moseley said new coordinator Scot Loeffler's system is a difficult one to learn quickly, but said it's "definitely the most productive summer" the team has had in his three years at Auburn.
"We're a lot farther along than we were in the spring," Moseley said. "(But) it demands 100 percent focus all the time.
In their first practice of a season with must-win expectations, the team still managed to show a little humor on the field.
Senior tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen struck a Heisman pose after saying he could "run a 4.3" 40 yard dash in his stripped down uniform, and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor threw gum to players as he made quips about the way they were stretching.
Here are the highlights from the post-practice interviews:
The quarterback battle:
Moseley and sophomore quarterback Kiehl Frazier rotated with the first-team offense as Chizik keeps the competition as neutral and balanced as possible. However, Moseley says this might be the fight of his life.
"The desperation is there," Moseley said. "There's definitely a sense of urgency."
Moseley is coming off a shoulder injury, and despite praise from Chizik saying he is "full go," Moseley said he is not quite 100 percent.
"But who is really?" Moseley said.
For Frazier, he said he has focused on becoming more vocal, his footwork and his reads on the field.
However, all indications are that the two friends still both have a chance to snatch the starting quarterback position.
Personnel changes:
Freshman quarterback Zeke Pike is no longer on the team, according to Chizik.
Following Pike's arrest for public intoxication in June, Pike's future with the team was known to be in jeopardy, and Chizik made the decision to let him go in the last "seven to ten days."
Sophomore cornerback Jonathan Rose was also dismissed for "personal reasons" and both players will attempt to transfer to other schools, according to Chizik.
However Auburn has added wide receiver Melvin Ray to the roster.
A 23-year-old former University of Alabama signee, Ray left college football to sign with the Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers where he fizzled out with poor play on the Dodgers' minor league team.
"He is a physical specimen as far as size for a wide receiver," Chizik said. "We're happy to have him on our team."
Shon Coleman also practiced today for the first time.
A top offensive line recruit in 2010, his battle with leukemia kept him off the field for the past two seasons.
Now, he is cleared to play.
"I'm really really proud of Shon," Chizik said. "He's loving that he's got an opportunity to play the game again."
Keep up with theplainsman.com everyday for more practice updates.
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.
