With Wednesday being the first day of classes on the 2013-14 academic calendar, the Auburn football team officially brought fall preseason camp to a close on Tuesday afternoon.
After a day off, the Tigers will go back to work on Thursday with one focus in mind--the Washington State Cougars, who visit Jordan-Hare Stadium a week from this Saturday.
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said he was pleased with the team's progress through these last few weeks of preseason preparation.
"When I look back on our entire camp, I felt like we did improve," Malzahn said. "I felt like we were able to cover all of our situations, and we got a chance to evaluate everyone."
Malzahn said Tuesday's practice was a good one, especially for the offense. He felt the wide receivers closed camp with one of their best days, and the entire pace of practice definitely caught his eye.
"I told our offense at the end of this practice that this had the best rhythm that we've had since I've been back," Malzahn said. "We need to keep improving, but it looked like we knew what we were doing today. Our timing was very good."
Malzahn said the players will start to get in a better routine on Wednesday with the start of classes.
When they return to the practice field on Thursday, Malzahn said they will be "full force into Washington State."
The Cougars are an intriguing matchup for Auburn's season opener. While they run a hurry-up, spread offense like the Tigers, Mike Leach puts a lot more emphasis on putting the ball in the air than Malzahn.
"They're a throw-first, and we're a run-first," Malzahn said. "They beat Washington to end the year and they've got most of their starters coming back, so we're expecting a good team to come in here. We will have to play well."
Leach's air raid will present an interesting challenge to members of Auburn's defense, who are excited to start game-planning for the season opener.
"You've got to be patient against teams like Washington State," said Cassanova McKinzy, who has now moved full-time to will linebacker. "They're going to get their first downs, and they're going to try to get (the defense) off its feet."
For defensive lineman Angelo Blackson, the end of fall camp marks a welcome shift for a defense that has had more than its fair share of injuries.
"It's good to be able to focus on one thing," Blackson said. "Our minds were all over the place during camp. We're 20 days in now, and I think it's a good time now for us to just zoom in and prepare for what they are going to do."
The defensive line, which Blackson expects to feature highly touted pass rushers Elijah Daniel and Carl Lawson, will have an interesting matchup when the Cougars come to town on Aug. 31. Washington State will feature a few walk-ons on the offensive line, an oddity for most Division I programs.
But to defensive end Gabe Wright, Division I football players are Division I football players, and they all should be planned for equally.
"I guarantee no one is coming into Jordan-Hare and not expecting to win," Wright said. "So we have to have that mindset in preparation."
When asked about how long he has personally been looking ahead to Washington State, Wright paused and gave some insight into the mindset of a team desperately wanting to move past 2012.
"We've been waiting to get that bad taste out of our mouths," Wright said. "At the end of last season...as soon as we knew that Washington State was going to give us the next chance to get out in Jordan-Hare and hit somebody other than our teammates...that's it. That's where we're drawing our energy.
"That's our chance to put Auburn's pride on our backs."
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