The Auburn football team wants to finish the season strong, while former Tiger baseball star Tim Hudson approaches his final season as a Major League baseball player.
The defending SEC champion No. 16 Auburn (7-3, 4-3 SEC) lost its chances to repeat after a 34-7 loss to Georgia, but head coach Gus Malzahn has no doubt his team will finish these next two weeks strong.
"We're still a good football team," Malzahn said. "We're capable of being a very good football team. That's the goal. To finish this thing like we can, which I know we can, which I expect us to."
The Tigers host Samford, coached by Auburn's first Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday, and travel to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 30 to face off with the Crimson Tide.
Hudson won his first World Series after 16 seasons in the Major League's in October.
"There definitely feels like there is some solid closure to it," Hudson said Tuesday at the Tigers' weekly press conference. "You wait so long in your career to try and experience something like that."
Even after reaching the pinnacle with the San Francisco Giants last season, the right-handed pitcher is focused on ending the last season of his career on a positive note like the Tigers.
Auburn's matchup against the Bulldogs will be the final home game for 27 players.
"This is a very good group of seniors," Malzahn said. "They've done a lot of great things for Auburn. I'm hoping our fans will show up, be loud and send these guys off on the right track."
Center Reese Dismukes said it is going to be "one good last ride."
As a senior, Dismukes is concerned how the negative noise surrounding the teams' recent losses is effecting younger teammates.
"You just have to keep these young guys locked in that we still have a lot to play for, and there's a lot still on the line," Dismukes said. "None of that outside stuff really matters."
Hudson said he sees his opportunities gradually closing as he gets older. Something the Tigers can relate to as their season is coming to an end.
"The older you get, your skills diminish a little bit," Hudson said. "It seems like all the younger guys that come up in the big leagues these days are really good at a young age. The game will let you know when you need to retire."
As those opportunities have gotten smaller, Hudson and the Tigers do not plan on going without a fight.
"There was times in the season where I thought we were the worst team in baseball, and there were times when I thought we were the best team in baseball," Hudson said. "But come October these guys expect to win."
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