OXFORD, Miss. — The Auburn faithful that clustered near the south end zone inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium cheered as Gus Malzahn and Auburn players happily strolled toward their locker room — a 31-16 bounce-back win over conference foe Ole Miss added to their back pockets just minutes prior.
The volume of those cheers rose particularly high when Malzahn raised a hand toward the fans, cracking a smile as he did so.
Malzahn was just as happy to see those fans as they were to see their recently embattled coach snag a victory.
"I'd like to start out by just thanking the Auburn fans that traveled here," Malzahn told reporters minutes later. "They were a big factor today. Really appreciate them being here."
Those clad in orange and blue in Oxford — the farthest destination the Tigers will travel this season for a road game — knew the importance of Auburn's (5-3, 2-3 SEC) second conference win.
They knew the 269 rushing yards — a season-high for Auburn against an FBS team — were a crucial building block going forward for a struggling offense.
What they probably didn't realize was that they had witnessed something somewhat historical on Jerry Hollingsworth Field that day: Their head coach more fired up than any other moment his players could remember.
"That was the first time I've ever seen Coach Malzahn just get that upset in a game for us," Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson said. "I mean, it was incredible. That gave us drive. When you see your coach fighting for you, you want to fight for your coach."
A holding penalty in the fourth quarter tipped the sixth-year coach off the deep end. On a big run from tailback Malik Miller, reserve guard Austin Troxell was flagged, negating a gain of 20-plus.
Malzahn was red-faced and livid, yelling at the referee across the field. Strength and conditioning coach Ryan Russell attempted to hold Malzahn back by his belt. The head coach didn't quit, and was eventually flagged himself for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
"Well, I'm going to fight for our players," Malzahn said of the flag. "That's what happened."
Auburn players and fans ate it up. The Auburn sideline laughed and smiled at Malzahn, while the players on the field got equally as fired up as their coach, emphatically pumping up the crowd as the ball was being placed 15 yards back.
"You see the emotion, man," Auburn safety Daniel Thomas said. "Coach Malzahn really loves us, and he cares about this team. To see that — it gave us goosebumps... it showed toughness."
That tone shift from the Tigers may have been a week in the making. After a devastating home loss to Tennessee last Saturday, Auburn changed the vibe in practice, according to senior linebacker Deshaun Davis.
Davis said Malzahn was more involved in practices the following week, and a newfound loose demeanor from the coach was an "all week" occurrence. Davis added that Malzahn's ability to "look in the mirror" and make adjustments inspired players to do the same.
"I appreciate it," Davis said. "I love seeing the drive. You could tell, I don’t know what he’s talking to himself about, but he has a different swagger about himself. I don’t if it’s because we’re in the position we’re in... but he’s a different guy, I can tell you that."
Malzahn said Auburn's bye week couldn't have come at a better time, with injuries aplenty for the Tigers on both sides of the ball. The coach addressed the offense, kicking game and penalties as spots to improve on before the team returns to action against Texas A&M on Nov. 3.
While Auburn embraced the difference in Malzahn on Saturday, an area it wants him to remain constant in is bye-week coaching. Under Malzahn, the Tigers are 5-0 following off weeks.
"We have to finish," Davis said. "We have to look at ourselves and say, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ ... it worked out for us today and we have to keep improving."
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Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
