In a newly expanded and division-less league, Hugh Freeze and his Tigers will match up against half of the SEC in the upcoming 2024 season. Each of the eight head coaches that will preside on the opposite side of the field of Freeze took to the podium this week in Dallas at SEC Media Days.
Below is a quick snapshot of what each of Auburn’s SEC opponents’ head coaches had to say:
vs. Arkansas - Sept. 21
SAM PITTMAN: “I love this team. I love our coaches. Our expectations are as high as they've ever been for this season coming up. If we can take 4-20 to 9-4, we can deal with 4-8, too, and that's what we're going to do. I'm very excited about the Arkansas Razorbacks.”
vs. Oklahoma - Sept. 28
BRENT VENABLES: “As competitors, as a football program, you know, Oklahoma isn't intimidated as a football program. We're running towards the SEC. I think that goes without saying. We've looked forward for the last several years for this partnership, to be a part of an amazing conference, the best conference in college football.”
at Georgia - Oct. 5
KIRBY SMART: “ Let's start with this: Auburn is one of the hardest places to play in the world. I know that from 25 years being a common opponent at Georgia and Alabama. When you step in that stadium you better being laced up, strapped up, and ready to go regardless of their record, regardless of the expectation, regardless of what the people in Vegas say.
“You better be ready to play. I think Hugh does a tremendous job motivating his team. In the recruiting aspect, as he gets more and more of his players and style of play in there, which he got some guys this year. They're going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
at Missouri - Oct. 19
ELIAH DRINKWITZ: “We have a group of experienced players. I think one of the things that helped us last year was the number of players that we had on our team with career starts. And this year we really have the same. We have 22 players on our roster that have 12 or more starts in their collegiate career. So we have the expertise. We have those let-down games in our past that really help us realize that, hey, you can't take a Tuesday practice off. You can't miss Workday Wednesday. You have to approach Fast Friday with a mindset of this is what it takes to win in order for you to put your best foot forward on Saturday, and in this league if you don't, you're going to get embarrassed in a hurry.”
at Kentucky - Oct. 26
MARK STOOPS: “There's been some consistency. I appreciate Greg just mentioning the fact like we have been to eight straight bowl games. There's only eight teams in the country that have done that, I think only two in the SEC besides us, Alabama and Georgia, and of course Oklahoma, who hasn't been in the league but they've done it, as well. That's not nothing, but we want to improve.
That's the message with the team ultimately. We've got to get better. We've got to find a way to make those plays in critical moments to push us over the top.”
vs. Vanderbilt - Nov. 2
CLARK LEA: “In taking on this responsibility, I needed to round out the staff with someone who had the experience and the strength in our operational systems while sharing in the responsibilities that traditionally fall to the head coach. Jerry Kill brings to our staff 175 wins over 24 years as a head coach. He's built programs at challenging places throughout his career, and I can think of no one better to lock arms with as we continue our climb at Vanderbilt.
“Diego Pavia brings experience, competitive edge. We've already felt his presence in our locker room. There is a quarterback competition we're undergoing right now, and that will be true up until we play Virginia Tech. We are glad to have him just like we are glad to have the other additions to our roster.
For those that know Diego, know he's a unique competitor with just -- he just exudes edge and really proud to have him in black and gold.”
vs. Texas A&M - Nov. 23
MIKE ELKO: “I'm proud of how quiet our offseason has been. I'm proud of how quickly our players have adapted to a new culture and a new way of attacking football. We have introduced 41 new scholarship football players into our program. Just under 50 percent of our roster has turned over. But it's been awesome to watch them intentionally go out of their way to come together and bond and be ready to put together a tremendous product for Aggie fans to be proud of this fall.”
at Alabama - Nov. 30
KALEN DeBOER: “Yeah, you know, I get it. I totally get it. I understand there's only one Coach Saban. There will only ever be one Coach Saban. This program is special, and I guess I just take it as a great honor to be the one that gets to do everything we can to carry on the great tradition.
“But for me personally, it was just more about just understanding that coaching football is coaching football to some aspect, and you've got to try to simplify it down, as difficult and as complicated as you can make it. I've done this for enough years and seen what good culture looks like and maybe even what a culture that needs to improve on looks like, and it's been just an awesome blessing to be a part of this program, to continue to have that expectation on us.”
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
