QUICK HITTERS
Top 10 Notable quotes/notes from Golesh when he spoke at the podium at SEC Media Days
“Humbled and grateful to be the head coach at Auburn. Love being back in Tampa. Thankful for the time at USF.”
Spent time last night in Tampa with Auburn alums.
“Most incredible staff I’ve ever been part of.”
“Had a long, long hard spring. As it needed to be. Start of building a foundation and culture. Summer was about the ability to connect as a team.”
“When a team is led and player driven you will win championships. When it’s coach led you will max out in a hurry. Key is ball security and red zone and tight zone offense and defense. That’s what I want our identity to be.”
“Our kicker (Alex McPherson) is the only specialist at SEC Media Days. Our kicker runs with our skill guys. Leader. Elite process. 90% field goal guy. Football player.”
“I’ve known (QB Byrum Brown) since he’s been 18 years old. He’s process driven. Player led. Identity. Developed as a leader. When your QB is one of the toughest, process driven, best leaders, one of hardest workers, you can be special. Brown is everything you want in a young man. Represents everything you want in an Auburn man. He’s one of the best QBs in the country. He has to continue to be himself every single day. It’s how you treat people. How you take care of your body. How your locker room looks. How you work.”
“If Brown is the best version of himself, Auburn will get where we want to.”
“We will use camp to identify what players can do to determine what (we) are to play call.”
“Our offense starts with the run. Our goal isn’t to be the fastest team in the country. Our goal is to execute at a high level.”
IDENTITY
Coach Golesh was asked about his goals for for year one at Auburn.
He stressed how finding an identity and playing a physical brand of football, what Auburn needs to be known for, has to be the foundation more than anything else.
“Don’t really have any goals in year one other than building a foundation and identity,” Golesh said. “Be able to be a physical and mentally tough football team. That’s what our identity needs to be. To be connected when they score and when they make mistakes. That plays for each other.”
Winning on the road is also of high priority.
“What gives ya confidence is to continue to perfect our process,” Golesh said. “Genuine confidence comes from elite process day in, day out. The amount of work that’s been put in has prepared me for it. Confidence comes from that (where) you never cheated the process.”
PREPARED WELL
Quarterback Byrum Brown gave credit to his coaches at Rolesville (NC), namely Ranier Rackley, for getting him ready for the college level and ball now in the SEC.
“Having coaches that coached on the collegiate level (when you are in high school) where you are trying to get to means a lot,” Brown said. “I have a phenomenal relationship with coach Rack. We still keep in touch. They text me after almost every game.”
KICKIN’ BUTT
McPherson, one of the nation’s top kickers, is ready to get the Tigers back in the winning ways under this new regime.
“To set the foundation with coach AG and the rest of the staff to get Auburn to where we’ve been missing,” he noted said. “To execute. We are going to have a better year because of our discipline. That’s what this coaching staff brings to the table.”
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Golesh said defensive back Champ Anthony has ‘overcome as much as anyone in our program. He’s leading the right way. He’s an inspiration every day. First guy I see every day when I get into the building. He’s ready to rock and roll.”
Anthony has battled injuries throughout his career. He’s ready, with a clean bill of health, to help the Tigers.
“I’m glad to be back in this spot,” he said.
