I haven’t been excited about Auburn football for several years. Don’t get me wrong — I love my alma mater. I just haven’t loved their football program for a while. Lots of reasons for that, which I won’t go into right now. But I am a little excited about this year’s program. One game does not a winning season make, and certainly not just a single win against University of Massachusetts (no offense to UMass — they whooped up on New Mexico State something fierce last week).
Despite the scandal and baggage Hugh Freeze brings, he’s proven himself time and time again to be a really good football coach. If I had serious reservations about his moral character, then his coaching skills wouldn’t really matter. But until someone proves otherwise (or he proves otherwise on his own), I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. His coaching this week was, I think, on the right track. Not that I know much about such things — I was in the band.
Our quarterback has always been the determinative factor for Auburn. In fact, some years the quarterback seemed to carry the team (i.e. Cam Newton). I’m generally not a fan of a dual-quarterback system, but it looks like Freeze might make it work well this year with Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford. Our defense could use a little work (as it seems to most recent years), but it appears to be in a good place for the start of the season. Our offensive line has always been a strong point at Auburn, and despite having only one returning starter, this year doesn’t look like it will be any different. Auburn usually has strong running backs (most years), and it looks like we’ll have some premium ones this year too, particularly Damari Alston, Sean Jackson and Jeremiah Cobb. Special team seemed to be hitting on all cylinders, thanks particularly to returner Keionte Scott. I could go on, but I won’t.
So yes, I’m a little excited after just one game. But for several years I haven’t had much to be excited about, so give me this one.
