Auburn players sense different feel this year

AUBURN — The optimistic buzz that hovers over a team one month before any wins or losses are tallied was certainly on display Tuesday at the Auburn Athletic Complex.

But the veterans who rotated from one interview station to another on reporting day — the first day players officially report for fall camp — made it a point to
classify it as an entirely different vibe from August 2008.

“Last year, I would say we were divided,” tailback Ben Tate said. “We’re coming together a lot better as a team. There’s a lot of emphasis on team.”

That year began with bloated preseason expectations and ended without a bowl trip and a resigned coach to replace. In between, there weren’t many high points, five wins, seven losses and plenty of internal conflict that became external through meetings with the media.

“It’s natural when things go badly for people to get violent and start pointing fingers at one another,” Tate said. “That’s one of the things we did. Now, if something goes wrong we have to stay together. The coaches have put a lot of emphasis on getting together no matter what.”

Needless to say, the circumstances and expectations are entirely different for Auburn football.

Auburn was projected to finish fifth in the SEC West by both the coaches and media. Though it was largely the same cast of players who make up this year’s team, the Tigers of 2008 were a chic pick to win the SEC and started the season 10th in the Associated Press poll.

Those down projections have largely fallen on deaf ears, players said Tuesday, but some have used it as a source of motivation.

“Being this low, you got a lot of negativity coming to you,” linebacker Josh Bynes said. “You want to prove a lot of people wrong and go out there and step it up and do the best possible.

“This is not over. The things we’re doing right now are going to be very positive in the season, and we’re not going to let any media hinder us.”

How the Tigers have been going about their daily business has changed for the good, players said.

New coach Gene Chizik stressed a need for discipline when he arrived. It was swiftly enforced.

That translated into the initiation of a strict dress code — in comparison to no dress code — and personal-conduct policies, “kindergarten rules,” tight end
Tommy Trott said.

The response from players, at least from those who talked to reporters, was overwhelmingly positive.

“He’s a disciplinarian,” Trott said. “And maybe discipline is what this team needs.”

Senior cornerback Walt McFadden said the lack of camaraderie spilled onto the practice field all throughout last season.

Both the spring and summer practices of last year featured conflicts that ranged from basic scraps to full-blown fistfights. Most could be attributed to the heat-
induced stress and violent nature of the game, but some were also the product of leadership discrepancies, McFadden said.

“People were trying to step up … coming at the other players and people were not accepting that,” McFadden said. “This year, the leaders we have, they have
respect. Somebody can talk to them and the younger guys will listen.

“Last year was kind of a battlefield in that no one wants to listen because, ‘Who are you?’ ”

McFadden, a senior, said he’s embraced that leadership role. And it’s clear that defensive end Antonio Coleman, who passed on a shot at the NFL to return for his senior season, is seen as a voice of authority among Auburn’s players.

It’s all the more reason why Auburn is heading into fall camp with an optimistic buzz. Even by the lofty, feel-good August standards.

“I don’t take any crap, so I think we’re definitely in a good position,” Coleman said. “I’m just ready to get out there and work.”