It was incredibly clear in his interview with Sports Illustrated that new Auburn football head coach Bryan Harsin is here for one reason only.
Championships.
Harsin knows that winning the SEC title is his best chance at reaching a National Championship…something he knew wasn’t possible in the Mountain West Conference, where he coached Boise State from 2014-2020.
This year didn’t result in a championship-caliber Broncos squad in Idaho and certainly didn’t produce one for the good guys in Alabama either. Those results married Harsin and the Tigers, who both ride into the 2021 season with chips on their shoulders.
Auburn’s chip is one created by the success of Yellowhammer rival Alabama winning yet another championship under Nick Saban (6) and the fact that Georgia and even Texas A&M have surpassed them in the SEC.
Harsin’s comes from the fact that no matter how well things went in his home city with his alma mater, he’d never have a chance to be make a College Football Playoff.
"“Yeah,” says Harsin, his clenched fist pounding against his desk, “that pissed me off.”"
Three MWC championships couldn’t even bring Harsin’s BSU teams to a single New Year’s Six bowl. Even a 6-4 season got the Tigers in the Citrus Bowl, which–despite not being a NY6 bowl game–was still a primetime matchup on New Year’s Day against the runner-up of the Big Ten.
The expectations are different with Auburn football in the 86,000-seat Jordan-Hare Stadium than in the land of the Smurf turf. With a yearly matchup against college football’s most recognizable coach and team, the spotlight has never been brighter for the Boise-born Harsin.
As Alabama adds more national championships and SEC hardware to their legacy, the pressure on the Plains will only intensify, even for the novice Tiger coach.
That’s why he’s here, though:
"“…that’s one thing that’s very clear,” Harsin says, “win the SEC and you’ll have a chance to play for a national championship.”"
There’s no tanking in college football, and winning is all Harsin knows in his playing career and his time in a different shade of orange and blue.
Now, the intersection of two competitive mindsets will come to life in Auburn this Fall…but the foundation is being laid tomorrow.
See you at A-Day. War Eagle!