Bryan Harsin on 2022 5.5 over/under win total: ‘We don’t play the media’
Bryan Harsin has very little concern about the number of games Las Vegas sportsbooks expect his Auburn Tigers to win in 2022. During Auburn’s 2022 SEC Media Day Thursday, Harsin was dismissive of the 5.5 over/under win total.
While speaking on those expectations, Harsin didn’t mince his words:
"“That doesn’t come from the coaches we play. That doesn’t come from the players we play. It comes from the media. We don’t play the media.”"
Bryan Harsin is asked about the Vegas over-under of 5.5 wins this season: "That doesn't come from the coaches we play. That doesn't come from the players we play. It comes from the media. We don't play the media."
— Justin Lee (@ByJustinLee) July 21, 2022
Harsin flexed his muscles in his press conference’s opening moments with one of the more quotable quotes the Boise native has ever spoken during his tenure leading the Tigers since December 2020:
"“There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable. It was unfounded. It presented an opportunity for people to personally attack me, my family and also our program. And it didn’t work.”"
Bryan Harsin defends his first year as Auburn’s head coach
One of the main themes of Bryan Harsin’s press conference was explaining away the lack of success for the program in 2021 — where the Tigers lost more games than they won for the first time since the Gene Chizik era.
He focused on the lack of cohesion due to the rules implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, describing a situation where those protocols prevented his coaching staff and players from truly connecting and creating a cohesive environment:
"“The first team meeting was in the indoor facility with the swamp coolers on 6 feet apart, everybody wearing masks and nobody could hear anything. And you’re trying to bring this energy and enthusiasm, and it was a bad environment. And we had to meet over in the business building, and there was a lot of things that didn’t allow us to come in right away and establish.”"
He also pointed out that Auburn was not the SEC West team with the most transfers after the season ended, saying that ‘coaching changes happen.’
They do, and if Harsin’s confidence is any indication, it may not be something Tiger fans should be so worried about.