Auburn’s Week 1 opponent’s HC channels inner Ric Flair in addressing AU

UMass head coach Don Brown did his best Ric Flair impression, slightly tweaking the Nature Boy’s “to be the man, you gotta beat the man” catchphrase while addressing the Auburn football program ahead of the Tigers’ Week 1 2023 season kickoff.

“Obviously we’ve got challenges in front of us,” Brown prefaced before saying, “But you know, SEC opponent. If you wanna be the best, you’ve gotta beat the best. So that’s the goal.”

The Minutemen did just beat New Mexico State 41-30 in a shocking Week 0 result, but not many are claiming that the Aggies come close to qualifying as “the best.” Even Auburn no longer has that image following two years of Bryan Harsin-induced losing football. But Brown certainly has the attitude a coach of a 35+-point underdog is supposed to have facing a David vs. Goliath-type situation.

UMass head coach Don Brown on Hugh Freeze’s Auburn football adjustments

Brown showed reverence toward the massive overhaul that Hugh Freeze has brought to the Auburn football program while discussing his coaching counterpart ahead of September 2’s clash.

“I don’t wish ill on people and I’m sure Coach Freeze will have them ready to play,” Brown said. “Coach Freeze is a good ball coach, now. He does a good job offensively and obviously he’s making the adjustment to a new system and I’m sure he’ll have those guys ready to go. We’ve just gotta be ready for the challenge and go 100 miles and hour. That’s kinda the approach.”

Brown understands the assignment ahead of him, and that alone is a major factor in UMass’ favor. There’s a case to be made for Auburn being vulnerable with so many new faces, but the intangibles of a Jordan-Hare Stadium dying to see a new locker room voice for the Tigers put Brown squarely behind the 8-ball; which is where he seemingly knows him and his Minutemen are at the moment.