National analyst on Auburn visit: ‘Recruits seem impressed’
Footballscoop’s Scott Roussel recently visited the Auburn football program on the Plains during Week 8’s matchup with Ole Miss, and the national analyst came away with the impression that recruits are loving what they’re experiencing despite the lack of on-field success from the Tigers thus far in 2023.
“Thoughts after spending weekend at Auburn (& having gone to LSU at Auburn last year),” Roussel prefaced before saying, “The wins aren’t free-flowing yet; but vibe in town & community is much more supportive of the program. Campus looks great. In stadium experience is fantastic. Recruits seemed impressed. Hugh’s staff believes in their process. Good mix of youthful energy and experience. Cadillac continues to be an important leader for the program. Was great to see Wes McGriff popping around the sidelines. He’s healthy and just as full of energy and enthusiasm as ever. Need to figure out the QB situation and get some offensive momentum going next few weeks. Maybe it is there but in game didn’t see much separation from the WRs. With another year of talent acquisition, they should be much deeper next season.”
AU has had clear issues in run and pass protection, not to mention in all facets of the passing game. The hope is that the Tigers are in pursuit of players looking forward to putting in the work to rebuild the program through years of upsetting teams they weren’t supposed to; something the current team didn’t have the right mindset for considering the seeming resignation to losing from Hugh Freeze and Co.
Auburn football must make kind of hires that’d restore Tigers’ spirit
The Bryan Harsin era in Auburn crushed the spirit of many, and in the aftermath is a fanbase that is aging further and further away from the good old days on the Plains; instead dealing with five or six-win seasons year after year as Alabama and Georgia continue to further the achievement gap in AU’s primary rivalries.
With Philip Montgomery sure to hit the open market this offseason via a pink slip at the offense’s current rate, bringing a splashy nostalgic offensive coordinator like 2010 championship OC Gus Malzahn should he be dismissed by UCF would help bring a warm nostalgia for fans whose hearts have frozen over. Add the “Words of Chizdom” former championship head coach Gene Chizik brought as a co-defensive coordinator or an analyst, and now AU is handily winning the offseason.
Something has to be done to restore the not afraid spirits of the loveliest village. There’s been too much suffering these past few years.