Possible new QB1’s message to Auburn football haters

It’s been a tough year so far for the Auburn football team. It’s a rebuilding year, over half the roster is new, and the coaching staff had just under a year to implement complete new schemes and systems for the 2023 season. Therefore, it makes sense that the Tigers are not showstoppers this year, but it doesn’t make it any more pleasant to watch.

One of the most baffling things that has come up so far for some Auburn football fans is head coach Hugh Freeze and the staff’s decision to continue to play two quarterbacks. Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne was named QB1 prior to the season, but over the past few games Robby Ashford has been the only quarterback to be able to push the offense down the field.

Ashford’s first season of action came last year when he was thrown into the fire as the starter after TJ Finley was injured early on in the season. Ashford has a lot of haters for mistakes he has made, but he knows how to handle the flack, per Auburn Daily:

"“Whoever says I can’t play quarterback, I really don’t care because they couldn’t do half of what I can do,” Ashford said. “They can sit behind a phone screen and type all they want it’s never going to faze me.”"

Lots of unhappy keyboard warriors were piling on to both Thorne and Ashford after the last few games, and with a 4-game losing streak, the team isn’t getting glowing reviews online. However, Ashford says the team knows how to tune things out and focus on what really matters at the end of the day:

"“As long as your brothers think the most of you and have care and love for you, that’s all that matters,” Ashford said. “So we just look at it like that and continue to love each other each day through the hard times.”"

The Tigers will have their next opportunity to grab an SEC win this weekend as they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Jordan-Hare at 2:30 p.m.