Alex Golesh has already had some moments at Auburn that have taken him aback, but the biggest might be when he meets with current players to determine who wants to be at Auburn and who doesn’t.
According to the Tigers’ new head coach, each player has the same thing to say.
“At some point in every conversation, I ask the guys, ‘Hey, do you like it here? Or do you love it? What do you think of this place?” Golesh said. “Because 100 percent of them have seen more of Auburn and have experienced Auburn more than I have at this point. I think the thing that is really, really cool is every single guy that I’ve met with says, ‘I love Auburn.’ Not like, ‘yeah, it’s cool,’ but ‘I love Auburn.’”
While the players may be trying to win over their new head coach, who has their future in his hands at Auburn, Golesh says their love for the Plains doesn’t come across as scripted or as a plea to keep them on the roster. And the new head coach realizes that it hasn’t been easy for these players during the past several years, as the Tigers have now gone five seasons without a winning record and three out of four without a trip to a bowl game. Still, the answer to how they feel about being part of Auburn has remained consistent throughout the individual meetings he has held.
“They all love it, and they all talk about the same things: how the people here have taken them in, every single one of them talks about what game day is like here, every single one of them talks about how the student body treats them as they walk around,” Golesh said. “My response to all of them is exactly the same: ‘Man, can you imagine what the hell it’s going to be when we actually win?’ If it’s that good now, holy smokes, what about when we win? Like now?’”
Auburn players are all about turning the program around under Golesh
That last part has certainly grabbed the attention of players who want to stay and help turn the program around. Listening to them has also had a massive impact on Golesh himself.
“As you sit there and it kind of sits you up in your chair every single time, because you’re like, if you love Auburn, tell me what the problem is, and then tell me what your experience has been here,” he said. “Each guy has had their own story and their own experience here, but ultimately what we talk about is, and all you can do is tell them who you are, what you’re about, and you give them your vision for what this is, but you talk about your previous experience.”A