Quotes of note from Cal ahead of Auburn football matchup
What Cal coaches and players are saying about the upcoming matchup with Auburn football
Last year, the Auburn football team traveled across the country to take on the Cal Golden Bears in the latest kickoff in the Tigers' history. Auburn fans showed up in droves, but on the field it didn't seem like the team showed up for the first half.
The Tigers' defense was the star of the show, and the matchup was a breakout game for linebacker Eugene Asante. It was a tough 14-10 win a long way from home, but this year the matchup will be in Jordan-Hare Stadium at 2:30 p.m.
Cal head coach Justin Wilcox on the Tigers' new look this season, per AL.com:
“Coach Freeze has always done a great job on offense, but they’re going to do what’s best for them and their players. So there will be new wrinkles from year to year. But you mention the new players, they’ve got the receiver — the recruit — I mean he’s a phenomenal athlete, No. 8. No. 5, the guy from Penn State, is a very, very productive player. The tackle, the running back is a good player, the QB has played a lot. Defensively, the linebacker from Duke, the defensive end, the edge players are very, very gifted guys. So they got good players and Coach Durkin is a really good coach, known him a lot time and competed against him a few times way back when. He’s a really good coach. They’ll be prepared and have really good schemes.”
Coach Wilcox on former Cal QB and current Auburn WR Sam Jackson, per Golden Bear Report:
"Sam being here for a year, he’s a dynamic athlete. We did have discussions at the at the end of last year, after he had suffered an injury, about him wanting to play wideout. We were very open to that and understood that that might be a great option. He chose to go a different direction, and we wish Sam well. I want nothing, but good things for Sam. I hope everything plays out in his favor, other than this game. He is a dynamic athlete. I mean, a dynamic athlete. We know that, we saw it firsthand, and I think it kind of speaks to their roster when you look at right now, just some of the guys on there. I’m sure he'll get opportunities in the game. I don't know how many, kind of depends probably how that game goes, but they got some very, very talented wideouts."
Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon on Payton Thorne, per AL.com:
“I think he’s a very talented player. He runs better than you think. Watching their season last year, I think he did a really nice job in some of the run game and distributing the ball against Georgia, Alabama last year. He has had some opportunities to produce some explosive runs. He moves in the pocket well and he throws a really nice ball. I think if he can find his rhythm, he’s a very, very tough quarterback to defend.”
Auburn football is coming off a week one 73-3 win over Alabama A&M, and Cal took down UC Davis in week one 31-13. The game will kick off from Jordan-Hare on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.