Alex Golesh came to Auburn with one goal on his mind: turning them into the most violent team every Saturday. Golesh has been creating that standard since day one. The way he walks, the way he talks, and holds himself. The ability to take on things that would be arbitrary to a head coach. That is why Byrum Brown followed him here. And yet, one reporter had the nerve to call Golesh "soft" for his plan for fall camp.
Joseph Goodman of AL.com called Auburn football soft for staying at the Marriott's resort in Opelika.
“I’m not kidding about this. Golesh thinks he’s being tough by taking away the keys to his players’ sports cars for a couple days so they can all hang out together at a place where families go on vacation," Goodman said.
“Pat Dye put Bo Jackson and Co. in Sewell Hall for preseason camp. Golesh is celebrating his players with a summer retreat. Will Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins be getting pedicures after practice while quarterback Byrum Brown kicks back by the fire pits?”
Now that is asinine.
Talking about Bo Jackson back in the 80's isn't really valid for what the students have to deal with today. To come out here and chastise this regime for going to something they didn't have in the 80's is crazy talk. My good sir, the only thing around in the 80's was the dorm rooms and a hotel called the Golden Cherry Motel.
Alex Golesh’s expectations are getting higher than On3.com's prediction of Auburn's 2026 campaign. They said 7-5, which, to some fans, may seem like a good thing, but this season looks so much brighter than that.
Plus, Golesh has already spoken about why this lock-in is different from the Hugh Freeze version. Taking away their phones and keys, no girlfriends, no-ins-no-outs. This is about football only.
I get Goodman. You see the resort, and all the lights and the pools, and think, 'Oh, they're really just relaxing.'
Do you really think anyone is playing under the four colored buckets that fill up and drop water on you? This is a football mission in isolation. Not playtime.
One major name believes Auburn is the opposite of soft
While others complain that Golesh is taking his team to a 5-star resort during what is supposed to be a lock-in, Alexander Shunnarah, the Deep South’s biggest lawyer, gave his bold prediction to the CFP X account’s question of the day.
Alexander Shunnarah, a UAB graduate, really has had quite the voice for the Tigers this year, repeatedly endorsing Golesh’s tenure.
“Since 2019, Auburn has not won an Iron Bowl game versus Alabama. With a new coaching scheme and a revamped roster, this might be the year they end the drought," he said.
He could be right. The SEC feels as open as it has ever been. Auburn hired Golesh to right the ship and do it quickly. There is a lot of speculation and doubt, and there should be, because the season hasn’t started yet, and all games won right now are hypothetical.
Shunnarah still predicted an uprising on the Plains, though.
“Auburn shocks the world with a deep playoff run," Shunnarah said.
That is confidence, not the half-slighted comments like your school's best coach is making about your current head coach, Alabama fans. You can dislike Golesh if you want, but to come out and say "Auburn football has gone soft" is delusional.
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