THE
MODERATOR: We're now joined by the head coach of the SEC Western
Division Champion Auburn Tigers,
Coach Gus Malzahn.
GUS MALZAHN: First of all, we're very excited to be here.
Thank you to Commissioner Sankey and the SEC for putting on a great event.
This is really the most first class event that I've been fortunate enough to
be a part of in the past.
I know our team, real proud of those guys as far as getting us here with the
journey that we've had. Playing a great Georgia team, one of the better
teams in college football, one of the most talented teams in college
football. And the challenge of playing those guys again for the second time,
and, of course, it was just a couple of weeks ago, which makes it very
unique. But excited for our players, excited for our coaches and our fans.
Q. Jarrett earlier in the week was talking about his growth. He seemed to
focus more on whether it was the loss against Clemson or LSU.
How much easier is it for you to coach a guy that seems motivated by those
losses rather than talking about his wins?
Yeah, I mean, that's the type of player he is or the character he has. He's
a great competitor, very tough on himself.
You're talking about a guy the first game was very inexperienced. I think he
only had four games under his belt when he got here,
and you've seen him get more and more comfortable each week.
Like you said, he went through some adversity, and when you go through
adversity, you find out truly what's in you. He rolled his sleeves up.
He's been protecting the football. He's been using his legs more, which has
opened up things for us in our offense. He's playing at a high level right
now.
Q. Coach Malzahn, you said earlier this week that this team is more
emotionally stable, steady than your 2013 team.
How is that? How have you seen this team kind of grow and develop that way?
First of all, our 2013 team was outstanding. It was just a matter of we were
on a journey
and we didn't have as much information about our players and everything that
goes with that as we do now, is what I meant by that,
because 2013 was one of those special teams that I think everybody will
remember for a long time.
What I meant by it is we've had five top ten recruiting classes in a row.
We've got to this point, and we're just in a lot more stable position.
We're in a position that I think we can sustain this type of level for a
period of time. So that's what I meant by that.
Q. Remembering back to the last time you guys played, the midfield
meeting, where you said see you in Atlanta,
and he said something along the lines of I'll tell Nick. What made you
confident that you would be seeing this team again?
I think I said, hope to see you in Atlanta, but regardless, I'll just say
this. Kirby and I, we went against each other numerous tim
We have a lot of respect for each other. I just had a feeling we'd play
again.
Q. Since it happened so infrequently, could you address the rematch
factor and the revenge motive Georgia might have,
and what can you tell us about Kerryon?
I think the unique thing about playing a team again is it was just a couple
weeks ago. As far as the revenge, and I'm sure they're going to have some of
it,
but this is a Championship Game. This game is as big as it gets for our
conference, and the winner wins the Conference Championship.
So I know both teams are going to be motivated.
As far as Kerryon is concerned, he did do some practice things on a limited
basis. We're going to see how he is in pregame. It will be a game-time
decision. Obviously, you know how important he is to our success, and he's
helped get us here. We're very confident in our other running backs if he
can't go.
We'll see happens.
Q. You obviously went against Kirby a lot when he was defensive
coordinator at Alabama.
What does it say about him to have Georgia in this position his second year
as a head coach?
Kirby's a great coach. I think everyone knows that. We went against each
other numerous times in a lot of big games, and I've got a lot of respect
for him the way he goes about his business. He went to Georgia, and he's
just done a very good job getting them here this quick.
What's impressive is he's doing it in his second year. He's a very good
coach. He's got a very good staff, a very talented team. Y
ou're talking about one of the top teams in all of college football. And the
challenge for us is playing them again.
Q. Is Jeff Holland developing into one of the better defensive players
you've been able to coach the way he's played lately at Auburn?
I'll tell you, the thing about Jeff is he's really grown. You saw it in the
spring that he showed flashes of really taking his game to the next level.
Since the season started, he's been one of our impact players. When you have
a guy that is an impact player, it really draws a lot of attention, and it
helps other players.
But he's playing at an extremely high level. He's rushing the passer well.
He's playing the run well. I know that's one area that he really focused on
in the spring. Just done a good job for us.
Q. Coach, how valuable has Daniel Carlson been not only, obviously, for
this season, but throughout his career and throughout his tenure?
Daniel Carlson will go down as probably one of the better kickers in
college football. He's broke every record in the SEC, and there's been some
great kickers come through our league. Just that confidence that, if we get
the ball across the 40 yard line, we've got a good chance of getting three
points. He's been a weapon as far as the kickoffs, and he's one of our
leaders. He's not just a kicker. He's one of our team leaders. He's earned
that right.
I know him. He had a chance to come out last year. He chose to come back,
and he chose to come back for moments like this.
Q. If Kerryon can't go, how ready is Malik Miller to step up in a big
game like this
And what makes you believe that, that you've seen in his development over
time?
Malik and Kam Martin has gotten a lot of reps in practice probably
the last five weeks. They've gotten a lot of reps in fall camp. We're very
confident in both those guys. Devan Barrett is a guy you could see on the
field too. If KJ can't go, we'll do it by committee, but we've got
confidence in all those guys.
Q. You guys had a really emotional win last week against Alabama. How
have the players handled it in practice this week? How's the team's mindset?
You know, we have experience with that because in 2013 it was similar as far
as the emotion and everything. You've got to put that game behind you.
I know, after our Sunday meeting, after we watched the film however many
times, I hadn't heard anyone say anything about it.
It was definitely a very emotional game. It was a very physical game too.
But like I was saying earlier, because the stakes are so high and this is
for the Championship. Our guys, they've had a very good week of practice.
It's kind of been business as usual as far as our preparation up to this
point, and really that's the way it needs to be.
Q. Gus, you scored, I guess, 116 points in two games in this game as a
head coach and as a coordinator.
Is there some difference in what you do in preparing for a game like this
than if this was a game in October?
I don't know. You have a lot of information this time of year. You know a
lot about your team, and you try your best to play to your strengths.
We have played well both times you're talking about. We'll need to do the
same thing tomorrow against a great defense.
Q. Gus, with Kerryon, just how limited has his range of motion been this
week with that shoulder?
Yeah, I'm not going to get into specifics about all that and give you
doctor's details. But I will tell you he was limited. He did do a few
things.
I'll be curious to see how he moves around in pregame. I'll be watching just
like you.
I know he wants to. He is a great competitor. He is extremely tough. But at
the same time, we'll see, and we'll know more in pregame.
Q. Coach, you've gotten down into the red zone 53 times. Each time you
get in there, you come out -- 48 out of 53, you've come out with points.
What is it about this team that makes it so efficient once it gets into the
red zone?
I think, to be effective in the red zone, you have to be able to run it in.
I think at times we've been effective doing that. And then, of course, you
throw in Daniel Carlson that we talked about earlier, he's just a huge
weapon down there. So that's been a big key to our success getting here is
our red zone points.
Q. Gus, your friend Wally Hall wrote a column asking you to come home to
Arkansas. There's a report that your agents have presented terms to
President Leath for a new contract at Auburn. Have your agents presented
your desire for a new contract at Auburn?
I think you asked me something similar to that. I'm focused on this game.
This is for the SEC Championship, and I'm the head coach of Auburn.
Q. Coach, since that second half in Baton Rouge in mid-October, your team
has really rallied. Tell us about the maturity and growth of your team since
then.
When you go through extreme adversity, which that was extreme adversity the
way we lost -- we lost a 20-point lead at LSU, and that was some tough times
-- it's kind of one of those moments, defining moments for your team. We
talked about that in the locker room after that game.
This is going to be our defining moment. Are we going to fold our tent, or
are we going to roll up our sleeves?
Now, at that time, I knew we had a good team, and I think our players knew
too. It was just a matter of we just took it one game at a time. We started
a countdown. We started counting one, two, three, four, five, and after each
game, okay, we got there. They just got it done, and they got us to this
point.
Q. Gus, you mentioned the 2013 and how special that will always be. Does
this in some ways feel more rewarding though because of what you've been
through the last couple of years? And even like you said, this season, to
get to this -- maybe not quite the whirlwind that 2013 was.
Yeah, I've got to be cautious about comparing because that was an
unbelievable experience. That was a great team in 2013. This is a different
journey.
Like I said, the only difference is I think we're a little more stable long
term. We have a little more information about our team and our staff
and everything that goes with that.
But I'll just say this. Both of those seasons and those games were very
rewarding, and we'll be able to look back on this season once
it's all said and done and probably feel the same way.
Q. Gus, when you've had a top tier offensive player go down with
injuries, whether it's the last couple years, quarterback, running backs,
your offense has really struggled. You've had issues getting backups to
perform at a high level.
Do you have any of the same issues that could possibly pop up if Kerryon is
not able to go?
You know, I think the last two years, you're exactly right. There's been
some injuries to keep people at times. This team is different. I think
everybody sees it. Any time you've got one of the best players in all of
college football and you're not for sure if he's going to play, as a coach,
it concerns you.
But our team, I think we got depth. I really think that, if he can't go, our
guys will rise to the occasion.
Q. Obviously, the past few weeks Jordan-Hare has been a big factor for
you guys, been extremely loud in there.
Obviously, this is not Jordan-Hare. How is that going to affect you guys, if
anything?
Yeah, I'm sure there will be more Georgia fans than Auburn fans from what I
understand, but we will -- our fans will be extremely loud.
We have played on the road a lot in some pretty loud environments, and I
really believe that those experiences will help us.
Q. With Kerryon and the wildcat, you've had him running it for the last
couple years and had so much confidence in him.
Is that dependent on him, or do you look to others in a short week to try to
prepare?
Yeah, I'd rather not expose our game plan as far as if we are going to use
it if he can't play and who that would be. I know Chip's got a good plan.
He's thought about all the what ifs -- if he can play, if he can't play, and
all that.
Q. Was there a moment this season after a game where you said to maybe
somebody in your life that this team had the ability to do something
special?
You know, I'll take you back to fall camp. I felt like we had a chance to be
a good team, a really good team as far as our defense plays very well last
year,
we had a lot of guys coming back. Offensively, we knew Jarrett was talented,
and we figured it would just be a matter of time before he started getting
more comfortable. So probably after somewhere around that LSU game, you
could see our team playing their best football.
Like I've said before, there's not a whole lot of teams in college football
playing their best football right now, and I really like the way that we got
here.
The last couple of weeks, we've been peaking. Now, the hard part is to
continue to do that because you've got to do that every single week from
here on out because you're playing great opponents, like Georgia. But that's
our challenge, to continue at that level.
Q. Coach, Stidham is averaging 220 yards a game, and you've got Kerryon
running for 127. He's thrown for 16 passes, and Kerryon has ran for 17
touchdowns.
So my question is how important is it to this team to have that such
balanced offense?
Yeah, I think -- when we hired Chip Lindsey, that was really the first thing
we talked about in his opening press conference. He was hired to bring
balance. He's done exactly that. I think we're one of the most balanced
teams in our league. Really, that's been a big key, and the better team that
you play or the more talented defense you play, the more balanced you have
to be to be successful.
Q. You talked about Kerryon and a lot of questions about him, but having
Jarrett, the way he's played but not only protected the football, how does
that change the mindset of a team the way he's done and knowing how you can
overcome it with a pass, and maybe you haven't been able to do that in the
past?
He's been very efficient. When we have thrown it, we've been able to
complete at a high level. A lot of times, those intermediate passes,
short passes have got us in pace. He's got the ability to really stretch the
field with his arm. When he has time, you've seen that he has done that.
I think that's really opened up a lot of different things. He's been a big
key to our success offensively.
Q. Gus, there's no real way to get a strictly neutral field. Georgia -- I
mean, Atlanta's kind of considered everybody's home city in the SEC,
but is there any solution to not -- I mean, you've already said it's
probably not going to be a neutral crowd. Is there any solution?
Is Atlanta the best that the league can do in that regard? How do you feel
about it?
Yeah, I'm just -- to be honest with you, I'm just tickled to death we're
here. SEC can think about that. I like the fact that we play in Atlanta.
I think this is an unbelievable venue. I think our SEC office does a super
job putting this on, kind of like I was saying before.
As far as them having more fans, I think a lot of their people have more
boxes and all that, from what I understand. But I know the fans that we do
have here tomorrow, they're going to have their A-game, and we're going to
be loud too.
Q. You've had so many different offensive lines. Talk about Austin Golson
and Braden Smith being seniors
who have played for so many years and how they've stabilized things for you.
You know, that's probably been the most unique thing, as far as us having a
good year offensively, that I've never been a part of, this many different
starting lineups up front. You're talking about Austin Golson, a guy that's
played all five offensive positions, started at four. I've never heard of
that.
That's really a tribute to him because he's played at a high level. And, of
course, Braden Smith is one of the better linemen in the country.
They've led the way. And Coach Herb Hand has done a super job with our
offensive line.
But we talked about depth this year, and it's shown. We've played seven
guys, and all seven have been very effective when they've been in there. |