By Michael A. Cummings
HOOVER — New Auburn coach Gene Chizik made it a point to avoid controversy in the build-up to his first season on the plains.
But during his first appearance at Southeastern Conference Media Days, Chizik didn’t waste the opportunity to make a bold prediction.
When asked how far his Tigers are from contending in the SEC West, the first-year Auburn coach gave a surprise answer.
“Our plan is to contend for a championship in everything that we do,” Chizik said Friday morning at the Wynfrey Hotel. “We don’t think (contending) is out of the realm of possibility.”
Chizik was hired last December to succeed Tommy Tuberville, who led the Tigers to an 85-40 record in 10 seasons. A disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2008 led to the change.
Like his predecessor, Chizik will have to deal with an uncertain quarterback situation. Incumbent starter Kodi Burns has battled all spring and summer with junior Neil Caudle for the starting spot.
Chizik did not say when a decision would be made.
“We would like to get that situation resolved,” he said. “How long that will take, we don’t know. Obviously, the guys that have more experience probably have a bit of a leg up, but that doesn’t always tell the final tale.”
Redshirt freshman Barrett Trotter was in the picture during spring drills before tearing a knee ligament, and former starter Chris Todd could return to the mix if a shoulder injury heals.
Though the quarterback situation is uncertain, Auburn’s other representatives at Media Days said the Tigers will have a new swagger this season. According to rising senior defensive end Antonio Coleman, the players are regaining some of the confidence they lost during the disappointing 2008 campaign.
“The most important thing we lost (during the 2008 season) was our swagger, and I think we have it back,” he said. “We got people hurt, people injured, and we didn’t finish the way we wanted.
“But we can’t harp on that. It was last year.”
Senior tight end Tommy Trott agreed.
“That’s something Coach Chizik has been preaching,” he said. “There was a lot more contact in drills in the spring than since I’ve been here. Antonio is right, we’re going to try and get that swagger back.”
The media wasn’t as certain about Auburn’s chances. The Tigers were picked to finish fifth in the SEC West behind Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas. Only Mississippi State, led by new head coach Dan Mullen, was picked to finish lower.
No biggie, said Coleman.
“We don’t buy into the polls,” he said. “First through sixth, at the end of the day, you still have to get on the field and prove it. It’s all about us getting on the field and proving it day-in and day-out.”
Auburn begins the season with a non-conference game Sept. 5 against Louisiana Tech. The SEC schedule begins the following week, when the Tigers host Mississippi State.
After a summer of intense workouts, Coleman said the players are looking forward to starting the season.
“I’ve been at Auburn for five years, and this has been the hardest summer of my life, getting up at 5:30 every morning for workouts,” he said. “It’s all going to be a blessing when we start (the season).”
To regain their swagger, the Tigers will have to improve on an offense that averaged just 17.3 points per contest last season. They averaged 137.5 yards rushing per game while opponents averaged 138.9.
With new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn at the controls, Chizik said Auburn would recommit itself to the running game.
“We want to be able to run the football, but we also want to be able to have a very balanced passing attack, too,” he said. “Gus has had a great record of being balanced and productive with both running and throwing.”
Chizik was vague when asked whether his team had the personnel needed to run Malzahn’s wide-open offense effectively, though he said Auburn would continue to recruit aggressively to fill its needs.
“I don’t think any coach is ever satisfied,” he said. “That’s why everybody is trying to get the better recruiting class than the one before, because you want it to fit what you do even better.”
Better recruits or not, Chizik has his current team excited for the season — and ready to prove 2008 was a fluke.
“With all the work we’ve put in with the new coaching staff, the sky’s the limit,” said Coleman.
‰ Michael Cummings can be reached by e-mail at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 258.
