Auburn Tigers Ready for Friday Night Showdown
Auburn Tigers’ gaming week is finally here, and they’ll face off against the Baylor Bears this Friday night.
This game is under a brighter spotlight than normal, given its scheduled time.
The new season brings fresh hope that past mistakes will be addressed, and Auburn appears to have a promising roster to make it happen. Hugh Freeze has been rebuilding the program for two and a half years, essentially starting from scratch.
Baylor, a solid Big 12 team led by Coach Dave Aranda, will provide the first real test of this new direction.
During a press conference preview, Freeze shared his excitement about the unique Friday opener.
“We’re excited. We’re finally here. Our kids are excited. We have fans,” he stated. “There’s obviously still more to do, but I’m thrilled that by the end of this week, it’s not just a scrimmage or a mock game. This is where you really get tested. I know everyone’s eager, and Baylor is definitely looking forward to it. I hope we can minimize our mistakes and play cleanly to give our talented team the best chance to win.”
He discussed how a Friday game alters the team’s preparation schedule. “Since it’s Game 1, we’ve been planning for it the last two weeks as if it’s a Friday game. It does feel different. We have to remember today is actually Tuesday, and we’re out of our usual schedule. Normally, we practice hard on Sundays or Mondays. This first game has adjusted how we approach it.”
Freeze also addressed the new quarterback situation, particularly with Jackson Arnold, letting fans know what to expect as the team resets following a challenging couple of seasons.
“Jackson is putting in the effort,” Freeze noted. “I was thrilled to see him compete in our mock game. His decisions were solid. I want him to hold onto the pocket a bit longer and work through his progressions. We’re guiding him, but at the same time, he’s an athletic player who can make something happen. We believe he’s making strides.”
The game kicks off this Friday at 7 PM CST.
