SECMD26: Golesh ready to establish Auburn as a 'standard' in the SEC

Auburn transfer quarterback Byrum Brown is excited to face SEC defenses this fall. (Courtesy Southeastern Conference)

By GRAHAM DUNN

TAMPA - A standard.

It’s what new coach Alex Golesh is looking to establish in his first season at Auburn.

“I don’t set goals,” he explained in the second day of the SEC Media Days.

“I've always thought that that's like a little bit like New Year’s resolutions. They usually work for a little bit and you kind of keep it moving.”

For Auburn to move up in the standings of the SEC, it might want to take it slow since the Tigers are looking for their first winning season since 2020.

After five years and three coaches, Golesh is in search of what is needed to turn the Tigers’ fortunes around.

“How do we (set the standards)? By our daily process,” Golesh explained. “By how we attack every single day. By the standards within that program that like you talked about earlier. As they become upheld by our players and it becomes player driven, then those standards become reality, a way of life every day within the program. I think a successful year one as I mentioned earlier is if we can leave year one and have a foundation of who we are, our identity, proof of concept offensively, defensively, so we can continue to recruit to that identity.”

That identity is in need of a facelift. Auburn’s numbers last year weren’t horrible and the Tigers were close in several losses. They came close to an upset at Alabama and Missouri but also lost to Kentucky.

“This is a really, really talented league with elite players and elite coaches,” Golesh said. “So what wins football games? The teams that can play on Saturdays and score one more point than the other because they have a true identity of who they are.Year one will be successful if we leave and know exactly who we are and we have proof of concept to continue to build to.”

Golesh left South Florida and brought several of his players with him. That includes quarterback Byrum Brown, who amassed more than 4,000 yards in total offense, which led the nation.

“Byrum Brown is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and he's shown that over the years. What has to happen for Byrum is he's just got to continue to be him every single day,” Golesh said.

Brown has faced a couple of SEC defenses in the last couple of years. There may surprises but, in his words, not too many.

“You got a tremendous defense that we go against each and every day at practice,” Brown said. “So seeing those looks and becoming confident in those looks, and knowing that I'm going against the best defense in the country every single day, not everybody has the opportunity.

“I can't wait to go on Saturdays and play against another defense, because they give us some looks that are fun at times and not fun at times.”

Auburn’s schedule is difficult, to say the least. On top of five conference road games, the Tigers also welcome LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt to Jordan-Hare this season.

For Golesh, he expects his team to stare in the face of the challenge each Saturday.

“The ability to walk into a Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, especially in some of the best environments in the entire country, and know that the

amount of work that's put in is what's prepared me for this moment,” he said “That's truly the day to day of how we operate. I said going into the summer we can't waste the day. The confidence comes in not wasting a day. The confidence comes in knowing you never cheated your process. And that’s individually as players, as coaches, as support staff day in, day out."