Auburn travels to South Carolina trying to bounce back from a two-game losing streak. After Bo Nix suffered an injury during the Mississippi State loss, the Tigers will have a new starting quarterback. TJ Finley will start Auburn (6-4, 3-3) against the Gamecocks (5-5, 2-5) at Williams Brice.
Head coach Bryan Harsin will discuss Finley and several other factors for Auburn during his weekly radio appearance with the Tigers’ broadcast crew. Here are some highlights from Harsin’s chat.
Harsin on not having Nix and kicker Anders Carlson
It’s disappointing for both guys. Let me say that both of those guys are doing well. I appreciate that we have great people here in the medical area and surgeons and all that, so they’ve done a great job. They’re in great spirits. We have to move forward. That’s the thing about football, and I’ve told guys that too. Unfortunately, guys get hurt. When you come off the field, the game goes on. We’ve been back in practice, and TJ is doing a good job leading the guys.
Harsin on replacing Anders Carlson.
Ben Patton and Evan McGuire will both get opportunities. Those guys have done a good job this week up to this point. And you know, the big thing is, they’ll get their opportunities in the game. We tell them don’t be nervous when you go out there, be excited like this is the chance you’ve been waiting for this is the opportunity you want when you stand on the sidelines and you know, every player that’s not playing always thinks they should be playing and then so, you know. It’s unfortunate when things happen like this, but nonetheless, you have a chance to go out there and play, so take advantage of it, prepare properly and then, you know, go out there and do your job and do it to the best of your ability.
What stands out about the Gamecock defense?
I think they play hard. I think they’ve got their edge rusher number one(Kingsley Enagbare). He’s got five or six sacks. I think their linebackers are all solid as far as just where they need to be, and I think they play sound and are physical. I think they play hard. I think they do a good job and their schemes and structure, and I think they got good players and inside of the ball that, you know, are developing and getting better, and you see that as the season goes on there. There’s an improvement on that football team, and that’s what you got to prepare for.
Harsin on how Finley playing against South Carolina last season helps this year.
I know that our offensive staff is looked at that. And there are certainly some things from that that we could probably take away and that we’ve seen this week. For me, it’s, you know, it’s so different. It was such a long time ago. And so many things have changed for TJ, the schemes and all that, and he’s a different player. Is it a different system? Now I know for him he remembers it. Sure. And, you know, I think that’s part of it too. Like just in his mind that he had that opportunity at LSU, and he has an opportunity here, and so that’s his own story. However, you know, what I do like about TJ is he’s always he’s very focused. He’s very determined, and he doesn’t get caught up in too many things that aren’t the most important, and the most important things are, we need to have a really good day of practice.
On Auburn handling road games.
The awesome thing about being in the SEC is that you know every game you go to has that energy. As far as being on the road goes, it’s not so much about that any longer. It’s about what we have to do to go out there and execute our assignments and play good football, and I think the challenge of being on the road. We have to handle adversity from a mentality standpoint; you got nobody in there cheering for you. You got nobody there that’s in your favor. Sometimes that can be the best environment to walk in there and have that mentality, kind of like a SWAT team. Just get in there. Do your job and go home.
Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.
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