Auburn Live Game Day: The basics ahead of Auburn and Mercer

AUBURN – It’s game day.

Mercer comes to town on September 3 to kickoff the season inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. It’s a “Wear White” game for the fans inside the stadium.

The Tigers begin their 130th year of college football on Saturday. Auburn is 100-27-2 in season openers, and have won 14 of their last 16 openers dating back to 2006. Auburn is 54-8-1 in season openers at home.

Important links:

Pate’s Perspective: With renewed attitude, it’s time for Auburn football to reclaim itself

The 3-2-1: Three things learned, two questions and one prediction ahead of the opener

Auburn Live Show: The Modcast returns

Official Auburn depth chart entering week one

The War Room: Evaluation period, on-campus visits underway

Scouting Mercer’s offense

Scouting Mercer’s defense

How Auburn’s offense should attack Mercer

How Auburn’s defense should attack Mercer

Things to know:

Nick Brahms’ football career is done.

That means it’s Tate Johnson’s show at center.

T.J. Finley appears to be confident, driven entering the season opener.

Jeff Schmedding and Eric Kiesau make their SEC coordinator debuts.

Team captains for the season are Owen Pappoe, John Samuel Shenker and Derick Hall.

The line:

Auburn is favored by 31.5 points

How to watch:

The game will be televised on ESPN Plus/SEC Network Plus at 6 pm CT.

Play-by-play: Mike Corey

Analyst: Aaron Murray

Sideline Reporter: Nicole Rigoni

Online: Watch ESPN

How to listen:

Auburn Sports Network/Sirius 121/XM 205

Live stats:

AuburnTigers.com

Twitter:

@AuburnFootball @auburnliveon3

Series Record:

Auburn leads 12-0

Auburn and Mercer first played in 1896. Seven games have been played in Auburn, four in Macon, Ga., and one in Columbus, Ga. Nine of Auburn’s 12 wins have been by shutout.

Auburn holds a 73-1-1 all-time record against teams currently in the Southern Conference.

Auburn is 181-59-5 all-time in the mont of September. The Tigers are 115-22-1 at home in September.

Last result:

Auburn 24, Mercer 10 (2017)

Talkin’ Tiger Talk

In case you missed it…

Bryan Harsin appeared on “Tiger Talk” on Thursday night, as the season opener against Mercer is only two days away.

So did his junior quarterback, T.J. Finley.

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Harsin spent the hour talking with Andy Burcham and Brad Law about the Auburn football team.

Here’s the highlights from Harsin and Finley.

The 3-2-1: Three things learned, two questions, one prediction ahead of Auburn and Mercer

• Crafting the message to the team pregame: “We always have a theme each week. What’s the theme for us?” There’s some rah-rah, but it’s about gauging your team, Harsin said.
• Charles Barkley advertisement for Redmont Vodka (it’s solid, by the way)
• Harsin asked if there is anything that you’ve tweaked in your coaching style since arriving to Auburn? Harsin talks about processes and operation, learning everyone’s strengths within the organization, mentions recruiting getting better, etc. Doesn’t really name any specific thing he’s tweaked.
• The first game isn’t about Mercer, it’s about Auburn. Rotating players, getting into patterns of repetitions needs to remain the same whether you’re playing Mercer or anyone else.
• Harsin on Finley: “I’m proud of T.J. He’s come a long way since January. He’s developed — I’m excited to go watch him play. We brought some guys in to compete, and competition brings out the best in most. He’s going to operation and put us int he right position to make plays, and make sure we’re going to score points.”
• Harsin on his “players are allowed to improve” statement: “What do you think people do? They improve, they get better. They spend time on themselves. … That’s what I get to do on a daily basis. I see guys develop on a daily basis. You see the progression of the players in the weight room, on the football field. I’m a big believer in people. The whole purpose in life is making progress. I’ve seen it from our players and we’re going to see it on Saturday. I’m very confident in this group.”
• Harsin asked about transfers and who is standing out among newcomers: “The synergy between all of them is great because of the leadership…” Then mentions Keionte Scott, Eugene Asante, Marcus Bragg as players that have stood out, and mentions Jayson Jones as one in particular that’s really stood out. “Jayson has done a really good job, I love Jayson. He’s one of those guys that you want on your football team.”
• Finley on the work he’s put in to improve: “The media does a great job of letting me know what I need to work on. I’ve taken that into account.”
• “Big” difference from last year when he took over for Bo Nix until now. Admits, again, he wasn’t ready to win last season. Finley believes he’s ready to win this season.
• Finley on his receivers: “Those guys are unbelievable.” Lot of hard work this summer. Last summer, the individual workouts weren’t nearly as populated as this summer was.
• Tate Johnson is going to “be amazing for us,” Finley said.
• Finley asked about the offensive system and leadership: “It goes with knowing your stuff. It goes with guys seeing you put in the work day in and day out.” Finley mentions being first inside the building, and winning the locker room is about respect.
• After football, Finley wants to create a youth leadership group to influence the youth in positive ways.