Carnell Williams living in the moment as Auburn's head football coach
AUBURN — Interim head coach Carnell Williams isn’t concerned about who Auburn’s next head football coach will be.
Names are flying and coaching search lists and percentages are commonplace. Here’s Auburn Live’s latest iteration of the Coaching Hot Board, in case you missed it.
But for Williams, that simply isn’t his focus. It can’t be. There’s too many people counting on Williams to focus on the here and now for him to think any further ahead than today.
“I’m worried about now. That was my message to the team on Friday was that fans and people were worried about the next move, worried about the next coach. I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on these kids and this coaching staff. I’m truly focused on bringing that energy and pouring into these kids lives. I can’t think beyond this moment. I want to sit in this moment and live in this moment. I never dreamed of anything like this,” Williams said during his Monday press conference leading into Auburn’s game against Texas A&M.
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Before arriving at Auburn four years ago, Williams was the running backs coach at famed IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. This is Williams’ fourth season coaching running backs at Auburn. That’s the real extent of his coaching experience. Because of that, Williams isn’t a legitimate candidate to become Auburn’s next head football coach. But that doesn’t matter to Williams right now. Only two things do.
“Serve and believe. That’s the message,” Williams said. “Everybody in this building that touches our kids, we want to serve each other. That was the whole message all week. I think the coaches did a good job delivering the message of fight or quit.”
And then, in the middle of Williams’ answer, he said something fascinating and revealing.
Remember, Williams was part of Auburn’s undefeated 2004 football team. He was an All-American, a top-ten NFL draft pick, his cleats are in the Hall of Fame for performances during his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Losing isn’t an option for someone like Williams, yet he said this:
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“With all due respect, I would rather lose that game the way we did and see those kids come together the way they did, versus win that game and some of the same things go on,” he said. “I know we lost, but it’s a win for us. If they fight like that, they’re going to win life. That’s a start with those guys serving each other and believing.”
Williams said he isn’t surprised by the support he’s received from friends and former teammates. “It’s why I chose this place two decades ago because of that same love that you’re feeling from the Auburn family,” he said.
All that aside, Saturday night is coming. A small-town kid from Atalla, Alabama has now become Auburn’s first Black head football coach, and at 6:30 p.m. central under the lights inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, Williams will lead the Auburn football team out of the tunnel and onto Pat Dye Field as the leader of the football program.
You just can’t make this stuff up.
“It’s Monday, so I’m going to hold it together,” Williams said. “Honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to feel. I do know I have a job to do to get this team ready to play and get these guys prepared. I know I can’t make this about me, but I am going to sit in the moment and enjoy it. I’m excited for that moment.”
