From the Podium: Carnell Williams on earning his first win as Auburn's head coach
AUBURN — After coming out of the tunnel with arms interlocked to players’, interim head coach Carnell Williams led Auburn to their first win since September.
Keeping Texas A&M scoreless through three quarters, Auburn won 13-10.
The Tigers were the first to score tonight during their final drive of the first quarter. Tank Bigsby ran the ball 39 yards to Texas A&M’s 16 yard line. The following play, Ja’Varrius Johnson caught a pass in the end zone for the touchdown, 7-0. It wasn’t until the end of the third quarter that any more points were put on the board, though. Freshman Alex McPherson’s 34-yard field goal was the first of his Auburn career. Late in the fourth quarter, he completed his second field goal for 26 yards to extend Auburn’s lead to 10.
Penalties were still a problem tonight for both teams. Although it was better than last weekend, the offense still had five total penalties for 30 yards and they were at costly times.
Yet again this season, Auburn lost the turnover battle. Tonight, Robby Ashford threw two interceptions and attempted to hand off the ball to Tank Bigsby, but tossed it into his face mask. Texas A&M recovered the fumble. Texas A&M only had one turnover, a fumble forced by Colby Wooden in fourth quarter.
Let’s hear what Cadillac had to say about his first win.
Carnell Williams’ opening remarks.. or his thank you
“First of all, I want to give all praises and glory to my Lord savior. I want to thank my family who had a lot of sleepless nights, for allowing me to do what I do. I want to thank the coaching staff. I’m telling you, I get so much of this credit, it’s a shame. I tell my staff all the time, y’all don’t even know the kind of work they put in behind closed doors and how they had completely bought in and being challenged about, ‘we’ve got to be more hardheaded than our kids. They need us. I honestly feel like this is what the good Lord designed us to do, to pour into these kids’ lives..”
“I want to thank these players. Man, how awesome are they? I challenged the guys to be vulnerable- open your heart, let us in. You’ve got people that care for you. You’ve got people that want to see you do good. A lot of times, I just feel like they didn’t feel that way at times. Like I told my staff when I took this job, and I’m part of it, we have failed these kids. It’s our job to elevate them, to inspire them, to empower them, to get them going and we haven’t done a good enough job.”
“I want to thank the trainers… There’s so many people that lay hands on these kids. I just truly want to thank them for just believing in a small town guy who was scared as a puppy last week… I let them know that I was scared, I was like, ‘I need y’all, I’ve never done this. I’m going to lean on you all.’”
“Last but not least, this Auburn brand, this Auburn family- this place is special… The relationships, look at it, I mean it felt like the whole 2004 team and guys I played with, to see their face, to see how happy they were, it’s unreal. This place is special and to see the support from the fans, they put a battery in my back and they energized me.”
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The game ball
Carnell Williams was asked which player presented him with the game ball:
“My guy D-Hall. I really wasn’t even thinking of a game ball and to have D-Hall and Shenk and those guys to come up and have them say, ‘Coach we appreciate what you have done, how you have poured into our lives. Just, you believing in us.’ For those young men to present me with that game ball, it’s everything. I’m forever grateful.”
Running backs
The RB room checked in on him this past week
“Thank God for Jarquez, Tank Bigsby, Damari Alston, Sean Jackson, Jordon Ingram, Luke Reebals, Justin Jones. Last week, those guys checked on me and they saw how nervous I was and they said, ‘coach, just be you. We’ve been telling these guys for the longest, y’all need to go talk to Coach Lac. The same way you approach us and you pour into our lives, you’re just doing it to the whole team.’ I said, ‘yeah but there’s like seven of yall. There’s like 120 people now, along with coaches. It’s different.’ to hear them young men tell me, just be you coach. I’m telling you, be you. I got some sleep.”
Carnell Williams’ on Bigsby and Hunter’s performance today, both having over 100 rushing yards
“Well, we had two balls on the ground, so I’m going to ask them about that. So, there’s definitely going to be some ball skill drills next week and they know that imma bust. They know it.”
“Let me tell you something about them two, I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to coach two guys- high character young men who. This whole time, have let me be poor into their lives and be vulnerable. They know that I stand on truth. I’m going to call a spade a spade and a lot of times, they get frustrated with me, but like I told them, ‘I love you guys too much to just see you go through the motions or not give your all each and every day.’”
“To see Tank Bigsby how grew from freshman to now is everything. He is as raw as they come, great heart. Then, Jarquez, workaholic, serves very selflessly. It’s a joy to see those guys contribute the way they contribute…”
Defensive performance
“Wow. I told defense and everybody will tell you when I was a player here, I always love to watch defense play. I love to watch defense fly around and I love to watch the relentless effort, the grind of playing together, 11 men to the ball… What we’re lacking in talent that people say… We can make that up with our effort, our attitude, our mindset, our effort. Those are the things that I can control…”