Carnell Williams says 'it's going to be special' Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium

Thursday night, the weekly Tiger Talk had Auburn interim head coach Cadillac Williams on to speak and take questions from fans.

Williams spoke in front of a packed out Baumhower’s Victory Grille in Auburn for his first appearance on the show. After getting the run down from Derick Hall and Robby Ashford on how to appreach Tiger Talk, Coach Williams took questions from fans who were lined up in the restaurant.

Here are his opening remarks and answers to questions.

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Opening statement

Cadillac Williams: First of all, War Eagle. I am just excited, just the support. I want to thank the Auburn family. Coaches and I, and these players, we are ecstatic with the support that we have gotten this past week. I am personally excited to be here. D. Hall and Robby were kind of schooling me up on what to expect since it’s my first time. So, I appreciate those guys schooling me up. I’m excited to be here.

Auburn fan questions

Auburn fan, Julie: Coach, I think I speak on behalf of the entire Auburn family in telling you that we couldn’t have been more proud of you last week had you won the game. My question, how much change do you do right now? Do you do a lot of changes with the plays or the schemes, or do you just try to improve what’s set in place?

Cadillac Williams: Great question. My message to the coordinators, Coach (Will) Friend, Coach (Ike) Hilliard, Coach (Jeff) Schmedding and Coach Roc (Bellantoni): right now, simple is better. We don’t need a lot of exotic things. Effort, what we lack in talent and whatever the case, I really feel like our effort and how we united is going to definitely cover a lot of that. So, honestly, we simplified a lot of things so our guys can play fast, where they aren’t on the field thinking. The game of football has not changed: you’re going to block, tackle, run, hit, execute. I just feel like the more simple we can be, I feel like then we can go in our tool box and be able to adjust and put these kids in the best situation to succeed. Man, I thank God for this staff because they are the ones–it is truly the coaching staff and these kids that are getting this done.

Auburn fan, Matt in Jacksonville: I see your watch, how many steps did you get in during the game in Starkville?

Cadillac Williams: Well, I got on the eliptical early that morning so, you have to add those steps too, but I got literally, first time ever over 30,000 steps. Honestly what was crazy, was we drove to the plane in Starkville and I got off the bus, started walking to the plane, I was like why am I so sore? My knees hurt, my back hurts, and I kind of put two and two together then.

Auburn fan, Buster: There’s hope, there’s optimism. We played better that game than we’ve played since the first quarter of Penn State this year. I really appreciate the energy. I know you played special teams when you were here, you returned punts, and I’m pretty sure Zac (Etheridge) did 5 or 6 years later. You and Zac have got to stay in your lanes better on the sideline, man! Did you run up his achilles? Is that why he got hurt?

Cadillac Williams: So, it was so weird on that play. I saw nobody out there covering guys out there to the field, so I’m like holy crap, they’re about to get this first down. They were huddling around the ball and I just took off running, I see Zac running, Of course, I pass Zac, no offense to Zac. But that was hilarious, I think Zac, he’s still around the complex limping. But, it was really funny because the ref came to me and he said, Cadillac, you know you could’ve just look to your right and told me time out. I said, I know, I panicked man, I looked left and I saw Zac running, so I just took off. Didn’t want to blow that one.

Auburn fan, Will: Just wondering if you could describe what it will mean to you to lead the team out of the tunnel in front of a sold out crowd in a night game in Jordan-Hare on Saturday?

Cadillac Williams: You know, I’m trying not to get emotional, I’m going to hold it together up here. Wow. I have been trying to go there and my mind won’t even let me process it and think about it. For one, I kind of gave a speech to the team on Friday night about not worrying about what’s next. Saturday night is what’s next, it’s kind of staying in the now of it. Honestly I can’t even really process it or imagine it, but Lord, have mercy. It’s going to be special. Going to be very special to have a lot of my former teammates. There will be up to 25 or 30 guys there. When I addressed the team, those guys will be in our locker room. Our team will see those guys that were trailblazers that kind of built this place and know what that work, hard work is about. A lot of Auburn is blood sweat and tears and that comes from guys before myself. I’m ecstatic, I’m excited and I can’t even process it right now to be honest with you. We’re about 48 hours away. Lord knows I cannot wait.

Questions from Andy Burcham and Brad Law

Andy Burcham: When you and I talked last week after practice–Tuesday after practice, I said do you have a sense of how much the Auburn family is pulling for you and this team right now? Just take a look.

Cadillac Williams: Again, I am humbled and grateful. Honestly, many many years ago I played here, so it really doesn’t surprise me for them to get behind not only myself but this team, this coaching staff, I’m just honored to be able to call Auburn home to be honest with you.

Brad Law: Logistically, how different has this week been from last week when you were thrown into the fire?

Cadillac Williams: Well, from a team standpoint, it is night and day. As coaches we have more time. Of course, the bombshell was dropped on Monday. We were all scrambling and there was a lot of uncertainty so we got behind on a lot of the game planning. This week we had the opportunity to switch up the schedule. Gave the players the day off on Sunday, they had what we call a captain’s lift where those guys lift and watch film on their own. It gave us an extra day to really lock in on Texas A&M. We kind of flushed that Mississippi State game. On Monday, we got the opportunity to work all day, then we had a walk-through that night with the players. Me personally, again, like I stated before, I was a scared puppy on Monday. My anxiety was high, my head was hurting up under my eyes. I truly want to thank this staff. Thank these kids. Each and everyday as the days went on and I got opportunity to be around that group it made me realize why I’m doing this. It gave me the confidence–and the support from this fan base, the Auburn family. I’m telling you, we are going to need that. So, you all make my job a lot easier. This staff and these players, I could not do this without them.

Andy Burcham: I thought the turning point in that game was the ability to put pressure on the quarterback. Was that a scheme change, or did you guys just exert your will to start to get to Will Rogers last week?

Cadillac Williams: We had been saying all week, fight or quit. I got the opportunity to read to those guys what a defensive player actually wrote. It was just a guy telling them we want to see you play relentless. Fly to the football and play that hard-nosed Auburn defense. Wow, I think the first two drives the defense gave up 124 yards or something like that. Then from then on out, they gave up 130 yards. I was just so excited to see how those guys flew to the ball. That just goes back to what us coaches were stressing all week. Serve and believe. That was the main thing we were focused on: serving each other. Guys flying to the football, guys on the sideline doing their part. If you’re not in the game you still can serve playing complimentary football. Man, the defense was lights out. I enjoy watching those guys play.

Brad Law: At the end of the week, Coach, there is a game to be played and a team in a different colored jersey. What do you see when you look at Texas A&M on film?

Cadillac Williams: Got a lot of respect for Coach Jimbo Fisher and those guys on that staff. Wow, they are a talented bunch, especially defensively. They are really big and physical up front. Secondary guys are very long, linebackers can run. They play good football offensively, of course Jimbo to run that pro style offense. Theyre very big up front, young, but they want to run the football. They have dynamic play makers. You know, they have had quarterbacks in and out so I’m not sure who is going to be the starter there. Special teams, they play fast, relentless. They have some dangerous returners. So, we are definitely going to have to play our A-game to pull off this victory.

Andy Burcham: You look at A&M and they have a guy named Devon Achane, their tailback, you’re right, he’s dynamic. We think Weigman, their freshman quarterback will be in there. This is one of those weird series’ where until recently the road team has had a lot of success. It’s time to turn that trend around, isn’t it?

Cadillac Williams: Yes sir, that is exactly the mission. Like you said, the road team in this series has a lot of success. Yes, Dev Achane is a phenomenal all-purpose back that can do it all. I think right now he is like third in the SEC, total yards he’s with the best of them in the country. He’s a dangerous, fast, explosive guy and at any time can take it the distance there. Quarterback-wise, I know guys have been in and out but they are very talented. It’s going to be a challenge for us. This team, we are looking forward to being in front of this crowd. Like I told our players, we’re going to have that Auburn spirit, and the fans in Jordan-Hare, the best atmosphere in college football–I just feel like magic is going to happen Saturday night. I’m looking forward to it.

Brad Law: A lot of his yards come on cut-backs. He can slip through and cut-back. What is the key to defending a guy who makes so much happen on cut-backs like he does?

Cadillac Williams: The key to defending a guy who is very explosive is we have to rally to the football. We have to hunt, we have to stay in our lanes, cover guys up, get 11 guys to the football. We play relentless Auburn defense. I truly truly mean that. I’m excited to watch that defense. I can remember when I was a player here, Coach (Eddie) Gran and Coach (Tommy) Tuberville used to always kind of get upset with me because I always used to stand up and watch the defense. I never sat on the bench. In my heart in high school I played a little defense, loved to hit, so I love to see defense swarm, run to the football, and I’m freaking excited to see our defense get after Texas A&M.

Andy Burcham: Yesterday after practice and with Veterans Day tomorrow, you named your game captain Jonathan LeGrand out of the US Marine Corps. He’s your game captain for Saturday.

Cadillac Williams: Yes sir, he is. I mean, he served this great country of ours. He has done a phenomenal job for our team. he’s a born leader, he leads by example, and has so much wisdom for a young player. I’m blessed and honored for what he did for our service, but also I’m honored that he is on this team.