Alex Golesh wants Auburn football to 'Be who they say they are' in spring practices
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AUBURN — Auburn football coach Alex Golesh told his staff that he’s been waiting for a bomb to go off during the spring practices, and it finally detonated around the seventh period of Auburn’s practice on Tuesday, March 24.
“We needed it, challenged them, fought through it a little bit,” Golesh told the media after practice Tuesday. “I think (we’re) still looking for real leaders to push through those moments when it gets hard, and we’re going to continue to create really hard situations and force them to fight through them and coach through it.”
Golesh detailed Tuesday as being the worst day of practice when it came to the energy amongst the team, including himself.
Luckily for the Tigers, one practice — in the early stages of a period when a lot of install of schemes is happening — won’t define the direction of the program. Factor in a team that is getting used to a new head coach, coaching staff and roster — bumps and bruises are expected.
“I think the coaches are doing a really good job setting a standard, and I know I’ve said it before, but when the players start to be the ones that enforce the standard, we’ll get somewhere,” Golesh said. “We’re just four days in, and today was just all right.”
The emergence of leaders for Auburn most likely won’t come to fruition in the next practice, but the Tigers have a slogan they’re getting accustomed to any time they hit the indoor or outdoor facilities at the Woltosz Football Performance Center.
Golesh isn’t normally a fan “mumbo jumbo” on walls, but when sophomore AnQuon “Newboy” Fegans shouted “Be who you say you are,” in a team meeting, the simplicity stuck with Golesh.
“It’s a sense of holding each other accountable in a really, really quick way,” Golesh said. “If somebody’s not doing what they’re supposed to, or not living up to a standard, man, like, be who you say you are brother, that’s it.”
Golesh and Auburn will hope that energy will return when the Tigers take the practice field next time and as the search for leaders continues. But, if there’s one thing that’s for certain — to aid the Tigers throughout the challenging times — it’s the fact that players that claim they’re leaders, will be held accountable to be just that.
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alex Golesh still in search of leaders during Auburn football spring
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