This time last year, the Auburn Tigers were preparing for a long trip out west, where they would clash with the Cal Golden Bears in what was the first road trip of the Hugh Freeze era at Auburn.
Now, it’s Cal’s turn to make the near-2,500-mile journey to Auburn, where they’ll look to avenge last year’s 14-10 loss to the visiting Tigers.
Here’s everything Cal’s coaches and players are saying about the matchup, which is set to kickoff on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. from Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium:
Cal head coach Justin Wilcox on playing a new-look Auburn team this season: “Coach Freeze has always done a great job on offense, but they’re going to do what’s best for them and their players. So there will be new wrinkles from year to year. But you mention the new players, they’ve got the receiver — the recruit — I mean he’s a phenomenal athlete, No. 8. No. 5, the guy from Penn State, is a very, very productive player. The tackle, the running back is a good player, the QB has played a lot. Defensively, the linebacker from Duke, the defensive end, the edge players are very, very gifted guys. So they’ve got… the corner, who we actually recruited hard, he played nickel for them last year, he’s playing corner for them this year – Keionte Scott is a very good player as well. So they got good players and Coach Durkin is a really good coach, known him a lot time and competed against him a few times way back when. He’s a really good coach. They’ll be prepared and have really good schemes.”
Cal head coach Justin Wilcox on former Cal quarterback Sam Jackson transferring to Auburn and playing wide receiver: “Sam, being here for a year, he’s a dynamic athlete and we did have discussions at the end of last year after he had suffered an injury about him wanting to play wide out and we were very open to that and understood that that might be a great option. He chose to go a different direction and we wish Sam well. I want nothing but good things for Sam. I hope everything plays out in his favor, other than this game. He’s a dynamic athlete. I mean a dynamic athlete. We know that. We saw it first hand and it kinda speaks to their roster when you look at right now, just some of the guys on there and I’m sure he’ll get opportunities in the game. I don’t know how many. Kinda depends on how that game goes, but they’ve got some very, very talented wideouts.”
Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza on what a win at Auburn would mean: “I think that would mean a lot. Especially coming off a great win against UC-Davis, wins in the start of the season are always… how do I say this… Every win tastes great, but this one would taste better, especially because we suffered a loss from them last year at (Cal Memorial Stadium). So being able to go to an SEC venue, getting that win, it would only roll more and more momentum into ACC play. I think that would really help myself, the team and the program a lot. It’s not going to make us try any harder because we’re trying as hard as we can already, but I know we’re all really excited to play at Jordan-Hare. Excited and ready for the opportunity.”
Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon on Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne: “I think he’s a very talented player. He runs better than you think. Watching their season last year, I think he did a really nice job in some of the run game and distributing the ball against Georgia, Alabama last year. He has had some opportunities to produce some explosive runs. He moves in the pocket well and he throws a really nice ball. I think if he can find his rhythm, he’s a very, very tough quarterback to defend.”
Cal defensive lineman TJ Bollers on Auburn’s offensive line: “The offensive line, they’re big guys, athletic, good foot movement. But we’re getting ready for it… We’re not going to fear anybody. We’re going to respect them, but we’re not going to fear them. We’re going to be ready to go out there and give it our best shot.”
