AUBURN - Gene Chizik's jaw was set. He didn't smile.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik says rebounding from an 0-2 record starts with him.
There are no magic formulas. Auburn's 0-2 start is in the books. What happens next, Chizik said, is a test of will and character for coaches and players.
"You and I and everybody, everybody wants to experience success," Chizik said Tuesday. "It's no different in football. We have a team that has struggled. That's no secret. But we have to make our own success. We can't wait on a break or luck or whatever. We have to create our own success. That's why we practice every day. We're fired up about another opportunity to get out there and do that."
The Tigers will try to break through Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Warhawks suddenly have a different look after beating Arkansas 34-31 in overtime last Saturday.
But, Chizik said, it's not about Louisiana-Monroe. It's about the players who play for Auburn and their coaches. It's about looking inside and finding what it takes to succeed.
"It's real simple," Chizik said. "This is a man's game. It reveals everything about who we are. So, you know what? We're manning up. It is starting with me. We understand we are very deficient and have to get better and have to improve. That starts with me. But it reveals who you are.
"We're not going to walk around and let our circumstances have us holding our head down and saying 'woe is me.' That's not what you do in your life and that is not what we're going to do here. There are no holes to crawl in. There is nowhere to hide. You either improve or you don't improve. That stats with me and goes to everybody after me."
For a video of Chizik's press conference, follow the link below.
- Phillip Marshall
- Auburn Insider - AuburnUndercover