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http://auburn.247sports.com/Article/Rob-Pate-Words-of-optimism-from-Auburn-coach-Gus-Malzhan-28760992
Pate's Perspective: On the road with the Gus Bus
As title sponsor (GameDayBunker.com) of this year’s Tiger Trek, Coach Gus Malzahn’s jaunt to virtually every Auburn Alumni Club in Alabama, Atlanta, and the Florida panhandle, I had the opportunity to listen to Gus speak several times delving into numerous topics.
It was an exclusive opportunity to witness coach, his mannerisms, his attitude, his discourse in an unfamiliar setting and glean the occasional opportunity to peer inside the mind of an innovator.
Gus Malzahn is a football coach. He’s not a polished politician. He’s not a slick salesman. He’s not a profound public speaker. He’s a football coach, plain and simple. As Malzahn entered the conference room at each location bursting with Auburn Alumni anticipation and pride, he was cordial, excited, and generous with his time. He signed footballs and t-shirts and caps, and sat in place dutifully as the camera flash must have appeared as some sort of cruel, personal lightning storm.
He played the part.
As he approached the podium to speak to a standing ovation that lasted quite some time, you could sense his appreciation but also his business-like approach to do the job he came to do. He’s a nervous ball of energy behind the podium, constantly shifting his feet, jumping from one topic to the next as quickly as he calls a new play on game day.
It’s a hurry-up, get-it-done process because this is not what Gus Malzahn enjoys. He’s a football coach. This isn’t coaching.
He begins with a recap of last season’s high points, the drive against Mississippi State, the monsoon game in Baton Rouge he calls a turning point. The victory over Texas A&M in College Station, giving him the belief his team could beat anyone. The Georgia game frustrates him because, “we had a 20-point lead and the ball to start the fourth quarter.” The Iron Bowl, which he had full confidence of winning in overtime.
His largest rise comes from talking about his team’s preparation and performance against Missouri. Then, he moves to the national championship game loss. “Thirteen seconds” is his new theme. He will go an additional 13 seconds in every meeting, every repetition, every practice. They will be 13 seconds better in everything they do. He wears a bracelet with the Roman numeral XIII as a reminder.
Malzahn speaks about the successes of spring training, the strides made in different areas. He talks about the importance of a large crowd for A-Day and how recruits take note of what they see for a glorified scrimmage. He talks about recruiting in vague terms as NCAA rules prohibit commenting about prospects that have not signed scholarship papers. He is grateful for his coaching staff and the fact they all remained after a stellar season, an uncommon feat in today’s coaching environment.
At this point in his speech, we have covered about five minutes. He’s blowing through it. Then, he starts talking about his players. Things slow down -- way down.
And that’s why I love Gus Malzahn. Because I know how deeply he cares for his players. When asked how he turned around a team from winless in the SEC to SEC champions and a national title game appearance, his answer is simple; Good players and the development, cultivation and growth of relationships with his players. He knows if his players believe their coaching staff cares about the person, not just the player, they will play with every ounce of their being to be a success for their coaches.
He went down his roster, highlighting player after player, how they have improved, how he projects them into the future (he called both Shon Coleman and Patrick Miller NFL guys; Coleman a potential first rounder), and raves about the character of many of his guys.
He is truly excited when talking about the guys that carry out his vision. He appreciates their hard work and he marvels at their skill. This is a subject matter he will expound on. He states the days of Auburn having no first-round draft picks are over; Auburn will consistently place elite players into the first round of the NFL draft.
He salivates over Nick Marshall’s progression, his arm strength, his improved accuracy and his first opportunity to work with a quarterback in consecutive years. He states Jeremy Johnson would be starting for 95 percent of college football teams. He says the offensive pace will be even faster this season. He thinks his offensive line will be a team strength and the senior leadership of the defensive line will be the difference in some tough battles. He calls Reese Dismukes the best center in college football. He calls Corey Grant the fastest player in college football. He calls Sammie Coates the fastest receiver in college football. He calls his coaching staff the best in college football and the Auburn fans the best in college football.
All points are hard to argue.
Malzahn says he worries much less this year about his linebacker situation. He calls Jonathon Mincy the leader of the secondary and Auburn's best cover guy, but he’s quick to mention Jonathan Jones -- calling him the second-fastest player on the team. It’s not Greg Robinson or Tre Mason, but Jay Prosch he calls irreplaceable. He believes it will require multiple people to fill the roles in which Prosch excelled. One area I sensed his concern with— his kickers. He knows the lack of experience could be an issue and points to the spring game as his evidence -- connecting on long field goals and booming punts yet missing extra points and hitting duds.
As the question-and-answer session delves back into the HUNH rule proposals, strategy and position groupings, Malzahn is much less forthcoming, much more guarded, much less fiery about the topic of conversation. He remains genial and unassuming, but ready to wrap up and fly home. He’s a football coach, not a wine and cheese guy, and this feels like wine and cheese.
As Coach departs the premises with a caravan of personnel, those of us in attendance are pleased with what has transpired. We are appreciative of the National Coach of the Year, the leader of last season’s SEC Championship team. We see his desire to improve upon what he has started. We are confident in his ability to keep Auburn on top for quite some time. His speech is as hurried and relentless as he is in preparing his team.
He’s a football coach, a tireless worker, a ruthless competitor. Auburn’s future is bright with Coach Malzahn in charge and the Tiger Trek is proof the Auburn people are onboard the Gus Bus.
 
