10/1/22 Auburn Articles

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Auburn football fan guide for home game against LSU

Published: Sep. 30, 2022, 12:00 p.m.

10-12 minutes

Auburn will play their fifth home game on Saturday, welcoming Brian Kelly’s LSU squad to the Plains.

After a nail-biter against Missouri last week, the 3-1 Tigers look to make it two in a row and keep the winning momentum, no matter how they find them.

Here’s what you can expect in Auburn this Saturday.

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford reacts after making a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP

THE GAME!

Auburn escape with a win against Missouri last week. There’s no other way to put it. But we all know a win is a win, and you move on to the next week. LSU will visit Jordan-Hare this week with new head coach Brian Kelly who is looking for his own signature victory.

Each team arrives on Saturday with a 3-1 record, so this game is pivotal for both sets of Tigers. While LSU lost their opener against Florida State, they’re riding a 3-game winning streak, including a win over Mississippi State.

Bryan Harsin has felt the pressure to win all season, and he will have another chance to prove doubters wrong on Saturday with another SEC victory. AL.com’s Tom Green writes the game will determine the future of Auburn football. “After four lackluster home performances to open the season, Auburn desperately needs to put together a complete game and show some tangible progress under Bryan Harsin as it moves forward into the teeth of its SEC schedule.” Basiscally, a win will buy him more time, he writes.

Will Auburn buy their coach more time? Will they remain competitive as the schedule only gets more difficult? Can they come out of this 5-game home stretch with a 4-1 record?

TIGER WALK: 4 p.m.

GATES OPEN: 4 p.m.

EAGLE FLIGHT: 5:40 p.m.

KICKOFF: 6 p.m.

TV: ESPN

VENUE: Jordan-Hare Stadium

TICKETS: Still available

CASH-FREE

All transactions for tickets, concessions and merchandise locations at Jordan-Hare Stadium will be cashless (credit cards only).

PARKING & TRAFFIC

Season-Long and Single-Game Public Parking Passes are on-sale now and can be purchased online You can contact the Bruno Event Team: auparking@brunoeventteam.com or (205) 262-2848. Additional single-game parking passes are also on sale now through RevelXP.

Fans can park in two newly constructed parking lots in downtown Auburn with one located on Wright Street and the other on Burton Street. Access to the lots is open to the public and available for purchase in-person on a day of game basis.

An exit has been added to the Public Safety Lot. Those parked in the west side of the lot should exit toward Wire Road and follow the direction of law enforcement at intersections leading to Shug Jordan Parkway. Learn more about parking on the Auburn website.

Auburn shared the following updates for the 2022 season:

Duncan Drive - Extension: Duncan Drive has been extended between Samford Avenue and Woodfield Drive. The extension will provide an additional south bound outlet to S. College Street.

Donahue Drive - Northbound: Northbound traffic on Donahue Drive from Magnolia Avenue to MLK Drive (Alabama Highway 14) will be three lanes one way. The change will allow for more efficient egress for Tiger Transit Buses, as well as those that park in the business school and public safety lots.

Crosswalk Assistance - North and South Donahue: Attendants will be in place at Lem Morrison Drive and Donahue Drive, as well as Donahue Drive and Magnolia Avenue to assist with post-game traffic egress for fans on foot.

During home games, Tiger Transit runs special routes. Buses run for four hours prior to kickoff, intermittently throughout the game and for two hours post-game to return fans to their stops. You may face delay in arriving from and returning to all locations due to pre- and post-game traffic.

Tiger Transit also utilizes Doublemap/Transfer technology to let fans view buses in motion and the routes in real-time via internet and smartphone. Learn more.

TAILGATING

Home Plate Tailgate is located in the Plainsman Park parking lot. According to the Auburn gameday website, the space is free of charge and open to the public as a tailgating destination close to the action of Jordan-Hare Stadium. The site will open four hours prior to kickoff and feature TVs for live college football game viewing and tailgate games. Once in the area, fans will have access to restrooms and tents for shade. Food and beer will be available for purchase.

The Tiger Tailgate Show will again originate from the east side of Jordan-Hare Stadium three hours prior to kickoff.

Coke Fan Fest is a free pre-game entertainment area located in front of the Nichols Center on Donahue Drive. It opens four hours prior to kickoff and includes inflatable games, a live DJ, TVs for live college football game viewing and more.

Tailgating begins at 4 p.m. on Friday except for Mell Street Corridor, which begins at 6 p.m.

Reserving tailgating spots in grass areas using stakes, ropes, ribbons, tape, chairs, tables, tents, vehicles or other items is not allowed until 4 p.m. on Friday, except for Mell Street Corridor and specially permitted university events. Monitors will be placed in Mell Street areas to ensure that driving lanes and entrances to certain parking areas remain clear.

TIGER FAN FEST

Coca-Cola Tiger Fan Fest is Auburn’s free pregame interactive entertainment area located in front of the Nichols Center on Donahue Drive, just north of Auburn Arena and Jordan-Hare Stadium. Fan Fest offers fun for everyone in the family, from parents to young children. Features inflatable games for the kids and a live DJ.

STADIUM ENTRY / METAL DETECTORS

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays. Gates and all stadium services open two hours prior to kick-off. Pre-game begins 20 minutes prior to kick-off. Walkthrough metal detectors will be in operation for the 2022 season. The units will be placed at gates 1 and 12 that do not require individuals to empty their pockets to expedite stadium entry. These gates will be express lines for individuals without bags. Individuals with bags will need to proceed to the next closest gate.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The following items are prohibited from being brought into the stadium: Artificial noise makers, cameras with lenses over four inches, non-clear bags, outside food and drink, pets, stadium seats with arms, umbrellas, video cameras, and weapons (including pocket knives).

CLEAR BAG POLICY

The clear bag policy will remain in effect for the 2022 football season. Fans are encouraged to bring as few items as needed into the stadium. Bags must be clear plastic and not exceed 12-inches-by-6-inches-by-12-inches. One-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags and small clutch purses not exceeding 4.5-inches-by-6.5-inches may be permitted into the stadium. Read the full policy.

COOLING STATIONS | FREE WATER

The weather has cooled some with the arrival of fall, but it can still get pretty warm in Auburn. Complimentary water refill stations are available throughout Jordan-Hare Stadium. Fans are allowed to bring in one empty water bottle for use at the complimentary water refill stations or one unopened factory-sealed bottle of water (up to one liter in size). You can also find cooling and hydration stations throughout the stadium.

CONCESSIONS

All transactions for concessions, merchandise and chairback locations at Jordan-Hare Stadium will be cashless (credit cards only).

Fans can even skip lines and order digitally for pickup at the stand nearest you by using your smartphone to select “CONCESSIONS” from the sidebar menu on the Auburn Athletics Official app. The dedicated pick-up window for Mobile Express orders will be available at concessions stands located behind sections 3, 28, 58, and 106.

WEATHER

Friday: Sunny skies with a high near 78, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 54.

Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 80, followed by mostly clear skies and an overnight low around 55.

Sunday: Sunny skies with a high near 78, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 55.

-- The National Weather Service

TWITTER

Stay up to date before, during and after the game by following AL.com’s Tom Green, Nubyjas Wilborn, aldotcomTigers or aldotcomSports on Twitter.

You can also follow live gameday updates with Auburn’s new social media accounts, which will post information such as road closures, traffic delays, gate opening reminders and more:

Twitter: @auburn_gameday

Instagram: @auburn_gameday

Facebook: Auburn Gameday

App Store: Search for Auburn Tigers

STORIES YOU WILL LOVE

Tiger Buzz: Auburn vs. LSU TV info, key matchups and what to watch for

Joseph Goodman: Auburn remains elite, but change is needed

5 Questions and a prediction with an LSU beat writer

What Bryan Harsin said on Tiger Talk to preview the LSU game

Auburn’s Keionte Scott ‘explosive’ on punt returns but still sharpening his skills

Don Hutson, Tim Couch & 10 other all-time great SEC football players who never faced Auburn

Watch all AL.com Auburn football video coverage

IMPORTANT TIMES

FRIDAY, Sept. 30

10 a.m.

AU Team Shop opens (Neville Arena)

11 a.m.

Friday Football Luncheon, presented by CB&S Bank

East Coliseum Lot closed

2 p.m.

East Coliseum Lot opens

Hayfields on South Donahue and West Samford Avenue open for RV parking

4 p.m.

Campus open for tailgating (except Mell Street Corridor)

Football, Fans and Feathers (Edgar B. Carter Educational Amphitheater)

Jordan-Hare Locker Room Tours, FREE Admission (South Entrance of Harbert Family Recruiting Center)

6 p.m.

Mell Street Corridor opens for tailgating

6:30 p.m.

Soccer vs. Vanderbilt (Auburn Soccer Complex, free)

SATURDAY, Oct. 1

8 a.m.

Parking lots open

AU Team Shop opens (Neville Arena)

2 p.m.

Coca-Cola Tiger Fan Fest opens (Nichols Center Lawn)

Home Plate Tailgate, presented by Bud Light (Plainsman Park Parking Lot, open to the public, free)

3 p.m.

Tiger Tailgate Show broadcast outside Gate 7 (Broadcast locally on 93.9 FM)

Tiger Walk Club opens

3:30 p.m.

Executive suites open

4 p.m.

Tiger Walk

Jordan-Hare Stadium gates open

Stadium box offices open for ticket sales

4:40 p.m.

Spirit March / Four Corners Pep Rally

5:40 p.m.

Pregame festivities begin on field

6 p.m.

Kickoff vs. LSU (ESPN)

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Brian Kelly talks about how LSU is preparing for the noise at Jordan Hare

Kyle Richardson

2 minutes

It just means more.

This weekend, the LSU Tigers are traveling for their first true road game of the season, and it will be in front of one of the best atmospheres in the SEC, Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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It doesn’t matter what Auburn’s record is when they are playing at home. The Auburn “family” will be sure to show up and show out. Both teams enter the game 3-1 this season. LSU’s only loss was a heartbreaker to Florida State in their first game.

Auburn’s only loss is a beatdown by Penn State at home. Brian Kelly was asked how LSU has worked on dealing with the noise.

“Well, I think, first of all, you know, you have to duplicate that in practice and maybe over-emphasize it in practice, make it a little bit more difficult,”

“Which, I think, we made it pretty difficult in practice this week with with crowd noise. So I think you start there,” said Kelly, before going on to explain why he and the other coaches need to sort of simplify their communication to avoid any confusion amid all the chaos.

“And then I think, you know, you have a way to keep things simple and move quickly to limit some of the things that that can be part of bringing the crowd into the game. The more you’re over there checking and changing things, it brings the crowd into the game. So I think there’s some things that you can do technically. But look, I think you all know the the best way to keep a crowd quiet is to play really well on offense. So that’s what we hope to do.”

LSU will have to face the noise tomorrow night on the Plains as they take on Auburn at 6 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

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Phillip's gameday musings, Week 5

Phillip Marshall

5-6 minutes

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* Of all the questions that have been asked about Auburn’s offense, one stands out to me. Can the Tigers respond when defenses adjust. They started against Missouri with the best drive of the season – 14 plays, all on the ground, 75 yards for a touchdown. Missouri adjusted. Auburn didn’t and should have lost. It was similar against Penn State and in other big games going back to last season.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see some success early against LSU. But the Tigers have to show they can keep it up. So far, against teams with a pulse, they have not.

* Auburn coach Bryan Harsin has not addressed it. Nobody inside Auburn’s administration has addressed it. Regardless, Harsin’s future as Auburn’s head coach will hang over this game and every game to come until it is resolved.

* Could a loss tonight mean Harsin is let go in a matter of days? I believe that would be unlikely. Would a victory tonight mean Harsin might not be let go at all? I am convinced that it would not mean that.

* One of the things that makes Auburn a desirable place to coach: Despite all the negativity and uncertainty, despite a team that has struggled against good teams and bad, Jordan-Hare Stadium will be filled with roaring Auburn fans tonight. Said one who has been part of Auburn athletics for decades: “They might fuss and argue, but Auburn people are diligent.”

* I hear lots of talk about Auburn not having good enough wide receivers. My question: Considering how they have been used (or not), how does anyone really know?

* Regardless of who is the coach in the future, to be successful, the Tigers have to make the transfer portal work for them. Everyone is going to lose players. The question is if they can be replaced by players as good or better. If Tennessee, Ole Miss, Michigan State and others can replenish their rosters quickly through the portal, there is no reason Auburn can’t do the same.

* Games to remember between Auburn and LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium: 1992 – Auburn leads 27-7, LSU scores three unanswered touchdowns to take the lead and Auburn answers with the game-winning field goal for a 30=28 victory. 1994 – Three interception returns for touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Auburn wins 30-26. 1996 – The Sports Arena burns to the ground during LSU’s 20-16 victory. 2000 – Tommy Tuberville wins his first matchup with Nick Saban. 2002 – Auburn wins in a blowout, 31-7. 2004: Auburn wins 10-9 on Jason Campbell’s touchdown pass to Courtney Taylor. 2006 – Auburn wins a brutal defensive battle 7-3. 2010 – Cam Newton’s Heisman gallop leads Auburn to a 24-17 victory. 2014 – Auburn romps to a 41-7 victory. 2016 – LSU seems to have scored the winning touchdown only to have it overturned because the snap came well after time expired and Auburn wins 18-13. 2018 – LSU wins 22-21 on a field goal as time expires. 2020 – Auburn wins 48-11 in the most lopsided game in series history.

* How much has college football changed in my years of covering it? I remember when Tracy Rocker was the best defensive tackle in the country at 267 pounds … when Auburn won the 1983 SEC championship with two starting offensive linemen who weighed less than 240 pounds and just one that weighed as much as 270 … 1979 when center Terry Jones, at 249 pounds, was the biggest starting offensive lineman on Alabama’s national championship team. … when more linebackers than not weighed less than 200 pounds … when offensive players were not allowed to use their hands in blocking … when a blitz was called a “red dog” … when many people, including some coaches, didn’t believe in African-American quarterbacks … When 200 yards passing was a big game … when it was not unusual for players to turn down opportunities to play in the NFL because they could make more money elsewhere … when Auburn and Georgia Tech were bitter rivals … when the college game had what is now the NFL pass interference rule and the NFL had what is now the college rule … when players routinely carried the head coach to midfield on their shoulders after big wins … when what was then Cliff Hare Stadium seated 43,000 and standing room seats were sold on a grassy hill on the east side of the stadium. ..when nobody talked about money in the college game … when nobody had heard of recruiting rankings.

7COMMENTS

* Some big SEC games are on tap today, including Alabama at Arkansas, Kentucky at Ole Miss, Texas A&M at Mississippi State. Arkansas could be the first team virtually eliminated from the SEC West race with its second loss, but I look for the Razorbacks to put up quite a fight playing at home.

* The yucky SEC game of the day has to be Missouri hosting Georgia. Missouri is a 29-point underdog on its home field.

">247Sports

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Scouting LSU: Derick Hall will be key for Auburn on Saturday

Zac Blackerby

3-4 minutes

Home

Auburn Daily

Football

Should Auburn want to make a bowl game?

Should Auburn want to make a bowl game? Zac Blackerby and Charlie5 discuss on the Locked On Auburn podcast.

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We get some answers from the LSU point of view.

This has a chance to be a very interesting weekend on The Plains. 

The Auburn Tigers host the LSU Tigers in Jordan Hare Stadium under the lights this Saturday night and while both teams have plenty of questions about their roster and the season ahead, LSU seems to be feeling more confident than Auburn going into this one. 

We asked five questions to LSU Country publisher Zack Nagy about the matchup from the LSU point of view and how the LSU fanbase feels about the SEC West matchup. 

It's also interesting to see which Auburn player is on the opposing team's radar going into the contest. 

Auburn Daily: Are LSU fans expecting something weird to happen in this Auburn-LSU game?

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Zack Nagy: I think LSU fans believe if the Tigers’ offensive line can withstand this Auburn defensive front, it can go as planned. With the offensive weapons the Bayou Bengals attain, they should be able to overmatch this Auburn secondary on that side of the ball as well.

AD: How much faith does LSU have in Jayden Daniels to play in an SEC night game-type environment?

© SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

ZN: LSU is more than confident in Daniels’ ability despite the electric atmosphere Jordan-Hare will have. Yes, it’s a larger stage than Daniels was on when in the PAC-12 last season, but his calm, cool demeanor has put this team in winning position the last few weeks. The positive trajectory should translate Saturday.

AD: Is there any discussion about Koy Moore potentially having a chip on his shoulder against his former team?

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

ZN: Not much has been said about Koy Moore this week. This LSU wide receiver room has significant depth, and clearly would love to have Moore a part of it, but it’s understood he did what was best for his career.

AD: Which Auburn player is LSU most concerned about?

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

ZN: Derick Hall. Hall is as dominant of an EDGE rusher as there is in the country. With such a young offensive line the Tigers will roll out against Auburn, the quick, twitchy movements of Hall is a piece of his game LSU will be monitoring closely. He’s certainly someone this team is game planning for.

AD: What do you predict this game to look like on Saturday?

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

ZN: I believe if this LSU defense can continue trending positively, they’ll be in position to win this game. With Auburn still in search of their offensive identity, and LSU finding their defensive identity two weeks ago against Mississippi State, LSU certainly has the edge here. Offensively, if LSU can get the ball to their playmakers on quick passes while adding in the run-game for a balanced attack, LSU should be in position to come out on top and cover the spread.

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LSU-Auburn preview and predictions ahead of SEC road trip

Glen West

9-11 minutes

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Auburn week is always one of those tricky ones for the LSU football program.

For whatever reason, this game always produces some really outrageous performances that are left with a balance of thrilling finishes and equally lopsided final scores. Brian Kelly has been a part of some really wild games over his career, including earlier this year against Florida State.

But the first-year LSU coach thinks this team has done a good job of avoiding chaos and responding to adversity this season.

“I think consistency on the offensive side of the ball is gonna be really important for us and certainly getting off to a good start is every head coach’s game plan,” Kelly said Thursday. “Look, I think what's more important is not only getting off to a good start, but playing mistake free, you know, eliminating self inflicted wounds. We've done a really good job taking care of the football. If we can continue to do that, eliminate some of the pre snap penalties. we're going to be okay. I mean, we're getting better at the areas that we need to in terms of efficiency on offense. We're going to have to run the football, we're going to have to have some balance. I don't know that (I want to say) ‘hey, we got to get off and fast. If we don't, this is going to happen.’

Off to a 3-1 start in what Kelly called a “modest” win streak for the program, LSU enters its first truly hostile environment of the season at an Auburn team that could definitely be described as trying to overcome some chaos. This is the kind of game that LSU might come in favored but has the potential to be tricky.

Auburn will be going with third stringer Robby Ashford behind center while running back Tank Bigsby is a player this LSU defense must key in on. But the way this defense for the purple and gold have been performing, this should be an offense they have success with.

Offensively, Jayden Daniels and this offense will want to get off to a fast start after two games against Florida State and Mississippi State that were suboptimal in the first half.

Here is a look at the latest odds on the game, series history, keys to the game, injuries and predictions from the Geaux247 staff.

The purple and gold are currently favored by nine points for a road trip in the SEC to the Plains, with an over/under set at 45.5 points. 

Like we’ve talked about, this is one of the more interesting series for LSU year in and year out. LSU currently leads the overall series 31-24 but it’s Auburn that is currently on a two game win streak, knocking off LSU 48-11 in 2020 and 24-19 in Baton Rouge during the 2021 season. 

Even during the purple and gold’s title run in 2019, Auburn proved to be the most difficult out with Joe Burrow and company escaping 23-20 in the narrowest win margin of the season. 

The home team has won 18 of the last 22 meetings and LSU accounted for three of those three victories by the visitor in 2019 (22-21), 2012 (12-10) and 2008 (26-21). 

Major Burns is the biggest addition to the injury report after suffering a neck injury prior to the New Mexico game. The team is hoping to get him back in the next 3-6 weeks but he’ll need to rest. Luckily Joe Foucha is ready to make his debut after serving a four game suspension.

Jay Ward and BJ Ojulari will play but Kelly did confirm that offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger will not play.

As for quarterback Jayden Daniels, who went out with a back strain, coach Brian Kelly said Monday he’s good to go and was a full participant in practice this week. Another one that will hurt LSU is the loss of Armoni Goodwin, who Kelly described has a “significant” hamstring injury that will need rest.

Start fast on the road 

LSU comes in favored on Saturday and on the road in a hostile conference environment the last thing this group needs is to come out slow. In its two competitive games against Florida State and Mississippi State, the offense was not smooth running at all. 

The offense was nearly shut out in the first half against Mississippi State, needing a two minute offensive touchdown to go into half with some momentum. Against the Seminoles, a field goal was all that could be mustered in the first 30 minutes. 

That can’t be a trend that continues in the Plains, where the Auburn crowd will feed off of every mistake, every stop in a close game.

Brian Kelly said Thursday starting fast will be a goal heading into this one. 

“Consistency on the offensive side of the ball is gonna be really important,” Kelly said Thursday. “Getting off to a good start is every head coach’s game plan. What’s more important is playing mistake free, eliminating self inflicted wounds. If we can eliminate some of the presnap penalties, we’re gonna be ok.”

LSU seemed to find something in its running attack against New Mexico, utilizing all of its backs in some positive form or fashion. Noah Cain led the group in yards after going unused against the Bulldogs while John Emery and Josh Williams both had big plays throughout the game. 

How the offensive line opens up running lanes and how these backs attack the open field will play a big part in what could be a run heavy kind of game. Of course Jayden Daniels can run and LSU will want to utilize that threat as well but the backs are the key component of this offense that have yet to really prove themselves against high level competition consistently. 

Looking for a big weekend from one or multiple guys in the LSU backfield after finding some momentum against New Mexico. 

The last three weeks, LSU has been nearly flawless on the defensive end at all three levels and there’s really not much that needs to change. This is an Auburn offense that can be contained or even shut down if the purple and gold play at the level they’ve displayed the last few weeks. 

Holding Mississippi State, one of the best offenses in the conference, to 16 points and to follow that up with a shutout is no easy task. Matt House has been attacking with his blitzes and that’s only possible with the consistency that has shown in the secondary. 

The safeties and cornerback group have been a pleasant bright spot of this defense and LSU will need that to continue for the front seven to be at their most aggressive as well.

Glen says… I’ve thought all week this is going to be a lower scoring affair and that LSU can survive in that kind of game. This defense is playing at an elite level and Auburn’s offense has been very hard to watch for much of this season. 

LSU’s offense has taken great strides in recent weeks but its first true road test in the SEC will have to come with some growing pains against a competent defense. Having to perform on the road is a good gauge of just how far this team has come but I expect LSU to win this one in the 24-17 range.  

was a little surprised when I looked at the last 20 meetings. I knew a lot of the games went down to the wire – 12 decided by a touchdown or less – but I had forgotten that seven of the other eight were decided by three or more touchdowns.

This could be one of those dogfights, similar to the Auburn-Missouri contest last week, with both teams trying to find their groove. I could also see it as one of those where the wheels finally come off for Bryan Harsin, and the Auburn administration puts him out of his misery.

I lean more to the latter, but I have covered way too many of these games where the unexpected becomes the headline.

Put me down for a dogfight for three and a half quarters as Tiger fans on both sides get their wish.

LSU moves to 4-1 with a fourth-quarter score creating a little breathing room, and Auburn fans get to officially move on from Harsin...LSU 27, Auburn 16

LSU really doesn’t have an excuse for this game to be close, in terms of on field play. I know it’s in Jordan-Hare and these games are usually weird, but LSU is the much better team.

5COMMENTS

Auburns offense is atrocious. The LSU defense is playing like one of the best in the country. LSU will take that confidence into Auburn and dominate with a chip on its shoulder about last year’s game.

The Auburn defensive front is legit, that’s where the biggest question mark is in this one for LSU. How will the young offensive line adjust to playing a much more veteran group full of outstanding athletes.

I can’t say I don’t see a way that this one ends up close, I just don’t see it as very likely. LSU 31 - Auburn 10.

">247Sports

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'He's psycho, man': Ultra-competitive Koy Moore ready to face former team

Nathan King

5-6 minutes

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Koy Moore brought some much-needed levity after a stressful Auburn win, 17-14 in overtime last Saturday over Missouri. Moore caught a shallow route in the second half but stumbled on his own accord and fell after about an 8-yard gain, on a play that easily could have gone for 20-plus with the blocking he had in front of him.

Moore redeemed himself with an effective outing, though, and after the game he joked on Twitter: “Sorry for when I tripped earlier I just seen so many beautiful fans.”

On the inside, though, Moore was fuming after that play.

“You could see it when he slipped — he got up and was almost twitching,” Moore’s older brother, Corey Hardy, told Auburn Undercover. “Because he was pissed. Even when he does get the ball, he’s pissed if he can’t make a bigger play. He’s pissed if he can’t get his hands on the ball more.

“He’s psycho, man.”

As Auburn continues to search for consistent playmakers at receiver four games into the season, Moore offered his name into the fray against Mizzou, when he developed a mini connection with quarterback Robby Ashford and caught four passes for 74 yards, with every reception other than his stumble going for at least 20 yards.

He began to show some of that aggressiveness in wanting the ball — something Bryan Harsin noticed on the sideline, too.

“I liked his attitude in the game,” Harsin said. “A lot of energy. Wanted the ball in his hands. Just that mentality was big for us, especially in that game. So we'll keep building on that, because he's a good player. And I think what we saw, we can do some more things to try to get him in the mix.”

Despite growing up in Louisiana, Moore always had his eyes elsewhere in terms of college aspirations, his brother said. He envisioned himself leaving home and making a name for himself at a place like Florida or USC.

“Koy grew up never ever wanting to go to LSU,” Hardy said. “But being the home team, they did the best job recruiting. He ended up falling in love with the people there.”

Moore transferred in high school, too, to Archbishop Rummel in Kenner, Louisiana, as his family continued to realize his football potential. His skills needed to be seen at a power program.

It also didn’t hurt that Rummel had Ja'Marr Chase, a top-100 recruit two years older than Moore who went on to star at LSU and is now one of the best wideouts in the NFL.

With his brother, who also trains athletes in the New Orleans area, Moore worked closely with Chase and LSU star receiver Justin Jefferson, among other standout players from the state. That began to breed an SEC work ethic for Moore in his early high-school days.

“He was always around Ja’Marr and those guys — and that was a strategic thing,” Hardy said. “He was pulled from one school and transferred to where Ja’Marr was — because if they see Ja’Marr, and you’re playing good, they’ll see you, too. He transfers to Rummel, goes through spring and summer, works behind Ja’Marr in every drill, and then he gets an LSU offer.”

Auburn added the 6-foot receiver the first week of June — the second wide receiver addition for the Tigers from the transfer portal, joining Miami’s Dazalin Worsham. A former teammate of Auburn defensive back Donovan Kaufman at Archbishop Rummel High School (Kenner, La.), the nimble Moore carved out a role in LSU's offense as a true freshman, snaring 22 passes for 177 yards. In LSU's regular-season finale against Ole Miss, after a flurry of opt-outs, Moore started his only game of the year and had six catches.

But Moore took a step back, in terms of playing time, last season, as others emerged in LSU's receiving corps. He appeared in six of seven games to start the season, and had only five catches for 71 yards.

Moore was the first LSU player to enter the portal (Oct. 18) after the program announced it would be moving on from Ed Orgeron after the conclusion of the regular season.

“I don’t think it was too hard on him,” Hardy said. “He understood it was just business, and he needed to look out for himself and his future after Coach O left.”

On Saturday night (6 p.m. CST, ESPN), Moore gets to face his old team for the first time. A strong performance not only is what Moore craves in an emotional game, Hardy said, but also would go a long way for Auburn’s offense, which needs all the explosiveness it can find in the passing game and elsewhere, considering it’s struggles for the better part of the past three weeks.

“Koy brings that fire to the room,” Ashford said. “... We've got dogs in that room and we haven't been able to show it as much, but it's coming. And Koy just adds another dimension to that room. We've got a lot of ballers and they're just waiting to pop out. I think they will really soon, but Koy, I'm really proud of him just for the put the time and effort he put in.”

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