AUBURN, Ala. – Like Pat Dye four decades earlier, the more Bryan Harsin studied the Auburn Creed, the more he realized that, personally and professionally, he would feel right at home on the Plains.
"The principles that are in it I believe in," said Harsin in his introductory news conference Thursday, two days after being named Auburn's 28th head football coach. "They fit who I am as a person. They fit who I am as a coach and what I believe in."
Dye had a similar response 40 years ago when, like Harsin, he came to Auburn from the West (Wyoming for Dye, Idaho for Harsin). "This is me," Dye said. "This is what I believe."
Summarizing the Creed's values, Harsin reached the same conclusion.
"I needed to process that and see how that fit," he said. "And every single one of them did."
Harsin comes to the Plains from his alma mater, Boise State, where he averaged 10 wins per season in his seven years as head coach.
Embracing the challenge of recruiting and competing in the SEC West, Harsin exuded confidence.
"We want to play for championships, and we want to play consistently," he said. "That's why I'm here.
"I've heard that it's going to be challenging, it's going to be tough. Isn't that what you want as a competitor?
"That's part of why this job and this opportunity at Auburn was so attractive, because exactly those things. It's exactly the reason why you want to play for Auburn University and exactly why you want to come to a place like this, because it's going to be challenging. It's going to be hard.
"You better be the ultimate competitor. You better have that mindset and you better be a guy that embraces that and loves it. And I'm certainly excited about the challenge."
After meeting via Zoom with the 2020 Auburn Tigers, Harsin plans to speak to the team face to face when the players return from Christmas break to begin practicing for the Vrbo Citrus Bowl, which Harsin plans to attend.
"Why I chose Auburn University is probably the same reason they did," he said. "How could you not?"
Noting that Auburn has twice played for national championships and won one in the past decade, Harsin emphasized the importance of the daily decisions that position teams for success.
"We can certainly embrace the past," Harsin said. "We will attack the future. For our players and our staff, it will be an everyday focus. How do we go 1-0? How do we maximize what's right in front of us?"
Before Harsin wrapped up his first public appearance by sharing his message for Auburn fans, he expressed his recruiting philosophy and his pitch to prospective student-athletes.
"Great coaches understand they need to recruit great players," he said. "It starts with your staff. Be relentless when you do it. You go after the very best and you do it every single day.
"At Auburn, we have the opportunity to go after the very best, and share with them the vision and the direction we want to go and how they fit into that, and more importantly, how Auburn University fits into their life.
"I'm going to have a degree from Auburn University that I can go on and use and be successful in whatever it is that I choose to do. Football will end. You will be a competitor the rest of your life."
Before taking questions, Harsin concluded his opening remarks with a mic drop sound bite, the kind fans reference when saying a new coach has won the press conference.
"I'm humbled for the opportunity," he said. "I respect the league that we play in. I appreciate Auburn University and what it stands for. I'm excited to be your head coach at Auburn University. And I can't wait to get to work. War damn Eagle!"
"I'm excited to be YOUR head coach at Auburn University and I can't wait to get to work."
War. Damn. Eagle. pic.twitter.com/20x2PqmNLu
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 24, 2020
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
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December 25, 2020 at 12:30PM
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'That's why I'm here': Coach Bryan Harsin outlines Auburn football vision - Auburn Tigers Official Athletic Site
"that" - Google News
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