Alex Golesh stepped onto the sidelines for the first time as Auburn’s head coach and immediately tasted victory, as the Tigers edged Baylor by a single point in the season opener.
Quarterback Byrum Brown, despite a shaky performance that included three interceptions—one of them a particularly rough pick—remained the focal point of the post‑game discussion.
Accountability and Support
Golesh accepted full responsibility for the team’s shortcomings, declaring, ‘We’ve got a lot to clean up’ and adding, ‘I blame us more than Byrum,’ underscoring his commitment to protect his quarterback while steering the program forward.
The win marked Auburn’s return to a ten‑game winning streak, a stark contrast to the three‑year stretch of struggle that preceded Hugh Freeze’s tenure, which had left the program searching for consistency.
Looking ahead, the Tigers are slated to host Southern Mississippi next Saturday, September 12, in their first home game under Golesh, a matchup that will test whether the early‑season optimism can be sustained.
Although the contest was characterized as ‘ugly’ and fell short of the polished performance Golesh envisioned for his debut, the coach remains hopeful that the foundation he is laying will enable the team to blossom as the season progresses.