Will Muschamp
Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp yells at players during fall camp Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala.(Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
There is only one goal for Will Muschamp in his first game back at Auburn.
"I just want to win," Muschamp said, sounding very much like the late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. "It's all about winning."
Muschamp has remained steadfast this summer that there is no statistic he cares about more than wins and no specific metric he cites as leading to that end result, whether it be 3-0 or 41-40. No. 6 Auburn remains a 10.5-point favorite over Louisville in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
"There is no barometer we're looking for," Muschamp said. "Let's just do what we need to do to win the game. I think any coach would say the same thing. Let's just do what we need to do to win the game and that's what we need to do."
After four weeks of practice, Auburn is ready to hit the field and finally start the season.
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With a change in schemes on defense, the challenge will be as much mental as physical early on with a talented opponent challenging the Tigers.
"Coming into learning a new defense you got to have your head on a swivel, eyes in the right spots, you got to be a disciplined football player," safety Rudy Ford said. "It's going to be hard at first trying to get adjusted to different motions, everything the offense tries to give you. As long as you got confidence in yourself, anything is possible."
Muschamp has routinely delivered top 10 defenses throughout his career both as a defensive coordinator and head coach. The expectation has been that he'll be able to deliver immediately with this Auburn team, but in-game scenarios will dictate how far the Tigers can go.
"I think you find that out when you have a tough opening games and it is a one-score game in the fourth quarter and you find out how your team responds," Muschamp said. "When your team gets down 14 in the fourth quarter and you find out how your team responds. Wherever that happens, it's something you build throughout the year.
"That's not something that you build in fall camp except for the comradery, the work ethic and the approach of your football team. Those moments, finding those moments define your season for you. We'll see how that develops."