Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee
“All I’ve heard is that Manhattan is the toughest place to play in the Big 12, so we know we’ve really got to be focused. We’ve been fortunate not to have any false start penalties in the first two games. Your attention to detail and your awareness really has to be raised when you’re on the road in a hostile environment.”
“This will be a great test. We’ve played at home twice. There’s a lot of comfort in that. Now we’re going on the road, where we’re uncomfortable … it’s a great measuring stick to see where we’re at and we’re going to learn a lot about our team, this year’s team, on Thursday.”
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn
“We’ve still got some new guys and it’ll be the first time they’ve experienced a road test. From a coach’s standpoint, you worry about the noise, but the good thing is our center is back, our quarterback is back, so that will definitely help. It’ll be a good test of going on the road because it’s one of the tougher places to play in college football, so we’ll see what happens.”
On Jake Waters…
“He’s like another running back. He’s very good at running the football, but he’s also good at throwing it. The ball comes out of his hand really quick. Especially with the ball on the perimeter, the ball comes out quick. He’s a cool customer, you can really tell that on film.”
Note: Above quotes came from Auburn’s weekly press conferences.
SEC football lead writer Barrett Sallee, Bleacher Report
“Auburn is so efficient with its offense that it almost always forces the game to be played at the pace head coach Gus Malzahn wants it to be played. When you have the opponent playing your game, it’s usually ‘game over.’ The Tigers are playing their brand of football, which will make them tough to beat anywhere. Manhattan included.”
National college football lead writer Adam Kramer, Bleacher Report
“There are questions for K-State, more so than on Auburn’s side. The offensive line, for starters, needs work and running back is a work in progress. Even with concerns, excitement should be welcomed and points should come in bunches. If Waters trends up like many believe he will, there’s no reason to think this group won’t blow by the 33.2 points per game it put up last year.”
ESPN college football analyst Danny Kanell talking on the Championship Drive podcast
“When you’re not as motivated, when that game is not your priority, which it probably won’t be for Auburn as much as Gus Malzahn will try to preach that all week long. You’ve got to keep your team focused because K-State, it’ll be a hostile environment. Bill Snyder is one of the best coaches in the game and when you look at what it takes to stop Auburn, it takes discipline, it takes sticking to your assignments, it takes a lot of helmets to the football. That’s exactly what Snyder teaches at K-State. They will be coached up and will be fundamentally sound and that’s what makes it really hard. I still think Auburn wins, but I think it’ll be really close and K-State will give them a run for their money.”
