Started By
Message
1
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:57 pm to joeyb147
Q: Can you tell us what happened with Duke?
Craig: “To be honest with you, Duke just needs to do what everybody else is doing. It's a certain standard that we have here at Auburn University as far as the way we're going to practice and being accountable. And that's it. It wasn't no more or no less. I can promise you that. There was no altercation between Duke and myself. No words were exchanged. It's that you're going to do things the way we want you to do them. And it wasn't a big deal. I can promise you, it wasn't a big deal. It's just about the way we're going to do things.
“So you have a guy in a position to be drafted in the first round and be the first receiver taken in the draft. Well, your standard is going to be higher than everybody else's. Your expectations are going to be higher than everybody else's because you're a senior now. You understand. When he sat down and decided to come back, I talked with him about my expectations for him, his leadership role and where he needs to be. I told him, 'If you're not doing that, there will be repurcussions.' And that's the end of it. I promise you.
“I love Duke like a son. I'm telling you that. Duke and myself, we have a great relationship. I love him like a son. But I told him when you made the decision to come back to Auburn, your role is going to change. And that's the end of it.”
Q: Did you voice that on the field to him?
Craig: “It wasn't voiced. If you ask people what happened, they don't even know, because it wasn't an issue. It wasn't, 'Aaaaaaahhhhh." It was nothing that was out of line. I'm being honest.”
Q: But it was serious enough he was gone for six days?
Craig: “No, it wasn't. It (was about) what you're supposed to be doing. That's it. Just like everybody else as far as him or anybody else on this team. It wasn't a big deal. It's that, 'This is what you're supposed to be doing with who you are.' If you're a freshman or a sophomore, your (situation) might be a little different. But you're a senior right now, OK?
“Really, you've got to be harder on some of your best players than anybody else, because people are going to watch to see how you handle situations with them. How do they practice? Are they running on and off the field? Are they giving great effort? Everybody is watching it all and sometimes those guys set the tone for the whole team and that's the standard. So if you're not going to do it, you're not going to be here.
Q: So it's similar to what happened last season with Jermaine Whitehead last season?
Craig: “No, it's not. It's not even close to that. That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's not even in the same ballpark. And I know I'm sitting here telling you all that and people want to sit here and make something more of it than it is.”
Q: As you're saying, compared to Whitehead — who missed four games and returned to play special teams before he finally got back into the starting lineup — there's a big difference. Williams only missed six days.
Craig: “Exactly. So it's not even close to that. It's not even close. Duke has never said one word back to a coach. Not one word. Never talked back. Never been disrespectful. So it's not even in the same ballpark.
Craig: “To be honest with you, Duke just needs to do what everybody else is doing. It's a certain standard that we have here at Auburn University as far as the way we're going to practice and being accountable. And that's it. It wasn't no more or no less. I can promise you that. There was no altercation between Duke and myself. No words were exchanged. It's that you're going to do things the way we want you to do them. And it wasn't a big deal. I can promise you, it wasn't a big deal. It's just about the way we're going to do things.
“So you have a guy in a position to be drafted in the first round and be the first receiver taken in the draft. Well, your standard is going to be higher than everybody else's. Your expectations are going to be higher than everybody else's because you're a senior now. You understand. When he sat down and decided to come back, I talked with him about my expectations for him, his leadership role and where he needs to be. I told him, 'If you're not doing that, there will be repurcussions.' And that's the end of it. I promise you.
“I love Duke like a son. I'm telling you that. Duke and myself, we have a great relationship. I love him like a son. But I told him when you made the decision to come back to Auburn, your role is going to change. And that's the end of it.”
Q: Did you voice that on the field to him?
Craig: “It wasn't voiced. If you ask people what happened, they don't even know, because it wasn't an issue. It wasn't, 'Aaaaaaahhhhh." It was nothing that was out of line. I'm being honest.”
Q: But it was serious enough he was gone for six days?
Craig: “No, it wasn't. It (was about) what you're supposed to be doing. That's it. Just like everybody else as far as him or anybody else on this team. It wasn't a big deal. It's that, 'This is what you're supposed to be doing with who you are.' If you're a freshman or a sophomore, your (situation) might be a little different. But you're a senior right now, OK?
“Really, you've got to be harder on some of your best players than anybody else, because people are going to watch to see how you handle situations with them. How do they practice? Are they running on and off the field? Are they giving great effort? Everybody is watching it all and sometimes those guys set the tone for the whole team and that's the standard. So if you're not going to do it, you're not going to be here.
Q: So it's similar to what happened last season with Jermaine Whitehead last season?
Craig: “No, it's not. It's not even close to that. That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's not even in the same ballpark. And I know I'm sitting here telling you all that and people want to sit here and make something more of it than it is.”
Q: As you're saying, compared to Whitehead — who missed four games and returned to play special teams before he finally got back into the starting lineup — there's a big difference. Williams only missed six days.
Craig: “Exactly. So it's not even close to that. It's not even close. Duke has never said one word back to a coach. Not one word. Never talked back. Never been disrespectful. So it's not even in the same ballpark.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 1:12 pm to joeyb147
quote:quote:
quote:
Junior JaViere Mitchell is leading the pack at the Sam linebacker position, according to Lance Thompson, who coaches the Sams and Bucks. Thompson said Carl Lawson has been all he expected and more.
Love this kid.
If he's finally put on the size to play significant minutes, that's a good thing for us IMO.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 1:18 pm to beatbammer
quote:
Danny Kanell ?@dannykanell
Couldn't be more impressed with qb Jeremy Johnson #impressive #wde
Posted on 8/14/15 at 1:27 pm to allin2010
He makes it sound like Duke just wasn't showing effort or the right attitude in practice to a degree that they needed to suspend him until he got his attitude in check. Hopefully it's something more along those lines than any kind of fight or other issue. Just don't want it hurting team chemistry.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 1:56 pm to AUatWashandLee
i read that as were winning a National Championship this year and accepting nothing less.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 2:03 pm to ChexMix
Does anyone else think it sounds like players are challenging each other for spots more so this year than anytime in the last several years?
Posted on 8/14/15 at 6:36 pm to ChexMix
Pretty much what I gathered. We fricking coming fellas. I feel really good about this upcoming season.
Posted on 8/15/15 at 8:14 am to Tiger n Miami AU83
From Trob
Tre Mathews is still banged up. He should be full speed next week.
Blake Countess is a good leader. He's a really good tackler and great at getting off blocks
From LT
Carl is "unbelievably athletic"
Javy #1
From RG
Cowart facing freshman learning curve
Feels really good about Monty, Dontavius, and Lambert.
Also.... Coaches are calling today's scrimmage "Moving Day" saying starting spots are up for grabs
Tre Mathews is still banged up. He should be full speed next week.
Blake Countess is a good leader. He's a really good tackler and great at getting off blocks
From LT
Carl is "unbelievably athletic"
Javy #1
From RG
Cowart facing freshman learning curve
Feels really good about Monty, Dontavius, and Lambert.
Also.... Coaches are calling today's scrimmage "Moving Day" saying starting spots are up for grabs
This post was edited on 8/15/15 at 8:16 am
Posted on 8/15/15 at 8:28 am to AUtigR24
Football in two weeks. Can't wait.
Posted on 8/15/15 at 10:43 am to allin2010
quote:
Football in two weeks. Can't wait.
Who's playing in 2 weeks?
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:09 am to beatbammer
JJ has been off on some throws today. Had a long TD to Louis.
Barber had long run after a catch. Jovon w/ a 70 yard run.
Holland had a sack. All 1st half stuff.
Barber had long run after a catch. Jovon w/ a 70 yard run.
Holland had a sack. All 1st half stuff.
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:14 am to jrljr
Truitt and Smith getting a lot of touches.
Smith is going to be very good. Glad he has 3 years, but bet he is only here for 2.
Smith is going to be very good. Glad he has 3 years, but bet he is only here for 2.
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:25 am to jrljr
quote:
90 yard TD pass to Louis...deep pass down slot
see some things haven`t changed yet.
This post was edited on 8/15/15 at 11:31 am
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:30 am to beatbammer
quote:He had a hell of a game at Arkansas two years ago if I remember correctly
JaViere Mitchell is leading the pack at the Sam linebacker
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:31 am to AUtigR24
quote:
"Moving Day"
I like the sound of that!
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:34 am to jrljr
quote:
All 1st half stuff.
Are we running any 1st O v. 1st D? One of the biggest complaints last year was that our D never practiced against the speed/size of 1st team offense and suffered because of it.
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:38 am to HDAU
Duke left practice early. Left the field on a cart with his shoe off.
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:39 am to marshallcotiger
Well that sucks
Posted on 8/15/15 at 11:55 am to marshallcotiger
quote:
Duke left practice early. Left the field on a cart with his shoe off.
Half of this board wanted him kicked off the team a few days ago so this should make everyone happy
Page 31 of 53
Latest Auburn News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News