This morning, our local sports talk guy read a quote from Antonio Coleman after the game Saturday. Don't know where it was from and it may have already been posted here. Coleman said he wanted a meeting with Chizik to discuss what's going on with the defense. He wasn't happy.
http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/2009/10/auburns_antonio_coleman_frustr.htmlAuburn's Antonio Coleman frustrated about defense
By Evan Woodbery
October 11, 2009, 8:29PM
Todd Van Emst, AuburnAntonio Coleman returns an interception in Week 2 against Mississippi State.We just wrapped up an interesting interview with Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman.
The fifth-year senior hates to lose, and he doesn't back away from forceful statements.
Read on...
"I don't like it and I don't think anyone on this team likes losing," Coleman said.
Later, Coleman volunteered that he planned to seek a meeting with head coach Gene Chizik about the direction of the defense.
"I'm a fifth-year senior and I came back to have fun and help this team win," he said. "I just have to go sit down with coach Chizik about how I feel about what's going on."
Asked to elaborate, Coleman said the discussion would center on "how I feel about how this defense is playing and just a couple of things that I may see we need to work on."
Coleman is playing with an injured right wrist that requires a cast during games. A large bag of ice was placed on his forearm during interviews Sunday. Chizik has said the injury may be limiting Coleman's effectiveness. The Mobile native didn't register a single tackle Saturday at Arkansas, but he bristled when presented with that stat on Sunday.
"I don't look at the stat sheets," he said. "Coach (Tracy) Rocker, he doesn't look at the stat sheet. If you want to look at grades, go over to Haley Center (a campus academic building) and get your grades....It's about ballin'. You have to get out there and make plays and fly around and have fun. If you want to get all these grades and stuff, go to school to get your grades."
Some more thoughts from A.C....
(On the game)
Last night, obviously, was a tough loss for all of us as a team. Defensively, we didn't do what we were supposed to do to go out and help this team win the ballgame.
Right now, I think we're at a point that our eyes are open. We're not so much in shock but we see what can happen if we go out and don't prepare well and get our minds ready to play a football game.
(On his injury)
There's a lot of things going through my head. When it boils down to it, I still have to go out there and make plays whatever the predicament is.
(On his position)
It doesn't matter to me. Just tell me where to play on the football field and I'll play. I'll play a little linebacker. Like I told coach Malzahn, put me at offensive guard and I'll pull around and knock somebody out for you.