Talk about a nail-biter, huh? Auburn snatched a narrow 17-16 victory against Baylor on Saturday, Sept. 5, but holy smokes, that game was a grinder. The immediate aftermath had everyone holding their breath, wondering about the injury situation after such a brutal contest. But here’s the wild part: Head coach Alex Golesh, despite seeing multiple players involved in injury-related stoppages, expressed little concern postgame. He summed it up saying, “I think we’ll be in a good spot,” and honestly, those seven words are music to any fan’s ears.
The Grind Was Real, But the Tigers Are Unscathed
Anyone who watched that game saw exactly what Golesh meant when he called it a “physical game.” It felt like every other play had a stoppage for an injury, and for a minute there, you had to wonder what kind of MASH unit Auburn would be rolling out next. Winning 17-16 is great, especially when you’re undefeated, even if it’s just for a week. But that win felt like it came at a cost, with bodies hitting the turf left and right. The tension was palpable seeing guys get dinged up in such a crucial, tight contest. You just want your team to survive those kinds of battles, and for a while, it wasn’t clear if they had.
Who Took the Hits, and Who’s Coming Back?
The biggest worries centered on some key defensive players, particularly their edge rushers. Both Da’Shawn Womack and Jared Smith were involved in injury scares. On the offensive side, things got really tense when starting guards Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand went down near the end of Auburn’s go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. Talk about a gut punch when you’re trying to seal a win! There was also edge rusher CK Murray who may have gotten dinged up during the game. It was a parade of players heading to the sidelines, making every fan sweat bullets about the team’s depth moving forward.
Coach Golesh’s Chill Postgame Vibe Changes Everything
Despite all the worry, Coach Golesh brought some much-needed calm. He admitted, “We’re going to be maybe just a little bit banged up.” Which, let’s be real, is expected after a clash like that. But the real relief came when he added that crucial phrase: “but I think we’ll be in a good spot.” He specifically mentioned that both Cole Skinner and Jacob Strand were ready to return if needed even after going down late. Jared Smith actually returned to the field during the game, and Womack was also ready to return if called upon. Even CK Murray, who was among those dinged up, was available. That’s a huge sigh of relief for Auburn’s undefeated start!
Being undefeated, even for a week, means every player’s health matters. Knowing that Golesh isn’t expecting any lingering injuries after such a hard-fought battle means they can roll right into the next matchup with confidence. It’s a huge boost to kick off the season with a win and, more importantly, with your key guys ready to go.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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