AUBURN, Ala. – During the Auburn Diamond Club's preseason banquet in February, four seniors approached the stage at Neville Arena to discuss the identity they hoped to help establish for the 2022 Tigers.
Pitcher Carson Skipper, outfielder Kason Howell and infielders Brody Moore and Garrett Farquhar – Auburn's legacy group, as head coach Butch Thompson calls it – said they wanted their team to be known for how it competed: relentlessly regardless of inning or score.
Three months later, on the eve of Auburn's final regular season series at Kentucky, the quartet's vision has played out as intended.
Picked in the preseason to finish last in the SEC West by the league's head coaches, the Tigers (36-16, 15-11) enter the finale in third place in their division and fourth in the overall conference standings.
"We bring it to the table every time we go out there," Moore said. "Try to leave everything we have out on the field and do it for this program and this university. That's put us in the spot we're in right now."
"Everybody's gone out there and given it their all," Skipper said. "This team has grit. We're not a team that's going to lay down and give up whenever times get tough.
"When everybody's meshed together, that's when we're the most dominant and the most aggressive on the field."
For the first time under Butch Thompson, Auburn's leadership group has been elected rather than appointed. Thompson asked the Tigers to vote for the teammates they wanted to serve as captains.
"You want a team to have ownership," Thompson said. "Those four guys have been through it. They went through last year. With half of this team being new, those are four guys who we trust."
Before Thompson makes major decisions that affect the team, he consults Auburn's legacy group, seeking their feedback and input before asking them to share the message to their teammates.
"It's worked as good as it's ever worked," Thompson said. "I think it's been so strong this year because of the character of the four men."
Given the intensity of SEC series, human nature would dictate the prospect of emotional letdowns during midweek games, especially those requiring travel.
Auburn has pushed through any temptation to relax, going 6-0 in midweek games away from Plainsman Park this season.
"If that doesn't speak to the competitiveness of this team, I don't know what does," said Howell, who has started 101 consecutive games in center field for the Tigers. "It's been awesome to watch us compete all year."
Nowhere has Auburn's resolve been tested more than after decisive defeats. Against Ole Miss, LSU, Vanderbilt and Tennessee, the Tigers were outscored 58-16 in early-series losses, only to respond with victories the next day.
"That's been the highlight for me," Howell said. "Watching this team not blink, come out the next game against good opponents and wearing them out and winning ballgames."
"We come ready to grind and prepared to compete against whoever's out there," Farquhar said. "We've had a decent run so far, gave us a good position, but it still makes us hungry, ready to get back out there and compete again and finish this regular season strong."
"We're not done yet," Moore said. "We've still got a while to go and we've got to play the right way, play hard and play for each other.
"This season has been special for me and for everybody on this team. It's got a really good chance to be something a little bit more than special."
After each Auburn victory, Moore consults with Howell before presenting Top Gun hats to a pair of teammates who played key roles in the win. The dugout festivities conclude when the team breaks down by shouting, "Bad News!"
"Whoever we're playing, that means it's bad news for them that day," said Moore, exuding the confidence that characterizes winning teams in a sport that can quickly humble its participants.
"This team has come together like a band of brothers," Skipper said. "That's a piece of life you'll cherish forever."
After save No. 3 (& an @SEC-leading 11 on the season), @BlakeBurkhalte1 receives a coveted #TopGun 🧢 from @brody_moore2) pic.twitter.com/JarCGxJVbG
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) April 25, 2022
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer