Burns unfazed at making first Iron Bowl start on the road

The Iron Bowl? Pssh.

More than 92,000 fans cramped into Bryant-Denny Stadium, the recent scene of one of the most riot-like endings to the 115-year old rivalry? Whatever.

For quarterback Kodi Burns, the setting and atmosphere for his first-ever Iron Bowl start could be a lot more hazardous.

It’s no Arkansas.

“They really boo me a lot there,” said Burns, a Fort Smith, Ark., native. “It’s kind of exciting. It’s kind of fun for me.

“Those are the games you live for.”

If Burns’ idea of fun is not being able to hear the thud of the ball hit his hands after a snap, then, yes, Saturday should be fun for the sophomore quarterback.

But will it be overwhelming?

“The talk from their teammates, students, family, I think that’s the added pressure,” coach Tommy Tuberville said. “It’s not really playing in the stadium because all of that is blocked out once you get going in the game.”

How Burns has gotten to the biggest game of his short career has been well-documented, bumpy and filled with plenty of intrigue.

But, since he was named the full-time starter midway through October, Burns has hit a bit of a stride — even with all the growing pains and head-scratching moments that have littered the past month.

First, Burns was thrown into a still Tony Franklin-heavy offense for his start against Arkansas. The results were ugly, but promise was shown on the Tigers’ second-to-last drive, when Burns almost put Auburn in the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown.

Then there was West Virginia, the first official start of the Burns’ era. He showed up for the first half, running for one touchdown and throwing for another, but he was non-existent in the second half.

He threw for the most yards of his career (319) at Ole Miss, but tossed three second-half interceptions. He struggled through the air against UT-Martin, but ran for the second-most yards ever by an Auburn quarterback in a single game.

Burns mixed in a good showing both through running and throwing against Georgia, but couldn’t make one crucial pass — among plenty of opportunities — when the Tigers needed it most.

All in all, not the worst month-and-a-half for Burns, but the Tigers are just 1-4 since that Oct. 11 start against the Razorbacks.

“He’s still young. There’s a lot of young quarterbacks in this league that are struggling,” offensive play-caller Steve Ensminger said. “We just went back to the basics. We’re not real complicated throwing routes or anything.”

The man that brought it back to basics seems to have had the biggest impact on Burns’ progression.

It’d be tough to say Burns and Franklin were good pals when the former-offensive coordinator was still in charge of Auburn’s quarterbacks. Franklin would often cite numerous reasons why Chris Todd was the starter over Burns during the early part of the season, and Burns would politely disagree in interviews with the media.

“It’s a little bit, I guess you could say, patience,” Burns said of the difference between Ensminger and Franklin. “I’m not nervous when I go out there in practice or in games. Every throw I make, I’m not kinda shaky because I don’t know what’s going to happen next. It’s just a comfort level and a confidence level put together.

“Him having confidence in me makes me comfortable when I’m out there on the field.”

Ensminger’s history as a dropback quarterback and his tutelage of prototypical quarterbacks has served as a major benefit, Tuberville said. Burns’ knack to sometimes throw off his back foot has been a focal point, as he has looked more fluid in his five- and seven-step drop-backs in Auburn’s old fashioned, power formations.

But it’s the added confidence, which Tuberville agreed wasn’t exactly high this time last month, that has made the biggest difference.

“He looks a lot more comfortable,” Tuberville said. “He’s nowhere near where he’ll be.”

If his pish-posh attitude toward the circus-like atmosphere that awaits Saturday is any indication, Burns — his confidence, at least — will be there soon enough.

“When I’m in the huddle, everybody is looking at me. I’m the guy,” Burns said. “Leadership does play a big role and it’s helping me become more vocal.”

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