Saturday was a night of firsts for sophomore Auburn defensive end Michael Goggans. He got his first college football start. On his first play, he scored his first college touchdown, scooping up a fumble knocked loose by fellow defensive end Antonio Coleman and taking it 9 yards for the first touchdown in Auburn’s 34-0 season-opening victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
And today he has become AuburnUndercover.com’s first Anders Bookstore Player of the Week.
“It was real exciting,” Goggans said. “I just wanted to go out there for my first start and do something real big. You can’t ask for much more than scoring a touchdown on your first play. It felt real good.”
Goggans saw Coleman make a big hit on ULM quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster. And he saw the ball come loose.
“I was ‘Wow, the ball is right there in front of me,’” Goggans said. “It happened so quick. I wanted to dive in there, but I went on and got my first touchdown and ran it in.”
On the sideline, defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, also in his first Auburn game, celebrated. Goggans he said executed the play to near perfection, just like he had been taught.
“That’s what we practice almost every day, the scoop and score drill,” Goggans said. “You have to get your hips up under you and scoop the ball just right. I did it just about perfect.”
Goggans arrived at Auburn as a tight end out of Alexander City’s Benjamin Russell High School in 2006, making a signing-day decision after earlier committing to Tennessee. He spend a redshirt season playing tight end on the scout team and moved to defensive end in the spring of 2007.
Some of his teammates weren’t sure he was going to make it there.
“When he first got over there, he moved slow, like it might not work,” Coleman said. “Mike Goggans has come a long way. A long way. I credit him with all his hard work and all the things I’ve taught him and all the things he wanted to learn from me. He’s doing great, and I think he’s going to be a great contributor for this football team.”
Goggans didn’t stop with his touchdown Saturday night. He was a force on defense until taking a seat with the other starters in the second half. For his efforts, he was also named Defensive Player of the Week by Auburn coaches.
Goggans was a reserve last season, playing behind Sen’Derrick Marks. When Marks moved back to tackle, Goggans grabbed the job in the spring and wouldn’t let go. By gametime, he was firmly entrenched as the starter.
“It was one of the greatest feelings,” Goggans said. “I wasn’t scared, but I was nervous a little bit. For my first play to be like that gave me a confidence boost. It felt a little different. I can’t go out there and have mental busts and errors. I’m the starter, so I have to live up to expectations.”
AuburnUndercover.com and Anders Bookstore will name a Player of the Week each week during football season.
