AUBURN — Auburn football opens the 2024 season Saturday hosting Alabama A&M. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze addressed the media Monday afternoon about his thoughts of the matchup entering game week preparations.

"We're excited about game week for sure," Freeze said. "It's always just full of anticipation. I think most of you think that those of us who have done this awhile know what to expect from our team and that's so far from the truth at least for me. I think you really are 2-3 games in before you really are like, 'all right, this is who we really are and what we can do.

“As much as I've enjoyed preparing and coaching this team and being with this staff, I still think it's an accurate statement to say I still don't know exactly who we are just yet. I think we're better at a lot of spots, for sure, but you’ve got to go prove it each and every Saturday, and so that's something that I'm anxious to see for sure."

The Tigers are 2-0 against Alabama A&M and this will be the first time playing the HBCU since 2016. In the first meeting Auburn won 51-7 (2012) and the second meeting was a 55-0 shutout. Freeze talked about Alabama A&M having two Liberty transfers he's familiar with and the changes in their coaching staff.

"Alabama A&Ms got several unknowns. Coach (Connell) Maynor, I don't know personally but has a great reputation of being a really good football coach," Freeze said. The quarterback battle is a little bit up in the air, I think. At least we can't find out exactly what the plan is there. I do know two of their transfer, they were at Liberty, they're both really, really solid players. So, they've got several on that side, again, with a totally new defensive staff."

As far as on gameday, Freeze broke down how the coaching staff will disperse on the field and in the press box.

“Offensively, (Derrick) Nix, Kent (Austin), Maurice (Harris), (Darren) Hiller. Those four I know are in the box," Freeze said. "That means Jesse (Stone) is probably down to communicate with Kent. Jake (Thornton) is down for sure. Marcus (Davis) is down. Ben Aigamaua is down. Defensively, DJ (Durkin) is still working on that. DJ will be down, he’s just debating on who’s best to keep down with him and who should go up.”

He added on talking about the adjustments with the new player-to-coach helmet communication. During some practice trials in Jordan-Hare stadium the devices were not working some plays. He hopes no issues arrive with that come Saturday.

"I will say we had a little issue with ours in the stadium Saturday, and I sure hope that’s not going to be the case Saturday night," Freeze said. "They quickly got it fixed, but it was two plays. I hope that’s not the case and a reoccurring problem that you might have. They really couldn’t tell me what was wrong with it, but it’s taken some getting used to from the coaching standpoint. I think DJ (Durkin) handles it better than I do because he just uses a walkie talkie, but my hands are so full that I’m trying to use all of my button. Maybe that’s a mistake. I don’t know, but I do think there’s some benefits to it, for sure.”

With the current questions around last year's starting kicker Alex McPherson's intestinal injury, Freeze says he may not be ready for Saturday's opener.

“Alex is much better. He’s getting better, but I don’t think he’ll be ready to go. But don’t hold me to that," Freeze said. "So, Towns (McGough) is prepared and getting ready to go. He had a really good week last week. So that’s where I think it’s headed. Alex did kick a little bit last Thursday, but I don’t think he will be quite ready for Saturday.”

Kickoff for Saturday's game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+/SEC Network+.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze on Helmet communication before season kickoff