High school football prepped Auburn coach Gus Malzahn

First-year Auburn coach Gus Malzahn spent 15 years in the high school ranks in Arkansas before getting his first college coaching job in 2006, and he said the prep level was ideal for preparing him for college coaching.

“Some of the fun things about coaching high school football are mowing the grass, moving the water pipes, cleaning out the locker room,” Malzahn said. “That’s grass-roots stuff. That where you really learn your work ethic and appreciation.”

Malzahn is convinced the high school ranks are loaded with coaches who could perform at the highest college level.

“There are some great high school coaches out there that if given the same opportunity could do the same thing I’m doing,” he said.

“I’m just one of the few that was blessed to be given the opportunity.”

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher fired back at the suggestion that the Seminoles, like Auburn, were motivated by adversity in 2012. After all, the Seminoles lost twice last season and turned over six assistant coaches.

But Fisher was quick to remind everyone, unlike an Auburn team that went winless in SEC play last year, Florida State won the ACC and the Orange Bowl.

“When 12-2 doesn’t become good enough, we have a lot of issues,” Fisher said.

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is from Hueytown, Ala., and is friends with several Alabama players.

“This is my rival game,” Winston said. “I know more people on this team than Florida.”

This story was originally published January 5, 2014 at 8:14 PM with the headline "High school football prepped Auburn coach Gus Malzahn."