Former Auburn assistant: Tennessee has more tradition

AUBURN — Former Auburn linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen was the first of Gene Chizik’s assistants to find a new position, now the cornerbacks coach at Tennessee. Thigpen is joined in Knoxville by Willie Martinez, who coached the secondary at Auburn this year and will coach safeties with the Volunteers.

During introductory interviews with the UT staff on Thursday, Thigpen made it clear where he feels his current program compares with Auburn.

“What we sold at Auburn, we sold a lot of the tradition and family and the tradition is longer here at Tennessee,” Thigpen said.

Thigpen was a member of Chizik’s staff for four years, coaching safeties for the first three years including the 2010 BCS National Championship season. Thigpen referenced Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, though not by name, and said Tennessee “should have difference makers” like Newton and Fairley at multiple positions.

“When I was at Auburn we had a difference maker at quarterback, we had a difference maker on defense, but at Tennessee we should have difference makers, two or three of those guys, on offense and on defense.”

(Comments pertaining to Auburn begin at 3:20 mark.)