Will Muschamp was 'helping out a little bit' during Outback Bowl

AUBURN -- Turns out Will Muschamp was a bit more than an observer during the Outback Bowl.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn insisted Muschamp was only "listening" and "observing" while seated in the press box with a headset on as interim defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison supposedly ran the defense during Auburn's 34-31 overtime loss to Wisconsin on New Year's Day. But Muschamp did much more than that, including an impassioned halftime speech reminiscent of one he gave while at Texas.

"Me and LaDarius Owens were watching a video ... and he had said something, and he punched the board," defensive tackle Montravius Adams said. "And then at halftime, I swear it was like a replay in my head, same thing at Wisconsin."

NCAA rules only permit teams to have nine full-time assistant coaches and Auburn promoted defensive analyst Travis Williams to linebackers coach for the Outback Bowl after Ellis Johnson was fired.

Asked whether he coached in the game, Muschamp said he was "helping out a little bit. Obviously it didn't work. It wasn't very good."

Auburn's defense also made a series of personnel changes in the game, with Josh Holsey seeing no time after practicing earlier in the week and Derrick Moncrief playing at the "star" position. The Tigers also used a three-man front, which had never been utilized by Johnson.

All the moves did nothing to slow Wisconsin, which gained 521 yards, including 251 and three touchdowns by Melvin Gordon, the most rushing yards ever allowed by Auburn.

Harbison and cornerbacks coach Melvin Smith were fired immediately after the game. They are both now at Louisiana-Lafayette, with Smith serving as defensive coordinator.