Two players were made available following athletic director Jay Jacobs's press conference. Here's some of their comments:

Center Jason Bosley

• On finding out about Tommy Tuberville's decision

"I was pretty upset about it. I love Coach Tuberville. He gave me the chance to come play here at Auburn and start here for two and a half years, and really just accomplish my dream as a football player. Obviously, I was upset when I found out."

• On yesterday's meeting where Tuberville informed the team of his decision

"It was very emotional. Coach Tuberville loves his players and he made sure we knew that. He told us how he was always going to be pulling for us. He wanted everyone to make sure they got their degree and were successful. He said he wasn’t going to disappear and that we’d still see him and he told us he loved us. It was tough, though."

• On if his decision was out of the blue

"You hear all kinds of rumors and things like that, but I just think that’s the way college football is today. One day they love you and the next day it’s cut throat. It happens all over the country and I think that’s just the harsh reality that hit everybody when we found out the news. It’s just tough."

• On how hard it was to see Tuberville get emotional during the team meeting

"It was probably one of the toughest things I’ve had to do in a long time, to see a man who’s been your leader like that for five years struggle. It just shows how much he really cared about us and this program and just the kind of man he is. He’s a great man."

Cornerback Jerraud Powers

• On if he had any idea this was coming

"No, not really. We heard a lot of rumors from the fans, but we don’t go to the coaches just asking because that’s not our job and it’s something we can’t control. As the players, we can only do so much, and that’s just to go to school and play football. We heard a lot of rumors, but we weren’t expecting a big boom like this to happen. When it comes to the coaching profession, it’s a business and it happens."

• On what the hardest thing of a coaching transition is

"I think the hardest thing is figuring out who the next coach is going to be, and it’s sort of like a guessing game now. But again, that’s just something we can’t control. Right now, we’re starting off-season workouts and all we can do is come to workouts and try to get better, and whoever we decide to hire is going to come in and do their job."

• On if he noticed any burnout in Tuberville this season

"Not at all. Coach Tuberville took a lot of blame for the losses, as any coach would do, but the only thing he could do was coach. We are the players out there playing and Coach Tuberville didn’t run one ball, catch one pass, or score one touchdown; the only thing he could do was call plays and coach. So as players, we took the blame for that. We thank Coach Tuberville a lot for taking up for us, and him taking the blame as the coach. But as players, we took a lot of blame for it and felt that it was unfair that the heat was coming on him and not on us."

• On if Tuberville's decision affects whether or not he, DE Antonio Coleman or DT Sen'Derrick Marks forgo their senior season and enter the NFL Draft

"No, I don’t think so at all. Just like Coach Tuberville did what’s best for him and his family in his situation, we have to do the same for ourselves. We’re not going to let what goes on with something we can’t control affect our decision. The only thing we can do is to do what’s best for us and our family."