TAMPA, Fla. — Only four quarters remain in Auburn quarterback Chris Todd’s winding career, one in which he’s played the scapegoat and the hero, sometimes within a matter of a few weeks.

“People are trying to remind me, but I’m trying to treat it like it’s the next week,” Todd said. “After I’m done I can kind of look back on it and I can really cherish some of the stuff I went through.”

It’s been an unusual career for Todd, one that’s included two transfers, shoulder problems and occasional backlash from the home crowd.

But the senior has made his mark on the Plains regardless. Todd, who is 10-7 as a starter at Auburn, threw 21 touchdowns this year, setting the school’s single-season record, a remarkable feat considering he didn’t enter the quarterback picture until the summer following shoulder surgery last December.

“Everything he went through, he was battle-tested,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “He doesn’t get too high or too low. A quarterback at Auburn or a quarterback in the SEC, that’s what you’ve got to do. I think he’s had fun. And he’s gone above and beyond our expectations.”

Todd gained his teammates’ respect for the hours he logged at Auburn’s athletic complex during the offseason, trying to soak in everything he could about Malzahn’s system so he could jump into the quarterback mix once his arm allowed him to. He said he never stayed overnight but conceded that he had napped there a few times.

“Between the workout time that they already require of us, that coupled with the rehab he was doing on his shoulder, and then when the coaching staff got here trying to learn a new offense, that doesn’t leave much time in the day other than to do those things and to go to class,” right tackle Andrew McCain said. “And he’s one of those guys that just really embraced his opportunity.”

Todd grew to appreciate the school’s traditions and history, even if he took his fair share of abuse from Auburn fans.

“Coming through certain situations and working hard and really giving everything you’ve got, that’s all you can do to try to carry on what Auburn’s already done,” he said. “I feel humbled and very grateful to be a part of a program like Auburn.”

Follow the blog on Twitter. And read some more notes and quotes from Tuesday ...

• Auburn went through its third practice in Tampa on Tuesday. After eight practices in Auburn before making the trip south, coaches are trying to keep things fresh. "It's definitely important," defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. "You don't want things to become mundane, same old same old. Although there is a certain amount of that that's going to go on when you have some base things that you believe in. But just to keep it interesting and try to challenge them not only physically, but mentally to keep something fresh, a new angle. I think that's important to keep them mentally focused."

• The Tigers enjoyed a trip to the amusement park Busch Gardens on Monday evening, although roller coasters weren’t high on everybody’s to-do list. McCain said it was the first time left tackle Lee Ziemba had ever been on a roller coaster. “I looked over there and he was sweating, almost to the point of tears because he was so nervous,” McCain said with a laugh. “That was probably the most exciting moment for me was to watch him suffer when the roller coaster took off.”

• Asked if anybody screamed during their roller coaster excursion, linebacker Craig Stevens had this to say: "I think everybody did. We went back and looked at the picture and everybody looked terrified."

• Some Auburn players avoided the roller coasters altogether. “Man, I don’t do all the heights and stuff,” defensive end Antonio Coleman said. “I like to ride in the teacup sand stuff like that. I’m a real slow and gentle guy. I like to coast.”

• Coleman is getting somewhat wistful that his last college game is rapidly approaching. "Coach Roof reminds me of that daily. Yesterday we were in full pads. I was sweating real bad and he was like ‘I see those tears. This is your last inside drill here at Auburn University.’ Then today he gave me another joke. … It’s set in. I mean, you move on to bigger and better things, hopefully."

• Roof had good things to say about senior DT Jake Ricks. "He is such a solid, solid force inside," he said. "When he comes to the practice field and he comes to the game field you're going to get his absolute best. It's good to be able to count on a guy, just like in all sports, to be strong up the middle. He's certainly had a very physical season, had a great year for us. Also, not only on the field but also what he brings to our locker room."

• Ricks, on his future plans: "Who knows? I really don't know right now. I'm going to sit down after this game and have a talk with my parents and see what they think. Hopefully I'm going to get an NFL shot but if that doesn't work out then I'm going to go back to school and finish. We'll see."

• One note on junior college quarterback Cameron Newton. The five-star recruit has apparently eliminated Oklahoma from consideration, leaving his choice between Auburn and Mississippi State. Newton originally planned to announce his intentions on Thursday but has pushed back making his decision public until Saturday at the earliest, according to the subscription recruiting site BulldawgJunction.com.

• Lastly, an itinerary update. Auburn's players have team night at GameWorks, a video game bar near Ybor City. A trip to Clearwater Beach is on the docket for tomorrow, although considering the water temperatures, I can't imagine anybody doing much swimming.