Aairon Savage speaks

Hey everyone. Defensive back Aairon Savage, who has missed the past two seasons because of two disparate injuries, spent some time talking with the media today.

He recently was granted a (rare) sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA.

Savage is in a good mood.

I'll have quotes up in a bit. Until then, here is the basic theme.

• He feels blessed to have this final chance to play.
  
  
• He speaks often with Jerraud Powers and Willis McGahee, who have provided steadfast encouragement. McGahee? Former Auburn lineman Ben Grubbs thought McGahee could provide some insight, so he got McGahee in contact with Savage.
  
  
• He claims to be 100 percent healthy. "I can do everything."
  
  
• He said his position remains in question. Savage is fine with cornerback or safety.
  
  
• He will participate fully in spring drills.
  
  
• He was recruited by Gene Chizik out of high school ... when Chizik was Auburn's defensive coordinator.
  
  
• He tore his Achilles last summer. Less than a week before, the topic in his kinesiology class was Achilles injuries.
  
  
• On gaining perspective: ``Losing two seasons, that's hard too. Very frustrating. I don't know why everything happens, but everything happens for a reason. I've learned a lot about myself, a lot about the people that I've had around me. I had a very strong support system from (my girlfriend) Shannon, my mom, my family, the guys here, just everybody. Community, it's a very good support system."
  
  
• On his mental approach: ``I just took it one day at a time, try not to look too far ahead. I had a lot of long nights, a lot of long nights. I tried not to think it was over. It's kind of hard to let it go. Just one day at a time, one night at a time. And here we are now."
  
  
• On how some teammates are significantly younger now: ``That's the beauty about it. It's kind of like music. It's something that can bring anybody together and it's something that everybody enjoys. It's just a love and a passion that won't go away."
  
  
• On what Willis McGahee said: ``We were doing some of the same things that McGahee was doing already. We incorporated a few more things. He just told me to keep working at it because it will come back. Don’t give up."
  

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.