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Auburn quarterback Cam Newton takes on 240-pound linebackers and stands in the pocket while hulking defensive linemen barrel down on him.
But telling petite Megan Mullen that he wasn't going to join her husband Dan at Mississippi State? Now, that was nerve-racking.
''It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've made in my recent life,'' Newton said. ''Not just telling him because we had a good relationship, but telling his wife was even harder. That was one of the hardest things. We had such a close relationship.''
Mullen recruited the dual-threat quarterback twice, once as a high school standout when Mullen was the offensive coordinator at Florida, and then again out of junior college when he took the Mississippi State job.
Thursday night they'll be on opposite sidelines when Newton's 21st-ranked Tigers visit Mullen's Bulldogs.
''His size and athleticism when he walks in the door, it wows you,'' Mullen said. ''He's got an arm and can throw it about 85, 90 yards. The ball jumps out of his hands. He's a very intelligent quarterback who understands the game of football.''
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Newton set a rushing record for an Auburn quarterback with 171 yards in the opening win over Arkansas State.
Mullen was Newton's position coach and offensive coordinator for two seasons with the Gators. Newton, who left Florida after an incident in which he bought a stolen laptop computer, picked Auburn over Mississippi State for his second Southeastern Conference stint. He spent last season at Blinn junior college in Texas.
Mullen might be accustomed to Newton's type of production from the guy taking the snaps after working with Tim Tebow, but it's seldom happened at Auburn.
In fact, Newton's effort was just the sixth 100-yard rushing performance by a Tigers quarterback. Other than current receiver Kodi Burns' 158-yard effort two years ago against Tennessee-Martin, the other four were turned in by Phil Gargis from 1974-76.
So that 71-yard touchdown run by a quarterback was something new for Auburn fans and current players. Well, outside of practice.
''I've seen it a number of times,'' center Ryan Pugh said. ''It's good to have Cam back there and move around in the pocket like that. It puts stress on the defense, and causes them to change what they do a little bit. It's nice for us guys up front because we really haven't had a running threat at quarterback in three years. It's nice to have somebody who can make you look really good up front.''
The debut performance gives Newton the early SEC lead in both rushing and total offense and earned him league offensive player of the week honors. It was good enough for seventh and fourth nationally. Newton passed for 186 yards and three touchdowns and scored twice more running.
But that was against a Sun Belt Conference team. Now, Newton makes his SEC debut.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik doesn't think playing against his former coach will affect Newton.
''Those things are in the past, and he has to go out and play football,'' Chizik said. ''We haven't even talked about it. He's focused on being a better teammate and a better football player and helping Auburn win. I think all that other stuff is water under the bridge.''
Newton agrees.
''Just like any other game, I'm ready to play,'' he said. ''As far as my relationship with Coach Mullen, our relationship is a long one and goes far beyond just football. I have so much respect for Coach Mullen and what he has going at Mississippi State. As a team, we can't wait to play our next opponent.''
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AP Sports Writer David Brandt in Starkville, Miss., contributed to this report.
