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Quarterback Clint Moseley can find plenty not to like from his first start for Auburn.
Two things he feels good about coming out of the Tigers' 45-10 loss at No. 1 LSU are his confidence and psyche. Moseley says they're just fine, especially since he knows he'll face few, if any, defenses and environments like that.
''To go through that and come out alive, basically - I don't want to be that dramatic - but mentally fine, I was able to keep my composure the whole time,'' Moseley said. ''I never even thought about losing my composure. I was never too high, too low.
''Nothing positive comes out of that game. But for me personally, it's good to know I'm able to handle something so big. Probably the most dramatic situation I could be put in. It's good to get the toughest start out of the way first.''
Presumably, Moseley's second start doesn't bring nearly such daunting challenges. The Tigers (5-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) host Mississippi (2-5, 0-4) Saturday night in the far friendlier environment of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
It wasn't exactly the scenario coaches would choose to break in a new quarterback, particularly a sophomore who entered the game with four career completions. Auburn coach Gene Chizik agreed with the quarterback's own assessment of his poise.
''That's one thing I can say I'm extremely proud of him,'' Chizik said. ''I didn't ever see anything during the game when things didn't look good, and things weren't going our way, I never saw anything in the game that indicated to me that he was losing confidence or didn't feel he could get the job done.
''I felt that same way Sunday and just watching him. I'm really proud of the way he carried himself and handled all the adversity that he had to handle Saturday.''
Moseley was sacked six times and intercepted once while completing 12 of 20 passes for 145 yards.
''When we gave him time to throw he did some nice things,'' Chizik said. ''For his first game and being in an environment like that, playing against a defense that was as good as they were, and him being under duress as much as he was. ... When he had opportunities to make plays, I thought he did a nice job with that.
''He'll continue to improve. We expect him to do that this week.''
Moseley did take over an offense last week that had issues beyond an ineffective quarterback in Barrett Trotter.
Leading receiver Emory Blake remained out with an ankle injury, and guard Jared Cooper was also lost for the season the previous week. Dropped passes have hurt the Tigers at times, and even tailback Michael Dyer has been less of a factor lately. He has rushed for 133 yards in the past two games against Florida and LSU.
Guard John Sullen said Moseley was showing encouragement, not frustration, in the huddle during Auburn's worst SEC loss since falling 36-0 to Alabama in the 2008 Iron Bowl.
''When we went three-and-out and gave up a sack, he'd come to the (offensive) line and say, `Come on y'all, we can do it, we can do it. I still trust you guys. Give me a little time,''' Sullen said. ''He's a very patient guy. But when it comes down to it, we've just got to protect better.''
Moseley said LSU defenders baited him into the pass that was intercepted and that mistake is ''something I've just never got to do to again.''
For a guy who'd barely played in college, the game presented challenges beyond contending with LSU's blitzes and disguises, or even remaining on an even keel.
Moseley had to figure out what to tell teammates when Auburn was clearly out of the game and platitudes just wouldn't cut it.
''That's a crushing loss,'' he said. ''If it's really close you say `Let's stay in this thing' and you can say stuff like that. When it's that bad ... I caught myself thinking, `I don't really know what to say.' We were getting beat so bad, I've never been in this situation before. I had to really think about it.
''The only thing I could come up with is: I've got to keep my composure. It leads to more panic if the quarterback is scared and unsure and not confident, then it spreads throughout the whole team.''
