When the Auburn Tigers face off against the New Mexico Lobos this weekend, it will be more than just another game for veteran defensive lineman Philip Blidi. For Blidi, this matchup carries personal significance, reuniting him with familiar faces from his home state.
Auburn is preparing for its second-to-last non-conference game of the season, looking to fine-tune its performance before heading into the heart of conference play. While such games often don’t draw the same attention as SEC battles, for Blidi, this game has been circled on his calendar for some time.
Blidi, who transferred to Auburn this offseason, hails from New Mexico, where he was a standout in high school football. His connection to the Lobos runs deep, both through personal ties and competitive history.
“The head coach there, Bronco Mendenhall, is good friends with my high school coach,” Blidi explained. “I also played against a lot of the players from New Mexico in high school. Being one of the top recruits in the state, I developed a lot of relationships with people in that area. It’s going to be great seeing some familiar faces on the field.”
New Mexico, while not widely known for its football culture compared to other states, holds a special place in Blidi’s heart. He reminisced about the unique charm of his home state, which boasts the 15th smallest population in the U.S.
“New Mexico has a lot of open space and really friendly people,” Blidi shared. “The Mexican food is amazing, and there are great outdoor activities like hunting and hiking. I have fond memories of going up into the mountains for weekends. It’s a beautiful place with great scenery.”
Now settled in Auburn with his wife Emma and their two children, Amara and Brooks, Blidi has found a new home on the Plains. The family has quickly embraced life at Auburn, particularly the vibrant gameday atmosphere.
“They’ve loved it here,” Blidi said about his family’s transition to Auburn. “There’s no place like Jordan-Hare Stadium. Experiencing Tiger Walk for the first time was breathtaking, and the whole gameday experience blew them away. They loved the energy in the stadium and how intense it all was.”
Blidi’s journey from New Mexico to Auburn has been one of growth and opportunity, and while Saturday’s game will be a reunion of sorts, he’s focused on continuing to contribute to the Tigers’ success. Auburn will look to continue their momentum and pick up another non-conference win when they take on New Mexico at 6:30 p.m. CT, with ESPN2 carrying the broadcast.
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