Unfortunately for Nick Brahms, his football career ended during the offseason due to injuries he had sustained during his playing days.

Brahms would have been a 5th-year senior this fall at Auburn, where he put together an impressive career.

The 6-4, 300-pound native of Florida was a 4-year starter at center for the Tigers and played in 40 career games before being forced to step away from the game he loves.

The Tigers won their season opener against Mercer on Saturday night, 42-16, and Brahms was on the sidelines with his coaches and teammates.

And after the game, he got a cruel reminder that his playing days are now behind him, as a Mercer player shook his hand and said, “Good game, Coach.”

All Brahms could say was that the incident was, “a little upsetting.”

Earlier Wednesday, Auburn coach Brian Harsin spoke about Brahms on the weekly SEC coaches teleconference and what it has meant to the program to have him still around.

Brahms said his short-team goal is to help Auburn’s offensive line be all that it can be, which from a teaching standpoint can be challenging.

Harsin and the Tigers are back in action at home on Saturday night against San Jose State.