Chizik building Auburn for the long haul
Auburn, Ala.—The media narrative on Gene Chizik was pretty much set in stone right after he became the head coach at Auburn: Very good defensive coordinator; went 5-19 in his first two years as a head coach; going to Alabama where Nick Saban started 12-0 last season and was ranked No. 1 on Championship Saturday.
In short, Chizik’s got no shot.
But I recently spent an afternoon in the coaching offices at Auburn. I don’t think these guys are reading that stuff. I saw a group of people with a plan. Is it going to be easy? No. It’s going to be quite difficult, in fact. It’s always difficult for Auburn once the flagship in Tuscaloosa gets up a head of steam.
Here are just a few impressions I got from my time at Auburn:
Chizik’s Iowa State experience actually helps Auburn: Chizik, a former defensive coordinator at Auburn (2002-2004), left for Texas after Auburn’s undefeated 2004 season. He felt the move created the best path to becoming a head coach. He was right.
By 2007 he was the head coach at Iowa State, where he went 5-19 (2-14 in Big 12) in two seasons. When he was hired as Auburn’s head coach that number was thrown around so much that it might as well have been stamped on his forehead.
“We didn’t get to where we wanted to go at Iowa State in two years,” Chizik said. “But we were building and I learned a lot. I really learned a lot.”
The bottom line if you’re an Auburn fan is that while Chizik was getting his brains beat out in the Big 12, he was learning how to be a head coach. This is no small thing. He was talking to Mack Brown of Texas and other friends about the million little details that you didn’t even know EXISTED before you become a head coach. Chizik’s pain at Iowa State should be Auburn’s gain.
This is a pretty strong coaching staff: One of the things he learned from Brown and others was that he should take his time in hiring a staff. There is so much impatience because of the recruiting calendar that many new coaches rush to put a staff together and get them on the road.
But Chizik would not hire anybody unless they met certain standards when it came to recruiting, personal character, and on-the-field coaching ability.
And while everybody was raving about the multi-million dollar staff at Tennessee, they also needed to look at this group.
Chizik hired Gus Malzahn away from Tulsa as his offensive coordinator. Chizik liked Malzahn because Tulsa led the nation in total offense (569.86 ypg) and because he is convinced that Malzahn is on the cutting edge when it comes to attacking fast, aggressive defenses like those in the SEC. He hired Ted Roof, the former Georgia Tech player and head coach at Duke, as his defensive coordinator. Roof has always been a strong recruiter in Georgia and brings the aggressive approach to defense that Chizik likes on that side of the ball. He needed a DC who was talented but not ego driven. That’s Roof.
Trooper Taylor was one of Tennessee’s best recruiters before he left for Oklahoma State in 2008. Tracy Rocker was an All-America DL at Auburn. Curtis Luper (running backs, recruiting coordinator) and Tommy Thigpen (safeties), a former player at North Carolina, are both considered to be strong recruiters.
“I’m glad I took my time,” Chizik said. “I am really pleased with this staff.”
Gus Malzahn is not Tony Franklin II: When Malzahn was brought on board some Auburn fans were scratching their heads. That’s because the painful memories of Tony Franklin and his spread offense were fresh. Franklin was fired halfway through last season amid a staff revolt and fans wondered if Chizik was going down that path again with a “gimmick” offense.
No. 1, everything that happened at Auburn last year was not Franklin’s fault. Franklin was brought in to make a radical change. He made mistakes, but so did others. It was never a good fit.
No. 2, and this is the important thing. Malzahn is installing his offense at Auburn with the help of a staff that completely buys in to what he is doing. Malzahn, an ultra successful high school coach in Arkansas, wants you to know that this is not a finesse offense
“In everything we do the first word is ‘physical,’ he said. “We run an up-tempo offense but we want to be tough and we want to run the ball.”
Last season Tulsa led the nation in total offense (569.86 ypg) and the Golden Hurricane was fifth in the nation in rushing (268.0 ypg) behind Navy, Oregon, Nevada, and Georgia Tech. They were ninth in passing (301.9 ypg).
“The formula that has historically made Auburn successful is a tough, physical running game and a very aggressive defense,” Chizik said. “That is not going to change.”
Auburn’s next recruiting class is very important: Because Chizik took his time in hiring a staff, his new coaches simply didn’t have enough time to recruit before national signing day. The returns on Chizik’s first recruiting class have been mixed, for whatever that is worth.
The larger point is this: National signing day in 2010 will be very important to the future of this staff at Auburn. Not only does Auburn need some serious upgrading in several positions (depth at offensive line is a big one), this staff also needs to send a message that it can and will go head to head with Alabama for the best prospects in the state. Auburn has never won all those battles because the state university, regardless of the state, always has some built in advantages. But Auburn’s got to win its fair share of the recruiting battles with Saban’s staff. Then Auburn has to rely on its proven formula which worked so well under Pat Dye: Go into Georgia and Atlanta and find those kids who want to leave the state. Then dip into Florida for some real difference makers.
“We have a great tradition of success at Auburn and so we have a great product to sell,” Chizik said. “Now we have to go out and sell it. That’s what we intend to do.”
Is Auburn going to take some lumps in this first season, when Western Division foes Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss have a chance to be ranked in the Top 10?
Probably.
But Chizik and this staff are building an organization for the long haul. I’m not sure I’d bet against them.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
182 comments Add your comment
Max Sizemore
April 13th, 2009
8:14 am
The athletes in Tulsa’s conference are a serious step down from those in the SEC. The numbers Malzahn put up at Tulsa are irrelevant.
LSWho?
April 13th, 2009
8:33 am
Gotta like Chizik’s low key approach & good point about the staff he’s put together Tony. Patience will be key for AU fans (& for a QB to step up). Their defense should keep ‘em close most games this fall.
Tony, I know you love the history of the game. If you haven’t already check out Carlisle vs. Army by Lars Anderson, a great book about the 1912 epic that matched Eisenhower against Thorpe, great stuff.
Ben Miller
April 13th, 2009
8:37 am
Auburn had it’s best 10 year span from 1997-2007, and won 1 SEC Championship.
Alabama had it’s worst 10 year span from 1997-2007, and won 1 SEC Championsip.
36-0
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
Atlanta Gator
April 13th, 2009
8:42 am
Comments in response to Tony—-
Biggest factors favoring Chizik? He hired the entire staff, and they owe him their undivided loyalty. Everyone sinks or swims together, head coach, coordinators, assistants, players. Buy in to the program and the plan, and everyone has a chance to do well. Engage in the back-biting and internal turf battles that destroyed Tommy Tuberville as Auburn’s head coach, his last offensive coordinator, and his offensive team, and the same results are likely to repeat. Hopefully, everyone associated with the program knows that, including the prominent AU alumni who pushed Tubby out. They pushed for Chizik, and now they need to step back and give this guy a chance. There can be only one head coach, and it’s up to him and his coaching staff to prove themselves . . . and it’s going to take more than a season or two to return to the level of competitiveness that the Tigers had 5 years ago. So, everyone associated with the AU football program needs to take a deep breath, and recognize that this is going to be a process, not an instant turn-around.
Kid Ray
April 13th, 2009
8:45 am
Spread guys always claim, “our offense is NOT finesse!” despite all evidence to the contrary. I suspect they will have difficult problems converting 3rd and 4th and short.
CurlyHeadedDevil
April 13th, 2009
8:54 am
Urban Meyer has proven that “gimmick” offense, the spread, will not work in the SEC. This is “Big Boy” football down here. Get that gimmick offense out of here!
Basketball 101
April 13th, 2009
9:00 am
The Auburn football program was wrecked by the rogue defacto president, Bobby Lowder, who continued to meddle in football operations and micromanage every other aspect of the university. Lowder had undercut Tuberville for a number of years until Tubby had enough. The good thing going for Auburn is, Lowder’s banking empire has collapsed and he has big financial worries now. It is interesting to note that Lowder and Michael Adams were both born in Montgomery, AL. If there weren’t an age difference, it would appear that they were separated at birth. Auburn has some talented players and will surprise some people this season.
MtnBama
April 13th, 2009
9:04 am
Tony,your case for Coach Chizik is fatally flawed because even the most ardent anti Bama fans know that Coach saban owns the state of Alabama. He is also dominating everyone but Coach Richt in Georgia. Lets face it Auburn is going to have to expand it’s recruiting base both westward and to the north if they hope to recruit the talent necessary to compete successfully in the SEC west for the foreseeable future. I will say this if they can have some success offensively this year it will certainly make recruiting much easier, if they sputter this year they could be in for another very disappointing recruiting year which would probably mean that they will have little chance of fielding a quality team for at least three years.
Auburn News - 4/13/09 | MrSEC.com
April 13th, 2009
9:06 am
[...] been happening on The Plains:Tony Barnhart of The AJC believes that Auburn has put together “a pretty strong coaching staff.”Auburn has just eight scholarship offensive lineman and line coach Jeff Grimes knows, “we [...]
Where's Roswell Ed
April 13th, 2009
9:10 am
Tony,
Good job of trying to put lipstick on a pig. But the reality is that Tulsa was doing those type of offensive numbers for a couple years before Malzahn got there. In their bowl game against real competition I think the Tulsa offense largely got shut down.
Chizik’s head coaching is even worse than what you see on paper when you consider his 2-10 record last year was without playing the 3 giants of the Big 12 in Texas, Tex. Tech, and Oklahoma.
But hey, he did beat North Dakota State and Kent State. Auburn is about to enter the dark ages for some time to come.
Otto
April 13th, 2009
9:14 am
UF’s spread is anything but finesse. Chizik will have much better interaction with his coaches and players than Tubby ever had.
Bama maybe rolling but FSU has been falling. Auburn can still get their share of talent. Auburn has always loved to raid South Georgia with FSU.
Big Grey
April 13th, 2009
9:16 am
CurlyHeadedDevil- this just made me laugh out loud to funny
ehyoutiger
April 13th, 2009
9:31 am
Thanks for the nice write-up Tony. We are very excited about the new coaching staff. I love hearing a lot of folks saying that they’re counting out Auburn. I find people eating their words to be satisfying.
Miles
April 13th, 2009
9:38 am
The long haul? Since when was any SEC coach hired for the long haul? He’s got three years. If things don’t improve, he’ll be gone. Planning for the long haul in the SEC in nonexistent.
Dean
April 13th, 2009
9:53 am
As a Georgia fan I’ve always been very wary of Auburn when they are counted out. They’ve always had a good system in place since Pat Dye’s days, and other than an occasinal dip like last year they are always strong. I’m sure Chizik and his staff will have them ready to play every week.
gatorman770
April 13th, 2009
9:58 am
2006 and 2008 BCS Champions…….enough said for Urban’s offense “that will never work in the SEC”!
Go GATORS
Dean
April 13th, 2009
10:12 am
Yeah Gator, I don’t know why people are arguing about this “gimmick” talk. It’s been provem to work very well in Gainesville.
jabster
April 13th, 2009
10:12 am
Be ready to rack up mucho points on Auburn this year, as the “Leaky Roof” defense gets implemented…
Got 12?
April 13th, 2009
10:21 am
In today’s SEC, schemes are nice but talent is what wins games and championships (assuming you have competent coaching). Auburn fans should be patient. It will take a couple of years.
BAMA STAN
April 13th, 2009
10:29 am
12 NATIONAL TITLES – 21 SEC TITLES!!!
Need to take a wait and see approach with Auburn. I like the staff Coach Chizik has put together …. on paper at least. Maybe 2 or 3 seasons before they challange for the SEC West – beyond that – Auburn (Lowder) will run out of patience.
Auburn in 2009 – could surprise a few folks. The Tennessee game will be real interesting due to the fact that both programs have entire new staffs.
Also – look for Auburn to surprise UGA with yet another hard fought game. UGA/Auburn is always interesting and defies logic – never bet on this game. I’ve seen to many UGA/Auburn games where the clear cut underdog beats the higher ranked opponent.
As far as recruiting – Auburn will get their share of good athletes. Their geography is ideal to hit Florida – Atlanta – South Georgia – and can get some Alabama players as well.
I respectuflly disagree with MtnBama comments about Saban taking a back seat to Caoch Richt in the state of Georgia. It is true that Saban owns Alabama – that is the target state – then he will fill in the void with Georgia and Florida recruits – which he will get his share as he as all ready proven. Look at our last recruiting class and you will see what I am talking about.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bamafan
April 13th, 2009
10:29 am
The new head football coach at Auburn knows to keep his mouth shut unlike boy blunder at UT.
Chizik hired a good football staff and will give Bama trouble in the future. Just hope the big shots
at Auburn don’t run off Chizik if he does turn the program quickly!! Running off Coach Tubbs was
the stupidest thing Auburn has ever done!!
Alan
April 13th, 2009
10:33 am
For the Tider, 1997-2007 was not Auburns best 10 years ever and not even close. Keep saying that to make yourself feel better though.
As for Wheres ED, Tulsas offenses were not even close to what Malzahn was doing beofre he got there. Look at the stats. Ask Todd Graham who is a defensive minded coach by the way. And you say Tulsa struggled in their bowl game?? LOL Thats hilarious considering they got over 500 yards of offense in a rainstorm in Mobile.
Listen, I understand if you think AU may struggle or whatnot, but please use facts and at least have an idea on what you are talking about. It wont make you look as dumb.
Alan
April 13th, 2009
10:36 am
Bamafan and Bamastan, you guys make too much sense on here to be Bama fans!
Nice to see someone being objective instead of letting the rivalry and hate get to thier head and do the talking for them. Good luck this year.
tiger7_88
April 13th, 2009
10:37 am
Sizemore said “The athletes in Tulsa’s conference are a serious step down from those in the SEC. The numbers Malzahn put up at Tulsa are irrelevant.” Both statements are technically true. But the “Tulsa/C-USA athletes aren’t as good as SEC athletes” mantra is true, it’s incomplete. Yes, Malzahn’s offense was playing against C-USA defenses. But the point being missed was Malzahn’s offense was USING C-USA players to play. So the match-up itself was equal.
Malzahn’s offense at Arkansas, against SEC defenses, was solid and high-powered. Well, then the excuse is “Well, anybody can have a good offense with Darren McFadden as your running back”. Sometimes true, but not always. Horrible offensive coordinators can make great players look pedestrian, like Auburn in 2003 with Hugh Nall as the offensive coordinator and Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown at running back and Jason Campbell at quarterback. Next year in 2004, with a competent OC, Auburn goes undefeated.
Will Malzahn again have success in the SEC? You never know. Personally, I think he will be. But statements like “Well, the SEC isn’t Conference USA” and “He was only good in the SEC because of a great running back” are red herrings.
Otto
April 13th, 2009
10:39 am
Bamafan, running off Tubbs was a step forward for the program the team was never as well run as it looked on the outside. The big mistake in Auburn was running off Borges.
Yes the high powered Auburn Alums do need to fully back Chizik. He has a good staff and it will take a little time to rebuild after recruiting seasons that suffered from a duck hunting trip and putting together a new staff.
I still think Auburn upsets a few people for a respectable season. They may not be in the mix to win the west but they may decide the winner.
tiger7_88
April 13th, 2009
10:46 am
Hey, Where’s Roswell Ed… if by “In their bowl game against real competition I think the Tulsa offense largely got shut down.” you mean “In their bowl game Tulsa had 632 yards of total offense, scoring 45 points on 439 total yards rushing and 193 total yards passing”, then you absolutely NAILED that one, dude.
Now that you know the facts, you can actually try to do some actual research and come up with another weak excuse.
ReptilesRule
April 13th, 2009
10:51 am
I just don’t know about these guys with 5-and whatever records coming into a conference like the SEC and being all that successful. I guess I’ll believe it when I see it. At least Chizik is keeping his mouth shut while building his program unlike that imbecile over at Tenn, so I’ll give him early credit for that and maybe AU can sneak up on some people this year. Auburn biggest problem with getting back to “elite” status is called Alabama. I’m no Nick Saban fan but I will give the man his due…he’s an accomplished college coach and recruiter. As long as he keeps getting the top Alabama state players I think it’s going to be very hard for AU to catch up. I think they’re gonna have to almost concentrate more out of state. Also, the “spread” is only successful if it is run to fit your personnel. Florida has a 6′3″ 245lb bulldozer superman freak at QB who can throw the ball and run equally as well. He is basically the power running game and then you have speed demons at the other skill posiitions. It is the perfect storm when you talk about the spread. Next year they will probably use Brantley as the passer and one of the hosses (I think the QB they’re bringing in this year is 6′4″ 245) as the runner.
Dean
April 13th, 2009
10:56 am
The thing is that Auburn didn’t really go down. They had a bad year which unfortunately coincided with Bama’s resurgence. Same for Tennessee. And when you look at it, both those teams just had a offensinve meltdown and each had a a first year O-Coordinator. I just don’t see that either team is going to take a step backwards. They will continue to be strong teams that can compete. I do have to think that UT is taking the more risky coach in this equation simply becuase I think that either way (succeed or fail) he will be gone in 3 years. I also think Kiffin is more prone to give the school a black eye in the end.
CycloneFan
April 13th, 2009
10:57 am
I used to really hate Notre Dame and Nebraska football. I want to thank Gene Chizik for giving me a new number one team to root against.
KillerTiger
April 13th, 2009
11:00 am
Yea, 12 national titles…lol. Whatever helps you sleep at night. Enjoy that Houlgate title where you went 9-4.
As far the other guy, 1997 to 2007 was not Bammer’s worst period. You were worse during the 50’s.
And 1997 and 2007 is not even close to the best decade for Auburn football. As a matter or fact, from 1957 to 1997 Auburn won 70 percent of its games which was 9th nationally over that time period. Auburn only won 68 percent of its games between 1997 and 2007. Oh well, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Dean
April 13th, 2009
11:00 am
On the Georgia side of the recruiting issue Auburn has a strange advanage. Most of the athletes that they get from Georgia are kids that Georgia overlooked. Then, when the play UGA they want to beat the heck out of the in state school that overlooked them. Bama and Georgia will continue to get the top notch high school talent for their respective states. Auburn get the fighters who want to prove themselves. I honestly don’t know why I’m giving so much respect to Auburn. But hey, they run a clean program and our battle with them is so unusual that we just tip our caps to one another.
Alan
April 13th, 2009
11:03 am
Dean, come on over to the Plains. We welcome you with open arms
Alan
April 13th, 2009
11:04 am
Why hate us Cyclone, we gave you Paul Rhoads…………
Alan
April 13th, 2009
11:05 am
……or maybe that’s why you will hate us!!
BAMA STAN
April 13th, 2009
11:17 am
12 NATIONAL TITLES – 21 SEC TITLES!!!
Auburn Projection for 2009 season:
WINS (5)
La Tech
Miss State
Ball State
Kentucky
Furman
Losses (2)
LSU
Alabama
50/50 (5)
West Virginia – Auburn has a shot – WV has not looked as impressive with their “new” coach – and lossing their heart and soul – Pat White. Auburn could win this game.
Tennessee – close game last year – giving Tennessee an edge.
Arkansas – Very interesting match up – Gus Malzahn will want to win this game (and Ole Miss) very badly – 50/50 game.
Ole Miss – Again – I think Ole Miss is as good as they are going to be -but will not be able to break through the ceiling against the SEC West elites (Bama and LSU). Kind of like UGA in the Donnan era (good athletic hard hitting teams – but could not get by Tennessee and Florida – and always won their bowl games). Malzahn will want this win badly!! But I think Ole Miss will win this game.
UGA – UGA should be favored – but as stated in a previous post – never bet on this game – too much weird history with the overwhelming favorite gets beat in their home stadium. I am not sold on UGA in 2009 – big question marks on defense and offense. This will be the worst set of running backs that UGA has fielded in my lifetime – King is weak and is scared. Thomas is fast – but goes down easy – just too small. Samuels is big and stiff – runs hard strait ahead – has no wiggle or talent to make people miss. Should be a Linebacker where I think he will end up and would be a star as he has no fear. However – I give UGA the edge in this game.
So where does that leave Auburn?
- Until proven otherwise – hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. But they should be solid on defense – keeping them in some of the 50/50 games.
Predictions:
Most likely 6-6
With a little luck: 7-5
Best Case Scenerio: 8-4
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saint Nick
April 13th, 2009
11:20 am
Tiger7_88,
Tulsa got shut down by none other that ARKANSAS!!!!! They had 23 points!!!! The same Arkansas defense that gave up in 7 losses an average of 36 points!!!! The Aubbies are gonna LIGHT THE SCOREBOARDS UP!!!! Cow college goes 5-7!!!! It’s gonna be great to watch this train wreck unfold!!! Tony, I love to read your blogs, BUT this is the worst blog you have ever written!!! Cheezwiz picked the worst school to come in and rebuild. Auburn will have a hard time getting the great players from the state and they do a lot of recruiting in west GA, BUT recruiting against UGA and now Tech and Fla on some recruits…. Its gonna be like trying to fly a kite in a tornado!!! Good luck Aubbies, get used to 5 and 6 win seasons!!!!
Otto
April 13th, 2009
11:20 am
Dean Auburn has always been a status symbol for Cobb kids since the 60s. They went out of state because they could and Auburn was still relatively close to home. Auburn has always recruited well in the Atlanta area.
Otto
April 13th, 2009
11:29 am
Nick recruiting against Fla is nothing new and FSU is down. FSU was the big competition down in Southwest Ga. and Southern Alabama.
GT we’ll see what everyone is saying in a couple of years. CPJ beat his rival once and was blown out in a bowl. It is easier to sell many college kids on Auburn over living downtown that close to home at a school that doesn’t have many women.
Chizik also should have connections to raid Texas like LSU and UGA have been.
Alan
April 13th, 2009
11:34 am
Good assessment Stan, I believe thats fair.
As for St Nick, first of all Tulsa did about ten times better against Arkansas than we did with about half the athletes so your pint there is about as lama as your username.
Second of all, we have always recruited this same territory against the same teams and have never ever had to get used to 5 and 6 win seasosns in our history. You may not know it since you wear crimson fanny packs, but Auburn has a winning record over every SEC team except LSU (2 games) and Bama (6 games). We also lead the series vs every SEC team since 1980 except against UF. Also have more league titles than you over that same span. We are the number 12 team all time in AP Poll and number 13 all time in wins. Not trying to beat our chest, just letting you know that weve been here awhile and arent going anywhere anytime soon.
Your post is about as ignorant as me saying that Bama would never be good again just because of 1997,2000,2003,2004,2006 and 2007 when you were either terrible or right around average. See that logic.
whitx2
April 13th, 2009
11:35 am
Curly
Put that crackpipe down son, to early in the morning for that stuff. Poor ole UM and fla. Just can’t get that offence to work, can they?
Pat Dye's Liver
April 13th, 2009
11:44 am
Cheeznip went winless in the Big 12 without playing Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech! That is priceless. He will not still be the auburn coach in 2011. Guaranteed.
Rett
April 13th, 2009
11:46 am
The athletes playing for UTAH were a step-down, but that didn’t stop them from hanging 30+ on bama in the Sugar Bowl. I don’t think that people realize that athletes across the board (regardless of BCS conferences) are still phenominal. That is why Boise beats Oklahoma, and Utah beats bama.
Otto
April 13th, 2009
11:49 am
Alan great post, Stan good assessment on the schedule. I am not sold on LSU and they could be a 50/50 Les has been living off great talent and mediocre offense play calling.
Auburn was in every game except Bama last year. If they had a better QB and OC they could have easily won a few more. Yes if’s and woulda coulda shoulda do not count for much but Aubrn has a foundation for a decent staff to go 8-4. Hopefully Caudle or Trotter steps up this year.
Tenn. I give Auburn the edge as the staff so far has looked much better and Tenn. has nobody at QB.
Ole Miss I very much agree. Auburn could win or a solid DL and a solid QB for the Rebels could carry the day.
As a UGA fan who has ties to Auburn the UGA/Auburn game bothers me. It setting up to be alot like the ‘06 game where UGA was making errors during the season and put everything together in that game. As fans of both schools know records do not stand for anything when the game starts. Auburn is due a big win in Athens.
UnderDawg
April 13th, 2009
11:54 am
Good question earlier……just where the hell IS Roswell Ed these days, anyway?
Bear's Liver, Price's pants, Nick's height, Dubose secretary, Gene's money funneling
April 13th, 2009
11:55 am
Two can play that game.
But in reality, this just messes up good football talk.
JB
April 13th, 2009
12:21 pm
There are appox 125-150 div. 1 players in Georgia every year. Richt will sign 15 or so FROM GEORGIA.
Tech will get 10-12. So yes, AU and Bama will step in and get some players. Hell, it’s fertile ground over here. 7 or 8 top wide outs every year. Richt will sign TWO. Tech doesn’t throw the ball, so they gotta go somewhere. I don’t get real excited when Bama and AU come to Georgia to get players. The Numbers say it’s going to happen.
This is BBF
April 13th, 2009
12:24 pm
Big Boy Football …. Let me tell you …. You better believe it …. 21-17 …. 28-24 …. 17-14 …. 35-31 …. 24-17 …. If AU played in any conf. other than the SEC would they go undefeated? You betcha.
Saint Nick
April 13th, 2009
12:34 pm
Alan,
If Malzohn could bring his offensive skill players from Tulsa to the cow college, HE WOULD!!! Tulsa has better Offensive talent(with the exeption of the line) So, your comment about “him doing more with less” is cliche and downright ignorant!!!!!! Cheezwiz did nothing with less at Iowa State, Auburn should have hired Turner Gill, NOW THAT IS SOMEONE WHO DOES MORE WITH LESS!!!! SYRACUSE SHOULD HAVE HIRED HIM!!!! But back to the aubbies, I think Chizik is a great colonel and a lousy general. After 2 years with 6 or 7 losses, Jacobs and Chizik will get run!!!!RTR!!!!
Dean
April 13th, 2009
12:42 pm
I think Turner Gill could of been a very positive hire but I really don’t see why no one is willing to give Charlie Strong a shot at head coach. He consistently fields a solid defense and his connections to Flroda recruiting would be immeasurable. I was surprised he was never even a candidate for the Auburn job.
PTC DAWG
April 13th, 2009
12:44 pm
I still can’t believe Au fired Wingnut…and hired this guy? Bama fans have to be loving it.