Two years after a BCS title, could Auburn’s Chizik get fired?
Brian VanGorder (right) watches his career path take a discernible downturn. (AP photo)
Even as Auburn was en route to the BCS title, there was something unreal about the journey. Not that the 2010 Tigers weren’t the nation’s best team. But you wondered how they got that way.
This is a reference to Cam Newton, but not in the way you’d think. Nearly two years after it was reported that Newton’s dad had sought $180,000 to send his son to Mississippi State, we await the first bit of evidence that Auburn paid, or even offered, anything beyond a scholarship. The NCAA investigated at length and found nothing untoward. So far as can be discerned, Auburn won with Newton fair and square. That said …
Newton blew across the Plains in the time it takes to change, er, planes at Hartsfield-Jackson. (OK, slight exaggeration. But only slight.) He arrived from Blinn Junior College in January 2010, took his team to 14-0 the next January and, Heisman Trophy in tow, was gone. He was an Auburn student-athlete for roughly a year.
Auburn began its championship run ranked 22nd in the Associated Press preseason poll — one spot ahead of Georgia, six spots behind Georgia Tech. The Tigers were 8-5 in the season before Newton, 8-5 in the season after Newton. Today they’re 1-4, the victory coming in overtime against Louisiana-Monroe. They just lost 24-7 at home to an Arkansas team that was outscored by 100 points in its two previous SEC games. Which brings us to the other part of the disconnect.
The 2010 national championship was won by Gene Chizik’s team. Is Gene Chizik a national championship coach?
Counting two seasons at Iowa State, his career record is 36-33. His record without Cam Newton is 22-33. His record before Cam Newton was 13-24. His record since Cam Newton is 9-9.
A BCS title should buy a coach a long honeymoon, but let’s remember that Chizik works at Auburn. Where Terry Bowden resigned under pressure 11 months after he’d led the Tigers to the SEC championship game. Where school officials were moved to take a clandestine flight to Sellersburg, Ind., to woo Bobby Petrino, then of Louisville, to fill the head-coaching position occupied by Tommy Tuberville. Where Tuberville himself was gone four years after an undefeated season.
Things happen faster in the win-or-else SEC, and Auburn occupies the epicenter of Football Gone Wild. The Georgia-Georgia Tech relationship has been described as clean, old-fashioned hate. There’s nothing clean or old-fashioned about the feelings Auburn and Alabama have toward one another. Theirs is the dirtiest form of loathing, updated daily.
Alabama again reigns over college football. It has won two of the past three BCS titles and is in Position A to claim yet another. For one year, Newton and Chizik and Auburn usurped Nick Saban’s throne, but that year seems now — heck, it seemed so even then — as the one-off to end all one-offs.
So today we ask: Could the coach who claimed a national championship in January 2011 get fired before 2012 is done? Anywhere else, you’d say no. Auburn, however, is not anywhere else, and this is among the worst Auburn teams ever. It ranks 113th among 120 FBS teams in total offense, 117th in scoring, 110th in passing efficiency, 75th in total defense and dead last in turnover margin. This with a new offensive coordinator (the overmatched Scott Loeffler) and a new defensive coordinator (Brian VanGorder, of whom you’ve heard).
According to Rivals.com, Auburn’s signing classes from 2010 through 2012 ranked fourth, seventh and 10th nationally. Continuity, alas, has gone missing. Nick Fairley, who won the 2010 Lombardi Trophy, arrived as a JUCO transfer and left for the NFL after two seasons. Running back Michael Dyer was the offensive MVP of the BCS title game and was kicked off the squad 361 days later. Auburn has begun each of Chizik’s four seasons with a different quarterback; the latest, sophomore Kiehl Frazier, has thrown eight interceptions against two touchdown passes.
The Tigers’ next two games are at Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. (They’re a six-point underdog against the Rebels.) If Auburn loses both, it could well finish 0-8 in SEC play — two years after going 8-0. The SEC has seen all manner of strangeness, but such a plunge would have no precedent. Then again, Auburn’s rise to No. 1 didn’t have many antecedents, either. Yes, Herschel Walker lifted Georgia from 6-5 to an unbeaten national championship in his first collegiate season, but he stuck around a couple of more years and the Bulldogs stayed really good. And nobody wondered if Vince Dooley, who’d won three SEC titles before Herschel, could actually coach.
The former Auburn coach Pat Dye, who seldom makes a lick of sense, recently claimed he wouldn’t trade Chizik “for 10 Sabans.” If Chizik keeps losing, Auburn might soon swap him for one Bobby Petrino.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
403 comments Add your comment
Best money can buy
October 10th, 2012
9:10 pm
Auburn and Alabama have always had the best players can buy starting with Bear Bryant. Look at how the Tide got Satan Lyin Saban!
Buzz 2011
October 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
He could be fired.. If he is fired, maybe UGA could pick him up.
The Dawgs need a real coach and one that won a NC could be big.
JB
October 10th, 2012
9:25 pm
Is this a new format?????? It stinks
Jeff and the Camaros
October 10th, 2012
9:46 pm
Oh gosh–Bobby Petrino! Why did he have to bring that up!!!
OkieDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
The Georgia legistlators have approved the purchase of a new zoo. It has been purchased and agreed to. The State of Georgia will be constructing a game fence around the State of Alabama in the coming months. Please do not feed the animals.
TIM BUCK
October 10th, 2012
10:24 pm
That championship win for the Barn will cost them 4 yrs of loneliness.
Kiss
October 10th, 2012
10:30 pm
Auburn needs a transfer from Florida that was recruited by UGA as a TE even though he was a QB in HS. Then he needs to steal something and get kicked off the team. After that the recruit’s father/pastor needs to shop him to the highest bidder amongst the SEC (not the Security and Exchange Commission but the professional collegiate football association). Some folks call it the “Special Educational Conference” or the “South Eastern Conference”!
HA! Sorry, I have to really LAUGH MY ARSE OFF! You goober’s do not really take your academics serious but “foozball is king”. Perfectly good space and oxygen taken up by much less worthly creatures. Hopefully you idiots will realize this and take matters in your own hands. It’s a FMJ
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
“Another lie from HUH????”
UGA hasn’t won a championship since 1980. That’s a looooooooooooooooooooooooong time.
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
“That championship win for the Barn will cost them 4 yrs of loneliness.”
That’s a lot shorter than 32 years.
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:33 pm
“You goober’s do not really take your academics serious but “foozball is king”.”
Unless you went to Harvard, Stanford, MIT or Northwestern, STHU.
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:34 pm
“Cam, Fairley and the gang won that NC. Chizik just happened to be there when all the stars aligned.”
Yeah, he just recruited those players. Nope, Chizik had nothing to do with the championship.
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:35 pm
“I have several very close friends at Kentucky and I can say without a doubt that Petrino IS on their list, ”
Are your “close friends” on the athletic board?
Nope.
Lord Saban
October 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
Dawg fans making fun of Auburn? I’ll say one thing about the Aubies. At least they have a bcs title and could have had a 2nd one in 04. That’s a lot more than the dawgs who haven’t won a national title in 32 years can say.
Paul in NH
October 10th, 2012
10:37 pm
Beast
Nice link. Who knew UK has a football team?
Lord Saban
October 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
Beast,
Damn. That was funny. Who is Joker Phillips anyhow?
Auburn for Petrino
October 10th, 2012
10:49 pm
That’s funny that you mention Auburn hiring Petrino. I work with an Auburn football Alum and I pick at him all the time about Auburn needing to hire Petrino. He says it will never happen. Yeah right, if they lose enough Petrino will be called.
SGT CHRIS
October 10th, 2012
10:51 pm
I could have sworn Malzahn won that title, seeing how he took Auburns offense with him when he left lol!!!
SEC Fact Finder
October 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:35 pm
“I have several very close friends at Kentucky and I can say without a doubt that Petrino IS on their list, ”
Are your “close friends” on the athletic board?
Nope.
=====
See this is what I am talking about, you have to argue, dispute and copy and paste without arguement, Mike P.
Yes, one is on the Board of Trustees Athletic Committee. Look up the name Shoop. But of course you will never take an answer and live with it. Done with trash like you. Copy and paste that!
Tech Engineer
October 10th, 2012
11:19 pm
War Eagle!!!!
TimeT
October 10th, 2012
11:34 pm
without cam and fairly, auburn wins 6 games in 2010 and chizik would be fired by now. He’ll be out of a job next year if they lose big again.
lol
October 10th, 2012
11:35 pm
can’t not wait until we fire big softy richt.
14 Titles
October 10th, 2012
11:39 pm
Nick wins his titles the right way—2 out of the last 3 years and another one this year! auburn—they have to pay players $200,000 to get some cheap title. RTR—title #15 on the way!!!
Mora less Petrino
October 11th, 2012
2:27 am
Auburn’s quick decline was predictable. Since Mora has taken his act to UCLA, Petrino would be perfect for Auburn! No doubt he would have a long tenure on the Plains, look at his track record. He would certainly demand an unlimited texting plan in his contract. Hide the women and give wide berth when Big Bobby hits the Lee County line straddling that slightly damaged Hog. AU + DA, a perfect match!
Dawgdays
October 11th, 2012
4:08 am
If Mike Bozo is such a valuable asset at UGA than surely he would be a top canidate for the head coaching vacancy at Aurburn when it happens…Nevermind Bozo has never even been considered for a Div III coaching job.
John Smith
October 11th, 2012
5:47 am
All you barners are delusional. As for you Georgia Bulldogs I can’t say much better. You all have the most talented players on your roster besides maybe Bama and LSU. Richt is way to nice of a guy and let’s his players run all over him. Also the state of Georgia is only behind California, Florida, and Texas in terms of top recruits. I mean come on wake up and quit the wishful thinking. Richt should have at least one title. He is a wonderful man but a pathetic excuse for a coach. Well Georgia it could be worse though just be thankful you aren’t what the cow college has become.
Hooty Goot
October 11th, 2012
5:51 am
Bobby Johnson would be great for Auburn. He would have been a winner at Vandy if he’d had anything to work with. Go UGA
Buzz2011
October 11th, 2012
6:24 am
Run Chizik to Georgia. Dawgs could use a decent coach!!!!
Buckeye
October 11th, 2012
6:38 am
He’s a one hit wonder that rode a “student athlete” who attended Auburn for one semester. Joke.
Delusional Tiger
October 11th, 2012
6:50 am
Auburn is The Ohio State of the SEC.
Desperate & Dirty…
GT
October 11th, 2012
6:55 am
It is strange to me that both coordinators are gone from that national championship team. Roof, by the way is putting out one of his greatest coaching performances of his life at Penn State. I haven’t looked over to the Arkansas State this year, but that Sunbelt Conference may be the greatest triple A conference in the history of college football. I wonder why all that coaching talent left Auburn, for places not so glamorous. There is a story there.
Bobby Petrino doesn’t need to be at Auburn, the board of trustees down there is going to get some coach in trouble, and Auburn is the last place Bobby Petrino needs to be, for both parties sake. I picture Petrino at Tennessee after this year. Dooley cleans the place up but the alumni there are restless, they don’t want a clean program they want what everybody else has in the SEC. Auburn should hire Dykes the guy that took Dooley’s place at La. Tech. Tech is undefeated this year and playing a big boy schedule. They play Texas A&M this weekend. If they beat them and I think they will, Auburn should get the plane out and go visit.
BobDawg
October 11th, 2012
6:57 am
Chizik does look stylish on the sidelines….. Does that count??? Turned up collar look… hair in place….
Delusional Tiger
October 11th, 2012
6:58 am
GT
October 11th, 2012
6:55 am
“It is strange to me that both coordinators are gone from that national championship team.”
Guess they didn’t like working for Pat Dye?
Ray Donnan
October 11th, 2012
7:02 am
If UGA had better fans we’d win. But what can one expect out of such fair-weathered fans? Fire the fans now and replace them with K-State fans.
Scott Brantley
October 11th, 2012
7:04 am
Chizik is charismatic and a good salesman when it comes to recruiting. However, I don’t think he is a very good coach. Hope he stays, though. RTR!!!
hit a single
October 11th, 2012
7:49 am
If he gets fired he will blame Tuberville.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
7:57 am
“without cam and fairly, auburn wins 6 games in 2010 and chizik would be fired by now.”
Dyer, Mcalleb, Fannin, Lutz, Adams, Blake, Ziemba……
You left those guys off.
G'Vegas Dawg
October 11th, 2012
7:58 am
Auburn = cest pool of the NCAA
JP
October 11th, 2012
8:02 am
Bo Pelini, current coach at Nebraska takes over at Auburn either next season or the following season, book it.
Paddy
October 11th, 2012
8:15 am
Petrino’s next job will be somewhere like Wyoming, Idaho St or Ga State. Don’t believe the the SEC will touch him!
GaryDinNC
October 11th, 2012
8:23 am
y’all should seriously consider Bo Jackson. He could rally the team and galvanize your fans and alums.
Auburn is 1-4, about to be 1-5
October 11th, 2012
8:24 am
THAT ^^^ is a losing program HUH????
UGA 5-1, will finish 10-2 or 11-1
THAT ^^^ is a winning program
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
8:26 am
“UGA 5-1, will finish 10-2 or 11-1″
THAT UGA won’t win a national championship….for the 33rd year in a row.
Sucks to be you.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
8:26 am
UGA = Chicago Cubs of the SEC.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 11th, 2012
8:28 am
HAHAHAH!!!!!! UGAG fans trash talking a program that won a national championship two years ago! PRICELESS! UGA hasn’t beaten a top ranked team in years.
Here’s how ESPN ranks SEC coaches vs. winning teams.
Auburn’s Gene Chizik (since 2009): 11-7 (.611)
Alabama’s Nick Saban (since 2007): 14-9 (.609)
LSU’s Les Miles (since 2005): 21-14 (.600)
Georgia’s Mark Richt (since 2001): 18-27 (.400)
THAT^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ IS TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 11th, 2012
8:31 am
Auburn fans/grads have to put up with Bama fans, who after 12 years of probation are back acting like a bunch of inbred retards. But, at least they have a winning program. UGA fans trash talk EVERY program in the NCAA. WHY??? Because they’re jealous and petty fans.
The Hammer
October 11th, 2012
8:34 am
If the BCS Championship Game were an actual football game, instead of what amounts to an exhibition of “football plays”, strung between TV timeouts, the Ducks would have definitely beat Auburn that year. Instead, it came down to a low-scoring match-up, with the winner being decided by who had the ball when the clock ran out. Sure, Auburn had a great team, but they weren’t “the best”; however, they were certainly the luckiest. Even luckier than “The Hat” and LSU typically have been (and their luck seems to be running out).
richie
October 11th, 2012
8:34 am
they will figure it out.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 11th, 2012
8:39 am
“he Ducks would have definitely beat Auburn that year.”
That may be the dumbest comment yet.
“Auburn had a great team, but they weren’t “the best”; however, they were certainly the luckiest. ”
More anger and jealousy from another mutt fan. I’ve never seen a team go 14-0 and LUCK OUT to get there.
Typical UGA fan
October 11th, 2012
8:40 am
EVERYONE ELSE CHEATS! UGA IS THE BESTEST EVER CUZ THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1980! HERSHELL IS THE BESTEST EVER. AUBURN SUCKS. ALABAMA SUCKS. UF SUCKS AND THEY ALL CHEAT.
SEC Bama Fan
October 11th, 2012
8:41 am
Keep him or fire him. It will not matter until Saban is gone from Alabama. Who is going to take the job as long as Saban is at Alabama?