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
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403 comments Add your comment
James
October 11th, 2012
8:48 am
I’m not even an Auburn fan, but the beginning of this article ticks me off: “so far as can be discerned,” Auburn didn’t cheat in recruiting Cam Newton. SO FAR AS CAN BE DISCERNED, did Ga. cheat in recruiting Herschel? did Tennessee and Ole Miss cheat in getting the Manning boys? does Mark Bradley plagiarize the work of others? Cut it out with the cheap-shot innuendo and let it go: they won a national championship. Two years ago. Get over it.
Typical UGA fan
October 11th, 2012
8:51 am
“Auburn = cest pool ”
What’s a “cest pool?” UGA fans can’t even correctly spell their own insults.
Jack P
October 11th, 2012
8:52 am
Oh yes! He’s done as soon as the season ends.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
8:52 am
“Auburn = cest pool”
If you’re going to trash talk another school at least use spell check.
MC
October 11th, 2012
9:00 am
Urban Myer got out of Utah post Alex Smith. Damn near died of Post Tebow Syndrome. Now along comes Braxton Miller. Gene Chizik has never won anything pre nor post Cam Newton. Makes you wonder if these guys are really what they’re built up to be. Minus Tebow even Myer looked average. My bet on the Chizik thing however is that he can kiss hi butt goodbye. Contrast these 2 with Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban. Those 2 can win with any QB.
WarEagle
October 11th, 2012
9:03 am
I laugh at the Georgia Fans that bash AU for winning a National Title within the last 30 years…lol….I laugh at them because we have had multiple undefeated seasons since then; cheated out of the title back in 04…and they still talk trash. Face it UGA, you guys are a 2nd tier team and always will be a 2nd tier team in regard to the top level of competition. We have proven ourselves. The difference between an AU and UGA is that AU doesn’t whine and cry about a dismal season. You guys got destroyed by USC and have cried and complained ever since…lol…We are preparing to make things better for next season. Growing Pains…The Georgia BoohooDawgs….WAREAGLE BABY!!!!!!
Rufus
October 11th, 2012
9:04 am
I don’t see Petrino ever getting back into the SEC.
Tommy
October 11th, 2012
9:07 am
Auburn could hire “Big Bird” and then they would have the ” War Eagle and Big Bird”!
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:08 am
“Contrast these 2 with Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban. Those 2 can win with any QB.”
Spurrier can win with any QB? Got anything to back that up with?
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:08 am
“Gene Chizik has never won anything pre nor post Cam Newton. ”
Chizik has been on three undefeated teams at two different school.
Two years after a BCS title, could Auburn’s Chizik get fired? | Y'all Sports
October 11th, 2012
9:10 am
[...] read more: blogs.ajc.com [...]
Columbus Dawg
October 11th, 2012
9:15 am
I’m waiting am waiting on the article entitled”After 12 years with NO BCS Title, and embarrassing the Bulldog Nation every time he faces a decent team, will Mark Richt be fired”?
DogBreath
October 11th, 2012
9:16 am
the dogs will beat auburn like a rented mule, beat fla and finish 11-1, and head to the Sugar Bowl! auburn–will not even win 4 games. Dogs–win out!
Chi Town
October 11th, 2012
9:17 am
Lot of empty seats behind the Chiz in that picture.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:17 am
“the dogs will beat auburn like a rented mule, beat fla and finish 11-1, and head to the Sugar Bowl! auburn–will not even win 4 games.”
And UGA will, for the 33rd straight year, not win a national championship.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:18 am
“Lot of empty seats behind the Chiz in that picture.
Lot of empty space in UGA’s trophy case.
Ben
October 11th, 2012
9:27 am
Kind of nuts that as good as the Alabama and LSU programs are, as good as plenty of other schools are, one guy, Cam Newton, was able to join an already decent team, and absolutely destroy the rest of the country.
MC
October 11th, 2012
9:28 am
Yeah HUH!! Just go back through his history at UF…even USC. Won an ACC title at DUKE. You should change your name to DUH!!! Spurrier’s had teams he couldn’t even decide who the QB should be. Benched them on a whim and just kept rollin. Now HUH!!! or DUH!! Explain Saban. Never has had an elite QB. Cam the Scam gift wrapped Chizik’s title.
DawgNole
October 11th, 2012
9:32 am
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
10:31 pm
“Another lie from HUH????”
UGA hasn’t won a championship since 1980. That’s a looooooooooooooooooooooooong time.
________________________
You’ve added “since 1980″ to your previous lying comment. Think that changes it just a little? Dumbazz. And still a liar.
Gene's Chizek
October 11th, 2012
9:34 am
Fire me and I will spill my guts to the NCAA; how is that Barner Nation?
NCAA FAN#1
October 11th, 2012
9:35 am
UGA should make a move for Kirby Smart!! He can recruit his az off and he’s young, firey with a no BS approach!!! Hell… it’s time to stop housing kids with enternal problems at UGA! We can win with good kids who come from good solid foundations!
BW
October 11th, 2012
9:36 am
It seems to me that the way they handled Turbeville, there is an integrity issue at AU. That would be a concern for any candidate if the HC position were to become vacant. Of course if that is the case, then Petrino is the man!
ckgator
October 11th, 2012
9:40 am
The question was never… “did Auburn offer to pay Cam?”
The question was – did his father’s documented and acknowledged auctioning of Cam to the highest bidder render Cam Newton ineligible?
The NCAA said “no,” and justified it by claiming there was no evidence suggesting his direct knowledge of the pending transaction. Thus, Auburn was allowed to field a player who was used as collateral for a $180,000 payout in his second collegiate recruiting cycle. While other players’ were / are penalized at other programs for far less.
I’m glad Florida got rid of him. National title aside, he hangs above the Auburn program like a used adult diaper in a trophy case.
Lance
October 11th, 2012
9:41 am
Scam Newton was the greatest one year free-agent hire in the history of college football. Now that the NFL has taken a year to adjust to him and Carolina’s offense, he’s been exposed.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:50 am
MC
Spurrier has the same amount of national titles as Chizik. ONE.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:50 am
“You’ve added “since 1980″ to your previous lying comment. Think that changes it just a little? Dumbazz. And still a liar.”
You might be the dumbest person on this blog. What did I lie about?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 11th, 2012
9:52 am
“I’m glad Florida got rid of him. National title aside, he hangs above the Auburn program like a used adult diaper in a trophy case.”
Ah yes, Florida. The school that has more players arrested than any other program over the last 20 years.
ckgator
October 11th, 2012
9:53 am
DawgNole –
Tough week, eh?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 11th, 2012
9:53 am
BW
How many head coaches college football are former Auburn coaches/assistant coaches?
Answer: A lot.
get bobby!
October 11th, 2012
9:54 am
when the heat dies down, auburn needs to get bobby lowder to hire petrino—he’ll work for $2-3 mil right now and he can win big at auburn.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:54 am
“Explain Saban. Never has had an elite QB.”
Saban is a fantastic recruiter and coach. Better than Spurrier by far. Nope, never had an elite QB but then again, that wasn’t the argument was it.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:55 am
If it wasn’t for Auburn, UGA would not have a 1980 national championship. SEE: Vince Dooley.
MC
October 11th, 2012
9:56 am
HUH!!! There you go again. DUH!!!…..Compare the winning percentages of the 2. You gotta be the dumbest poster here today. You got some kind of man love thing going with the Cheeezit?
MC
October 11th, 2012
9:58 am
Can anybody her take a guy seriously that can’t see the difference in the Cheeze and SOS.
$200,000 CAM!
October 11th, 2012
9:58 am
Auburn boosters paid off cam, he was on campus a few months, they got their title, and cam probably never even went to class! Buy a title for $200,000–lowder knows his stuff!! eagles pay good.
DawgNole
October 11th, 2012
9:59 am
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:50 am
“You’ve added “since 1980″ to your previous lying comment. Think that changes it just a little? Dumbazz. And still a liar.”
You might be the dumbest person on this blog. What did I lie about?
_________________
What did you lie about? No chance of me being the dumbest after that stupid question. For you and all the rest to see once again, I’ve posted your lying comment below. Liar.
HUH?????
October 10th, 2012
5:56 pm
You know who hasn’t won a national championship?
UGA
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
9:59 am
“HUH!!! There you go again. DUH!!!…..Compare the winning percentages of the 2. You gotta be the dumbest poster here today. You got some kind of man love thing going with the Cheeezit?”
What’s hilarious about your asinine post is the fact that you called me a liar and yet you can’t even say what I lied about. You’re not a smart person.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
10:00 am
“You know who hasn’t won a national championship?”
Yep, it’s been years since UGA won a championship and my point TOTALLY went over your head, ma’am. I’m so sorry you were not blessed with common sense.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
10:01 am
“Auburn boosters paid off cam, he was on campus a few months, they got their title, and cam probably never even went to class! Buy a title for $200,000–lowder knows his stuff!! eagles pay good.”
Obviously an Obama supporter. Repeat a lie over and over again and hope the masses believe it.
ckgator
October 11th, 2012
10:01 am
Donnan -
I’m curious. Do you use Windex to clean your glass house or just vinegar and water? I also hear newspaper works well.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/09/03/no-excuses-georgias-arrests-fall-on-mark-richt/
TBone
October 11th, 2012
10:03 am
Auburn sold their collective souls to the devil for their national title via Cam. Most programs get a major bounce for a few years after winning a title. I just don’t think Auburn football is the head of the class after their national title. Look at Bama! Go Dawgs!
DC
October 11th, 2012
10:06 am
I have no clue why people think we should have kept Tubs…UGA fans should just stick to what they know best..coming close to being elite and UGA football…
Tubs was losing the recruiting battle with our friends to the West…a change had to be made b/c tubs didn’t see bama as a threat (dominating several years in a row would do that)…then saban came in…the “tide” shifted..Chiz is a great hire for a short stink..I see him coaching at AU maybe 1-2 more seasons…HE HIRED THOSE COACHES…he kept the crew in tact and even with all the allegations everyone was still a family and supported each other all the way to the BCS..
Mark, this blog is horrible…you take cheap shots just to get blog hits up…UGA lost to USCe…how about you stick to that…
DawgNole
October 11th, 2012
10:08 am
ckgator
October 11th, 2012
9:53 am
DawgNole –
Tough week, eh?
_____________________
You got that right. Only the Falcons saved it from being a total disaster.
DC
October 11th, 2012
10:09 am
test
DawgNole
October 11th, 2012
10:12 am
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
10:00 am
“You know who hasn’t won a national championship?”
Yep, it’s been years since UGA won a championship and my point TOTALLY went over your head, ma’am. I’m so sorry you were not blessed with common sense.
_______________________
You didn’t say “it’s been years” in your original lying comment. Now that you’ve been nailed–again–you’re piling on the lies by trying to distort. And your 9:59 comment directed to me cites a comment I didn’t even make. Better quit while you’re behind. Liar.
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
10:12 am
“Auburn sold their collective souls to the devil for their national title via Cam.”
The stooooopid, it burns!!!!!!
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
10:13 am
“You didn’t say “it’s been years” in your original lying comment. Now that you’ve been nailed–again–you’re piling on the lies by trying to distort. And your 9:59 comment directed to me cites a comment I didn’t even make. Better quit while you’re behind. Liar.”
Perhaps you should actually read my posts, ma’am. Then again, you’re not a smart person to begin with.
ckgator
October 11th, 2012
10:14 am
DawgNole – yes they did! I was at the Braves game to boot. Awful.
DawgNole
October 11th, 2012
10:22 am
HUH?????
October 11th, 2012
10:13 am
“You didn’t say “it’s been years” in your original lying comment. Now that you’ve been nailed–again–you’re piling on the lies by trying to distort. And your 9:59 comment directed to me cites a comment I didn’t even make. Better quit while you’re behind. Liar.”
Perhaps you should actually read my posts, ma’am. Then again, you’re not a smart person to begin with.
____________________
Your first lying post, made at 5:56 p.m. Oct 10, is there for you and the rest of the blog to see. So all of us are smart enough to know you’re a liar. Your subsequent posts indicate that you’re also ignorant, self-absorbed, and in denial. Proud of yourself?
Under The Bleachers
October 11th, 2012
10:22 am
Some of the issues that have occurred under the watchful eye of Gene Chizik and his staff:
Cam Newton- The entire saga….The NCAA even declared him ineligible for a short short period of time.
Eric Smith beats up fellow student, Eric Smith fails drug test, Eric Smith continues to play, Eric Smith late blatant hit during the BCSCG, Eric Smith beats up girlfriend.
Academic Fraud charges in the Urban Studies program involving 17 football players.
Nick Fairley- Transcripts changed upon signing with Auburn, NCAA clearing house does not clear Fairley, goes to JC, returns to play for one season at Auburn, post playing reports out of Auburn say he never attended classes and should have been ruled ineliglible for bowl game.
Reese Dismukes- Alcohol Suspension
4 players charges with Robbery, 1 convicted, 3 awaiting trials
Mike Dyer several issues with drugs, driving without license.
Mike Dyer supplies gun for Robbery.
Mike Dyer during trial states that synthetic marijuana was rampantly used by Auburn Football players.
Mike Dyer kicked off team.
This is only a small number of issues that have occurred during Chizik’s time in Auburn.