Gene Chizik out at Auburn (says Bruce Feldman)
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/25/3553750/gene-chizik…
That's a fine, reasonable move, but I'm shocked and horrified that this means that a college football coach (Chizik) was dishonest to a prized recruit (Derrick Green).
November 25th, 2012 at 11:25 PM ^
I live in ACC country and I'am fed up enough with talks about how there shit doesnt stink because they are such a powerhouse in basketball... a snarky reply wasnt necessary, but im still pouting over the loss yesterday.
Fact of the matter is that Maryland is a basketball school that had a great program 10 years ago. Williams won a N.C. in basketball... great, but he also declined a trip to the NIT the year before and was also arrested for driving under the influence (great guy)
Sure, Yow was most likely on a power trip with a few decisions, but she also hired Gottfried, who lead the wolfpack to the sweet 16 last year and have the ACC talking that they are the team to beat this year.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:13 PM ^
Most people were scratching their heads trying to figure out why Auburn hired him in the first place. So I wonder who's on the short list. Bobby Petrino?
November 25th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
Or does his wife disqualify him?
November 25th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:28 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
If Mississippi will hire a black coach anyone can.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
Are you basing this on firsthand experience or just stereotypes about the South?
If I'm not mistaken, SEC teams have hired more black coaches than Big Ten teams have.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
In the SEC: Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, A&M.
In the Big Ten: MSU and Northwestern are the only two who have hired black coaches.
So the SEC has one more.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:59 PM ^
Kentucky hired (and fired) Joker Phillips.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:57 PM ^
The issue isn't whether there is more racism in the South, but whether Southern Universities are less likely to hire African-American coaches, because of racial discrimination.
November 25th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
But while we're at it, many African Americans will tell you that they find racial relations to be no better in the North; the racism is just more covert. Residential segregation, for instance, is at its greatest in the Northeast and Midwest.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:39 PM ^
I actually doubt it. If they make a splashy hire like Charlie Strong, that may be more attractive for recruits than having Chizik return...
November 25th, 2012 at 2:22 PM ^
Chizik won just about every national coaching award there is, from the Broyles to the Bear Bryant award. Not saying I am surprised, or that, given the high probability that Auburn gets hammered by the NCAA in the near future, it's not warranted, but the guy has had some success.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^
He had success with players he didn't recruit and a QB he likely bought. This was after getting fired at Iowa State. It's an anomaly that he was ever hired by Auburn, his success at Auburn was hardly his doing, and was marred by multiple player arrests and the Cam Newton fiasco. He comes across as a complete fraud and is obviously not much of a football coach.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:56 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
Auburn AD: What have you done for me lately?
Chizik: I won the national title in 2010.
Auburn AD: I said LATELY! That was 2 years ago! You're fired!
November 25th, 2012 at 2:35 PM ^
It's pretty unbelievable that Auburn fell apart so badly after the National Championship in 2010. I mean they pulled in a bunch of great recruiting class's, just bad coaching I guess...
November 25th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
It's interesting to think about how quick the fall has been, but after 2010, I believe they lost a Heisman Trophy winner, an Outland Trophy winner, and 23 seniors, which would be a challenge for any team to replace. That being said, they were probably playing above their level at 8-5 in 2011. Now, two new coordinators and you see this regression (numbers are rank in conference):
| SEASON | Rushing Off. | Rushing Def. | Passing Off. | Passing Def. | Scoring Off. | Scoring Def. |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 8 |
| 2011 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 11 |
| 2012* | 12 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 11 |
2011 can probably be explained by the talent of the 2010 leaving. I can only imagine that being 3-9, winless in the SEC and relatively unproductive (moreso each week, it seemed) on both sides of the football were just too much for Auburn. I wonder if even a few more wins might have spared Chizik another year...
November 25th, 2012 at 2:41 PM ^
I'm really surprised nobody has brought up Bob Diaco in any of the coaching replacement conversations yet, whether it be Auburn, Tennessee or Cal. I don't know that he's a main contender, but I would think his name would get thrown around.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
but it's not his fault (I presume) that all of his quarterbacks tore their ACLs this year. Maryland's dealt with unbelievable injury issues this year. Already in August, Testudo Times was saying that Maryland had angered the football gods...
November 25th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
Edsall did a great job at UConn, and he hasn't had very long at Maryland. Also, Maryland has suffered a ton of injuries this year at the most important position on the field.
Every time a coach doesn't have great success in his first or second year, you can't keep on firing guys. Hell, lots of people wanted Rich Rodriguez to have a fourth year to get things going at Michigan, and you want Edsall gone after two...
November 25th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
People were calling for Kelly's head after last season. And now they are in the national championship game. All coaches need some time to rebuild whatever smoking crater got the last coach fired.
November 25th, 2012 at 3:30 PM ^
*This statement not applicable to coordinators or position coaches.
This message has been furnished by Ann Arbor Torch and Pitchfork
November 25th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^
He got fired too soon. I'd rather see him fired in later. I wouldn't be surprised if the new coach comes in and Derrick Green falls in love with HIM.
November 25th, 2012 at 2:50 PM ^
Clearly, Petrino's time has finally come on the Plains. Auburn has a job opening, Petrino is jobless. All that needs to happen here is for an AU booster to fire up the private jet. Then get Petrino a line-up of grad assistants to pick from and a new Harley. How can this not work out???
November 25th, 2012 at 3:02 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
That's a turrible idea.
November 25th, 2012 at 3:19 PM ^
How is Taco Bell gonna make money off this?
November 25th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
Jim Tressel for Auburn Head Football Coach!
Qualifications:
- Can win with players he didn't recruit
- Can win with players he paid for, fair and square
- Has won a BCS Championship
- Will look the other way when boosters get a little too close to the program
- Will guarantee his teams have the best tattoos in college football
November 25th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 3:39 PM ^
If either Charlie Strong or Butch Jones trade up to an ACC or SEC job, it would not be unreasonable for Pat Narduzzi to get a head coaching job. The guy is a really good D coordinator and he is ready. As a Michigan fan, this would be great for us if it happened.
November 25th, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^
Y U NO ALL IN, AUBURN FAMILY?
November 25th, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 4:22 PM ^
November 25th, 2012 at 4:44 PM ^
...that there are players who were on the field in that loss yesterday who have National Championship rings. For a program like that to regress so badly so QUICK...defies all rationality. It took Michigan ten years from winning the MNC to lose to App State (and they were still able to beat Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer in a bowl game at the end of that).
Auburn went 0-for-the ESS EEE SEE this year and are under investigation (again). Staggering,
November 25th, 2012 at 5:20 PM ^
There is some serious talent in that tire fire. They have had solid recruiting classes the past 3 years. Great opportunity for a decent coach to come in with limited first year expectations and get 7-8 wins, and maybe a couple marquee ones against highly ranked elite SEC teams.
Whoever takes that job has a great shot at being the campus hero next year and even coach of the year, as that team's talent is nowhere jnear as bad as 0-8 in conference, and the media loves a "turnaround" story. They could easily win their 3 or 4 out of conference cupcake games as well as put together a .500 SEC slate.
At 8-4, the new coach would be a god on the plains for simply doing what any competent coach would with that talent.
November 25th, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^
I don't think your last paragraph is true. Auburn fans have significant expectations - especially with their in-state rival being so good.
November 27th, 2012 at 2:20 AM ^
Auburn has always been a school where expectations significantly outweighed reality... they didn't settle for 8-4 seasons when 8-4 was all they'd ever known, now actually been to the top of the mountain they will never settle again
November 25th, 2012 at 10:21 PM ^
I think this just goes to show how strong the talent in the SEC is. a great class every year doesn't mean wins in the SEC. For every great Auburn class, someone in the SEC had a better one.
November 25th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
After watching yesterday's game I'm hoping Kozan and Diamond decide to transfer
November 25th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
And in 2-3 years, expect that MNC to be removed as well. Chizik may well not even exist in Auburn's official records soon enough.
November 25th, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^
4 wins and 6 losses.
I think we can do better.
November 25th, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^