AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMore bad timing at Auburn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nobody asked me but:
1. There is more tough timing at Auburn: I’m sure the timing could have been worse, but I’m not sure how. Gene Chizik is named Auburn’s new head football coach amid a fractured fan base, many of whom didn’t understand how a 5-19 coach from Iowa State, who had a cup of coffee as Auburn’s defensive coordinator, was an upgrade over Tommy Tuberville. Then came charges from Sir Charles Barkley that race was “the No. 1 factor” in the decision to hire Chizik, who is white, and not Buffalo’s Turner Gill, who is black
And while all of this is going on and Auburn is getting beat up, in some cases unfairly, in the national media, the renewal form for 2009 season tickets went out. So it can’t be a coincidence that former coach Pat Dye recently sent out a letter asking for the Auburn family to rally behind Chizik. The unstated message: “Please renew your season tickets.”
I had several Auburn fans contact me and say they weren’t sure they would renew their season tickets. I’ll bet that they do. Emotions are running a little raw right now on the Loveliest Village. Those fans will realize that they HAVE to rally around Chizik and the new staff.
2. I’m surprised Dan Mullen will call the plays in the BCS championship game: There are a million things to do when a new head coach takes over at a school. If that man has never been a head coach before, there are two million things to do and there is a very steep and time-consuming learning curve. Best wishes for Dan Mullen, the new head coach at Mississippi State, as he tries to keep his old hat as the offensive coordinator at Florida through the BCS championship game with Oklahoma. It has a chance to work because Mullen and Tim Tebow basically share the same mind when it comes to offense. But you can bet that the head coach, Urban Meyer, will be watching closely. Meyer is one of the better detail coaches I’ve met. If he sees any slippage in preparation for Oklahoma, he will step in.
3. Joe Pa continues to fool us all: Here is why I like Joe Paterno. Yeah, he’s cranky and he makes it tough on the media. He has an ego like all talented people do. But the guy simply will not follow the script that other people have been trying to write for him. Several years ago when he had several tough seasons in a row, the script writers in the media said it was time for him to go. The game, they said, had passed him by. Paterno said no, there were some things that needed fixing in the Penn State program and he knew how to do that. This season the Nittany Lions went 11-1 and if not for a last-second loss at Iowa, Paterno would be playing for the national championship. Then the script writers said that after such a great season it was again time to go. Paterno ain’t buying it. He has gotten a commitment from Penn State for three more seasons just as he turns 82 years old. He’s got a new hip and he’s ready to go to the Rose Bowl and take on USC. How could you not pull for this guy?
4. Turner Gill was never going to Iowa State: When Chizik got the Auburn job over Buffalo’s Turner Gill, many assumed that Gill, a former Nebraska quarterback and assistant coach, would take over at Iowa State. That was not going to happen. Gill is a proud man and felt he had already proven he could build one downtrodden program by taking Buffalo to a MAC championship in only three seasons. So he decided to take a contract extension at Buffalo that goes through 2013 with rollover options. It was disappointing to see Gill passed over by Syracuse and Auburn but he will ultimately he will benefit from this experience. At least I think he will.
5. Notre Dame will ALWAYS be Urban Meyer’s dream job and that’s okay for the Gators: It’s always been humorous to me how some stories are bigger nationally than they are locally. Take the innocent comment recently from Urban Meyer that Notre Dame, a job that he turned down to come to Florida in 2005, was his dream job. The local media guys didn’t go nuts because they understood the context. It was always a dream of Meyer’s mother that he be the head coach at Notre Dame. Meyer was named after a Pope, for crying out loud. For that reason Meyer will always be complimentary when the subject is Notre Dame. But as often the case, Meyer’s desire to be respectful of Notre Dame was cast as uncertainty about his current situation with Florida. Silly. For Meyer, Notre Dame is a dream job. Florida, on the other hand, is a REAL job where it is possible to compete for the national championship every season. He understands the difference.
Comments
By St Stanislaus
December 17, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
Can’t understand Mullen’s decision. His priority should be recruiting for State.
By Spanky
December 17, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
I still don’t get why everyone is creaming their jeans over Turner Gil. The guy may turn out to be a great coach, but he’s had one winning season. That’s not a program, that’s a fluke. Show me three or four years with a winning record, and then I’ll give you consideration for a job at a BCS school.
By SecIsFootball
December 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
AU is complete train wreck right now. I keep reading from Tony and from AU fans that this would be brilliant hire if he was still the DC at Texas. Well, he isnt. He proved in 2 years that he is a far better DC than a head coach and it will cost AU several million and a bunch of wins to figure that out.
Mullen was hired as the HC at MSU and that is where he should be. Not calling plays at his old job.
Good for Joe Pa! Coach Paterno is good for college football!!
Gill will get a good job. He is an outstanding coach and it is too bad that the President and AD at AU have no control over who they hire.
ND may be Meyer’s dream job and he may end up there one day. But right now ND is in the tank and he would be a complete fool to leave UF anytime soon.
By Mikey
December 17, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Would the last sports journalist leaving Auburn please turn out the lights…
By CrimsonRedScarlett
December 17, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
By Gene
December 17, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
It appears that Auburn blew it again by not hiring Gill. Race may not have been an issue, but a few years ago, Lowder had one of those offensive black footman statues at his game house in Auburn. That certainly indicates a lack of racial sensitivity if not outright ignorance. The thug, Pat Dye, has no business doing anything official on any college campus.
By MannyT
December 17, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
Turner Gill had a winning season and a league championship at Buffalo. I’m sure it’s easy to get kids to go there.
Gene Chizik had how many winning seasons at Iowa State? zero Gill won more games this season than Chizik has in his career as a head coach.
Forget Gill. The reality is that you wonder why a program of Auburn’s stature essentially took a coach that Sean Avery would not say is as good as sloppy seconds.
What’s the rest of that story? hmmm
By Jim
December 17, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Please stop with the Auburn-KKK stories they are killing recruiting because they have to tell them they can’t go out with white women…wow what a backwards place.
By Tommy T
December 17, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
Isn’t it funny that Dye who was fired for paying players is still at Auburn and is 100% behind Chizik. I think the NCAA will be looking closely at this situation.
Keep it down home Cuz-
By TC Bulldawg
December 17, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
Someone needs to dial 911 and report either a suicide or a missing person. It seems that Tubs is not the only casualty from the disaster on the Plains since Roswell Ed has also disappeared into oblivion. Either that or his mother or his handlers at the asylum finally took away his access to the computer. Maybe Chizik’s hiring finally pushed Mr. Dillusional over the edge
By Football Factory
December 17, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
As a U. of Buffalo alum, I can say unequivocally that Turner Gill has not “turned the program around.” He’s had one winning season (8-5) in his three years. Let him have a string of more impressive seasons, then we’ll all be happy. (Though I am pleased he has just signed a contract extension.)
By Miles
December 17, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
The people at Auburn that are complaining about the new coach are the same people who hate their boss and then kiss his rear end when he comes around…Auburn will be sold out this season just as they have been in the past. Mr. Barnhart, emotions certainly are running high!
By Otto
December 17, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
Mullen has his priorities in order, he is finishing his commitment to his current team unlike so many other honorable coaches. The questionable thing is why is a OC of the most explosive offense in the SEC going to a school with the lowest budget in the conference.
One MAC championship does not make you ready for a SEC head coaching job. Win a BCS bowl and you may have some reason to gripe. Why isn’t everyone complaining about Syracuse turning him down, he is perfect the job as he knows the recruiting base.
Chizik coached in the Big 12 and Gill in the MAC a little bigger challenge there.
By Otto
December 17, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
ND is every coaches dream job, a nightmare, but a dream none the less
By JB
December 17, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Everyone should be given a chance to do the job they were hired to do. I sure most of you would have trouble securing employment if your last jobs efforts were examined. Give the Boy a chance. ( well, I’m a Dawg fan and I’d be p** to if this was Richt’s replacement).
By RoswellEd's Mom
December 17, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
He did not quit posting he was banned.
By SC Rules!!!
December 17, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
I find it funny how all this “talk” about race and who gets hired or doesn’t “becasue” of skin color. It is amazing how no one cared one bit last year when the cornholers were looking for a new coach and Turner Gill wasn’t hired. I mean after all he was an all American QB for the cornshuckers. Why is it now a big deal that he didn’t get such and such job??? I thought the whole basis for hiring someonoe is: ARE THEY THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB?????? Well for what ever reason he wasn’t, let’s move on people. Really. The more we and by that I mean the media mostly, keep harping on “race” relations if everyone agrees that race shouldn’t be an issue.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
December 17, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Roswell Ed is the idiot who now refers to himself as the man who made roswell ed famous.
By DBCOOPER
December 17, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
There were 17 open head coaching jobs. Did Gill interview for all of them? Did he interview for the Washington job? Those tree hugging racist. How bout Syracuse? Those racist! They even use Orange men as mascots!
Heck no it’s just easy to pile on a Southern school. After all Charles Barkley is the spokesperson for all things rightous and good.
By jabster
December 17, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
RoswellEd’sMom:
Nobody gets banned from these blogs. It’s like the Majestic on Ponce after midnight—impossible to get kicked out of.
By Spike
December 17, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
Roswell Ed, where are you? You self appointed mouthpiece for all things Auburn.
By mcdawg
December 17, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Meyer shoulkd keep on dreaming—Unlike Jo Pa, college football has passed by Notre Dame-or rather ND as an institution has taken a pass on College Football-they are going to milk the NBC thing for as long as they can (a very cynical thing for such “idealists” as they are)build up the lesser sports (womens sports-which is great i have daughter who loves sports)—but bottom line there won’t be any National Championships at ND ever again no matter who the coach is
By gtnhsval
December 17, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
One winning season is one more than Chizik!!!
By Okefenokee Dawgs
December 17, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
An innoncent comment by Urban? I thought it was a statement in the Urban’s book, by the Urban and about the Urban. And, I think the Urban said it more than once.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
How can the idiots in Auburn be obtuse and transparent at the same time?!!!!
“Take the innocent comment recently from Urban Meyer that Notre Dame, a job that he turned down to come to Florida in 2005, was his dream job. The local media guys didn’t go nuts because they understood the context.”
…a job that he turned down to come to Florida…”
Thanks, TB, for finally putting the ND issue to rest.
By mcdawg
December 17, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
and BTW-the Mullen thing is a terrible idea
By John
December 17, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
I have been an Auburn season ticket holder since 1971 but have considered not renewing because it’s just getting harder to make the drive every week, especially with the ridiculous number of night games Auburn forces on fans now. All of a sudden Pat Dye puts the guilt trip on us about our support. I still support and love Auburn with a passion. I just wish they would keep the games in early afternoon unless they are on TV to make it easier for fans.
By bama12titles
December 17, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Since when did this job come down to Chizik vs Gill? Several points to make about this overblown nonsense.
1)The media is simply piling on anytime a southern school doesn’t hire a black candidate. If you don’t believe that then ask yourself why a BCS conference team right down the street in Syracuse didn’t even have the courtesty to interview Gill. The whole reason for this is that the media just loves to beat down on the deep south and bring up those old racist stereotypes. Journalist love to feel self righteous about themselves and boy do they love to pontificate. It gives them their little piece of power and influence to preside over what’s right and wrong in society. Their judgemental egos get out of control.In this case it suits their purpose to make this all about Gill and Chizik and leave all the other far more qualified candidates out of the equation because it doesn’t suit their argument.
2)The truth is that there were 8 candidates who were interviewed including consistent, far more successful winners at smaller programs like Jim Grobe at Wake Forest and Gary Patterson at TCU. To win the ACC at Wake, go to the Orange Bowl, and be a consistent winner at Wake(enrollment 4,000) is amazing. Patterson constantly has TCU winning 10 games or more and usually in the top 25. Other good candidates were Hoke at Ball State 12-1, Todd Graham at Tulsa(top offense in the country and conference USA champ I think).
Yet no one talks about why these far more qualified candidates didn’t get the job over Chizik or Turner, neither of whom is really that well qualified as a head coach. Gill is 15-22 with one good season this year at 8-5. One decent 8-5 season does not make a coach. Just ask Sylvester Croom. Chizik was incredible as a coordinator but bombed in coaches purgotory at ISU. But all of these coaches were far more qualified than Chizik or Gill for that matter.
This has nothing to do with racism. It has to do with the fact that they hired Chizik because they knew him. Familiarity goes a long way. They probably also felt like they could control him. They probably discounted the ISU failure because it they do recognize it as being a coaches grave.
If Auburn had hired Gill over any of the other far more capable candidates like Grobe,Patterson,Hoke, Graham,etc. would this not be reverse racism since those men are vastly more qualified? Would Sir Charles be whining about these more qualified men getting passed over? Probably not for the simple reason that it doesn’t suit his world view.
By lakerat
December 17, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
John -
I believe most of Auburn’s night games are due to television, but I could be wrong.
I am like you, as I grew up in Tallahassee going to FSU games when they were good before Bowden (the Bill Peterson era featuring Steve Tensi and Fred Belitnikoff(sp) - before the bad years of Darrel Murdraugh and Larry Jones as FSU coaches - did ya’ll know that Bill Parcells - yes, THAT Bill Parcells - was linebacker coach at FSU during those bad years after Peterson and before Bowden? - guess that stint did not hurt his resume’). All of FSU games were at night back then because UM played on Friday night and UF played on Saturday afternoon, and FSU was the stepchild. Those were the good ‘ol days of college football, when TV did not dictate when the games were played.
By AU made a mistake
December 17, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
1) You’re right. Season tickets will renew at about the same rate as always. It will be individual sales late in the next season that tell the tale. If there are lots of empty seats because AU stinks,then it will be a story…
2) Mullen might be selling MSU short by not being on the recruiting trail. This could be a major bone of contention if he doesn’t set the world on fire next fall.
3) Joe Pa is being selfish by not turning the program over to a younger guy.PSU will regret creating a personality cult around the guy like Bama did with the Bear…
4)All of you folks that wonder about how good a coach Turner Gill is,he has improved the Bull’s record every year that he has been at Buffalo . He has taken the Bulls from a team that couldn’t beat most I-AA teams to MAC champions in 3 years.Yeah ,it’s the MAC , but good coaching will travel to any league. Auburn missed a chance to steal a great coach and whiffed.Auburn now becomes the Bama of a few years ago.
5) Who cares ? ND is now irrelevant in CFB and Meyer has Florida at a championship level every year.If he wins another NC this year,he should go to the NFL for the big $$$.
By Dr. Rufus L. Jones da third
December 17, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I agree with DB cooper, nobody else got ripped like Auburn and they’re coaching jobs everywhere. Alabama did not hire a black guy, and they didn’t hear any noise. Alabama is well known for their racism. They should have offered Ty Willingham and Turner Gill, but no they had to hire ol’ whitey Nick Saban. Atleast he doesn’t have to worry about getting sprayed by hoses and attacked by dogs. I swear, Alabama is the most racist school in the country.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
bama12titles has a pint:
Racism and prejudice are ubiquitous. The nation as a whole bears the burden of guilt for only having a handful of African-American college head coaches, but it’s always a little bit more convenient to chastise a school in the south for such a transgression.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
bama12titles has a point:
Racism and prejudice are ubiquitous. The nation as a whole bears the burden of guilt for only having a handful of African-American college head coaches, but it’s always a little bit more convenient to chastise a school in the south for such a transgression.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
bama12titles:
Sorry about the typo.
It’s a bit early for a pint isn’t it?!!!!
Or is it?!!!!
By Hal
December 17, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
I think the only reason Bobby Bowden is staying around is because of Paterno. He wants to be the all time winingest coach and Paterno won’t retire. I don’t think Bobby was happy to hear JoPa is signed up for 3 more years.
By Ramblin Wrecker
December 17, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
I realize that the comments by Urban Meyer should be no big deal, but it cost Jim Mora a job in Atlanta. He was in a late run trying to get his team in the playoffs and made a comment about Washington being his dream job. Everyone in Atlanta is sure he would have been allowed another season to see what happened if he had not made those comments. I understand what Meyer means when he says that, but in reality he should keep it to himself. Not just for his own Florida programs’ sake, but for Notre Dame too. If Notre Dame thinks Meyer would come there, they might cut Weis loose. And even though I’m not a Weis believer, it would still be starting over from scratch again if they cut him loose and Meyer really wasn’t interested. Notre Dame’s kids deserve better than that. And Meyer should keep that in mind when he makes comments.
By Punt, Bama, Punt!
December 17, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
WAR EAGLE!!! Shall soar again!
By Fleischman
December 17, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Mullen is making a big mistake. Reminds me of Mike Price when he got the bama job. Look how that turned out.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Not to change the subject, but how would a CFB playoff change unfair bowl guest outcomes we seem to witness every year?
Case in point:
The Patriots stand to get left out of the playoffs with an 11 and 5 season, while the 8 and 8 Broncos and Cardinals get to go!
By bank walker
December 17, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Listen, give Auburn a break, sportswriters, you pansies. You love to play the race card. That’s whats wrong with this country, THE MEDIA. They drill something into our heads long enough, where if we didn’t believe it before, we would start to believe it after a while. WE HAVE A FRICKIN HALF BLACK PRESIDENT!!!! FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, LET IT GO!! I’m a Dawg, but the reason I’m taking up for my SEC brethren is because if it were UGA in Auburn’s position, they would be geeting the same flack. Media, people of America are getting damn fed up with the race card! Are you twirps running out of material, so you leave the race issue there in case you can’t come up w/something that week?
By And an 11 - 5...
December 17, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
…Atlanta Falcons team stands just as good a chance to be left out, too!
By BraveTiger
December 17, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
TRUE Auburn fans need to stop listening to Charles Barkley, the national media and Paul Finebaum and get behind Chizik. You season ticket holders who say you will not renew your seats, thanks because there are plenty of TRUE Auburn people who will fill Jordan-Hare and cheer for our team. If you are not renewing, you were never a TRUE Auburn person in the first place. But remember when Auburn wins next year and they beat Alabama, don’t come back to the bandwagon, because it will be filled with TRUE Auburn Tigers. WAR EAGLE!!!
By happy gator
December 17, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Neither Paterno nor Bowden will retire until one of them drops dead. They are competing for the all-time record in major college victories, which will probably never be broken.
By goober
December 17, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Jeez … too many people still missing the whole Auburn point, which is this: Forget race. What’s so incredible is that they hired a guy who was 5-19 over two years at a small no-nothing football school.
Why: Only one reason. In Auburn’s mind, he was their best candidate. And Auburn gets to make that decison — no one else. They will live, or most likely DIE, by it — but it’s still their decision to make.
More important question: WHY did Auburn believe Chizik was the best man available? Answer: Because no great coach would take the job! It’s that simple, and case closed! Why would any great coach (existing or aspiring) want to coach there when they just canned Tubs, who was a great coach. So Auburn said, “OK, we’ll appease some of our fan base by picking a guy who had some, ANY, connection to Auburn … like our Defensive Coordinator from four years ago. Yeah, that’s it, that’ll work, there’s our connection!”
So what if he was 5-19 over two years as head coach at a small no-nothing football school! He’s the BEST man we can find and he’s got an Auburn connection! And we’ll pay him $2,000,000.00 per year in this great economy because we have enough blow-hard dumb-azz ignorant redneck backwoods lard-azz fans who will pony up enough money for us to do that — even if it means they will have to skip their tobacco and beer and truck and trailer and girlfriend payments! (Jerry Springer should move his show to Auburn.)
Auburn could have hired a young successful aspiring coach for 1/5 of that amount, and give itself a better chance of success for the next five years. In two years or less it will fire Chizik and the disaster will continue, even worse, like it did at Alabama. And then the Auburnites will be asked to pony up what will be by then about $5 mill a year to get a true top-name coach like Bama did with Saban. (Speaking of which, what happens next year at Bama when the goldbrick-crapping St. Nick Tide goes back to normalcy, like 8-4 or so? It won’t matter, since they will have Auburn’s number for five years.)
Paterno and Bowden will play in the Zombie/Alzheimers Bowl next year during which they will gracefully move on to the next stage of their lives. It’s beyond me to understand why any hot-shot, top-recruit would want to play for either of these two great-grandfathers. Paterno stays in the box, and Bowden just stares out at the field with this glazed look in his eyes.
5-19? You’ve set a new low, Auburn.
By JokeofaCoach
December 17, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
The greatest horror at Auburn is that they let go of a terrific coach to begin with! There was no where for that program to go but DOWN! Saban, Meyer, Miles, Carrol, etc are the coaching elite and they certainly were not going to Auburn! The next tier of coaches certainly would have included the very man they let go!
Saying that…Gill or even Garner would have been the only choices with potential to keep Auburn at the level it has been in under the coach they just fired. I doubt either is as good of a coach but they just may have added enough top recruits (African-Americans looking for a similar complexioned coach) to make up for their weakness where X’s and O’s are concerned. How much of Buffalo’s success came from Black athletes recruited by Gill?
Auburn will drop below all SEC west teams except maybe…MSU.
They will perform worse than all SEC east teams except for Vandy.
The War Eagles can expect clipped wings for at least the next three years when they will again be looking for another coach.
By Atlanta Gator
December 17, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
Comments in response to Tony——
(1) Yup. The Auburn athletics department has a bit of a public relations problem on their hands. And that’s separate and apart from the substantive challenges that accompany every coaching change. I wouldn’t call it a firestorm, but I can definitely say, with some sense of understatement, that it’s a public relations MESS. It’s very reminiscent of the hiring of Ron Zook at Florida, except, of course, that the coach who preceded Zook at Florida was not forced out.
Frankly, season ticket sales may be the least of it.
(2) I’m happy that Dan Mullen will call the offensive plays for Florida in the BCS title game … provided that he’s fully engaged. That’s a big “if,” given all of the time-consuming issues that he is facing in Starkville. First and foremost, Mullen needs to keep the Rivals top-25 recruiting class that already in the MSU pipeline, and expand upon it. Not coincidentally, coaching a winning Gators offense in the BCS title game would no doubt help convince a handful of additional recruits to come to Starkville. I fully expect that Mullen and the MSU AD have discussed this, and MSU will give Mullen some time as a result.
(3) Joe Paterno is physically frail, but apparently still sound of mind and strong of will. The FSU coaching legend, Bobby Bowden, is showing signs of failing mental sharpness. Short of winning an ACC title in 2009, my bet is Bobby will retire first, or he will be gently forced out. I think the time has passed when top recruits went to FSU because of the Legend; now, it’s in spite of him.
(4) Good grief. Turner Gill still has his reputation, and his head coaching stock is still rising. If Buffalo continues to do well, it’s only a matter of time until he gets the opportunity to coach a bigger name BCS program. Why would he accept the job at Iowa State … the graveyard of coaching careers?
(5) Even smart coaches sometimes run off at the mouth, but this is one question for which Urban Meyer should have had a prepared answer. Meyer may, in deed, one day coach at Notre Dame, but it’s not likely to happen before his youngest child graduates from high school in Gainesville. For the record, his youngest child is in the 5th grade … that only leaves Meyer seven more seasons to coach in Gainesville … plenty of time to win another 3 or 4 SEC championships and play for another BCS title. After that kind of run, he may need a change of pace.
Let me also say that if anyone could turn Notre Dame back into a contender, Urban Meyer would be that coach. Like his quarterback Tim Tebow, Meyer has the charismatic ability to get players to “buy in” and commit heart and soul to the program. Notre Dame had that once (it was mistakenly called the “luck” of the Irish), but they seem to have lost that semi-magical esprit de corps that drove their program.
BTW, I can still remember when rival SEC fans predicted that Steve Spurrier would soon leave for the NFL back in 1994 and 1995. It was wishful thinking then, and it’s wishful thinking now.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
December 17, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Let’s wait to hear what Terence has to say, before we draw any conclusions!
By Ed
December 17, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Auburn’s administration has botched a few things this decade, but there are some things that an athletic director or coach can’t control - like Charles Barkley, a celebrity alum, accusing the school of racist hiring practices. I don’t know if Barkley was trying to help or hurt his alma mater, but those comments should really help Auburn compete against Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Florida for elite black athletes, huh? What a moron -Barkley should have aired his concerns privately to AU officials. He has practically guaranteed a dip in recruiting this season.
By RAMDAWG
December 17, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Great post earlier-where was the outrage when Nebraska didnt hire Gill last year,Syracuse,Washington,etc.I dont care who Auburn hires they are in a 5 year rebuilding mode.Iowa St has an opening you can hire him there but if they dont you wont hear a word about rasism-hypocrites-yea i think so.
By BILLY JACK
December 17, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Joe Pa-getting a 3 yr extension is unbelievable-Penn State may do like they do in the soviet union just stuff him and prop him up and the Penn State fans will never know.
By Ed
December 17, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
The race card has been played so often and carelessly in recent years, it has lost a lot of its sting. Good points made by earlier posters - if race was a factor, how do you explain Chizik’s hiring over white men who have better resume’s, like Grobe, Patterson, etc.?
Is it possible that the Auburn brass simply liked Chizic more than all the other candidates, whatever their reasons may be? Familiarity and comfort with his style, perhaps?
As for the sanctimonious sportswriters who seem to find racism every time a black coach is not hired or fired (by the “racist” school that gave him a job in the first place), it’s funny how Syracuse, Nebraska, Washington and several other schools seem to have escaped the scrutiny Auburn is receiving right now.
My thoughts are that racism has little to do with hiring and firing college coaches. Winning is the bottom line. If Tony Dungy announced his retirement from pro football and a desire to get a college coaching job, he’d have college ADs beating down his door before the end of the press conference.
By RJS
December 17, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
G8R Grad: Meyer only turned down ND for Florida because ND wouldn’t let him bring all his assistants, grant him the same leeway with recruits academics they did for Lou Holtz, and wouldn’t open up their piggy bank as much as Florida. In short, Florida has a much better AD than Notre Dame. All things being equal, Meyer would have taken the ND job- and he still might in 2010 if ND doesn’t get to a BCS game.
By RJS
December 17, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
Forget Turner Gill, why hasn’t someone given Charlie Strong a HC job and gotten him the heck out the SEC East? I don’t know if this is racism or stupidity but the man can coach. Is he a bad interview? Does he even get interviews? Anyone know the deal on this?
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
RJS:
(shudder) Your 3:17 and 3:20 posts are going to keep me up at night!
What kind of man are you?!!!!
God, man, have some mercy!
By Atlanta Gator
December 17, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
RJS——I hate to repeat previous days’ comments, especially regarding Charlie Strong’s situation at Florida. If you’re curious about the rumors, look for my comments and Cuz’s comments on the Mr. CFB blog over the last week or so.
Frankly, Urban Meyer and the Gators would love to keep Strong as defensive coordinator forever, but he has clearly earned a head coaching opportunity at a big-time program. He’s good-looking, articulate, a great recruiter, and his players would walk through fire for him. When most of the SEC was mocking the Gators for their freshman and sophomore-dominated defense in 2007, neither Strong nor Meyer blinked. They knew they had great young talent on defense, and that Strong was exactly the man to coach them up over another season.
Who knows … maybe Strong will get to coach the Gators when Meyer leaves for Notre Dame. LOL All kidding aside, Strong is a keeper. He has the potential to be a great head coach, especially if combined with a talented offensive coordinator.
By RJS
December 17, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
G8R Grad- easy big fella, don’t be so touchy. I wasn’t taking shots just explaining how badly ND screwed up- Florida will be fine with or without Meyer because Foley is an excellent AD. Atlanta Gator- I agree on Strong but I’ll have to go back and look at the posts because I still get Strong’s lack of national attention- Stewart Mandel at SI is the only guy I know who gives much credit.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Regarding TB’s comment #2:
While I admire Coach Mullen’s loyalty, I can’t help but agree with TB (and many of you posting here) that he has before him a Hurculean task as the new HC at MSU and one questions whether he will be able to give his undivided attention to preparing the Gator offense and executing said offense against OU on the 8th.
Best wishes and God-speed Danny boy! (We may well need it)
By Atlanta Gator
December 17, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
RJS——If Stewart Mandel is singing his praises, Charlie Strong is clearly the worst-kept secret in college football. It’s only a matter of time until somebody scoops him up … he will be the best kind of “minority hire.” That is, the kind that no one will discuss in terms of Charlie’s skin color, only that he’s a damn fine college football coach.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
RJS:
Just look at the numbers:
Over the course of the season UF’s defense held their opponents to an average of less than 13 (12.84) points per game.
And I don’t need to remind you that these stats were complied against #4 LSU, #6 UGA, #25 USC, #20 FSU and #1 UA!
All done with mostly juniors and sophamores!
THAT’S coaching.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Sorry for the missspell:
How sophomoric fo me!
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
sh!t
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
compiled, sophomore, misspell, of … .
I need a beer.
By shane#1
December 17, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
1-IMO, AU had only one man in mind for the HC job, and they got him. The mistake was trying to give the impression that they were doing a coaching “search”. Thirty six hours, some search! Instead of trying to calm the fan base the AD should have been straight with the AU faithful and stated that he already had Tubby’s replacement. I don’t see any basis to cry racism in that case. Of course, that might have exposed Tubby’s so called resignation for what it was, a sham. It sweems that every time the AU honchos try to cover something up thet dig their own grave a little deeper. Maybe they have forgotten the lessons of Watergate. 2- Richt tried to run the FSU offense in a NC game before He left for UGA. He later said that it was a mistake on his part. Trying to recruit for UGA and work up a game plan for FSU resulted in not being able to do either very well. 3- That is one tough old bird! Long may he be with us. 4- Gill will soon have bigger fish to fry, Iowa St would have been a mistake. 5- Notre Dame would be a dream job for coach right now. Charlie the giant has amassed a lot of talent, he just isn’t a college coach. He is an X and O guy for the pros, period! Does anyone think that Meyer, or Saban, or Richt, or Paul Johnson, could not take all those 4 and 5 star players and win 10 games against that schedule? Hell, almost any coach in the SEC and a half dozen more in the ACC could win 10 games there! If Weiss goes six and six again next year he will be gone, and there will be a plum in South Bend ready for plucking! I would make Tenuta sole DC, find a good OC, sit back, and wait for my money! You could win for four or five years with the talent coming in next year, then go on to your cushy job at ESPN.
By RJS
December 17, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
G8R Grad, it may not have been clear since I had a bunch of typos in the post but I meant to praise Charlie Strong- heck, the guy had some great defenses at South Carolina. I think that says it all. It’s snowing on the West Coast and I need a beer too. Later.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
snowing?
on the west coast?
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Shane#1:
Your fifth point is genius - and well stated. Coach Weiss is an X’s & O’s guy and little more. He couldn’t inspire me to spell correctly! And yet, the legacy that is ND, lives on in its ability to attract serious talent.
But please don’t go public with this.
I don’t want Coach Meyer to read it.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
RJS:
How far north of San Francisco are you?
By Sautee Dawg
December 17, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Tony, evidently the people in higher positions saw something in their new coach or they wouldn’t have hired him at Auburn. Agree with you on the Gator OC. don’t see how he’s going to coach Gators while recruiting for the bulldogs. Maybe he’s that good. As far as Notre Dame goes, who wants to coach a team that’s afraid of joining a conference? Still don’t care what Barkley says about race in the Auburn issue, Let him open himself up a bank like Mr Lowder then he can dictate which way the Auburn ball bounces.
By G8R GRAD
December 17, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
That’s it ladies.
Hike up your big-girl panties and belly up to the bar - I’m buyin’!
By BlackPersonN Arkansas
December 17, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this
If you dont elect a black congressman…. THIS STATE IS RACIST!!
DONT you see all the good things black leadership has done for Africa, Detroit, and Clayton County Ga!!!
Man its so clear we should RUN EVERYTHING>.. or else YOUR ALL RACIST!!!!
By END WHITE GUILT
December 17, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
I met Barkley (saw him….didnt care to talk to the SOB)
at a club last week in Atlanta. I swear the guy must hate women of his own race because hes never around black women!! Why do you HATE YOUR OWN RACE barkley!?
Actually i know a girl (only 21) that got drunk with Barkley and said she was prettymuch raped…(they used to be friends, she HATES him now!) Hes a piece of sht and i hope he rots in hell.
Hes just another “black role model” thats really a piece of crap. Manny, Shaq, Pac Man, OJ Simpson, Josh Howard…..i could really go on for awhile.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
December 17, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
ENOUGH!!!
IT’S NOT RACISM TIL TERENCE MOORE SAYS SO.
I Can’t wait for his objective, fact filled article on this matter, if he writes one.
By Pat Dye Liar
December 17, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
Pat Dye was on Paul Finebaum’s show this afternoon and any credibility he had is gone. He said he had no contact and nothing to do with the Auburn hire and at the same time said “we” never interviewed this or that person. He contradicted himself over and over. If he had nothing to do with then how does he know who they spoke to and who they didn’t speak to.
By Anonymous
December 17, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
RAMBLE ON!!!
I’m not a Dawg fan, so I don’t have an axe to grind with you and your I-hate-anything-and-everything-UGA, but I must say that many of the blog comments that you make would surprise me coming from a socially-impaired teenager, but, coming from an adult man, I find them demonstrative of a great deal of personal insecurity, immaturity and social ineptitude.
Please … think before you type. Many of the comments you make should not be said. And, please do not tell me that others have written worse on these blogs. I know. That doesn’t make you right; it makes them even bigger fools, bigots and generally nasty persons.
By Sautee Dawg
December 17, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Ramble On
You shouldn’t put that burden on Terrance, a reporters job is not to right the ship but, to make sure the waves are tossed. More reader response that way.
By Frank
December 17, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
the black sec coach that quit should have been made to stay on as coach. Did he quit because he was not white?
By shane#1
December 17, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
G8RGrad, I am glad you recognize genius when you see it, most people on this blog couldn’t find their butt if they used both hands. I weill gladly belly up to the bar if you are buying, and you can call me a lady if you want. Who knows, you may have a thing for 225 lb ladies that are 6 feet tall. Hey, you buy the booze, I don’t care.
By jc_atl
December 17, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
I wonder if there’s enough crow in the southeast to feed everyone who gets a helping should Chizik be successful? Looking at the history of Iowa State shows that while yes, their prior long time coach won more games, the place was not a bastion of quality football or players, and is in the wasteland of the Big 12 north where frankly there aren’t that many great teams.
If you look at Vandy in the SEC, 10-15 years ago Vandy was just expected to lose every game, but as the SEC has exerted its dominance players who couldn’t go to UT, UGA, Auburn, Bama or the other top tier SEC programs could still go play at Vandy and get experience as an SEC player (see Jay Cutler now starting in the pros) and as a result Vandy is a much better team (with much better coaching) than they used to have.
This is not happening at Iowa State - success there is the exception not the rule. That Chizik took over a program that was failing and didn’t turn it around in two years is not surprising. From a PR standpoint hiring him is a massive risk for Jay Jacobs, but until he starts going 2-10 at Auburn, I’ll withhold judgment.
War Eagle!
By War Eagle
December 17, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
Tony, could you please tell me when SEC school has hired a MAC conference HC with only 3 years experience as a HC?.Turner Gill was chosen by news media immediately after TV win over unbeaten Ball State to be in a larger venue. I hope Coach McGill will be successful as coach as he is a person.
By War Eagle
December 17, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
SEC is football, you are right about Auburn train wreck, just too much outside influence from Pat Dye, Bobby Lowder and Jimmy Raines. CTT was not one of them….. Its a Zook, Dubose, Gailey, Oregron, Shula, hire instead of a Kitten, Saban, Myers, Richt, or Spurrier hire, Oops, mouths are watering in Bama town and I don`t blame them
By shane#1
December 17, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
War Eagle, I would not have chosen your new coach had I been given the AU AD’s job. That being said, why not give the man a shot before passing judgement? You are correct about outside interference, but as an Auburn friend of mine said last night, “We don’t like Lowder, but We need those checks.”
By michael
December 18, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this
tony…why not an in season 8 team playoff….. all divison 1 schools play aleast 12 games…after every team has played 10 games they can start an in season playoff…So that means all you conference games will be played in the first 10 games and the last two will have to be “tba”…. At the begining of the season every team will pick 3 stand by games, just in cause the first two teams are in the playoffs…So lets say by week 12 all teams have played 10 games….They can give the #1 and 2 teams in the bcs automatic bids and teams 3 thru 8 will be selected….(like when they do the college basketball selection show)….On the week coming they can play the first round….leaving four teams, while every body else play there stand by game…Same thing for the next week leaving 2 teams….. You still play conference championship game….and if one or both teams lose the bcs picks the championship game like always….So the regular season still count and the bcs still have it’s bowls…
P.S…….Further details upon request..like where will the playoff games be played, etc……
By Josh Payne
December 18, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
They are saving Terrance’s article for the Sunday paper. Allbarn is racist blah blah. Front page Sunday sports, count on it! Cynthia Tucker loves playing the racecard.
By Sir Maxwell
December 18, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this
Joe Pa put the “I” in T-E-A-M.
By Biscuit
December 18, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
This is the best thing to happen to T Gill. Nobody even knew who he was before the Auburn interview. At least Auburn took a step in the right direction and interviewed minority candidates.
By Jim
December 18, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
Not only Auburn, but UGA also missed out on hiring Turner Gill. Nebraska was in the 9-2 rut with a very good coach named Frank Solich. Nebraska made a bone-head move, like Auburn just did, and hired Bill Callahan. This was when DJ Shockly was QB at UGA that Turner Gill Left Nebraska. I sent an e-mail to UGA suggesting Turner Gill be looked at an an addition to the UGA staff as a quarterback coach. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. If you want to know what is going to happen to Auburn the next couple of years, go back and take a look at Nebraska during the Bill Callahan days.
By Couch Tater
December 18, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
The Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University offers a major in Public Relations. Hmm…maybe Mr. Lowder should direct some of his contributions to that department.
By Chris B
December 18, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
OK as life long Auburn fan and an Black man, I am ready to let give the coaching discussion a rest; after I rattle on for a few minutes of course. This thing has been beat to bloody death! There are a lot of interesting arguments on both sides and some really stupid ones, but now this thing will just have to be settled on the field. I was not in favor of the Chizik hire. I really preferred Todd Graham (TCU), Chris Peterson (Boise State), Charlie Strong or Turner Gill in that order. That being said if he wins he will be my dog, excuse me, my Tiger.
I do have to make one last comment about the person who commented “When has an SEC school hired a MAC HC with 3 years experience” Well we just hired an Iowa State coach with 2 years experience and a career win total equal to the single season win total of the guy we just R.U.N.N.O.F.T. So all bets are off there buddy.
Now that off my chest, barring a wild party in Pensacola or something, Gene Chizik is my coach now and I will be up there in the nose bleed seats screaming WAR EAGLE next year. Now Gene go get us a #%&#@ offensive coordinator with an active brain stem!
By fishtales
December 19, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
Right Rufus…Bama is racist cuz they didn’t hire Croom. How did that turn out for Miss. State? All but 4 schools in CFB now have “whitey” coaches but Alabama should be held to a higher standard than the rest? FU
By BufordTiger
December 20, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Interesting comments from former Auburn QB Reggie Slack…..
Quote from Reggie Slack(Former Auburn Quarterback 1986-1989)
If asked whether or not I agreed that Auburn was a racist institution with a plantation –like mentality, I would have to answer a resounding “No”. My answer is based simply on my experience as a player for 4 years and as an alumnus since. In taking this position, it doesn’t mean that I support every decision that the athletic administration has made. I think that there have been some mistakes made in the past as far as leadership, the hiring of coaches, and the treatment of former players, but this does not make Auburn University a racist institution.
I was one of the first black quarterbacks to play at Auburn. During my tenure as a starting quarterback, I think that I received all the recognition and accolades that could be expected. When I left Auburn and was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1990, I was perturbed at not being drafted higher, but I attribute that totally to the prevailing atmosphere present in the NFL concerning black quarterbacks and not to any stigma attached to me by Auburn University.
I still feel today that Auburn is one of the finest universities in the country with some of the most supportive Alumni and loyal fans that one could ever hope to play in front of. I cherish my experience at Auburn and only wish that everyone could know just how special a place it truly is.
I think that we as former players need to get behind our new coach and support this program in a positive way. We helped build this program and it would be a disservice to ourselves, our families, and to the institution that has helped mold us into the men we are today, to sit by idly and allow it to disintegrate in front of our eyes.
Reggie Slack