A New Era Begins Today In Auburn
by Jay Coulter on Dec 15, 2008 3:00 AM CST
in Football
35 comments
Gene Chizik will be introduced as Auburn's new coach this afternoon.
Unbelievable. Unprecedented. Unfathomable. It's not easy to find words to describe the events of the past two days. The Big One has hit Auburn University. It would be inaccurate to say the Auburn family is split. It's not. Auburn people are very much united in their disgust and dismay over the hiring of Gene Chizik as the Tiger's next coach.
If Auburn were a form of government it would be a dictatorship. What has been taking place for more than a quarter of a century on the Plains has finally come to a head. Like it or not, Auburn is not your university and it's not your football team. You can be a fan and a proud alumnus; and you can give money to Tigers Unlimited. But just understand this: Auburn is not your school. It's not mine. We love it and we care deeply about it, but right now it belongs to someone else.
It belongs to a handful of people who don't care what you think or how you feel. To them, the Auburn Spirit is nothing more than a slogan for a television commercial. Real Auburn people don't mistreat a coach who gave back as much as he received. They don't drag good families through a week of hell at Christmastime. Real Auburn people don't board planes in the cover of darkness to stab good people in the back. This is not the Auburn we grew up loving.
Perception is reality. Today's perception is that Auburn is not a very good place to be. How Auburn people handle the next few years will likely go a long way in determining the future of its university and football program. It will be difficult. How do you take on a board of trustees without tearing down the University? How do you support a football program that you love and not continue to empower those who don't have your best interest at heart? There are no easy answers.
Auburn has many powerful and distinguished alumni. I'm continually amazed that not one of them ever takes a stand against those who continue to embarrass the place we love. This institution is begging for a public figure today to unite the Auburn family. Let's hope this weekend is a catalyst for that to happen.
With all of this as the backdrop, Auburn welcomes (for lack of a better word) its new head coach today. In a sign of the times, today's introductory press conference will be closed to the public, something that has not happened in Auburn's history. Chizik will assume a challenge that is perhaps not winnable considering the circumstances. And that's unfortunate.
As Auburn people we must find a way to get behind this young coach. We must remember this is not his fault. He was offered his dream job and accepted it. We'd all do the same thing if we were in his shoes. Mentally it won't be easy for most to accept Chizik. But it's imperative that we all do.
He's coach of the school we love and because of that we must give him the benefit of the doubt. The odds are long and the mountains are high; but Auburn people aren't quitters. And we can't quit on Gene Chizik before he starts.
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Sad
Now is the time people! We are All Auburn Family here and now we Must accept our new coach. If we dont take him seriously then it will just filter over to the players and recruits and in reality the fans are causing auburn the problems not the admin. True enough he hasn’t proven himself but maybe Iowa was a place for him to get the butterflies out so to speak. We are starting him out with ALOT more talent here. So this may be his place to shine but if you do not give OUR coach a chance then you are not a true Auburn fan. As Auburn family we need to get it together and start acting like it. Anyways can wait to get into the season and see what happens.. Can we say I formation with Tate at FB and Fannin at tailback?!?! Bama here we come! =D War Eagle!!!
sad- true dat
i agree aubdragon.
it’s time to move forward. if we don’t support chizik (like him or not) then we are doomed to take the place of bama in the coaching carousel? iowa state is no auburn. he knows auburn. he knows he has big shoes to fill. he’s got to feel a bit slided by the fans at this point. he wasn’t my first, second, or third choice, but he’s my coach now.
war eagle!
we’ll be bowling this time next year.
david
http://iowastate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=889020
Looks like the Iowa State people didn’t think much of him, though.
by auberntiggersman on Dec 15, 2008 7:07 AM CST reply actions
Yes, but I am even sure
that you could have found a few people write some bad things about Bear Bryant….some people will like you some won’t. Why do we listen to a reporter from a town that knows nothing of true football, winning ad championships? Let’s get on the wagon and roll…Chizik is our guy….If Jacobs would have offered me the job I would have taken it……we can make this as bad as we want…..but I choose not to. He is the man. We must support him. WE DON"T have to support Jacobs though.
War Eagle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denial is an ugly ugly thing
First off, I come in peace, to express my empathy and solidarity with Auburn fans who feel betrayed by their school’s administration. That’s my primary purpose for posting here
Secondly, in spite of being on good terms with your fan base in general, the sheer arrogance of this statement:
Why do we listen to a reporter from a town that knows nothing of true football, winning ad championships?
really set me off.
So let me get this straight: Any opinions from your hated rival (who ostensibly knows “winning ad [sic.] championships”, at least that we have to concede to them) is automatically discounted because they’re plainly blinded by rivalry. And any opinion from an Iowa State writer, who unlike me or probably you has watched Gene Chizik operate as a head coach for the last two years is unreliable on the matter of Gene Chizik’s skills as a football coach.
(It goes without saying that my opinion doesn’t count, either, ‘cos I’m just a Vandy fan and what the hell do we know about football?, natch.)
So who exactly would you listen to tell you that this is a really dubious hire? Southern Cal fans? No, they don’t know the SEC, and haven’t seen Chizik first hand. Florida fans? Nope, they’re nouveau riche and don’t have the pre-1990 history of Auburn. Texas fans? I don’t know. Auburn fans clearly aren’t convincing to you. Is there anyone’s opinion good enough for you?
I understand the outrage, and I understand the need to paper over it and put on a brave face. There’s an outside chance this gamble could pay off, although there’s no way that getting rid of a pretty successful coach for a speculative one is anything but a huge gamble. But I’ll point out your arrogance toward knowledgeable fans of other programs, be they historically good programs or bad programs, every time I see it.
Hey, Iowa State may not be much, but at least their administration was smart enough to get rid of a losing coach without having to pay a huge buyout!
Perception is reality = reality is that Auburn is not a very good place to be = you support this idea.
= signs are only make math problems true
just because your opinion has = signs in it, doesn’t make it true
negative opinions = negative people
Welcome Back Coach Chizik
Everyone needs to get behind the coach and our team, that is absolutely imperative for the success of our recruiting class. Chizik seems to have strong work ethic and he’ll need it, the next few months up to signing day are going to be brutal…..trying to salvage a recruiting class and put together a staff is going to be difficult, similar to the President of the United States, the first 100 days under Chizik will likely set the tone for his level of success down the road at Auburn. I think we can all agree that the way Jacobs and Gogue handled Tubberville’s forced resignation and the ensuing coaching search left a lot to be desired, and frankly regardless of how well Chizik performs Jacobs should be shown the door as he has created a lot of ill will among the Auburn family. But what’s done is done, i always supported CTT and hate to see him go, but this could work out to be a good thing, time to rally around our coach and show the nation why Auburn is different instead of acting like Bama homers….
auconyers
it was probably a good idea to close the press conference for Jacobs sake...
…or someone might have thrown their shoe at him.
The guy that did that yesterday was a journalist though
Don’t rule it ou!
War Damn Eagle!
by PowerOfDixieland on Dec 15, 2008 10:32 AM CST up reply actions
It's not even Jacobs
It’s Lowder — he’s the problem.
What do an Auburn fan and a bammer have in common? (Neither of them ever attended u.a.t.).
I hope the Auburn family will do 2 things.....
First, I hope that everyone will get behind this Coach and give him a real chance to succeed. I really don’t think that will be a problem for most of us. Second, I hope that everyone of us continues to press the Board of Trustees to vacate their position and allow for a changing of the guard and yes that includes Jay Jacobs and Gogue. I truly hope that the Auburn family is so disgusted with the current power structure at AU that we do not let up on them until they are gone and we never let this happen again. I hope that the Alumni Association can issue a formal statement showing zero confidence I hope the student body can formally unite to show a lack of support for them. I hope the AU family can pressure Govenor Riley and the State Legislative Bodies to take action to overhaul the Board of Trustees. I hope that the many Benevolent Benefactors at AU that have donated money without stipulation can now call their markers to demand this overhaul…..the Harberts, the Blounts, the Haleys, etc… should all be enraged that this is how the University is being controlled and it is time for it to stop.
As I have said from this point on Gene Chizik is our coach and he has my support. But I will not forget the manner in which Tuberville was shown the door, I will not forget the past embarrassments such as Jetgate, Bowdens demise, and pay for play during the Dye era. I also will not forgive the backroom dealings that have taken place and the manner in which this coaching search has been handled. Auburn unite and never let up on the pressure to oust those who have tarnished our name. Stop using anything associated with Colonial Bank or Colonial Properties, buy Georgia-Pacific lumber anything but Osmose……you know what to do and what is the right thing to do.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
I love this guy!
Exactly! This has totally gotten out of hand. Its time to Obama the whole group. Change!
Acid Reign! Where are you?
Can you make sense of this? Are you holding your tongue? Help!
I'm convinced that this is just a nightmare...
…..and I’ll wake up eventually, and find out that Turner Gill or Mike Leach was hired.
…..First move of Chizik? Dump all Tuberville assistants unilaterally, torpedo promising recruiting class. What a start….
…..Actually, Googling “bad football coach” brings Lane Kiffin up, first. And Chizik isn’t on the top page. But if he keeps making decisions like this… I’m still waiting for the other shoe to be dropped, and Wayne Bolt to be named as the new defensive coordinator. And naturally, Jacobs will insist on another multi-year assistant contract, so we can end up paying yet another coach not to coach…
…..This just gets worse and worse. I second this notion:
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/12/15/dissajusta-rumahbutta-gottashare/
if you....
if you Google “bad football coach” an article about Gene Chizik comes up first, everyone should try it
The only thing...
thats causing recruits to decommit is the way the fans are handling this hire. Fans meeting Jacobs at the airport to boo him and put it on YouTube is not the way to excite recruits. A decision was made, Chizik is our coach. It is now imperative for all of us to get behind him. What recruit wants to play for a school where fans consistently boo, whether its for a new quarterback, a new system, a new coach. Give the man a chance next season..and a legitimate chance at that. Championships don’t just happen, they take time, and us true Auburn fans are willing to give CGC time to get us there.
Recruits were decomitting before he was named.....
I agree that booing Chizik will not help and can only hurt, however, the cards are stacked against him with his current record as a head coach. We will find out quick enough how good he will be as a recruiter depending on how many recruits he can keep from jumping ship and how many he can get back on board and who he gets to come in to replace the ones we can’t get back. I haven’t seen the Youtube of anyone booing Chizik but I have seen the one of the people heckling Jacobs and I must admit if I could get an audience with Jacobs he would get an earfull about his complete incompetence and subservance to Lowder. Gogue would also get a fair share as well. Chizik has my support, Jacobs has lost it forever.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
5-19
can’t help with the recruiting. Letting go all of the staff that had been keep up with the recruits doesn’t help. Not having coordinators lined up to help show the kids what direction Auburn will taking on the field also does not help.
by Tiger on the mountain on Dec 15, 2008 10:34 PM CST up reply actions
A Key Element
Would be to make damn sure that Tommy is incorporated somehow. When Texas A&M hired Sherman, he gave RC Slocum an office in the athletic department. Mack Brown worked with Darrell Royal when he came on board with Texas and I think Royal is still working for the Longhorns in some fashion. Chizik would be very foolish to leave Tommy out of his hiring if not as an advisor or mentor. Tommy cannot recruit directly but if he wants to work with the University (God Bless him after this fiasco) he can still be an essential component to Chiziks staffing, ect.
War Damn Eagle!
Check This Out
Yes, Iowa State folks are hurt. Watch the AD’s press conference about half way through and you will get a picture of Chizik’s character. It is repeated in the interview. Hang on with the press conference as it takes a few seconds to come up.
I have no bone to pick with any of you
And since I’m from a mid-tier Big Televen school my opinion doesn’t count. However …. this guy Chizik sounds like a rat. He made it clear to his players while meeting with them for the last time he was departing ISU because it was in his best interests. What about his players or staff? No regard whatsoever, no regret to any of the guys he convinced to go to Ames, Iowa, of all places. The players are pissed, and those that are speaking publicly are calling him a liar, and worse. I place little weight in what the ISU AD says, because he’s a dope, everyone there hates him, and he needs to save his own skin at the moment.
Chizik went to school at Florida and Clemson, not Auburn. He did coach at Auburn for 3 years, but what the hell? This coming home stuff, I call bullshit. We know there are plenty of rats in the coaching business (Saban, Petrino, Franchione). But if you’re hiring a rat, don’t you want to hire a rat that has a history of winning? I know the majority of you need to get behind him and put this process behind you. I’ve no dog in this fight, but from the outside I’m sorry how it went down. I don’t mean this condescendingly at all; football fans, other than those at Alabama, sympathize with you. The preference in these kinds of situations is to see good people, those that try to do the right things, rewarded. I don’t think that’s the case here. I think one of the bad guys did.
Unfortunately
We only have him for one more game before he should declare. It was a fun year.
Im not,
a quitter, and i wont give him the benefit of the doubt. I was at the Iowa st. Oklahoma st. game this year, his teams are terrible, and he cant motivate. the dark ages begin again, doug barfeild pt. 2
As I have said the odds are stacked against him.......
but he is now our coach and I will rally behind him until he has succeeded or failed. Thats all any of us can do and it is the right thing to do……the players deserve our support and I am still an Auburn man until I die. As far as the whole rat thing? I have to say put in the same position I would do the same thing……..you truly can’t blame a guy for leaving the bottom of the Big twelve for a traditional SEC powerhouse, and its not like he or any of us for that matter could have possibly seen this coming a month ago when he was confirming his commitment to his players. A coach has to have his players believe in not only his system but his commitment……that is unilaterally true. And at the time I am sure he believed it and meant it……but imagine yourself going from your mom and pop shop business and gettting a fortune 500 CEO position…..would you dump the Mom n’ Pop to take on the world and double or more your personal worth and credentials? Most would. Hate on Lowder, hate on Jacobs, Pat Dye, Jimmy Rane, etc……but rally behind your team and program. Don’t ever forget the things that have embarrassed our great University and never cease to oppose those responsible. Lowder and the BOT should be deposed…….and yes in a Dictatorship the correct term for ousting them would be deposed……and we have a dictatorship. Curse them all.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
I need a couple more days before I get behind 2-10, I mean Coach Chizik.
I am not jumping ship by any means. My fanhood is not wavering. I am just in shock. still. The role that Pat Dye had in this is disturbing. The news conference today did nothing to allay my apprehension about the whole situation. I feel sorry for the players, both here and at ISU. There is something fundamentally amock at Auburn-and that is what bothers me the most. I wish Coach Chizik luck on the road.
by Tiger on the mountain on Dec 15, 2008 10:41 PM CST up reply actions
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