The Auburn Family Has A Choice To Make
by Jay Coulter on Oct 26, 2009 2:00 AM CDT
in Football
46 comments
Auburn coach Gene Chizik knows how defensive coordinator Ted Roof feels this morning. He's been there before - literally. Six years ago, as the man running the defensive show for Auburn, Chizik limped off the Tiger Stadium turf after being blistered 31-7 by LSU. That was 2003. Better days were just around the corner.
Today Auburn fans are not sure what the future holds for this football program. Suddenly, fans who just three weeks ago were lauding embattled athletic director Jay Jacobs for proving his critics wrong are now shaking their finger in his face saying, "I told you so."
There are plenty of places to point fingers. The truth is, no one person is solely responsible for this sudden crash in Auburn fortunes. Chizik is still the coach he was in September. So is his staff. Was it a big mistake not playing backup Neil Caudle earlier Saturday night? Perhaps.
Have SEC schools figured out this quickly how to defend the offense of Gus Malzahn? It's certainly possible, but more than likely improbable. Could anything have been done Saturday night in Baton Rouge to cause a different outcome? Unfortunately no.
The simple truth is that Auburn's program is in much worse shape than anyone realized even a year ago. For all of Tommy Tuberville's greatness, he fell down on the job during the last three years of his tenure - especially when it came to recruiting.
There are not more than two or three players on the 2009 roster that Alabama really wanted for themselves. The truth hurts. This coaching staff is good, but they're not miracle workers. Coaching can make players better and they can be motivated to play over their heads at times; but in the end it's near impossible to trump talent.
The cold hard facts today are that Auburn is a long way from its glory days. Turning on Chizik now would be a huge mistake for this program. Whether you wanted him or not, it's hard to argue that his methods aren't pointing Auburn in the right direction. Splintered factions among the fanbase likely means lost recruits in February.
As fans endure these final weeks of the season, we can all learn a lesson from our neighbors to the north. After a decade of failure, Alabama officials, alumni and fans came together and said enough. They vowed to do whatever it took to put their program back on top. In a matter of less than three seasons, they are all in lockstep with one another. The results unfortunately have been astounding.
They hired the right coach and stood behind him despite the rough inaugural season that included a loss to Louisiana-Monroe. In two short seasons they returned to national prominence. Today they sit at the top of the polls. They are on track next season to open the second addition to their stadium in less than 10 years. Things turned around lightening fast for Alabama.
This morning Auburn fans have a choice. Do we all get on the same page and move forward or do we turn on each other, pick sides and fight until the program is in complete shambles? We watched Alabama do it for a decade and it was wonderful.
Do we want to give them the same pleasure? I think not.
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Jay, I think you are dead on the money here:
For all of Tommy Tuberville’s greatness, he fell down on the job during the last three years of his tenure – especially when it came to recruiting.
There are not more than two or three players on the 2009 roster that Alabama really wanted for themselves.
LSU has about double the amount of 4 & 5 star players on their roster right now than Auburn does. Check out the reply I made to this post a few months ago which compares the talent on LSU and AU’s teams and also looks at talent recruited vs talent that actually made it to campus. It seems that Auburn had a higher than normal attrition rate over the last 4 years.
I think many Auburn fans are looking at their recruiting rankings thinking, “hey we’ve finished in the top 25 every year, why can’t we stack up with the big boys anymore?” The truth is a lot of that talent never made it to campus. Auburn isn’t really doing less with more like many people think. I believe you guys are playing par for the course, which means it isn’t a coaching problem. It’s a roster problem. That’s Tubberville’s fault.
I didn’t see many players on AU’s team this past weekend that would see playing time for LSU, much less start. Ben Tate, Antonio Coleman and maybe 2 O-linemen would battle for starting jobs.
Be Patient Auburn Fans
Good article – I hope the “fans” are patient and get behind the coaching staff. A unified Auburn Nation goes a long way in attracking the quality recruits that are needed to turn this program around!
WAR EAGLE
Believe
I attended the LSU game. No one hates losing more than me, but FAMILY sticks together. I was greatful for what Tubs did for Auburn during his tenure, but after Jetgate I believe Tubs felt it was his staff against the administration. Tubs had a huge buyout and resisted change to his staff, and dissension set in.
His staff could not compete with Bama and the top schools and recruit. Look at where is his old coaches are now. Gran and Willis landed well. The others are coaching high school, running private companies, or out of coaching. Tubs loyalty to the ‘Mississippi Moffia’, his constant changing of coordinators eventually ended our run.
Watching the game, we have a simple problem. SPEED !!!! Our players give effort. They are generally good players, but we have no difference makers. We need speed, more depth all the way around. We especially need speed on defense. It will take at least two really good recruiting classes, maybe three, to compete at highest level. If you look at the high school seniors who have VERBALLY committed, we are moving in right direction. Our staff can recruit, be patient.
The only issue will be if we do not support the current team, and recruits do not feel sense of unity, and go elsewhere. Support the program. We are headed in the right direction.
I really like the line "more than likely improbable"...
Nice article. Auburn’s been an interesting team to keep tabs on this year.
Exactly..
I have felt this way for awhile now.
I noticed the difference in the Ball State game, when we kept running the same plays over and over. Then the bombshell that woke me up. "We had to figure out what we could do with the players we have " said Gus Malzahn.
Translation? We don’t have a tremendous amount of talent beyond the projected starters. It truly pains me to write something like this because I know those young men are giving their best. They CHOSE Auburn. We as a fanbase should honor their commitment to play for Auburn with our undying support.
WAR EAGLE!
"An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject"-Thomas Jefferson
Great Article Jay...
You hit the nail on the head with this one Jay. At this point most Auburn fans should have come to the realization that we are a long way away from where we need to be to compete week in and week out in the SEC. Between a need for better team speed, More depth, and more time in our current system Auburn has alot of hurdles to jump between now and the time that we are competeing again. Jay is right in that the only way for us to achieve this is through unity. Show the nation and all the recruits in it that we are behind our team rain or shine. I agree that this staff is moving in the right direction and with more time and support from the fans, administration, and alumni we will get to the place we were just a couple of years ago. However if we turn on each other and begin bickering now it won’t do anything but dig a deeper hole.
On a side note for all LSU fans reading this. I would like to thank you for the wonderful time (aside from kicking our asses on the field that is…) that you showed me and my friends while in Baton Rouge. Aside from an occasional “Tiger Bait”, Which still confuses me when we are the tigers too, The LSU fans were great. As we walked around all-day saturday we were greeted with the upmost respect and openness that i’ve come to expect from only the people on the plains. They showed us hospitality that i had heard was non-exsistent in Baton Rouge. Some feed us in our travels and others got us drunk. Most laughed with us and even a few cried for us. All and all it was the LSU fans that made our trip so enjoyable that not even the “prison raping” we took on the field dampended our spirits. As a matter of fact the only trouble we had was when an Auburn Student was throwing ice at LSU fans in the stadium stands. He certainly needed his ass whipped and the police officer agreed as he took him to jail.
Thank You for the hospitality LSU…..
What we did
was whenever an LSU fan would yell “tiger bait” at us, we would just count how many times it had been said to us that day. So we would just yell back “17!” or whatever number we happened to be on at the time. It confused the hell out of them lol, which was great.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
We only got up to 31, by the way, which is very surprising.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
After a decade of failure, Alabama officials, alumni and fans came together and said enough. They vowed to do whatever it took to put their program back on top.
Yeah, whatever it took, like making sure our games are fixed with the refs. I’m not saying all the calls against us are total horse crap, but the majority are. And it happens in EVERY one of our games. If you think they are above doing something like that, think again. They are willing to do whatever it takes to make us fail. They are trying to make the state of Alabama like the state of Louisiana, with 1 big school and several little schools. They are trying to be the LSU of this state, and make Auburn the Tulane. Auburn cannot let that happen. Call me crazy for my conspiracy theory, but I’m dead serious.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
Don't make dumbass comments like that.
You really make yourself sound like an idiot with statements like that. Every team has some bad calls go against them and some bad calls that help them. Auburn didn’t lose to LSU because the refs were out to get us. We lost because LSU was better than us.
by Jumpn_JackFlash on Oct 26, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah OK, I'm an idiot.
I guess that’s why I’m graduating from Auburn University in less than 2 months.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
by AUshorecm on Oct 26, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Love it
Love it, love it, love it. God that’s a great comment. This guy has zero prospects for life.
You can't spel retard without "rtr"
John Smoltz for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by jd is legend on Oct 26, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Or spell even
FAIL
John Smoltz for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by jd is legend on Oct 26, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, shit
That epic spelling fail took some of the bite out of that joke
John Smoltz for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by jd is legend on Oct 26, 2009 7:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I have "zero prospects for life"?
You have no idea what you’re talking about. How does my love for AUBURN and my disdain for that other school have anything to do with my life aspirations, goals, activities, etc.? I have a lot of prospects for life actually, and I feel very blessed that God has provided me a lot of opportunities to advance myself and give back to people who have been there for me (not that it’s any of your business). But I’ll have you know that my life is full of prospects and I thank God for that every day. You have no right to judge me as a person. You are in no place to do so.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
No, son.
You gave the world (literally, the entire Internet-accessing world) the right to judge you when you hung your rear out for all to see by toting some cockamamie conspiracy theory about the University of Alabama tampering with officiating in Auburn football games.
dis CRE tion
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Oct 26, 2009 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Unsurprisingly, the point went over your head
Because you are the kind of person who thinks that this is a proper response that is not immediately mockable and, to be frank, sounds like a 3rd-grade comeback, yes, you are going to struggle badly at times in life.
You obviously
didn’t read my post very thoroughly. I didn’t say the refs are the sole reason we lost to LSU. I know LSU is a better team than us. I was there in my seat 5 rows from the field. But they sure as hell didn’t help us. If it weren’t for the ridiculous penalties, it might’ve been something like 31-24 instead of 31-10. No reason to call me a dumbass. Regardless of what you think, I’m entitled to my opinion, as is everyone else. No one should be ridiculed for saying what they think.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
Yeah, whatever it took, like making sure our games are fixed with the refs.
When you make comments like this, not only do you make yourself sound dumb, but it reflects bad on the entire Auburn fan base.
by Jumpn_JackFlash on Oct 26, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I am just about the biggest Auburn fan out there,
so nobody has any room to tell me I’m an embarrassment to the fan base. I’ve put about 15,000 miles on my car the last 6 years going to every single game, home and away. So don’t put my being an Auburn fan down. I’m not dumb; I’m far from it. I’m actually well educated by the highest-rated public University in this state. I’m also entitled to my opinion. Therefore, if you have a problem with my posts, DON’T READ THEM. It’s as simple as that.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
by AUshorecm on Oct 26, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
It's an open forum
Don’t hide behind some self-proclaimed 1st amendment immunity. If you make a statement, be prepared to defend it. Others can respond to your comments just as surely as you can post yours. No one should make incindiary statements then profess Dixie Chick incredulity when they are challenged.
by War Eagle Atlanta on Oct 27, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Being challenged is one thing.
Being personally insulted and verbally attacked is another thing altogether.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
You have blatantly accused a non-profit organization of murder in your posts. And yet you get upset when people call you out on it?!?
You obviously have some mental issues and if I knew your name and exact location, I would report you to the proper authorities. I’m sincerely worried of people like you in public who accuse others of serious crimes and create wild conspiracy theories.
You seriously need professional help.
Welcome
to the blogosphere! It’s right down the street from the Thunderdome.
by War Eagle Atlanta on Oct 27, 2009 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Careful Acid....
the Dixie Chicks were 100% correct.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
OK
Call me crazy for my conspiracy theory
You’re crazy.
John Smoltz for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by jd is legend on Oct 26, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
red elephant club
That’s all I have to say. Who was that guy in Memphis who was killed a few years back? Logan something?
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
I’ve had good friends that went to AU and have gone on to be very successful. However, you on the other hand, may be the dumbest AU fan I’ve ever come across. You act like a child and think like one. I seriously doubt you will ever amount to anything substantial, especially if you continue to speak like you do.
Also, attending and graduating from AU is not a difficult feat like you make it out to be. Anyone that gives any type of effort in high school and on the SAT/ACT can make it in. I got unconditional admittance to the school as a sophomore in high school and I never applied. Big whoop.
Your own fans ridicule you for your overblown conspiracy theories and you still continue with your drivel. But I do want to thank you for giving my friends and I a great laugh. And holy hell, did we ever laugh!
And another note, don’t think that accusing an organization by name like the Red Elephant Club doesn’t come with consequences. Libel is actionable. Good riddance.
This piece was so good
that its posted over on RBR as well. Good times. War Eagle
We will be okay...
But, this is going to take more than one year. Get ready guys, next year may very well be worse than this year.
I haven't seriously doubted our coaches yet.
They are doing all they can with Tubbs’ players. If anything, all this season is showing is Tubbs and crew’s recruiting hole they left us in. This team is nowhere near bad enough to warrant firing any coaches, because all of the coaches responsible for it, have already been gotten rid of.
Chizik and his guys hearts’ are in the right place. We’ll be just fine under him, it just may not be until 2011.
War Eagle
It is truly suprising
that Tubs did such a bad job recruiting. Every year we were listed by the “experts” at ESPN and the like as having a top 25 recruiting class. Apparently they have the same problem evaluating talent as coach t and his staff did.
It's not that Tubbs did a bad job at recruiting.....
he was damn good at finding the undervalued player. But the number of players that left early for various reasons over the past 3 seasons (this year included) was way above average. I daresay it would be a completely different team had Blackmon, Marks, and Powers come back for their senior season. Just those three alone would do wonders to shore up the defense. Add to that Aaron Savage and Michael McNeil and we have a defense that resembles what an AU defense is expected to be. Now add the three that Chizik ran off in the spring (all on defense by the way) and thats alot of the depth on defense that is lacking this season wouldn’t you say?
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
I had forgotten about a lot of those guys.
Thanks for reminding me Todd92. Makes me feel (a little) better.
War Eagle
Are you serious?
“No one should be ridiculed for saying what they think.”
Wrong. That is precisely when to call someone a dumbass; when they say what they think rather than what they know.
Call this “Life lesson #1”: Don’t spout what you think without first checking the facts. If the facts cannot be verified, remain silent. Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it.
Sullivan013
Goodness Jay ...
normally I’m 110% with you, but I have to call you on this one. Chizik is no Saban. In many many ways, that’s a great thing. On the other hand, we’re fantasizing to think Chizak has half Saban’s football mentality, desire to win, much less his ability to lead. For once, even Finebaum (can’t stand that guy!) got it right: “This coaching staff looks clueless and naive. The players look out of synch and unmotivated.”
Ever wonder why God painted a beautiful sky blue and a breathtaking sunset orange?
You speculate too much on someone elses psyche......
and motivation.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
You can all insult me all you want
for my comments above. All I’m going to do is turn the other cheek. So go ahead; I don’t mind. Say what you wish. I am not ashamed for anything I’ve done or said.
"We're at AUBURN. I think that says it all. We're going after the best in the country -- no matter when, what, where, how. That's how we're going to do it. We're going to work really hard to try to get that done every year -- including this one." -- Auburn University Head Football Coach Gene Chizik
Is your mouth
supposed to run while that other cheek is being turned?
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Oct 27, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't care if you are a bammer.....
that’s funny.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
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