Barnhart Bullish on the Barn

by War Eagle Atlanta on Apr 14, 2009 4:27 PM CDT in Football

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Would you want to bet against Mean Gene?

In case you missed it, Mr. College Football, Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, scribbled a few lines about Auburn on his blog yesterday. Always fair to Tiger fans, Tony's overall opinion seems to be that Chizik has laid down a solid coaching foundation for everything to fall into place in the next year or two. Among his points:

Although he took a beating at Iowa State, the learning curve is going to pay dividends now that he has more to work with.
Malzahn and Roof are exactly the right coordinators we need.
The recruiting skill of this coaching staff will stand a strong chance of competing with the best of the SEC
Next year's recruiting class will be the litmus test as to if the Chizik Experiment can be successful.

Check it out and see what you think!

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I like it...

Everybody but us homers seem to think that probably not this coming season but for sure in three, we will be at the top again. I sure hope we are right, and their future predictions are too.

WAR EAGLE!

by KoolBell777 on Apr 14, 2009 6:43 PM CDT reply actions

Bammers predict disaster...

for us this fall. I say we field a pretty decent team.

by War Eagle Atlanta on Apr 14, 2009 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree.

I see 8 or 9 wins for both Auburn and alabama. Most of their talk is nonsense. We’re not Iowa State.

What do an Auburn fan and a bammer have in common? (Neither of them ever attended that school in tuscaloosa).

by AUshorecm on Apr 14, 2009 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions

disaster would be 6 wins or less…as i think most of us are being realistic and are hoping for 7 wins and a trip to a lousy bowl game. unle

by suicidewatch on Apr 15, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

It's funny

My bammer family members keep expecting me to concede that Auburn will be weak for several years now, and that this coming season is a loss for sure. And you know what? I’m not conceding anything…….I think we field a better team than any of them expect.

by Rene4AU on Apr 15, 2009 4:58 AM CDT reply actions

I'm so sick...

…..of people falling back on Chizik’s record at Iowa State. Auburn is far from ISU!!! SEC talent is not Big 12 North talent. True, he is going to need some really good recruiting classes (yes that has become much harder with Saban and Alabama getting back to normal strength), but you guys are going to be just fine. Good luck to you – except against us of course!

by JEFFCODAWG on Apr 15, 2009 8:10 AM CDT reply actions

An interesting thing...

…that Barnhart touched on, is that Auburn will continue to recruit well in the Peach and Sunshine states.

I’ve always had a theory that some kids just want to get out of their home state, but don’t want to necessarily defect to another, and that by not having a state in the name of the school, Auburn offers a good compromise to those players. Yea, a weak theory, but there could be something to it…

by War Eagle Atlanta on Apr 15, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Good point...

….When I was in grad school in Virginia, some idiot from New York thought Auburn was in Georgia!!! Auburn should give the Ga students in-state tution. :)

I think your theory is valid. Auburn tends to fly a little under the radar because Alabama, Georgia, Florida, etc automatically get the cream of the in-state recruting. But states like Florida and Georgia just have so many top players that the state school can’t horde them like Bryant used to do.

Plus, Auburn is a good school with good people and a fan base that closely resembles that of UGA within a 2 hour drive of ATL.

Even though we are fierce rivals, I think most UGA people feel emotionally closer to Auburn than any other SEC school. I just can’t hate you guys fo more than 60 minutes.

by JEFFCODAWG on Apr 16, 2009 9:34 AM CDT reply actions