AUBURN'S CLIMB

Auburn Tigers: Headed to Pasadena

From Worst to First

In 2012 under head coach Gene Chizik the Auburn Tigers won three games and none of those were conference games. It did include a narrow win over Gus Malzahn's Arkansas State team, and a win over Alabama A&M. After winning the 2010 Championship it didn't look as if would ever be that good again. Then they fired Chizik and hired Malzahn back to the team. After all, most Auburn fans knew that Malzahn had been the guy responsible for the championship. It has been said that Gene Chizik was the worst coach that ever won it all. He did little before or after that to say any different.

I didn't expect a huge turnaround from the 3–9 (0–8) season. Unrealistically I expected an 8-4 season with losses to LSU, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Alabama. It did seem like a bit much seeing the season they'd had a year before. Malzahn was the reason I believed Auburn could go 8-4. At the very least I knew he'd get us to a mid-level bowl game. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine he'd secure an SEC Championship and shot at the National Championship. He'd said he could win with the talent at Auburn and he did. Malzahn pulled off the best turnaround that I've ever seen.

How Did They Turn it Around?

In reality I don't think there was that much change that needed to be made. It was Malzahn's offense that lured Cam Newton to Auburn, and it's that offense that won the National Championship over Oregon, but it's also the same offense that has Auburn in line for another BCS title this season. The players that were at Auburn were recruited for Malzahn's offense and Chizik could not win with those players once Gus was gone. The first part of the problem was solved.

Malzhan had to change the culture in Auburn. Chizik had published his book leaving the coaches and players pissed at the lack of credit they were given. He lost the respect of the locker room. Malzahn cleaned house firing all of Chizik's coaches. The right coaches were put into place, and the second part of the problem was solved.


LSU
 
Auburn entered the LSU game with a 3-0 record and coming off of a win over Mississippi State. The good start and the Malzahn offense had the Tigers believing they could beat LSU. Under rainy conditions they got off to a bad start. They fell behind early and came up short of the comeback. 


Texas A&M

Auburn had gotten their season back on track with wins over Ole Miss and Western Carolina. They entered the game against Texas A&M with a 5-1 record and new found confidence. Auburn had learned a lot in the loss to LSU. It taught them how to win. They beat Texas A&M 45-41. It was a team that had blown them out the year before. It set up everything that was to come.

Georgia

 When Auburn had been beat in the air they'd always managed to outscore their opponent. They jumped out to a quick start on the Bulldogs, and they needed to. Georgia behind Aaron Murray would make a comeback. It would force Auburn to throw the miracle pass. Murray had ripped the Auburn secondary to pieces. The connection on that miracle pass snatched the victory from Murray and the Bulldogs.

Alabama - The Iron Bowl

The Tigers played with the best team in college football and they beat them. Alabama were the defending National Champions and had not been defeated in their quest to win it all again. Auburn never really outplayed the highly talented team, but they hung around with them all night. That would give Auburn the chance to win it. Nick Saban and the Alabama football team challenged one second back on to the clock. That would set up the field goal/kick off that beat them.

SEC Championship Game

Tre Mason ran for 304 yards and 4 TDs as they beat Missouri 59-42 to win the SEC Championship. Neither team could stop the other offense, so it would go on to be the highest scoring SEC Championship game ever. Mason broke several records, including Bo Jackson's yards in a game and Cam Newton's TD in a season. James Franklin followed a blue print created by Aaron Murray, but the Mizzou defense couldn't stop the Auburn rushing attack.

BCS National Championship Game