Gus Malzahn Tagged as New Head Coach Down on the Plains
Expresses "Good Men On AND Off the Field"
The whole saga of selecting a head coach can be a trying one. There are always going to be fans who have an opinion on the man they want to run their program. That was never more truer than today when Gus Malzahn was named the 26th coach in Auburn Football history. Before discussing the hiring process and nine day period filled with various names, I would like to touch upon a little history that started from the beginning of the year until today.
From the start of the season, most if not all of us fans were optimistic and hopeful for the year. We had mostly gotten on board with the new OC (though if you checked the Auburn Undercover, AuburnSports, or Scouts/Rivals boards for the school, there were more than enough voices stating their displeasure and questioning Scott Loeffler as the hire) hire and the were already proclaiming the defense vastly improved with the hiring of Brian Van Gorder (BVG, aka "The 'Stache!"). We had gotten updates throughout spring and fall practice that Kiehl Frazier was absorbing the playbook, being more vocal in the leadership role, and making strong, accurate throws and improving daily. He was the lead for the QB1 spot coming out of spring. Most thought him a lock and greatly improved from the news we were getting. The defense was making adjustments as BVG would say they are learning slowly as it is a lot different than what they had previously done. Working on fundamentals, etc. was discussed and he was quite pleased with a few names (Dee Ford and Corey Lemonier received praise) and really felt like the defense was a slowly, trod instead of a quick trot.
Fast forward to fall practice and Chizik was continuing his usual coach speak and having his infamous pressers, etc. One big question heading into the first game was who would the starting QB be? Of course most everyone assumed it was Frazier based on all the reports in the spring and some early reports in the fall. However, suspicions started taking hold and the message boards were lit up like a Christmas tree. On Auburn Undercover (a board I am a proud member of) Phillip Marshall was fending off questions left and right. He had stated there is no reason to suspect otherwise that Frazier was the starter. Plenty of members were suspicious and questioning what Phillip was saying. Some went so far as to say, "if he is that good, why hasn't Chizik named him the starter?" To which Phillip and various other members would say, "he didn't name Cam until a few days before the Arkansas State game." Turns out Frazier was selected and Clemson was coming up.
I looked forward to that game as a return to a win for the loss last year. We had played well, the defense starting off sluggish but vastly improved in the secondary, tackling still being an issue, but holding our own and scoring on Clemson. Then came the 4th quarter melt down and a few bad calls and questionable plays. The result? 26-19 Clemson. A good, fought game but not without mistakes. Well the weeks continued to snowball and momentum picked up around the Internet about Coach Chizik and his lack of leadership, accountability, and coaching. Kids had gotten in trouble, some unfortunately lost their life to sad circumstances, and there was no improvement from week to week. Once the Arkansas game had played out, it was on the minds and tongues of many that Chizik would not be with us after this year. The losses mounted and aside from an OT win against LAMON , which had previously beaten Arkansas and Tyler Wilson the week before, had come in on a lower than low note (worse than us) and proceeded to summarily dismiss us. That was the true demise of the program and Coach Chizik and with embarrassing losses to Texas A&M (most lopsided in history), Georgia (who likes an thUGA), and Alabama (really?) Chizik was finished with his time at the university. What did we get for that? 8-5 first year and bowl win. 14-0 NC (BCS Crystal Football Title) & SEC Championship with the most dominant QB to ever grace a college football team and a record setting year culminating in a BCS Championship and Heisman winner. Now we had fallen so far in 2 years, that Chizik was out and a replacement was to be found.
Names Come and Go, but Auburn is Forever!
When the search began, the usual names cropped up: Patterson of TCU, Peterson of Boise St, Charlie Strong of Louisville, a surprise with Jimbo Fisher of FSU (having been a former Auburn assistant and calls this his dream job), and not surprisingly: the one name to rule them all BOBBY PETRINO! For 9 days a lot of us on AUC (Auburn Undercover) had to listen to the Bobby Petrino support system on why he was the best choice available, how we could win with him now, how he made the most sense, how his past transgressions (Atlanta aside since he was lied to). and how he was the messiah for Auburn was the only logical choice. Many of us defied that logic by stating he cheated on his wife (But that doesn't matter that is between him and his wife, he can coach football and that is what matters), to lying to past employers (How did he lie? He pursued other jobs. Isn't that the goal of a head coach to get to the top of the heap? He didn't lie to Atlanta, he wasn't allowed to say good-bye so he left a note what is wrong with that? At least he asked to do that and was denied hence the note.), to do we honestly want someone like that as coach that goes against the Creed and would not be able to convince a mother and father that he can guide their son on the football field and in life with morals and ethics when he was going against that very nature with the lying to his bosses, hiring a mistress with inappropriate misuse of university funds and saying there was nothing to the accident and the rumor he was committing adultery? (Oh here we go, the bible thumpers. Jesus gave second chances why cant we? He knows how to win. Strict Disciplinarian which we have lacked, can win games, guaranteed to be a winner, etc. To which a reply to that assertion was he never won against BAMA, LSU, or Georgia (one time) while at Arkansas! They replied he has more talent here and better recruiting, he will win. That shouldn't count and be used against him! Blah! Blah! Blah!). This had gone on for seemingly a month and a half (before the firing) and grew louder after the firing. This caused other coaches to take note to the divided fan base and caused some to be concern and drop out of job to be our next coach (Jimbo Fisher is reportedly one such coach to have concern and some say Pelini and Bob Stoops as well.)
Bobby Petrino Makes the List and Shoots UP!
It had been stated by Phillip Marshall that he would be surprised if Petrino got the job and that he doubts he would receive an interview based on sources information given by Auburn University. That started to chance the closer we got to today and had Petrino listed as the top man to turn around the program. For about 4 days Petrino went from warm to White Hot with Jimbo Fisher right there (the committees unequivocal leader and favorite that didn't pan out after being turned down). All of a sudden, he wasn't given an interview yet and several others had: Patterson, Kirby Smart, Chad Morris, and Gus Malzahn.
Gus Bus
The Petrino supporters were upset that as of yesterday morning, he still had not received a formal interview or any contact of the kind. It came out later that he received a 35 minute phone conversation; however, Gus Malzahn had assumed the front runner position for the opening at Auburn. Fans of Petrino were outraged and called the searching committee a puppet and that this is a JABA (Just Auburn Being Auburn) and a Jay Jacobs decision. They vilified Jacobs as not learning his lesson and they were ready to commit to a mediocre hire without giving Petrino his just desserts. There were so many insiders claiming it was a done deal, that yours' truly got cussed out on his own photo on Facebook for being a know it all and saying it wouldn't be Petrino. (Looking at you S.R. How you like me now?) Finally, word came later today that Petrino had his phone conversation and the supporters all walked to the edge of the cliff. There were cries for not buying anymore Auburn gear, nor tickets, nor supporting TUF (Tigers Unlimited Foundation), or season tickets or cheering for them, etc. They got blasted for their statements and kindly shown the door.
About 2pm I received a text message announcing that Gus Malzahn had been chosen to be the next Auburn Football Coach. I was taken aback by the announcement because he seemingly shot up the board past Petrino and even Kirby Smart who was very impressive in his interview with the committee (for those who don't know it was made up of Samford Head Coach and former Auburn QB and First Heisman winner Pat Sullivan, Heisman winning record breaking two sport star Bo Jackson, and Mac Crawford, former Dye fullback and CEO of CVS Pharmacy along with Jacobs). That is saying something that an Alabama DC can impress standup Auburn men. It was announced mistakenly that he had gotten the job around 11pm last night. That of course was refuted and Gus Malzahn was announced today.
It was a bit of a surprise to be sure and he wasn't my first choice, but he is genuinely a great man and a very successful coach who has won where he has been. He set records on offense and has taught some successful kids in the process. I won't go into how Chizik forced him out at Auburn or how he landed at Arkansas State because of it, but I will say that he is genuinely happy to be back and sure fits right in. I will end with my subheading of this article. He stressed one thing right out the gate and that is something we ALL can get behind.: "First order of business is to get these young men to be good both on AND OFF the field. We will get their mindset right and show them that they represent not only themselves and their parents, but they represent Auburn University, the fans, and what we stand for. We will be better and we will be playing championship football! WAR EAGLE!"
WAR DAMN EAGLE COACH MALZAHN! I am all in on the Gus Bus.
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