Auburn coaching search tells us a lot...

 

Did Auburn jump the Shark ?

   You have to wonder what the Auburn AD had in mind when he fired Gus Malzhan. Surely, Allen Greene must have some idea of who Auburn would offer. There had to be a shortlist. Is it possible that a candidate has already been selected and the Tigers have their man already? If that is the case, it will likely be Kevin Steele, the current Auburn defensive coordinator. No other scenario makes any sense to this writer.

      If that is true, why hasn't there been a public pronouncement? The longer the Tigers take in hiring a head coach, the more it seems to the sporting world that no one wants to work in Lee County, Alabama. Or is it more than that? Could the Auburn family have come apart? Has my late grandmother called a serious argument? One point of unity seems to be everyone wanted Gus Malzhan gone. Mission accomplished on that one. 

    It appears that the division is pretty deep and desperate right now. When you offer the job to the UAB head coach, and he turns you down (if that really happened), you've got some problems. The Louisiana coach said no thank you.  What is it that causes candidates to say no way? I've got a few ideas.

1. The important thing that AU wants is someone who can beat Alabama. Good-luck with that. Here's what happens when an AU coach does that. Tuberville left after he beat Alabama like a dime-store drum. Gene Chizik got fired after beating 'Bama and winning a national championship. Malzhan beat Alabama more than any other SEC school under his regime. And,

2. If a head coach beats Alabama, the expectations sky-rocket regarding their status. If you go back 20 years, the Tigers have won only three SEC championships. Tuberville, Chizik, and Malzhan had one each.  One. That's all. 

3. Auburn never looks takes the long view approach. Win a national championship and get fired doesn't say much for patience. You would think the Tigers would understand that by now. 

4. Money. Auburn has to pay Malzhan 27.5 million dollars after firing him.  That's a lot of meals at the Omelet Shop. If reports are correct,  half of that is paid upfront. Auburn was paying him 6.85 million per year. Auburn is still paying other coaches for their buy-outs. Ouch.

5. Who's the boss? That seems to be the main problem at Auburn. Everyone thinks they are the boss. Everyone wants Auburn to be Alabama. That's lofty thinking but flawed logic. Auburn has had some real success in beating Alabama over the years but has never won the battle of reaching the pinnacle of having become Alabama. I don't see how they can do that soon, or perhaps forever. 

6. Or is it much simpler? Perhaps the "power brokers" just dislike Malzhan? Maybe Gus just never became of them. I suppose it has to take a lot of emotional effort to keep any family happy.

7. These reasons listed above might have the cumulative effect of Auburn hiring football Bruce Pearl.  A time might come a time when winning outweighs fairness and integrity. AU might very well hire someone who lives on the edge of ethical behavior. The name Freeze comes to mind.

     Those are all reasons that the Tigers are floundering right now. It has never been a lack of success for Malzhan. It is in the shadow of the University of Alabama. Christmas is this week. Perhaps Santa Claus will help the Tigers.  Don't hold your breath, brother.