(Could this coach be a possibility?)
I will have much more tomorrow in an extensive column on Alabama, AU, the SEC and national scene. Just some thoughts on ‘Bama and AU. What can you say about Tide? Just a terrific football team. Can they get any better? I’m sure S can find things to work on this week as it is a huge game. But everything is in place for another national title; number 15. There’s work to do for sure. Baton Rouge on Saturday Night at 7 PM CT on CBS is not going to be a cake walk. But the Tide certainly looks better than LSU and should win this game if they play the way they’re capable of , which they’ve done pretty much all season. Just incredible consistency. It’ll be hostile down there, but this team seems to be able to handle any circumstances, any environment, any adversity. They just deliver. More on the Tide tomorrow.
It’s painful to watch AU now. Sad for the Auburn nation who deserve much better than this. I went to Vanderbilt and our goal is to get to bowl games at this stage; the Independence Bowl, the Liberty Bowl, any bowl is a successful season for Vandy. Maybe one day the program can have higher goals. James Franklin might make that happen.
But I say that to contrast that with Auburn, which has a rich history of football success. The resources/passion are there for the Auburn family. Success is expected and this is just unacceptable. Auburn can do much better than this. Auburn should be in the upper echelon of SEC football every year and in the national discussion most every year. The program has proven with a good coach that it can do that every year. Pat Dye certainly did that. Tommy Tuberville had his moments, 2004 especially. Even Terry Bowden had a good year or two (1993 comes to mind). The regime needs to change. I know Jay Jacobs and Gene Chizik are dedicated Auburn men, but they’re not getting it done. Who could take over at Auburn? Maybe Jacobs survives, but he needs to hit a home run in this next hire. They need a new coach. I’m sorry for Chizik. He has tried his best and seems like a pretty good man, but he can’t right this ship. Kevin Sumlin, the guy who crushed Chizik last night, is a guy I could see making a difference for the Tigers. He was actually born in Brewton, Al, so there is an affinity for him to this state. He’s impressive. He looks to have a pretty good situation at A&M, his recruiting class is close to the top 10 in the country, and his quarterback, Johnny Manziel, is a redshirt freshman, who is a stud right now and has an unlimited future and could take the Aggies to some big time moments. So Auburn would really have to do a great sales job to get Sumlin to Auburn. Then again, he might want to crawl to Auburn to have that opportunity. Would be a very good hire in my opinion. Not sure what AU will do with Jacobs. Chizik won a national title in 2010, so you have to give him that. The Cam Newton situation was very suspect, but the performance on the field was not; it was stellar. So you have to give Jacobs credit for that at least. But it’s not going well now. Basketball hasn’t gotten it together, baseball doesn’t seem to be improving much– though both teams could be better this season. But football, the bell cow of Auburn University athletics, is not getting it done. So Jacobs is responsible for that. We’ll see what President Jay Gogue and the Board want to do. Maybe they need to hire two new guys. Chizik has to go; no doubt about that. I hate it for any coach to lose his job, but, as one would say about the Obama administration, look at the record. It tells the truth. Coaching is a tough profession, particularly in the SEC, but you’re expected to win at Auburn. That’s the standard. So change is necessary.
Auburn can find a new coach and get the program where the Auburn nation wants it to be; competing for SEC titles and getting back on the national landscape. Auburn should be competing for BCS bowls and maybe playing for it all some years. As I said, AU fans deserve better. Kevin Sumlin and a new athletic director may be what the program needs.
A look at the weekend’s games and the season going forward tomorrow. A lot to discuss. Please stay with the blog.