Hayes: Bryan Harsin vs. Auburn boosters is the hottest rivalry in college football
ATLANTA — This is who they hired, and why they hired him. What did Auburn think was going to happen?
Bryan Harsin will not go gentle into the good night. He will rage, rage, against the dying of the light.
The rain poured on the roof of the College Football Hall of Fame Thursday as Harsin walked, a confident pounding stride, to the podium of SEC Media Days.
Then let it fly.
“There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable,” Harsin began, his jaw set and his back bowed. “It was unfounded and it presented an opportunity for people to personally attack me, my family and also our program. And it didn’t work.”
But it didn’t end there. For the first few minutes of his highly-anticipate first address since the attempted coup at Auburn — because that’s what it always is with Auburn boosters — Harsin made it very clear what happened, the absurdity of why it did, and how he’s in charge moving forward.
For however long that is.
Rage, Bryan Harsin. Rage against the dying of the light.
Rage against the worst job in college football.
Away from the stage, when I reminded Harsin of the classic Dylan Thomas poem from the 1940s — Do not go gentle into the good night — there was a confident, purposeful smile.
“That will be the last time I talk about that,” Harsin said earlier on stage. “If you want any more information on it, just go Google it.”
I’ll save you the search — and provide some reality.
Harsin was hired at Auburn last year for this very reason — because he has the backbone, the fortitude, the unwavering personality, that screams we’re doing this my way. Not the way of those lunatic fat-cat boosters, who do everything in their power to soil the Loveliest Village on The Plain in the name of winning football.
This was the plan all along. Hire an outsider as athletic director (Allen Greene in 2018), and have him begin the process of decoupling from those with too much money and too much influence.
Three football seasons later, Greene got his chance when Auburn and coach Gus Malzahn — who beat Alabama coach Nick Saban 3 times — decided enough was enough and it was time to part ways.
Greene then tried to hire — in no uncertain order — Louisiana coach Billy Napier (now at Florida), Shane Beamer (who chose South Carolina) and Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables (now at Oklahoma) — and struck out because all three were concerned with Auburn’s alignment between the those inside the football building and those outside of it (see: board of trustees, boosters).
So Greene went further outside the box and found the one personality who would not budge when faced with the historic meddling from the Auburn board of trustees and boosters. Then a collapse in the second half of Harsin’s first season happened, and those same boosters saw their opportunity.
It was a difficult argument to fire Harsin after Year 1 — assistant coaches and players leave all the time after Year 1 because of fit and buy-in — so those with money decided to get dirty. Because this is how it works at Auburn: Those with money overshadow a wonderful university and community, with salt of the earth people, to satisfy their own greedy needs.
They’ve taken what should be a top-10 job — the beautiful campus, the unwavering fan support, the facilities — and turned it into the Raiders of the NFL.
Then came the dirtiest move of all in the fight to remove Harsin: a nasty social media campaign that included an alleged affair with a member of the athletic department. Because what better way to get Harsin than by jumping into the sewer that is social media — and allowing it to take over.
“Brutal, just brutal,” an SEC coach told me. “We’ve all heard the stories about that place, but to see it play out like that. Just sickening.”
The inquiry began and the investigation concluded and there was no real reason to fire Harsin — other than a disappointing first season and his refusal to bend to fat-cat boosters.
Again, this is what you wanted, Auburn. You wanted a strong personality who would stand toe-to-toe with Saban and not blink. More to the point, who wouldn’t back down from outside influence.
So after Tank Bigsby forgot to get down inbounds in the last 90 seconds of the Iron Bowl — in what would’ve likely sealed a victory over Alabama — the fallout began.
Eight months later, Harsin was standing on the stage at SEC Media Days addressing the nonsense of the offseason before finally moving forward to what he does best: coach ball.
“It united our football team, our players, our staff,” Harsin said. “I’m proud of what seething like that, that could be very challenging and difficult for a lot of people, how our guys stepped up and handled it.”
Said Auburn DE Derick Hall: “He’s my guy. Has been from the first day. Nothing will change that.”
Nothing, too, will change what those in power want at Auburn. If Harsin doesn’t win enough games this season — 8 or 9 games? — he’ll more than likely not make it to Year 3.
That’s how it works at Auburn. It’s how Terry Bowden was forced to quit, and Tommy Tuberville was run off, and Gene Chizik was kneecapped and Malzahn was finally worn down.
Four coaches with winning records, two with unbeaten seasons (Bowden, Tuberville), one who beat Alabama 6 times (Tuberville), one with a national title (Chizik) and one who beat Saban more than any other SEC coach (Malzahn).
All fired from the worst job in college football.
“Anytime we’re going backward, talking about the past, we’re not moving forward, talking about the future,” Harsin said. “We’ve moved on.”
Rage, Bryan Harsin. Rage, against the dying of the light.
Its remarkable he hasn’t been fired yet. As awkward a hire as McElwain, still… Auburn boosters are out of their mind.
He was as good of a hire as they were going to get.
All I can say is….
I’ve been in working situations where I haven’t gelled with some of my colleagues, particularly in the military as you don’t have a choice who you work with. It warms my soul to see Harsin stand up there and essentially call a couple of low integrity Boosters out for going after his family, and his job. Regardless of where he ends up at the end of the year, I’m rooting for the guy.
“He was as good of a hire as they were going to get.”
Corn, meet dog.
It’s obvious to me that firing Malzahn set Auburn back rather than pushed them forward.
“It’s obvious to me that firing Malzahn set Auburn back rather than pushed them forward.’
How so?
Like I said, he is not elite. He has never run an elite offense like CJH lol. He almost lost to Georgia State and got beat by a big 10 team lol.
“Like I said, he is not elite. He has never run an elite offense like CJH lol. He almost lost to Georgia State and got beat by a big 10 team lol.”
THERE HE IS!!!!!!
In case you weren’t aware, Ron, that’s actually Kirk moonlighting as Gwhite
“that’s actually Kirk moonlighting as Gwhite”
Capt. Kirk?
You think that’s kirkdumb76 the puppy?
If true he does a much better job with this identity
BTW, Ronnie is clueless
Unfortunately not. James T. Kirk may not have always made the best choice, but he’s never devolved to the level that kirk76 has.
Your problem is that the Arkansas head coaching job is just a waypoint for coaches. If Pittman succeeds, he’s gone.
Not sure how Pittman came up in this conversation, but he’s not going anywhere. He grew up a Razorback fan and he’s made it clear that this is his final stop. I can’t think of a single Razorback coach since Broyles that used Arkansas as a stepping stone to something better. All of them either were fired (Crowe, Petrino, Bielema, Morris) or resigned under pressure (Holtz, Hatfield, Nutt.) Holtz is the only one who went on to something better, but he went to Minnesota first.
That is true for many at a lot of schools, not just Auburn (except they have earned a reputation of being sneaky/underhanded) it’s unfortunate (have auburn fan friends) when you know how it has/could be again.
McDonald’s bag says what?
“As awkward a hire as McElwain”
You mean posing nude on a shark is awkward? UF has gone through how many coaches since Urban Meyer coached convicted murderers?
The guy on the shark was a cop from New York and Aaron Hernandez was not convicted of anything during his playing time at Florida. Every SEC program, including Vanderbilt, has had players charged with serious felonies.
Give it a rest.
“The guy on the shark was a cop from New York and Aaron Hernandez was not convicted of anything during his playing time at Florida.”
HA HA that’s your excuse? “He didn’t murder anyone while at UF.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH
Yes, unlike Bobby Hoppe, who committed a murder before his senior season at Auburn, Hernandez was playing for New England when he committed murder.
“Yes, unlike Bobby Hoppe, who committed a murder before his senior season at Auburn, Hernandez was playing for New England when he committed murder.”
Why does UF recruit murderers?
When Ronnie is faced with fact he deflects and asks stupid and loaded questions like “ why does UF recruit murderers”
Here’s another fact dummy, Auburn tried to hire Napier but Napier was too smart not to want anything to do with those losers
” Auburn tried to hire Napier but Napier was too smart not to want anything to do with those losers’
So….all these schools like AU, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, etc could have hired Napier…but he was holding out for UF?
LOL keep thinking that. If Napier was so great as a HC, why didn’t other schools hire him?
Also, WHAT has Napier done?
If Napier is so great, why did UF not hire him instead of Mullen?
Napier either turned down or told his agent he wasn’t interested in most of the schools you listed. He was not offered the LSU job, one of the only two available jobs he would likely have been interested in (the other being Florida).
Napier was just getting started at Louisiana during the hiring cycle when Mullen was hired at Florida.
“Napier either turned down or told his agent he wasn’t interested in most of the schools you listed.’
Post a link for that claim.
But at other schools they are throw off the team
Not counting interns? One more than Auburn since Meyer/Tuberville were canned. UF is on our 4th, y’all will be too after you fire Harsin. But go on…
“UF is on our 4th, y’all will be too after you fire Harsin. ”
Tubberville was gone before Urban, ma’am. Since that time AU has let Chizik and Gus go.
Ok Barn. Yall fire Harsin this year, y’all will hire coach number 4… THE SAME AMOUNT OF COACHES OVER THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
“Ok Barn. Yall fire Harsin this year, y’all will hire coach number 4… THE SAME AMOUNT OF COACHES OVER THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.”
It’s gonna be funny when Harsin doesn’t get fired.
You’ll cry more.
It’d be nice to see him win 9 games and put the boosters in their place.
Seconded…
I agree
Kinda hope he loses nine and is fired before the iron bowl, but in another universe I could appreciate your wish.
Saban is 70 years old.
The day he retires is gonna be amazing. That day is approaching.
Ron is just hoping that Napier is still available when Pittman gets another, and better, job.
@Ellis Shoe lmaooo
Pittman will retire in Fayetteville.
The over/under on how many barner coaches get the ax before that retirement?
Ouch. This is will get uglier before this year is over.
Matt Hayes- As an Auburn alum but NOT booster, you can kiss my ass!!! Auburn is NOT the worst job in college football.
It is absolutely not. With the exception of Tommy Tuberville a change was made with everyone of those coaches for good reason. Gus got complacent. Auburn has great facilities and full support. Harsin is his own worse enemy.
You have a point, but Gus also got worn down being on the hot seat every year, even the season he got that crazy huge contract. The boosters make it difficult for AU to hire top tier coaches. The last three had 1 with a guy with 2 years of college head coaching experience and a 2-19 record. The guy they hired to replace him was a guy with one year of college coaching experience at a lower level and a 9-3 record, the guy they hired to replace him was a pretty good coach at his level and a 66-24 record as a head coach but none in a major conference and only 2 years as a co-coordinator at a major program that went 17-9. The job is such with the boosters that AU cannot get major established talent as a head coach, or even the top up and commers. This makes it a terrible job for coaches, unless they are just looking for a huge by out, because it is pretty much assured you are going to have boosters yelling at them like Jimmy Rane screaming at Tuberville during a game and making their job much more difficult to do. How can AU expect to get the top players when they know that the coach, they sign to play for is probably a dead man walking from the time he accepts the job?
Gus got complacent. Gus was like you smart kid that gets Cs.
That is why he is gone.
Gus is and was frustrating.
“dead man walking from the time he accepts the job?”
Speaking of dead, one of Alabama’s best football players killed a young woman.
SEC glass houses. Just stop with the criminal stuff. Every program has had an entitled football player go way off the rails.
“SEC glass houses. Just stop with the criminal stuff. Every program has had an entitled football player go way off the rails.”
No, I’m not. If you clowns can rip on AU I can rip on your teams.
Rip away. Just lose the hypocrisy.
“Rip away. Just lose the hypocrisy.”
What hypocrisy?
The hypocrisy of a fan of any SEC program attacking fans of another SEC program on the basis of players being charged with serious felony crimes. Heck, Auburn even had a basketball coach charged with several federal felonies.
“The hypocrisy of a fan of any SEC program attacking fans of another SEC program on the basis of players being charged with serious felony crimes. Heck, Auburn even had a basketball coach charged with several federal felonies.”
Pot, meet kettle.
Chuck Person didn’t murder anyone, but nice try.
No, he didn’t. But Bobby Hoppe did.
“No, he didn’t. But Bobby Hoppe did.”
Aaron Hernandez
Bobby Hoppe was actually a student athlete at Auburn when he committed exactly the same crime that Hernandez did.
Again Ronnie is faced with facts and he can’t reconcile. One trick pony only brings hypocrisy and falsehoods to the discussion
Ron what did I say that you feel is untrue?
“Gus also got worn down’
Gus was there for 8 years as HC. More if you add OC. Gus let recruiting slip, and got lazy.
The way those people went about behind Tuberville and Harsin is disgusting. It is a horrible coaching job to have.
“It is a horrible coaching job to have.’
LSU has lots of room to talk… You’re on coach number 2 since Les Miles.
LSU’s last three coaches won national championships. We’re good.
“LSU’s last three coaches won national championships. We’re good.”
Auburn’s last two won one and went to one. We’re good.
So, you are good with being 107-62 in the last 13 years? You don’t think AU can be better than that? It is odd when nonfans think a program is capable of more than the fans do.
Yeah it is. The boosters and the board make it that way. It’s why y’all had to settle for Harsin.
Beamer would rather be a Sakerlina, a team with no history of winning, living in that armpit known as Columbia, instead of being at The Barn.
It’s a terrible job. It shouldn’t be. It should be great. But it is.
It is not a terrible job. Harsin is a own worse enemy and the reason Bo Nix left.
Dude, it’s a terrible job. You guys have to be able to see that. The boosters and the board make it terrible.
If you can’t admit that to yourselves, you’ll never change for the better. Ever. You’ll be stuck in the same up and down cycle of insanity forever.
Yes, Harsin is a bad recruiter or doesn’t want to recruit the way you need to recruit in order to win in the SEC. That’s true.
That doesn’t make the other thing less true. Both things can be and are true.
Gus was there for eight years. EIGHT
And it was your stupid boosters that gave Gus that huge contract and buyout 2 seasons before they fired him, after a 4-loss season. After his first season at AU, Gus never had a season with less that 4 losses, and as many as 6, yet the boosters made that choice. Gus had a 66% winning percentage with 3-4 cupcakes a year to bolster that record, yet they gave him that kind of contract. Undoubtably that record was good enough for them as long as they maintained power, until it wasn’t, and the fans started to grumble. AU is not what makes AU a terrible job, the boosters are. As long as you are in denial about it, it will not change. I went to UA, but I would be just as proud if my degree had come from AU. It is a get place being brought down by a bunch of entitled rich people.
Fickle fans, intrusive boosters and board members that believe that they know how to run the program, and a culture that can never seem to get out of its own way, a prime example being the witch hunt to fire Harsin earlier this year. Oh, and all of those obstacles have to be overcome while also remaining highly competitive in the best division of the best conference in college football. Totally attractive, right? Of course it isn’t a destination job. It could be, but right now it absolutely isn’t. It’s probably the toughest job in the country.
Malzahn was good enough to recruit, but he was never going to win more than 7-9 games a year once people figured out his offense. His culture sucked. He gave in to the boosters at every corner. His offense was stale and predictable.
Harsin hasn’t recruited well so far. If he wants to remain employed that’ll change. However, Harsin is doing what Malzahn should have done before. He’s implementing a culture of toughness and is sticking it to the boosters. He’s got my respect because he’s been willing to do what nobody else has done before him. Tell them to let him do it his way or let him walk away laughing to the bank when those same boosters have to pick up the tab on his buyout.
“Dude, it’s a terrible job. You guys have to be able to see that. The boosters and the board make it terrible.”
UGA and AU have the same number of national championship wins in a 20 year span. Hell, I can go back further…
To say AU is a terrible job is idiotic.
“Fickle fans,”
I’m old enough to remember the days before Saban came on campus.
Want to talk fickle? Remove the crimson glasses. Alabama fans were THE most depressed fans when Tubberville beat Bama six years in a row.
Auburn has fickle fans? Bill Curry’s brick would like a word with you.
“Fickle fans”
Harvey Updyke says what?
LOL! From the same fans that booed Bo Nix off the field several times last year and eviscerated him on social media then blame Harsin for him leaving. The same fans that put Malzahn on the hot seat for about six years straight. And now y’all want them both back. Priceless! You guys are extremely fickle. Just own the fact that you guys negatively recruit for yourselves every time you lose a game.
“You guys are extremely fickle. Just own the fact that you guys negatively recruit for yourselves every time you lose a game.’
OK there, tree killer.
With our boosters it really is.
It may be the worst job in the SEC.
People might say Vandy but they know what they are. Expectations are low.
With AU you have one year with your fired predecessor’s recruits. Don’t beat Bama or win 9 games and the knives are out.
What happened last Spring was not handled properly at all but what this article fails to mention is Harsin did not do himself any favors. A lot of this is on him. He alienated himself from everyone in the building before getting established. And as far as Gus goes he was let go because he got complacent. They same complaints are coming out of UCF. BUT the timing was terrible. Paying Gus 23 million to go to Orlando to bring in Harsin is a bad deal.
You’re a typical Auburn fan — “…alienated himself..” You don’t even know if that’s true. Yet — you heard it from Jim Bob, who’s brother is the cousin of the equipment manager.
I live in Ashton Lakes in Auburn. I am 51 years old and graduated from Auburn in 1994. I do business and socialize with people locally and I have heard from multiple people about Harsin. I also spoke with Mason when he was here regularly and we will just leave it at that. You are just a typical JA.
USC fans saying anything about coaches is hilarious. How many coaches has USC gone through since the last guy got USC stripped of a national title?
Go
Sell
Stupid
Somewhere
Else.
Wouldn’t that make the equipment manager also Jim Bob’s cousin? You’ve got a bit of redundancy there.
Naaaah. I live in Orlando, my best friend is tenured, goes to every game, home and away… UCF fans, boosters and the organization are completely behind Gus. Dude is a rock star on campus….
If you read their message boards there was complaints of complacency. It is just his personality.
Ronnie has been on tantrum mode for a while now, and not only on this thread
It’s not hard being a rock star in Orlando. Other than Mickey Mouse, there are no other rock stars.
Opposed to what, Opelika?!? Lol, gtfo. Go on, tell me about Eastern Alabama….
“Opposed to what, Opelika?!? Lol, gtfo. Go on, tell me about Eastern Alabama….”
LOLOL as if Gainesville is Austin, TX.
LOL GTFO.
You’ve apparently not spent much time in Orlando. The mansions in Lake Nona, Isleworth, Lake Butler Sound and Winter Park are packed full of pro baseball, football and basketball players, at least a dozen PGA Tour winners and a couple of actual rock stars.
“You’ve apparently not spent much time in Orlando. ”
You’re apparently illiterate. The topic was “rock stars in Orlando” not “scenery in Orlando.”
“packed full of pro baseball, football and basketball players”
Baseball and football players THAT DO NOT PLAY BALL IN ORLANDO?????
Try harder.
Yeah, I must be the illiterate one.
Lol, now your just throwing tantrum….
“Yeah, I must be the illiterate one.”
Yes, yes you are.
Gainesville is about an hour and a half away from where the northern suburbs of Orlando begin and about an hour and a half away from Jacksonville. Both these cities are major metropolitan areas of 1 million+ people with Orlando (currently almost 3 million people) and expected to eclipse 5 million people in less than 30 years. Not to mention, Gainesville is over twice Auburn’s population. Don’t compare the two as they are not even remotely close to each other.
“Baseball and football players THAT DO NOT PLAY BALL IN ORLANDO?????”
Are we counting the USFL as pro? Because unless you are then there are more pro basketball players in Orlando than pro…well, anything in Alabama.
Well written. If they don’t fire Harsin next year they can at least start to change their image.
Our image is fine. This is propaganda.
Just a flesh wound. You guys are the most notorious dumpster fire in CFB.
That is nonsense. Gus was here for a longer tenure than most at SEC schools. Same thing with Tuberville.
Barn fire Trojan…
Yes, Gus was there for longer than most, but he accomplished less that most with more.
” but he accomplished less that most with more.”
The eff are you talking about? AU had PLENTY of talent during his days.
“You guys are the most notorious dumpster fire in CFB.”
Let’s take a trip down hypocrite lane, ma’am.
U.S.C. Loses Its 2004 B.C.S. National Championship
Southern California has been stripped of its 2004 football national title by the Bowl Championship Series, the latest consequences of N.C.A.A. violations that had already cost Reggie Bush his Heisman Trophy and kept the Trojans from being eligible for bowl games for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
“You guys are the most notorious dumpster fire in CFB.”
OJ Simpson murdered two people. OJ Simpson is a USC grad.
Reggie Bush got USC stripped of a national title.
Pete Carrol hightailed it out of USC for paying Reggie Bush.
Own it, ma’am.
We have yet to fire a coach on the tarmac. Glass houses.
The eff are you talking about? AU had PLENTY of talent during his days.
Yes, Ron thus my comment he accomplished less with more. With the talent that he had at AU; he never had a season with less than 4 losses, after his first season. That is called accomplishing less with more.
“Our image is fine. This is propaganda.”
USC’s most famous football player of all time is a murderer.
Your coaching hires since Tuberville say different.
“Your coaching hires since Tuberville say different.”
Chizik won a championship. Gus took us to one. We’re good, inbred.
Chizik won a championship. Gus took us to one. We’re good, inbred.
So, you are good with being 107-62 in the last 13 years? You don’t think AU can be better than that? It is odd when nonfans think a program is capable of more than the fans do. I thought you and I could discuss like adults, I guess I was wrong. The better part of you ran down your brother’s crack when your daddy got through with him. Your whole schtick is tell everyone “Yeah but your school” this shows a lack of logic, and the ability to reason on your part because just because it may or may not be happening elsewhere, does not mean it is not happening in your little village, and does not change the consequences.
“Well written. If they don’t fire Harsin next year they can at least start to change their image.”
Is USC off probation for paying Reggie Bush?
Harsin is going to let go in the end because he is not recruiting. He does not value recruiting.
Guess you haven’t heard of the transfer portal and NIL.
Where have I heard this before? Oh yeah…Dan Mullen
The boosters creating a toxic environment are more to blame about recruiting than Harsin.
Recruiting was way way down before the scandal
It was so early in the recruiting cycle that you cannot really judge how Harsin was doing.
Finally, someone that can see and understand the cause and effect.
T-BoneWDE, I was shocked that Harsin was hired in the first place due to lack of recruiting when he was at BSU. Right there Harsin shouldn’t been hired in the first place! Whose fault was that? The timing of firing Gus was odd too! The AD couldn’t find a good replacement. That is on Auburn in general not on Gus or Harsin!
“I was shocked that Harsin was hired in the first place”
Misery fan, you have NOTHING on AU. Misery has been a dumpster fire for YEARS.
“The timing of firing Gus was odd too! ‘
Gus let recruiting go, got lazy and never built up the o-line. Throw in Bo Nix running for his life and well…
Just stating the facts no need to get in a wad
“Just stating the facts no need to get in a wad”
You don’t understand the difference between facts and opinion, jorts.
Look who’s talking you wouldn’t know a fact if it hit you in that silly face
I’m confused Ron – do you like harsin or not? Or do you just get all excited when someone mentions Auburn in a sentence that doesn’t end with “…just lost to alabama again”
“do you like harsin or not?’
I like him enough to give the guy 3-5 years to build the program. I’m not one of these “Fire the guy after one year” types.
Well in their defense Hardin was hardly their first choice. Or second. Or third. Harsin and settling. Something like that
UF fans talking about the hiring practices of other schools is amazing.
Then they should have fired him this spring, instead they left him there to harpoon 3 recruiting classes when they could have cut their losses at 1.
He does value recruiting. What a dumb thing to say. You hate Harsin–that much is obvious to anyone who’s seen your posts on here. I can only assume you don’t like him because “he ain’t from around here”
The problem is that he refuses to grind in recruiting and that he thinks he can win in the SEC by finding diamonds in the rough and spending 4 to 5 years polishing them into Seniors or Redshirt Seniors.
It doesn’t work that way in the SEC, at least it doesn’t for an SEC team that believes they are as good as Bama and Georgia.
That’s the problem. Find a guy like Mel Tucker who will stand up to a-hole Auburn boosters who will still grind as hard as Saban and Kirby in recruiting, and you can make The Barn good again.
Harsin will never be that guy. He truly is dead man walking.
He has been overheard saying he does not value recruiting.
He’s been there 1 full year, count it, one….
SI has a piece on his terrible recruiting. I cannot link it here but you can google it. It is titled “Is Auburn Recruiting Dead” and it came out last week.
A lot of those same articles also point out how the off-field investigation hamstrung Auburn recruiting. Funny how recruits don’t want to come to a school that might fire a coaching staff after a single season….
“He’s been there 1 full year, count it, one….
UF has gone through 4 head coaches since Urban Meyer.
Yall gone through three, soon 4. Go on….
“Yall gone through three, soon 4. Go on….”
I see counting is hard for you, ma’am.
That has nothing to do with, nor does it change the situation at AU.
I think you are right, he would have to win SEC West at minimum.
you just don’t have the time to develop players like that in the SEC – you gotta produce in 1-2 years at most places. kids have to be ready to play almost immediately
Gus was at Auburn for eight years. It is not like Auburn hires and fires HCs consistently….
UT has gone through 7 coaches since Fat Fulmer. Florida has gone through 4 since the days of Urban coaching convicted murderers. Plenty of other schools have fired more coaches than AU.
Exactly AU HCs do have decent tenure and you were spot on on Gus.
Gus could have had it made at Auburn if he just did not get complacent and lazy
UT and UF fans are moronic when they pile on about AU’s head coaching record. Heck, Urban Meyer coached convicted murderers.
Yall are literally in the same boat, but you probably have issues counting to 3, soon to be 4….
“Yall are literally in the same boat, but you probably have issues counting to 3, soon to be 4….”
Like the boat McElwain posed nude on?
Why do you argue with statements that you almost certainly know are not true?
“Why do you argue with statements that you almost certainly know are not true?”
Why do convicted murderers get recruited at UF?
You’re avoiding the question. But as a purely factual matter, no player at UF was ever recruited after being convicted of any felony crime.
“You’re avoiding the question.”
What did I say that isn’t true?
“no player at UF was ever recruited after being convicted of any felony crime.”
Why does UF recruit murderers?
Are you really this stupid or is it just an act?
“Are you really this stupid or is it just an act?”
HAHAHAHAHH that’s all you got?
It says all that’s necessary.
Ronnie IS very stupid.
And he does argue using statements that are not only false but stupid as well.
He does avoid questions and deflects very well.
Ronnie, Harsin was at best 3rd choice. No decent coach wants to go to your clown show
“Ronnie IS very stupid.
And he does argue using statements that are not only false but stupid as well.
He does avoid questions and deflects very well.
Ronnie, Harsin was at best 3rd choice. No decent coach wants to go to your clown show”
That’s it? THAT’S THE BEST YOU CAN DO?
No but it seems it’s the best YOU can do
“No but it seems it’s the best YOU can do”
Try harder, ma’am.
Ronnie I just realized you sound like Gwhite did when he was arguing UT had the best BB team. Only difference is that was his opinion based on stats while you argue with falsehoods. You come across dumber than he did then.
That’s hard to do
Harsin will be 4, what’s your point.
“Harsin will be 4, what’s your point.”
Harsin is the 3rd hire since Urban left UF, ma’am. I see counting ain’t your thang.
and y’all are gonna fire him this year, bet. That will be 4 coaches since 2008, when you hire a new one after this year. Florida will be at 4 since 2010 when we fired Urban. You got 2 years on us, that’s it. Y’all are in the same boat, face it, after you can Harsin…
“and y’all are gonna fire him this year, bet.”
You’re gonna put money on that? You that desperate for cash? I’m sure you can find a job at your local fast food establishment.
“Y’all are in the same boat”
The one your former coach posed nude on?
Yes Ronnie that same boat. You got anything else besides bringing up false stories to prove your stupid point?
Don’t think so
“Yes Ronnie that same boat. You got anything else besides bringing up false stories to prove your stupid point?
Don’t think so”
Why do you recruit murderers?
Thanks for proving my point
“Thanks for proving my point”
That you have the IQ of Aaron Hernandez? You’re welcome.
Ronnie you seem very triggered when the Harsin vs AU Boosters clown show is brought up
It’s hard to imagine a job I could want less than college or NFL head coach. They’re a different breed.
They make millions. Why would you not want that?
Shoot, I’d take one just to get fired and get a huge buyout.
Yeah, anyone feeling sorry for head coaches is funny.
If they fire Harsin after this season, no successful coach will give them the time of day. They’ll end up with a FCS/D-2 coach willing to cowtow to Mr Yella Wood and his buddies in exchange for a FBS gig.
No, more like wander in the desert like Tennessee has, since they couldn’t get a good coach because of internal problems. Doofus, Botch, and Mr. Potatohead were all given the keys and brought it home scratched and dinged if not outright smashed. Hoping last season was not an outlier and things continue to trend upwards.
UT has gone through 7 head coaches since Fat Fulmer.
Interims don’t count dummy. Try to buy some facts and truth when you try but fail to make a point
AU is a great university, beautiful campus, incredible facilities and more being built. I agree that they should be a top 10 destination program. Instead, they are the place that coaches go, that say in a few years I will be making millions to stay home. Bobby Lowder started it, and the others are just saying hold my beer. Over the last 5-6 years, AU has dropped from number 9 in total victories, to number 18. The boosters are either too blind to see their damage or are too power hungry to care. I have a goodly average of my family that has their degrees from AU, from bachelor’s to PhDs, and in between. This hurts them. I want to beat AU every time Bama plays them, but it would not hurt my feelings if they didn’t lose another game all year. If the Boosters and BoT did not want Harsin as their coach, why did they approve his contract?
Sigh. They approved the contract because they did want Harsin initially. AND they left him alone. He did himself no favors with the way he treated people when first taking the job. By people I mean administrators, players and boosters. THEN coaching blew leads in the 2nd half, Bo transferred (Bo left 100 percent because of Harsin and I know that for a fact), then he lost his DC that took a pay cut, THEN he lost his OC. Additionally, Harsin and other that came in from Bosie St have not acclimated themselves well at all and before the happens of last Spring recruiting was non existent. So people with money that love Auburn panicked. Basically nothing under Harsin was working and I would imagine there would have been a similar reaction if the same thing was happing at Alabama.
Well versed in this subject given the last 10 years…. You eat it, you accept the bad fit for 3 years and wait and see, ie McElwain.
You don’t attack a guy’s family…
No P5 coach in their right mind wants to have any part of this, zero.
I agree with you. All I am trying to convey is this whole narrative of Harsin Good/ Boosters Bad is false.
You are full of $h!t. AU had a buy in problem and like all coaches Harsin ran a bunch of them off. Harsin was a lower level choice because they could get no one else. That all is beside the point. You do not harpoon your program after one season and leave the coach in place. The have undermined his ability to recruit because the recruits see the same thing, that Harsin is a dead man walking, unless a miracle happens, and I don’t see any ruby slippers on his feet. I do see a great buyout at the end of the season and AU starting the cycle all over again, with a coach with less of a resume.
Not at all. I never said Harsin was the first choice. Harsin interviewed well but when he got to Auburn conducted himself terribly from a diplomacy/new hire stand point. The recruiting was bad before anything happened. That is a fact. He does not value recruiting and has made public comments stating that.
“AU had a buy in problem and like all coaches Harsin ran a bunch of them off. ‘
One of your former players killed a 23 year old woman.
Tide 8 x 5 Even if you are a Bammer your a good poster with facts and decent opinions. TBone aka Reduced for a quick sale hamburger meat, can’t be a Auburn fan. There was a Georgia fan years ago on another SEC board that called himself Glory to ole Georgia or something similar. That was by far the dumbest poster ever. TBone is a close 2nd.
Ron that has nothing to do with anything we are discussing, and you are smarter than that. He was in a drunk driving accident and had no intent to kill or injure anyone. He will pay for that, but it does not change a thing about this topic.
Thanks @legaltiger. I do not hate AU and I try to be honest in what I say, even about Bama. I am not above calling out Saban when I think he has made poor choices.
T-BoneWDE, Auburn in general made a bad hire that should not have happened in the first place. I am like what?! Hired a BSU coach that wasn’t very good recruitier and not as good as Petersen that many top programs refuse to play BSU. On the other hand, Harsin was not feared by top teams and was nowhere near as good as Petersen. That is why Petersen didn’t hire Harsin to be Washington next HC.
You are correct. This is going to go down as the worst hire in AU Football history next to Doug Barfield. 23 million dollars to bring in Bryan Harsin.
Unbelievable
People tried to get behind him but initially he pretty much burned every bridge he could.
Please let us all know when Misery hires a good coach. Your concern for AU is noted.
I am glad that Mizzou avoided hiring Harsin when he wanted 5 million a year.
“I am glad that Mizzou avoided hiring Harsin when he wanted 5 million a year.”
Yeah, because Misery has done so well…
RonMexico1, Recruiting has been a problem for any HC at Mizzou. That is why Harsin isn’t the right fit to help improve recruiting top HS players and using the transfer portal. Drinkwitz did get a top 15 recruiting class fir the first time in a very long time.
“Recruiting has been a problem for any HC at Mizzou.”
Wasn’t hard for Pinkel before you ran him off. Did Misery ever get the safe spaces figured out?
Auburn has always been puzzling. They have all they need to go to the top, except lack of booster interference.
“Auburn has always been puzzling.”
TN…
Talk about irony.
UT has fired 7 head coaches since Fat Fulmer.
Just for the record,
1. Lane Kiffin left to take the Southern Cal job.
2. Derek Dooley was fired.
3. Jim Chaney was an interim.
4. Butch Jones was fired
5. Brady Hoke was an interim.
6. Jeremy Pruitt was fired.
7. Josh Heupel is currently employed.
So Tennessee has had three head coaches who were fired since Fulmer; Dooley, Jones and Pruitt.
Come on Nash, facts and Ronnie don’t jive.
Ronnie don’t deal in fact.
Watch him bring up recruiting murderers or something like that
Dang, never thought I’d say this, but thanks, Gator.
Hey 1998Vol this AU fan is competing hard with the Georgia Morons to be one of the dumbest fans on SDS. Doing a great job so far
Auburn football will only become good again when a tough coach is given enough time to actually develop a program. Bruce Pearl and their basketball program were left alone for years because nobody cared much about basketball. He had three bad seasons in a row before finally turning in a solid product in year four. Imagine if Auburn treated the basketball program like they do the football program. Bruce Pearl wouldn’t have lasted if the boosters had cared about basketball.
Let Harsin build his program. If by year three or four he is still floundering, firing him for someone else makes sense. However, cutting him off at the knees after year one is absolutely disgraceful, and it’s a microcosm of why Auburn football continues to underperform. Auburn is its own biggest enemy in football, and until that changes, Auburn will continue to not live up to expectations.
The main concern before the scandal was retention and recruiting. Auburn is currently 72nd in recruiting. The Boosters left him alone until the end of the year when basically the program was falling apart form a personal standpoint. I hear what you are saying but this bottom level of recruiting cannot continue.
I don’t disagree that recruiting needs to heavily improve for Auburn. There’s no excuse for a program like Auburn to be suffering on the recruiting trail this badly. If Harsin wants to win, and I think he does just given how he’s conducted himself so far, he’ll get recruiting under control. If his recruiting doesn’t improve then I can see why fans would not want him to stick around.
Harsin’s first full class, 2022, was #21, 7th in the SEC. Not great but improvable. They are 74 right now, oddly TAMU is 62nd, because the boosters have made him a lame duck. Few top recruits, if any, are going to take the chance and sign with a group of coaches that probably won’t be there next season. Gus started the dropping recruiting classes and he had the retention problems, and instead of the boosters trying to help, they blew up the program and went after a man’s family. That is going to be a big draw when they go looking for a new coach.
The boosters weren’t happy with the hire from the get go. Considering these people went dirty and tried to get him fired over a lie, I very much doubt they “left him alone.” Rather, I think they turned up the heat.
The 2021 class, which was Malzahn’s responsibility, was horrible. Harsin actually improved upon it. The 2022 class looked good in December, and then the boosters stepped up, which is why no one signed in February. Surely, you see the correlation, yes? The “scandal” broke in late January/early February right before national signing day … don’t you think that was deliberate on the boosters’ part? They could have picked any moment to launch their smear campaign but they picked the period right before a crucial recruiting period.
Auburn, right now, has a quantity problem with recruits, not a quality problem. Every recruit we have for the next two classes is a strong 4-star recruit.
Auburn’s recruiting, right now, would be much further along if it hadn’t been for what the boosters had done.
You cannot compare Pearl with Harsin. Pearl turned basketball around solely on recruiting. Of course he is given a free hand to operate without anyone trying to pull the strings in the background but he knows how to create a bond with recruits and his enthusiasm carries over in his recruitung success.
Harsin on the contrary is a good coach but he does not have the soft skills to be succsessful in recruiting. Nowadays you have to be more than just a good coach especially when you want to win the recruiting battles. Especially in the south you have to understand that a nice BBQ is more relevant to a recruit than a two hour monologue about your football philosophy. I think Harsin understands that now and I just hope he will get the time to show that he can adapt to that.
“All fired from the worst job in college football.”
UF has gone through 4 coaches since Urban Meyer last coached murderers.
UT has gone through 7 coaches since Fat Fulmer retired.
To say AU is the worst coaching job in college football is ridiculously stupid.
Auburn has gone through 3 coaches since Tuberville, Harsin will be 4….
“Auburn has gone through 3 coaches since Tuberville, Harsin will be 4….”
UF hasn’t won anything since 2008.
Cry more, ma’am.
Yall ain’t won sh.. since 2010. The Natty y’all won, it was with a former UF player as HC, and a kid that got kicked of our team…. but go on Barn.
“Yall ain’t won sh.. since 2010. ”
2010 is much closer to 2022 than 2008, ma’am.
“he Natty y’all won, it was with a former UF player as HC”
Ha ha, you’re still mad about that.
At least AU didn’t recruit murderers like UF.
Kowaski Kitchens, Michael McNeil, Antonio Goodwin and Harrison Mosely…
Parrish Zachery…
Brad Lester…
Greg Robinson and Jaquan “Quan” Bray…
Landon Rice…
Waaaay back, talking old-school Bobby Hoppe…
“Waaaay back, talking old-school Bobby Hoppe…”
Ha, so we’re gonna play that game?
CHRIS RAINEY
GARY BROWN
MARQUIS HANNAH
CARL JOHNSON
RONNIE WILSON
And this gem:
41 Members Of Florida’s 2008 National Title Team Have Been Arrested
and Cam got kicked off that very team…
“and Cam got kicked off that very team…”
And we thank you for that.
This is such a stupid argument. Every team has player arrests, and it’s a fool’s errand to claim that your team is somehow superior in the category of good behavior.
nola.com/sports/article_81f13e9e-0631-52e3-8b02-065938d66052.html
“This is such a stupid argument. ”
True, but it is funny one-upping each other.
So Ronnie you finally admit your arguments are stupid. First step in healing is admission.
There’s still hope for you
This is a very inaccurate article. Exagerated too, but mostly very inaccurate
Found the booster
Why is it the Auburn boosters are always behind the drama?
Go ask them.
Actually kind of genius. He knows they are waiting for him to make a mistake. So just take the battle to them. He basically neutered them with this. If they fire him now, it is because he had the courage to lead. If they get out of the way, Auburn might have just taken its first step in becoming the powerhouse they always should have been.
This ^^^^^^^^^
Kinda suspected this comment section would catch fire, and it did not disappoint!
Matt Hayes you have terrible info! Beamer nor Napier never were contacted. How many of Auburns opponents chipped in for you to bash them like this? I know one. Pile on now boys because Harsin is going to be a force to deal with down the road. Using that line “ won’t make three years” is exactly what the other coaches in the SEC are using to sway recruits from Auburn. Harsin in a few years will be singing the old Elvis song “ I Did It My Way” Auburn men stand tall, 90% of the gossip about all the boosters is Bull. War Eagle !
Enjoy LA LA Land while you can
Reality is coming
Harsin will be gone by Nov
Harsin does not have the depth, the staff, nor the proper mindset to compete in the SEC
It is not his fault because he should have never been hired but having said that he and his people initially did themselves no favors on the Plains.
You both sound ridiculous, but you’re negativity is pathetic. I sure wouldn’t want you as part of my fan base.
No coaches and no players return on either side, but a lot of Missouri and probably a lot of Auburn fans will be tuning in and finding seats for this game. The last one was a fast paced score-fest for all the SEC marbles. I’m sure that a championship atmosphere will rise up out of this stand-off 2022.
Good article but this only scratches the surface.
Consider this: no Auburn coach has left of his own accord in 45 years, since Shug Jordan retired. Everyone else has either been forced to resign, been fired, or in the case of Tuberville, had the boosters run him out of town.
I repeat, no head coach has left to pursue a better job. Nobody has gone on to the NFL, nobody has gone on to a “blue blood” program. They’ve been fired or forced out.
It really is the worst job in college football. And the boosters aren’t helping.
Why don’t you post the last few college coaches that left a job on their own terms or for the NFL at other schools.
I will wait….
Lane Kiffen did
As Charles Barkley said
Leave him (Coach Harsin) alone
He can coach.
He was hired to be the coach, so like Saban at Bama, let everyone back off and let him be
There is a few problems with that assessment. He was left alone for the first half of his tenure at Auburn…he lost both coordinators, the starting QB and pretty much the entire athletic department. He and his Boise’s people initial approach was toxic. They alienated themselves with arrogance from people that could have helped them Harsin is trying to change his approach but the damage is done. He will be gone mid season.
T-Bone I think you are the only one that gets it… Blame the boosters!, blame the boosters!….. There is so much more to those coaches leaving then just football. Some of us live in the communities with these coaches and if you dont think every school has boosters that have some input with the millions that they invest you are only fooling yourselves. Harsin is the coach for now like it or not, but hes no Angelic Hero these articles paint him to be for defending allegations because there was no solid proof. He will be gone mid season.
I live in Auburn and Harsin along with the rest of the people that came from Boise have done themselves no favors. Harsin was completely insufferable at first.
Amen!!! WDE!!! I get so sick of the same lies repeated over and over. Harsin was not the 4th choice. Allen Greene had him in his sights from day 1. They had met a few years earlier and really hit it off. I have the utmost respect for Allen Greene. I believe what he says over message board nonsense and lazy ‘journalists’ that just repeat what they read on message boards.
Your right Stream, One coach was contacted that was the Clem DC. He never interviewed as he declined to talk. Never talked direct to Auburn or was offered. The other two never were contacted. Napier just flat out lied. Why the press prints stories they can’t confirm I just don’t get it. Allen Greene is the man for the job and I have posted it many times. He has stood up against the money boosters several times. Once was with the pressure to hire Steele, he didn’t,,,thank the Lord. TBone is not an Auburn fan and surely didn’t graduate as he claims. Harsin will be successful after he gets more players that buy in to his system. All this piling on from the press and opponents is to try and keep Auburn down. Why would anybody that loves Auburn talk negative? These are not Auburn people. We invented the phrase Family and that’s what we should be. TBone is too dumb to realize he needs to get on board. I do believe he is some cousin to Coach Steele as all he does is bash our coach. He needs to take a look at what Sir Charles is saying.
Also tired of hearing about recruiting rankings this time of year. Our ranking is low right now because we only have 4 commits. But those commits average ranking is 4th in the SEC. We have the best RB and best WR in Alabama committed. So how about waiting until next Feb and let’s see where we stand then. Ranking recruiting now is like ranking teams in preseason. Hardly ever ends up that way. Has made great inroads in the state despite Auburn being its own worst enemy in this whole ordeal. Seems to me like we have a handful of posters on here more invested in seeing him fail so they can say ‘see I told you so’ than they are in seeing him succeed and be proven wrong.
Phil
On the recruiting end, Harsin is at least going after players that not only fit but still pursuing them even if they are leaning toward others. Gus on the other hand would give up, if a prospect was sporting another schools hat. After Auburn surprises folks this season the players will buy in. Next year we will have the facilities that are second to none. With a little help from these so called money boosters with NIL, Auburn will be fine. Speaking of Allen Greene just look at where Auburns sports landed in all sports from Golf to Baseball, basketball, gymnastics and yes equestrian too. No other university comes close to our success. Football will be back no coaching change there! Just wait and see.
I am hoping as a G5 to P5 guy Brian succeeds. One thing to bring Coach Napier in from Louisiana. Quite another thing to bring in a guy from Boise, Idaho and the Mountain West.
I can’t believe the number of Auburn players, now mostly gone, who whined about the difficulty of practice. You did not hear this from Harsin’s players at Boise State. Boise State!
IMO, this is evidence of how ‘soft’ the program had become under Malzahn.
You are correct. Gus had guys not even showing up for practice. Tank said it yesterday on live Tv. Those guys were a cancer. Now we have a team pulling in one direction! We will be the biggest surprise in the conference this year! The recruiting will come after that. One other thing on that note. Harsin had his staff barnstorm the entire state this year in a two week period. I’ve never know any Auburn staff that did that. This stuff about he doesn’t care about recruiting might be the biggest lie of them all. And there have been some whoppers.
Phil
Auburn is 77th in the nation in recruiting. Yeah, great recruiting. Gus ALWAYS had top ten classes
We have 4 verbal commits. All 4 are 4 stars. Recruiting rankings in July are ludicrous. It’s like ranking a team that has played one game vs a team that has played 9 games. If you think we will finish anywhere near 72nd I can’t help you.
One more thing and I’m going fishing! I was lucky enough to attend Auburn in the mid ‘80’s. Good thing there were no message boards and recruiting rankings back then. Pat Dye had a guy literally die on the field. His practices were brutal and a culture shock following the Barfield years. He went 5-6 his first year with very close loses much like this past year. We led Alabama that year too entering the 4th quarter. But he established a foundation that hard work wasn’t optional. So anybody comparing Harsin to Barfield has it backwards. Gus was more like Barfield. Harsin is more like Pat cleaning up the mess left behind. WDE!
Phil
With all the hub aloo just fire allen Green
Your Crazy ! Allen Greene is the real man. Look up Auburn in all sports. Ranked higher as a whole ahead of every sports program in the nation. Not even close just look it up where they stand.
The problem is that Greene has not had his contract renewed and I doubt he will. He defied the boosters and hired Harsin instead of Steele. He must be made to pay for that.
Rivalry? Et tu Brute?
Wonder what the Vegas odds are on him finishing the season as head coach? Take the under.
No reason? Only players alleging he is tyrant, allegations of an affair, the worst recruiting in the sec that’s not getting better, and the worst collapse in Auburn history. He was a bad hire and no amount of self- righteous indignation at the boosters will change that
Do you listen to the players that are on the team now? Did you hear one word of what Tank, and Derrick Hall, and Shenker said this week? The affair allegations were complete lies and have been completely debunked. The players that left had been pampered by Gus. And who put these lies out there? I think we all know. That’s the real story. Finebaum called him out today. So glad he did. Yeller Feller.
And here I though coaching tu was the worst job in football. I guess the difference is Texas boosters try to meddle just as much but they can’t get their ass outta their hat long enough to get organized.
I’m not an Auburn fan but i’m pulling for Harsin. The boosters made the Auburn job lass desirable and that’s a bigger problem for Auburn IMO.