Auburn's expensive firing of Gus Malzahn was done to bring in Hugh Freeze. Right?
When Gus Malzahn danced his heart out Saturday night after knocking off Mississippi State, he surely had no idea. On second thought, maybe he did. Maybe Malzahn, who has been on the hot seat for the better part of a decade, danced not because he clinched what he’d call a “solid” season, but because he knew that worst-case scenario, he was walking away with $21 million to not work. By the way, half of that would be due in 30 days.
Either way, Auburn finally pulled the trigger. If Malzahn was the Tigers’ on-again, off-again significant other, Sunday’s news of his hiring was finally a clean break.
No more hot seat. No more extensions. Malzahn is gone, and not even a pandemic could slow down the powers at Auburn from making a decision many have expected the second that massive post-2017 extension started to turn south … in 2018.
And now that Malzahn is gone, it’s fair to wonder — was this all about hiring Hugh Freeze?
You know, the guy who beat Nick Saban in consecutive years at Ole Miss and turned Liberty into an offensive juggernaut with, ironically enough, former Auburn quarterback Malik Willis. You know, the guy who is only not in the SEC because of recruiting violations and an escort service scandal. You know, the guy who beat Saban in consecutive years at Ole Miss. Did I say that already? Oops. It was probably worth bringing up twice.
Why else would Auburn be willing to make a financial commitment so steep? Surely it couldn’t have been the simple fact that Malzahn suffered a 4th loss for the 7th consecutive season. It couldn’t have been that his quarterback once again struggled to develop in his system.
Well, it’s Auburn. Who are we kidding. It could’ve been all of that stuff.
This is the same place where “JetGate” became a thing with Tommy Tuberville. This is the place where a coach 2 years removed from a BCS National Championship was fired. Perhaps it’s only fitting that Malzahn was fired in this bizarre fashion.
The coaching carousel is indeed spinning with now 5 coaches at the Power 5 level gone. Of course, Malzahn is the 3rd from the SEC … during a pandemic.
Did I say that already? Oops. It was probably worth bringing up twice.
Auburn athletic director Allen Greene wasn’t the one who gave Malzahn that 7-year, $49 million extension with 75% of the contract fully guaranteed. That was signed by Malzahn, Auburn President Steven Leath and then-athletic director Jay Jacobs. Surely they didn’t see Malzahn going 14-12 in SEC play with that type of money. The goal, of course, was to do what Malzahn did in 2017 — beat Alabama, win division titles and make Auburn nationally relevant in December.
Instead, Malzahn’s final game as Auburn’s coach was a rock fight in which his prized quarterback prospect threw for 3.9 yards per attempt.
Who knows if that was the last straw. Who knows if Auburn’s brass had long since made up its mind that Freeze’s offense had more potential than any sort of Malzahn/Chad Morris offense. That’s not really saying much. Here are Auburn’s offensive ranks since that magical 2013 season:
- 2014 — No. 27
- 2015 — No. 75
- 2016 — No. 49
- 2017 — No. 27
- 2018 — No. 48
- 2019 — No. 28
- 2020 — No. 87
So in a 7-year stretch following his first season as Auburn’s head coach, Malzahn never:
- A) Had a top-25 offense
- B) Had consecutive top-40 offenses
- C) Had a quarterback with more than 20 TD passes
- D) Scored 24 points in consecutive Iron Bowls
- E) All the above
It’s “E.” It’s always “E.”
When you make $7 million, you have to be better than that. You just do. This isn’t just about beating Alabama. The irony of a potential Malzahn-Freeze swap is that it’s Malzahn who has more wins against the Crimson Tide. Freeze has done that twice compared to 3 for Malzahn, though obviously the former had a little more than half as many seasons (5) as the latter (8).
Oh! There’s more irony about a potential Malzahn-Freeze swap. Obviously, it was Freeze who spent a year at Arkansas State before Malzahn succeeded him and then also stayed for a year. The old friends have a lot in common as guys who worked their way through the high school ranks before landing in the SEC.
Freeze could have another crack at landing in the conference he spent the vast majority of his life surrounded by. His name surfaced in the South Carolina search, but that ultimately wasn’t deemed a fit. Could Auburn — a place that has resources that entail paying a $21 million buyout — be the ultimate scenario for Freeze’s SEC rebirth? Nobody should be surprised by that.
On Sunday, we got a surprise that Malzahn’s days on the Plains were done. Though perhaps we shouldn’t say that. Auburn is a unique place. It’s a place where Gene Chizik remained even after he was fired on the heels of a winless SEC season in 2012. For all we know, Malzahn will stick around and live on his $21 million, enjoying his time away from one of the most high-pressure jobs in the sport.
It’s because of that investment to cut bait on Malzahn that there’s now even more pressure for Auburn to get it right. It’s hard to envision a scenario in which that doesn’t include a major attempt to bring Freeze back to the SEC, baggage and all. The candidate list, at least so far, isn’t plentiful. You don’t fork over that rich of a buyout without a strong sense of urgency to win immediately.
Time will tell if Freeze succeeds his buddy. If he does, you can bet plenty of people on the Plains will be dancing like Malzahn.
I find it interesting that his coaching opponent,for his first and last game as the coach at Auburn, was Mike Leach
Very Twainesque. Leach will appreciate it, even if Gus doesn’t.
Wow, you’re right.
Good catch! I remember the Wash St QB at the time saying if Auburn could find a QB they would be a NC contender.
Certainly not the main reason to choose now to fire Gus, but I would suggest that Auburn’s 42nd-ranked recruiting class might have added some incentive. Another disappointing year combined with no real risk of watching a class fall apart by changing HCs could have been too good to pass up if the administration was on the fence about Gus.
Auburn has only 12 commits for 2021, with no 5-stars and just 5 4-stars. I wonder if this move would have been made if the Tigers were sitting less than a week away from signing a top-ten class?
It would have made them think harder, but with the 4 losses, and lack of development of Nix, Gus would have been gone anyway. The recruiting class just made it less painful.
I think Gus calling a 4 loss season “solid” was the final nail in his coffin.
Win Some..it helped, but the total ineptitude of the offense TY except for Tank was the straw.
I think the recruiting class is a product of the idea that AU has been waiting to fire gus for a while. No recruit believed he would be around for 3/4 years or ever their first full season.
I’m betting Venables is being courted pretty hard.
They have a good DC. I would think they would go offense.
No, as soon as a new coach is named the DC is gone.
I’m thinking more along the lines of an experienced coach who has been key to / learning in a successful NC level program for a long time and who is likely ready to entertain offers for the next step.
There’s no better place to start than in the SEC, and it would be a big compliment for a school like Auburn to want to throw a few million dollars at you.
Highly doubtful. He’s not going to help the offense. That’s the issue.
Offense is an issue, but good consistent coaching and player development is THE issue.
Auburn will pay $20M+ for someone to leave. I doubt they’d keep their wallet closed for a strong candidate to hire the staff he wanted.
It won’t be a DC with no head coaching experience.
LSU’s right, Auburn’s not paying 21 mill for Gus to go away only to hire a project.
God I hope not..
There he is you been missing in action bro, didn’t want to come on here and admit that the offense got worse with Chad? lol we told you he was a bum.
It didn’t though..
Hugh Freeze? The coach who had one of those wins (2014) over Saban vacated by the NCAA … mentioning 15 level 1 violations and something about institutional control? That coach? I can’t imagine Auburn University even considering it.
You don’t really know you’re in state rival very well, you should get out more…
Having lived in Auburn for 35 years, I know them *very* well… and understand what you are saying. :)
Your teams both share common bag men fess up!
Yeah. With all the Football violations, you have to question his ability to coach and recruit by the rules. With the moral violation you have to question his ability to withstand temptation in a much more liberal enviroment.
With Auburn being a program of high expectations and a big budget, Freeze would be a roll of the dice… at best. I would think he has too much to prove before being seriously considered by any major program.
Hope you’ve been doing okay, Merry Christmas and Roll Tide! … at least we have another chance to cheer on #18. :)
yea can’t forget all of those fake national titles
Merry Christmas and ROLL TIDE to you. It is going to be a great ride, no matter how it ends.
AUforever Let’s don’t count any of them. Let’s just count SEC championships. That may make your rash itch less.
Ok remember you guys tried to hire him over 2 years ago, just making sure that is out there
Saban did offer Hugh a spot in the rehab program, off the field “analyst”, but Sankey vetoed the notion. That was big news at the time, I suspect everyone knows that. But here we are talking about the Head Coaching job at Auburn. There is no analogy there to be made.
I would like to introduce you to Bruce Pearl…..
Pass :)
Why not? They hired Bruce Pearl, and he’s no saint.
Good question. idk. Point taken
Hell im Ole Miss fan and I would love to have him back if we lost Kiffin. Kiffin is going to be good if he stays put for the next few years. Who ever get freeze will be lucky as hell trust me on that.
In an epic turn of events Auburn hires Hugh Freeze And brings along grad transfer QB Malik Willis.
But no. I don’t want Freeze.
Yall will beat bama if you hire Freeze. Despite his shortfalls with being stupid and not having a burner phone. He will be a great coach
I think they had to pull the trigger quickly, only so long Kevin Sumlin will be available
when was that last UGA title? Were there even video games back then? Still some civil war survivors I believe.
1980, same year Arari 2600 released Space Invaders. It was a magical period, shoulda been there! Good times (:
Atari^
I suspect that Auburn already has an agreement with their next coach.
They may do a coaching search and then only after a through and investigative search conclude Freeze a changed man, just like Ohio St did with Meyer.
The thought of a good x’s and o’s coach who built Ole Miss into a contender by paying the right players, teaming up with the Auburn bag man is some scary stuff.
That could get very interesting.
Au bagman scary thought? You got me on that one.
He’s referring to the Cam Newton NCAA inquiry. Danny Sheridan claimed to know the identity of the “bag man” who paid him but never disclosed his name.
9mmDave, that and the long history of Auburn scandals.
Like as in the Terry Bowden days. Bowden waited until the statute of limitations ran out and only then, came forward. I may be wrong, but I think they made him agree to that when he got his exit settlement.
They bought Newton and they got a NC out of it. There was plenty of smoke but nobody came forward. Simply said, it worked.
Why would anybody think they won’t do it again, and why would anybody not think Freeze would be all in for it.
That was a publicity stunt by Danny Sheridan. He lied plain and simple. The NCAA cleared Auburn.
End of story.
Au toothless. You’re full of shît too. I personally saw the legal documents in that lawsuit. Those two black badgers lawyered up and found a legal loophole. Stfu talking about shît you have no idea about. Auburn is trash and so are you.
LMAO at lawsuit.
You probably know who the bag man was too.
Gene Jelks and Albert Means bring to mind something about stones, & glass house you angry redneck..
I have learned that UGAs bagman wrote that recent New York Times bestseller “Confessions of a Bagman”
It was a reaalllly cool transam
One SEC team claiming another cheats…yeah thats rich!
If ya aint cheatin ya ain’t tryin!
As the sec world turns. Will anyone take a chance on the big freeze or will he remain frozen out of the SEC. if so maybe UT thaws him out next season…. anyone know what the total buyout is for the entire staff? UT’s was reported to be about $18M if they fired Pruitt and company before sbout 1/15. HAvent heard any talk about chad Campbell. I think he would be really good don’t think he has any ties to the south but not sure and am not as hung up on that as many. I wish UT could hire Pruitt and hire him now. Hey auburn could you float us a loan? We would gladly pay Tuesday for $17M today.
UT hasn’t not fired Pruitt yet
Skipped that English comp class, eh, CP?
Talk about a guy laughing all the way to the bank…
stuck with Bo Nix. Proved his misfortune , but I would have taken 21 million (easy) to leave Opelika
Here is a crazy thought:
We have always been guilty of hiring AU connections. If so then don’t rule out:
Clay Helton at USC.
Auburn is no better than Carolina. Their plight is worse than ours. But if a Freeze goes there; good luck.
You think because you finally beat AU after 85 years that USC is a better program? Delusional that is all.
Auburn’s bad season would be a good one at SC
That is why AU had to fire Gus. For 7 years it was 4=6 losses, the fanbase was disconnecting, and other teams were passing AU. Not to mention recruiting. Player want to compete and be developed, Gus was not getting the job done with a very long leash.
Considering that AU puts more players in the NFL then 90 percent of the college teams out there Id say id rethink that one.
Just because you’re an AU hater doesn’t mean you can just say anything you want.
Is it such great player development to get 22 of the top 300 players coming out of high school and 14 get drafted?
Well maybe in you universe
Bcreek, u are delusional. Auburn is a top 15 program alltime. Has enjoyed undefeated seasons, SEC & NC’s. Wtf are you talking about?
Auburn just made a huge mistake, Gus is one of the best Coaches in the Sec. Bad for y’all good for us, look forward to beating Auburn from here out!
There is absolutely no metric in which that is true.
they do have the fourth best record in the SEC since 2010 and that’s including a year (2012) where they didn’t win an sec game.
So a metric in which that is true? Id say if you’re one of the other 10 teams behind AU.
Why start from 2010 when Gus became HC in 2013?
I so love comments that have been backed up by research.
Actually It wouldn’t make any difference if I start in 2010 or 2013. AU still fourth in the league.
But it’s easier to find stats for ten years rather then 8 and since he was still part of the team I included it.
However he wasnt here when AU lost all SEC games in 2012.
The point is. The Arkansas fan is right. AU could go the way of Florida State, or so many others.
Even every name in the list at this time. Nine of them have proven they would certainly be an upgrade.
None of them not nine of them
A bit of a surprise AU finally pulled the trigger. Gus has been mired in medioracy, The fact he was able to beat Alabama a few times saved him from getting the can earlier. I don’t feel too bad, okay, not bad at all. $21Million is a lovely goodbye kiss.
So now the carousel is in high gear. Will Auburn go the way of Tennessee or Georgia after this? Who knows?
So the openings. Vandy – let’s face, Vandy could land Urban Myer and they’d still suck ass – they just don’t have the facilities, recruiting or low GPA requirements necessary to compete in football.
Tennessee – are they holding onto Pruitt? Remains to be seen. In my opinion, as much as they hate him, they might as well fire him now. Could Gus end up going there if it opens? Interesting thought.
Carolina filled their opening so they’re off (for now).
I wonder where Chad Morris and the rest of the Auburn staff lands. UK is in the process of filling an OC position, so does this shake that up?
Personal prediction – Auburn follows the Tennessee route and fires whoever they hire before three years is up. Then they’ll do it again, and again, and again…
who cares where Chad Morris lands
Mrs. Morris…..
Ba dum tiss….
#FirePruitt
#HireHughFreeze
Are you kidding. Weren’t you alive when the Schiano fiasco made TN the laughing stock of the college football world? Even glancing at a coaching candidate with as much as a man purse, let alone a full load of baggage like Freeze has, will never get through the quagmire that is the Vols fans’ screening process.
Are you serious? Freeze is exactly who the fans are wanting!
Which fans?? Not this one. Win, but don’t bring a bunch of baggage with ya!
From what I’ve read and what my auburn friends have said, the three top candidates are Cristobal, Freeze, Napier, in that order.
And Lane Kiffin?
That would shock me.
Napier could be a terror. Freeze has not proven to be any better than Gus. Cristobal is kind of unknown.
I think Cristobal would be a good hire. He’s recruited really well at Oregon. He’s a no nonsense kind of guy. He is a former O-line coach so you know he values strong play in the trenches.
Yeah but his team has kind of imploded this year. It is unusual to hire a coach coming off of an unsuccessful season. I think he is a good coach, how good I do not know. The timing just does not seem right.
I hope Auburn fans realize that Cristobal is one of Saban’s former assistants…and we all know about that wonderful record those assistants have had when they’ve faced Saban as HCs.
He is also one that I have reservations about. But of the people named, Kiffin, Napier, Cristobal, Sark, and Freeze the only one not a Saban disciple is Freeze. Would AU go the Bama route?
Kiffin is a Saban disciple? Come on man.
Come on man. He worked for the man for 3 years. That is as long as some of these people have that we have to constantly hear about on a weekly basis.
Bcreek, u are delusional. Auburn is a top 15 program alltime. Has enjoyed undefeated seasons, SEC & NC’s. Wtf are you talking about?
Kiffin is NOT a “disciple” he was a head coach of a friggin NFL team before he coached at bama.
Sark is not also..
You call what Kiffin did with the Raiders coaching? Muhahaha!! If not for Daddy Monte, Lane would have been relegated to the college level at best.
It isn’t surprising. I said it was happening on Friday. AU did it because losing a minimum of 4 games a season is not acceptable, being the 5th ranked team in the conference, and falling was not acceptable, and having your legacy QB transfer to be developed is not acceptable and would have made the fall faster and farther. I doubt they get Freeze, but if they do he has to convince parents that he is not going to be calling hookers on company time.
This may be a bit off topic, but what about The Gus Bus heading west to Tucson. The Arizona job is open and PAC 12 defenses are a bit easier to negotiate than those down South.
I would think that being paid 10.5 million by mid January, would make one desire some time off and reflection. Gus is a great guy, but his reputation as an offensive guru has taken a big hit, and lets be honest, and guy that has averaged 4.7 losses a year for the last 7 years is not really going to make P-5 schools sit up and start panting.
Perhaps, but you’re forgetting that most of those 4 or so losses a year are to elite teams in Bama, LSU, UGA, etc. Gus could do well somewhere with a lighter schedule.
But each P-5 conference has their own elite teams. It is also funny that they each have their own…way of playing? The BIG10 and the SEC are similar, the BIG12 and PAC12 believe defense is optional. They all get different types of players. Still how many P-5 teams are going to be panting after a coach with the 8 year record that Gus has? He is going to have too much money to coach at a lesser level. He will go into TV if he is bored, I think he is very good at that.
Have to say that I’m really surprised Auburn fired Malzahn today. I figured that big buyout was going to guarantee him another season, plus the whole COVID thing and everyone getting a mulligan this year (though he’s the third SEC coach fired this season). Perhaps Auburn heard what I had been saying the last few weeks that they learn the lesson Alabama did: the Iron Bowl is a huge rivalry, but if you’re going to compete at the top level, you have to demand success beyond just how many times you’ve taken the James M. Foy Sportsmanship Trophy home (side note: Really? This is the best name for a rivalry trophy we can come up with?). Kids in California may have never even heard of the Iron Bowl let alone care about it (imagine Wisconsin or Minnesota recruiting your kid down here with how many times they’ve won Paul Bunyan’s Axe) but they are going to want to see those SEC Championship trophies and New Years Six Bowl trophies and those National Championship trophies. Gus went 3-5 versus Alabama, better than anyone else, but when you’ve not even sniffed the national championship since your first season in 2013 and have lost at least four games every year since, that shouldn’t count for much. And Auburn, it appears, finally agreed. Now Auburn fans for their sake had better hope the administration already has someone in mind and has been talking to him rather than starting the dreaded “search committee,” meaning they don’t and they haven’t.
After 7 years, there has been ample time to judge ability. Gus averaged 4.7 losses. It was apparent that he could not develop a QB, and I heard rumors that Nix and his father were considering transferring to get that development, his offense was stagnant, he either could not or would not adjust his offense to fit his talent, Fan apathy, and a huge reason was that he had a recruiting class ranked 42nd and little major talent in the 12 commitments. They are the 6th best team in the SEC right now with other trending up and AU trending down. They had to do something before AU was not even competitive.
You can count them out for at least 5 years now.
That depends on who they get, what their offense and defense is, and how well they can recruit and develop talent.
time
My first thought is that it wold be crazy to can a guy with that buyout without having a deal with a big hire already worked out. Then I remind myself that this is The Barn we’re talking about, where common sense and logic are as rare as full sets of teeth.
Me too. Same thoughts. They wouldn’t just lay someone $21 million to leave and not have a specific person ready to sign. They would go through the motions, interview a minority coach bc they have to so ESPN can tell us how racist the SEC is, then move on to their main guy. Surely there have been back door negotiations going on and they know he will sign. Surely that coach isn’t just gonna use AU for leverage to get a longer and bigger contract where he is, leaving Auburn having to start looking for real and realizing there may not be as many candidates out there as they thought, willing to come there and handle the pressure.
I realize your comment is 2 days old now, but your last sentence is exactly what is happening with the guy from Oregon.
I predict Freeze stays at Liberty for another season. I think he believes by staying its a good move to continue to rehabilitate his image while also holding off to wait for the UT job. I think Freeze comes back in the East and wants it that way. Im gonna guess that Auburn hires Bill O’Brian.
Interesting pick of coaches.
I think Cristobal is using this for leverage with OU. Besides Shoe Dog can write a check for anything he wants to keep him.
I don’t think Greene is enamored with Freeze. This does put pressure on Fulmer if Freeze is who he wants.
I think Napier is a good bet along with Luke Fickell at Cincy.
And I wouldn’t count out Bill Clark. Or Neal Brown.
I think there are some choices right now. Do it right
I agree waegl. O’brian is just a guess, but I def think there’s options out there, I just really don’t think that Freeze is going to be the one.
I think Bill Clark would strike fear in a lot of hearts. I think Fickell and Fleck are going to be in the running for Michigan. They are northern guys.
Derek Mason will come in and save the day. His Vandy O was so exciting! Maybe he can get Fuller to transfer and bring even more attention to AU
Nah I’m pretty sure they are going are about Bo Pelini.
My bet is Malzahn ends up someplace with great potential. So many programs today trying to hang on to yesteryear and putting all those shackles on the current HC. It’s a whole new ballgame.
I am willing to bet Gus never coaches again, at least at a major level. Who is going to want to pay millions for a coach that averaged 4.7 losses a year? It isn’t like he was in the yearly running.
I’d take that bet.
Where is he going to coach? There are few places with better resources and facilities than AU. Gus was not a success there, and P-5 teams do not usually hire someone that was mediocre at a school as good as AU. Thus you have the G-5 and you have to ask yourself, would Gus, with all that money, be motivated or desire to coach at that level. If he gets bored he will probably go to TV which I think he is very good at.
Don’t know much but knee-jerk reactions during a pandemic seem rather short-sighted. The landscape in College football is drastically different than it was from even a few short years ago.
Connor you said Gus was hired today is that what you said? “Sunday’s news of his hiring was finally a clean break.”
Claim it buddy you so-called journalists are all frauds.
Absolutely hilarious. It’s Auburn. Do they seriously think they can do better?
They could, but like MSU they probably won’t.
I think they can. It isn’t like it would be that hard. Even if they can not they have to try. You can not ask player to reach for excellence if the school is not willing to reach for it. Hell if they got a 8-4 coach for 4 million a year it would be an improvement.
Gus was successful at the beginning because of his innovative offense. Once the rest of the SEC adjusted to it, he had no more tricks. He also was the luckiest coach around, but it turned when the potential interception against TAM ended with a TD instead.
Natan, please explain how his offense was innovative and had the rest of the SEC having to adjust to it. He walked onto campus and made it to the Natty Championship with Chizik’s players and has lost at least 4 games a year since. What exactly was so innovative about the RPO that turned Jeremy Johnson from a “Heisman” candidate into the mediocre QB he was?
Tile will tell but I’m willing to bet you won’t have to wait long. Are some of us forgetting this is Auburn, one of the most busted by the NCCA for violations in the country. Someone mentioned Gene Chisnik, are you forgetting the reason he was hired? If you have it was the QB who took them to the title. They got away with it because the payment was to his father not him. The NCCA has since shanged their rules. Auburn has nothing against cheating, just getting caught. In any case this should be interesting.
Time will tell
Mixed opinions on this. He beat Bama more times than I like, so kinda glad he’s gone. But at the same time had some rough disappointing seasons at auburn, so kinda upset he’s leaving.
3 out of 8. 37.5% of the time. That does not bring too many accolades.
It does when Alabama’s in the midst of its best run in history and no one is beating them so often.
Hurts A Lot more when it comes from y’all too :/
What accolades has it brought AU? In the last 8 years Gus has won one SEC Championship, the other he shared the SEC west with Bama and Bama won the National Championship that year. So winning those 3 games brought AU nothing 1 SEC Championship.
Another mediocre coach badly overpaid to go away. As a UT alum, I have a great deal of experience with that situation. Like for over a decade. Should be interesting to see who they hire.
If Freeze is hired then Auburn will win the prize for greases hires. Freeze and Pearl. Why not hire Rush Probst as life coach?
greasiest
You think Muschamp ends up as the DC again considering he’s available?
Don’t know, but I’ve always wondered how he got the reputation as being a defense expert.
Imagine getting fired and knowing in 30 days the company that fired you is going to send you a check for $10,500,000. THEN! they will send you $10,500,000 more over some agreed upon period of time.
Y’all…..
For real though. I could mess up a program or two and sink my reputation in the industry for that kinda payout.
You would have to hurry before I beat you to it.
We used to play a game in the military, it was usually when we were absolutely miserable. Sitting outside, dead of night, shooting the sh.. on guard duty, or some other menial task. Always either under 3 feet of snow, or 1000 degrees outside, never fail you felt like either an ice cube or a well done steak. “What would you do for a million dollars?”, or something equivalent. You can only imagine what a couple 20something idiots would say they’d be willing to do for a million bucks, the disgusting and ridiculous ideas were endless. There was something therapeutic about the practice.
Anyway, 20 years later… 21 million, heck outside of making some deal w/the devil and selling my soul there ain’t a lot on the table that I wouldn’t.
Not surprised about Gus. I read an article last week saying AU presently had just 1 recruit commited from the state of Alabama and 0 from Georgia.
Just
Wow
What are the odds Gus winds up as a quality analyst at Bama?
No chance! One of the best coaches in the SEC. wherever he goes they will be good!!
If Jimmy Sexton is Gus’s agent then it’s already done
Hugh might take the job for a massive amount of money — at least 8-9 million per year guaranteed for 10 years — the man wants to get paid!
To pay that kind of buyout they better hire Urban Meyer
The only big name with big enough stones to take that job due to the 800-pound gorilla in Tuscaloosa is Urban. Otherwise it’s an up-and-comer or someone totally off the radar like a Luke Fickell. Freeze wants to be the top dog in his state and he’s actually made Liberty the best program in Virginia at the moment. He’s in no hurry. Liberty’s paying him nicely for a G5.
21 million dollars……at the same time people discussing waiving student loans…dont give me the crap about athletics being separate money… giving someone 21 million dollars is disgusting…buyouts show the stupidity of those who run these schools… Dont tell me you HAVE to pay someone to coach millions and millions….according to auburn, you can be a bad coach and win the national championship. Now to Hugh Freeze. His athletic Director and Freeze blamed the previous coach for 17 of the 21 violations….They were LYING!!!! WHen that coach’s lawyer sent papers giving them a deadline to stop saying and publicly apologizing they did so immediately. THat is worse that the cheating itself .. SO what happens? texas a m hires the athletic director and auburn wants to hire the coach…..THAT is what is wrong with college athletics..
None of these names are a guaranteed upgrade over Malzahn.
Likely was a time for a change. But if they bring in the wrong guy it could get real real ugly fast.
Personally I’d like to see them target Sark.
He can obviously develop QB,s He also has a lot of HC experience.
We will see where this goes but wouldn’t be a bit surprised if it gets ugly before it gets better.
Just keeping it real. The likelihood of ANY coach coming in and out recruiting Georgia LSU or Alabama any time soon is not a reality.
So with that in mind 3 to four loss seasons will likely stay the same while you develop experience and talent. Don’t see a coaching change change that much.
Sark can’t stay off the booze. The man would be train wreck.
Well maybe so. But with the names being mentioned I don’t see anything that would be a sure thing. Likely more of the same