Report: Auburn considering options if Gus Malzahn leaves, Bobby Petrino mentioned
Auburn is getting set for a matchup with Alabama in the Iron Bowl while rumors continue to swirl around head coach Gus Malzahn.
Malzahn has had varying levels of success with the Tigers but he certainly has the team playing well right now. Auburn is up to No. 6 in the Playoff Top 25 and appears to still have a shot at the Playoff. It will take a win over Alabama and another win in the SEC Championship Game to make it happen, but anything is possible at this point in the season.
Nevertheless, Malzahn’s future at Auburn has become unclear. One factor that could influence the coach is that Arkansas may be making a change at head coach. The Razorbacks have already fired AD Jeff Long and may look to replace coach Bret Bielema as well. Malzahn certainly has a history with Arkansas and may be interested in a return.
Auburn is also looking for a replacement to AD Jay Jacobs. He has already announced his resignation date, and Malzahn may look to leave with the change.
Everything is still speculation at this point, but it appears that Auburn may be looking to put a backup plan in place should Malzahn pursue a different job. Scott Roussel with Football Scoop shared the rumor that Auburn is potentially inquiring about former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino should Malzahn leave:
We’re told that Auburn is doing some diligence, preparing for the possibility of Malzahn’s departure, and multiple sources in the profession have relayed that Auburn seems to kicking the tires on Bobby Petrino as a backup plan.
Petrino is the current head coach at Louisville but departed Arkansas as the result of an ugly scandal that involved an affair. It will definitely be interesting to watch how things develop at Auburn moving forward.
In the meantime, Saturday’s kickoff for the Iron Bowl is set for 3:30 pm EST on CBS.
This is getting comical. There’s so much bad speculation with this story that only CNN or Fox could have dreamed it up.
1) JJ and Gus have been on the outs, so JJ getting fired is a good thing for Gus. 2) There is 0 chance Bobby P would even be interviewed at Auburn.
3) Leath isn’t going to let JJ make any personnel changes while being a lame duck 4) There is no way Leath is going to have any hand in making a coaching change. That will completely be up to the next AD.
Only thing you are missing is that the AD wouldn’t be deciding to make a change…HCGM would be the one who decides to leave on his own. So Leath/JJ don’t really have any control on that front.
I do agree with you that this is all a bunch of utter BS though.
Right or wrong the media must get the pot boiling. That’s why the gruden rumors are so out of control.
This is beyond ridiculous. This is exactly what should be called out for being the worthless gossip that it actually is. Auburn isn’t hiring Petrino for anything.
Please, God, no! Bobby Petrino to Auburn makes too much sense.
Team Petrino and his total disregard for ethics, and values up with Auburn’s anything and everything goes ways up to and including fixing grades, and their army of Bag-Men, and you have the perfect recipe.
Auburn is already buying players, and that’s with a crappy coach. Put Petrino into that mix and look out.
Awwwww, still butthurt over that beat down 2 weeks ago?
Of course we play our players. I think the stipend is like $620/month.
Poor guy. Don’t worry UGA will always be the CHAMPIONS OF NOVEMBER! Until they pull a Georgia every year and blow it. Classic.
On the very unlikely chance he becomes head coach at Auburn, I will quit watching them play. That guy is disgusting.
I can’t see how the Auburn family is going to allow a waste of space like Petrino to get hired.
Good, we need more distractions so the barn won’t be focused on the iron bowl…
Who keeps thinking up this garbage? Petrino will NOT be considered as a coach. He practically begged just for an interview 5 years ago and was shut down.