Auburn fires Chizik

[Drip]

My how far and fast the mighty have fallen.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8674097/gene-chizik-fired-auburn-tigers

 

[Drip]

Chizik's tenure was marred by off-the-field problems, too, to the extent that Chizik had employees of a private firm run curfew checks on players this season.

Four members of the 2010 national championship team were arrested on robbery charges in March 2011. Antonio Goodwin was convicted in April and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Dakota Mosley, Michael McNeil and Shaun Kitchens are awaiting trial.

Two-time 1,000-yard rusher Mike Dyer transferred to Arkansas State with Malzahn after being indefinitely suspended before the bowl game.

Freshman quarterback Zeke Pike was arrested in June for public intoxication and later dismissed from the team. Starting center Reese Dismukes was suspended for the opener against Clemson following a public intoxication arrest.

Auburn is also the subject of an NCAA investigation that includes the recruitment of Memphis running back Jovon Robinson.

Memphis City Schools said in August that the NCAA had contacted the school district regarding allegations involving a former Wooddale High School athlete, identified by the Memphis Commercial Appeal as Robinson. A school guidance counselor resigned after admitting to creating the fake transcript.

The Birmingham News reported on Wednesday that NCAA investigators had interviewed at least one assistant coach and several players during the week leading up to the Iron Bowl.

Chizik's contract includes a clause that it wouldn't owe the buyout money if he is fired for cause, including findings of major rules violations or significant or repetitive violations" involving him or his program.

Chizik and Auburn have weathered past NCAA scrutiny. The governing body closed investigations into the recruitment of Newton and allegations from four former players that they were paid thousands of dollars during their college careers.

 

[DanOregon]

Kind of an odd question...is Auburn a good job? Better/worse than Arkansas? I figure the formula for a great college job is Expectations < Resources + Talent pool. I don't know if Auburn qualifies. Hell, if I was a high school kid right now wanting to play in the SEC, I might be headed to College Station.

 

[Bradley Guire]

Some parallels to Mike DuBose getting the axe is 2000. Off the field problems (Mike diddling his secretary, and that was before we heard of Albert Means) and a 3-8 season, though only one season after winning the SEC Championship and going to a BCS Bowl. God, that certainly was a tough year on campus.

 

[dixiehack]

Kind of an odd question...is Auburn a good job? Better/worse than Arkansas? I figure the formula for a great college job is Expectations < Resources + Talent pool. I don't know if Auburn qualifies. Hell, if I was a high school kid right now wanting to play in the SEC, I might be headed to College Station.

(holds nose)
Auburn is the better job, and better than UT as well. Even in bad times they get their share of in-state kids, plus they are only two hours away from Atlanta. More tradition than Arkansas and broader base of financial support.

 

[Drip]

While the firing isn't surprising, the quick and deep fall from the top is. Granted a rebuilding process was expected but few could've envisioned this in such a short period of time.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

The curfew thing also upset a lot of players, who, rightfully so, questioned why as adults they had to be told what time to go to bed.

Kinda hard to get your players to buy into your program when you're treating them like little kids.

 

[Drip]

The curfew thing also upset a lot of players, who, rightfully so, questioned why as adults they had to be told what time to go to bed.

Kinda hard to get your players to buy into your program when you're treating them like little kids.

Professional teams have curfews so that's not really that big of a big deal.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I don't think Auburn is a better job than Tennessee, Arkansas is debatable... Tennessee, for the longest time was one of the most stable programs in the SEC. Fulmer was there for what seemed like forever. The program has been down awhile, but I could see it being a top program very quickly if the right coach is hired.

Arkansas was well on its way back until Petrino ****ed it up earlier this year.

Auburn has the money to compete, but this is a place that isn't known for treating its coaches very well.

Petrino is a perfect fit there for so many reasons.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The curfew thing also upset a lot of players, who, rightfully so, questioned why as adults they had to be told what time to go to bed.

Kinda hard to get your players to buy into your program when you're treating them like little kids.

Seems to be working well for Meyer at Ohio State.

 

[Drip]

I don't think Auburn is a better job than Tennessee, Arkansas is debatable... Tennessee, for the longest time was one of the most stable programs in the SEC. Fulmer was there for what seemed like forever. The program has been down awhile, but I could see it being a top program very quickly if the right coach is hired.

Arkansas was well on its way back until Petrino ****ed it up earlier this year.

Auburn has the money to compete, but this is a place that isn't known for treating its coaches very well.

Petrino is a perfect fit there for so many reasons.

They may take a run at Petrino. And actually, it's a marriage that could work. But don't look for him to be there for more than say five years, six years tops.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Petrino is going to be a tough sell at a public (state) school. I think that's the only reason Kentucky isn't interested.

He should be a no-brainer at Auburn. You can give him the strictest integrity clause ever and he'll likely be on his best behavior. He also might not cost as much as he would have a year or two ago.

The guy is a great coach. He will win at whatever school hires him.

Malzahn would not be a bad hire. But if you're deciding between Malzahn, Sonny Dykes and Petrino, it should be a no-brainer...

 

[TigerVols]

I'm biased, but I don't think Auburn is a better job than Tennessee's, if for no other reason than UT fans are SEC-level delusional, but Auburn fans are 10x more so.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm biased, but I don't think Auburn is a better job than Tennessee's, if for no other reason than UT fans are SEC-level delusional, but Auburn fans are 10x more so.

Auburn's fans are the most delusional in the SEC and that's saying something...

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I'm biased, but I don't think Auburn is a better job than Tennessee's, if for no other reason than UT fans are SEC-level delusional, but Auburn fans are 10x more so.

I agree.

Auburn is closer to UCLA in my estimation.

The school has what two titles in its history and only one (2010 - CAM!!!) since the 1960s.
The coaching list is not that impressive; Pat Dye, Terry Bowden, Tommy Tuberville?
Dye won four conference titles but couldn't bag a national title.

I think Auburn would be a bad situation. Because 1: It's NOT Alabama, but its fans have all the expectations of the Tide fans.
And because its not Alabama it's not the top school in the state and therefore will not attract the top-talent coaches.
I can see Petrino getting a shot there.

 

[SixToe]

Donations and grassroots support would evaporate quickly if Petrino were hired at Auburn.

 

[Versatile]

Donations and grassroots support would evaporate quickly if Petrino were hired at Auburn.

That's absolutely false.

Auburn is a worse job than Tennessee or Arkansas right now because Alabama sets the standard for what Auburn fans expect. Anyone who takes the Auburn job must be ready to go toe-to-toe with the best coach and recruiting staff in the country for at least a few more years.

 

[Boom_70]

Chizik's tenure was marred by off-the-field problems, too, to the extent that Chizik had employees of a private firm run curfew checks on players this season.

Four members of the 2010 national championship team were arrested on robbery charges in March 2011. Antonio Goodwin was convicted in April and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Dakota Mosley, Michael McNeil and Shaun Kitchens are awaiting trial.

Two-time 1,000-yard rusher Mike Dyer transferred to Arkansas State with Malzahn after being indefinitely suspended before the bowl game.

Freshman quarterback Zeke Pike was arrested in June for public intoxication and later dismissed from the team. Starting center Reese Dismukes was suspended for the opener against Clemson following a public intoxication arrest.

Auburn is also the subject of an NCAA investigation that includes the recruitment of Memphis running back Jovon Robinson.

Memphis City Schools said in August that the NCAA had contacted the school district regarding allegations involving a former Wooddale High School athlete, identified by the Memphis Commercial Appeal as Robinson. A school guidance counselor resigned after admitting to creating the fake transcript.

The Birmingham News reported on Wednesday that NCAA investigators had interviewed at least one assistant coach and several players during the week leading up to the Iron Bowl.

Chizik's contract includes a clause that it wouldn't owe the buyout money if he is fired for cause, including findings of major rules violations or significant or repetitive violations" involving him or his program.

Chizik and Auburn have weathered past NCAA scrutiny. The governing body closed investigations into the recruitment of Newton and allegations from four former players that they were paid thousands of dollars during their college careers.

Perhaps low on the list in relation to the serious problems that you mentioned but don't forget about the mass shooting that left two Auburn players dead.

 

[Stoney]

My how far and fast the mighty have fallen.

Not sure I'd characterize Chizik as "the mighty." He's had one good season in his entire coaching career, largely thanks to the dubious acquisition of Cam Newton.

He had a 5-19 record at Iowa State, was always viewed with suspicion and skepticism by Auburn fans, and booted after four seasons. One great season inserted into a pile of mediocre crap does not make "mighty."

 

[SixToe]

Donations and grassroots support would evaporate quickly if Petrino were hired at Auburn.


That's absolutely false.

No, it's not. Petrino may be a good coach. But the stench of his philandering AND repeated lies to his superiors, not to mention quitting on the Falcons during the season, would not overcome the desire by the grassroots fans to win or go toe-to-toe with Alabama.

Plenty of other candidates to choose from without his monumental baggage.