Auburn fires Gus Malzahn / hires Bryan Harsin

[cuseincincy]

Ask Nebraska fans about that.

They also had a coach who was “not good enough” even though he never won fewer than NINE games in a season for them.

They canned him, and have pretty much sucked ever since.

Moral - be careful what you wish for.

(also - Pitt hoops fans, for a basketball version of the same phenomenon)

Yep. Said coach went on to my alma mater and has gone 115-82 in 15+ seasons including 11 bowls including 10 of the last 11 years. He has also become the winningest coach in MAC history. In a great little college town, not a bad life.

 

[OrangePA]

Ask Nebraska fans about that.

They also had a coach who was “not good enough” even though he never won fewer than NINE games in a season for them.

They canned him, and have pretty much sucked ever since.

Moral - be careful what you wish for.

(also - Pitt hoops fans, for a basketball version of the same phenomenon)

Exactly.

 

[GoSU96]

look, we don’t have money like Auburn to fire our coach during a pandemic and pay the buyout I get it.

But I think we as a fan base should be more critical of this 1-10 season. Not because of going 1-10 but how we looked going 1-10.

We played a lot of games that we didn’t look like we had heart to be in the game and I think that’s what worries people.

Dino gets another year yes, but the team needs to look 100% different next season.

1. if they had anything close to the full roster, and
2. if they didn’t play with effort and probably the best performance the last two games of the year,

you might have a point.

but that’s not what happened

 

[JRHEETER]

1. if they had anything close to the full roster, and
2. if they didn’t play with effort and probably best performance rage last two games of the year,

you might have a point.

but that’s not what happened

Injuries etc are an excuse.

look at what Tony Whites defense did with the most injuries and opt outs.

Stop making excuses for the offense. We have an offensive scheme issue and it’s apparent. It needs to be fixed by next season or Dino is toast. We have had 2 years of ineffective offense.

 

[Alsacs]

Injuries etc are an excuse.

look at what Tony Whites defense did with the most injuries and opt outs.

Stop making excuses for the offense. We have an offensive scheme issue and it’s apparent. It needs to be fixed by next season or Dino is toast. We have had 2 years of ineffective offense.

What did opt outs have to do with the fact our QB depth in year 5 of Dino was
1. DeVito
2. Culpepper
3. Morgan
4. Markowitz

Our offense line struggled in the first 2 games but overall after that they pass blocked effectively and were up and down on run blocking.

QB depth was a huge problem.
Your point is completely fair.
Dino is a good coach but his criticism isn’t that we went 1-10 it’s how we looked on the field.

Opt outs and injuries aren’t why our offense didn’t even look FBS quality the majority of this year.
God bless Rex Culpepper overcoming cancer but should have never been the backup QB if something happened to DeVito and all the whiffs in recruiting QBs are on Dino.

Stop using facts and being reasonable.
You didn’t say Dino should be fired. You said we need to actually see a massive improvement towards a functioning offense my god.

 

[sufandu]

Injuries etc are an excuse.

look at what Tony Whites defense did with the most injuries and opt outs.

Stop making excuses for the offense. We have an offensive scheme issue and it’s apparent. It needs to be fixed by next season or Dino is toast. We have had 2 years of ineffective offense.

Injuries aren't an excuse. They're reality. Missing good players matters (LSU). Fans say things like that because they've heard coaches say it to the media. Coaches have to say that to the public. Fans don't but will, if it matches their agenda.

 

[JRHEETER]

Injuries aren't an excuse. They're reality. Missing good players matters (LSU). Fans say things like that because they've heard coaches say it to the media. Coaches have to say that to the public. Fans don't but will, if it matches their agenda.

If we went 1-10 and were competitive in every game you can use the injuries as an excuse correct.

but we got blown out by a terrible Louisville team coming off of a bye week.

That terrible LSU team just beat Florida who everyone had as a lock into the playoffs...

 

[sufandu]

If we went 1-10 and were competitive in every game you can use the injuries as an excuse correct.

but we got blown out by a terrible Louisville team coming off of a bye week.

That terrible LSU team just beat Florida who everyone had as a lock into the playoffs...

I think it's easy to make blanket statements without looking at context. We had an OC that didn't get to coach his guys until August then lost his starting QB... then his second string QB... then his third string QB. He had a FB playing LG until the end of the season. The offense looked more functional at the end of the year despite having to play the previously mentioned 2nd string QB that we all know lacks the arm talent to do what the offense needs.

Are there criticisms tombe made? Sure. The single biggest is that Dino missed when he hired Martin to be QB coach. That seemed to hurt QB recruting and development. He has hopefully fixed that with Gilbert, but as already mentioned, he didn't get to coach anyone until August.

LSU has been an established elite program for over a decade that went from winning a NC last year to 4 wins this year, but somehow beating Florida makes that ok.

 

[orangecuse]

What did opt outs have to do with the fact our QB depth in year 5 of Dino was
1. DeVito
2. Culpepper
3. Morgan
4. Markowitz

Our offense line struggled in the first 2 games but overall after that they pass blocked effectively and were up and down on run blocking.

QB depth was a huge problem.
Your point is completely fair.
Dino is a good coach but his criticism isn’t that we went 1-10 it’s how we looked on the field.

Opt outs and injuries aren’t why our offense didn’t even look FBS quality the majority of this year.
God bless Rex Culpepper overcoming cancer but should have never been the backup QB if something happened to DeVito and all the whiffs in recruiting QBs are on Dino.

Stop using facts and being reasonable.
You didn’t say Dino should be fired. You said we need to actually see a massive improvement towards a functioning offense my god.

Dead on post. Your last paragraph parallels the usual suspects sentiments relative to how sanctions crippled hoops vs. being only a contributing factor to our new normal of mediocrity the past several years.

 

[mscanlo]

Does anyone know if boosters or the university pays for this? I've looked and cannot find anything.

A lot of SEC schools are sitting on (tens of) millions in reserve money for this situation. Boosters will make sure the school has the money, especially if they agree the program needs a different direction

 

[elimunelson]

A lot of SEC schools are sitting on (tens of) millions in reserve money for this situation. Boosters will make sure the school has the money, especially if they agree the program needs a different direction

I'd rather my school not sitting on a "fire coach slush fund" and would prefer my sugar baby alumni to fund things on campus that better the entire school. I certainly want a functioning/successful athletic program, but that's a crazy way to provide for your school.

If Steve Barnes decided to put millions into a Wildhack slush fund versus redoing Archbold i'd be angry as an alum. This is the type of stuff that schools who lose some degree of perspective do.

The counter is why can't we have both. I get it but i'm glad my school has kept some iota of perspective. Gus should never ever been fired in light of his success. It's crazy

 

[skeeter223]

I figured as much. Boosters drive the bus. The AD is just there to do their bidding.

One booster in particular: Jimmy Rane, richest person in Alabama, was probably responsible for Malzahn's firing. He's had a lot of experience at that, and was rumored to be behind Tuberville leaving Auburn. Rane used to star in his own TV commercials as a cowboy hero. I'll leave it at that.

 

[TheCusian]

Injuries etc are an excuse.

look at what Tony Whites defense did with the most injuries and opt outs.

Stop making excuses for the offense. We have an offensive scheme issue and it’s apparent. It needs to be fixed by next season or Dino is toast. We have had 2 years of ineffective offense.

You gotta move past “no excuses” as a talking point. You don’t believe it. No one does. It’s just a way to say “I refuse to understand the problem and will hold them to my own set of expectations”

 

[Bayside44]

Injuries etc are an excuse.

look at what Tony Whites defense did with the most injuries and opt outs.

Stop making excuses for the offense. We have an offensive scheme issue and it’s apparent. It needs to be fixed by next season or Dino is toast. We have had 2 years of ineffective offense.

Tony White's defense got blown up by Duke and Liberty with the injuries and opt-outs. There is a difference between justification and excuse.

 

[elimunelson]

You gotta move past “no excuses” as a talking point. You don’t believe it. No one does. It’s just a way to say “I refuse to understand the problem and will hold them to my own set of expectations”

There's excuses and then there's exogenous events that can change things in a major way. I'm proud of SU playing every single game and taking their medicine. Dino never flailed out at anyone and represents the school with class.

I'm all about giving him the absolute largest mulligan ever. That's 2021 season IMO. If we can't turn around next year and bring home a bowl appearance there's a reasonable discussion to be had (i assume at that point the payout will be much much smaller too).

 

[GoSU96]

Injuries etc are an excuse.

look at what Tony Whites defense did with the most injuries and opt outs.

Stop making excuses for the offense. We have an offensive scheme issue and it’s apparent. It needs to be fixed by next season or Dino is toast. We have had 2 years of ineffective offense.

They started the FB at OG. It's not like they didn't have guys ahead of them him on the roster, it's that those players weren't available through injury or waiver denial, not one, not two, but four guys.

Once Dakota came back protection improved and they were able to actually run the ball against ND. What does the offense look like with Davis at OG and Elmore at FB from game one?

People keeping missing the fact that they had very limited, if any, contact in practice. They slowed played it in games, not because they wanted to, but they didn't have the bodies to play tempo.

They were down to 7 available linemen, and they included the FB, two true freshmen, and red shirt freshman that wasn't close to ready to go at tackle. They didn't start playing Ilaoa in the offense until the second half of the season, just spotting him.

Instead of 6 actual OL available, there will any where from 16-18 OL in august next year (depends on what Patrick Davis decides to do and what Q Whites true availability is). They could bring in a transfer or two. That fact by itself makes this a MUCH different team.

 

[TheCusian]

There's excuses and then there's exogenous events that can change things in a major way. I'm proud of SU playing every single game and taking their medicine. Dino never flailed out at anyone and represents the school with class.

I'm all about giving him the absolute largest mulligan ever. That's 2021 season IMO. If we can't turn around next year and bring home a bowl appearance there's a reasonable discussion to be had (i assume at that point the payout will be much much smaller too).

I agree. My point on "no excuses" is it becomes a kind of excuse by the poster to not do due diligence or make the argument. I don't think it's cut and dry and a case could be made in either direction pretty easily. I'd bet that the people in power at these SEC schools have a "no excuses!" "we're better than this no matter what!" kind of attitude and I don't think it works in place of actual thinking or reason.

 

[RandomGuy]

They started the FB at OG. It's not like they didn't have guys ahead of them him on the roster, it's that those players weren't available through injury or waiver denial, not one, not two, but four guys.

Once Dakota came back protection improved and they were able to actually run the ball against ND. What does the offense look like with Davis at OG and Elmore at FB from game one?

People keeping missing the fact that they had very limited, if any, contact in practice. They slowed played it in games, not because they wanted to, but they didn't have the bodies to play tempo.

They were down to 7 available linemen, and they included the FB, two true freshmen, and red shirt freshman that wasn't close to ready to go at tackle. They didn't start playing Ilaoa in the offense until the second half of the season, just spotting him.

Instead of 6 actual OL available, there will any where from 16-18 OL in august next year (depends on what Patrick Davis decides to do and what Q Whites true availability is). They could bring in a transfer or two. That fact by itself makes this a MUCH different team.

The expected starting oline was there for NC State, and we ran for 3 yards on 25 carries. Culpepper was getting the ball out within 2 seconds. They even put the clock on him to show how fast he was getting rid of the ball. That helped. None of our linemen received a PFF passing grade. Our FB graded highest.

 

[orangecuse]

I'd rather my school not sitting on a "fire coach slush fund" and would prefer my sugar baby alumni to fund things on campus that better the entire school. I certainly want a functioning/successful athletic program, but that's a crazy way to provide for your school.

If Steve Barnes decided to put millions into a Wildhack slush fund versus redoing Archbold i'd be angry as an alum. This is the type of stuff that schools who lose some degree of perspective do.

The counter is why can't we have both. I get it but i'm glad my school has kept some iota of perspective. Gus should never ever been fired in light of his success. It's crazy

I understand the premise of your post, and it's certainly admirable. But here's the thing, the reason why SU keeps an iota of 'perspective' is simply because they don't have the money. It's like trying to compare the garden variety Vegas gambler playing at the $5 poker table vs. the $5000 one. Perhaps, they'd like to give it a shot if they could, but simply can't afford to do so due to the relative risk/reward factors. It's rather convenient to fall back on this 'perspective' sentiment, especially when one doesn't have the ability, means, fame, status, etc. to participate otherwise.

Interesting how your school has kept perspective on this front, but how about perspective in regards to charging students the same amount for classes/tuition without the physical classroom instruction, experiences, etc. that encompassed these charges?

 

[Atlcuse44]

I am fine with giving Dino and co more time for all of the reasons mentioned already.
The one thing that concerns me is the horrendous play-calling at times this past season. That needs to change.

 

[TheCusian]

I understand the premise of your post, and it's certainly admirable. But here's the thing, the reason why SU keeps an iota of 'perspective' is simply because they don't have the money. It's like trying to compare the garden variety Vegas gambler playing at the $5 poker table vs. the $5000 one. Perhaps, they'd like to give it a shot if they could, but simply can't afford to do so due to the relative risk/reward factors involved. It's rather convenient to fall back on this 'perspective' sentiment, especially when you don't have the ability, means, fame, status, etc. to participate otherwise.

Interesting how your school has kept perspective on this front, but how about perspective in regards to charging students the same amount for classes/tuition without the physical classroom instruction, etc. these costs were encompassed upon?

I think you're forgetting that there is a sizable contingent of people who think gambling at the $5000 table is kind of nuts. I don't gamble at all because my job is to provide for best for those who depend on me. You can certainly say that it's convenient and that if Syracuse had the money they'd lose perspective... but maybe not. We've won NC here in many sports without losing our damn minds like an SEC school.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

One booster in particular: Jimmy Rane, richest person in Alabama, was probably responsible for Malzahn's firing. He's had a lot of experience at that, and was rumored to be behind Tuberville leaving Auburn. Rane used to star in his own TV commercials as a cowboy hero. I'll leave it at that.

He who controls the purse strings, controls all.

If Boosters are paying for the coaches' salaries, funding their buyouts, paying for facilities improvements etc, then they are driving the bus and the AD and the President are sitting in the back...

It is a thoroughly warped system...

 

[JRHEETER]

I am fine with giving Dino and co more time for all of the reasons mentioned already.
The one thing that concerns me is the horrendous play-calling at times this past season. That needs to change.

Exactly, I think a majority of people are saying this...

We are willing to see what Dino does next season...but...if it’s the same as this season then it’s over for him and we need to move on...it would be year 6 for him and would be fully stocked of his OWN recruits and some have had been in the program and “developed”. Need to see big improvements on the offense, which is a total shock to me. Would have assumed it would have been on the defensive side if anything

 

[TheCusian]

He who controls the purse strings, controls all.

If Boosters are paying for the coaches' salaries, funding their buyouts, paying for facilities improvements etc, then they are driving the bus and the AD and the President are sitting in the back...

It is a thoroughly warped system...

Yeah, this is the mess we're jealous of

 

[JRHEETER]

And I’ll be honest, during the season I was calling for Dinos head but those were def H0T Takes out of frustration.

I do think really Dino deserves another year but his leash is becoming much much much shorter IMO