Today we got the obvious news that Gene Chizik would no longer be the Head Coach of The Auburn Tigers. Some say he should have been given one more year, some are glad to see him go. Now it's time to move forward, now what?
That's the question you have to ask in regards to the Auburn Tigers future.
The fact that AD Jay Jacobs is still employed is honestly surprising. The man who pulled the trigger to hire Gene Chizik after a 5-19 record at Iowa State, will hire the next coach with the help of a search committee including former Auburn Tigers Pat Sullivan and Bo Jackson.
Auburn is in a situation where an up and coming coach maybe a big gamble when you look at what is happening at Tuscaloosa. The pool is not as deep for a splash hire like Alabama had with Nick Saban back in 2007. This time there's more competition for new coaches with Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky looking for new coaches.
How attractive is the Auburn job? Is it really that attractive? With Nick Saban and Les Miles in the same division, a cloud of an NCAA investigation hovering over, and the expectations that led to a National Championship coach being fired after 22 months, how attractive is it?
The name that is really popular is Bobby Petrino. The one thing you can say is that he didn't leave Arkansas on his own, but he has a track record of jumping ship for greener pastures. Auburn has already tried to go after Petrino once, and I wouldn't be surprised if they went after him again. He proved he could win at Arkansas, he could do the same at Auburn.
Another name is Florida State Head Coach Jimbo Fisher. He was a good Offensive Co-Ordinator at LSU, but hasn't been able win the ACC at Florida State, which was dominated by the Seminoles in Bobby Bowden's prime. With the talent that is coming to Florida State, Jimbo Fisher was unable You could put Fisher at 1 or 2 on the list with Petrino, but Auburn faithful will have to be patient.
Gus Malzahn is also a popular name. The mastermind of the offense at Auburn before bolting for Arkansas State, it still doesn't solve the defensive problem that has plagued the Tigers in the last couple of years, unless he decided to hire back Brian VanGorder.
Charlie Strong to me doesn't seem to be a reality. Louisville will try to keep him and most likely he would want to take OC Shawn Watson with him. You would likely have improvement on defense and the QB play. It would be a good hire, not sure how real it is.
The Jeff Fisher's, James Franklin's, Gary Patterson's, seem like a pipe dream to me. Fisher is making $7 Million coaching the St Louis Rams, Patterson is in a program in a major conference, and James Franklin could be crowned King of Vanderbilt tomorrow.
That is where Auburn is and I've narrowed down the possible candidates, and it really doesn't make you say "Wow, Auburn can get back." This has to quick hire, and it has to be the right hire. Jay Jacobs has already screwed the pooch once, will he and the search committee get it right or will he go down as another Mike Hamilton at Tennessee?
Only time will tell.
