Tyrik Rollison made a verbal commitment to Auburn on Tuesday.  Has all the physical tools, strong arm and quick release.  Looks like a solid pickup.  Has a little work to do on the grades, but several are reporting that he is getting those in line.  Looks like the TX recruiting contacts on this staff are already paying nice dividends.

This should proivide some momentum for what is shaping up to be a really really big weekend for recruits visiting.  This will hopefully grab the attention of a few high profile skill position guys and that may be enough for them to give Auburn a closer look, if if they look they might just like what they see.

War Eagle !!!

I am really trying to accept the Chizik hiring and move on.  I really am.  He was not my choice for coach, but he is my team's head coach.  At this point with seemingly the whole universe against him and by connection Auburn, I really really want him to do well.

But time is ticking.  He let go all the coaches and as of yet has not hired one replacement, which brings up one point that really ticks me off, why not keep Willis? He is an Auburn man who was still recruiting his tail off and he adds at least one more warm body out there making contact with these recruits.  And speaking of contact with recruits, check out this article on Lutzenkirchen from the AJC

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfbrecruit/entries/2008/12/17/ahburned_lassit.html

What the heck is Chizik doing?  One of out top recruits at a position where we have two seniors next year and need to add depth for the future.  I know the plane couldn't fly early yesterday but the phone is not broke and heck it's about an hour and a half drive, get in the darn car Gene.  I know there is a lot on his plate, but this is what big time football is about and he needs to get off his duff and get moving.

I want him to succeed, probably due to my Auburn against the world attitude, which is not too far from the truth at the current time, as they line up to get their licks in against Auburn.  I am trying, I really am.

I love Auburn.  Besides my God, my family, and my country there is nothing I love more.  But I have to say that the people in charge of this university are complete and useless idiots if they hire Gene Chizik to be the head football coach.

I am outraged.  I am astounded.  You people fire (don't give me any bunk about him quitting and you still pay him his buyout) a coach that has given this university at least some integrity and a moral compass after a 5-7 season.  And you go out and hire Gene Chizik to replace him who hasn't even sniffed a 5 win season, this is completely insane.  You make this university and it's largest revenue sport a mockery for all the nation.  We will be called racist for asomplete about face, as many fans had held out hope for in Turner Gill's hiring.

This has the fingerprints of an over zealous Board of Trustees all over it.  I expect you will be receiving a letter from SACS very soon.  As I said, I love Auburn and I will support every athlete that wears the Orange and Blue to represent my university, but I will no longer be a willing participant in the insanity. I will no longer buy season tickets and I will no longer donate any moneys to the university whatsoever, either academic of alumni, until the complete Board of Trustees, Jay Jacobs, and you President Gogue resign.  You do not sincerely have the best interest of Auburn at heart and this is breaking my heart.  I am ashamed.

JD Harris '92

Well it looks like Jay Jacobs will bring the search back to Auburn from the Big Apple.  As he takes this time to ponder the group of already interviewed applicants, I submit my list of top three candidates that are probably not on his list but should be and the reason they should be considered.

Number 3: George Steinbrenner - The Boss, never had any qualms about hanging on to coaches that were slacking in their coaching duties.  Several offensive coaches would have received their pink-slips years ago.  Also would be willing to pay more for players than Nick Saban.

Number 2: John Wooden - The Wizard of Westwood, 10 ... count them ... 10 National Championships.  Legitimate National Championships, none of this retro crap some teams (who shall remain nameless) use to claim their NC's.  Instantly becoming the senior statesman for college football, an annual rivalry game begins with Penn State to be played in West Palm Beach dubbed the Geritol Classic.

Number 1: John  Madden - The Coach, has his own video game, I mean how totally cool.  When asking the players what they do in their downtime, they respond "playing Coach '09 on the PS3".  A Super Bowl Championship on his resume and teams known for their toughness, he could EASILY go toe-to-toe with the best of them.  Handling the AD and the ones behind the scenes would be a piece of cake.  Heck when you have worked for Al Davis, Lowder would be a pushover to deal with.  And by the way have I mentioned, HE HAS HIS OWN VIDEO GAME FOR PETE'S SAKE ... BOOM!

An intense coach with a track history of winning and a Super Bowl Championship for good measure.  Bring in Rodney Garner for recruiting and hire a couple of good coordinators and there you go.  One thing for sure, there would be fire in the players' belly.  I don't think that we would be underprepared for games like we have been on occassion in the past.

Just thought I would offer up that one for comment.

I have a major problem with Jacobs response when asked if they had contaced Leach or other coaches previously, his response was "not to my knowledge."  Anyone heard of plausible deniability?  In other words Jacobs knew that the powers that be were plotting this move before hand, but probably told them to not let him know anything that way he could deny any knowledge of a premeditated move to find another coach.

He said he intended on Tubs being there at least five more years.  When asked if other coaches had been approached, he should have said "heck no, as I said Tommy was going to be here another five years, why would I have contacted another coach?!?"

Total BS.  By the way since we can see through this "not to my knowledge," crap then who actually was contacting other coaches??  Influential trustees??  I thought the AD and the President called the shots now, not the inner circle.  Or is that just what they told SACS??

THAT is why most of us are very skeptical of anything from this athletic department.

I am still in a state of shock with all that has gone down in the last 23 hours.  I wish Tubs well, but it is time to look to the future and put in our two cents as fans before we let the braintrust in the AD office.

I think an excellent choice would be Kevin Sumlin, the coach at Houston.  He is a young and energetic coach that has a good offensive mind.  He has a great background and has coached under some good ones, Stoops at OU, Slocum at Texas A&M, Tiller at Purdue, and Mike Price at Wash State (yes, he was a hell of a coach when he wasn't off at the strip club).  Sumlin is also considered one heck of a recruiter, which we all know we need.  Also, he runs a spread-based offense, that most of our current recruits were looking toward when they committed which I think will help salvage a little of this year's recruiting class.  I have heard a lot of people say we need to run the Oklahoma-type spread, well this is one of the guys who was running that system there.  Here is his bio at the UH site:

http://uhcougars.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121407aae.html

Notice the glowing praise from his former coaches.

Some are suggesting Petrino as a possibility at Auburn, and I for one sincerely hope that that never happens.  Petrino strikes me as the Saban-esque type.  Willing to win at any cost.  Also, like Saban, he couldn't hack it in the pros and bolted for the college game before he got kicked to the curb.  As friendly as a truck-stop bathroom and as much moral fiber as a TV televangelist.  So, please not Petrino.

It seems that Tubs is out the door.  From what I have heard, it seems that Tubby was unwilling to make any substantial changes on the offensive side of the ball (other than Ensminger).  I think that Tubby may have forced this issue to stop this yearly anal exam.

I am sad to see it come to this, but if he was not willing to make the changes that I believe most know to be necessary, then we have to move on.  Scarbinski is reporting Leach as a possibility and I am hearing Jim Grob's name mentioned.  Well I guess we will know for sure soon.

War Eagle

I am extremely disgusted at the gross lack of leadership in this athletic program.  How do we hold Tuberville and his coaches up to the spotlight and ask about their leadership and the direction for the football program when the whole athletic administration is a complete embarrassment.

I thought Housel was bad but Jay Jacobs is surpassing him in complete idiocy.  From the handling of the Muschamp debacle to the fiasco of a mens basketball program to the yearly showdown with the head football coach.  How motivated could any head coach be, if at the end of the season he would have to go through this circus.  Coaches and their families are left swinging in the wind and recruits, the life-blood of a program, are left to the mercy of other schools trying to turn their head with the uncertainty around the program.

Jacobs needed to look Tuberville in the eye and ask him if he was willing to do what it took to turn this thing around.  If he wasn't then fire him and move on.  If so, then  let the man get on with his job.  I am about one more day of meetings between Jacobs and Tubs with no resolution away from telling Jacobs where he can shove my Tigers Unlimited form.

We the FANS are being held hostage by trustees that dangle their checkbooks in front of the AD's office and bullying their way around.  If the 70,000 fans that gave our hard earned money to this program said "no more" we could stop this crap.  Why do you think that there was such a drastic change in attitude after the fan base uprising after jet-gate.  They need our $100 million-plus to exist.  But it is the handful of big money contributors that make the demands.

I am sick and tired of this administration making a laughing stock of my university.  If they don't get on the ball, HEADS NEED TO ROLL!!!

Contrary to what many of the bammer-ites would like to believe, it is still great to be an Auburn Tiger.  Most of them will never unsterstand.. They do not understand what it means to be an Auburn Tiger.  They cling to winning as it is the only thing.  Yes, it is important to reap the spoils of battle for the months and years of hard work that these young men have worked so tirelessly for.  But, would you sell your soul to reach this end?  I think I can guess at their answer.  They have sold their soul to the devil and it will be hell when he comes to collect on that debt.

What is it to be an Auburn Tiger.  It is being that cow college down there.  It is being the red-headed step child and having a spoiled brat step-brother.  It is that major chip on your shoulder.  It is work, hard work.  It is earning everything you get and not being given a thing.  It is Shug.  It is Sullivan.  It is Beasley.  It is Dye.  It is Jackson.  It is Rocker.  It is Campbell.  It is Brown and Williams.  It is 11 and 0.  It is 13 and 0.  And, yes it is even 5 and 7.  It is pain.  It is sweat and tears.  It is sacrifice and hunger.

So when the next time you get smacked in the mouth and you look up to see that same red-headed step child standing over you, maybe, just maybe you might understand that it will always be greater to be an Auburn Tiger.