Interesting article from Gene Wojciechowski about Roy Kramer and his views on college football realignment.

You can read it here.

IMO, I think the SEC needs to expand to keep up with the Big 10, 11, 12, etc. and Pac 10, 11, etc. The SEC is definitely the dominate coference, right now, but if we do not continue to follow other trends in college athletics, such as expanding, then we will surely be surpassed by these ever-growing conferences. There have been multiple names thrown out for the possible SEC expansion in the near future, for example Va. Tech, North Carolina, Miami, Ga. Tech, W. Va, Clemson, Texas, aTm, Florida St., etc.

Of course, there are reservations with some of these teams, if not all of them, such as word that if we invite North Carolina then we would likely need to invite all other major schools in North Carolina, similar to the Texas, aTm situation. Honestly, I think Mike Slive will be reactive to all of this and strategic to which teams we invite in, be it football powerhouses with big television markets or mediocre football teams that are rich with basketball tradition that, again, have large television markets. Either way, Slive said he wanted to expand the SEC footprint to other areas which are not traditionally big SEC markets. I think with the tradition and power that the SEC has, and has had, that we would not have a problem in doing so.

It's wild that expansion is happening, and happening so quickly, and from what was said earlier today on ESPN by Jesse Palmer, he believes that from the shifting of teams to create such large conferences, or superconferences, that this is truly pushing the need for a non-BCS, playoff type post-season, and I couldn't agree more.

He thought it would be interesting to poll his blogs to see who they think is the 2000's "most outstanding player" of college football.

Well, instead of a decades full of college football's favorite player, I was thinking who would Auburn's MVP of the decade go to?

Obviously, there are a number of players from Auburn who could be put out there as the decades MVP, but I know everyone has their favorites.

Mine has to be Carlos Rogers:

Carlos' Career Statistics at Auburn University  

Check the story out here.

Also, I am not sure how many of you keep up with Rivals, but yesterday it was reported that one of our four star recruits, Antonio Goodwin out of Georgia, decommitted and was heavily considering the University of Georgia now. He's now, again, committed, but this time as a solid verbal and has stated that he will be a tiger on national signing day. Thank Trooper for the recruitment...

WDE

Dakota Mosley, Michael Dyer's teammate at Little Rock Christian, committed to us today. Our fans, campus, coaches, players...I could keep going, but all of these things are making recruits witness how great our university is. We had two other recruits visit, Eric Russell and Roszell Gayden who had never been to Auburn but already listed us as one of their favorites just from speaking to our coaches over the phone. I wish this season still had some home games left, but I'm already pumped for next season. I can't wait to see the end result of our recruiting season...

War Eagle

Story from AL.com:

Posted by Charles Goldberg -- Birmingham News August 13, 2009 7:37 PM

Kodi Burns (18) practices with the wide receivers Thursday

Kodi Burns was with the wide receivers -- and NOT with the quarterbacks -- in the early stages of Auburn's practice Thursday. Burns, who started seven games last year at quarterback, was with the wideouts and was joined by receivers coach Trooper Taylor.

Burns caught passes shot out of a JUGS machine, asking occasional questions about his footwork.

A quarterback announcement could be forthcoming.

Chris Todd, Neil Caudle, Tyrik Rollison and Clint Moseley were the quarterbacks.

Burns started seven games last season, completing 94-of-179 passes for 1,050 yards and two touchdowns and seven interceptions. Burns and Caudle were the primary quarterbacks during spring practice.

Pretty interesting interview with Tony Franklin in the Montgomery Advertiser this morning. Old news, but this story makes you think what really went down this past season. I remember reading a quote from Franklin when he was fired saying, "it wasn't his offense to begin with," meaning that although he was the OC, he was being micro-managed to the point where his calls were never used. Who knows, at least it's done with. Again, old news, but I just wanted to share this story with everyone...

If you didn't catch the story from AL.com care of Mr. Ian Rapoport from Sunday just yet, then I am hear to share it with you. What an incredible weekend for recruiting in Auburn. Besides this story, there is plenty that went on this weekend showing that Auburn is, if not number one, then very high on almost all of the recruits that have visited. If you check out Auburnsports.com, you will immediately see the impact this past weekend had on most of them. Check out the video pointed out through Opelika-Auburn News in the article. If you have subscription to rivals.com, definitely check out the video Ian points out, too:

Auburn recruiting target Lache Seastrunk publicly calls out Nick Saban during "Big Cat Weekend"

Posted by Ian R. Rapoport -- The Birmingham News May 31, 2009 10:24 PM

Categories: Football, Recruiting

Even the non-recruitniks out there have probably heard about Auburn's "Big Cat Weekend," and if you didn't you can read all about it here. A very interesting idea, actually.

But as the videos circulate of the recruiting soiree, a few interesting tidbits have popped up. But, since this isn't an Auburn blog, you probably want to hear about the Alabama-related things, right?

So, let's bring your attention to two videos taken during the rolling of Toomer's Corner.

And both times, five-star running back recruit Lache Seastrunk, a top target for the Tigers, calls out Alabama coach Nick Saban by name.

Check these out:

-- About a minute into this video from the Opelika-Auburn News, as someone is announcing the name of Bessemer linebacker Ladarius Owens, Seastrunk yells, "Hey, tell Nick Saban, he's S.O.L!" That means, Saban is, um, apparently out of luck for Owens' recruitment.

-- At the very end of this video from AuburnSports.com, Seastrunk says into the camera, "What's up, Nick Saban? Wait 'til we get here." (You may need a subscription for this one.)

Not that either of those comments are crazy or anything. It's just that you rarely hear a recruit call out a current coach.

So there you go...

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Opelika-Auburn news, Jeff Lebo is on VCU's short list to replace Anthony Grant. Apparently being 1 of 4 candidates, VCU's A.D. is looking to fill the vacancy by Thursday.

Big win for AU baseball yesterday. Last game against Vandy starts today around 1 P.M.

Also, we have to congratulate our AU men's swimming and diving team for national championship number eight!

WAR EAGLE!

You know, it's great to get past all of the conspiracy theory talk and get down to some true football logistics, I've been reading a lot on AU's REMAINING recruits, and by what they've heard or seen personally from Coach Chiz, everything sounds amazing. Now I know in the future this will be mostly handed down to our future assistants, but right now we're holding on tightly to what we have. Six weeks to signing day and Chizik is utilizing it to the fullest. Reading this story about Eltoro Freeman from auburnsports.com/rivals.com again, gets me fired up. Also, I cannot post this without mentioning Nick Fairley, our next great JUCO transfer. Chris Todd is still up in the air as a JUCO transfer (we'll see how well he develops under the new staff this Spring), but after not qualifying for AU in 2007, Fairley has worked his butt off to transfer to the plains. He singed his LOI today.  It's incredibly inspiring to see our new coach go out and salvage what we have left, but reading and listening to what these recruits have to say about him makes me comforted to hear. Again, we have yet a single game under Chizik, but how can you not be excited from what these recruits are saying about him:

Jeffrey Lee
AuburnSports.com Publisher

Former Alexander City (Ala.) Benjamin Russell star linebacker Eltoro Freeman will sign a National Letter of Intent with Auburn Thursday, the 5-foot-11, 220-pounder told AuburnSports.com.

Freeman, who spent the past one-and-a-half years at Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., spoke with new Auburn head coach Gene Chizik Wednesday and informed the coach of his plans. "I talked to Coach Chizik and told him 'War Damn Eagle!'" Freeman said. "I told him that I was going to sign with Auburn and there wasn't any doubt about it. I'm so ready to be a part of the Auburn Family. I can't wait to be a part of it."

Freeman said his first conversation with Chizik went very well. Freeman believes Auburn found the right guy for the job.

"I know a lot of people say that they don't like him for the job because of his record at Iowa State and this and that, but I believe in Chizik and I believe in Auburn University!" said Freeman. "I absolutely believe they hired the right guy. Me and Coach Chizik and the rest of the Auburn Family, we are going to get this thing back right."

Freeman was hardpressed to hold back his excitement about Chizik and signing with Auburn.

"I heard Coach Chizik has coached three Thorpe Award winners, well damn, he better get ready to coach a Dick Butkus Award winner. It's on now!" Freeman said. "We're coming back. Me and the boys are coming! I'm ready! WAR DAMN EAGLE! I just can't wait to be a part of the Auburn Family."

Auburn has lost eight commitments, one of which it has since gotten back, since Tommy Tuberville's resignation Dec. 3. More commits have said they are now looking at other schools. Freeman said he had a message for the decommitments and other potential recruits.

"If Auburn can't get'em, we'll beat'em…If we can't get'cha, we'll beat'cha," Freeman said.

Freeman will be the second junior college signee of the Tigers' 2009 class. Nick Fairley, a former Mobile (Ala.) Williamson standout defensive end, signed with the Tigers Wednesday. Fairley spent the 2007-08 seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Miss.

Both Freeman and Fairley will have three years of eligibility at Auburn.

Freeman redshirted in 2008 after helping lead Gulf Coast to a co-national championship as a freshman. That year, Freeman racked up 65 tackles, 43 solo, 17 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He received "Best Linebacker" award in Mississippi, and was named All-State and All-Region.

Cal is starting to pick up recruits slowly but surely. Tedford and his assistants always tend to make a late push, and with only six weeks to go it looks like the sturdy Golden Bears are doing a great job of it. It doesn't look like 4 star OL John Martinez, from Utah, has been made an offer from Cal yet, but quotes from cal.rivals.com suggest that Berkeley will hopefully be his last visit and he is very interested. Let's hope Cal takes a good look at him because with OL talent in the past that has come through Cal, this guy could only prosper in a strong O line offense such as Cal's!

You know what, COACH CHIZIK could be bs'ing about loving our Auburn Tigers, but I do not believe he is. This guy has ties to the SEC and knows what it is all about. This is not Nick Saban who is a coaching sociopath, this is a guy who geniunely loves Auburn because that's what Auburn University does to you. It's not the same at Alabama or Georgia, or hell even Southern Cal because at these schools there is no community, no TRUE passion about their school and community. That's the class that we've always had here at AU and it's known nationwide. That is the same reason Johnny Green e-mails us students and fans telling us that we know better than to boo our team when we're down because that is what we're taught as Auburn fans, to respect our team and our opponents. We're not conceded, just loyal fans through and through. Man, i'm excited about what's to come, and watching Chizik speak at this news conference today has to excite every Auburn fan. So quit being skeptical and MOVE ON! It's time to start fresh...and things can only get better guys!

WAR EAGLE!

Hey guys, wanna share this story off of auburnsports.com/rivals.com. I'm getting pretty pumped about next season, how could you not? It's gonna be a tough start but recruiting won't be an issue soon..!

Bryan Matthews
AuburnSports.com Publisher

Talk about it in The Bunker

Gene Chizik is hitting the ground running -- immediately.

Just hours after his introductory press conference Monday, Auburn's new head coach plans to begin calling and visiting with prospects.

Todd Van Emst
Chizik plans to hit the recruiting trail Monday.

When you talk about winning championships I have certainly been around long enough to understand that you have to recruit," Chizik said. "I would say that shortly after this (press conference) is over you will not see me because that is where I will be today.

"We are going to recruit tirelessly, 24/7 and we are going to work. Recruiting is the life blood of any program and we know that."

Chizik said recruiting will be his main focus for the next month and a half before Signing Day on Feb. 4.

In fact, Chizik said it's his most important job, period.

"That's one of the things I think the head coach has to understand: One of the main jobs of the head coach isn't so much sitting in on every X's and O's meeting and things of that nature, your top job is a recruiter," Chizik said.

At the press conference, athletics director Jay Jacobs described Chizik has a relentless recruiter. Auburn will need that out of its head coach in a conference that includes several coaches with big-time recruiting reputations such as Florida's Urban Meyer and Alabama's Nick Saban.

"I think you've got challenges because this league is so visible and the head coaches in this league are so visible," Chizik said. "If one head coach falls behind the other in terms of not how hard they're working and how visible they are in the recruiting scene, I think it hurts your university."

The visibility a head coach must have in the recruiting process has increased over the past decade. Chizik said he would spearhead Auburn's recruiting efforts.

"It does matter when that head coach walks into that school. It does matter when that head coach walks into a home. I think it's, probably over the last 10 years, gotten greater," Chizik said.

In addition to recruiting, Chizik said he will also work to fill out his staff. In the meantime, former Auburn assistant Joe Whitt, Sr., Director of NFL Relations Phillip Lolley and Director of Football Operations Jimmy Perry will all assist in recruiting by making phone calls and visiting prospects at their home and school.

Whitt served as a linebacker coach at Auburn for 25 years before accepting a position in Tigers Unlimited in 2005. Lolley was a was a full-time assistant from 2000-03 while Perry coached high school football for 21 years before joining the AU staff in 2000.

Chizik said he doesn't have a timetable for hiring a staff but understands there's a sense of urgency with recruiting. Chizik said he's looking for assistants that meet all three criteria of being good people, good coaches and good recruiters.

"If there is a person out there that we think is the best fit for an assistant coaching position at this school, it doesn't matter where they're at. It doesn't matter what the timetable is. We've got to get the best fit," Chizik said. "This job will not be about me. It will be about all the people I'm surrounded with that work day-in and day-out."
 

You know I'm trying to warm up to this coach SLOWLY, and it is not his fault, but when I read things like this it fires me up. It's outrageous that we still have our same athletic director and "search committee" looking for new hires. As reported by ESPN.COM, how can you NOT side with Barkley on this one:

Lobbying for Gill, alum Barkley says Auburn should have hired black coach

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Former Auburn and NBA star Charles Barkley ripped his alma mater on Monday, saying the only reason the Tigers did not hire Buffalo's Turner Gill as the school's new football coach is because Gill is black. 

 You can say it's not about race, but you can't compare the two resumes and say [Chizik] deserved the job. Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst resume.

-- Charles Barkley

Auburn on Saturday hired Iowa State's Gene Chizik, who had a 5-19 record in two seasons with the Cyclones. Chizik was the defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2004, when the Tigers finished 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country.

Chizik replaces former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who won 85 games in 10 seasons but was forced to resign earlier this month.

"I think race was the No. 1 factor," said Barkley, who played basketball for three seasons at Auburn during the early 1980s. "You can say it's not about race, but you can't compare the two resumes and say [Chizik] deserved the job. Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst resume."

Gill, a former Nebraska quarterback, took over one of the country's worst programs at Buffalo three years ago. He guided the Bulls to an 8-5 record and their first MAC championship this season, upsetting previously unbeaten Ball State 42-24 in the Dec. 5 conference championship game.

The Bulls won 10 games in their first seven seasons at the Division I-A level. Gill guided Buffalo to 13 victories during the last two seasons combined.

"I'm just very disappointed," Barkley said. "I just thought Turner Gill would be the perfect choice for two reasons: He's a terrific coach and we needed to make a splash. I thought we had to do something spectacular to bring attention to the program. Clearly, if we'd hired a black coach, it would have created a buzz."

Barkley, who works as an NBA analyst for Turner Network Television, said he spoke with Gill before Gill interviewed with Auburn officials last week.

"We talked about the whole race thing in Alabama," Barkley said. "I told him it's there and it's going to be anywhere you go. I told him you can't not take the job because of racism. He was worried about being nothing more than a token interview. He was concerned about having a white wife. It's just very disappointing to me."

Barkley, an 11-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner, said he served on Auburn's search committee for a new basketball coach after the 2003-04 season. Barkley said he told Auburn officials he would serve on the committee only if the school was ready to hire a black coach.

Barkley said he presented three African-American candidates for consideration: former Indiana coach Mike Davis, then-Virginia Commonwealth coach Jeff Capel and then-UAB coach Mike Anderson.

Barkley said all three candidates wanted to coach at Auburn. Instead, the Tigers hired then-Chattanooga coach Jeff Lebo, a white candidate. Lebo has a 61-68 record in his fifth season at Auburn.

Barkley said he was removed from Auburn's search committee before Lebo was hired.

"Out of all the basketball coaches they interviewed, they picked the only one who hadn't been to the NCAA tournament," Barkley said.

There are only four African-American coaches among 119 programs in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision. Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was hired as New Mexico's coach last week; the others are Gill, Miami's Randy Shannon and Houston's Kevin Sumlin.

Two African-American coaches, Washington's Tyrone Willingham and Kansas State's Ron Prince, were fired during the 2008 season, and Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom resigned.

Barkley said he wanted Gill to become Auburn's coach because Auburn is a school where an African-American coach could be successful.

"My biggest problem with the black coaches is they're not getting jobs and they're getting [expletive] jobs when they are hired," Barkley said. "They're not getting good jobs. They're not getting jobs where they can be successful. That's why I wanted Turner to get the Auburn job. He could win consistently at Auburn. You can't win consistently at New Mexico. You can't win consistently at Kansas State. He could have won at Auburn."

Mark Schlabach covers college football for ESPN.com.

Honestly, I did not sleep well last night. I don't think any Auburn fan in their right mind could have either. I got to work this morning and started to read a little more on Chizik, but it still doesn't start to take the pain away that he is a proven 5-19 head coach. We do not have any another choice than to let him prove himself at Auburn, it may happen or it may not. And don't be the fan to say they're going to walk down Samford Avenue and protest at the president's mansion, or be the fans that just simply give up (UA Fans). It's outrageous to even think of going all out like that. AL.com has some great quotes from some former AU greats about COACH CHIZIK and how they think he's the right choice, but listen, I have to seriously and adamently advise every fan that reads this to stick with us. There's still one thing I cannot give into though, and I know every fan that posts on here feels the same way, and that's having Jay Jacobs resign/fired. I'm being serious, along with every one for the past two weeks, that his decisions have torn our major programs apart and all he knows how to do as an athletic director is to pitch our team to Under Armuor and market AU. You know what, someone should've seen that he needed to stay in athletics, but have been a salesman rather than a decision maker. If every fan could get in touch with the athletic department and give them a piece of their mind then maybe our BOT would get rid of this joker, but that's the world where everything is perfect and we still have everything intact, and the BOT stayed to making decisions about progressing our university raather than trying to be football fans that have the power to make decisions.  It took a lot, but I have to be excited about next season as an Auburn fan. I cannot sit and mope around about what could've been, but only look to what's is going to be, and no, it will not be losing seasons. If Chizik can do defensively what he did here at Auburn and at Texas, and reassert himself as a head coach in THE major conference in NCAA football, then we can only get better. So let's hope and pray that he gets the job done and give up being down on our program.

WAR EAGLE!

As reported by AuburnUndercover.com and numerous other sources, including AL.com, Gene Chizik looks to be the leading candidate for head coach. Umm, is this true Jay Jacobs? I cannot deny that the man had a great stint at Auburn, but his record at Iowa State is 5-19! This season he led Iowa State to a 2 game win streak, followed then by losing 10 in a row! I know it is Iowa State, not exactly a powerhouse, but it's not hard to win games there. Not too long ago Iowa State was playing Alabama in the Independence Bowl. Take a look for yourself:

By Phillip Marshall, Senior Writer
Posted Dec 13, 2008
Copyright © 2008 AuburnUndercover.com

Gene Chizik has emerged as a leading candidate in Auburn’s search for a head football coach to replace Tommy Tuberville, who resigned on Dec. 3 after 10 seasons.

The deal is not yet done, but sources at Auburn and Iowa State told AuburnUndercover.com that Chizik, who was Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2002-2004, could be offered the job within a matter of days.

Chizik won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach after Auburn went 13-0 in 2004. He left after that season to become defensive coordinator at Texas, and the Longhorns went 13-0 in 2005 and beat USC in the Rose Bowl to win the national championship.

Chizik was named Iowa State head coach after the 2006 season, and his two seasons there have been struggles. The Cyclones were 3-9 in 2006 and 2-10 this season. Late in the 2008 season, Chizik addressed those struggles.

"Obviously there’s a lot of pressure to win fast and early," Chizik said. "I think it depends on what the demands and the history of the school are, too. Certain schools are going to be a little more patient than others simply based on history. The bottom line is people are going to get anxious. Again, I think it boils down to the administration, how they see it, what they see, what their time frame is that they’re going to give you in terms of turning things around.

"I have a phenomenal athletic director and president. Obviously, no one’s happy with a two-win season, but they understand the situation."

Chizik, no doubt, is aware that Auburn is one of those schools that won’t be patient.

When Tuberville resigned after winning 85 games in 10 seasons, Jacobs began his search for a replacement. He has interviewed at least eight candidates. They include Buffalo head coach Turner Gill, Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson, Georgia assistant head coach Rodney Garner, Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley, Miami offensive coordinator Patrick Nix, Tulsa head coach Todd Graham, Ball State head coach Brady Hoke and Chizik.

Chizik, from Clearwater, Fla., graduated from the University of Florida in 1985. He lettered as a Gator linebacker in 1981. He started his coaching career at Seminole High School in 1986.

CHIZIK’S COLLEGE COACHING HISTORY

1990-1991: Middle Tennessee State defensive ends coach.

1992-1995: Stephen F. Austin linebackers coach.

1996-1997: Stephen F. Austin defensive coordinator.

1998-2001: Central Florida defensive coordinator.

2002-2004: Auburn defensive coordinator.

2005-2006: Texas defensive coordinator.

2007-2008: Iowa State head coach.

No surprise here. This is from the AP posted on ESPN.COM, originally reported in the Opelika-Auburn News...just wanted to share this with all of you...

AUBURN, Ala. -- Tommy Tuberville's mother told a newspaper her son was fired as Auburn's football coach, a claim that runs counter to public statements by the university that Tuberville left on his own.

The Opelika-Auburn News quoted Olive Tuberville as saying her son told her he was dismissed after 10 seasons at Auburn.

"He didn't resign," the paper quoted her as saying. "He was fired."

Reached for comment Monday by The Associated Press, Olive Tuberville wouldn't say whether the newspaper quoted her correctly. She did confirm talking with a reporter at Tuberville's house shortly after the coach's final meeting with Auburn officials last Wednesday.

"I'm sick of this mess. I'm not going discuss it anymore," she said.

Athletic director Jay Jacobs last week said Tuberville's departure was completely Tuberville's decision, and that he and the university president, Jay Gogue, each asked Tuberville to remain.

Jacobs said he and Gogue agreed to give Tuberville the same amount of money that would have been required to terminate his contract through a firing, $5.1 million, because they felt it was "the right thing to do."

Auburn spokeswoman Deedie Dowdle said Monday the university stands by Jacobs' statement that Tuberville resigned.

The Opelika-Auburn News reported that Tuberville's mother said she felt her son was betrayed by Auburn "to a certain extent" after 85 wins and a Southeastern Conference championship.

"This went on too long," she said. "They had their minds made up days ago, I imagine. It was tough. He didn't know what to expect. All of his friends have stayed with him."

Tuberville, 54, has referred to his departure from Auburn as "totally a business decision, what's best for Auburn." He said he plans to stay in Auburn and help the school if he can. He has not returned calls for further comment.

His mother said she has been worried about him.

"He's at an age where something could happen to him," she told the newspaper. "Heart problems are all through my family. I didn't want him getting stressed out. This has got to hurt -- as much as he's put into the program and done for the program."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Now that Tommy is out, unfortunately, we've lost 5 recruits...but gained 1 since his departure. Tuberville and his assistants could recruit well, but we need someone who can match Saban in-state. Yeah, it is Auburn, but we're a great program, and if Saban can recruit athletes to the black hole known as Tuscaloosa then we can definitely find someone to recruit to Auburn. I think out of the few candidates that have been mentioned, Turner Gill and Chris Petersen could possibly match Saban's recruiting in-state. Turner Gill is a young coach and unproven, sort of, but obviously what he has done this season at Buffalo is outstanding. Just think about getting athletes in the MAC to a program that has never flourished in Div 1-A, excuse me, the FBS. You have to think that if this guy can do this at BUFFALO then he can do something great at AU. Chris Petersen's offense is a long shot at Auburn, but overlooking what happened this past season it could possibly work. What a time to "resign" Tommy. I'm not favoring anyone at this point, but these two stand out. 

WAR EAGLE!