Hoover, Ala. -- Clad in pinstripe and escorted by the largest entourage of any coach thus far, Gene Chizik began his Media Days remarks with thanks for the support his school has received in the wake of this summer's Auburn shooting tragedy. After that, it was praise for Tigers new and old and a warning that the SEC's Big 12 imports might be tougher than anybody thought.
What to expect from new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, who's replacing mad genius Gus Malzahn? Not everything will change entirely, says Chizik, though you'd be wise to expect a whole lot more fullbackery and time-killing. Loeffler's quarterback coaching history will help with recruiting the position, the coach feels, with Kiehl Frazier and Clint Moseley still "in the mix" for the starting job this year, to be decided in two-a-days. SEC vet Brian VanGorder takes over the other side, and Chizik cites his lengthy relationship with the former Georgia and Falcons DC.
Looking down on Missouri and Texas A&M, cocky SEC fan? Gene Chizik brings troubling news back from the Big 12: "These are dang good teams with good coaches." He spent quite a while toward the middle defending the SEC's latest acquisitions, which his Iowa State team went 0-3 against while giving up almost 50 points per game:
Gene Chizik going rogue, telling us that Texas A&M and Missouri don't get enough credit. Someone in here may shout him down.
There's also that ever-budding rivalry with Clemson in the Georgia Dome to open the season. Chizik paid compliments to every portion of the Tigers program, especially new defensive coordinator and former Big 12-mate Brent Venables.
Your updated Recruitedness Power Rankings, in which we rank how recruited we feel to each program after each coach has taken the podium:
- John L. Smith
- Steve Spurrier
- James Franklin
- Kevin Sumlin
- Will Muschamp
- Dan Mullen
- Joker Phillips
- Gary Pinkel
- Gene Chizik
For more on War Eagle football, visit Auburn blog Track Em Tigers, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.
