SBNation.com - Gus Malzahn hired as Auburn football coachhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2012-12-20T23:14:06-05:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33188212012-12-20T23:14:06-05:002012-12-20T23:14:06-05:00Auburn swipes Rodney Garner form Georgia
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5iwrBm7cjmmSIeEsv71qFaFLc5w=/0x109:4000x2776/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/5373983/20121204_mje_sr5_129.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A long-time member of the Georgia staff, Rodney Garner returns to Auburn to serve as assistant head coach and defensive line coach for Gus Malzahn. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/auburn-tigers">Auburn Tigers</a> have hired former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a> assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner to serve as assistant head coach and defensive line coach at Auburn, where he played in the late 1980s, it was announced Thursday.</p>
<p>Garner, a highly respected recruiter in SEC territory, has served at Georgia since 1998, but will leave the Bulldogs staff to join the new staff at Auburn under head coach Gus Malzahn, who was hired at the start of this month to replace Gene Chizik. Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs <a href="https://twitter.com/jayjacobsauad/status/281961144183300097">broke the news Thursday night</a>.</p>
<p>Garner coached at Auburn immediately after his playing days, serving in many roles including recruiting coordinator in the early 1990s.</p>
<p>During his time at Georgia, Garner coached many NFL draft choices, including Richard Seymour and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Marcus Stroud</a>. Garner has also often been named to lists of top recruiters in the country by a variety of recruiting services, including a mention as one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters in 2010.</p>
<p>Before his time at Georgia, Garner coached tight ends and offensive tackles with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tennessee-volunteers">Tennessee Volunteers</a>.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/20/3790898/rodney-garner-auburn-georgia-recruitingbcsknowhow2012-12-05T12:32:24-05:002012-12-05T12:32:24-05:00Malzahn interviewing Ellis Johnson
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mvQMVUHTBnridZl6_ponIrq_vfs=/0x137:3066x2181/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4467947/20121020_kkt_sv7_297.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Former South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson is reported to be in Auburn interviewing for new coach Gus Malzahn's staff.</p> <p>A day after Auburn named Gus Malzahn as its head coach, the search turns to filling the rest of the staff. One name that came up on Wednesday is former South Carolina defensive coordinator and Southern Miss head coach Ellis Johnson.</p>
<p>Johnson was fired after one season with the Golden Eagles after the team plummeted to an 0-12 record in 2012. He was hired away last season from South Carolina after having some success as Steve Spurrier's DC, so his SEC experience is likely a selling point to join Malzahn's new staff.</p>
<p>After Auburn fired Gene Chizik a couple of weeks ago, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/11/27/3696880/auburn-coaching-search-candidates-recruiting">SB Nation's Bud Elliot assessed Auburn's situation</a> and suggested that Johnson could be an ideal hire for Auburn:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"There's no doubt that Johnson can put together an excellent defense in the SEC, and he can run the 4-2-5 scheme."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Malzahn was the offensive coordinator under Chizik for three seasons, including the 2010-11 national championship season, before taking the head coaching job at Arkansas State last year.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/5/3731734/ellis-johnson-auburn-football-defensive-coordinatorKevin Jeffers2012-12-05T08:59:23-05:002012-12-05T08:59:23-05:00The do-over
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Zt_CXmhPbPiMHphDS3udZlXBvwE=/0x69:4000x2736/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4450545/20121204_mje_sr5_129.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Following their 2010 national title, the Auburn Tigers kept landing star recruits, but completely misplaced their identity in the process. Hiring Gus Malzahn restores the identity, but is that alone enough to rebound in the SEC West? <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB" class="twitter-follow-button">Follow @SBNationCFB</a> !function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");</p> <p>Two years ago, with a perfect confluence of talent and experience up front, Auburn made a dramatic, unexpected run to a national title. The Tigers operated out of a powerful, downhill spread attack, with a five-star, future Heisman winner at quarterback (Cam Newton), a five-star freshman at running back (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112868/michael-dyer">Michael Dyer</a>), and four four-star offensive linemen (three of whom were seniors) paving the way.</p>
<p>When virtually the entire starting offense departed after 2010, however, head coach Gene Chizik seemed to choose the stars over the system. He allegedly reined in offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn a bit and, a year later, replaced him altogether with more of a pro-style coordinator.</p>
<p>According to the narrative, after all, you can draw more blue-chippers with a "pro-style" system. Strong recruiting continued apace; Auburn's 2011 class ranked seventh according to Rivals.com, its 2012 class ranked 10th, and its 2013 class currently ranks 10th despite some defections following Chizik's firing. But the identity vanished. Auburn seemingly had no idea what it wanted to be offensively, and in the two years since Newton's departure, the Tigers ranked <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/fplus2011">57th in Off. F/+ in 2011</a> (Malzahn's final season) and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/fplus2012">111th in 2012</a>.</p>
<hr>
<center><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/12/4/3728462/gus-malzahn-hired-auburn">Complete Auburn coaching staff coverage</a></center>
<hr>
<p>(In-state mate UAB, meanwhile, ranked 96th this fall. With Jacksonville State averaging 400 yards per game in FCS, you could make the case that Auburn's was the fourth-best offense in the state of Alabama in 2012. The defense was pretty awful, too, but the offense was inexcusably bad.)</p>
<p>So following an unprecedented collapse -- just as you aren't supposed to come out of nowhere to <i>win</i> a national title, you aren't supposed to win a title and fall to 3-9 two years later -- Auburn basically issued a mea culpa of sorts, replacing Chizik with the guy he marginalized following the national title. What can we expect from the Malzahn era, knowing we can only make broad judgments thus far without any knowledge of his coaching staff?</p>
<h4>An Offense With An Identity</h4>
<p>Here's a look at <a target="_blank" href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/release/release_20121120aaa.pdf">Auburn's final offensive two-deep of 2012</a> (PDF), with seniors filtered out of the picture (2013 year of eligibility listed below):</p>
<ul>
<li> <b>QB</b>: Jonathan Wallace (6'2, 197, So.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136333/kiehl-frazier">Kiehl Frazier</a> (6'2, 226, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78527/clint-moseley">Clint Moseley</a> (6'4, 229, Sr.)</li>
<li> <b>RB</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131875/tre-mason">Tre Mason</a> (5'10, 198, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136336/mike-blakely">Mike Blakely</a> (5'9, 206, So.)</li>
<li> <b>FB</b>: Jay Prosch (6'0, 260, Jr.), Blake Burgess (6'3, 249, Jr.)</li>
<li> <b>WR</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131867/quan-bray">Quan Bray</a> (5'10, 185, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112864/trovon-reed">Trovon Reed</a> (6'0, 190, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35418/sammie-coates">Sammie Coates</a> (6'2, 200, So.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158321/ricardo-louis">Ricardo Louis</a> (6'2, 210, So.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131868/jaylon-denson">Jaylon Denson</a> (6'3, 211, Jr.)</li>
<li> <b>TE</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131871/brandon-fulse">Brandon Fulse</a> (6'4, 249, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131880/c-j-uzomah">C.J. Uzomah</a> (6'4, 250, Jr.)</li>
<li> <b>LT</b>: Greg Robinson (6'5, 311, So.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131892/shon-coleman">Shon Coleman</a> (6'6, 302, So.)</li>
<li> <b>LG</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131881/christian-westerman">Christian Westerman</a> (6'4, 298, So.)</li>
<li> <b>C</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131889/reese-dismukes">Reese Dismukes</a> (6'3, 293, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112896/tunde-fariyike">Tunde Fariyike</a> (6'2, 301, Jr.)</li>
<li> <b>RG</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112894/chad-slade">Chad Slade</a> (6'5, 301, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158344/alex-kozan">Alex Kozan</a> (6'4, 294, RSFr.)</li>
<li> <b>RT</b>: Patrick Miller (6'7, 288, Fr.)</li>
</ul>
<p>First of all, you'll notice that there are quite a few names here. That's because, of the 26 different players on Auburn's two-deep from the Alabama game, only four were seniors. Auburn lacked an identity in 2012, but it also lacked experience. Malzahn will be expected to take care of the former while the latter takes care of itself.</p>
<p>The line returns 64 career starts, Tre Mason rushed for 1,002 yards (5.9 per carry) in 2012, and while quarterback Jonathan Wallace experienced plenty of issues while thrown into the fire as a freshman, he still brought a hair of stability to the position, averaging 7.9 yards per pass attempt, completing 58 percent of his passes and averaging 4.2 yards per carry in parts of nine games.</p>
<p>It is worth a reminder, by the way, that Malzahn does not exactly employ the "Throw 60 times per game" spread attack. Auburn was quite run-heavy in 2010 (and with Newton and Dyer in the backfield, why not?), and his first (and only) Arkansas State offense was similar in that regard. Employing one running back, three wideouts and an H-Back/tight end, the Red Wolves were run-heavy on standard downs (they ran 64.7 percent of the time, 33rd-most in the country) and told the quarterback to go make a play on passing downs (they ran just 29.8 percent of the time on passing downs, 83rd-most in the country). Running backs <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79033/david-oku">David Oku</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112830/frankie-jackson">Frankie Jackson</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/166313/rocky-hayes">Rocky Hayes</a> combined to average about 29 carries per game, and quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35307/ryan-aplin">Ryan Aplin</a> threw in about seven carries (and 32 passes) per game.</p>
<p>Both Auburn and ASU ran the ball relatively well (and frequently) in 2012, but the major difference between the two schools was that ASU actually had an interesting receiving corps. The Red Wolves were nicely balanced between possession receivers (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136622/j-d-mckissic">J.D. McKissic</a> and Josh Jarboe combined to catch 139 passes at 7.7 yards per target) and big-play threats (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35312/taylor-stockemer">Taylor Stockemer</a> and Julian Jones caught 42 passes at 12.7 yards per target), and after a September adjustment period, the offense clicked at a nice, high level.</p>
<p>In theory, Malzahn will have plenty of nice pieces to play with in 2012, but he will need to unearth some of the blue-chip potential that allegedly resides in players like Trovon Reed and Quan Bray (23 catches, 6.2 per target in 2012) and hope that an experienced line can open even bigger holes for Mason and Mike Blakeley.</p>
<h4>An Experienced Defense</h4>
<p>We have no idea who Malzahn will hire as his defensive coordinator yet. For all we know, he is going to employ a 3-3-5 defense next year (no he won't), but we do know that, barring major defections, a defense that was terribly young in 2012 will be a lot less green in 2012. Here's the defensive depth chart from the Alabama game, with seniors once again filtered out:</p>
<ul>
<li> <b>DE</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78557/dee-ford">Dee Ford</a> (6'2, 246, Sr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112872/ladarius-owens">LaDarius Owens</a> (6'2, 260, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112874/craig-sanders">Craig Sanders</a> (6'4, 257, Sr.)</li>
<li> <b>DT</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131866/angelo-blackson">Angelo Blackson</a> (6'4, 308, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112906/kenneth-carter">Kenneth Carter</a> (6'4, 289, Sr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131878/devaunte-sigler">Devaunte Sigler</a> (6'4, 291, Jr.)</li>
<li> <b>DT</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158355/gabe-wright">Gabe Wright</a> (6'3, 299, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112890/jeffrey-whitaker">Jeffrey Whitaker</a> (6'4, 307, Sr.)</li>
<li> <b>DE</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112891/corey-lemonier">Corey Lemonier</a> (6'4, 246, Sr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78562/nosa-eguae">Nosa Eguae</a> (6'3, 268, Sr.)</li>
<li> <b>SLB</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131879/anthony-swain">Anthony Swain</a> (6'2, 235, So.), Justin Garrett (6'1, 215, Jr.)</li>
<li> <b>MLB</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112869/jake-holland">Jake Holland</a> (6'1, 241, Sr.), Cassanoa McKinzy (6'3, 243, So.)</li>
<li> <b>WLB</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131870/kris-frost">Kris Frost</a> (6'2, 233, So.)</li>
<li> <b>CB</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158319/joshua-holsey">Joshua Holsey</a> (5'11, 188, So.)</li>
<li> <b>FS</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112881/trent-fisher">Trent Fisher</a> (6'1, 200, Jr.), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112873/demetruce-mcneal">Demetruce McNeal</a> (6'2, 187, Sr.)</li>
<li> <b>SS</b>: <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131882/jermaine-whitehead">Jermaine Whitehead</a> (5'11, 202, Jr.), Ryan Smith (6'2, 204, Sr.)</li>
<li> <b>CB</b>: Jonathan Mincy (5'10, 190, Jr.), Chris Davis (5'11, 200, Sr.), Jonathan Jones (5'10, 166, So.)</li>
</ul>
<p>Once again, the senior leadership was minimal in 2012; only four of the 27 members of the two-deep were seniors in 2012.</p>
<p>We could see a player like end Corey Lemonier leave early for the pros, but without defection the only real losses for this defense are weakside linebacker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78533/daren-bates">Daren Bates</a> and corner T'Sharvan Bell. Auburn ranked 87th in Def. F/+ in coordinator Brian VanGorder's first (and, presumably, only) season in charge of the defense, and with this level of youth, it isn't difficult to understand why. The Tigers were strong at finishing drives (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaadef">23rd in Passing Downs S&P+</a>) but were far too leaky and inefficient on standard downs to succeed. Depending on who returns, there is plenty of athletic potential here to exploit, but we'll see how quickly you can turn around a defense that got pretty bad, pretty quickly.</p>
<h4>Sanctions</h4>
<p>As we all know by now, if you commit NCAA violations under a certain coach, the sanctions don't go away when the coach does. On November 21, <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--sources--ncaa-investigating-auburn-s-football-program-201343758.html">Yahoo! Sports confirmed </a>reports out of Memphis that the NCAA was indeed looking into potential violations at Auburn.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sources told Yahoo! Sports in September that the NCAA has been investigating the recruitment of 2012 Auburn signee <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158320/jovon-robinson">Jovon Robinson</a>, whose Memphis Wooddale High School academic transcript was found to be forged and was subsequently declared ineligible in August to play this year at the school. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported in August that a guidance counselor at Wooddale admitted creating a fraudulent transcript and resigned. […]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>We do not yet know the severity of the sanctions Auburn might face (or when they might face them), but Malzahn does inherit a program that could face a scholarship reduction or a similar punishment in coming months or years. Recovering from a 3-9 season in the SEC West is difficult enough with 85 scholarships.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">**********</p>
<p>Malzahn was a good hire. He has a wealth of SEC experience at this point, and after a bumpy September he acquitted himself quite well at Arkansas State, rallying his squad to a second straight Sun Belt title. (And with the current, impressive level of coaching and play in the Sun Belt, that is indeed an accomplishment.) His offensive identity is strong enough that he should have the Tigers playing competent, competitive football pretty quickly, even if we don't yet know about the height of the program's ceiling under his watch. The problem, of course, is that Auburn is still in the SEC West, a division which has produced three of the last four BCS title game participants (and five of the last eight), added a suddenly elite-looking Texas A&M squad and features schools like Arkansas (21-5 in 2010-11), Mississippi State (three straight bowl campaigns) and Ole Miss (seemingly rebounding quickly -- and recruiting like crazy -- under Hugh Freeze). If Auburn rebounds, that means somebody else has to fall. Who exactly is that going to be?</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/stewart_mandel/12/04/gus-malzahn-auburn/index.html">As Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel said </a>yesterday, Auburn's hire of Malzahn is a bit of an acknowledgement that the program backed the wrong horse when it let Malzahn leave for Arkansas State in 2011. With Malzahn in charge, the Tigers can reassume the identity they had misplaced. Whether or not that will make a difference anytime soon, however, remains to be seen.</p>
<p><iframe width="100%" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AviBFxstBY8adG1wZDBzdUxYRVBZbEVGSU9xTUp6Mnc&output=html">&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</iframe></p>
<p><em>Look through SB Nation's many excellent <a href="http://sbnation.com/blogs#college">college football blogs</a> to find your team's community.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @SBNationCFB</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation" title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" style="margin-left: -15px" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);"></a></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/5/3730678/gus-malzahn-auburn-football-coachBill Connelly2012-12-04T18:35:56-05:002012-12-04T18:35:56-05:00Recruits excited RE: Auburn's hire of Gus Malzahn
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B9dyKAZU97ZENVxzTowgDwlYNnw=/3x0:3995x2661/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4429817/156002759.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Michael Chang</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>So Auburn has hired Gus Malzahn, just as I <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/11/27/3696880/auburn-coaching-search-candidates-recruiting" target="new">said it should a week ago</a>. </p> <p>But what do<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/auburn-tigers"> Tigers</a> recruits think of the move? Let's take to Twitter to find out.</p>
<p>Jeremy Johnson, a top quarterback and Auburn commitment out of Carver High School is excited. Malzahn's spread-run attack fits his skills perfectly.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>I spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Rivals100">#Rivals100</a> QB commit Jeremy Johnson recently, he said if Gus Malzahn were hired, he'd sign with Auburn.</p>
— Justin Hokanson (@JHokanson) <a data-datetime="2012-12-04T20:40:44+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/JHokanson/status/276063511619182592">December 4, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>He stayed true to his word Tuesday.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Carver QB Jeremy Johnson on Auburn hiring Gus Malzahn: "I'm very happy. ... It's going to be great playing for Coach Malzahn."</p>
— Stacy Long (@AStacyLong) <a data-datetime="2012-12-04T22:53:50+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/AStacyLong/status/276097007242842115">December 4, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>Top rated linebacker recruit and potentially tenuous Auburn commitment Reuben Foster was <a href="http://247sports.com/Article/Commits-React-to-Gus-Malzahn-hiring-by-Auburn-105076" target="_blank">also excited about the move</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I think it's great," said five-star inside linebacker Reuben Foster of Auburn (Ala.), the highest-ranked Tigers commit. "I don't know him but I'm looking forward to meeting him and building a relationship with him. I'm definitely still committed to Auburn."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another top rated defender and Auburn commit Dee Liner, wasn't so sure, but is <a href="http://blogs.tennesseevalleynow.com/keepingscore/?p=3937&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">willing to give Malzahn time to win him over</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I really don't know at this point, but I'll probably have some answers soon," said Liner, who committed to Auburn before his junior year in 2011. "I've never talked to (Malzahn). I'll probably have a talk with him soon.</p>
<p>"I'm still going to be with them, but I have to see what kind of defense they're running, things like that."</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNRecruiting" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @SBNRecruiting</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script></p>
<p><em>While we’re here, let’s watch some of the many fine college football videos from <a href="http://youtube.com/sbnation">SB Nation’s YouTube channel</a>:</em></p>
<p><iframe width="600" height="338" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation" title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" style="margin-left: -15px" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);"></a></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/12/4/3728924/recruits-excited-about-auburns-hire-of-gus-malzahnBud Elliott2012-12-04T15:38:07-05:002012-12-04T15:38:07-05:00Malzahn returning to Auburn
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qXZ890RFIAHnivq9iTj2eSVV5js=/210x880:2301x2274/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4422463/20121201_kkt_sc6_177.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We've known the Auburn coaching search has come down to two names. One has now emerged.</p> <p>The Auburn coaching search, which came down to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, has settled on former Tigers offensive coordinator Malzahn, SB Nation has been told. The news was first reported by the <a href="https://twitter.com/AStateNation/status/276056854919016448">Scout.com</a> ASU site.</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/4/3726374/kirby-smart-gus-malzahn-auburn-coaching-search">think Malzahn is the right choice</a>, and certainly better for Auburn's immediate future than Smart would've been. His offenses were successful in 2009 and 2010, and VERY successful with Cam Newton at the helm, but fell off somewhat in 2011 as turmoil built up around the Plains. He took a pay cut to leave for Arkansas State, where he ran the No. 17 total offense in the country and won the Sun Belt title.</p>
<hr>
<center><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/12/4/3728172/auburn-coaching-rumors-gus-malzahn">Auburn fans react</a></center>
<hr>
<p>The move signals a break from the 2012 Auburn decision, to build up defense and pro-style offense, and means an up-tempo, spread attack is coming back to Jordan-Hare. It probably also means Auburn is going to give up points more often from now on. Much more to come.</p>
<p><iframe width="100%" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AviBFxstBY8adG1wZDBzdUxYRVBZbEVGSU9xTUp6Mnc&output=html"></iframe></p>
<p><em>Look through SB Nation's many excellent <a href="http://sbnation.com/blogs#college">college football blogs</a> to find your team's community.</em></p>
<p><a data-size="large" data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">Follow @SBNationCFB</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p><a title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation"><img onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);" style="margin-left: -15px" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png"></a></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2012/12/4/3728134/gus-malzahn-auburn-football-arkansas-stateJason Kirk2012-12-04T14:57:59-05:002012-12-04T14:57:59-05:00Auburn hire countdown begins
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iw2oqUj9roAOHg_AamfP3Bwe5zI=/0x274:2440x1901/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4414333/20120901_mje_se2_373.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We'll know by this point tomorrow the name of Auburn's next coach, according to the school president.</p> <p>The first of the three major SEC football programs to hire a new head coach might be the one that waited the longest to officially begin its search, <a href="https://twitter.com/CBS8News/status/276043760754909184">as Auburn announces</a> we'll know the next Tigers coach by Wednesday afternoon.</p>
<p>SB Nation was told Monday that Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is the leader for the job, with Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn also in the running, while <a href="http://auburn.247sports.com/Article/Auburn-coaching-search-Gus-Malzahn-moves-to-front-of-the-line-105034">247Sports reports Tuesday</a> that order has flipped. (Though <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/4/3726374/kirby-smart-gus-malzahn-auburn-coaching-search">I think they should hire Malzahn</a>.) </p>
<p>There are plenty of other names, however -- <a href="http://auburn.247sports.com/Article/Auburn-coaching-search-Petrino-talks-with-committee-104999">Bobby Petrino rumors have continued</a> on through Tuesday, Charlie Strong <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/28/3704450/charlie-strong-auburn-coaching-candidates/in/3318821">appears to have interviewed</a>, there was that Chad Morris report, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/29/3707456/auburn-coaching-search-chris-petersen-gary-patterson">OOOO CHRIS PETERSEN RUMOR</a>. </p>
<p>We've also been told that UCLA coach Jim Mora and Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher were Auburn targets, but opted not to interview.</p>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>With Arkansas and Colorado also possibly filling their vacancies within the next 24 hours, this will be a busy Tuesday and Wednesday.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AviBFxstBY8adG1wZDBzdUxYRVBZbEVGSU9xTUp6Mnc&output=html" width="100%"></iframe></p>
<p><em>Look through SB Nation's many excellent <a href="http://sbnation.com/blogs#college">college football blogs</a> to find your team's community.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @SBNationCFB</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation" title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" style="margin-left: -15px" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);"></a></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/4/3727810/auburn-coaching-search-candidatesJason Kirk2012-12-04T11:36:02-05:002012-12-04T11:36:02-05:00RichRod, Mora on Auburn's list
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S7_oTaAxoxlWkakYzHqRmpwHn38=/0x0:3765x2510/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4401433/20121123_mjr_su5_031.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Add Arizona's Rich Rodriguez to the very long list of potential Auburn coaching targets.</p> <p>Last week, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/29/3706398/jim-mora-auburn-coaching-candidates">SB Nation reported</a> UCLA coach Jim Mora is a target on Auburn's coaching candidates list. (Auburn's since been unable to land an interview, we're told.) The rest of the Pac-12 reportedly hasn't escaped Auburn's eye, however, with Bruce Feldman <a href="https://twitter.com/BFeldmanCBS/statuses/275998914753224706">adding Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez's name</a> to the list.</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>That would make approximately one million Auburn coaching candidates. We've been told Kirby Smart and Gus Malzahn are the current leading candidates, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/4/3726374/kirby-smart-gus-malzahn-auburn-coaching-search/in/3318821">I feel Malzahn's the clear choice out of those two</a>.</p>
<p>RichRod doesn't seem like an obvious choice, as he has no SEC experience (he did coach at Clemson for two years) and it's hard to think he'd leave a school that gave him his first chance after the Michigan disaster, but I feel he's definitely the right idea for a program that simply isn't going to surpass its biggest rival by way of traditional warfare. Think offense.</p>
<p>But with Mora, Rodriguez, Smart, Malzahn and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/29/3704772/bobby-petrino-auburn-coaching-rumors/in/3318821">these three names</a> plus <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/29/3707456/auburn-coaching-search-chris-petersen-gary-patterson">Chris Petersen and Gary Patterson rumors</a> and a reported interview of Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris, it's ... pretty clear the Auburn coaching search is going to continue for quite a while.</p>
<p><em>Look through SB Nation's many excellent <a href="http://sbnation.com/blogs#college">college football blogs</a> to find your team's community.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-size="large">Follow @SBNationCFB</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script><iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation" title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" style="margin-left: -15px" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);"></a></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/4/3726932/rich-rodriguez-jim-mora-auburn-coaching-rumorsJason Kirk2012-12-04T10:22:55-05:002012-12-04T10:22:55-05:00Just hire Malzahn
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/knrzwCysEAzED-JAeelTinb9lhg=/0x0:3990x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4392187/20121129_ter_sc6_347.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Two of the current leading candidates for the Auburn coaching job couldn't be more different.</p> <h3>Update: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/12/4/3728134/gus-malzahn-auburn-football-arkansas-state">We've been told Gus Malzahn is coming back to Auburn</a>.</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2011/4/4/2075236/2011-ul-monroe-football">Smarter people than me</a> have written a lot about underdog tactics. Simply put, the side without the advantages has to resort to things.</p>
<p>In the state of Alabama and the SEC, the Tide have the advantages. Even though Auburn has one of the nation's biggest athletic departments, has an enormous fan base and is often capable of producing teams better than Bama's, it's still decidedly an underdog. And that's fine. Underdogs can win.</p>
<p>Of late, Auburn's either been better than Alabama by hiring a good coach and being fortunate to pit him against a not-good coach (Tommy Tuberville vs. Mike DuBose and Mike Shula) or by trotting out maybe the best player ever. Since Nick Saban isn't going to forget how to coach and Cam Newtons don't fall out of the sky, neither of these courses is an option.</p>
<hr>
<center><a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/11/27/3697230/auburn-coaching-rumors">Complete Auburn coaching search coverage</a></center>
<hr>
<p>Beating the current Alabama program has to be goal No. 1 for Auburn, and not even from a rivalry perspective. Auburn likely can't win its division without beating Alabama on the field and will have to settle for lesser talent if it can't beat Alabama off the field. And, you know, the rivalry also, which matters in terms of fan and financial support.</p>
<p>Auburn's top two candidates at the moment are former Tigers offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, we've been told. There are, of course, other names -- <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://auburn.247sports.com/Article/Auburn-coaching-search-Petrino-talks-with-committee-104999">Bobby Petrino's reportedly talked to</a> the search committee, <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/29/3707456/auburn-coaching-search-chris-petersen-gary-patterson">flight-tracking appeared to reveal</a> four possible candidates, there have been <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/3/3722538/auburn-clemson-football-chad-morris">varying reports about Chad Morris</a>, Charlie Strong <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/28/3704450/charlie-strong-auburn-coaching-candidates/in/3318821">might have interviewed</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/29/3706398/jim-mora-auburn-coaching-candidates/in/3318821">Jim Mora was a target</a>, and Jimbo Fisher rumors continue.</p>
<p>In its predicament, hiring Smart away from Bama accomplishes little other than making for the most magnificent Finebaum episode of all time. Though Smart is a very highly regarded assistant, does anyone think he's as good as Saban? I don't want to call him a lesser Saban, but as far as results go, how could Auburn hope for anything better than a coach who's just like Saban but not quite as good*?</p>
<p>It might not even hurt Alabama all that badly -- you saw how much their linebacker play suffered after losing linebackers coach Sal Sunseri to Tennessee. (It didn't.)</p>
<p>I don't know if Gus Malzahn would leave Arkansas State to come back to Auburn -- there's a reason he took a small pay cut in order to live in his home state. But if he'd leave in order to be a SEC head coach making four times his current salary, he's the best choice.</p>
<p>He's proved he can win without Newton and Michael Dyer, bringing home a Sun Belt title and ranking No. 17 in offense in his first year at Arkansas State. Anyone worried about his minimal head coaching experience (should also worry about Smart's lack of it) should consider Hugh Freeze, who was at ASU for one year before apparently righting Ole Miss.</p>
<p>Think about talent resources. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/11/27/3696880/auburn-coaching-search-candidates-recruiting">As Bud Elliott put it</a> in a recruiting Moneyball discussion:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Alabama's offensive scheme means that it often has to pass on talented in-state receiver or scat back prospects. The same thing goes here for quarterbacks who run a lot. If Auburn doesn't take them, they'll often go to Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia or Tennessee.</p>
<p>What would a scheme look like that could utilize the players described above? Very familiar, actually. It would be something like Gus Malzahn's. Not only would the spread offense be able to have success with some of the players Alabama passes on, but Alabama has not had the greatest success against offenses like Malzahn's (see Texas A&M's upset in Tuscaloosa as a two-touchdown underdog last month).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's not about picking up Alabama's scraps. It's about Auburn using the current economy to its benefit, rather than trying to beat that economy into one Auburn would prefer. We'd all like to see our teams smash people like Saban's do, but it would take years for Auburn to truly Sabanize, if Smart's indeed capable -- it only took Will Muschamp two at Florida, but that's with recruiting resources and a Day 1 roster both superior to Auburn's.</p>
<p>It's not about YAYYYYYYY POINTS. Scoring points is great, but so is forbidding the scoring of points. <a href="http://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2012/12/3/3721766/auburn-coaching-rumors-gus-malzahn">Malzahn's defense would be more Arkansas than Alabama</a>, that's for sure, but wins are wins. You take whichever you can get, and you maximize it.</p>
<p>All I'm saying is this:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>If Auburn's down to Malzahn or Smart, we're talking about being as awesome as possible or being as Alabama Jr. as possible.</p>
— Jason Kirk (@JasonKirkSBN) <a data-datetime="2012-12-04T01:44:54+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/JasonKirkSBN/status/275777667280814083">December 4, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>* Unless we're thinking Saban's going back to the NFL soon. I like to joke about it, but I don't really think it's happening at this point. If it did, sure, a Smart-coached Auburn would then have the best Saban in the entire state of Alabama. That really would probably work well for them.</p>
<p><em>Look through SB Nation's many excellent <a href="http://sbnation.com/blogs#college">college football blogs</a> to find your team's community.</em></p>
<p><a data-size="large" data-show-count="false" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/SBNationCFB">Follow @SBNationCFB</a>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
!function(d,s,id){varjs,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");
// --></script><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3FF4E82DBEA5AD7E&hl=en_US" height="360" width="640"></iframe></p>
<p><a title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation"><img onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);" style="margin-left: -15px" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png"></a></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/12/4/3726374/kirby-smart-gus-malzahn-auburn-coaching-searchJason Kirk