AU, U of AL, race, football and how it ties together

[ChaddScott 57]

Auburn University and the University of Alabama found themselves on opposite sides of history this week. Football is great, but this week showed why AU is greater than UA no matter how many football titles it has.

http://gridironnow.com/race-puts-auburn-alabama-spotlight-different-reasons/

[tbone4jc 2,241]

Very good read. Without fail, every time I step on campus at Auburn the positive vibe let's me know I'm back home. War Eagle Baby!

[Swamp Eagle 5,134]

I wonder if Auburn's hire of Greene spawned the promotion of Mike Locksley to OC at bammer after all of the Hugh Freeze run-up.

I actually believe for the first time Saban didn't make the hire he wanted to because of Auburn.

[Mikey 16,578]

8 hours ago, Swamp Eagle said:

I wonder if Auburn's hire of Greene spawned the promotion of Mike Locksley to OC at bammer after all of the Hugh Freeze run-up.

I actually believe for the first time Saban didn't make the hire he wanted to because of Auburn.

It was said elsewhere here that the NCAA refused to allow Freeze to be an on-field coach. That sounds reasonable and since I heard it on the internet it must be true.

[rexbo 104]

I grew up in Montgomery in the 70's as a Gator fan (where my dad graduated); and was fairly neutral for a while.  But I had a similar feeling of instantly feeling at home when visiting Auburn, and feeling like I was on another planet when I went to Tuscaloosa.

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

I came to Auburn from Mission Bay in Southern, California. Unlike in the article I knew one person on the Auburn campus I had a friend a year a year older then me that I went to Quantico HS on the marine base in my junior year. He went to Auburn and late in the spring he sent me a letter and said to come to Auburn. I had been accepted to NROTC scholarship at Penn State. I visited Penn State and felt like an outsider so on a whim I decided to go to Auburn. When I arrived on campus for orientation it was my first time in the state of Alabama. It was 1969 and it was culture shock segregation just really starting, everybody with accents you could cut with a butter knife and yet there was a feeling of welcome. When I arrived at Magnolia Hall there was a bulletin board item looking for whist players something I had been playing on military bases my whole life. I arrived in the meeting room and I was the only white person in the room apparently in Alabama Whist was a game played by blacks while bridge was a game played by whites. I played both. You would think walking into a room where you were the only white person that you would feel out of place and I did for about two minutes before the other people in the room went out of their way to make me feel welcome. That was Auburn these black students who I got to know and as they told me stories of their lives in Alabama they had every right to be angry and take it out on white people but instead they were welcoming me and were amazed that I played whist.   Later on I found out that most could not swim as they had not been allowed in the town swimming pools. I grew up as a Navy brat always around the water. I had worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. When they found that out I became a de-facto swimming instructor for my black friends.

In addition to the black friends I made at over my 6 years at Auburn I made friends for life from all different communities  and I always felt welcome.  Whether in class, playing intramural football and basketball, playing chess with the Chinese and Indian students, Auburn in a very biased state at the time was all about opening my eyes to multiple cultures in the US and the world.  It was a welcoming place and it still is.

[AUGoo 2,659]

On January 20, 2018 at 11:19 PM, Swamp Eagle said:

I wonder if Auburn's hire of Greene spawned the promotion of Mike Locksley to OC at bammer after all of the Hugh Freeze run-up.

I actually believe for the first time Saban didn't make the hire he wanted to because of Auburn.

I can't imagine Darth Saban really cares or is affected by what any other place says or does. I hate to say it, but I kind of admire that.

[Swamp Eagle 5,134]

7 hours ago, AUGoo said:

I can't imagine Darth Saban really cares or is affected by what any other place says or does. I hate to say it, but I kind of admire that.

I'm not advocating PC'ness at all.  I detest it. I'm only speculating that Auburn's AD hire may have affected UA's OC promotion..not that the two hires are on equal footing, mind you, but it's awful suspicious given the run-up and all of a sudden they announce Locksley's promotion.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

Most Alabama fans are never going to change. Remember it was George Wallace that stood at front door at Alabama NOT Auburn. We've had 2 black men for mens basketball, 1 woman for womans basketball, a coach for Track and Field and I think swimming. Now we have a black Athletic Director. I'm glad to see Auburn moving up with the times.

[keesler 5,924]

On ‎1‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 11:19 PM, Swamp Eagle said:

I wonder if Auburn's hire of Greene spawned the promotion of Mike Locksley to OC at bammer after all of the Hugh Freeze run-up.

I actually believe for the first time Saban didn't make the hire he wanted to because of Auburn.

I'm confused.

Why would AU's decision to hire a black AD have anything to do with NS's decision to promote his OC from within?

Edit:  Nevermind, I see Mike Locksley is a black man too.

 

[lionheartkc 6,150]

On 1/20/2018 at 11:19 PM, Swamp Eagle said:

I wonder if Auburn's hire of Greene spawned the promotion of Mike Locksley to OC at bammer after all of the Hugh Freeze run-up.

I actually believe for the first time Saban didn't make the hire he wanted to because of Auburn.

I'd be more inclined to believe that Freeze said if he were to take the job he'd want full control of the offense and the conversation ended right there.

[steeleagle 2,945]

26 minutes ago, lionheartkc said:

I'd be more inclined to believe that Freeze said if he were to take the job he'd want full control of the offense and the conversation ended right there.

No, the reason Freeze wasn't hired is bc it is too soon after his firing from Ole Miss, and the UA PTB wanted nothing to do with someone recruiting or coaching, who had the findings they found against him. In recruiting, it would have been good ammo for the other SEC schools.

[keesler 5,924]

9 minutes ago, steeleagle said:

No, the reason Freeze wasn't hired is bc it is too soon after his firing from Ole Miss, and the UA PTB wanted nothing to do with someone recruiting or coaching, who had the findings they found against him. In recruiting, it would have been good ammo for the other SEC schools.

It'd be more like a powder keg waiting to explode at the first little spark of fire. 

Hugh Freeze is a HUGE liability on the recruiting trail and who knows if he's been able to pray his way out of his own personal off-the-field issues? 

He showed massive stupidity using a company phone for illicit activities, and basically turned a blind eye to the schenanigans of his own staff and their operations. Stupid - Stupid - Stupid.

[Swamp Eagle 5,134]

55 minutes ago, steeleagle said:

No, the reason Freeze wasn't hired is bc it is too soon after his firing from Ole Miss, and the UA PTB wanted nothing to do with someone recruiting or coaching, who had the findings they found against him. In recruiting, it would have been good ammo for the other SEC schools.

I can imagine why they wouldn't want to attract any attention by hiring Freeze, now that I think about it.  Anyone who believes Saban has built that the right way is full of poo-poo.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

1 hour ago, steeleagle said:

No, the reason Freeze wasn't hired is bc it is too soon after his firing from Ole Miss, and the UA PTB wanted nothing to do with someone recruiting or coaching, who had the findings they found against him. In recruiting, it would have been good ammo for the other SEC schools.

Do you know this as a fact or just speculation?  I ask, because up until this point, bama has been Teflon for these kinds of things, and it didn't phase them bringing on Kiffin or Sark.

[steeleagle 2,945]

4 minutes ago, lionheartkc said:

Do you know this as a fact or just speculation?  I ask, because up until this point, bama has been Teflon for these kinds of things, and it didn't phase them bringing on Kiffin or Sark.

I think the climate in the world today, with sexual harassment claims running in all areas of the workplace (Hollywood, COngress, Corporate..etc)...That this area is a big no no now even in College football. 

And I think Saban, who has had what, an OC almost every year since he has been there, seems to not be as concerned about who runs his offense. So not getting Freeze may have been a reach, but with his success and machine he has created, I don't think it was a big deal....

[lionheartkc 6,150]

27 minutes ago, steeleagle said:

I think the climate in the world today, with sexual harassment claims running in all areas of the workplace (Hollywood, COngress, Corporate..etc)...That this area is a big no no now even in College football. 

And I think Saban, who has had what, an OC almost every year since he has been there, seems to not be as concerned about who runs his offense. So not getting Freeze may have been a reach, but with his success and machine he has created, I don't think it was a big deal....

But Freeze was never accused of sexual harassment.  He was just accused of using his company phone to hook up with escorts. While similar, that's actually less damaging than what Petrino did, because it didn't involve other university personnel. The real stink on Freeze is the rampant cheating that happened on his watch, and bama is immune to speculation about that.

I agree that he isn't concerned about who runs his offense, for the most part, but he got a first hand look, this year, what happens when you bring in someone who 100% agrees with his offensive philosophy... you lose that edge you need to finish when your D isn't getting it done. I could definitely see him wanting the guy who ran an offense he couldn't stop, but I could see him balking on giving up the level of control he would need to in order to implement it.

[keesler 5,924]

21 minutes ago, lionheartkc said:

But Freeze was never accused of sexual harassment.  He was just accused of using his company phone to hook up with escorts. While similar, that's actually less damaging than what Petrino did, because it didn't involve other university personnel. The real stink on Freeze is the rampant cheating that happened on his watch, and bama is immune to speculation about that.

I agree that he isn't concerned about who runs his offense, for the most part, but he got a first hand look, this year, what happens when you bring in someone who 100% agrees with his offensive philosophy... you lose that edge you need to finish when your D isn't getting it done. I could definitely see him wanting the guy who ran an offense he couldn't stop, but I could see him balking on giving up the level of control he would need to in order to implement it.

There's too much stink still on Freeze for a program to take a chance on him in an official on the field capacity.  He'd be better served to go in as an analyst, rehab his image, serve his NCAA punishment in the shadows of a program and hope like hell he gets another offer at a P5 program. 

Hugh has a giant ego.  He challenged Michigan/Harbaugh, OSU/Meyer, UGA/Richt, UAT/Saban, CU/Dabo for top talent and basically spit in their faces when he challenged them to report any nefarious recruiting activities to Compliance.  They reported that crap and after a 5+ yr investigation uncovered a massive Booster network.  

Freeze's 2013 signing class sported the #1 national overall player, #1 OT, #1 WR, #1 DT, #1 Ath, and the #5 overall safety.  Yeah, ALL those #1 recruits just couldn't pass up going to Ole Miss - Hotty Toddy!  

Freeze was able to take that class of talent and beat the likes of UAT/LSU/UGA/UT/AU...... Ole Miss has never been able to beat the SEC's Big 6 like that....unprecedented!

[gr82be 14,423]

2 hours ago, keesler said:

It'd be more like a powder keg waiting to explode at the first little spark of fire. 

Hugh Freeze is a HUGE liability on the recruiting trail and who knows if he's been able to pray his way out of his own personal off-the-field issues? 

He showed massive stupidity using a company phone for illicit activities, and basically turned a blind eye to the schenanigans of his own staff and their operations. Stupid - Stupid - Stupid.

He showed massive stupidity getting involved with illicit activities period regardless of the phone used. "If you want to break the sin habit you've got to establish a prayer habit" -Mark Batterson. I hope Freeze has. 

[lionheartkc 6,150]

23 minutes ago, keesler said:

There's too much stink still on Freeze for a program to take a chance on him in an official on the field capacity.  He'd be better served to go in as an analyst, rehab his image, serve his NCAA punishment in the shadows of a program and hope like hell he gets another offer at a P5 program. 

Hugh has a giant ego.  He challenged Michigan/Harbaugh, OSU/Meyer, UGA/Richt, UAT/Saban, CU/Dabo for top talent and basically spit in their faces when he challenged them to report any nefarious recruiting activities to Compliance.  They reported that crap and after a 5+ yr investigation uncovered a massive Booster network.  

Freeze's 2013 signing class sported the #1 national overall player, #1 OT, #1 WR, #1 DT, #1 Ath, and the #5 overall safety.  Yeah, ALL those #1 recruits just couldn't pass up going to Ole Miss - Hotty Toddy!  

Freeze was able to take that class of talent and beat the likes of UAT/LSU/UGA/UT/AU...... Ole Miss has never been able to beat the SEC's Big 6 like that....unprecedented!

Yup... totally with you. I still think none of that scares bama. I thing the ego you mentioned is what means he'll never work under Saban.

[corchjay 5,311]

This is the craziest so called “win” for us that I’ve ever heard of.  The athletes we recruit in football, not all but most, are looking for playing time and the coach or coaches they trust that can help them get to the NFL.  I’d say less then 10 percent of our football recruits and their families care anything about education when being recruited other then who can help them get a degree the easiest.  

I liked AD Greene’s press conference but he has a long way to go to get things accomplished.  Can he do it?  I don’t know.  With him being a ND grad there are a couple things that would be nice.  A home-home in both football and basketball.  Anything less in scheduling is a failure in my opinion.

Beyond that he has to clean up the AD, try to improve on financial aspects and put AU in the top of the conference in facilities.  

For all those that wants all these cultural changes... I kind of like the culture.  Just don’t want cheating or sneaky crap.  I can fully accept standing on the line but not crossing it.