Have not posted in a while but thought I would share with board. For those that want a change, the calls are being made to explore all options available. We have to keep in mind the millions that we are already paying out for previous leadership mistakes and adding to that balance is only going to allow for those influencers to retain even more power and control over the program. I know some will say that doesn't matter or it even doesn't exist and no one outside the actual program is calling any significant shots but that would be as false and untrue as to say the sun will rise again tomorrow.
Both elite in state schools have benefited in the past from having these big-time power brokers sitting in the shadows making calls. However, over the last 20+ years the game has changed, the infrastructure has changed, the good-ole boy strategy is no longer a benefit to major programs as it once was in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. It's tearing programs down from the inside out, its holding once proud programs hostage from being able to adapt with the changing times, it's creating a vicious cycle of temporary success followed by extreme failure, rinse and repeat. You want to know the biggest difference between Auburn and Bama today and why one of the two schools has seen consistent success for so long? It's not just because Bama hit a home run with Saban. It's because they started breaking away from the constant stranglehold of the good ole boy cult that had let run their program for years. They realized it was hurting now much more than it was helping. it was not easy, and they still have not severed all ties, but they went after an Ultra Alpha Leader to come in with Saban and they gave him as much control and power as anyone has ever had since Bryant. They ignored the silent voices more than ever and they trusted in their leader to help them escape the past.
If Auburn is going to break out of that same toxic cycle that has been happening for the last 20 years, then something has to change internally. We can all yell and scream all we want. We can even hit a triple with a hire. But we will not hit a home run no matter who the hire is unless we start cutting ties with the shadow warriors who are running the football program. The only way to truly do this is to take the power away from them. That has to start by not being in financial debt and obligation to them for continuing to bail out the program with another "loan/payoff". If now is the time, pay off Harsin today. Go out and hire a solid coach that will come to the plains and restore order, tradition, loyalty, excitement and respect to the program. But the most important part is there must be no multi-million-dollar buyout clause. You may be thinking that's not possible this day in time, but I would personally disagree. There are many strong coaching candidates that I believe would come to Auburn without some golden parachute buyout that they can retire. Go find that coach, we like to say it but let's actually mean it this time, find a true "Auburn" leader to take the reins. Finding that coach will be the easy part. Cutting off the network of elite power brokers on the inside is what is going to be the most challenging part of this transition. But we have to ask ourselves, what do we have to lose at this point? Why do we keep accepting old school way of thinking when it's no longer working?
It's time for true change and it's going to take some real leaders to step up, strap up their boots, hard work and to build back the respect, honesty, trust and humility in the program. If we continue to do the same thing but just use different pieces, we will continue to get the same results. Use your voices, your influences to energize and educate the fan base around you. We all may not agree on who to hire, when it should be done, what type of team we want, but I believe we all can agree we are ready to see a program that is once again respected year in and year out and not one that keeps giving other fan bases fodder for their amusement. It's time for culture change from within, true Auburn leaders need to step up!!!
