Mitchie

I definitely understand the frustration. It was a physical, tight game.

I watched this game. No allegiance. Read this board all the time. Get ready to flame away. You blew a 17-point second-half lead at your biggest rival's place in a game you probably shouldn't have been winning. At some point, stop complaining about "the refs" and "Birmingham." You do the same thing in football. Don't you EVER get tired of whining? Seriously? At some point, isn't it on your athletes and coaches to get the job done?

The only thing about Dabo is I'm not even sure he would leave Clemson for 'Bama. And here's why. I know he loves Alabama, obviously, and his love for coach Stallings is obvious. But he basically built Clemson into what it is today. That is a very difficult thing to give up, even after losses like last weekend. He has built something special. He would be leaving that, giving that up, for even more of a pressure-cooker where he would be expected to run with the baton that Saban has carried. I could see him following the coach that FOLLOWED Saban. But I can't see him following the man. I'm not sure he'd want to go to Auburn to coach against him or Alabama. I'd bet if Saban retired tomorrow, or after the bowl game, and Alabama called, that Swinney would say, thank you, I'm honored, but no.

😃😃

All good points on the recruiting thing, and on Cam Newton. Again, looking at your alternatives: - Lane Kiffin is not coming. - Hugh Freeze may, in fact, be coming, and I actually think will be a good head coach and a winner at Auburn, but apparently the fan base is divided on him because of his obvious shady past, which I completely understand. - Dan Lanning knows the territory but may not want to go head-to-head with Smart, Saban, Kelly and Jimbo right now, after having lost to Georgia by 46 on the field to boot, when he can compete with a weak field in the Pac-12. - A young NFL assistant that's not proven might be the way to go -- but it's hardly what will excite a fan base that desperately needs it. - An energetic Cadillac Williams whose only negative seems to be a lack of coaching experience and gravitas on the sidelines, but apparently is a recruiting beast. - A litany of names that most people don't know, i.e., another Harsin hire. Fact is, Mullen may not want to coach and has some down side. But he also has ties to Cohen and has been a proven winner in the SEC. I'm trying to think like your leadership might be thinking.

Kind of what I figured. But consider: - Had Mississippi State ranked number 1 in the nation during the Dak Prescott years, and I covered Mississippi State -- you guys have watched them. Having MSU ranked number 1 in the nation in football is unreal. - Was the QB coach for some pretty amazing talents. - Came within seconds of knocking off Alabama in the SEC title game. Compared to some of the candidates that have been mentioned, he's got far more positives. Has won in the SEC, has beaten Georgia, has competed with Saban and Smart in recruiting, is a fairly charismatic guy, very intelligent, and he's still fairly young. He's had some time to think about mistakes he made at Florida. Seems like he's far, far more of a win than Freeze, one the fans could get behind. And I'm guessing he's got a relationship with Cohen.

How would you guys feel about Dan Mullen?

Thank you; meant no harm with my posts, only that if Kiffin doesn't come as expected, that Auburn could still end up with a solid coach.

I know, and didn't mean to be groundbreaking. Was just lending some insight into what I was hearing, and confirming many of you were on the right track, not to break news, simple as that.

I see. Could easily clear this up by posting my identity, photo and a website. Didn't mean to be a nuisance. Wish you the best of luck.

Actually, in this thread, someone named autiger88 said Freeze wasn't a candidate.

Not claiming to have any insider knowledge. Telling you straight out that I am a reporter in Texas. My friends at ESPN believe that Kiffin is Auburn's first choice and Freeze is their second. Your insiders say Freeze is not a candidate. I don't have insider knowledge. I'm telling you what I'm hearing. Period. Telling you that my guys at ESPN are telling ME that Kiffin is literally on the fence and may very well stay at Ole Miss. NEVER said I had insider knowledge. Not once. I'm telling you not to get your hopes up like some of you did before Harsin was hired. I think it will probably be Kiffin as your new head coach.

Simply saying that you guys are on the right track. Only noting that the SEC reporters I know that are truly covering the story are telling me that Kiffin is really on the fence and is weighing his options. I just know that there has been some disappointment here before. And I hate to see that. There are some good coaches that have been mentioned here. Kiffin is likely to take this job, but if he doesn't, it is FAR from the end of the world.

I'm removed from your situation. What I've heard is that Kiffin has the Ole Miss offer and is anticipating an offer from Auburn, as their first choice, that will top the Ole Miss offer. Like you've said here, the Auburn NIL war chest is pretty substantial. He would be hard-pressed to say no. But he likes Oxford and has stability there. You've noticed he's been careful how he's wording his media appearances, and that he told his team tonight that he "hasn't accepted" any other jobs. That's present-tense. I'm also familiar with the WCBI reporter. Started my career in Columbus, Mississippi at the Commercial Dispatch in Columbus. He's a bit of a goof. But he is good friends with your new AD. Where there's smoke, there may be fire.

That Jimbo is safe for a year but may have to give some of his assistants the boot -- including former AU standout Dameyune Craig. That's what I'm hearing. I covered A&M-Ole Miss a few weeks ago. Obviously things have gotten some worse since then.

OK, I did not post to stir things up. I have said you guys may very well have Kiffin as your next coach. This is precisely what I was saying: some of you do not want to hear it, but he may stay at Ole Miss, and you need to be ready to accept that. Hitting thumbs down on my comments isn't going to change it. He also may leave Oxford and take the job. I literally am hearing he is wrestling with it. I've been wrong before.

In all honesty, I've just been reading here, and been intrigued by what's been said. I know what I'm hearing, and I am hearing that Kiffin is on the fence. I'm also hearing that Kiffin has his formal offer from Ole Miss on the table and will be presented a formal offer from Auburn. I'm also hearing he's Auburn's first choice. I just normally am here observing, and sometimes I tire of observing. That's all. I'm simply saying Auburn has a good chance to land Kiffin, from what I'm hearing, but you -- as longtime Auburn fans -- should know above all else the dangers of getting your hopes up.

That might be correct, but I have a connection at ESPN (not Chris Low), one of their college writers, who believes Freeze IS a candidate at Auburn. You may be more in-the-know than my ESPN connection. I don't mind name-dropping; it's Dave Wilson. I don't think he would mind me telling that here. They do believe it's Kiffin and Freeze and pretty much a big chasm after that.

No offense, but from someone who is an innocent bystander -- I'm a sports reporter who lives in Texas, have been reading your board forever, just hardly ever post -- it really seems like some of you have your heart set on Kiffin and are unwilling to accept the possibility that he isn't coming. And when someone (in this case, Low) reports something you don't like, you're shooting the messenger. In this case, it's kind of with soft arrows (can't this just go in one of the other threads, etc), but it's shooting the messenger, nonetheless. I think you should come to terms with the possibility that it's barely possible that Kiffin isn't coming. It's a strong possibility that he IS in fact going to accept the job. But you should be prepared for the outside chance that he's not, and that your coach could be Freeze, which is what my sources are saying, or maybe even another candidate that hasn't really been talked that much about. It is, after all, possible that Kiffin accepts the deal from the Rebels that is already on the table.

Great to pile on someone who was trying to have a good take on an awful situation.

This whole thing is turning Harsin into George Costanza, and Auburn into Play Now.

I don't think they're saying Harsin entering the side door is the news; it's that he's there at all. If the PTB at Auburn were going to get rid of him, or if they had a "smoking gun," then he would've already been gone and wouldn't be there. It looks like -- and I know 80 percent won't want to hear this -- that Harsin will be back or has won the inner power struggle. Starting to look more and more like it. Unless they can get him to just go away. To do that, if they want to bad enough, they may have to pony up the entire $18 million. Question is, if Hugh Freeze is the pick and for WHATEVER reason says no, who in the world would want to walk into this mess without guarantees that something similar won't happen to them in two years?

And many of them think they're firing Harsin today, and hiring Sean Freaking Payton tomorrow, and if not Payton, surely Urban Meyer.

Wasn't trying to be harsh with my last post; I just re-read it. This is simply what I'm saying. Auburn has great tradition and is a good job, one of the best in college football. But you've got things working against you here, IF they fire Harsin or both parties pull the "mutual parting of the ways" thing that's so common now, and that's what I'm thinking will happen. They'll settle and Auburn will look a little better for it not "technically" being a firing. Freeze and some of the people that have been mentioned, that second tier after the dream candidates, aren't bad at all and Freeze will be great if given another chance. But why expect a pie-in-the-sky candidate like Aranda? That isn't happening for a number of reasons. Remember what Bill Parcells said: "Perception is reality."

This. I am an outsider and have gotten some heat, but here is one of your own guys/ ladies telling you the truth. There is literally no way Urban Meyer, either one of the Stoops, and especially Lane Kiffin are going to Auburn. You are radioactive right now. I think if you can secure Kevin Sumlin (a great recruiter, but may not be interested in the SEC again), Clay Helton, or Freeze, consider yourselves fortunate and blessed. You're already paying Malzahn. You're soon to be paying Harsin and his staff. Money might, might be an issue. Do you REALLY want Urban Meyer after all his baggage? You guys have got to be realistic.