Problems with the Program

[AubTiger14 0]

Does anyone feel like the program is influenced by "tradionalists" and that are kinda past their time. Look Pat Dye was a great coach, but he was a great coach for the 80s. The modern game is a lot different. And Jay Jacobs seems too caught up in the Auburn Family and tradition. That is great for us fans, but he is getting paid to give us a winning athletic department. He pretty much said he brought in Chizik because he loved Auburn....., but does that make him qualified to be the coach. Oregon was a nobody and they adapted......they turned into a fast paced finese team with flashy uniforms and now they are a powerhouse. Bama brought in a "Bama" man and he turned out to be one of the worst coaches in Bama history. Then they went out and hired a WINNER and they are winning.

It's kinda like the uniform debate.....There are so many tradionalists that are soooo against changing the unifroms even for a few games a year, whereas most of the younger fans and modern generation are all for it. I'm not saying the problem with the program is that we need an alternate uniform. I'm saying I think this ultra-tradionalist, stubborn attitude IMO seems to have a major influence around the program and I think it might be our problem.

If we went our and hired Bill Cowher and he changed the uniforms and said we should wear blue at the games and we stopped saying "All In" all the time and instead of shakers we stared waving towels at the games, but we started winning championships...would anyone really have a problem with it? Like I said I don't necessarilly think our traditions need to change they are great. Im just using them as an anology. I think the leadership needs to change their stubborn, tradionalist attitude or else I don't see us being a top 5 program. Does anyone else feel that way? If you don't just look at how good ULTRA-traditionalist Notre Dame has been in the last decade.

[DivisionN 102]

A head coach that is an innovative offensive mind. That way other teams can quit stealing our OC's. We have had two great OCs and one good one in recent years. (Petrino, Malzahn and Borges) We keep hiring frustrated, paranoid defensive coordinators.

I really believe Malzahn is the man. He is bright, young, innovative, hard working and has the respect of players and coaches. He is focused and knows what he want's to accomplish. Paired with a good DC who knows how to play a lot of players on the defensive rotation, Malzahn would make Auburn a yearly contender for the national crown.

[Rabern57 0]

A Head Coach that isn't soft and doesn't keep telling the players everything will just be alright. One who will hire good coordinators and let them bring in their own assistants and allow them to completely run the show on their side of the ball.

[milehighfan 1,211]

I agree with part of your assessment, 14. The leadership needs to change.

[DyeCampAlum 335]

I'm wondering how exactly traditionalists are ruining football at Alabama, Florida, and LSU. I mean, come on. It's not about style, it's about developing players. Look at those traditionalists at K-State.

Uniforms? We're talking about UNIFORMS? If our uniforms were a problem, somehow we'd struggle in recruiting. But we don't. Nor does Texas, or (again) Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, or Clemson.

Sorry for ranting, but I just don't get the "traditionalist" argument.

[Weegle777 63]

If you guys want to see what we would look like with blue pants, try to watch UT Martin play when they are at home. They have almost identical uniforms as Auburn does along with orange jerseys and blue pants option. Looks decent.

[ellitor 32,152]

I think this is about the 15th thread in the past 2 days with the word problem in the title. lol

[LegalEagle 22]

I think this is about the 15th thread in the past 2 days with the word problem in the title. lol

This would be likely indicative of a "problem."

[AU64 10,122]

The traditionalists are the people on the blogs who first screamed when Franklin tried to run his spread offense and then basically chased Gus away because he did not run the ball straight ahead like the "running back U" offenses.

Auburn's attempt to do what Saban does is proving to be a failure and the idea that some pro coach will solve our problems....??? Charlie Weiss was the top OC in the NFL and has yet to be able to transfer all that expertise to the college game.

I would like to see JJ gone (and his buddy too) but IMO, most of AU's problem can be found right on the sports blogs and talk shows...where the "noise" is providing undue influence on what offense and defense the team runs.

I think Chiz's problem is that he listened to the "noise" and made a very bad OC decision...that he may not be able to correct in time to save his own job.

[taylojo 0]

What do you think pat dye has to do with this program? How much is the university paying him? What are his responsibilities?

[selias 2,398]

We need a coach that isn't concerned with being a player's friend first. It seems that things are to "chummy" within the football program. Players should respect/fear the coaches.

[channonc 466]

What do you think pat dye has to do with this program? How much is the university paying him? What are his responsibilities?

I would also like clarification on these points if anyone knows.

[AUTigerMom62 0]

What do you think pat dye has to do with this program? How much is the university paying him? What are his responsibilities?

I would also like clarification on these points if anyone knows.

I would like to know too. It seems these thread stop cold once it gets to this point. Pat Dye connections are mentioned quite frequently lately. Those of us who are fairly new to the Auburn family have read all about the "problems with the NCAA" during the Dye Era - but we are left to our own imagination as to his continued influence. Some clarity would really help. Thanks

[ellitor 32,152]

What do you think pat dye has to do with this program? How much is the university paying him? What are his responsibilities?

I would also like clarification on these points if anyone knows.

He really doesn't anymore directly other than his opinions carry a lot of weight. He would serve Auburn best now by setting in the sun and not do any more interviews. No pay and no responsibilities.

[aubaseball 2,418]

if we have a Head Coach that is influenced by what people say on message boards and radio talk shows, we are in bigger trouble than I thought. That is worse than him not knowing who to hire.

[jmcrosson 203]

The traditionalists are the people on the blogs who first screamed when Franklin tried to run his spread offense and then basically chased Gus away because he did not run the ball straight ahead like the "running back U" offenses.

Auburn's attempt to do what Saban does is proving to be a failure and the idea that some pro coach will solve our problems....??? Charlie Weiss was the top OC in the NFL and has yet to be able to transfer all that expertise to the college game.

I would like to see JJ gone (and his buddy too) but IMO, most of AU's problem can be found right on the sports blogs and talk shows...where the "noise" is providing undue influence on what offense and defense the team runs.

I think Chiz's problem is that he listened to the "noise" and made a very bad OC decision...that he may not be able to correct in time to save his own job.

Although I don't agree with the idea that Chizik listened to the noise, I agree with almost everything else in your post. In my opinion, Chizik has likely always been of the mind to run a power offense and play strong defense - at least that's how it seems based on recent hiring decisions and especially last year.

I get so frustrated hearing people that were tired of the spread, when Gus Malzahn led the 2 greatest statistical years in AUBURN FOOTBALL HISTORY!! It baffles me how a contingent of fans thought that abandoning this system was a good idea based on the ridiculous idea that the SEC defenses had 'figured Malzahn out' based on last year when coaches, Chizik included, have gone on the record to say that they played in a way to protect the defense. i.e. Chizik handcuffed Malzahn!

The SEC defenses did not stop Malzahn, Auburn did. And if you're in the camp that says that Cam made Malzahn, then look back at the year before when CHRIS TODD led Auburn - to what was at that point - the greatest statistical year of offense in Auburn football history.

Now, as has been exhausted on message boards, we have recruited spread-style players and are switching offensive philosophies to power/pro-set/whatever we are/bad offense/sucky, and you see the results. Welcome to what you wanted. We should have NEVER abandoned the spread. We won a national championship while we were running it!

[LegalEagle 22]

What do you think pat dye has to do with this program? How much is the university paying him? What are his responsibilities?

I would also like clarification on these points if anyone knows.

I would like to know too. It seems these thread stop cold once it gets to this point. Pat Dye connections are mentioned quite frequently lately. Those of us who are fairly new to the Auburn family have read all about the "problems with the NCAA" during the Dye Era - but we are left to our own imagination as to his continued influence. Some clarity would really help. Thanks

He is the Ghost of Coaches Past and serves embarrassingly for AU.

[tigerrules 491]

Blaming a man that retired as Auburn's coach two decades ago; and doesn't go to practice, doesn't recruit, doesn't teach tackling, doesn't mentor QBs, doesn't teach blocking techniques and schemes, doesn't call plays, usually isn't even in the stadium.......is getting old. I recommend that we start blaming Bobby Lowder again, that was a lot more fun, he was a mean rich man. Who again, doesn't coach..........

[Wrights_Mill_Road 2]

Blaming a man that retired as Auburn's coach two decades ago; and doesn't go to practice, doesn't recruit, doesn't teach tackling, doesn't mentor QBs, doesn't teach blocking techniques and schemes, doesn't call plays, usually isn't even in the stadium.......is getting old. I recommend that we start blaming Bobby Lowder again, that was a lot more fun, he was a mean rich man. Who again, doesn't coach..........

this

the only thing dye does these days is drink whiskey and call in finebaum.

[AuburnSpider 2]

Im curious. How much of Chiziks D when he was coordinator was his and how much was Tubby's.

[Charleston Tiger 134]

Blaming a man that retired as Auburn's coach two decades ago; and doesn't go to practice, doesn't recruit, doesn't teach tackling, doesn't mentor QBs, doesn't teach blocking techniques and schemes, doesn't call plays, usually isn't even in the stadium.......is getting old. I recommend that we start blaming Bobby Lowder again, that was a lot more fun, he was a mean rich man. Who again, doesn't coach..........

this

the only thing dye does these days is drink whiskey and call in finebaum.

I can get on the Lowder Blame Train...

[homersapien 10,954]

Well, I certainly liked the part about wearing blue to the games, but then, I am one of those "traditionalists".

[yeaauburn 21]

I think the problem is Gene Chizik. I think Chizik bullies his players. Read Chizik's book and how he treated Cam Newton regarding the incident when Cam forgot his student ID and he left Cam behind to prove a point. Also, when Chizik told Cam he would bench him if the Heisman race went to his head.

Now I read somewhere that CVG can't get his players on the field because they are always in Chizik's "dog house".

I personally don't see things getting better because no one (my option) is focusing in on the real problem. We have as many talented players as the majority of the teams in the SEC. Explain to me my we keep getting worse. The only thing that has been constant is the head coach. No doubt Gene is a "hard ass". But can he motivate players. So far I'm just not seeing it.