Remember when...

[DivisionN 102]

The Alabama game was looming. Both of Auburn's star running backs were injured and unable to play. Same with the fullback. All we had left was a small, unproven freshman runner. But the OC moved a tight end to fullback, and, to shock the tide. Auburn throws the bomb on first play for a completion. From that moment on Auburn had the momentum and the win. Tre Smith rushes for over a hundred yards. That OC was Bobby Petrino. That game was a masterpiece of offensive football. People want to remember what Bobby did wrong, but he did some things extremely right!

[Strychnine 1,799]

I remember the masterful plan he had for the UGA game that year too, although it ended in a loss. We dominated that game until Ronnie Brown went down. Then there was the second half without a first down.

[selias 2,398]

I have no doubt about Bobby P's offensive ability. I do question his recruiting and defensive abilities. If (and that's a big if) we bring in Petrino after this season, he should leave BVG in place and let him do his thing.

[Strychnine 1,799]

I have no doubt about Bobby P's offensive ability. I do question his recruiting and defensive abilities. If (and that's a big if) we bring in Petrino after this season, he should leave BVG in place and let him do his thing.

I suspect Petrino is smart enough to know his strengths and weaknesses (with regard to football at least). Louisville isn't exactly a powerhouse when it comes to recruiting. It's always going to lose recruiting battles against bigger schools, and basically anyone in the SEC. Same can be said for Arkansas. Arkansas has LSU right next door (and then the other top tier SEC teams), not to mention Oklahoma and the entire state of Texas. I think anyone would have an uphill battle to build a recruiting juggernaut at either place. As for defense, I have my theory as to why any offensive-minded head coach would want a dominating defense if he can have one. I suspect Petrino is no different. Look at who he lost to in his last two seasons, at Arkansas. Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State in 2010. Alabama and LSU in 2011. Defending NC and eventual NC in 2010, and the two teams that squared off for it in 2011. They beat everyone else. That's impressive.

Unless he has some reason to not keep VanGorder, I imagine he would. I don't envision any offensive-minded head coach meddling in the defense. It's not their forte, and all defensive coordinator's have the same goal: stop the other guys and get off the field. Aligns perfectly with an offensive head coach wanting the ball back in the offense's hands.

[selias 2,398]

I don't envision any offensive-minded head coach meddling in the defense. It's not their forte, and all defensive coordinator's have the same goal: stop the other guys and get off the field. Aligns perfectly with an offensive head coach wanting the ball back in the offense's hands.

That's a nice theory but head coaches meddle. It's what they do. Chizik meddled in Malzahn's offense before he left and I suspect he's meddling in Loeffler's offense now. Tuberville was notorious for meddling.

[Austintxtiger 0]

I think the question is, how much does the Auburn athletic department want to win? what are they willing to sacrifice to do it?

Petrino might not be the best "person". Do we want a good person or do we want to win football games? Do we sacrifice to have a less moral guy come in with a better proven track record?

Do we want to be moral and middle of the pack? or dirty and dominant?

I think Auburn has been the nice school for ages. The media certainly doesn't give us credit for it though. We are constantly refered to as cheaters.

I think Auburn needs to take some advice from the Spurs coach, Greg Popovich (he knows a few things about winning championships) "I want some nasty".

If Auburn wants to play bigboy football and compete national....even statewide....we have to do what it takes. I think the current landscape of college football has evolved to the point that you have to make a very clear distinction in your decisions regarding college football. Ths is a multi billion dollar business that provides great entertainment, educational access and opportunity for alot of people.

The fact that so many people have chance at gain, makes everything all that more competitive. Auburn just needs to step up and make the tough, potentialy unpopular decisions inorder to get its share of the pie.

War Eagle.

[autodd03 0]

I don't envision any offensive-minded head coach meddling in the defense. It's not their forte, and all defensive coordinator's have the same goal: stop the other guys and get off the field. Aligns perfectly with an offensive head coach wanting the ball back in the offense's hands.

That's a nice theory but head coaches meddle. It's what they do. Chizik meddled in Malzahn's offense before he left and I suspect he's meddling in Loeffler's offense now. Tuberville was notorious for meddling.

I think defensive coaches are prone to meddle with the offense. I think offensive coaches stick to what they know which is offense and scoring points. All they want to do is out score the opponent and win. They hire a DC and let the DC do what he does best.

[AuburnGrad97 37]

I think the question is, how much does the Auburn athletic department want to win? what are they willing to sacrifice to do it?

Petrino might not be the best "person". Do we want a good person or do we want to win football games? Do we sacrifice to have a less moral guy come in with a better proven track record?

Do we want to be moral and middle of the pack? or dirty and dominant?

I think Auburn has been the nice school for ages. The media certainly doesn't give us credit for it though. We are constantly refered to as cheaters.

I think Auburn needs to take some advice from the Spurs coach, Greg Popovich (he knows a few things about winning championships) "I want some nasty".

If Auburn wants to play bigboy football and compete national....even statewide....we have to do what it takes. I think the current landscape of college football has evolved to the point that you have to make a very clear distinction in your decisions regarding college football. Ths is a multi billion dollar business that provides great entertainment, educational access and opportunity for alot of people.

The fact that so many people have chance at gain, makes everything all that more competitive. Auburn just needs to step up and make the tough, potentialy unpopular decisions inorder to get its share of the pie.

War Eagle.

^^^^^^^This person gets it^^^^^^^^

[Plaric 4]

I don't envision any offensive-minded head coach meddling in the defense. It's not their forte, and all defensive coordinator's have the same goal: stop the other guys and get off the field. Aligns perfectly with an offensive head coach wanting the ball back in the offense's hands.

That's a nice theory but head coaches meddle. It's what they do. Chizik meddled in Malzahn's offense before he left and I suspect he's meddling in Loeffler's offense now. Tuberville was notorious for meddling.

I think defensive coaches are prone to meddle with the offense. I think offensive coaches stick to what they know which is offense and scoring points. All they want to do is out score the opponent and win. They hire a DC and let the DC do what he does best.

I agree with this. DC head coaches meddle with the offense because the speed of the offense directly affects the defense....if the offense is quick scoring...the defense will have worse stats. For a person that is considered a defensive guru that obviously hurts on some level.

So they slow it down.

The offensive mind doesn't care either way. He is ok with getting the ball back immediately and hauling ass to the end zone again.

[Raven_tiger 5]

The Alabama game was looming. Both of Auburn's star running backs were injured and unable to play. Same with the fullback. All we had left was a small, unproven freshman runner. But the OC moved a tight end to fullback, and, to shock the tide. Auburn throws the bomb on first play for a completion. From that moment on Auburn had the momentum and the win. Tre Smith rushes for over a hundred yards. That OC was Bobby Petrino. That game was a masterpiece of offensive football. People want to remember what Bobby did wrong, but he did some things extremely right!

nobody, except one of our mods, questions whether Petrino is a very good offensive mind. The fact is the guy is ethically and morally challenged, so now we accept that to win at any cost? No thanks.

[Raven_tiger 5]

I think the question is, how much does the Auburn athletic department want to win? what are they willing to sacrifice to do it?

Petrino might not be the best "person". Do we want a good person or do we want to win football games? Do we sacrifice to have a less moral guy come in with a better proven track record?

Do we want to be moral and middle of the pack? or dirty and dominant?

I think Auburn has been the nice school for ages. The media certainly doesn't give us credit for it though. We are constantly refered to as cheaters.

I think Auburn needs to take some advice from the Spurs coach, Greg Popovich (he knows a few things about winning championships) "I want some nasty".

If Auburn wants to play bigboy football and compete national....even statewide....we have to do what it takes. I think the current landscape of college football has evolved to the point that you have to make a very clear distinction in your decisions regarding college football. Ths is a multi billion dollar business that provides great entertainment, educational access and opportunity for alot of people.

The fact that so many people have chance at gain, makes everything all that more competitive. Auburn just needs to step up and make the tough, potentialy unpopular decisions inorder to get its share of the pie.

War Eagle.

so since uninformed people make baseless accusations against our program we should shelve our integrity and accepted standards of behavior to win some football games???

[selias 2,398]

The Alabama game was looming. Both of Auburn's star running backs were injured and unable to play. Same with the fullback. All we had left was a small, unproven freshman runner. But the OC moved a tight end to fullback, and, to shock the tide. Auburn throws the bomb on first play for a completion. From that moment on Auburn had the momentum and the win. Tre Smith rushes for over a hundred yards. That OC was Bobby Petrino. That game was a masterpiece of offensive football. People want to remember what Bobby did wrong, but he did some things extremely right!

nobody, except one of our mods, questions whether Petrino is a very good offensive mind. The fact is the guy is ethically and morally challenged, so now we accept that to win at any cost? No thanks.

I don't want a priest for a head coach, I want someone who wins and graduates players. I wouldn't care if Chizik was having all night orgies at shack in Notasulga as long as he was winning and graduating players.

[keesler 5,814]

I don't think Bobby Petrino will ever be hired for any position at AU. But, I do know that there are a TON of our SEC bretheren that are literally shaking in their boots at the thought of BP on the Plains. With the loads of talent we have, the facilities and money at his disposal, along with fertile recruiting grounds, that man would be a force. He flat out knows how to score, and I don't mean with the blonde bombshells.;-)

[Strychnine 1,799]

I don't envision any offensive-minded head coach meddling in the defense. It's not their forte, and all defensive coordinator's have the same goal: stop the other guys and get off the field. Aligns perfectly with an offensive head coach wanting the ball back in the offense's hands.

That's a nice theory but head coaches meddle. It's what they do. Chizik meddled in Malzahn's offense before he left and I suspect he's meddling in Loeffler's offense now. Tuberville was notorious for meddling.

Others echoed what I meant with that point. I've said it several times in other threads, so I simply overlooked it this time. Sorry about that.

A defensive-minded coach will obviously meddle in the offense. It seems like many of them prefer the tone of the game be set by defense, with an offense that has goals other than scoring as many points as possible. A game of punter duels, slow drives, and defensive pounding. In those games, the offense just pounds down the field, slow and methodical.The strategy is predicated upon keeping the other guys from scoring, and scoring just enough to win. While many still love this style of football, I don't consider it playing offense to win, just playing not to lose. I consider that offense a liability when you're forced to play from behind. Even more so if you're 21+ behind. I don't think any offensive gurus want to work in that kind of system for long.

Malzahn showed us that Auburn can have success even with a bad defense. Our ability to strike quickly, and a defense that was at least timely in some of its great efforts, is why we made it through 2010 undefeated. Obviously, we don't make it through that season without Cam and Malzahn, but Malzahn conditioning that offense to run HUNH had to be a major factor. Malzahn would rather run HUNH the entire game, he states this in his book. If left alone, I suspect we would have seen precisely that while he was here. When we did use it, it was generally quite effective.

I don't envision offensive-minded coaches meddling with the defense very much. As mikepruett said, he doesn't consider the game lost either way. If the defense can stop the other guys, great. They take the ball back down for another score. If not, they still take the ball back down for another score. I would prefer every game not be a shootout, and I suspect an offensive coach would too. 70-63 is no better on the nerves than 14-7. They would prefer every game be 49-0.

Personally, I want an aggressive defense AND offense. A defense that can be relied upon to make stops, and an offense that can be relied upon to win a game if the defense mostly fails. Spurrier and Meyer usually had a good defense. I think an offensive-minded coach could walk in here, leave VanGorder to do his thing, and we would end up with both.

[AUIH1 1,515]

The Alabama game was looming. Both of Auburn's star running backs were injured and unable to play. Same with the fullback. All we had left was a small, unproven freshman runner. But the OC moved a tight end to fullback, and, to shock the tide. Auburn throws the bomb on first play for a completion. From that moment on Auburn had the momentum and the win. Tre Smith rushes for over a hundred yards. That OC was Bobby Petrino. That game was a masterpiece of offensive football. People want to remember what Bobby did wrong, but he did some things extremely right!

nobody, except one of our mods, questions whether Petrino is a very good offensive mind. The fact is the guy is ethically and morally challenged, so now we accept that to win at any cost? No thanks.

I don't want a priest for a head coach, I want someone who wins and graduates players. I wouldn't care if Chizik was having all night orgies at shack in Notasulga as long as he was winning and graduating players.

I grew up in Notasulga and still have relatives there. I can assure you there is no such shack in Notasulga unless it is on Pat Dye's farm. I will have to check-in with the folks from that thriving metropolis to see if Dye has been holding forth at the PumpHouse diner. I have received some interesting info from Dye's musings at the PumpHouse over the years.

wde

[augrad68 164]

Petrino or no Petrino.... It doesn't matter. All Christians are taught to forgive. I am just glad that people have forgiven me in the past. How many of us are sinners? 100% !!! If anyone turns their life around and learns from their mistakes, then they deserve to be forgiven. Judging that person is not up to me. You know who will do that.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[mcgufcm 3,984]

For all the brilliance of the 2002 Alabama game, the defense won that game. Not Petrino's offense. We had a few drives in the first half and finished with 17 first half points. During that run and after that run, the defense dominated that game.

Petrino is a great gameplanner. He's a great play caller. He's not a great recruiter. Historically, he has not done a good job of fielding a complete football team (read: he's never had a great defense by any definition of the word). He's also not a good person, and the Auburn players I knew that played for him didn't like him.

Being a football coach has many aspects to it. There's no question that Petrino has a better football mind that Les Miles (for example), but there's also no question in my mind that Miles is the better head coach. His team dealt with injury, inconsistency, and inferior talent (at least experienced talent) last weekend. They also (typically) won the game by being tough as nails. I can do without a one-trick pony like Bobby Petrino.

[autodd03 0]

For all the brilliance of the 2002 Alabama game, the defense won that game. Not Petrino's offense. We had a few drives in the first half and finished with 17 first half points. During that run and after that run, the defense dominated that game.

Petrino is a great gameplanner. He's a great play caller. He's not a great recruiter. Historically, he has not done a good job of fielding a complete football team (read: he's never had a great defense by any definition of the word). He's also not a good person, and the Auburn players I knew that played for him didn't like him.

Being a football coach has many aspects to it. There's no question that Petrino has a better football mind that Les Miles (for example), but there's also no question in my mind that Miles is the better head coach. His team dealt with injury, inconsistency, and inferior talent (at least experienced talent) last weekend. They also (typically) won the game by being tough as nails. I can do without a one-trick pony like Bobby Petrino.

Petrino isn't a great recruiter? Who has recruited consistent top ten classes to Louisville or Arkansas? The guy had both ranked in the top 5. On the field results are the true measurements of recruiting. How can that not be obvious in 2012?

You can say Miles is a better coach than Petrino, but he is playing with a stacked deck at LSU. Also, Petrino's teams overcame player injury (Knile Davis last year) and player death (the young TE backup) and still managed a top 5 finish.

[auburnrulezall 0]

For all the brilliance of the 2002 Alabama game, the defense won that game. Not Petrino's offense. We had a few drives in the first half and finished with 17 first half points. During that run and after that run, the defense dominated that game.

Petrino is a great gameplanner. He's a great play caller. He's not a great recruiter. Historically, he has not done a good job of fielding a complete football team (read: he's never had a great defense by any definition of the word). He's also not a good person, and the Auburn players I knew that played for him didn't like him.

Being a football coach has many aspects to it. There's no question that Petrino has a better football mind that Les Miles (for example), but there's also no question in my mind that Miles is the better head coach. His team dealt with injury, inconsistency, and inferior talent (at least experienced talent) last weekend. They also (typically) won the game by being tough as nails. I can do without a one-trick pony like Bobby Petrino.

Petrino isn't a great recruiter? Who has recruited consistent top ten classes to Louisville or Arkansas? The guy had both ranked in the top 5. On the field results are the true measurements of recruiting. How can that not be obvious in 2012?

You can say Miles is a better coach than Petrino, but he is playing with a stacked deck at LSU. Also, Petrino's teams overcame player injury (Knile Davis last year) and player death (the young TE backup) and still managed a top 5 finish.

Do you have a link to said top 10 recruiting classes?

[autodd03 0]

For all the brilliance of the 2002 Alabama game, the defense won that game. Not Petrino's offense. We had a few drives in the first half and finished with 17 first half points. During that run and after that run, the defense dominated that game.

Petrino is a great gameplanner. He's a great play caller. He's not a great recruiter. Historically, he has not done a good job of fielding a complete football team (read: he's never had a great defense by any definition of the word). He's also not a good person, and the Auburn players I knew that played for him didn't like him.

Being a football coach has many aspects to it. There's no question that Petrino has a better football mind that Les Miles (for example), but there's also no question in my mind that Miles is the better head coach. His team dealt with injury, inconsistency, and inferior talent (at least experienced talent) last weekend. They also (typically) won the game by being tough as nails. I can do without a one-trick pony like Bobby Petrino.

Petrino isn't a great recruiter? Who has recruited consistent top ten classes to Louisville or Arkansas? The guy had both ranked in the top 5. On the field results are the true measurements of recruiting. How can that not be obvious in 2012?

You can say Miles is a better coach than Petrino, but he is playing with a stacked deck at LSU. Also, Petrino's teams overcame player injury (Knile Davis last year) and player death (the young TE backup) and still managed a top 5 finish.

Do you have a link to said top 10 recruiting classes?

I never said that he was or was not a great recruiter. I am asking who has recruited top 10 level classes to either Arkansas or Louisville?

I know that he produced top 5 ranked teams at both Louisville and Arkansas so he must have done something right.

[Strychnine 1,799]

I never said that he was or was not a great recruiter. I am asking who has recruited top 10 level classes to either Arkansas or Louisville?

I know that he produced top 5 ranked teams at both Louisville and Arkansas so he must have done something right.

I know plenty of folks love to follow recruiting, and I must admit that it is certainly important. However, what I personally feel carries more importance is what happens with players once on campus, whether highly recruited or not. By all accounts, we appear to have great recruiting, but there are no championships for that. Then there are the results, the 1-5 staring us right in the face. Petrino may or may not be a ferocious recruiting beast, but he was apparently getting results with what he had, at places not known for fielding top 5 teams. They were also not known for being places overflowing with talent waiting to sign.

That said, I would prefer to have both great recruiting AND results. If I have to choose one, I'd take results. None of this means Petrino is particularly the guy I want leading Auburn, but we have at least seen hard evidence that he produces results.

[auburnrulezall 0]

For all the brilliance of the 2002 Alabama game, the defense won that game. Not Petrino's offense. We had a few drives in the first half and finished with 17 first half points. During that run and after that run, the defense dominated that game.

Petrino is a great gameplanner. He's a great play caller. He's not a great recruiter. Historically, he has not done a good job of fielding a complete football team (read: he's never had a great defense by any definition of the word). He's also not a good person, and the Auburn players I knew that played for him didn't like him.

Being a football coach has many aspects to it. There's no question that Petrino has a better football mind that Les Miles (for example), but there's also no question in my mind that Miles is the better head coach. His team dealt with injury, inconsistency, and inferior talent (at least experienced talent) last weekend. They also (typically) won the game by being tough as nails. I can do without a one-trick pony like Bobby Petrino.

Petrino isn't a great recruiter? Who has recruited consistent top ten classes to Louisville or Arkansas? The guy had both ranked in the top 5. On the field results are the true measurements of recruiting. How can that not be obvious in 2012?

You can say Miles is a better coach than Petrino, but he is playing with a stacked deck at LSU. Also, Petrino's teams overcame player injury (Knile Davis last year) and player death (the young TE backup) and still managed a top 5 finish.

Do you have a link to said top 10 recruiting classes?

I never said that he was or was not a great recruiter. I am asking who has recruited top 10 level classes to either Arkansas or Louisville?

I know that he produced top 5 ranked teams at both Louisville and Arkansas so he must have done something right.

Ah my bad I read it wrong, but hiring Petrino would be hypocritical based on what we, as fans, were saying 4 years ago when we were looking for a new coach...

[Strychnine 1,799]

Ah my bad I read it wrong, but hiring Petrino would be hypocritical based on what we, as fans, were saying 4 years ago when we were looking for a new coach...

Perhaps you would be so kind as to refresh my memory. All I recall was the debates about Tuberville being pushed out, and the subsequent confusion over how Chizik became the right man for the job.

[DANSBY 0]

That girl was pretty hot though...(and that's coming from me in my early 30's, can't imagine what I'll think is hot in my Fitties)

[DyeCampAlum 335]

I'm near fifty and that girl was not particularly hot.

If it makes you feel better, what'll probably happen is your tastes will change. You'll like women your own age, but you'll still appreciate pretty young women. And maybe more of them would appeal to you than in the past. But just because a girl is blonde, tan, and skinny doesn't make her hot. No matter how old you get.