Malzahn a good hire

December 28, 2008

By Jon Johnson

It looks like Gene Chizik got a good one in offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Though Chizik has been slow at hiring assistants, give him an A+ on getting Malzahn from Tulsa and taking James Willis back from Tommy Tuberville’s staff.
Malzahn’s offenses at Tulsa, and at Arkansas before that, have been among the best in the country. He seems to do an excellent job mixing the pass and run.
And Willis, in my opinion, was a big hire. It appeared at first as though no current coach on the Tuberville staff would be hired by Chizik. Willis has a great reputation as a recruiter, and as a linebackers coach.
With Willis back on board, it should help Auburn keep some of the commits who were leaning in other directions since the Tuberville departure.

It’s official: Chizik the coach

December 13, 2008

By Jon Johnson

Auburn has released the official word that Gene Chizik is the school’s new head coach. A press conference will be held Monday afternoon to formally introduce Chizik.
There will be many, many Auburn fans upset with the decision to hire someone who has not done well in his two years as a head coach at Iowa State.
There will be many, many former Auburn players who will say Chizik is a good hire.
Only time will tell.
One thing is for certain: He better get a staff in place quickly and hit the recruiting trail.
This is a pivotal time for the Auburn football program.

Chizik a surprise choice

By Jon Johnson

Well, it appears Gene Chizik will be named the new Auburn football coach. Multiple media outlets confirmed the hiring Saturday afternoon, though Auburn hasn’t released an announcement.
On the Iowa State Web site, however, the school’s athletics director confirmed Chizik told him he was taking the Auburn job.
I’m among the many caught off guard at the hiring. Chizik, while a hot commodity when he was a defensive coordinator at Auburn and then Texas, has stumbled in his two years as head coach at Iowa State. He’s 5-19 in that time, which included going 2-10 this past season.
Out of all the candidates interviewed by Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs, this choice will be among the least popular.
Chizik obviously will have a steep mountain to climb to gain the support of the Auburn faithful. Jacobs certainly put his reputation on the line with the hiring.
Only time will tell, but as for now, it looks on the surface like Auburn struck out on this one.

Final thoughts on SEC Game

December 06, 2008

By Jon Johnson

The game has been over with for three hours or so now, and our writing is complete for tomorrow’s newspaper.
Some final thoughts on what was an exciting game.
I really thought Alabama had it after the third quarter. Alabama was pushing the Gators around, but everything changed in the final 15 minutes.
Florida showed why it did deserve to be the favorite in this one, though Alabama certainly had a chance to win it.
The Gators have tons of speed, an obviously special talent in Tim Tebow and are mighty strong in the trenches too.
I hope Florida now wins it all.
For Bama, it’s been a great, great run.
Get ready for New Orleans.

One quarter left

By Jon Johnson

Leigh Tiffin kicks through a 27-yard field goal with eight ticks left in the third quarter.
Bama up 20-17 with one quarter to go.
Alabama dominated the third quarter.
Looks like Florida is wearing down.
I’ll be going down to the field midway through the fourth quarter, so I’ll share a few final thoughts after the game.