In 2017, our Auburn Tigers had a 3 week stretch during which they beat two #1 teams, which also turned out to be our biggest rivals. You-4-eyah ensued, but apparently caused full on Oh-Face/Retard with our administration.
While I was as giddy about the wins as Jerry Sandusky being hired as a summer youth camp counselor, I was still uneasy about what the powers that be would do concerning Gus.
Gus Malzahn lost me long before that season. The night that 5 different players took snaps against Clemson, 3 of which ran the same twirly-bird, double fakey handoff screens, I threw my hands up and said I'm done. This guy is certifiable.
But Auburn did what Auburn does. They Auburn'd! It dates back to Terry Bowden being gifted an Iron Bowl win on one the most bone-headed calls in history, after which, instead of canning his short ass for a loss, they extended his contract, only to have him walk mid season the following year.
From there, it was about 15 years of TT duck hunting in Arkansas, and agent leaked rumors of Gus to the same State, being all it took for our admins to pony up a bigger, better contract each time. And in 2017, nobody listened to me when I screamed, just give the man a nice bonus for the wins, and if he leaves, let him jet. But, no! No need to go over the eye-popping numbers Auburn painted itself into a corner with.
Then came the Breman Halfpint 1 1/2 year debacle. So, what's the point to all this? Glad you axed.
For 2023, here's what SEC programs paid for coaches not to be employed there anymore:
Auburn: $20 million
Texas: $5.4 million
LSU: $5 million
Bama: $1 million
Florida: $250K
No reason to think it will change. If U Free somehow pulls off a stunning season and beats one, or both of our rivals, they'll find a way to make him the highest paid coach in the game with the biggest buyout in history. Auburn just gonna' Auburn. I like Freeze. Hope he's here until I'm on a walker. (5-6 years) But I have a feeling we'll be revisiting this topic again some time this decade.
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