We think Coach Chizik has done one hell of a job.
Thinking about Auburn’s situation 3 years ago and our coaching hire, I was not far removed from the fan that booed Jay Jacobs as he emerged with our new Coach Gene Chizik. Now as he begins his 4th year on the Plains I thought it was worth taking a look at his first three years to see where we are as a program.
First, let me say I was wrong. On a lot of accounts. My logic was sound but there were obviously things there I failed to see.
What has Chizik actually accomplished in three years:
1) National Championship. The magnitude of this can’t be denied. Pat Dye tried in vain for 12 years. Tommy Tuberville came close but had no cigar to show. Shug Jordan only managed it once. Some of us honestly thought we’d die without ever getting the chance to witness a national title at Auburn. Now we won’t.
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During signing day ESPN interviewed Coach Saban, to which he responded that "we also tell them (regarding recruits)that when you do commit, that we expect this to be your decision". Perhaps Coach needs to practice what he preaches.
If you watched ESPN’s coverage of National Signing Day on Wednesday, it was hard to miss Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
Saban’s Crimson Tide, after all, racked up what many consider the nation’s number one recruiting class. Featuring the head coach of the reigning national champion and the clubhouse leader for the top-ranked signing class made perfect sense for the World Wide Leader in Sports (nevermind that the network has a lucrative deal in place with the SEC).
During the broadcast Saban offered his opinion on a number of topics among which was the daunting task of roster management.
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In our opinion while certainly not the best recruiting ever, Chizik and Auburn filled some outstanding needs in 2012.
Depending on who you listen to, Auburn either under achieved or failed miserably at recruiting this year. We tend to disagree, on both counts.
Not every kid is looking for “immediate playing time” as the primary reason to commit. If they were, Alabama wouldn’t land any big time recruits.
Did Auburn miss on some big names they were after, without a doubt. However, it can’t be called a complete failure when they did land a 4 star DB, 2 4 Star LBs, and a 4 star DT. Auburn is loaded at DE now as it is, and they satisfied a need filling players at every other spot. Yes, we all wanted Goldman, and yes we wanted Kwon. We missed. It happens.
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War Eagle Big Zeke
The summer recruiting season began with a bang last Wednesday. Not two days after Chizik and company were on the practice field trying to figure out their quarterback situation, the coaching staff landed one for the future in five-star quarterback Zeke Pike. Zeke chose Auburn over finalists Michigan*, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Purdue. Bryan Matthews of AuburnUndercover.com was on the ground in Edgewood, Kentucky and has free video of the announcement, which you can see here.
Meanwhile, a day later and a lot closer to home, Dadeville athlete Darrion Hutcherson made his announcement, choosing Auburn over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Utah, and others. David Morrison has the video and coverage to prove it. Hutcherson’s commitment, after Pike’s, marks the fifth commitment for Auburn early in this 2012 class.
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