APThere are low points in a season… and there’s the current state of the Auburn football program.
Already 1-3 heading into Saturday’s game with Arkansas — with the lone win coming in overtime against Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana-Monroe — Gene Chizik‘s Tigers did the unthinkable: they lost. At home. To one of the worst FBS through the first five weeks of the 2012 season.
And, just like that, AU tumbles to 1-4 on the year. And the temperature on the head coach’s seat, already warm entering 2012, will likely rise considerably in the coming days.
The embarrassing 24-7 loss to the Razorbacks was a microcosm of the first five games — really, the past 18 — especially as it pertains to the offense in general. Auburn came into the game as the 118th-ranked team in the country in total offense (297.7 yards per game) and the 116th-ranked scoring offense (17.5 points per game). That trend continued as the Tigers could muster just 306 yards of offense and a meager seven points.
While the defense played, five turnovers on the part of the offense — three picks, two lost fumbles — were too much to overcome.
We’ve pounded home this point time and time again, and will do so now: Chizik has done nothing at the collegiate level without Cam Newton as his quarterback. In 2010, Newton’s lone season at the school, the Heisman winner led AU to a perfect 14-0 season that ended with a BcS title. In three non-Newton seasons at his current school, Chizik’s 17-14, including a lowly 7-12 mark in SEC play. Add in his time at Iowa State, and the AU head coach sports a laughable 22-33 record.
In the hyper-competitive SEC, a sub-.400 conference winning percentage will get you canned at most schools, especially at one like Auburn.
The game was called “A Season on the Brink” heading into this weekend, intimating that change would be in the wind with a loss. Unfortunately for everyone associated with the school — and Chizik’s long-term viability with the Tigers — the program has officially careened out of control and off the cliff, landing in a fiery heap right where they currently reside in the SEC West: at the bottom.
Pitiful. But on the upside, I have it from a super secret source that John L Smith will soon be available for hire. lol
10 million dollar buyout in his contract.
oooouuuuuuuuuuucccccchhhhhhhhhhhhh
auburn is making me bipolar
Those “Hogs” are the same players that were a pre season favorite. Doesn’t surprise me that they are finally coming around.
It’s his new OC. Give him a break. He’s a defensive coach. But, they are really bad this year.
Auburn is TERRIBLE!!! They may be the worse team in the SEC this year!
Chizik is a great man, but that does always make a great coach. In a way he reminds me of Shug, he has that gentleman statesman quality. He always says the right things.
I have talked to two of my AU buddies, and both are livid at the moment. However, both told me they prefer to keep Chizik over hiring Petrino. I for one think a National Title two years ago should buy him one more season.
Fire him. You can only buy so many games and Cam is long gone to help with that.
Chizik should fire the OC tomorrow, after scoring just 7 points against a porous defense. Having just won a national championship 18 months ago, Chizik himself probably deserves another year to right the ship (the 5-19 Iowa State record really shouldn’t count against him), but he needs to act decisively sooner rather than later.
Wow, the horrible coach from Iowa State who may or mat.not have gotten the job over another candidate because he was lighter in skin tone, is sucking ass and might get fired? You’re shittin’ me, right?
Holy crap Batman, can you believe how tough the SEC is? I mean, golly gee!!!
Duffer- play against Bama, LSU, UF, UGA, or USCe before you label the SEC chumps.
Norm,
You are the chump! Where was Arkansas ranked at the beginning of the season. Your bottom feeders in your conference are just as bad any other conference. And as far as Bama, when the hell do stop playing the high school teams?
Yes, ofc, every team we play sucks, every team your guys play are all world. My state had won three straight titles, how many does yours have total? The SEC boils your blood, is so totally in your head. Your league is not even on my radar. In fact, the SEC makes you miserable, that’s clear. So yes, I do believe I am winning vs you.
Norm,
You are a legend in your own mind. That power house team called LSU scored 6 points today. I am impressed.
So you don’t want your teams next ten years to mimic LSU’s last ten? I can’t think of a single team that had a better run over that span. And that’s not easy for a Bama fan to say, just hoping that in 5 years our run will best it.
For the record, who do you root for?
The team Nick doesn’t want to play for the NCG.
Watch out Norm, you better DUCK!!!
We have shut down explosive offenses before, my friend. That said, would love to see the ducks vs the tide. Our defense is a little better than auburn’s was two years ago. As for the PAC, Oregon looks to be the only top tier team, with USC knocking on the door. Besides those two, the middle is what is stacked in the PAC. The top 5 in the SEC are either top tier or just outside of it. Oh, and LSU destroyed one of the PAC’s middle teams, Washington.
Norm,
Have a good evening.
You too buddy, and best of luck tonight.
Congratulations to the Florida Gators, Will Mushchamp and his staff, and most especially all the Florida Gator players. All congrats to the Gator fans here on CFT, especially florida 727.
By way…
The Oregon Ducks did play v. LSU. The Ducks lost. In the 3rd and 4th quarter the Ducks brought it closer because Miles wanted to give his freshmen and rookies (most 3rd string and 4th) a chance to play in this national game, featured on TV, at Cowboy Stadium, etc. So the final score looked better than the offensive and defensive line domination by LSU.
The best thing about the game were the many great Duck fans we met in Arlington and they are some of the best fans in college football. All those Duck fans said LSU dominated the game and all areas of that game.
Whichever team is the SEC champ, will be thrilled to play the PAC12 champ, the Big12 champ or whichever team earns that spot. The results will likely be what it has been for almost a generation now, okay about half of the time the past 20 years and all the past 7 years–an SEC team national champions!
Wanted: Quarterback. Annual salary: $200,000. Coursework negotiable, possibly optional. All inquiries should be directed to awful-barn (university of auburn) athletic department. Include “Attn: Bagman” on all communications….
For the record, how’s Iowa State doing this year?
Chizik will not be fired this year; he has way too large a buyout. Auburn also will not bring in Petrino, since it is unlikely he will kiss Pat Dye’s ass as is required in any long-term coach. (Incidentally, that is the real reason Dye wouldn’t take 10 Nick Sabans for one Gene Chizik; the first thing Saban would do as AU head coach would be to tell Dye where he could go and what he could do to himself once he got there.)
Chizik will get one more season, and if he still does nothing next year–no excuses, considering what few players of the Tuberville era that are left will be gone–then Iowa State fans may see Auburn raid their head coach again and bring in Paul Rhoades. Only difference will be, this time they will actually be sad to see him go.
Where there is no QB Auburn will get beat down this season,seems they would try and recruit better.They are feeling the pain by letting Pike go and that was a stupid move for Chiz.I don`t think hes on the hotseat but a bad season as its going just might land his butt in hot water in 2013.