UT-Auburn on different levels for-now

[Jumbo]

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/jun/05/adams-ut-auburn-on-different-levels---for-now/?partner=RSS

John Adams: UT, Auburn on different levels - for now
Posted June 5, 2011 at 10:36 p.m.

DESTIN, Fla. - The way coach Gene Chizik talks about his next Auburn team, you could assume his program isn't much different from Tennessee's. It's in a rebuilding mode.

But you know better after a quick review. Based on what happened last season, the programs are in the same conference and different worlds.

A couple of UT fans and I discussed that on the beach a few days ago.

One remembered watching Auburn and Tennessee tripping over each other at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2008. Finally, their shared ineptitude became too painful to bear and he left without seeing the final play of Auburn's clumsy 14-12 victory.

The difference in UT and Auburn that afternoon was hardly discernible. It wasn't any more perceptible at the end of 5-7 seasons, which cost both coaches their jobs.

Then, Auburn hired Chizik, UT hired Lane Kiffin and the programs went their separate ways.

Auburn has since gone 14-0, won a national championship and begun another rebuilding job after losing so many of its best players from a glorious 2010 season.

As for UT: not so glorious. The Vols have changed coaches again (from Kiffin to Derek Dooley) and still are rebuilding with nothing close to a championship in between.

I now pause for a family interruption.

Wife: What are you writing about?

Me: I'm comparing Auburn and Tennessee football.

Wife: Auburn and Tennessee? (Laughs and walks out of room).

So maybe a comparison was laughable last season when Auburn had Cam Newton and Nick Fairley. But now that they have moved on to the NFL, the programs are best distinguished by the continuity Chizik cherishes.

"We don't want our players to walk into a meeting room every two years and have to figure out who the coach is," Chizik said at the SEC spring meetings last week. "It doesn't mean it won't happen, but it hasn't happened yet.

"I get great support from the administration on the idea of having stability and continuity in my staff."

Auburn didn't lose any offensive coaches following last year's national championship season, mainly because the administration was willing to pay offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn more than some head coaches make. So while different players will have to assume more prominent roles in 2011, they won't have to learn a new offense.

"That's invaluable in trying to build a foundation," Chizik said.

And that makes me wonder how much further along the Vols would be if they had hired Dooley a year earlier.

Dooley seemingly has a well-thought-out plan for building a stable football program. He presents his plan with such conviction that most fans come away reassured. They listen to Dooley and believe things will get better. You don't even have to listen to Chizik. He just has a look about him that says, "Everything is under control."

Never mind if he didn't win at Iowa State or that he hadn't been a head coach before that. His demeanor suggests he has been running a championship program for a decade, rather than a season.

Dooley's plan has at least fostered improvement, as well as optimism at what his program might look like after two more recruiting classes bolster a depth chart that includes 13 sophomore starters.

After all its losses from a championship season, Auburn also will have a strong sophomore presence. Ten are listed as starters on its preseason depth chart.

When the UT-Auburn rivalry resumes in a couple of years, many of those starters will be seniors. And the two teams should be capable of producing a game you won't leave early.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/johnadamskns.

[The Prowler]

I remember it like it was yesterday.

UT announces Lane Kiffin as their new HC and he's bringing Monte with him...finebaum: "That could be the best hire in the history of the SEC, blah, blah, blah."

Auburn announces Gene Chizik as their new HC.  BOOOOOO!!! WE WANT A WINNER NOT A LOSER!!! BOOOOOOOOOO!!! WE WANT TURNER GILL NOT THIS GUY!!! 5 AND 19!!! BOOOOOOOO!!! finebaum: "This is, possibly, the worst hire in the history of College Football. He's a proven loser."

[RWS]

Auburn announces Gene Chizik as their new HC.  BOOOOOO!!! WE WANT A WINNER NOT A LOSER!!! BOOOOOOOOOO!!! WE WANT TURNER GILL NOT THIS GUY!!! 5 AND 19!!! BOOOOOOOO!!! finebaum: "This is, possibly, the worst hire in the history of College Football. He's a proven loser."

What's funny is you were right there on the front lines with torch and pitchfork in hand as well when Chizik was hired. You even classified it as a Hindenburg-esqe disaster in hiring.

[Saniflush]

What's funny is you were right there on the front lines with torch and pitchfork in hand as well when Chizik was hired. You even classified it as a Hindenburg-esqe disaster in hiring.

BOOM goes the dynamite.

[djsimp]

BOOM goes the dynamite.

 

This has potential.

[Jumbo]

What's funny is you were right there on the front lines with torch and pitchfork in hand as well when Chizik was hired. You even classified it as a Hindenburg-esqe disaster in hiring.

Oh snap.

[RWS]

BOOM goes the dynamite.

Funny how selective memory works, isn't it?

[Townhallsavoy]

That's funny.  Mr. President didn't seem to mention the fact that the NCAA is about to pillage and plunder the Tennessee athletic department.

[JR4AU]

Funny how selective memory works, isn't it?

I admit I wasn't thrilled with the hire either.  However, some here who were also on AUC know that I was clear that I didn't believe that 2 seasons at ISU came close to defining him as a head coach. 

[RWS]

I admit I wasn't thrilled with the hire either.  However, some here who were also on AUC know that I was clear that I didn't believe that 2 seasons at ISU came close to defining him as a head coach.

And that's prefectly fine as well. Some people make shortsighted decisions based on what they have right then and there to go on. I laughed my ass off when you guys hired Chizik. That's one thing to be pissed, then as things change, warm up to it. But you're not going around implying somebody was an idiot for speaking negatively about the hire.

[djsimp]

I admit I wasn't thrilled with the hire either.  However, some here who were also on AUC know that I was clear that I didn't believe that 2 seasons at ISU came close to defining him as a head coach.

I remember this.

[GH2001]

I admit I wasn't thrilled with the hire either.  However, some here who were also on AUC know that I was clear that I didn't believe that 2 seasons at ISU came close to defining him as a head coach.

Yep. I remember.

I was also not thrilled about it. Got sick to my stomach in fact. But you have to remember the context of the hire. We were coming off 5-7, and an Iron Bowl ass kicking. Of all the coaches out there on paper, we hired Chizik???? Fuck that. But then the guy proved himself. Maybe ISU was a fluke. He hired all the right people. Recruited like a MF'er. Said all the right things. Ran a tight ship. The players bought in.

I'm not afraid to admit I had the man pegged wrong at the outset. But most people would have thought those things before he did what he did. Gene is the exception not rule. No one could have imagined that he would do what he did. NO ONE.

[JR4AU]

Yep. I remember.

I was also not thrilled about it. Got sick to my stomach in fact. But you have to remember the context of the hire. We were coming off 5-7, and an Iron Bowl ass kicking. Of all the coaches out there on paper, we hired Chizik???? Fuck that. But then the guy proved himself. Maybe ISU was a fluke. He hired all the right people. Recruited like a MF'er. Said all the right things. Ran a tight ship. The players bought in.

I'm not afraid to admit I had the man pegged wrong at the outset. But most people would have thought those things before he did what he did. Gene is the exception not rule. No one could have imagined that he would do what he did. NO ONE.

ISU was no fluke.  Only 3 coaches since WWII have had a winning record in either of their first two seasons.  None had 2 winning seasons in their first 2.  One is Paul Rhoades, who reverted back to 5-7 in his second season.  Neither Earl Bruce who later won several Big 10 titles at OSU, nor Johnny Majors who later won an NC at Pitt, and several SEC titles at UT, had a winning record in their first two seasons at ISU.   A losing record at ISU is meaningless in defining any coach.  Nobody wins there, especially early.  I regarded him as being hired in as if he was an AC with no HC record.

That said, since most people only focus on the W/L record, and don't account for the type of program, or situation, it was a horrible PR move at the time, that has worked out rather nicely. 

And yet, some still refuse to give Chizik the credit, and claim it's all Malzahn.  Again, idiots who don't know what a HC is or does. 

[GH2001]

And yet, some still refuse to give Chizik the credit, and claim it's all Malzahn.  Again, idiots who don't know what a HC is or does.

Then I guess Dye's success was really all just Wanye Hall's doings.

And Bowden? Chump. It was all Micky Andrews, Chuck Amato and Marky Mark Richt I am sure.

Part of being a good HC is knowing who to surround yourself with. Just like POTUS.

[JR4AU]

Then I guess Dye's success was really all just Wanye Hall's doings.

And Bowden? Chump. It was all Micky Andrews, Chuck Amato and Marky Mark Richt I am sure.

Part of being a good HC is knowing who to surround yourself with. Just like POTUS.

Only if you're da Bahr at bammer.  When you're Auburn's HC, it means the guy running the prolific offense is the de facto HC.