Evan Douchebammer, at it again

[Kaos]

Finally something I can get pissed over.


http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/11/column_auburn_made_splash_with.html

AUBURN, Alabama -- The final chapter on "Tiger Prowl" ended quietly last week, obscured by the far more important and interesting cache of documents released by Auburn about the Cam Newton saga.

The violations from Tiger Prowl were minor and apparently unintentional. The punishments weren't damaging.
But as Auburn has basked in praise for its innovative recruiting practices -- Tiger Prowl and "Big Cat Weekend" the most vivid examples -- it's worth questioning whether the reputation as an envelope-pushing program is worth it, or whether those attention-grabbing strategies from Gene Chizik's first year at Auburn are really needed now.

The Tigers have a stable coaching staff, top-notch facilities, a fertile recruiting base and a 2010 national title. Gimmicks aren't necessary.

First, some background on Tiger Prowl: The event launched in 2009 during the spring evaluation period. Ostensibly, this was a time for college recruiters to visit high schools and meet with coaches, administrators and guidance counselors, but not to visit prospects.

Auburn's "innovation" -- and in the recruiting world, it really counts as such -- was to put the maximum allowable number of assistant coaches on the road, equip them with limousines or stretch Hummers and send to them to the high schools of top prospects.

In 2010, the NCAA had enough, tightening the rules to end Auburn's aggressive interpretation of the evaluation period, which it said had little to do with actually evaluating prospects.

It wasn't the first time the NCAA legislative council had nipped innovation in the bud. Alabama coach Nick Saban is widely credited with getting head coaches barred from spring evaluation trips because of his propensity to "bump" into recruits.
Thus the "Saban rule" was joined by the "Auburn rule."

Big Cat Weekend, a summer recruiting event for elite high school prospects, was another early innovation of the Chizik staff that attracted both praise and scrutiny.

Auburn self-reported several secondary violations from the 2009 event, and SEC commissioner Mike Slive toughened Auburn's self-imposed penalties. Assistant coach Trooper Taylor was barred from off-campus recruiting for several months and six assistants were reprimanded.

Tiger Prowl morphed into a fan event -- which is where some of the recently released secondary violations took place -- then was retired. Big Cat Weekend is still around, but coaches have been more judicious in the hype and careful about limiting public events -- like the rolling of Toomer's Corner -- that resulted in much of the scrutiny.

In 2009, a new coach and a new staff set out to make a splash. In 2011, they've toned it down.

The secondary violations and resulting penalties weren't damaging in any practical sense. And there's a case to be made that in the ultra-competitive world of recruiting, the ingenious exploitation of loopholes is what separates the top recruiters from everyone else.

But Auburn is still signing elite recruiting classes. And if coaches can do that without schemes that invite scrutiny, doesn't that make more sense?

[Townhallsavoy]

Here's what I read:

"OH PLEASE, Auburn!  Please stop trying to be innovative with recruiting!" 

[Buzz Killington]

Auburn self-reported several secondary violations from the 2009 event

You sure about that, douche?

[AUChizad]

You sure about that, douche?

Auburn's Benedict Arnold/Judas beat writer self-reported secondary violations from the 2009 event.

[Townhallsavoy]

Auburn's Benedict Arnold/Judas beat writer self-reported secondary violations from the 2009 event.

And fucking Prowler.

Damnit Prowler. 

[JR4AU]

Isn't it refreshing to have a beat writer that is objective, and tells the whole truth, even when nobody gives a fucking shit?  It's great to have a guy that makes sure the bammers have ammo to call Finebaum with, just in case they missed it themselves, or were too stupid to figure it out? 

[The Prowler]

I'll say this again, we need to remove this bammer piece of trash.