I've heard that what you thought you saw was a mirage.
It was the same game as the rest of the year, UVA was just outmanned. No diff.
I'm not sure who you think said that. I know I didn't. Auburn played better in the bowl game. Better defense, inconsistent at times, but overall better. QB play was better. Not stellar, but better. OL play was better. The only glaring weakness I saw in the Chicken Bowl was the DL. If you think we didn't have them outmanned, then go look at their rivals player rankings, and note the 2* players that they recruit. Their Sr. class (2008 class) had but 18 signees, and 10 were 2 star players)
It shows what you can get done when you work on yourself, instead of just game planning. It shows that "player development" and "player tutelage" happens most when you're not game planning, IE the off season, and Spring Training, and in this case bowl practice. They probably spent 10 of 15 Bowl practices simply working on fundamentals.
To answer snaggie...and this is simply IMHO, I think Chiz is an absolute CEO of a coach. He doesn't coach a position, and he let Roof run the Def, and Malzahn run the Off. During the week, he'd set the game plan, then have the OC/DC implement it. On Saturdays, he'll let them call the plays, and his input might be "get more aggressive on D, take some chances" or to Malzahn "Ok, you got 3rd and 8 on their 38, you got 2 plays to get the 1st". He makes decision on the big picture. He's the captain of the ship. He hires people to carry out his overall strategy, but lets them use their tactics, within a framework that he, through the interview process, has vetted to match his own philosophy. IOW, he'll hire an OC that will be a run first, to set up play action type guy. Hopefully, he'll hire a more aggressive DC.
I think they're important hires, they always are.