I know...tl;dr. Over the past few weeks, the big topic on talk shows around the State has obviously been the suckage of the overall AU Athletic program. One thing I keep hearing talk show hosts say over and over is "You just don't hear the outrage from Auburn people over the failures of the basketball program that you'd expect." Even heard Max Howell say they'd had more calls from Alabama fans wanting Anthony Grant gone than AU fans being pissed about Barbie. I don't know, one way or another if that's true. However....look at the following:
Sonny Smith SEC Record. 84-114
Tommy Joe Eagles 29-55
Cliff Ellis 73-87
Jeff Lebo 36-61
Tony Barbee 12-32
Sonny Smith had 5 NCAA appearances and made the Elite 8 back in 85' if memory serves. Cliff Ellis had 3 seasons of 20+ wins and set a State record for wins with 29 but that team get raped in the Sweet 16. Otherwise, he was a perrenial NIT participant.
That folks....is the full extent of success for Auburn basketball for roughly the last 30 plus years. Not one coach with even close to a winning record in the SEC. With the exception of a couple of 2-3 year runs where Auburn basketball was competitive, we've pretty much been one of the worst programs in the nation. It is what it is. So, why are Auburn fans not jumping up and down about Tony Barbee? Because we've been there, done that more times than we care to count. They could fire him right now and go hire the next, young hot coach. But is that going to change things or cause any excitement in the fanbase?
I liked Barbee. Thought it was a great hire. Loved everything he was doing, or trying to do. Why it hasn't worked, I have no clue. It just hasn't and it's the same old song and dance there, Aerosmith. I think it's come down to Auburn fans saying show me something to get excited about and we'll back you. Put any kind of product on the floor and we'll come watch. Until that happens...meh.
What I do find ironic is that we've taken some heat for not being up in arms about Barbee, but let us demand excellence from our football staff, and we're called lunatic fringe fans and should know our place. After all, it's just Auburn.