With the opportunity to be around people from all over the country/world this past week, I had several conversations about Auburn football when people would see my AU cap. K's question does concern how AU fans will remember CGC, but I'd have to say that based on some of those conversations, we're about the only ones that will remember his name. Had more than one person try and recall who the coach was. Believe it or not, one was a huge Georgia fan and like 99% of the public outside the AU family, he thought Cam was the QB, Head Corch, Offensive and Defensive Coordinator, AD and cheerleader captain.
A couple of times, I tried to explain that yes, Cam's impact on that team was off the charts....no possible way they win the MNC without him. But by the same token, no way we win it without Ziemba, Pugh, Isom, Berry, Fairley, Adams, Bynes, Dyer, Lutzenfruchen-inator.....you get the idea. The team was loaded with seniors and supremely talented underclassmen. Which brings me to my feelings on Chizik. Were the 2010 Tigers guided by the cool, steady hand and leadership of Gene Chizik? Or were they the Fab 5 of Meechigan or the old Running Rebels under Tark the Shark (Ignore the cheating references) where you just rolled the ball out there and said go play? I know that's a stretch but after watching the utter deterioration of the program the last 2 years, I have to really wonder what real influence he had other than taking the brunt of the media firestorm and staying out of the way.
It appears to me that when Gene Chizik has had to coach, to oversee every aspect of a program, he really is Mr. 5-19. Looking at it strictly from a fan's perspective, I can't ignore what he did outside of one year 26 seniors, Cam Newton (Whom all reports have been that he didn't want), Nick Fairley and Darvin Adams. Don't hate the man. Don't have any ill will and thanks for your time and the classy way he represented AU. But as a head coach.....a whole lot of Pfffffffft.....