Gus is as good as we can get

[The Six]

Time to face facts. Unless he gets caught up in the worst losing streak in history or some sort of serious NCAA scandal, chances of Gus being axed are very thin. The PTB seem to like him, the AD loves him, and he doesn't push back, ask for stupid thing, and mostly insulates the program from all sorts of criticism. While that last bit may alienate the fans, the PTB still sees the $$$$ rolling in and therefore, they don't care.

Let's also examine exactly where this program resides. Four (4) times in the last 20 years, Auburn finished the season in the top 10 (2013, 2010, 2004, and either 2005 or 2006). Otherwise, 15-25 is more like it and usually 8 to 9 wins is the cap before bowl games. Gus is good enough to maintain that. Maddening as it is, Auburn has hosses on defense and enough up front with the run game to take care of the teams that are dumpster fires consistently and occasionally reach up and grab higher fruit off the tree. Can Auburn attract another coach to do that? Sure. Can they get one to rise above it? No, not from where I sit.

So maybe this is all about tempering expectations, realizing 2010 and 2013 are the anomalies and shouldn't drive our expectations every year.  Maybe we should be like Iowa and be happy with what we have, happy with our traditions, our internal love for the program, and stop all this nonsense and covetousness of those who cheat better than we do.

8-4 or 9-3 is fine. It's fine. 

[Snaggletiger]

Time to face facts. Unless he gets caught up in the worst losing streak in history or some sort of serious NCAA scandal, chances of Gus being axed are very thin. The PTB seem to like him, the AD loves him, and he doesn't push back, ask for stupid thing, and mostly insulates the program from all sorts of criticism. While that last bit may alienate the fans, the PTB still sees the $$$$ rolling in and therefore, they don't care.

Let's also examine exactly where this program resides. Four (4) times in the last 20 years, Auburn finished the season in the top 10 (2013, 2010, 2004, and either 2005 or 2006). Otherwise, 15-25 is more like it and usually 8 to 9 wins is the cap before bowl games. Gus is good enough to maintain that. Maddening as it is, Auburn has hosses on defense and enough up front with the run game to take care of the teams that are dumpster fires consistently and occasionally reach up and grab higher fruit off the tree. Can Auburn attract another coach to do that? Sure. Can they get one to rise above it? No, not from where I sit.

So maybe this is all about tempering expectations, realizing 2010 and 2013 are the anomalies and shouldn't drive our expectations every year.  Maybe we should be like Iowa and be happy with what we have, happy with our traditions, our internal love for the program, and stop all this nonsense and covetousness of those who cheat better than we do.

8-4 or 9-3 is fine. It's fine. 

Why not?

[WiregrassTiger]

While that last bit may alienate the fans, the PTB still sees the $$$$ rolling in and therefore, they don't care.

This part of your post is accurate. And as long as it is, you're right. We won't get a new coach. And it's the only part of your post that I agree with.

Gus took us there. He very well may again.

Your post has a defeatist attitude. We are one of the few elite programs in the country. We just happen to be in the same small state with the preeminent power right now. But we aren't giving in.

We'll be ok whether we get a new coach or not. I think we could do better but he's still got a puncher's chance. Like you say, the decision makers still love him.

[The Six]

Why not?

Yeah. At this point, I don't want to spend the energy hand-ringing over every move this overpaid, under-qualified goof makes. We win? We win. We lose? Oh, well. Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horse lord. What of it?   

[The Six]

Your post has a defeatist attitude. We are one of the few elite programs in the country. We just happen to be in the same small state with the preeminent power right now. But we aren't giving in.

Wrong. Stop being so sensitive. My post simply states enough with all the consternation over "champeeensheeeps" and just go with it. The ups the downs, War Eagle and the rest can kick rocks. Refusing to let others tell you how to define yourself is not giving up, it's basically telling them all to screw off and being content where you are. That's where I am.

[WiregrassTiger]

Wrong. Stop being so sensitive. My post simply states enough with all the consternation over "champeeensheeeps" and just go with it. The ups the downs, War Eagle and the rest can kick rocks. Refusing to let others tell you how to define yourself is not giving up, it's basically telling them all to screw off and being content where you are. That's where I am.

ok thx

[Kaos]

No. 

[RottenBottom]

No.

I'm with K on this one.  We had a chance to hire a real coach when we were searching for Gus.  But Jay Jacobs fucked that up just like every other situation he has ever been faced with. Is Gus the best we can do with Jacobs? Yes. Absofuckinglutely.

Now on to Gus...  He's not that bad of a coach if he would get rid of his playsheet, like last week, stay out of his coordinators way, and just manage the game. We have a good chance to beat Mississippi State next week. If we pull that off, we're 10-1 headed into Amen Corner and Gus has a chance to write his wrongs. Gus has a knack for his team's getting better each week. Hopefully we have an offense to complement our D when playing UGA and Bama. If he can get us to the Iron Bowl with a shot to Atlanta, I will not be fully back on the Gus Bus, but I will be more willing to give him a chance to learn how to coach because there are going to be tons of coaching searches in the SEC this offseason. I just want to see Gus grow and not do the same stupid shot that loses us big gamesweek in and week out.

[wesfau2]

We're going to have to ride out the perfect storm as if we were a better version of the Andrea Gail.  We've got superstorm Saban and colossal low-pressure front Jacobs squeezing us in.

If we can hover between 8-10 wins a year with the occasional jump into the playoff discussion, then we're doing better than most.

Once the twin terrors are gone, then (pending results) I'm happy to revisit the issue.

[Godfather]

Is Gus as good as we can get?

Currently, I'd agree.  Long-term hell no. 

One game does not make me fall back in love with the guy.  He beat the shit out of a Missouri team that might not be as good as the Mercer team we played last week. 

Look Gus has been with our program going on 8 years.  His offenses have looked the same over those 8 years.  The difference was a superstar at QB and an amazing athlete at QB.

He needs to continually move our program in the right direction, he has yet to show me he can do that.

[Kaos]

Currently, I'd agree.  Long-term hell no. 

He needs to continually move our program in the right direction, he has yet to show me he can do that.

This is where I am. 

We should not be a program where a coach goes to "learn on the job."   We aren't Tennessee. 

But Gus is allegedly learning on the job.  My biggest problem is that I don't see him learning or growing.  He makes the same mistakes over and over.  In my world that's where you reassign somebody to a job they can do. 

[jmar]

8 or 9 wins is fine if you win a few you shouldn't /exceed expectations.
But satisfied doesn't get it.
Competition is not about settling.
Not with our budget.


**
One positive change I think took place v. Missouri was that for the first time this season it seemed that Chip almost had a free hand at calling plays.
The passes to our backs and rythym was unGuslike.
 
It is however unclear who calls the wildcat whenever we sniff the redzone.

[Godfather]

I don't expect us to be bama, I expect to have down years.

but I do expect to beat UGA and bama evenly.  I expect to win those that we should, and I expect to be in every game and not look like a clusterfuck doing it.

I don't expect that by the second quarter of Clemson to give up hope of scoring because our offensive play calling looks like a burnt turd covered in hair.

I don't expect that the same issues keep cropping up game after game with mind-numbing excuses that don't make sense.

[Snaggletiger]

I don't expect us to be bama, I expect to have down years.

but I do expect to beat UGA and bama evenly.  I expect to win those that we should, and I expect to be in every game and not look like a clusterfuck doing it.

I don't expect that by the second quarter of Clemson to give up hope of scoring because our offensive play calling looks like a burnt turd covered in hair.

I don't expect that the same issues keep cropping up game after game with mind-numbing excuses that don't make sense.

He speaks for 96.438% of us.

[Kaos]

He speaks for 96.438% of us.

That’s almost half!

[Snaggletiger]

That’s almost half!

 

[GH2001]

That’s almost half!

Ok. Admit it.

Chad gave you the shortcut to that one didn't he?

[wesfau2]

Whilst pondering the pros/cons of ousting Gus, consider this:

Tenn, Ark and A&M might all be shopping simultaneously.

I think we can make a case for our job being a peach, but with potentially four SEC slots open it'll be a bidding bonanza.

Jimmy Sexton is licking his chops.

[jmar]

Whilst pondering the pros/cons of ousting Gus, consider this:

Tenn, Ark and A&M might all be shopping simultaneously.

I think we can make a case for our job being a peach, but with potentially four SEC slots open it'll be a bidding bonanza.

Jimmy Sexton is licking his chops.

JJ would go back to the bargain bin again. Getting a first rate coach that is his own man is just wishful thinking.

[Snaggletiger]

Whilst pondering the pros/cons of ousting Gus, consider this:

Tenn, Ark and A&M might all be shopping simultaneously.

I think we can make a case for our job being a peach, but with potentially four SEC slots open it'll be a bidding bonanza.

Jimmy Sexton is licking his chops.

Bazinga!