From the AD's Desk

[The Six]

TL;DR version


Gus ain't going anywhere. Shut up and give us your money. War Eagle.

Dear Auburn Family,
Nearly 12 months ago, I was blessed to be named the 15th Director of Athletics at Auburn University. I can tell you that leading an athletic department such as Auburn's is extraordinarily rewarding yet demanding.

I have embraced the privilege of making decisions that will better position our athletic department ranging from facility planning to negotiating football schedules. I've also had opportunities to spend time with members of the Auburn family while traveling from Huntsville to the coast and everywhere in between.

Admittedly, a few freshman mistakes have been made, like getting lost on campus while trying to visit with deans of every college and scheduling lunch downtown on a football Friday without factoring in adequate time to secure a parking space.

Thankfully, I've also experienced Auburn competing at high levels. I was in Waco, Texas, when the equestrian team won its fifth national championship, in Gainesville, Florida, for baseball's Super Regional appearance, and on our home court to celebrate the recent SEC championship in men's basketball.

The duty to lead a large and complex organization with integrity that simultaneously operates as a business and an enterprise is an awesome undertaking. My charge is to enhance the experience of 550 student-athletes, maintain a balanced budget, create a vibrant departmental culture, communicate effectively to all constituents and provide fan experiences of a lifetime.

That said, this overarching responsibility is not without its challenges. To use a baseball analogy, we do not hit a home run every at-bat.

A very real example of this is the most recent football season. Simply put, it did not go as planned. Having attended many practices, team and position meetings, I continue to be amazed at the effort our student-athletes and coaches pour into our storied program. After each win, I stand in the locker room and smile as the young men celebrate victory. Conversely, my heart breaks to see those same young men sit in disbelief after defeat.

Unfortunately, maximum effort does not always equal maximum results. Still, outcomes matter and at Auburn, we expect to deliver.
Since the conclusion of the regular season, there has been speculation about the future of Auburn Football despite my previous public comments as well as statements from President Leath. Unfortunately, those rumors and speculation have not served the Auburn Family well.
Throughout the season, Coach Malzahn and I had discussions focused on placing our student-athletes in the best competitive position for the future. To confirm, Coach Malzahn is dedicated to this program and he has my support as we work together to move forward. Our discussions are ongoing, and we will focus on evolving in all facets of the program to achieve better and more consistent results. Rest assured, my commitment to overseeing and managing the effort to put Auburn football back at the level we expect and you deserve will be unrelenting.

We have the most passionate fan base in the country, who love Auburn and all it represents. You, the fans, are the driving force in our effort to make you proud. Of course, it stings when we fall short of our lofty expectations, but in true Auburn fashion, we will dust ourselves off and recommit to our goals.

To reiterate, my responsibility is to serve Auburn, and more specifically, our coaches, staff and student-athletes. Among other things, successfully navigating this endeavor requires collaboration, trust, passion and resilience – qualities our young men and women learn every day as student-athletes.

As the end of football season draws near, I look forward to the upcoming bowl game and enjoying the winter sports season, which includes men's and women's basketball, gymnastics and swimming & diving.

One of the many reasons I'm happy to call Auburn home is because of your fierce loyalty to the orange and blue. Thank you for your passion, and thank you for welcoming my family with open arms. Continue to believe in Auburn and love it.
War Eagle and Happy Holidays!



Allen Greene

https://auburntigers.com/news/2018/12/9/general-from-the-desk-of-allen-greene-december-2018.aspx

[AUJarhead]

I read that, and all I could think was that he's telling us to shut the fuck up and read the creed.

[GH2001]

I read that, and all I could think was that he's telling us to shut the fuck up and read the creed.

I had hope for him. But that honey moon is over. Dude is a puppet. Period. 

[The Six]

I had hope for him. But that honey moon is over. Dude is a puppet. Period.

King Leath is riding high. 

[Godfather]

I had hope for him. But that honey moon is over. Dude is a puppet. Period.

I'd say give him a bit more leeway. Leath is his boss. Aren't we all puppets to our bosses?  I mean I'm sure you tell your boss to fuck-off all the time that you are going to do things your way. Especially when it comes to company money.  I'm not really sure what y'all expect him to do?

[GH2001]

I'd say give him a bit more leeway. Leath is his boss. Aren't we all puppets to our bosses?  I mean I'm sure you tell your boss to fuck-off all the time that you are going to do things your way. Especially when it comes to company money.  I'm not really sure what y'all expect him to do?

Not being a puppet doesnt mean you have to say fuck off and scorch the earth either. Expect him to do? Be an AD maybe....all anyone has seen him do is trot out twice and say "its great to an an auburn tiger, gus is our coach, war eagle yall". Its possible Jay transformed the AD role into purely a fundraiser job ala TUF. Who knows. Would just like to see him a little more involved. 

[The Six]

Not being a puppet doesnt mean you have to say fudge off and scorch the earth either. Expect him to do? Be an AD maybe....all anyone has seen him do is trot out twice and say "its great to an an auburn tiger, gus is our coach, war eagle yall". Its possible Jay transformed the AD role into purely a fundraiser job ala TUF. Who knows. Would just like to see him a little more involved.

I would like to see him more involved but I wonder if he knows this is radioactive and is trying to plan his next move. 

[The Six]

I read that, and all I could think was that he's telling us to shut the fudge up and read the creed.

Rumors, speculation haven’t 'served the Auburn family well’

Pretty much, yeah. 

[Godfather]

Not being a puppet doesnt mean you have to say fuck off and scorch the earth either. Expect him to do? Be an AD maybe....all anyone has seen him do is trot out twice and say "its great to an an auburn tiger, gus is our coach, war eagle yall". Its possible Jay transformed the AD role into purely a fundraiser job ala TUF. Who knows. Would just like to see him a little more involved.

Yeah but do we really know how involved he is or isn't?  He may be telling Leath, Gus has got to go. Who knows?  I don't.  I'm just saying he wasn't really involved in this mess from the beginning so I am still giving him a pass.  I don't really know what anyone wants him to do, he is in a bad situation, Gus holds all the cards.

I would like to see him more involved but I wonder if he knows this is radioactive and is trying to plan his next move.

and this as well.

[Godfather]

and if you expect him to come out a sway from the company line and tell you explicitly what he has or hasn't been doing to get rid of Gus....yeah that isn't going to happen either.

[Kaos]

[CCTAU]

I'm not sure what we expect Allen to do. This hailstorm started before he got here. Right now, he is just like us, a spectator. he doesn't have the power to override the top. And he doesn't have the backing to step in an take over this situation. And why should he?
And right now, the other sports are balling out. Why would he burn his position to the ground fighting a fight he did not create?

[Buzz Killington]

I'm not sure what we expect Allen to do. This hailstorm started before he got here. Right now, he is just like us, a spectator. he doesn't have the power to override the top. And he doesn't have the backing to step in an take over this situation. And why should he?
And right now, the other sports are balling out. Why would he burn his position to the ground fighting a fight he did not create?

^^^This^^^  All of it

[Kaos]

I'm not sure what we expect Allen to do. This hailstorm started before he got here. Right now, he is just like us, a spectator. he doesn't have the power to override the top. And he doesn't have the backing to step in an take over this situation. And why should he?
And right now, the other sports are balling out. Why would he burn his position to the ground fighting a fight he did not create?

I’d rather he didn’t send out emails full of oatmeal.  Leath’s “everything is fine” tweeter was bad enough. 

[jmar]

It's quite possible both Leath and Greene have it on record and in good faith that they did exactly as told and are doing so even now by the ranking power base. 
It could be that we are cursed by the two regular season wins over Georgia and Alabama and a colossal mistake was made by overextending Malzahn's contract rather than giving him a bonus as most of us would agree was called for. 
I don't think about profit or the bottom line as a fan. Unlike the wealthy, I don't believe I will live forever nor do I conduct my life in the same manner as they do. 

[CCTAU]

I’d rather he didn’t send out emails full of oatmeal.  Leath’s “everything is fine” tweeter was bad enough.

I get that. But it’s also his job to try and solidify the base and keep things as calm as he can. His job sucks right now!