Gene isn't going anywhere...

[Godfather]

Pat Dye says Gene Chizik will return in 2013 even if he doesn't win again this year
 By Kevin Scarbinsky

Chizik will be the football coach at Auburn in 2013.

Chizik will keep his job even if he doesn’t win another game this season, which would include losing to woeful Arkansas this weekend in Auburn and finishing 1-11.

Says who? Pat Dye, that’s who.

The former Auburn coach, the man whose name is on the field in Jordan-Hare Stadium, made those strong and unequivocal statements about Chizik’s future during a Wednesday radio interview on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly in Arkansas.

During that interview, Dye sounded a lot like the shadow general manager of the Auburn program he’s often accused of being.

Mattingly asked if Chizik could survive this season if things don’t improve after the worst September in the program’s history.

“Listen,” Dye said. “He wouldn’t be in trouble if he didn’t win another game.”

So Chizik will return no matter what?

“Absolutely,” Dye said.

So there’s no need to talk about whether Auburn might fire Chizik and hire the currently unemployed Bobby Petrino?

“Bobby Petrino would never get hired at Auburn,” Dye said. “Ever. Ever.”

Would anyone in the SEC hire Petrino after his crash from grace at Arkansas?

“Maybe, you know, if somebody was desperate they might,” Dye said. “Who would you say is going to hire him? I know Auburn ain’t gonna hire him.”

Wow. Consider those two distinct and definitive statements. Dye said that Chizik is coming back next season no matter what happens the rest of this season, and he said that Auburn will never hire Petrino.

Those didn’t sound like opinions. They sounded like declarations from the ultimate insider.

The natural follow-up question: How does Dye know? The obvious answer: Despite all of his protests to the contrary, Dye is in the know about the thinking of Auburn’s decision-makers, or at least thinks he is. That, or he actually helps shape Auburn’s decisions.

If Dye’s right about Chizik, that he’s guaranteed to return next year, it’s an incredible vote of confidence in the middle of an uncertain rebuilding phase of Chizik’s tenure. Auburn just lost three games in September for the first time. Auburn’s only win to date has been at home in overtime against Louisiana-Monroe.

There are tangible reasons to believe things are about to get better for the Tigers. The schedule softens, starting with Arkansas. The defense took a step forward in the 12-10 loss to LSU. Kiehl Frazier has four games in his data bank as a starter, and if he’s the player Auburn and programs like Notre Dame believed him to be when recruiting him, he’ll be better in October than he was in September.

But what if there’s improvement in performance but not on the scoreboard? What if this season goes terribly wrong from here? What if Auburn wins the games that appear to be gimmes – New Mexico State and Alabama A&M – and contributes to Arkansas’s continuing collapse but loses the rest to finish 4-8?

Does Chizik deserve next season no matter how this year plays out? Dye said Auburn’s decision-makers think so.

If he’s right, is it enough for Dye to say it on an Arkansas radio show, or should athletics director Jay Jacobs stand by his coach and make that statement himself?

Maybe that’s unnecessary. A lot of people seem to think, when Dye speaks about Chizik, he says what Jacobs thinks.

[Buzz Killington]

Great vote of confidence from the guy who is really running the show!

[djsimp]

“Bobby Petrino would never get hired at Auburn,” Dye said. “Ever. Ever.”

Would anyone in the SEC hire Petrino after his crash from grace at Arkansas?

“Maybe, you know, if somebody was desperate they might,” Dye said. “Who would you say is going to hire him? I know Auburn ain’t gonna hire him.”

I chuckled a bit at this.

[Godfather]

Great vote of confidence from the guy who is really running the show!

He has an office in the building!

[The Six]

It's nice to know no ready quarterbacks at the starter or backup positions, no development from WRs, and regression from the defensive unit at year four is acceptable. He'll probably get a raise.

 

[Snaggletiger]

He has an office in the building!

Directly above Jay's

[djsimp]

Directly above Jay's

Jay gets a good view of Pat Dyes ass.

[Townhallsavoy]

Recruiting ploy.  That's it. 

[AU_Tiger_2000]

It's nice to know no ready quarterbacks at the starter or backup positions, no development from WRs, and regression from the defensive unit at year four is acceptable. He'll probably get a raise.

 

Don't have a problem with an ex-coach not throwing the current coach under the bus after 5 games with a new staff.  Dye will get some input, but it won't (or shouldn't) be his decision anyway.

[JR4AU]

Don't have a problem with an ex-coach not throwing the current coach under the bus after 5 games with a new staff.  Dye will get some input, but it won't (or shouldn't) be his decision anyway.

I don't know.  I wonder sometimes.  I know a lot of folks, Auburn folks, that firmly believe Pat is 100% in charge, with Jimmy Rane having lots of input.

[dallaswareagle]

Don't have a problem with an ex-coach not throwing the current coach under the bus after 5 games with a new staff.  Dye will get some input, but it won't (or shouldn't) be his decision anyway.

I understand not throwing under the bus but to come and say (no way) that’s bullshit-I am sorry if we lose to every team left on our schedule (especially NMS-AAM) he should be gone.

Note: I think we at least win those two.

[Snaggletiger]

I think Pat Dye is just stating his opinion and has no control over any decison making concerning the AU Foosballz program. 

[Jumbo]

I think Pat Dye is just stating his opinion and has no control over any decison making concerning the AU Foosballz program.

I think Snaggle knows the people who know if you know what I mean.

[djsimp]

I think Snaggle knows the people who know if you know what I mean.

The gelding stud is good for something.

[Jumbo]

I'm not aware of too many things. I know what I know if you know what I mean

[Buzz Killington]

I'm not aware of too many things. I know what I know if you know what I mean

do ya?

[dallaswareagle]

The gelding stud is good for something.

   

[Snaggletiger]

What I am is what I am

[Godfather]

What I am is what I am

It's "I yam, what I yam" 

[Snaggletiger]

It's "I am, what I am" 

you whatchu are or what