That.
And I think my true feelings about Trooper Taylor and most of Chizik's philosophies are starting to show.
I don't like the showboating. I don't like the buddy-buddy system. I don't like that our recruiting was based primarily on coach-relationships and how "cool" things were.
I remember a WR recruit a few years ago making a comment about how he didn't like Alabama because they were all business like and didn't seem to be having any fun. He then praised Auburn because they encouraged him to enjoy himself while also working hard to be a football player.
Forget that noise. The program of "swag" didn't work. It led to a 3-9 abortion of a football season. I'm ready for adults to be running the show.
I think we're going to get that with Gus.
You hit the nail on the head. I remember the quote that you're talking about, because a few other recruits said the same thing not too long after that. I made the comment that if it works for AU great, but I had a feeling that it may bite you guys in the ass down the road. I would take a guy who knows he's going to bust ass and not have any "fun" over the guy who just wants to have fun.
In that sense, I think that the dismissal of Taylor also sends an important message to the recruits. "Anything you knew to be under Chizik is gone. It's time to play football." Malzahn is killing it right now, and he's not even having to really rely on "splash" type hires, or hot new to the scene coaches to do it. He's not doing anything flashy, and he's not being an attention whore. He's simply making solid, rational, adult decisions.
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