Randy Kennedy Article

[AUChizad]

Auburn's Gene Chizik: 'I know what it takes to win at Auburn'
May 03, 2009 01:07AM

AUBURN, Ala. -- It's not surprising that Gene Chizik has a clear vision of what the Auburn football program can be. All he has to do is think back to his previous tenure on the Plains.
Randy Kennedy, sports editor and columnist

Chizik's last game as Auburn's defensive coordinator was a Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech in January 2005 that completed a 13-0 season and solidified the Tigers' national championship credentials.

That's not the kind of team he inherited as head coach almost five months ago. There is not much depth or many established playmakers on offense among the current roster of players. Spring training did little to clear up the muddle quarterback race, and there's the matter of the Auburn players adjusting to a new coaching staff.

But Chizik, looking comfortable last week in his huge office with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooking the Auburn campus, said he knows how to lead the program back to that position.

"We're going to build a foundation this first year," he said confidently. "I'm not sure how many wins that will translate into right away, but we're going to build a solid foundation for the future. I know what it takes to win at Auburn because I was here when we were one of if not the best team in the nation. We've got a ways to go, but we're going to get it back to that point again."

For Chizik, that starts with recruiting. His staff has made headlines over the last week by traveling around the state together in a stretch limousine, complete with Auburn flags flying from the windows. The "Tiger Prowl" was scoffed at by many rival fans and middle-aged men who probably think Gucci Mane is a high-end hair product.

The people who Chizik and his staff aimed to impress -- most all of whom can run a 4.5 40 and can identify Gucci Mane as the newest hot artist on the Southern rap scene -- were impressed. Every player quoted by the Press-Register and other media outlets said they were impressed by the bling and the message being delivered to their high schools.

Most of all, they noticed that Chizik and his staff aren't going to concede all the top recruits in the state to Nick Saban and Alabama.

[Kaos]

nevermind

[AUChizad]

nevermind

Insightful.

[Kaos]

Insightful.

Well if I say what I think, it's only going to invoke cursing and roaring from the dino-brain crowd.  If I blindly cheer the article then I'd be a hypocrite and my sentiments would be fake.

So nevermind. 

Think whatever you want.  I do.

[AuburnChopper 3.0]

Well if I say what I think, it's only going to invoke cursing and roaring from the dino-brain crowd.  If I blindly cheer the article then I'd be a hypocrite and my sentiments would be fake.

So nevermind. 

Think whatever you want.  I do.

Even though Kaos is ignoring me, I'll say this anyway... It would be amazing the respect a differing opinion would get if it was presented as an actual debate, point of view and worded in a manner as not to attract a "dino-brain" response.   I guess after calling every Tom, Dick and Harry that's had a positive, or even neutrel view of Chizik a "Chizdick Sucking Loon", you kind of earn the "dino-brain" responses you don't feel like dealing with now.  My compassion level is basically nill here.

[weagle251]

To be written by the Sports Editor, that column had a few hideous typos.  Perhaps the Register has them working half days.

[Buzz Killington]

To be written by the Sports Editor, that column had a few hideous typos.  Perhaps the Register has them working half days.

The proofer is busy working on the next great Sabear article about his tweets.

[Kaos]

To be written by the Sports Editor, that column had a few hideous typos.  Perhaps the Register has them working half days.

My understanding is that the blogs go out pretty raw and then what actually goes in the paper is proofed and cleaned up.  Sometimes they will revise the blog with the cleaned up copy sometimes not. 

Accuracy and proper word usage is no longer as important as immediacy. Got to get it out there first even when whatever it is isn't really "breaking" news.