Okay, let's start by saying that I thought Auburn made a huge mistake hiring Gene Chizik (Cheese Nut, Cheese-It, Cheese Nip, Chiznik, etc...). I knew Chizik had a great history as an assistant, but it was clear Ole' Cheese Ball's head coaching resume was in question. This year Auburn came in reasonably expecting 5 to 7 wins. They got exactly that.
Well, they didn't take the road we first presumed, but they made it. The 5-0 start had fans jumping for joy and ranked 17th in the country. The offense looked terrific under Gus Malzahn's Spread Scheme. This Spread actually worked, the exact opposite of Tony Franklin's Spread and Sputter. Quarterback Chris Todd was reborn, into the passing mastermind he was expected to be out of Junior College. The Tigers looked most impressive with their 41 to 30 Home whipping of West Virginia. In a near equally impressive win Auburn went to Knoxville and beat Tennessee 26-22.
No one could complain. It seemed Auburn was arriving ahead of schedule. Then, as the 17th ranked Tigers went on the road to face Arkansas the wheels fell off the bus and rolled into the Mississippi River. Arkansas thumped the Tigers 41 to 23 knocking Auburn out of every top 25 poll except the Harris. They didn't stay there long, the Tigers suffered a lackluster 21 to 14 loss at home to Kentucky of all people. The Tigers gave up two scores with less than 7 minutes left and it looked like the offense just quit instead of trying to tie the game late. Chris Todd was back to 2008 form murdering the air with a terrifying 80 yards. The Tigers were putting 45 on the board a game in their first 5 and they can only score 14 on Kentucky? Things didn't get easier, Auburn got blasted by LSU 31-10, with the touchdown coming in the final minute. The three straight losses made the Tigers look like the 2008 Tigers without the only asset they had: their defense.
So now we reach Halloween. #24 Ole Miss has just got its groove and is looking to wipe the field with Auburn, not so fast! Cheese Man got the boys back! Auburn put a good ole southern whipping on Ole Miss 33-20. It looked like the Tigers could be poised for a top 25 season if they could finish strong. After a win over Furman Auburn headed to Athens, to face a talented but Struggling Georgia team. The Dawgs finally got their season on track and beat Auburn 31 to 24, but hey! Auburn hit 7 wins and will go bowling again. Something they didn't do under Tubby last year. Auburn may have been better off with old Tubby, but Chizik isn't taking this team in a bad direction.
Well, Auburn does have one major game left in the regular season. Its the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Tigers crushing Alabama's title hopes in the first iron bowl at Jordon-Hare. Too bad lightning doesn't strike twice. A loss to Bama isn't bad at all. Auburn will be in good shape heading to next season 8-5 if they can pull off a bowl win.
Last years "miserable" team wasn't all bad, they were in every game til the end except one, and did play a tough schedule. At least they competed in their losses, unlike the 2009 Tigers have against Arkansas and LSU. Sure they hung tough against lowly Kentucky and erratic Georgia, but they should have won both games.
So, is Auburn better off with Chizik over Tubby?
Verdict- Go retry the case in another year because this jury is hung.
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