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Rogue219

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Now seeing Lovie Smith booted at Illinois. Can anyone fix that program?

Iowa and Wisconsin have had solid programs for years. Now Indiana is good too, right? Northwestern is private and has been kicking Illinois' ass now recently.

They need to hire a young up and comer who can get some energy into the program on the road recruiting and get them to some bowl games in consecutive seasons.

Bringing in the familiar name/face who has been fired elsewhere isn't going to do anything for them. They've done that already. It's a very good academic school and they have spent money on facilities in recent years. They can recruit Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Louisville along with the usual suspects Ohio and Florida.

There isn't any excuse for them not to be respectable, but if they can't sign a single recruit from their own state, that's a major problem.
 

dublinirish

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Iowa and Wisconsin have had solid programs for years. Now Indiana is good too, right? Northwestern is private and has been kicking Illinois' ass now recently.

They need to hire a young up and comer who can get some energy into the program on the road recruiting and get them to some bowl games in consecutive seasons.

Bringing in the familiar name/face who has been fired elsewhere isn't going to do anything for them. They've done that already. It's a very good academic school and they have spent money on facilities in recent years. They can recruit Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Louisville along with the usual suspects Ohio and Florida.

There isn't any excuse for them not to be respectable, but if they can't sign a single recruit from their own state, that's a major problem.

Bret Bielma for Illinois surely :D
 

NDRock

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There is speculation, fans are not happy, so unless Fulmer comes out and says something it's worth keeping an eye on.

Those extensions aren't worth the paper they get printed on. These schools throw away millions to make these guys go away. Quite an industry to be in, frankly.

Pruitt was a terrible hire at the time and has proven to be terrible. He needs to go. Unfortunately, most UT fans have no faith that Fulmer can make a good hire. I agree with that sentiment.

I’d assume Pruitt will go be an analyst back at Bama while he cashes his UT checks. Worked well for Butch.
 

Rogue219

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Pruitt was a terrible hire at the time and has proven to be terrible. He needs to go. Unfortunately, most UT fans have no faith that Fulmer can make a good hire. I agree with that sentiment.

I’d assume Pruitt will go be an analyst back at Bama while he cashes his UT checks. Worked well for Butch.

I think Pruitt is a goof, but Fulmer hand picked him. Freeze has reportedly coveted that Tennessee job and he's a hot name again. So Auburn opens up now and Freeze could be a candidate. Fulmer may need to act. Pulling the plug on Pruitt after only three years seems hasty, but consider the industry we're talking about. It's not uncommon to get canned after three seasons.

Napier is out there, too, but Freeze seems like a hire that would be more exciting to Auburn and or Tennessee. I like Napier a lot.

Schiano has Rutgers at 3-5 in his first year back. They should have rolled with him. That PSU/Sandusky connection as an excuse to go for Gruden or whoever it was blew up in their faces. It's actually hilarious.
 

Irish YJ

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Pruitt was a terrible hire at the time and has proven to be terrible. He needs to go. Unfortunately, most UT fans have no faith that Fulmer can make a good hire. I agree with that sentiment.

I’d assume Pruitt will go be an analyst back at Bama while he cashes his UT checks. Worked well for Butch.

Saban has a nice little circular thing going.
 

Irish YJ

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No kidding. Saw that Major Applewhite got an OC job. Had forgotten where he’s been and had to look it up. Bama analyst of course.

No reason ND shouldn't do more of that stuff.

Saban... is so smart, and so lucky he's got a blank checkbook. Constant rotation of great guys contributing in some way.
 

NDRock

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Cristobal at Oregon is just weird.

Really? For some reason Oregon and Miami seem like they’re cousins. Neither one are old school blue bloods, both kinda flashy, birds for mascots, similar uniform colors, seem like they’re willing to cross the line ethically. Obviously, Oregon has not been able to match Miami’s past success.
 

Rogue219

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Schools like Auburn need to be looking for the next guy who will come there and stay. Going for the "big name" guarantees you nothing. For as safe as it is, it is also often stupid.

Auburn hiring a guy like Napier might be the best move they can possibly make, but the majority is going to want Freeze in spite of all his baggage.

So many of these schools don't even go through the process of interviewing people, and with these being state jobs, depending on where you are the job needs to be posted and certain numbers of applicants need to interview, etc. I think they circumvent state laws in some cases.

Arkansas State hired Butch Jones in a hot minute. There probably wasn't much of a process there at all.
 

drayer54

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kevin Sumlin wins by year as HC:<br>2011 - 12<br><br>2012 - 11<br><br>2013 - 9<br><br>2014 - 8<br><br>2015 - 8<br><br>2016 - 8<br><br>2017 - 7<br><br>2018 - 5<br><br>2019 - 4<br><br>2020 - 0</p>— Gavin (@GavinSuarez77) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinSuarez77/status/1338004062881497088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Buyout time again for Coach Sumlin.
 

drayer54

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Saw Kiffin's name come up twice now related to Auburn's vacancy lol..

Auburn was dumb. I get that they aren't whipping Saban every year, but Gus is a good coach. He'll land on his feet just fine.
 

ThePiombino

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kevin Sumlin wins by year as HC:<br>2011 - 12<br><br>2012 - 11<br><br>2013 - 9<br><br>2014 - 8<br><br>2015 - 8<br><br>2016 - 8<br><br>2017 - 7<br><br>2018 - 5<br><br>2019 - 4<br><br>2020 - 0</p>— Gavin (@GavinSuarez77) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinSuarez77/status/1338004062881497088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



Buyout time again for Coach Sumlin.
Welp, guess you could say he's trending ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
 

NDVirginia19

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Auburn was dumb. I get that they aren't whipping Saban every year, but Gus is a good coach. He'll land on his feet just fine.

I mean with as talented as Auburn is, they should be doing better than 8-4 every year since their national championship appearance. They've been trending in the wrong direction in recruiting over the past 8 years too.
 

drayer54

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I mean with as talented as Auburn is, they should be doing better than 8-4 every year since their national championship appearance. They've been trending in the wrong direction in recruiting over the past 8 years too.

Look sailor, he puts together a good, not great team. I suspect this will feel like Nebraska looking back at Bo Pelini. It didn't get better after ORSE for them.
 

Bishop2b5

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I mean with as talented as Auburn is, they should be doing better than 8-4 every year since their national championship appearance. They've been trending in the wrong direction in recruiting over the past 8 years too.

Auburn will never have sustained success. They have the wrong attitude and approach. Barkley and Dye both tried to get the powers that be and the fanbase to see it and change, but it ain't happening. They get one good year every once in awhile and then run right back home to mediocrity every time. In their entire history they've only had back to back 10 win seasons once, and that was way back in the 80's. There will NEVER be sustained success there until they change... and they aren't going to change.
 

NDVirginia19

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Look sailor, he puts together a good, not great team. I suspect this will feel like Nebraska looking back at Bo Pelini. It didn't get better after ORSE for them.

While I understand that point of view, there are definitely obstacles that are in the way of Nebraska's success, where 8 wins a year was a reasonably difficult thing to do, that aren't there for Auburn. I mean how many 5 star kids come out of Nebraska or neighboring states every year?
 

Crazy Balki

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With all the talk about Lea leaving and the distraction that creates, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Clemson and Tony Elliott.

Frankly, I think he's going to be the guy Auburn picks to be the next HC.
 

drayer54

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While I understand that point of view, there are definitely obstacles that are in the way of Nebraska's success, where 8 wins a year was a reasonably difficult thing to do, that aren't there for Auburn. I mean how many 5 star kids come out of Nebraska or neighboring states every year?

This is true. But Nebraska has always had to recruit nationally and that's harder to do with a lousy team. I've always thought Gus is a good coach and I'll bet he gets an HC job somewhere.
 

Rogue219

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Kevin Sumlin got $10M from TAMU and $7M from Arizona to go away. This is the pinnacle of American success as far as I'm concerned. Let freedom ring.

I saw Jim Mora Jr. and Rich Neuheisel's names mentioned for Arizona. I guess some folks just can't get enough of the past.
 

Rogue219

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Why do Division I athletic departments need to employ search firms in order to hire a new head football coach? It's incredibly mind boggling to me that this can't be handled by the university and the athletic department.

I just read Auburn is using a search firm. For what? It's an SEC school and there are probably at least a dozen dudes who would line up to take that job, but you are going to pay a third party to help you make a decision?

I'm in the wrong line of work.
 

Pops Freshenmeyer

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Why do Division I athletic departments need to employ search firms in order to hire a new head football coach? It's incredibly mind boggling to me that this can't be handled by the university and the athletic department.

I just read Auburn is using a search firm. For what? It's an SEC school and there are probably at least a dozen dudes who would line up to take that job, but you are going to pay a third party to help you make a decision?

I'm in the wrong line of work.

It avoids conflicts of interest and power struggles. Otherwise you might turn into Tennessee.
 

dublinirish

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: The Auburn University jet arrived in Bloomington, IN this morning. Tom Allen is a confirmed candidate, per source. <a href="https://t.co/KNeY6bx6QQ">pic.twitter.com/KNeY6bx6QQ</a></p>— Auburn Plane Tracker (@AuburnPlane) <a href="https://twitter.com/AuburnPlane/status/1339611495617982465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 

bkess8

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: The Auburn University jet arrived in Bloomington, IN this morning. Tom Allen is a confirmed candidate, per source. <a href="https://t.co/KNeY6bx6QQ">pic.twitter.com/KNeY6bx6QQ</a></p>— Auburn Plane Tracker (@AuburnPlane) <a href="https://twitter.com/AuburnPlane/status/1339611495617982465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Would be a great hire for Auburn IMO. I just don't see TA chasing the money because it seems like he's just too good of a guy, but money does talk!
 

BeauBenken

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Tom Allen is also all Indiana.

I mean, you have to go for him, but I struggle to see him leaving.
 

Irish YJ

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Would hate to see Allen leave IU, but think he could do really well at a big time program.

If he does leave, would prefer it not be Auburn though. He'd be moving from a division where he likely can never wear the crown due to a blue blood within his division, to another division with two blue bloods.

I hope at least IU is willing to be competitive on the $.
 

NDdomer2

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auburn isnt bringing the private jet to give Tom some negotiation leverage. Theres mutual interest.
 
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