I think Freeze is both an excellent recruiter and good on-the-field coach and developer. He would be my first choice.
My second choice would actually be Napier. He's done very well at Louisiana Lafayette, and has a chance to upset Coastal Carolina this weekend. If he does so, I think he's a hire with the most upside with the least amount of baggage that the higher-ups will be okay with. He was Alabama's lead recruiter for a period of time which makes me believe he's an elite recruiter. He's young at 41 years old. He's also someone that if it goes wrong, you won't be that invested because it won't take a lot to get him here. While at ULL, Napier has brought ULL to the highest ranking they've ever achieved, their first double digit win season in program history, and given them their first road win against a ranked team in program history.
I actually think Cristobal would be an underwhelming hire. He produced underwhelming results at FIU, and he's produced the same results at Oregon. The Pac-12 is an easy conference to win at right now because so many programs are down. Yet, Cristobal has yet to make a playoff. He had Justin Herbert for 2 seasons, who is absolutely lighting up the NFL right now as a rookie. Yet, Cristobal somehow mismanaged Herbert during his senior year at Oregon. He's dropped games he was a clear favorite in every year he's been at Oregon. If he can't make the playoff there with down competition, what makes anyone thing he can win or even make a SEC Championship appearance in the most difficult conference in college football? I do think one positive about Cristobal is he is an elite recruiter. However, he's an average coach that I don't think would succeed in the SEC with how competitive it is. He's young as well, but again this would be his third stop as a head coach. What makes you think he gets it right at Auburn? He will be going toe to toe with difficult programs and coaches in their own right. Saban isn't going anywhere in the next 5 years either. Neither is Smart.
I wouldn't mind a hire like Matt Campbell either, but I'd question his recruiting abilities. I also don't see Auburn, the search committee, or anyone with influence going out of their way to interview Campbell, Fleck, etc. They have no ties.
My short list right now in terms of who I'd want would be:
1) Freeze
2) Napier (distant second)
3) Campbell
My second choice would actually be Napier. He's done very well at Louisiana Lafayette, and has a chance to upset Coastal Carolina this weekend. If he does so, I think he's a hire with the most upside with the least amount of baggage that the higher-ups will be okay with. He was Alabama's lead recruiter for a period of time which makes me believe he's an elite recruiter. He's young at 41 years old. He's also someone that if it goes wrong, you won't be that invested because it won't take a lot to get him here. While at ULL, Napier has brought ULL to the highest ranking they've ever achieved, their first double digit win season in program history, and given them their first road win against a ranked team in program history.
I actually think Cristobal would be an underwhelming hire. He produced underwhelming results at FIU, and he's produced the same results at Oregon. The Pac-12 is an easy conference to win at right now because so many programs are down. Yet, Cristobal has yet to make a playoff. He had Justin Herbert for 2 seasons, who is absolutely lighting up the NFL right now as a rookie. Yet, Cristobal somehow mismanaged Herbert during his senior year at Oregon. He's dropped games he was a clear favorite in every year he's been at Oregon. If he can't make the playoff there with down competition, what makes anyone thing he can win or even make a SEC Championship appearance in the most difficult conference in college football? I do think one positive about Cristobal is he is an elite recruiter. However, he's an average coach that I don't think would succeed in the SEC with how competitive it is. He's young as well, but again this would be his third stop as a head coach. What makes you think he gets it right at Auburn? He will be going toe to toe with difficult programs and coaches in their own right. Saban isn't going anywhere in the next 5 years either. Neither is Smart.
I wouldn't mind a hire like Matt Campbell either, but I'd question his recruiting abilities. I also don't see Auburn, the search committee, or anyone with influence going out of their way to interview Campbell, Fleck, etc. They have no ties.
My short list right now in terms of who I'd want would be:
1) Freeze
2) Napier (distant second)
3) Campbell
