Here is my current prediction, in long form, with reasoning. This doesnt reflect my personal choices, but rather, what I think the PTB are thinking. Currently the PTB hot board is...
1. Stoops
2. Kiffen
3. Grimes
4. Freeze
5. Deion
Stoops
They will all get behind a proved, known name. Stoops has shown a long and consistent track record of good recruiting and leading a top winning program. He would be the #1 guy, if he was interested. I personally dont think he is interested enough to take the job, so I don't put much chance in getting him.
Kiffen
He is kind of like a villain of CFB. He has left several program in shambles. Remember, he was the start of "We could be the next Tennessee", and it took TENN years to recover. He however, does win, a solid recruiter, and a sniper in transfer portal. The fan base would get behind him. He will be expensive, in buyout and in salary to entice him away from Ole Miss. He will definitely come to Auburn, but he will come with a hefty price tag. He is not my top pick, but I will be rather happy with him. I have Kiffen as my #2, behind Deion.
Grimes
Grimes has a charming personality, and while at Auburn whoo-ed many of the PTB. He has excelled everywhere he has been. He has a knack for having good/great OL assessments and coaches them up. I would say Auburn's Achilles heel over the past 5 years has been OL. A better OL would lead to 2-3 more wins per year. He doesn't really have HC experience, and that is a major concern with some of the PTB. They want a proven winner. There is others on the list I would much prefer, but overall, this wouldn't be a horrible hire, and I would support it, but I will always have the "what ifs" especially if he doesn't really excel.
Freeze
The PTB know he can coach, hell of a coach. He can recruit (although he was playing with NIL way before NIL). We can get him at a significant discount to his worth. He will crawl through glass for another chance in the SEC. However, he really screwed up with the call girls, and using University assets. I don't think the SEC office would want to approve. I think there is some PTB that will refuse to support, and have Freeze's name tied to their beloved Auburn. Personally, "I could give 2 flyin fvcks less" ($1 to Sir Charles), what he did with the university assets and call girls, I just want to win, and I think Freeze could win. If we hire Freeze, its because we couldn't agree with many others perceived as better to the PTB.
Deion
Man is this a unique one. Definitely a first of this type. There is many pros and cons to this one. Lets talk pros, Deion would kill it in the transfer portal and recruiting. There is zero question about that. We would be good next year. Recruits have already publicly said they would flip if Auburn hired Deion. He is a motivator, and would have the guys ready to run through brick walls. He would bring publicity to Auburn, at a far greater clip, than any of the other names in consideration. I honestly think hiring Deion would bring more publicity that hiring Belichick. There is one person who I think would cause more of a stir than hiring Deion, and that would be flipping saban. Unfortunately, neither of these scenarios are remotely plausible. Anyways, back to Deion. Did I mention he could recruit and amass talent like Auburn has never accumulated previously. Deion is not a star, or super star, he is a mega star, he would be a generational hire, which would give Auburn tremendous excitement and fanfare. Auburn would get new fans immediately. Having Snoop Dogg, multiple NFL players, famous people, etc wearing Auburn swag, making appearances at games, and pulling for Auburn would be on a new level like never seen before. I think Auburn fans would unite behind Deion, and he would have 3 years to show his stuff. I think we can get him at a reasonable price, as money isnt his primary motivator. Deion craves the spotlight, and we could be his Broadway. However, there is some serious concerns. He has zero experience as a HC at a P5 school, much less an SEC school. He speaks the truth and tells his true feelings, regardless of how it will be perceived. In this day and age, telling the truth can hurt you (sad, but we not going into politics). There is the risk, that if it doesnt go as planned, it could be a really bad break up. Auburn would get labeled as racists. Being in the spotlight, as a team of Auburn and Deion would be, this would get significant national attention. Nobody cared that we fired Potato, Gus, Tubby, Chizik, etc. However, the whole US would have an opinion if we have a nationally televised divorce with Deion. Speaking of spotlight, Deion would have it, and Im not sure the PTB want to have someone have control over it. That is their spot too, and I see some fighting hard to maintain it. IMO, Deion has grown up and matured a whole lot. I absolutely would not want Deion in his 20's as a coach at Auburn. Deion today, I would, but Im not sure the PTB can block out the Deion of yester-years.
Deion is my #1, and other than considering a non plausible option, it really isnt close. Auburn is in the gutter. Our roster is depleted. Moral is down. We dont need a spark, we need a flame thrower to ignite this water logged turd. This has to start with recruiting, its the only option. Every name on the list can do that, but there is 2 that can excel (Kiffen and Deion). The interviews with both will be awesome. The fan base is desperate, and Auburn is a sleeping giant, who is about to awaken. With the new Football Only Facility, a new coach and AD, stacked NIL coffers, and a fanbase/boosters who desperately want to win and take it to the next level.
I persoanlly dont think Auburn gets much worse, within the next 5 years. It would take at least 5 years of bottom dwelling to remove the heritage Auburn has amassed. Auburn can handle a 2-3 year gamble, which is why I would roll with Deion. With his recruiting, I think I could coach this team to 6 wins a year based on sheer talent. I think the floor for a Deion staffed team would be an constant 8 win. Potential to be much higher, but that is to be seen. I think a Kiffen floor is 8 win average also. Kiffen can coach and call plays, he gets it. He would kill it with Auburn backing and facilities. He is the safer hire, IMO, but not possibly the best hire. He would cost considerably more. IMO, the PTB will target Kiffen, and ultimately make OM pay him a bunch more, then, move on. Unless Deion knocks it out of the park in the interview, and really moves the PTB and their personal feelings, Auburn will pass, and he will be a "what if" for many the fanbase for years to come.
In the end, Auburn hires Grimes, he does good, but never gets us where we want to be, and in 5 years, we are doing this again.
1. Stoops
2. Kiffen
3. Grimes
4. Freeze
5. Deion
Stoops
They will all get behind a proved, known name. Stoops has shown a long and consistent track record of good recruiting and leading a top winning program. He would be the #1 guy, if he was interested. I personally dont think he is interested enough to take the job, so I don't put much chance in getting him.
Kiffen
He is kind of like a villain of CFB. He has left several program in shambles. Remember, he was the start of "We could be the next Tennessee", and it took TENN years to recover. He however, does win, a solid recruiter, and a sniper in transfer portal. The fan base would get behind him. He will be expensive, in buyout and in salary to entice him away from Ole Miss. He will definitely come to Auburn, but he will come with a hefty price tag. He is not my top pick, but I will be rather happy with him. I have Kiffen as my #2, behind Deion.
Grimes
Grimes has a charming personality, and while at Auburn whoo-ed many of the PTB. He has excelled everywhere he has been. He has a knack for having good/great OL assessments and coaches them up. I would say Auburn's Achilles heel over the past 5 years has been OL. A better OL would lead to 2-3 more wins per year. He doesn't really have HC experience, and that is a major concern with some of the PTB. They want a proven winner. There is others on the list I would much prefer, but overall, this wouldn't be a horrible hire, and I would support it, but I will always have the "what ifs" especially if he doesn't really excel.
Freeze
The PTB know he can coach, hell of a coach. He can recruit (although he was playing with NIL way before NIL). We can get him at a significant discount to his worth. He will crawl through glass for another chance in the SEC. However, he really screwed up with the call girls, and using University assets. I don't think the SEC office would want to approve. I think there is some PTB that will refuse to support, and have Freeze's name tied to their beloved Auburn. Personally, "I could give 2 flyin fvcks less" ($1 to Sir Charles), what he did with the university assets and call girls, I just want to win, and I think Freeze could win. If we hire Freeze, its because we couldn't agree with many others perceived as better to the PTB.
Deion
Man is this a unique one. Definitely a first of this type. There is many pros and cons to this one. Lets talk pros, Deion would kill it in the transfer portal and recruiting. There is zero question about that. We would be good next year. Recruits have already publicly said they would flip if Auburn hired Deion. He is a motivator, and would have the guys ready to run through brick walls. He would bring publicity to Auburn, at a far greater clip, than any of the other names in consideration. I honestly think hiring Deion would bring more publicity that hiring Belichick. There is one person who I think would cause more of a stir than hiring Deion, and that would be flipping saban. Unfortunately, neither of these scenarios are remotely plausible. Anyways, back to Deion. Did I mention he could recruit and amass talent like Auburn has never accumulated previously. Deion is not a star, or super star, he is a mega star, he would be a generational hire, which would give Auburn tremendous excitement and fanfare. Auburn would get new fans immediately. Having Snoop Dogg, multiple NFL players, famous people, etc wearing Auburn swag, making appearances at games, and pulling for Auburn would be on a new level like never seen before. I think Auburn fans would unite behind Deion, and he would have 3 years to show his stuff. I think we can get him at a reasonable price, as money isnt his primary motivator. Deion craves the spotlight, and we could be his Broadway. However, there is some serious concerns. He has zero experience as a HC at a P5 school, much less an SEC school. He speaks the truth and tells his true feelings, regardless of how it will be perceived. In this day and age, telling the truth can hurt you (sad, but we not going into politics). There is the risk, that if it doesnt go as planned, it could be a really bad break up. Auburn would get labeled as racists. Being in the spotlight, as a team of Auburn and Deion would be, this would get significant national attention. Nobody cared that we fired Potato, Gus, Tubby, Chizik, etc. However, the whole US would have an opinion if we have a nationally televised divorce with Deion. Speaking of spotlight, Deion would have it, and Im not sure the PTB want to have someone have control over it. That is their spot too, and I see some fighting hard to maintain it. IMO, Deion has grown up and matured a whole lot. I absolutely would not want Deion in his 20's as a coach at Auburn. Deion today, I would, but Im not sure the PTB can block out the Deion of yester-years.
Deion is my #1, and other than considering a non plausible option, it really isnt close. Auburn is in the gutter. Our roster is depleted. Moral is down. We dont need a spark, we need a flame thrower to ignite this water logged turd. This has to start with recruiting, its the only option. Every name on the list can do that, but there is 2 that can excel (Kiffen and Deion). The interviews with both will be awesome. The fan base is desperate, and Auburn is a sleeping giant, who is about to awaken. With the new Football Only Facility, a new coach and AD, stacked NIL coffers, and a fanbase/boosters who desperately want to win and take it to the next level.
I persoanlly dont think Auburn gets much worse, within the next 5 years. It would take at least 5 years of bottom dwelling to remove the heritage Auburn has amassed. Auburn can handle a 2-3 year gamble, which is why I would roll with Deion. With his recruiting, I think I could coach this team to 6 wins a year based on sheer talent. I think the floor for a Deion staffed team would be an constant 8 win. Potential to be much higher, but that is to be seen. I think a Kiffen floor is 8 win average also. Kiffen can coach and call plays, he gets it. He would kill it with Auburn backing and facilities. He is the safer hire, IMO, but not possibly the best hire. He would cost considerably more. IMO, the PTB will target Kiffen, and ultimately make OM pay him a bunch more, then, move on. Unless Deion knocks it out of the park in the interview, and really moves the PTB and their personal feelings, Auburn will pass, and he will be a "what if" for many the fanbase for years to come.
In the end, Auburn hires Grimes, he does good, but never gets us where we want to be, and in 5 years, we are doing this again.
