Prominent voice explains why he likes Auburn’s Bryan Harsin
Updated: 9:46 a.m. | Published: 7:36 a.m.
Auburn head football coach Bryan Harsin is entering his first season with the Tigers but is currently away from the team after testing positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett)AP
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By Joseph Goodman | jgoodman@al.com
Bryan Harsin is going to do really well at Auburn, a familiar voice said to me on Tuesday.
In a recent column critical of Harsin, my doubts about Auburn’s new coach were loud and angry. Just wait, I was told.
More than anything — except for maybe that he is very pro-vaccine — that’s what Lanett High School football coach Clifford Story wanted me to know. Fall camp might have taken an unfortunate turn with Auburn’s coach and defensive coordinator out with COVID-19, but, according to Story, “once they get everything in the direction they want it going, and [Harsin] gets his guys in there, they’re going to have a lot of success at Auburn.”
We’ll see, but Story’s opinion of Harsin isn’t some take from an Auburn homer with a blog. His is the hope of an invested stakeholder who wants Harsin to succeed at Auburn, yes, but Story’s perspective comes from a place that’s built on sturdier stuff than blind trust. He doesn’t have a choice in the matter. It is his business to be a little more discerning when it comes to the character of coaches in college football, and their abilities to build winners. Story’s son, Caden, is committed to Auburn.
Story wants what’s best for Auburn, and that includes a team that understands the importance of vaccination against COVID-19, but Harsin’s noted refusal to promote vaccination aside, Story likes what he sees. One of the most respected high school football coaches in the state, his words carry great weight, too, so his perspective should come as a relief for Auburn fans who have questioned the new coach in recent weeks.
Still, make no mistake, this outbreak of COVID-19 at Auburn during fall camp threatens the success of the season. For parents of young people at Auburn, Story has a different message.
“Caden isn’t going to be at Auburn for another year, but as a parent I’m going to make sure that, a year from now, he has the booster or whatever the medical recommendation is at that time to protect him,” Story said. “We’re going to do what we’re supposed to do as parents, and that’s make sure that Caden is vaccinated.”
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An elite prospect at defensive end, Caden could go pretty much anywhere next summer to play football. He loved former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, and viewed Malzahn as a “father figure,” according to Cliff Story. When Malzahn was fired, Caden’s recruitment was reopened and other programs swooped in. Harsin locked up Caden’s commitment, dad says, with a no nonsense attitude, and his detailed plan for the future of Auburn football.
Well, what’s the plan?
“It would take me way too long to go through it all,” Story said. “But [Harsin] broke it all down with a long powerpoint presentation. All coaches talk about their plan, but he broke it all down step by step so we could see it.”
