Auburn football. Even at its shit show stage. Still always entertaining.
Step 1 - Coach gets hired. Members of The PTB will be split on the hire. The ones not in favor of the hire will then spend the next two-three years doing things to ensure their opinion on the hire and the direction of how the coaching should have gone gets proven correct. Basically refuse to support the new guy because he wasn’t their guy. Or perhaps they didn’t mingle or fish enough with them.
Step 2 - new coach has some quick success in some way. Bowden, tubs, chiZ, gus all won something of note within 2 years of being here. Harsin look to be having that through a or miss game last season. Nix then got hurt. Historically for the first 4 named all of them seem to get an extension or raise. However even with the initial success certain powers still refused to completely support them. Coach still constantly have to fight his own admin and boosters.
Step 3- Mediocre seasons and average results usually follows the initial quick success. This then invigorates the crowd that was against the hire from the start and they start coming up with replacement names and making back channel calls even though they aren’t the ones with the actual power to fire anyone. This is usually the start of rumor season with un named sources and my coworkers brother who plays golf with Jimmy Raines said this type post. Jetgate, moves with brother Oliver, Kevin Steele saga, etc.
Step 4 - bounce back season or a season just enough to get more time. ChiZ did not have one of these as the wheeels completely fell off for him. Other three did. Bowden in 97. tubs in 04. Gus in 2017. I don’t see Harsin having division winning type season but I could see just enough to be retained to the chagrin of this board.
Historically auburn AD or president usually makes a bone head decision at this point and gives out a very coach friendly contract.
Step 5 - average or poor season follows. Auburn fans by and large want the coach gone. They usually have a large buyout though. Usually some hand wringing over this. coach finally gets let go.
step 6 - the bunker will now be at peak form. This usually starts with a crowd and board favorite being picked. You can be sure this person won’t be hired but the favorite will be anointed. See turner hill in 2008. Bobby petrino in 2012 and Mario Cristobal in 2016. The star ranking nutthuggers will be the loudest here.
My bet is on lane Kiffin in this role during the next search.
step 7 - plane tracking, rumors galore. Some very unfavorable names will get mentioned as getting interviews. Beginning stages of the bunker meltdown will start. Post like “Auburn is just not willing to do what it takes to be a top notch program” will then start. This usually coincides with mods breaking the news that the favorite candidate is becoming less likely. Meltdown is now coming.
step 8 - hire is made and a portion of the auburn boards hate it. A portion of the PTB also are not fans of it as they wanted someone else. Likely the person they would have the most access to. Not at all the person that could be the best for Auburn.
step 9 - new coach comes in. The bunker then transitions to likely unrealistic assistant coaching hires. Auburn and new coach will usually then hire at least two-three former players that made not have the proven resume yet.
step 10 - staff then has to start recruiting but finds out that now you have to recruit in a state that 80 percent of the high school coaches adore and worship your biggest rivals coach. You also find out that on the booster level with support you will often be bringing a knife to a gun fight. You will also learn that the high dollar boosters with the means to support you won’t because you weren’t their guy to begin with.
Rinse and Repeat.
Step 1 - Coach gets hired. Members of The PTB will be split on the hire. The ones not in favor of the hire will then spend the next two-three years doing things to ensure their opinion on the hire and the direction of how the coaching should have gone gets proven correct. Basically refuse to support the new guy because he wasn’t their guy. Or perhaps they didn’t mingle or fish enough with them.
Step 2 - new coach has some quick success in some way. Bowden, tubs, chiZ, gus all won something of note within 2 years of being here. Harsin look to be having that through a or miss game last season. Nix then got hurt. Historically for the first 4 named all of them seem to get an extension or raise. However even with the initial success certain powers still refused to completely support them. Coach still constantly have to fight his own admin and boosters.
Step 3- Mediocre seasons and average results usually follows the initial quick success. This then invigorates the crowd that was against the hire from the start and they start coming up with replacement names and making back channel calls even though they aren’t the ones with the actual power to fire anyone. This is usually the start of rumor season with un named sources and my coworkers brother who plays golf with Jimmy Raines said this type post. Jetgate, moves with brother Oliver, Kevin Steele saga, etc.
Step 4 - bounce back season or a season just enough to get more time. ChiZ did not have one of these as the wheeels completely fell off for him. Other three did. Bowden in 97. tubs in 04. Gus in 2017. I don’t see Harsin having division winning type season but I could see just enough to be retained to the chagrin of this board.
Historically auburn AD or president usually makes a bone head decision at this point and gives out a very coach friendly contract.
Step 5 - average or poor season follows. Auburn fans by and large want the coach gone. They usually have a large buyout though. Usually some hand wringing over this. coach finally gets let go.
step 6 - the bunker will now be at peak form. This usually starts with a crowd and board favorite being picked. You can be sure this person won’t be hired but the favorite will be anointed. See turner hill in 2008. Bobby petrino in 2012 and Mario Cristobal in 2016. The star ranking nutthuggers will be the loudest here.
My bet is on lane Kiffin in this role during the next search.
step 7 - plane tracking, rumors galore. Some very unfavorable names will get mentioned as getting interviews. Beginning stages of the bunker meltdown will start. Post like “Auburn is just not willing to do what it takes to be a top notch program” will then start. This usually coincides with mods breaking the news that the favorite candidate is becoming less likely. Meltdown is now coming.
step 8 - hire is made and a portion of the auburn boards hate it. A portion of the PTB also are not fans of it as they wanted someone else. Likely the person they would have the most access to. Not at all the person that could be the best for Auburn.
step 9 - new coach comes in. The bunker then transitions to likely unrealistic assistant coaching hires. Auburn and new coach will usually then hire at least two-three former players that made not have the proven resume yet.
step 10 - staff then has to start recruiting but finds out that now you have to recruit in a state that 80 percent of the high school coaches adore and worship your biggest rivals coach. You also find out that on the booster level with support you will often be bringing a knife to a gun fight. You will also learn that the high dollar boosters with the means to support you won’t because you weren’t their guy to begin with.
Rinse and Repeat.
