Hey everyone.
I honestly thought this was going to be Judgment Day in terms of Bryan Harsin's future with the football program. It appears judgment must wait a big longer.
Interviews either have reached the end or are nearing the end this afternoon. So in that sense, most of the data is in.
So what's next? President Jay Gogue, his right-hand man (Gen. Ron Burgess), the board of trustees and the university's office of general counsel will make a collaborative decision about what to do with the data gathered. That's how things like this work — even when certain elements of the operation attempt to exert bonus influence on matters.
At this stage, honestly, I'm not sure how this is going to end. That's a real problem, you know?
If Harsin isn't fired, he'll be saddled with immense baggage that doesn't belong to him. Winning in any existential sense will be almost impossible. Sure, they can win games next season. How will they recruit knowing strong, important elements within the university pine for a day when Harsin isn't the head coach? You'd better believe Auburn's competitors will be falling over themselves to paint Auburn as a rudderless organization on the verge of collapse. Even faithful Auburn people couldn't really protest that presentation too vociferously, you know?
If Harsin is fired, he's going to get paid and I'm here to tell you that there isn't a unified plan to fill the vacancy. I already can sense different plans being considered by different blocs. This feels just like December 2019 all over again. There's a rush to whack the king, so to speak, without an actionable plan to replace the king. Having a full plan in place is Coup Design 101 — and Auburn simply doesn't get it.
That Auburn doesn't learn from these fiascos really confuses me. What happened to lessons learned from Jetgate in 2003? What happened to lessons learned from the totally polarized (and FUBAR) Search of 2020? There were many teaching moments contained in those two disasters. Why are those lessons ignored?
The answer to that question will lead all of us to enlightenment. Unfortunately, I don't have incontrovertible answers there.
I think Gogue and the board and the OGC are waffling.
I think they lack clear evidence of any meaningful wrongdoing, which means Harsin (plus his staff) would be entitled to a lot of money if they're dismissed right now. It's reckless to put that expense on the athletic department again; Gus Malzahn's buyout just rolled off the department's books a few months back.
Paying Harsin to leave isn't a good option.
Leaving Harsin here after this drama isn't a good option.
Someone must answer for this — and not necessarily from an accountability standpoint.
I'm merely talking about from an explanation standpoint. In lieu of a smoking gun that hasn't yet been found, someone would be required to stand behind a podium and coherently explain to Auburn people why Auburn worked to sabotage its own football coach. This person probably will say that certain accusations were made and the university was required to investigate those claims fully, that Auburn merely was following established protocols.
But this dilemma didn't begin with an accusation. It began long before that.
I honestly thought this was going to be Judgment Day in terms of Bryan Harsin's future with the football program. It appears judgment must wait a big longer.
Interviews either have reached the end or are nearing the end this afternoon. So in that sense, most of the data is in.
So what's next? President Jay Gogue, his right-hand man (Gen. Ron Burgess), the board of trustees and the university's office of general counsel will make a collaborative decision about what to do with the data gathered. That's how things like this work — even when certain elements of the operation attempt to exert bonus influence on matters.
At this stage, honestly, I'm not sure how this is going to end. That's a real problem, you know?
If Harsin isn't fired, he'll be saddled with immense baggage that doesn't belong to him. Winning in any existential sense will be almost impossible. Sure, they can win games next season. How will they recruit knowing strong, important elements within the university pine for a day when Harsin isn't the head coach? You'd better believe Auburn's competitors will be falling over themselves to paint Auburn as a rudderless organization on the verge of collapse. Even faithful Auburn people couldn't really protest that presentation too vociferously, you know?
If Harsin is fired, he's going to get paid and I'm here to tell you that there isn't a unified plan to fill the vacancy. I already can sense different plans being considered by different blocs. This feels just like December 2019 all over again. There's a rush to whack the king, so to speak, without an actionable plan to replace the king. Having a full plan in place is Coup Design 101 — and Auburn simply doesn't get it.
That Auburn doesn't learn from these fiascos really confuses me. What happened to lessons learned from Jetgate in 2003? What happened to lessons learned from the totally polarized (and FUBAR) Search of 2020? There were many teaching moments contained in those two disasters. Why are those lessons ignored?
The answer to that question will lead all of us to enlightenment. Unfortunately, I don't have incontrovertible answers there.
I think Gogue and the board and the OGC are waffling.
I think they lack clear evidence of any meaningful wrongdoing, which means Harsin (plus his staff) would be entitled to a lot of money if they're dismissed right now. It's reckless to put that expense on the athletic department again; Gus Malzahn's buyout just rolled off the department's books a few months back.
Paying Harsin to leave isn't a good option.
Leaving Harsin here after this drama isn't a good option.
Someone must answer for this — and not necessarily from an accountability standpoint.
I'm merely talking about from an explanation standpoint. In lieu of a smoking gun that hasn't yet been found, someone would be required to stand behind a podium and coherently explain to Auburn people why Auburn worked to sabotage its own football coach. This person probably will say that certain accusations were made and the university was required to investigate those claims fully, that Auburn merely was following established protocols.
But this dilemma didn't begin with an accusation. It began long before that.
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