Willis was let go, but fans breathed a sigh of relief when news began to spread that he would be asked to come back. He had played at Auburn in college and has had a successful coaching career down on the plains.
There was only one problem: Willis didn’t want to come back.
He would ultimately accept his job back but with two weeks left before National Signing Day, Willis took a position as a linebackers coach at another University, but not just any University.
He accepted a job with in-state rival, the University of Alabama.
Alabama travels to Auburn this year for the Iron bowl on Nov. 28. What was already a bitter meeting between the two teams will have a much more personal sting as Willis comes back home, dressed in crimson and white, choosing to stand on the opposite sideline as Auburns most hated opponent.
As for Chizik, this isn't his first time down on the plains. He spent the '02-'03 and '03-'04 seasons with the Tigers as their defensive coordinator.
But Chizik's welcome back was far from warm. Controversy almost immediately surrounded the University when it was announced that he was hired.
Fans were upset that Chizik, whose record at Iowa State was less than impressive, was hired while more qualified coaches were being passed up, namely Turner Gill.
Gill had taken the University of Buffalo from the doormat of NCAA football to the Mid-American Conference Champions in only three years and seemed very interested in taking the job at Auburn.
Chizik was 5-19 over his two seasons as head coach at Iowa State, but Auburn gave him the job.
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