Tommy Tuberville has been through a massive coordinator upheaval. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was stolen away by Texas, and offensive coordinator Al Borges resigned.
Borges was replaced by Troy's Tony Franklin. Muschamp was replaced by Pittsburgh's Paul Rhoads.
Tubby is well-known for grooming fine coordinators. He's so successful that they get their own agents and accept offers for a higher salary somewhere else.
Auburn's coach is one of the best-compensated, winningest, and most consistent coaches in the SEC. Just ask any Alabama fan; even those stubborn bastards can’t say the current streak is pure luck. He is a magnet for young talent, both players and coaches.
To get Will Muschamp from Auburn, Texas had to negotiate with Bob Lamonte, who represents seven NFL head coaches and handful of college coaches, including Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis. This year, Texas will pay Muschamp $425,000 to fill the role of recently demoted Duane Akina.
Akina was demoted to secondary coach after a less than stellar performance from last year’s Texas defense. As long as he improves a defense that was the seventh-worst in Texas history, there will be little for Muschamp to worry about.
Muschamp is relatively young and has a bright future ahead of him. He commands a hard-hitting defensive spread developed at LSU. As an Auburn fan, I will mourn the loss of a great defensive coordinator, not only for his brilliance in coaching, but also for his energetic antics on the sideline.
Muschamp’s vigorous sideline displays were frequently broadcast on television and generated a lot of media attention.
"ESPN has a lot to do with that," Tuberville said. "The exposure is really going to help you.”
Some writers have claimed that Tuberville has been “cutting his own throat” by actively promoting his coordinators. Tubby certainly doesn’t care. He is a classy guy who gives credit where credit is due. The degree of freedom he gives his staff allows them to further develop their talent.
"I let my guys talk to media after practice every day," Tuberville said. "A lot of coaches don't do that. They tie their hands because they don't want them out in front. Sooner or later, you've got to let them speak for themselves."
His replacement, Paul Rhoads, has big shoes to fill and I hope he will. I don’t know much about him, except that a lot of Pittsburgh people are glad to see him go. Expect at least a year for him to completely make the transition.
There is no debate here, Auburn lost a major asset on defense and will take awhile to recover. In the meantime, Auburn will look to its offense to set the pace after acquiring a genius on the offensive side of the ball in Tony Franklin.
Auburn's new offensive coordinator, Franklin, developed his own consulting business after being blacklisted in 2001.
While at Kentucky, he coached two future NFL quarterbacks (Tim Couch and Jared Lorenzen). However, he wrote a book that disclosed some private information about the Kentucky staff during the Hal Mumme era.
Franklin did not work as an offensive coordinator until 2006, when Troy coach Larry Blakeney hired him. Franklin then raised the Trojans' offense to No. 16 in total offense in 2007.
Franklin created "The Tony Franklin System Seminar," a copyrighted offensive system implemented by over 300 high schools nationwide. Given only nine days to install his offense at Auburn before the bowl game, Franklin's "system" was able to produce 423 yards in a 23-20 victory over Clemson.
Not long after the bowl victory, high school coaches began descending upon the Tigers' offices looking for film, advice, and Franklin. The “Franklin System” is a work of art and is sure to help the Tigers make it to the SEC championship game this year.
"He's kind of a cult..." Tuberville said of the overhaul of his offense, adding, "It's kind of a cult."
comments (16) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
Way to take a shot at Bama while having no grounds upon what to do it on. This is about the new coordinators at Auburn, and you brought Bama into for no reason. How bout next article you show a bit of professionalism or just add "Barner" as your middle name. Either one will work.
2 months ago
"Ears is well-known for grooming fine coordinators." Let's see - the last two offensive coordinators were Al Borges and Hugh Nall. Borges was groomed all right, and last time I checked Nall was mired in the O-line. Don't let the facts get in the way. The fact remains that aubrun is not a destination for coaches, just a stepping stone.
from 2 months ago
Let's see... there was a guy named Bobby Petrino who was an OC for TT... I wonder what he is doing these days... legend says that coaching somewhere.... there was also a guy named Gene Chizek... I also heard that he was coaching somewhere....
2 months ago
I hope you don't have aspirations of being a serious journalist, high-schooler. I'd love to see your editor's face when you submit something to him referring to a respected fan base as "stubborn bastards". It's cute, but won't work in the real world, child.
Not sure I'm buying that a coordinator no one wanted from Troy is a "genius", either. At least not to anyone outside the Auburn/Opelika metro area.
Stick to your high school paper.
from 2 months ago
"respected fan base" BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It is hilarious that you crimson-necks STILL don't even know what a respected fan base is even though you have been looking up at us for a quarter of a century or more. Have you ever been to an away game? Have you ever talked to a fan of a school outside of alabama? Obviously not, because you would then realize that not only do you "people" garner no respect but are universally despised! Good grief! All you have to do is turn on ESPN and see how well they speak of your newest coach. Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Arkansas, LSU......... the list goes on and on. Hated by ALL, respected by none! You probably don't even understand that berating a high school kid just because he isn't fond of your "school" is in any way acceptable behavior. I sincerely hope that you reprioritize your pathetic, football-centered lives. Your answer will undoubtedly be the same though. "Thar jus jealous 'cause we yusta whoop 'um!"
As for the Mensa member who so predictably threw out the obsession card, you might want to scroll back up to the beginning and notice the logo preceding the article. What are you even doing reading an article who's title in no way implies that he is going to discuss Louisiana-Monroe, Aryties' Angels, losing streaks or anything else that might pertain to the university of alabama at tuscaloosa? You probably listen to and get upset by Paul Finebaum too eh?
The simple fact Leon is that they are mad because we have a coach who does not need to lie to kids or bend rules to get them to sign. He gets kids of good character and lets his assistants coach them the way THEY see fit. That is why Auburn plays with and beats teams that historically have higher recruiting rankings, and that is why he has had a high percentage of assistants get head coaching jobs. Yes it is a simple concept, but there are others here that apparently need everything spelled out for them. He does not remove suspensions when an embarrassing loss is imminent. And he (uat supports take a seat) actually has the audacity to discipline his players when the situation arises, which for uat should be sometime in the middle of next week. This summer Tuberville is giving back to the men and women who serve for our country, by putting himself in harms way to go overseas. Does your coach have the character to do that Brad?
Good luck with your career Leon from a former Pirate! Most of these alabama football fans are usually from some podunk alabama town that would never in a million years compare to Fairhope. You are truly lucky to grow-up there.
2 months ago
Sounds like this article stepped on a lot of 'bammer' toes. Course most of you don't own shoes, so that's easy to do. If AU is a stepping stone for coaches, what is bammer? Let's see........Stallings is out of coaching altogether, Dubose was exiled to a high school, and has finally made it back to the 'big time' at Millsaps or some NAIA school, right? Coach Fran left because he couldn't put up with idiot fans and now he's out of coaching, Price never even got a chance to coach a game, and Shula was fired. Sounds like bammer is not even a stepping stone, but a coaching graveyard. But we all know your Saviour has arrived. You do know that Tuberville is 5-2 against little nicki, don't you.
And as far as Franklin is concerned, let's just wait and see how he does. Might surprise you bammers.
2 months ago
Isn't this an article about Auburn? Or are y'all so obsessed with us you can't even talk about YOUR OWN TEAM without mentioning us?
2 months ago
"respected fan base" BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It is hilarious that you crimson-necks STILL don't even know what a respected fan base is even though you have been looking up at us for a quarter of a century or more. Have you ever been to an away game? Have you ever talked to a fan of a school outside of alabama? Obviously not, because you would then realize that not only do you "people" garner no respect but are universally despised! Good grief! All you have to do is turn on ESPN and see how well they speak of your newest coach. Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Arkansas, LSU......... the list goes on and on. Hated by ALL, respected by none! You probably don't even understand that berating a high school kid just because he isn't fond of your "school" is in any way acceptable behavior. I sincerely hope that you reprioritize your pathetic, football-centered lives. Your answer will undoubtedly be the same though. "Thar jus jealous 'cause we yusta whoop 'um!"
As for the Mensa member who so predictably threw out the obsession card, you might want to scroll back up to the beginning and notice the logo preceding the article. What are you even doing reading an article who's title in no way implies that he is going to discuss Louisiana-Monroe, Aryties' Angels, losing streaks or anything else that might pertain to the university of alabama at tuscaloosa? You probably listen to and get upset by Paul Finebaum too eh?
The simple fact Leon is that they are mad because we have a coach who does not need to lie to kids or bend rules to get them to sign. He gets kids of good character and lets his assistants coach them the way THEY see fit. That is why Auburn plays with and beats teams that historically have higher recruiting rankings, and that is why he has had a high percentage of assistants get head coaching jobs. Yes it is a simple concept, but there are others here that apparently need everything spelled out for them. He does not remove suspensions when an embarrassing loss is imminent. And he (uat supports take a seat) actually has the audacity to discipline his players when the situation arises, which for uat should be sometime in the middle of next week. This summer Tuberville is giving back to the men and women who serve for our country, by putting himself in harms way to go overseas. Does your coach have the character to do that Brad?
Good luck with your career Leon from a former Pirate! Most of these alabama football fans are usually from some podunk alabama hick town that would never in a million years compare to Fairhope. You are truly lucky to grow-up there.
from 2 months ago
Funny you mention no one, including ESPN, respecting Alabama, when ESPN actually came to Tuscaloosa to film a spring practice feature, which ran on prime time SportsCenter. Funny, I must have missed Auburn's.
2 months ago
Um...Mensa AU fan, might want to figure out how to not double post. It's not that hard...see the little button?
from 2 months ago
Still here I see. Well thank you for your continued infatuation in Auburn Athletics.
2 months ago
Dearest Brad:
Tony Franklin's impact will not truly be known until the season begins, all we can do right now is speculate. When the players hit the field this Fall, I am sure that you will see the impact Franklin has had.
I never wrote for my high school's paper. Nor do I aspire to be a "serious journalist."
You see, this is called blogging. I write the news and add my opinion on it. Usually I try to inject a little humor into my articles to keep people entertained.
I'm sorry if you have been led to believe that the internet is a non-biased world that runs on happiness and gumdrops. But I do applaud your efforts to make the global community less biased and more professional by insulting a "child."
Your "cute" comment also concerns me. While I am flattered by the proposition, I simply do not 'swing that way.' Better luck next time tiger.
I will rewrite one line of my article and you can comment on that if you find anythign objectionable in it:
"Auburn's coach is one of the best-compensated, winningest, and most consistent coaches in the SEC. Just ask any Alabama fan; even those stubborn bastards can’t say the current streak is pure luck."
2 months ago
Sorry, that last line should read:
"Auburn's coach is one of the best-compensated, winningest, and most consistent coaches in the SEC. Just ask any Alabama fan; even those respectable fans can’t say the current streak is pure luck."
2 months ago
Ok. I found this article from another site that linked it as an article from a "high school senior", so that's where that came from. And most high school seniors that write bad sports articles want to eventually move up to something more respectable, like, The Plainsman or something.
Now that I know it's just another meaningless op/ed piece about how great the Coordinator From Troy (that no one wanted) is, I can let the "stubborn bastards" comment go, b/c I've surely heard much worse. I would argue that plenty of national media members, including ESPN and Sports Illustrated, have commented (in respect) at our fan base showing up en masse at A-Day to support our new coach, so that's what I meant by "respected fan base". It's not respected by Auburn fans, sure, but unlike you guys, we don't measure how we're doing by the school across the state.
Finally, no Alabama fan would say your streak is pure luck, and I haven't ever heard that from anyone. It's due to a myriad of factors, including us being on probation for 4 of the wins, having the worst coach in our history for 5 of them, Tuberville having his choice of any recruit he wanted in the state, our 4 coaching changes, etc. And even with that, every game has been decided in the fourth quarter, which means that even at our worst and y'all at your best, you haven't been that much better. A few more #1 recruiting classes and a national championship coach should turn things around rather quickly, which will also not be the result of luck.
2 months ago
Georgia Coach Mark Richt has outperformed Auburn Coach Tuberville since becoming the Bulldogs' coach in 2001. Goooooooooooooooo DAWGS ... sic 'em !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
GoooooooooooooooooooooDawgs.......Auburn's luck has just run out.
Can't wait till the game is played. Richt will definitely make a cat out
of the "Lucky Tiger" so they can once again show their "Paper Tiger"
colors and have yet to win a real National Title. So much for that.
write a new comment