Auburn Head Coach Tommy Tuberville Making Offensive Changes

Nashville, TN - Auburn 13 - Vanderbilt 14 Final

I feel sorry for the Auburn football team.  I feel sorry for the fans that traveled to Nashville, paid almost four dollars a gallon for gas.  I can’t believe we had to sit through such a disastrous game. 

I truly believe we saw the writing on the wall, did we not.  I know hind sight is 20/20, but did anyone really feel confident about this game?  I certainly did not.

However, I traveled with my wife and her parents with faith nevertheless.  Faith that the coaches were going to put a great game plan together and the players would execute it with success.  

I was wrong, again!

How do we continue this downward spiral without making some drastic changes?  What are the real problems with this Auburn football team? Can the Auburn men and women continue to trust Coach Tuberville?  Is Tuberville only a one hit wonder with the remarkable 2004 team?

There are too many questions to answer.  We the fans have zero power to do anything about it.  What—start-up a Fire Tuberville.com website?  I’m sure that was established before tonight.

The Auburn players should not be blamed.  This season’s failures thus far fall squarely on the coaches.  Every coach on the sideline bares responsibility for the loss to Vanderbilt.

With some last minute hope to salvage what is left of this terrible first half of the 2008 season, some changes may be on the way and I mean soon. 

Wide receiver Rod Smith said Tuberville acknowledged to the team that changes could come as early as Sunday, but Smith said he didn't know what the changes would be. 

"I don't know what we are right now—spread old Auburn offense? I'm just really confused right now. Everybody is confused,'' Smith said. 

Whatever the changes may be if its coaching duties, player position or play calling responsibilities.  It’s too late to expect any major improvement, and the schedule does not get any easier with games against Ole Miss, West Virginia and Alabama on the road, Arkansas and Georgia at home. 

When asked if the changes would be drastic, Smith said it would "probably will be drastic changes.” We need to get back to old Auburn football,'" said Smith.

When asked what negatively affected the Tigers most and what caused the loss to Vanderbilt, Tuberville straight forwardly said, "it was the Auburn offense that did the Tigers in." 

Not pulling any punches Tuberville said, "When you have four yards rushing in the second half, you're not going to beat anybody.  We just need to find some answers on offense.'' 

That is an understatement!  Any Auburn fan would be quick to point out that we have heard the same excuses, the same old song and dance sense the season began.  Like this offense, it’s getting really stale.  

Firing offensive coordinator Tony Franklin mid-season may not be the total answer, but it may just be the start that is needed right now.