I had no way of knowing last night when I put the first part of this article out that it would take on a life of it's own or the number of sites that would pick it up and run with it, comment on it, fight over it, or somehow find my email address to write me personally about it. You can see it at here if you missed it.
I have gotten thanks and hate mail from Auburn fans. People have offered me the dumbest theories to go along with this post and others have called me a liar or worse. Some have said concrete facts I presented were falsehoods, such as whether or not Jimmy Sexton was even Chizik's agent. That happened at least a dozen times.
I had a person call my cell phone that asked questions, they wouldn't identify themselves. Reverse search of the number revealed an Auburn Athletic Dept. phone number. (And no, I won't divulge it.)
Since I've written the article, I've wondered why all of sudden Pat Dye has come back to the forefront of Auburn athletics and published letters to fans and the "Auburn Family." Why is Jacobs leaning so heavily on Dye to restore order?
Dye suddenly is everywhere spouting that Chizik is the best hire Auburn could have gotten. He was on the radio syndicated "Paul Finebaum Show" on Wednesday, building up everyone who had a decision in the hire, and blaming Nick Saban and Jimmy Sexton for all the trouble that came down at Auburn.
Dye said things like, "The Houston Nutt thing was put out by Jimmy Sexton, his agent."
He said someone told him Nutt had been offered $4 million. "That's a lie. I knew (Jacobs) wouldn't touch Nutt with a 10-foot pole. Jay said: `I haven't even thought about (Nutt).' I asked Frank Broyles about it and he said: `That's Jimmy Sexton. He did the same thing when Houston was out here with the Nebraska job. He did the same thing with Tommy last year with Arkansas and Texas A&M.'"
“Nick is Jimmy’s fair-haired child,” Dye said. “I do have a problem with some of the stuff that goes on, you know, behind the scenes to create [controversy] and a lot of it is coming out of Memphis, Tennessee that is being orchestrated in Tuscaloosa.
“When Auburn is having problems and there is controversy going around, it don’t hurt Alabama. It hurts Auburn, and what hurts Auburn is good for Alabama…”
“There is a pattern there. Any time you can create some question and doubt there and controversy in who they are hiring,” Dye said. “Anything negative that comes out about Auburn helps Alabama as far as recruiting is concerned.”
Doesn't this smack of "Thou protests too much?" Is he creating a smoke screen?
Then there is the list of names being bantered around for assistant coaches. Why are so many of them old Pat Dye people? It doesn't take a genius to see that Pat Dye's fingers are going to be all over this new regime. Is he going to be football adviser, pain in the neck, or quasi-coach to Chizik? Time will only tell.
Somehow in my original article, I left out all the Pat Day innuendo because I didn't know then and don't completely now understand his role in all of this. There is something out there and I'm sure it will all come out in time.
The first article spelled out the main players who were easiest to identify, but just like Watergate, we're left wondering who the mysterious man might be. Personally, I have my money on Pat Dye being "Deep Throat" in this version.
30 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Drew White 6 months ago
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I am sure your mission is to stir the pot, by spreading rummors, falsehoods and misinformation.
A monkey can stir a pot. A three year old can spread rumors, falsehoods and misinformation. Red Elephants, monkeys, three year olds.......whatever it takes, right?
Must make you feel all warm inside.
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
I feel honored you joined the list to post this one comment. Now that makes me feel all warm inside.
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Drew White 6 months ago
Glad I could help you out. SEC ball is the best. I am greatful to be a fan in a conference where there is so much passion.
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Kevin Strickland 6 months ago
Larry, you're insane.
You won't divulge the number because the call didn't exist. No one from the AU athletic department called your cell phone in reference to an apocryphal email that had been circulating for four or five days before you posted it and fraudulently claimed to have a "source" Was your "source" the al.com message board? Because your "article" was there and posted by others before your "scoop".
You presented no concrete facts whatsoever.
It shows the absolute idiocy of the general populace that you first claimed something that wasn't yours as your own and further that the overall intelligence level of the average person was insufficient to see through your crap. But when shows of no redeeming value like Survivor and American Idol flourish, it just shows how stupid and pedantic the average person is these days. Thanks for further confirming the rampant idiocy.
Beyond that, the fact that you were allowed to post that and make those fraudulent claims completely devalues this entire site.
It's certainly not what I thought it was.
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
if you go back and read the original article AND my comments, I said from the beginning that this was not "my scoop" that I had been reading and hearing all kinds of rumors and called an Auburn buddy to confirm them. Then I simply patched things together and presented it. The facts are, Ranes has been implicated beyond doubt now, Chizik, Tubberville and Houston Nutt all had Sexton as their agent. Sexton did negotiate a raise for Nutt because of this and Tubby got to quit AND keep the money.
Sorry if you don't understand the concept of facts... Sorry you can read and not comprehend...
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Kevin Strickland 6 months ago
Please be honest.
You didn't "patch together" anything. You posted somebody's message board post that you found -- or that you got from an email that somebody forwarded you -- and you did so verbatim. (Word for word).
How do I know this? I have the same content, same words same phrases in exactly the same order. I got it Sunday.
It's wild speculation, it's black-helicopter fantasy. For you to claim you have a "source" is ridiculous. Your "auburn buddy" no more "confirmed" any of this than did my dog. And I bet my dog is more connected.
No one has been implicated "beyond doubt" in any way shape or form, and certainly not from anything you posted. There are no FACTS here. Facts are things that are true and can be proven. Nothing you posted from the email you found on some other message board can be proven UNLESS you get Jimmy Sexton to confirm it himself.
That's not going to happen, Larry.
Nice fantasy. Chances are that if you fling enough crap on the wall, you'll get one piece of corn from a turd to stick. You might, by blind luck, have a single kernel here but I doubt it. And even if you do, it doesn't make the rest of the excrement you fling any more credible.
I do enjoy the continued obsession of Alabama fans with Auburn. You see, I grew up in the 70s and 80s. I remember what it was like to worry about Alabama all the time. But that ended almost 30 years ago. It's your turn now, little bro. And has been for a while, as evidenced by your obvious fascination with all things Auburn.
WDE.
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Nathan B 6 months ago
Kevin, you have to admit that no matter how he got the material, he appears to have been one of the most effective in distributing it -- simply by the number of sites that have picked it up and by the number of reads the story generated. I saw similar information in a chain-letter-style email but I didn't take the step of reading a message board and writing an article about it, not that I feel like I should have.
So, even if not a single original thought exists in this article (I'll leave it to others to make that judgment), whether or not the AU athletics department made a call or not (same there), no matter the motive (even if it's just for B/R or general notoriety), you have to acknowledge that Larry's article, for better or worse, got people reading or talking.
There are certainly some comments that can be made about the general population based on that but again, I'll leave that for others to judge. I would bet that the purveyors of B/R aren't exactly unhappy about an article that generates 20,000 + reads, as long as it's not going to bring a lawsuit.
The whole thing is a little funny, though; I will admit that. And I don't even have a dog in the hunt. =)
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Ray Bogusz 6 months ago
Just keep doin what you're doin, Larry.
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Byron Harrison 6 months ago
I personally think your original article was fantastic and made a heckuva lot of sense. Of course, I'm a Hog and we don't really care what goes down on the Plains...especially if it puts the War Eagles/Tigers/what the hell ARE they anyway(?) in the basement in the West. That IS where they will most likely be for a little while, at least. Well, as long as they hire proven losers to replace proven winners. They're like an Aggie joke gone bad.
I also think it's funny how irate and upset these fans seem to be with you, simply because you presented a possible side, based on facts, to this story. They should really be upset with Jacobs, for "begging Tuberville to stay" in the first place...while he's smacking his bum and cramming millions in his back pocket on the way out the door. How ridiculous is that...and who is stupid enough to believe that, anyway? Tubs had mucho respect and could flat-out coach...even to the point that he built Auburn up to actually thinking they could compete on a BCS-level, much less in the SEC or even Alabama now that Saban's taken over down the road. Sorry, War Tigers...you really should have appreciated that in-state winning streak while you had it because you probably won't get another for a long time.
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Kreskin Annihilation 6 months ago
I find it amusing that any War Polytechnic fans believe that Alabama fans are the least bit concerned about that train wreck down on the plains. It is merely entertainment, much like the sort you enjoyed during our probationary years and the parade of fools masquerading as coaches for the Tide.
Enjoy your puppet coach, lol.
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Jody Colley 6 months ago
I read this and thought there may be something to it. I then checked sextonsports.com and saw that Nutt, Chizik, and Tubberville are all clients of Sexton.
I read this morning that Paul Rhodes was hired as Iowa State head coach and thought back that Rhodes was also listed as a client of Sexton.
I immediately went back to sextonsports and to my surprise, Chizik and Rhodes are no longer listed on the client list.
This situation is getting more and more interesting every day.
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
Hmmmm...... Now you're breaking news to me.... That is VERRRRRY interesting... I gotta check into that now!
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rick powell 6 months ago
Excellent analysis Larry. First time reader who is thankful you are willing to call out and expose the Northern elitism and bias. Regarding the Gene Chizik hire, he has hit the recruiting trail and will prove to be a stellar hire. For all the naysayers, take a look at Mack Brown's record at Tulane and North Carolina his first two years (comparable or worse than GC at Iowa State).
Rick
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
Hey he could be... he could be the flop we saw him be in Iowa State... I've always said, "Time usually answers most questions".
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Carol Smith 6 months ago
Larry,
As a woman and TRUE Auburn fan, I applaud what you wrote about Pat Dye and his hand in the pot. What tics me off is the man left this program in a mess, got us on probation, and when the best coach we've had comes in and is set to break all of Dye's records, he, Bobby Louder, Jimmy Ranes, and a few others get the man they want in there to be there puppet to oust Coach Tubs. I am SOOOO sick of the powers that be, that I would love you to research them and write about what they are doing to our University. Stir the pot so that maybe the Auburn fans will stand up and demand the demise of these people who are trying to destroy it. If our President would get rid of Jacobs, let Coach Tub be our AD and put those other idiots out the Auburn people would be behind him 100%! That I can promise you. Keep writing your comment and stir it up!!!
Carol
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
Thank you Carol, I promise, if I learn more, I'll tell it...
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Warren Boxer 6 months ago
Larry,great article! Well written, timely and plausible - - be it truth, hear-say evidence or a mixture of both. Your blog isn't a court of law and your revelations of things known, guessed at, or facts otherwise cobbled together, is an excellent smoke & fire finding. Kudos and verbal nosegays. The sad fact is that Auburn has shot themselves in the foot (check that, have blown off all their appendages) by firing CTT. Wow, how unbelievably stupid! Trading CTT for CGC is akin to trading B. Obama for Al Sharpton!! Chairman Burton, I second the motion!
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P DUP 6 months ago
I for one hope Pat and Bobby are all over this. They have a pretty good record in hiring coaches. For every one that complains about Bobby forgets that he hired Pat and Terry. Then they hired Tommy which turned out pretty good. What ever you say, Coach Dye knows football. If we can get another hire to last 8 or ten years, most AU fans will be tickled.
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John 6 months ago
P, you are an idiot. Carol is right. Pat Dye left us in shambles. Why is that a good anaolgy? As a student in the late 80's and early 90's, am I glad at the success in the 80's - of course. But Tubby did it in a way that was clean on and off the field. Dye didnt do that. And as a senior during terry, I cant even believe you tried to make that a GOOD hire. That was aweful. Lowder and Raynes and Jacobs and Gouge are all ruining the program and will run off all the other supporters. I lvoe Auburn and will support them, but please dont do that to yourself again and make Dye or Terry Bowden anything other than what they were.
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Franklin Crittenden 6 months ago
Larry, it would seem that if anyone writes anything about Auburn that Kevin disagrees with it is either lies, fantasies, or just crap.
Kevin is either the most fanatical Auburn fan I have ever seen or he is jealous because more people read your articles than his?
All I know is that his hysterical rants are slowly turning to incoherent gibberish. (corn sticking to the wall??)
My guess is that it is not so great to be an Auburn Tiger anymore?
Great article!
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Perry Grant 6 months ago
Frankly I think if Dye had FOUGHT the Eric Ramsey stuff in 1992, he might still be at Auburn. He was only about 53 when he quit. He likely would still be the coach now , and he would be the winningest coach in Auburn history by a huge number. Auburn had a dozen future NFL players taking the field in 1993, and though they probably wouldn't have been undefeated under Dye, they would have had a 9-2 or 10-1 record, a welcome improvement from the 1991 and 1992 seasons. If Dye had stayed, we wouldn't have suffered the 1998 meltdown we did under Terry Bowden, or the 1999 rebuilding season under Tubby. And I dare say we would have appeared in Atlanta more than three times during these 16 years, and won more than one SEC title.
Dye knows football, and has the ear and wallet of all the key movers and shakers at Auburn. Maybe it's time we listened to him. Just please don't go back to the wishbone!!!
AU92536
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
It does make you wonder doesn't it?
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keith wiggins 6 months ago
Larry, your comments are interesting whether true or not...it rings true. I am an Auburn Graduate that has lived through all the coaches listed in the blogs here and watched the cluster---- that was created by the inmates running the asylum instead of the leaders we should have had at Auburn.
Auburn has produced astronauts, corporate CEOs, and thousands of successful business and professional people too numerous to mention. However , for some reason, the same business and recruiting principles that are taught at the university are disregarded when it comes to selecting a coach.
I was an officer in a fortune 500 company, and will tell you that any organization that was part of our company and handled their business affairs like Auburn handles football would have been fired with NO severance. The statement by Jacobs that Tuberville was paid 5 big ones because it was the right thing to do is a joke. Where is the money coming from? It should come from Dye and all the other so called usual suspects that want to manipulate the program. If I recall correctly, Tuberville broke his contract to come to Auburn and then insisted that Auburn change it's schedule the first season so he would not have to play Florida State. The crap never ends. Where is Shug Jordan when we need him?
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
At Alabama, I can assure you boosters have influence, but they do not pick the coaches and interfere like they do at Auburn. Is Auburn so hard up for money they have to cow tow to these idiots?
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Lisa Johnson 6 months ago
Auburn is not out of money.... I read that they paid CTT with funds from Tigers Unlimited. I don't know if this is true or not. And as far as Lowder and Dye, are concerned, I also read an article which totally blew me away and at the same time made me so angry. When Dye was coaching it was a fact that the previous president, Lowder and Dye where in agreement that they would be happy if the football team went 8-4 or 9-3 or some where along those numbers every year. Because it was stated that the president and AD did not want the football program to ever become larger than the university. This may be the reason why Dye is back in the picture which ticks me off because that would explain Chiziks hire.
Auburn has the resources to recruit great players and compete for national championships. But the powers that be are content to just do enough to be a middle of the road SEC school who now and then wins a SEC championship.Please don't get me wrong, I think an SEC championship is awesome..especially in this conference, but Auburn could be capable of so much more .
Now with Pat Dye back in the picture,I may be wrong and I hope I am, we're doomed for at least three years.
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Fred Garvin 6 months ago
"At Alabama, I can assure you boosters have influence, but they do not pick the coaches and interfere like they do at Auburn. Is Auburn so hard up for money they have to cow tow to these idiots?"
Whatever...Gene Stallings...Fired!! I guess the record below indicates what a lousey coach he was...do not pick the coaches, you must be kidding?? See below that every one was booster picked!!
1990 Alabama 7-5 5-2 3 L Fiesta Bowl
1991 Alabama 11-1 6-1 2 W Blockbuster Bowl 5 5
1992 Alabama 13-0 8-0 1 - West W Sugar Bowl 1 1
1993 Alabama 9-3-1* 5-2-1* 1 - West W Gator Bowl 13 14
1994 Alabama 12-1 8-0 1 - West W Citrus Bowl 4 5
1995 Alabama 8-3 5-3 2 - West(^) (^) (^) 21
1996 Alabama 10-3 6-2 1 - West (t) W Outback Bowl 11 11
The names below do not look like they were selected by boosters - give me a break!
Ray Perkins 1983–86 32–15–1 .677 0 0
Bill Curry 1987–89 26–10–0 .722 0 1
Gene Stallings 1990–96 62–25–0† .712 1 1
Mike DuBose 1997–2000 24–23 .510 0 1
Dennis Franchione 2001–02 17–8 .680 0 0
Mike Price* 2003 0–0 - 0 0
Mike Shula
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
Gene was let go because he didn't pursue something that caused us to go on probation.
Ray Perkins was hand selected by Bear, no boosters...
All the Boosters hated Bill Curry! That alone should tell you it was a presidential choice...
Gene was picked by the A.D.
Dubose was demanded by the fanbase....
Franchione was the first pick by that professional search place. The A.D. agreed, the boosters were screaming for "Al Alabama" guy....
Our Booster's swore they'd never all that search firm to work for us again after they picked Mike Price who not one Booster knew or liked.
Shula was picked the Mal Moore, who was influenced by the boosters and fans... We all did and most still do love Mike...
Saban was Mal's all the way, the man would just not take no for an answer...
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Robert Sparkman 6 months ago
The only thing that will do any good is to fire Jay Jacobs. The AD needs to be a more professional person who will not take sides with the old group which got us on probation and put pressure on Tubs.
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John 6 months ago
I totally agree! This is the bottom line and couldnt have been said better.
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Larry Burton 6 months ago
I think it stinks WAY beyond just the A.D.... The whole mentality has to change. Until they get a president who tells jerks their money isn't worth their meddling, the next A.D. will just inherit the same problems...
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