Auburn Football: Gene Chizik Needs Wins, Not Facebook Support
Auburn's season is spiraling out of control following anย embarrassingย 24-7 loss to Arkansas last weekend at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and things don't look like they're going to get better anytime soon.
According to VegasInsider.com, Ole Miss opened has a one-point favorite over Auburn this weekend and has been bet all the way up to a six-point favorite.ย
Raise your hand if you thought that was possible before the season started (put your hand down...no you didn't).
TOP NEWS
Indiana FB Lands First 5-Star Ever
Bill Belichick's 'Simple' Car
QBs with the Most to Prove ๐
Jonna Chizik, wife of Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, took to Facebook to try and rally fan support for this weekend's game, according to AL.com.
The message took on a religious tone, which will undoubtedly cause (and has caused) some uproar. That part of the story is a non-starter for me. We have religious freedom in this country, and people are free to express it within the rule of law.
But is it even necessary?
I've said here several times that, barring a complete disaster, Chizik's job at Auburn is safe beyond this season. However, after Saturday's listless effort versus the Hogs, a total disaster looks more likely than ever, and the Tigers are staring a 3-9 record in 2012 in the face.
Jonna Chizik said herself that social media is a powerful tool, but that works both ways. Football fans are cynical by nature, especially when it's perceived that someone's job is in jeopardy.
Spousal support is the foundation of anyย marriage, and that should be encouraged at all timesโincluding this situation. But expressing it in a public forum like Facebook, given the current set of circumstances that Gene Chizik finds himself in, suggests cracks in the foundation of the Auburn familyโwhich is how cynics are going to take it whether that's the intention or not.
It's a double-edged sword.ย
The call for action may, in fact, result in more fan support. But it's going to give critics more ammunition as well.ย
The bottom line is that, whether Gene Chizik has the support of the entire Auburn fanbase, none of it or a percentage in between, he needs wins to save his job, and getting one this weekend on the road at Ole Miss would be a good start.
