jibi, I'll first stipulate that in 20-20 hindsight, Chizik may turn out to be a great hire. But your arguments about how great he looked at Iowa State and the wondrous things he was "well on his way" to accomplishing there are just laughable. He took a mediocre team and made it WORSE, not better! To compare and contrast, lets take a look at what Pelini has accomplished in almost two years after inheriting a program in absolute shambles from 4 years of Callahan. Pelini took a 5-7 program and in his FIRST year turned it around and ended up with a record of 9-4 including a New Year's Day bowl win. This year may not be quite so good, but we're already bowl eligible at 6-3 at this point. THAT'S turning a program around. By your logic, Callahan gets credit for that, as you're giving Chizik credit for this year's Iowa State team. Sorry, but I give the NEW Iowa State coach credit, just as I give Pelini, and not Callahan, credit for last year and this year at Nebraska.

I fail to see how you can honestly argue that taking a mediocre team and making it noticeably WORSE over your first two years - while getting extremely mediocre recruiting classes in the process - can be called "well on your way to turning around a program." I'm pretty sure if Chizik had come in and replicated his Iowa State "success" stats and ended up 5-19 in his first two years at Auburn, you and most Auburn fans would NOT be happily calling it "well on his way to turning the program around."

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You guys are not only comparing apples to oranges, you're throwing in a banana or two.

Don't look for any support there. Shawn Kemp has like 23452 kids. He probably has never even met his father.

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The Florida Gators
- Two national titles in the last 3 years.
- Ranked in 67 consecutive polls, including 48 weeks in the top 10
- More wins in the last 3 years than any other team in the nation.
- Urban Meyer holds a 7-1 record at UF against top-five teams, a 11-2 mark against top-10 opponents and
is 18-5 against the top 25.

Most Coaches start out at bad schools and do wonders with them. When Urban Meyer took over for Bowling Green they were 2-9, he went 8-3 his first year. When he went to Utah he was 10-2 his first year there too.

Shit, look what Spurrier did at Duke. They were the laughing stock of college football when he took over, he had a winning season each year he coached there with a 20-13 record. He took them to their first bowl apprearance since 1960.

That's what good Coaches do, they get hired at a school that sucks and makes them good, the absolute oopposite of what Chizik did.

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The Florida Gators
- Two national titles in the last 3 years.
- Ranked in 67 consecutive polls, including 48 weeks in the top 10
- More wins in the last 3 years than any other team in the nation.
- Urban Meyer holds a 7-1 record at UF against top-five teams, a 11-2 mark against top-10 opponents and
is 18-5 against the top 25.

Looking at Auburn's history:

Pat Dye took over for the Doug Barfield experiment, which ended at 5-6. Dye went on to repeat the same record in his first season. He then went on to win 5 conference championships in the next 9 years, defining the Team of the 80's for the SEC. He finished his career as a legend, although his last two seasons were his only seasons with less than 8 wins since his first year on the Plains at 5-6 and 5-5-1.

The next season, with Auburn on probation (TV and bowl ban), Auburn went 11-0 and followed that up with a 9-1-1 record (20 straight wins, including back to back wins over a 4th and 1st ranked Florida Gators team). Over the next three years, Bowden had decent seasons but rarely won the 'big game'. His final season, Auburn was left depleted of talent and finished 3-8 (sans Bowden). Bowden was never considered a great coach and was largely regarded as a namesake only who took over a program on probation and road the wave of Dye's Kids for the first couple years. Then on to the Tommy Tuberville era.

Tubs finished his first season at 5-6, which was an improvement, but he quickly realized that talent was very thin at Auburn following the debacle of the Bowden fallout. After not being able to do much with the next season, he finally turned it around in year three with the foundation of his first two seasons in place and the signing of a few junior college standouts (e.g. - Rudi Johnson)... we won the division that year.

Good coaches will sometimes inherit good talent. Good coaches will sometimes have to build from almost nothing. Bad coaches can sometimes ride the wave of the previous coach's recruiting and talent and then fizzle out. I'm not saying every situation is the same, but looking at Chizik's situation at Iowa State versus his situation at Auburn are very different. In one situation, he had a persistently broken team that had little talent. In the other situation, he had a temporary broken team that had a lot of talent although it was thin as hell (as mentioned earlier in the thread, we're basically like Alabama in the heart of their probation and scholarship reductions). He brought in a great supporting cast of coaches and has done absolute wonders with the program. Next year and the following year, if this continues, I think it will define who Chizik is as a coach (afterall, as of that third year, the entire team will be full of his players alone).

@DF, keep in mind that Paul Rhoads was previously at Auburn. He is a great talent, but our defense was EXTREMELY off last season (albeit QUITE winded by the lackluster offense). I'm guessing that Chizik had quite the interview and likely had a plan for the future (not to mention had previous ties to Auburn and an outstanding resume as a defensive mastermind).

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Yep, and he took over and broke it worse! Was that team more "persistently broken" than the two examples iam4uf gave you - Bowling Green and Duke? Was it more "persistently broken" than the Buffalo that Gill took over (who had NEVER EVER had a winning season as a D1 team)? Nope, I sure don't think so. As iam4uf said - the great coaches take a broken program and FIX it and make it better. Chizik showed no sign of that at Iowa State, despite your fervent attempts to paint it so in arrears.

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Test, here's your man!

Gruden to coach in 2010? | Truth&Rumors | FanNation

Uh-oh. Trouble in Kiffin-land?

3 Tennessee players named in armed robbery attempt | Comcast.net

Funny, many Gator fans think if Meyer wins another NC he will go to Notre Dame. I don't think he will, but that's the rumor. No way Gruden goes to College to Coach.

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The Florida Gators
- Two national titles in the last 3 years.
- Ranked in 67 consecutive polls, including 48 weeks in the top 10
- More wins in the last 3 years than any other team in the nation.
- Urban Meyer holds a 7-1 record at UF against top-five teams, a 11-2 mark against top-10 opponents and
is 18-5 against the top 25.

Spurrier was at Duke for three seasons. After he left, in which I would imagine they would have maintained some resemblence of his coaching style, the Blue Devils fell apart. Sure, they had two great seasons running an offense that had never really been seen in the ACC. It crumbled afterwards. Either the other teams caught on, the other teams were caught completely off-guard, or the team was full of seniors (the latter I don't expect to be the case, but I honestly do not know, as I did not follow Duke football when I was still in elementary school). I'm not saying what he did there wasn't truly amazing, as it was, but do schools who are riding high and I would imagine still had a number of recruits from the previous coach's recruiting classes completely fall apart after that coach left the program after only 3 years? I'd venture to say that he really didn't get any recruits, aside from mop-up duty, until after his second season at Duke (the first good season). Call me cynical, but I don't think that comparing that situation is necessarily the same (nevermind the fact that Spurrier is one of the most accomplished offensive geniuses to ever coach at this level).

At Bowling Green, Urban Meyer coached for two years and then left. The previous coach had a number of great seasons in the early 90s, mind you. Meyer had perhaps ONE recruiting class under his belt. Granted, the previous coach may have ran a similar offense (doubtful) and the players were already in place (doubtful). Nevertheless, in this case, just as with Spurrier, the head coach introduced a new offensive scheme that no one in that conference had ever really seen before. Meyer had 17 returning starters in 2001 and close to that in 2002.

By the end of his first season at Iowa State, Chizik was playing SEVENTEEN underclassmen as starters! But hey, great coaches should be able to step in to any situation and have a winning season or improve from the previous season where well over half the starters graduated/left college, right?

I understand what you're saying, though. I really do. Chizik is no genius on offense, nor did he have one as an offensive coordinator at Iowa State. On paper, as a head coach, strictly looking at the the black and white of the situation (race was not meant in that statement), he obviously didn't look like a better choice than the barely successful Turner Gill (or anyone else for that matter). But peeling back the pages a bit, I think there was obviously something a bit more appealing to him than some of the other more successful (and likely less interested) candidates.

Here's an interesting read:
Was Auburn Racist Over Turner Gill? NO! Now SYRACUSE, on the Other Hand... | Bleacher Report

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Highly Touted WR Trovon Reed (LA) Chooses Auburn University | Bleacher Report

Auburn picks up Trovon Reed, 5th ranked WR in the nation and 1st ranked player from Louisiana. Not a bad two weeks for us in recruiting.

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Well, we are going against the ole ball coach tomorrow and I'm real nervous. What Gator offense is going to show up? I'm not ready to say it will be an upset but I think it will be real close.

-Spurrier is calling the plays this Week. That could mean a lot of plays down field. SC has some talented receivers that could give our DB's some trouble. Especially Janoris Jenkins who has been burned several time this year for big plays

-Protection is another worry. Tebow was sacked 4 times against a weak Vandy team. SC has a great defense and you know they will be bringing the house.

Maybe I'm way off, but I don't feel good about this game at all.

__________________
The Florida Gators
- Two national titles in the last 3 years.
- Ranked in 67 consecutive polls, including 48 weeks in the top 10
- More wins in the last 3 years than any other team in the nation.
- Urban Meyer holds a 7-1 record at UF against top-five teams, a 11-2 mark against top-10 opponents and
is 18-5 against the top 25.

Apparently BIG news in Kansas this week, where we'll be playing on Saturday afternoon. Kansas has sold out their stadium! Of course, estimates are that a minimum of 30-40% of the seats will be occupied by Husker fans. In the peak Osborne years in the 90s, we occupied as many as 70% plus of the seats there, in what was known as the "Husker home game away from home."

Even more interesting, the papers there are talking about their "sellout streak." This is actually the SECOND game in a row to be sold out - after their last home game against Oklahoma.

Post of the day on the Husker board:

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@iam4uf, I doubt you guys have anything to worry about. South Carolina is definitely on the way down this season. If anyone has ANYTHING to worry about tomorrow, I'd pick a possible upset of Mississippi State over Alabama. Aside from the absolute drubbing that the Bulldogs took against Auburn early in the season, they have since lost 4 games, including a 4th and goal stand by LSU on their 1 yard line (30-26) and a highly controversial loss to Florida (29-19). At 10.5 points, it's easy to pick the Bulldogs at home in what should be a fairly close game, in my opinion.

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BCSA (4.1, 5.0) | BCSD (4.1, 5.0)

The views expressed by me on Port3101.org are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

Wow, its a college football Saturday, 9 PM Central time, and not a single post here today. Sure not the same thread it used to be!

My Huskers won, and actually racked up 409 yards of offense today against Kansas.

My wife's Buckeyes also won in OT, and clinched the Big 10/11 automatic BCS bowl berth.

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...

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BCSA (4.1, 5.0) | BCSD (4.1, 5.0)

The views expressed by me on Port3101.org are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

Profound, very profound...

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The Tide Rolled. The Gators chomped. I couldn't pull TT through this week. One of my obscure hopes in the Pick-Em.

Too funny. He does well for 10 games with superior talent and all of a sudden he's the talk of the town.

Edit: Here's the fourth comment. Priceless!

He'd be insane to leave UNA for Memphis. He's about to get 3 really good players from Tennessee, too.

Bowden on Memphis short-list | Truth&Rumors | FanNation

The game was very disappointing. We went up 14-0 and seemed to be absolutely rolling. And then, we fell asleep. Their defense completely humiliated our offensive line. We lost another starting LB last night, as well... Eltoro Freeman went out with a concussion early in the second half. UGH!

Good news is that Bacarri Rambo only suffered a concussion. That was a scary moment and perhaps the play of the game to cause Mario Fannin to drop the ball on a would-be tying score.

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Sorry about the loss - and the injuries. Hope both of them recover quickly from the concussions. Game wasn't broadcast in my area, couldn't watch.

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I don't think he had any choice, but respect anyway to LK. Still don't like him though.

Tennessee dismisses Nu'Keese Richardson, Mike Edwards*for*robbery - NCAA Football - SI.com

From a poster on the Husker board who lives in Louisville, KY:

"Word on the street is that Louisville is after the Florida defensive coordinator to replace Kragthorpe."

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Rip uga vii

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Guns don't kill people, Gaping holes in vital organs do.

Sad day man. It seems like only yesterday that UGA VI died after quite the reign.

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Le miles is a bone head how do you not have your FG team ready to go.

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Guns don't kill people, Gaping holes in vital organs do.

How do you waste 16 seconds before calling a timeout the play before?

Then again, if Ole Miss fell on the onside kick instead of the ole move it may not have even gotten that close.

Yep, a mistake by that Ole Miss player, for sure. But the two back to back gaffes by Miles & staff were unbelievable! Their players set them up to win the game, and the coaches blew it for them. Spike the ball with only one second on the clock?!?!?! Are you kidding me???

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DF, ya got Nebraska in the Championship game! That's a pretty good turn around that Pelini's been able to pull off. I hope they give Texas a good game.

Thanks, mriff! Yes, he's done well I think, after suffering a large number of offensive graduations and then a large number of offensive injuries this year. We're 8-3 with a final game this Friday against Colorado. Sure hope we're not overlooking them and towards the Texas matchup. We should easily handle Colorado, but this is their "bowl game" and we're playing for nothing but pride and a little better record. Counting on Pelini to get them up for the game.

As for Texas, I hope they give Texas a good game too. I'm sure they'll come in as big underdogs - and although our defense is superb, with McCoy at the helm and their other skill players, they'll be tough to totally shut down. We need an offense to show up and play, just hope we get that.

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Looks like Sparky may win the Pick 'Em again... F'n Bammers.

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Something happened to my wife this last week - after leading all season - she was sure she had her picks in again - but went to the site Sunday and somehow either she screwed up or the site screwed up - it hadn't saved a single pick for her.

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Given her lack of reminding you during a previous week, did you at least point and laugh at her?

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Previously posted on the Wiki page for Les Miles:



LMAO!

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I thought she was in too!?!

Actually - she did remind me, but she reminded me on Thursday, when she was doing hers - during my workday. Couldn't do it then, and then forgot.
Neither she or I have any idea what happened. She *might* have made a mistake, but she sure THOUGHT she was in - was shocked, and just a little pissed when she checked in on Sunday! When I didn't get mine in, I knew I had just forgotten that week, but she was positive she had done hers this week. Oh well...

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So Sparky, final score of the Iron Bowl? Ontario McCalleb was just cleared for us. Eltoro Freeman is still questionable (likely won't play, but who knows). If our offense shows up and can operate flawlessly - without false starts, without holding calls, without illegal touching of the hands by tackles lined up as receivers - I believe we have a chance to inspire the defense to play four tough quarters and give us a shot.

However, given the way we've played in 'big games', that may take a prayer or two and a little help from above to happen. Needless to say, I don't think that Alabama will cover the spread unless both sides of the ball for us completely implodes. Of course, ask any Auburn fan and you'd think the refs have already been bought and paid for the game, so that may be all it takes to put our offense in a predictable 1st and 20+ and completely shut them down.

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My prediction is that I will be happy or drunk or both at the end of the game. Roll Tide!!

You coming down to Auburn or staying in Birmingham?

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I live in Talladega,but I will be watching the game safely in Anniston.