Shane: Auburn gains momentum
- Posted by capstonereport on February 8th, 2010 filed in Shane's columns
- 41 Comments »
Auburn gains momentum with amazing recruiting success
By Shane from Centerpoint
New head coach Gene Chizik came to Auburn amid controversy and doubt. The infamous “heckler” incident along with the Tiger fan base’s general lack of confidence in the young football coach’s abilities (mainly due to his 5-19 career record) were indicative of the uphill battle he’s faced from the minute he arrived.
In spite of that and other negative perceptions created during the off-season, Auburn came out of the blocks with a fast start. Coach Chizik’s team looked extremely sharp and left a positive initial impression on the college football world by racking up five straight wins.
Those victories created a buzz and the talking heads started giving Chizik some attention. Auburn was getting national coverage during the “run” and the Tigers head coach apparently used that boost to enhance recruiting.
The bottom half of the season was not as successful to say the least. Auburn went 2-5 with Ole Miss being its lone Southeastern Conference victory.
Objectively speaking, Chizik and his staff left something to be desired with the late season collapse. However, the difficulties on the field didn’t seem to affect Auburn’s image with young high school athletes and their parents.
Apparently, from a recruiting standpoint Chizik was somehow able to overcome the usual disinterest a program tends to suffer from when the football team isn’t successful.
Almost magically, he and his crack staff were able to maintain the loyalty of some of the nation’s finest athletes.
The most amazing thing about that is they were able to keep almost all of those players on board without the recruiting coordinator, Trooper Taylor, who was limited from personal contact for most of the season.
Early on, critics and opponents alike made fun of the assistant coach’s “Limo Tour” and shook their heads when Auburn staged “Big Cat Weekend”. To most people the combination of Trooper Taylor and Curtis Luper was humorous at best.
Nobody’s laughing now. Especially after Auburn signed one of the school’s all-time best classes last week. It is more than evident to me that the system Auburn utilizes is very effective.
One of the best things Chizik was able to do to take the sting out of an average first season was to bring in a signing class that shows so much promise that the Tigers fans are ready to move along to next year. The entire Auburn “family” has been re-energized.
That brings another thought about the Auburn fan base. They’ve completely bought in to Chizik’s idea that Trooper and Luper should serve as the face of Auburn’s recruiting program.
It would be difficult to make a case against the Tiger’s dynamic duo after they rounded up a consensus top-five recruiting class this year.
Actually, most head coaches want the spotlight focused their way, but Chizik must feel that Taylor needs to have free reign to do his job. And, even if Trooper gets caught cheating a few times, his “bang” is worth the “buck”. I find it hard to disagree.
The reality is that Auburn made a significant step toward being competitive with the better SEC teams in the future by signing this tremendous class.
Truthfully, Gene Chizik knows he will have to duplicate this top-five group at least two more years running if he hopes to have a shot at an SEC crown. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Alabama and Florida are loaded from top to bottom.
Give the man credit. He appears ready to “push the envelope” when recruiting and he has the guts to hire professional recruiters to push it for him.
One thing the Auburn coach has shown me. He knows he has to utilize unconventional methods and employ questionable tactics to improve his odds and have a fighting chance when facing the likes of Urban Meyer and Nick Saban.
At least Chizik is ready to fight for Auburn, unlike like their last coach who just rolled over and quit.
Shane writes a weekly column for the Call News and the Capstone Report.
Stop reading the Birmingham News
[caption id="attachment_4974" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Auburn and the state media"][/caption] Commentary by Alan Being number 1 is rough. Well maybe not. Sure you have to deal with the slings from rivals trying to catch you, but that is life. Also part of the life of a champion is dealing with a confrontational press. ...
Super Bowl Preview: Brees vs. Manning
For those interested in the Super Bowl, here are two stories embedded in this post about this years Super Bowl. First, Brees takes leadership role beyond football. Second, Peyton's Place: Star QB pitches for Super Bowl win. Enjoy. Powered by Mochila Powered by Mochila
Warren Sapp pulled from NFL Network
For those interested in the Super Bowl this is from the AP: Former football star Warren Sapp has been taken off the air while the NFL Network reviews a domestic battery allegation in Miami Beach. Network spokesman Dennis Johnson says the incident is being reviewed and Sapp won't be part ...
BIZARRE: It is Alabama, no wait Auburn!
Will the recruiting news stop for one day so fans could enjoy basketball? Or at least not think about college football for one Saturday and maybe think about the Super Bowl? I guess that is an impossible dream in a state that is always obsessed with football. And Saturday was a ...
Recruiting: Vols landed a good one in Jackson
T.J.Walls Recruiting Correspondent Recruiting Analysis: Martaze Jackson The Tennessee Volunteer’s May Have Found a Diamond in the Rough Each year during National Signing Day great players across the country are overlooked by many Division I programs. Former Pro and now high school scout, Max Emfinger calls it “Flying Under the Recruiting Radar.” Derek ...
Capstone Saturdays: Fire When Ready, Aight?
Editorial Cartoon: Fire When Ready, Aight? I continue to be utterly amazed by the job Nick Saban has done and continues to do at Alabama. When you stop and think about what he's accomplished in just three short years, it is staggering. First, there was the change of perception. Momentum and buzz ...
Super Bowl: Passing now wins in the NFL
Powered by Mochila
Recruiting: Meyer begins break, Kiffin on roll
Powered by Mochila
Alabama was a target in 2010 recruiting
Winning the national championship makes other teams insecure. Doubt that? Then the 2010 recruiting season is proof—Alabama was the target in the living rooms as rival teams tried anything to hurt Alabama. It was widely discussed during the recruiting season, but Nick Saban made it official at his National Signing ...
Alabama’s 2010 recruiting class
Here is the official release detailing the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2010 recruiting class. Crimson Tide Ink 18 on National Signing Day (courtesy of UA Media Relations) TUSCALOOSA – University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban announced today that 18 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football with the ...
Recruiting: Blue chippers flocking to Florida
AP: Despite the uncertainty about coach Urban Meyer's future with the Gators, Florida landed one of the top classes in the country Wednesday on national signing day. ...In December, Meyer first resigned, then decided instead to take a leave of absence to deal with health issues. That leave hasn't happened ...
Jones: They couldn’t beat the Bucs!
Sports In Paradise By Dale Jones The Saints lost to the Buccaneers. Remember? It happened just two days after Christmas. The Cowboys had ruined New Orleans’ perfect season just a week before when Romo and company visited the Superdome to beat Drew and his gang 24-17. Then, just one week later, ...
Alabama Signing Day update (9:45 a.m.)
Photo from fOTOGLIF Even on signing day there is time for a cheerleader picture! It is National Signing Day 2010. This year doesn't seem to hold as much drama as 2008 or 2009; however, there are a few players to watch as today unfolds. Here are the players who have faxed in ...
What if the Super Bowl had to be decided in OT?
Powered by Mochila
Alabama doubles Smart’s salary to $750,000 a year
AP:Smart will make $750,000 a year through Feb. 28, 2013, under a deal unanimously approved Tuesday by the compensation committee of the university's board of trustees. He made $360,000 in salary last year plus $72,000 in bonuses. Powered by Mochila
Recruiting: Arie Kouandjio picks Alabama
T.J. Walls Recruiting Correspondent After visiting Los Angeles to give USC an official visit this past weekend, Tuesday Arie Kouandjio decided to give his verbal commitment a day before National Signing Day. Tuesday Arie Kouandjio told S.I.com, "Alabama just felt like a good situation, like the right place to be," Kouandjio said. ...
Recruiting: Jalston Fowler
T.J. Walls Recruiting Correspondent One of the first commitments to the 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide class was Jalston Fowler. At 6’0, 240 lbs., Fowler appears to pass the ...
Recruiting update: Allen out, Tide looks to finish
T.J. Walls Recruiting Correspondent The big news as of late, is star safety/ wide receiver, Keenan Allen may have decided to play somewhere other than the Tide. It seems that Penn State, California, and Clemson are in the picture now. One of the top players in the country, it would be ...
Shane: Saban and Meyer do not need to cheat
By Shane from Centerpoint Most experts agree that recruiting is the “life-blood” of college football. In the SEC it can determine the difference between the success and failure of a program. That said, the University of Florida and the Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off consecutive national crowns, sending their recruiting ...
Alabama football: recruiting, BCS & more
Take a deep breath. Recruiting has entered the final push. Just so you’ll know, like last year there will be a live blog running throughout the day and updates posted to the website as signees letters arrive or an announcement is made. On to some updates for Monday: Defensive back Dequan ...
