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12.13.2008

Done deal: It's Chizik

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard has confirmed the hire.

Gene Chizik will be Auburn's next football coach.

"Gene (Chizik) confirmed for me today that he is accepting the head coaching position at Auburn. I’m disappointed for our Iowa State fans and student-athletes that he has chosen to leave our program after only two seasons," Pollard said.

How about that?

UPDATE @ 8:40 p.m.: Auburn still hasn't acknowledged the hire.

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.

269 Comments:

TB said...: You know Kirk's points are excellent. This is the coach that has produced good times both at Auburn & Texas. He made a bad decision going to Iowa State. Its a tuff job turning water into wine. I will say that I completely shocked that he has been named our coach, but if he makes the right staff decisions I don't think that the world will come to an end. So come MOnday I will be watching closely to see how things start in this new era. The press pundants in the BamaHam News, and Finebaum will have a field day. The Bamers will make our lives miserable. But if he picks a staff that is young and hungry then good things could be coming. I can only hope and pray.; 8:10 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Boy, PMarsh went 180 in a hurry today.

This morning, Chizik's hire would be the worst decision in 40 years.

Now it's a great hire.

I guess he heard some pretty amazing stuff about Chizik today.; 8:12 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Thanks for your support, snydebt.; 8:13 PM
JasonBourne said...: Kay, so we fire our coach for only winning five games this year and hire a replacement who's only won 5 in two years...

Sounds about right.; 8:16 PM
coosa said...: I just got home from a wedding - it was in Auburn, of all places. I'd read a report just before leaving the motel that said it looked like Chiz was the man. Talked to a bunch of AU fans at the wedding - the unanimous emotion was outrage.

The sad thing is that there is nothing we can do about it. The trustees are in full control of everything. The trustees are recommended by the governor; the governor is a bammer. The trustees must be ratified by the legislature; the legislature is controlled by bammers. All the PTB have to do is spread a little money around and their power is secure, cause the governor and legislature are more than happy to let them destroy AU athletics.

We are really not that far from being in the same position as UAB, and there's nothing the average alum can do.

Well, I supported Barfield and I will support Chizik. But I think his hiring just confirms every stereotype the football world has toward us. Hiring Gill could have changed that instantly. Of course, its not a stereotype if its true.

I gave up my season tickets after the 2005 season, so at least it will be easier to find tickets for the one game I attend each year. Trying to find some kind of upside to this. :(

Mr. S called this weeks ago, even before Tubs got fired - a decade long nightmare.

War Eagle.; 8:17 PM
Anonymous said...: "Mr. S called this weeks ago, even before Tubs got fired - a decade long nightmare."

I hope I'm wrong. I'm trying to be a good fan and just roll with it.

I'm lowering my expectations. Winning records and bowls that are somewhat interesting are going to have to the be the place to start, I suppose. Funny thing is, we had that.; 8:21 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: I was on the money about how this search unfolded.

I said the guy was picked all along and you wouldn't know who it was until the very end.

Correct on both counts.; 8:23 PM
Denny Crum said...: Jay G,

Bustin' out old PM, well, I guess he had it comin'. I am just to eat Vanilla Moon Pies and drink milk and hope I feel better in the morning.

Now, to address a point made by TB, the bamers always try to make our lives miserable. How many times did you hear those inbreds call in to the Finebaum and misprounounce CTT's name, you know how it would go, "Hey Paul, what do you think Coach Tooberville ..... " or the old wingnut or ears reference. 7 out of 8 years of losing did nothing to stop that. SO, unless you are a glutton for punishment, don't read the bammerham news or listen to finebaum.

Face it, no coach we hired would have stopped the negativity from the inbreds.; 8:24 PM
TAD said...: Argh! Can we not hire a coach who doesn't have Jimmy Sexton as an agent?

I am happy at the thought of Stacy Searles & Tracy Rocker on the staff. Dameyune Craig for quarterbacks coach!; 8:25 PM
TB said...: JGT then my question earlier in the week concerning what the recruit said concerning James Willis was correct also. Nix and maybe Garner are coming back to Auburn? Or at least they were interviewed and asked the question?; 8:26 PM
ron mexico said...: wait, chizik was the guy all along? how do we know this?; 8:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Jay G,

How long has this one been in the works?; 8:27 PM
JasonBourne said...: Maybe this will be more "Change we can believe in."

Seems to be a theme this year.; 8:28 PM
Denny Crum said...: Ron Mexico has a great question, could you please answer it.; 8:28 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: I expect to see James Willis on the Auburn sideline in 2009.

Also, I wasn't busting on PMarsh. You all know how I feel about him. I was just noting the abrupt change in his tune today ...; 8:29 PM
Denny Crum said...: well, why the change then. I mean if it is a bad hire in the morning, what makes it a great hire after the deal is done?; 8:30 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: I have surmised that Chizik was the guy all along because of how "quickly" this all came together.

I mean ... he held the first interview with Chizik on Thursday afternoon. You think he got this job today?; 8:30 PM
RoscoPCoaltrane said...: JGT,

Why not Turner Gill?

Any answers?; 8:31 PM
Miller said...: So a strong AU flavor staff.... what would it look like? Am I missing someone? Is there any other choice for OC, anybody?

OC/QB - Pat Nix (cringe)
RB/ST - Dameyune Craig
WR - Shayne Wasden
OL - Stacy Searels

DC - Rodney Garner
DL - Tracy Rocker
LB - James Willis
DB - Travaris Robinson; 8:31 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Can't answer the Gill stuff.

No idea.; 8:31 PM
michael said...: I surmise the guy was picked all along, but then said no...; 8:32 PM
ron mexico said...: no pat nix as OC, we got to figure out something better than that.; 8:32 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Michael, yeah, you might have something there.

I'd still like to know why Texas decided to give Muschamp the king's treatment in October of his first season in Austin.; 8:33 PM
Denny Crum said...: Hey Jay G,

Congrats,,,,Uk beat IU today....hooray.; 8:33 PM
Anonymous said...: D. Miller,

I wouldn't bet your copies of Piloting the Strait on Wasden. He's pretty happy at Troy.; 8:33 PM
ron mexico said...: but you think Chizik was the intial target, jay?; 8:33 PM
Anonymous said...: Can we stoke up the campfire?; 8:34 PM
JasonBourne said...: Which of these three will get us back on top:

1. Chizik's wealth of head coaching experience
2. Chizik's stellar finish to this year
3. Biting sarcasm

WDE; 8:35 PM
Miller said...: Sensi... I was just naming former AU players that I knew were in the coaching biz...

From what I have been told Searels is very happy at UGA too, and wouldn't leave there unless he was given a shot at being the OC...
Pretty much the same for Garner and not leaving UGA unless it was to be the HC at AU...; 8:35 PM
Denny Crum said...: It is such a cold night, a campfire would so very nice.; 8:36 PM
Beth said...: I would like to know how much Jimmy Sexton makes as an agent... I bet he got a huge payday as a result of all the things going on at Auburn; 8:36 PM
coosa said...: Congrats on your call Jay - you were right on both. Looks like you've got the place figured out pretty well.

>>>I'm lowering my expectations. Winning records and bowls that are somewhat interesting are going to have to the be the place to start, I suppose. Funny thing is, we had that.<<<

LOL Mr. S; guess we'll all have to be a little more grounded in reality for a while. And I don't think beating bammer 6 in a row is likely to be part of the equation this time.

I don't really know much more to say about this. Don't want to be negative and not give the new coach a chance, but I'm just very disappointed that this opportunity to really change our national image was wasted.

Chiz might win just as many or more games than Gill would have, but it will be far more difficult for him to do anything to change our image.

I wonder what Charles from Reeltown will say about this? Gonna have to stoop so low as to listen to finebaum Monday just to see.

War Eagle; 8:37 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Ron, maybe I spoke too soon.

I'm 100% sure he was in the picture from the beginning. Was he The Guy? Now that I think about it ... probably not.; 8:37 PM
michael said...: I imagine they have been talking to him a lot longer than just Thursday. However, Thursday it made sense to make the talks public, as by then other avenues had closed up.; 8:39 PM
Denny Crum said...: I am just going to continue to eat Vanilla Moon pies and retreat into my Fortress of Solitude.; 8:40 PM
Hardin said...: Jay,

did you see this guy yelling?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7TxIMAwc1k; 8:41 PM
Jet said...: Jay ... Chizik wasn't the guy all along ... Just the last man standing.; 8:42 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Heard him.; 8:42 PM
ron mexico said...: i was thinking chizik was the fail-safe. Muschamp thing fell through and no telling who else didn't even show interest.

It would sure make me feel better if i knew turner gill turned us down.; 8:42 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: 5-19 is something that I'm 100% sure will be difficult for Auburn fans to swallow.; 8:43 PM
michael said...: Houston Nutt is sounding pretty good right now.; 8:47 PM
ron mexico said...: surely those people knew hiring chizik wasn't going to sit well with the fans, right?

Isn't pretty important to hire someone for fans to get excited about? Isn't that what generates revenue for your athletic department?; 8:49 PM
michael said...: As I stated earlier, I think Auburn likes to antagonize their fans, from the top all the way down to the coaches.; 8:51 PM
ron mexico said...: michael,

let's not kid ourselves... we have the worst coach in the SEC right now. I hope to god i'm wrong about that though.; 8:51 PM
Denny Crum said...: Well, Eisenhower was picked ahead of 37 other generals in the army to lead the American forces in Europe in WWII after being an unknown and that worked out ok. Still, 5 and 19 that is a VERY hard one to swallow. Well, I led Uof L to a final four in my first year as a head coach, maybe Gene can lead us to the SEC title game and we can all be happy and look back on today and think how foolish we all were.; 8:51 PM
Hardin said...: gators are already calling him "chizook"; 8:52 PM
michael said...: How did Jay Jacobs get his job? Did he win an essay contest? Did he win a reality television show? How??; 8:52 PM
ron mexico said...: bobby lowder connected some strings to his back and made him dance; 8:53 PM
Jay G. Tate said...: Ron Zook? Intriguing.; 8:54 PM
WDEwg said...: Ron Mex
I'm with you. I'd feel so much better if I knew that Gill had turned us down. But when he wasn't introduced as new Syracuse coach, it smelled like to me that he was waiting to see if AU picked him.

By the way, p nix as OC? THAT'S going to solve our offensive offense?; 8:55 PM
Denny Crum said...: Again Michael, I want to emphasize that finding the perfect lapdog and sycophant is not the easiest thing to do. I think JJ does the best job at that in the world. Where else are you going to find a yes man and boot licker of his caliber. No where I tell you, no where. His ability to kiss derriere is without peer.; 8:55 PM
michael said...: at least there was some loyalty/passing the torch kind of feel to the zook hire. And also, Zook hadn't already proven to be a losing head coach.

So yes, the Zook hire made more sense than this. Uh oh.; 8:57 PM
WDEwg said...: Jay
Can you please call Gill and make him tell you that he turned AU down, then I can feel better knowing that AU has sunk to the level where we can only get a coach who was about to be fired.

One of my friends said of the hire-- If you are going to get a guy that has yet to beat a Div 1A team- -that guy had better have racked up 4 Div 1AA titles, and come close to beating the big boys in their one shot each season.; 8:58 PM
ron mexico said...: has chizik not beaten a d-1 school yet?!?!? I need a cigarette; 9:00 PM
WDEwg said...: So- -by some accounts, we've hired a coach is not a great recruiter, comes up through the Defensive ranks, had problems with his OC this year- -AND has now done the EXACT opposite of excite the fanbase?

How in the world did even the PTB's think this was a shrewd move?

I wish these folks would show themselves and be accountable. This is crazy.; 9:00 PM
Jet said...: Our new head hizzle is Gene fo Chizzle.; 9:01 PM
barkley for governor said...: Can you guys imagine what it will be like when he loses that first game he's supposed to win?

He hasn't even coached a game here yet, and we want him gone. When he starts losing all hell is going to break loose.; 9:02 PM
michael said...: I don't want him gone. I want him to win us an SEC title, and he might.

But what a horrible hire.; 9:04 PM
WDEwg said...: Sorry Ron
I think my friend was given to hyperbole. Their 5 wins were over:

(07) Iowa, Kansas State, Colorado,
(08) South Dakota State, and Kent State.

So, he was clearly talking only about 2008, not career wins.

Sorry.; 9:04 PM
WDEwg said...: Barkley
No doubt. That's why I don't understand the hire at all. If they had hired Gill, I think at least some portion of the fan base would be excited. However, if he came out and struggled early, folks might grumble- -but they would probably gave him some latitude.

With Chizik's HC trackrecord- -the "Here we go again, see I told you" chants will start immediately after the So.Miss game.; 9:06 PM
Confucius said...: Chizik Wins while at Iowa St.

Iowa 6-6 team in 07
Kansas St. 5-7 team in 07
Colorado 6-7 team in 07
Kent St. 4-8 team in 08
SD St. (Div. II) 7-5 in 08; 9:07 PM
barkley for governor said...: Well you're one of the few that don't want him gone. Jordan-Hare will be empty if he loses a game early that he is supposed to win.; 9:07 PM
eaglesteeler said...: JayG,

Looking at the Texas situation. When Chizik was there did UT not think he would be a good "coach in waiting" like they think Muschamp will be?

Are they a better evaluator than AU or did they miss on Chizik and didn't want to miss on Muschamp...; 9:08 PM
Confucius said...: Iowa state has given up an average of 37 points per game in their losses the past two years. That is 19 losses in two years.; 9:12 PM
Jet said...: The likely reality is that Chizik isn't as bad as 5-19, but the problem is perception. Only thing to do is put your shoulder to the wheel and push with all your might.; 9:12 PM
barkley for governor said...: Did Phillip take down the article he wrote questioning Chizik?

What a homer.; 9:15 PM
FSJ said...: PMarsh is an embarrassment with the way he has bobbed and weaved thoughout this process..; 9:19 PM
eaglesteeler said...: JAyG,

were you there at the announcement in Montgomery, when Mayor Bright was announcing the name of the new AA baseball team?

The press conference announcing Chizik will remind me of the silence after the name "Montgomery Biscuits" was announced.; 9:19 PM
Unknown said...: coosa, we changed out national image by getting rid of Tuberville. The question is, how long will it take for us to recover from it.

I would just like to thank the ignorant redneck at the airport for adding to the embarrassment by making an idiot of himself. Nicely done. It is guys like that that give ignorant rednecks a bad name.

ron, winning football games and not getting put on probation is what it is about. Getting a hire the fans agree with isn't.

I cannot believe people are trashing the coach before he has even showed up on campus. It seems we are re-defining idiotic these days.

It is wild to read some of this. Auburn has very much become similar to Alabama. We eat our own.; 9:20 PM