I have been making calls in a mostly futile effort to gather information about Auburn's football-related intentions. I'll say this: I believe the search will end next week. As far as the next coach's identity, I have no idea.
Since Ball State's Brady Hoke confirmed yesterday that he has spoken with Jay Jacobs, we can add him to the highly official HABOTN list of official candidates:
- Brady Hoke, Ball State head coach
- Derek Dooley, Louisiana Technical Institute head coach
- Turner Gill, U. Buffalo head coach
- Patrick Nix, U. Miami offensive coordinator (possibly by phone)
- Rodney Garner, U. Georgia assistant/recruiting coordinator
*We also have unconfirmed reports that Tulsa coach Todd Graham has interviewed with the Tigers. To this point, though, Tulsa officials have declined to address the situation. Graham was evasive when queried in Mobile on Wednesday.
*We also have an unconfirmed report from ESPN, citing unnamed sources, that says TCU's Gary Patterson will communicate with Auburn today.
CAMPFIRE POSTPONED: I was planning to run one. I think search-related issues have foiled us again. I'll keep you updated ...
THE OFFICIAL NALL STORY: In the unlikely event you haven't yeat read this valuable piece of prose, here is my story about Hugh Nall that appeared in Thursday's editions.
T-SHIRT ALERT: If you said you'd buy a HABOTN tee and haven't yet communicated with Scottie B., now is this time. Please see the original thread for ordering information. Get on it!
That list looks week. So far Gil is the man, with Graham in hot contention.
ReplyDeleteNo Gary Patterson, Jay?
ReplyDeleteThe real names aren't on the list yet.
ReplyDeleteI can't confirm the TCU stuff just yet. You know the rules.
ReplyDeleteYea, I am currently hoping for a clone of a DNA mix from Gill and Spurrier, but maybe I ask for too much.
ReplyDeleteI do, just making sure. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI think if the Soviets were going to hire a football coach the process would look something like this.
ReplyDeleteI went ahead and put the ESPN/TCU thing up. As long as it's identified as "unconfirmed," I guess it's OK.
ReplyDeleteI do think we should have a new exclusive club here, the throw Tony Franklin Under The Bus Club, a group dedicated to finding ways to blame any further issues with the football team on Tony Franklin.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I nominate you to be Captain.
ReplyDeleteCan we unofficially add Bud Kilmer and Goldie Hawn (from back in her Wildacts days) to the list?
ReplyDeleteor Hayden Fox? I hear he would bring Dobber Dobinski with him as DC. Thats is, if Dobber can get out of his gig providing voice-overs for Patrick the Starfish.
ReplyDeleteI dunno if I like Bud Kilmer Will, I hear he won't run the oompty oomp, which is necessary for Auburn to compete in the SEC. Especially for a two min drill. There was also rumor that his second team "dummios" couldn't even run a simple draw....just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteThe Throw Tony Franklin Under The Bus Club will be founded upon sound business practices that I learned from many years of work as an engineer. Namely, any time there is a problem, the blame is assigned to someone that no longer works for the company. It works very well.
ReplyDeleteCampfire could be in jeopardy.
ReplyDeleteI'll update.
Jay G, you got a shout-out on Knoxville radio today. they were going through SEC-related stories and talked about your Hugh Nall interivew.
ReplyDeletehowever, they said reporter Jay Tate. i held back my initial response to call in and ask them to put the GGGGGGGGGGG in there but i decided against it. :)
I agree with you to a point Shake and Bake but you gotta think......GD, those boys are having the tahme of their lahves!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe Ms. Davis would go to the prom with me!
I heard that Steve already has dibs on Ms. Davis, besides I hear that Darcy Sears and her "whipped cream bikini" is the real star out there in West Canaan.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the information, Jay. Have you heard Spurrier's name mentioned at all? He seems to be the flavor of the day today.
ReplyDeleteOK, Jay, what's up with search-related issues interfering with a campfire? Does it have anything to do with the Patterson interview today? I'm not that excited about Patterson being the new coach.
ReplyDeleteThings are afoot folks, let's see where this goes.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have Gill over Patterson.
ReplyDeleteGreg says Jay's searching for internet access, cuz it can't have anything to do with this never ending coach search.
ReplyDeleteHey Jay, is it true you have been contacted by ESPN about a position with their college football coverage team? Do you have a comment????
ReplyDeletegary patterson
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFmFGqik0D0
Monica, so you're saying there's nothing afoot then?
ReplyDeleteI'm just quoting this man in my house.
ReplyDeleteVal Kilmer?
ReplyDeleteVan Diesel?
Plausible deniability... I like it.
ReplyDeleteGreg says he's commenting on the ridiculous amount of time it's taking to name a new coach.
ReplyDeleteI have internet access at the house 24/7. I know that me residing in Alabama may lead anyone to believe I haven't yet heard of the internet, but that's false.
ReplyDeleteoh I am ALL ABOUT me some plausible deniability
ReplyDeleteI was shocked to discover when I first visited Auburn University that there was, in fact, electricity, indoor plumbing and people actually knew what the dentist was.
ReplyDeleteSean - Where are you from originally?
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I am a graduate and I am completely joking.
ReplyDeleteMonica, lived in Central Florida till I was 10, then Nashville, TN, then Auburn, now living in the ATL.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have running water/electricity in Nashville either, but there plenty of bluegrass bands.
ReplyDeleteI have gotten too close to the fire and am choking on all the smoke!!
ReplyDeleteAre they forecasting winter weather in Alabama? I see all my friends are all a twitter about weather on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, among the people who post on here frequently, who lives the farthest away from AU?
ReplyDeletePS... I really hope we find a coach soon
What would happen if Spurrier is named the coach? You guys are posting so much I can't go read it all, so I thought I would ask. Does anyone see this happening?
ReplyDeleteWill - I'm not sure if he posts on the blog, but there was a guy who used to join us in Chatroll that lives in Alaska.
ReplyDeleteJust getting colder here...44degrees right now...don't think it will snow
ReplyDeleteI also think my head is going to explode from all the coaching search! My daughter is actually graduating from Auburn next Friday and getting married in January so this is just adding to my headache. Does anyone think we'll have a coach by the time she graduates?!
ReplyDeleteWOW! WEG - Congrats on both fronts. That's a lot going on all at once! Along with the holidays, no less.
ReplyDeleteAnd we are leaving after graduation for a family trip to NY to celebrate for 5 days....please let the coaching search be over soon...can't take much more!!
ReplyDeletevery interesting comments by at the end of the article says to me that James Willis knows who the new head coach will be...
ReplyDelete<>http://auburn.scout.com/a.z?s=6&p=2&c=820479<>
You know who's been mysteriously absent from all the coaching talk? That's right, Tim Brewster. I'm still pushin' for Patterson. No real reason, just 'cause. But now that he's been mentioned (albeit uncomfirmed) I know now that he's just part of the smoke screen
ReplyDeletePatterson and Gill were high on my original wish list last week. I want to know NOW! Pretty pretty please?!?
ReplyDeleteWEG if the search is not over by then just bring Coach Gill back from NY with you. We'll work out the details when you get here.
ReplyDeleteBiscuit
ReplyDeleteGood pull on that story. That is interesting. Either Willis is lying to this kid (which isn't good), or he has been assured by management that he'll be hired by the new HC. I think it says that, more than that Willis knows who the HC is.
I haven't been keeping up with this search much lately, but I still like Turner Gill and think he's a serious candidate.
ReplyDeleteI think he would be at Syracuse right now if Auburn hadn't showed interest. Maybe he's waiting to see what we want to do.
Jay, I heard you on the RT today, but you never ended up giving the Brian Kelly percentage. Was he the highest? I'm all for Kelly if Spurrier can't find anywhere to play golf here.
I would love to bring Gill back but the smoke is too thick and I can't see the way :)
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take for Bama to find Saban?
ReplyDeleteWhy is Spurrier continued to be mentioned? He doesn't recruit, and he is 63! He's not a long term solution (and based on track record at USC-- not a great short term one either). Plus, he's more interested in getting to play Augusta National whenever he wants, and Hootie Johnson (former chair and big USC alum)- -will continue to make sure that happens both while he is USC's ball coach, and then after he gracefully retires from there in a few years.
ReplyDeleteWDE I agree that you could look at it like that but I also think given what jay g has written about the way auburn has conducted business in the past that it could already be decided and Willis already knows.
ReplyDeleteThe Saban deal took about a month or a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteWould Willis be ready for the DC job or does he need more experience. He has worked for some great ones here.
ReplyDelete"Coach Willis told me that the new coach is keeping him, and he is my position coach (LB), so I am in good hands anyway." - Scout.com
ReplyDeleteGood post, JD.
That is very interesting.
I think if ole champ gets the job then willis maybe the dc unless he tries to pull a garner or someone he maybe used to play with at uga to fill that position but he hasn't even been contacted so no use in speculating that stuff yet...
ReplyDeleteSteve Spurrier probably continues to be mentioned because he is thought of by many as one of the top 3 coaches of all time.
ReplyDeleteJust a guess.
So Willis knows who the new guy is, Jay postpones campfire...announcement imminent?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the bar eats you....
ReplyDeleteBiscuit
ReplyDeleteDon't disagree at all with Jay's assertion. Willis may indeed know. Although, unless Lowder has some reason to have his back-- not sure why Willis would be told the big secret. That's why I thought it was more a deal where they told Willis-- don't worry, you're staying.
Barkley who would the other 2 be? I don't think that is correct at all. Spurrier is a hall of famer legendary but not top 3 all time.
ReplyDeleteBiscuit-
ReplyDeleteBy the way, who's Ole Champ?
Nevermind- Muschamp.
ReplyDeleteFor someone that doesn't like to recruit, Spurrier sure is doing a pretty good job at it. USCe is currently ranked #7 by rivals and they were #6 in 2007. The 2008 class was ranked 2 spots lower than Auburn's.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost 100% sure James Willis doesn't know who the next coach will be.
ReplyDeleteWDE, we all know Willis' connection with ole champ @ U-Tx so I would be willing to say that boomer would make sure he always had a job. because of that I would think that willis would want to know who he was working for before he cared where he was going to be especially if that meant he could go somewhere and work with his ole buddy...
ReplyDeleteI said he is considered by many, not necessarily considered by me.
ReplyDeleteYou can't leave a guy like that out of consideration, I don't care how old he is. You see what Florida is doing right now? He put them on the map
It's obvious he still has some fire left in him. If he wants one more run, might as well come to the plains because he sure as hell isn't going to do anything in South Carolina.
Is it possible that the coach has been selected and he is using Jacobs and the search firm to help him firm up a coaching staff?
ReplyDeleteThus the reason for the Garner and Nix interviews.
ReplyDeleteJay is kinda like some sort of demented Santa Claus. This list looks like we are getting socks for Christmas but Jay keeps hinting that it's a new bike. I cant wait.
ReplyDelete"Coach in Waiting" contracts should be illegal.
ReplyDeleteTB- That's what I was thinking...of course I know nothing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe when Klaatu lands Friday he will reveal the new coach.
ReplyDeleteOn seond thought, he'll probably just say "Whoa" and bail.
I'm bailing on that movie
ReplyDeleteDoug Marrone to Cuse.
ReplyDeleteEverybody get's their coach before us. hmmmphhh!
Jay---the buzzkiller!
ReplyDeleteYou have to think that Willis has been given assurances he will not be let go. Which means the coach that is coming has been chosen and approved keeping him. Or the coach that is coming will not have a say in parts of his coaching staff.
ReplyDeleteMonica, do you have a source?
ReplyDeleteJay I'm hearing some buzz that Syracuse has hired Doug Marrone, OC for the New Orleans Saints as their new head coach. Any truth to that?
ReplyDeleteMo we must be on the same hotline! :)
ReplyDeletekrewe....I want a new bike NOW!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do.
ReplyDeleteI've been told that by my source too but have been unable to confirm said hiring.
ReplyDeleteI'll be sending my t shirt payment out on fri/saturday depending on work.
ReplyDeleteMan I wanted cuse to hire gill so he'd be out of contention.I want the auburn dream team of coordinators and assistants.
ReplyDeleteI am officially a millionare in waiting.
ReplyDeleteI am an Auburn fan in waiting...for a new coach to be announced
ReplyDeleteBrian Kelly is solid, Gill is my top choice, and Patterson is okay. I think Auburn will make the biggest improvement with Gill or Kelly but Gill has the instant national buzz, plus 3 Div 1 Natl Championships, at least 4 Conference championships, and the strong ethical character to walk tall in the muddy waters at AU. Ther family would embrace him.
ReplyDeleteOkay about the Spurrier thing I'd have to say my top 3 alltime coaches are #1 Knute Rockney #2 paul bryant :( #3 Fielding Yost
ReplyDeleteCorrection the Family has already embraced him, we're just waiting on JJ to introduce him.
ReplyDeleteWow I didn't know the Marrone thing was a big scoop! My source is unimpeachable.
ReplyDeleteGreat article on Nall, JG. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI heard it on ESPN radio! lol I didn't know it was a big deal.
ReplyDeletePS. S stop reading while you're driving!
In light of what Jay G. said TB that is a very good question. Jay got an answer for TB's query???
ReplyDeletemy defenses impregnable...
ReplyDeleteThat does it. All coaches that have been interviewed, please show up at the Auburn Athletic Complex. We will settle this immediately with a rock/paper/scissors competition.
ReplyDeleteTotally swamped at work today. Too lazy to read the 100+ posts. I'm sure someone will tell me if we have a new coach ;-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like Brady Hoke arrived at AU at 1 pm today and Patterson may be arriving soon.
(flightaware)
Mon- hope that's true. Would mean Gill still available for us. I hope he was on one of the many Toronto-Atl flights this afternoon after his bowl press conf.
ReplyDeleteTar - I just heard it announced on ESPN radio about 30 minutes ago. So, who knows.
ReplyDeleteI seriously doubt Syracuse would beat us out for a coach. If they had gotten him, it would have meant he was out of the running at Auburn.
ReplyDeleteSteveFC-
ReplyDeleteyou said it like I meant
Rats! Just got here and gotta go. Be back with the HOTTIES sometime tonight.
ReplyDeleteJust makes sense to me that if you already got your coach in the bag, what better way to get your assistants than to use the coaching search as a method of determining who would be interested.
ReplyDeleteI am concerned about Graham. Not so much him as it were, but rather, getting a coach from a finesse league and a finesse school. U of L got one of those types of coaches from the same place and things haven't been working out so well for them. Louisville is in the big east, not quite as good as the SEC. But, I guess it would be no worse than Dooley or Gill.
ReplyDeleteMarrone what?
ReplyDeleteDoug Marrone was hired as Syracuse HC.
ReplyDeleteNoel Mazzone is the Syracuse coach?
ReplyDeleteNo, Noel Devine is!
ReplyDeleteFlight Muncie>Auburn Cessna twin piston
ReplyDeleteFlight Ft. Wuth>Auburn Cessna twin jet
IF those planes carried coaches, it's easy to deduce who is the more serious candidate
Jay- When do interviewed coaches and other goings on at AU that are at that time "uncofirmed" become legit "confirmed" reports. Does AU release something saying yes it's true?
ReplyDeleteOh!! Where do I go to view the AU jet tracker?
ReplyDeleteflightaware.com and they aren't AU jets. The flight from Indiana left Portland, IN which is very close to Ball State
ReplyDeleteflightaware.com and they aren't AU jets. The flight from Indiana left Portland, IN which is very close to Ball State
ReplyDeleteoops, not sure what I did there, but it was obviously retarded.
ReplyDeleteSaints and Bears tonight. :-)
ReplyDeleteok if it's not an AU jet then which jet do I track?..please
ReplyDeletejust watched jj get off a private plane from ft worth. Tcu is in ft worth. More to come.
ReplyDeleteNow that is good reporting Jay G..
ReplyDeleteuhhhh, i would rather have turner gill than gary patterson. let's make a splash
ReplyDeleteGary Patterson has a solid resume and a great track record at TCU.
ReplyDeleteYa know the Circle Theatre in Fort Worth is currently running "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant". So, maybe JJ just wanted to catch a children's play.
ReplyDeleteTCU plays a soft schedule, they played two good teams this year and lost to both of them.
ReplyDeleteBarkley are you on Facebook yet?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have a facebook account.
ReplyDeletewartiger-
ReplyDeleteyou just look at inbound/outbound/scheduled flights to KAUO from/to places where coaching candidates are. I'm sure AU leases/borrows/charters planes so that's why you don't just look for a plane registered to AU. It's pretty much a waste of time, just like Facebook
...just kidding Mon ;-)
Jay GT-
ReplyDeleteDidn't someone stay behind to make sure GP didn't sneak off the plane after the crowd cleared out? As if people don't have something better to do.
everyone head over to the new post/thread
ReplyDelete