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12.11.2008

Getting warm on a Thursday

Hey everyone. Sorry again for the late start. This has been a habit of late, but my schedule is different these days.

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!

132 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

That list looks week. So far Gil is the man, with Graham in hot contention.

2:34 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

No Gary Patterson, Jay?

2:34 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

The real names aren't on the list yet.

2:35 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I can't confirm the TCU stuff just yet. You know the rules.

2:36 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Yea, I am currently hoping for a clone of a DNA mix from Gill and Spurrier, but maybe I ask for too much.

2:36 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

I do, just making sure. Keep up the good work.

2:36 PM  
Blogger Kody Coughlin said...

I think if the Soviets were going to hire a football coach the process would look something like this.

2:37 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I went ahead and put the ESPN/TCU thing up. As long as it's identified as "unconfirmed," I guess it's OK.

2:38 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I 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.

2:38 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Steve, I nominate you to be Captain.

2:40 PM  
Blogger Will said...

Can we unofficially add Bud Kilmer and Goldie Hawn (from back in her Wildacts days) to the list?

2:40 PM  
Blogger Will said...

or 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.

2:42 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

I 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'.

2:42 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

The 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.

2:43 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Campfire could be in jeopardy.

I'll update.

2:43 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

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.

however, 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. :)

2:44 PM  
Blogger Will said...

I agree with you to a point Shake and Bake but you gotta think......GD, those boys are having the tahme of their lahves!!!

And maybe Ms. Davis would go to the prom with me!

2:44 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

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.

2:47 PM  
Blogger Travis said...

Appreciate the information, Jay. Have you heard Spurrier's name mentioned at all? He seems to be the flavor of the day today.

2:48 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

OK, 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.

2:52 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Things are afoot folks, let's see where this goes.

2:53 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

I'd rather have Gill over Patterson.

2:54 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Greg says Jay's searching for internet access, cuz it can't have anything to do with this never ending coach search.

2:54 PM  
Blogger michael said...

Hey Jay, is it true you have been contacted by ESPN about a position with their college football coverage team? Do you have a comment????

2:54 PM  
Blogger Hardin said...

gary patterson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFmFGqik0D0

2:54 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Monica, so you're saying there's nothing afoot then?

2:55 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

I'm just quoting this man in my house.

2:56 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Val Kilmer?

Van Diesel?

2:56 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Plausible deniability... I like it.

2:57 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Greg says he's commenting on the ridiculous amount of time it's taking to name a new coach.

2:58 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I 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.

2:58 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

oh I am ALL ABOUT me some plausible deniability

2:59 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

I 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.

3:00 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Sean - Where are you from originally?

3:02 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Disclaimer: I am a graduate and I am completely joking.

3:02 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Monica, lived in Central Florida till I was 10, then Nashville, TN, then Auburn, now living in the ATL.

3:02 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

They don't have running water/electricity in Nashville either, but there plenty of bluegrass bands.

3:04 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

I have gotten too close to the fire and am choking on all the smoke!!

3:04 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Are they forecasting winter weather in Alabama? I see all my friends are all a twitter about weather on Facebook.

3:07 PM  
Blogger Will said...

I wonder, among the people who post on here frequently, who lives the farthest away from AU?

PS... I really hope we find a coach soon

3:07 PM  
Blogger wtc said...

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?

3:07 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Will - 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.

3:08 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

Just getting colder here...44degrees right now...don't think it will snow

3:08 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

I 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?!

3:12 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

WOW! WEG - Congrats on both fronts. That's a lot going on all at once! Along with the holidays, no less.

3:14 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

And 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!!

3:17 PM  
Blogger JD said...

very interesting comments by at the end of the article says to me that James Willis knows who the new head coach will be...


<>http://auburn.scout.com/a.z?s=6&p=2&c=820479<>

3:20 PM  
Blogger mytommyd said...

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

3:21 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Patterson and Gill were high on my original wish list last week. I want to know NOW! Pretty pretty please?!?

3:24 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

WEG 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.

3:25 PM  
Blogger WDEwg said...

Biscuit
Good 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.

3:26 PM  
Blogger barkley for governor said...

I haven't been keeping up with this search much lately, but I still like Turner Gill and think he's a serious candidate.

I 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.

3:26 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

I would love to bring Gill back but the smoke is too thick and I can't see the way :)

3:26 PM  
Blogger riskman108 said...

How long did it take for Bama to find Saban?

3:28 PM  
Blogger WDEwg said...

Why 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.

3:30 PM  
Blogger JD said...

WDE 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.

3:32 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

The Saban deal took about a month or a bit longer.

3:33 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Would Willis be ready for the DC job or does he need more experience. He has worked for some great ones here.

3:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"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

Good post, JD.

That is very interesting.

3:37 PM  
Blogger JD said...

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...

3:40 PM  
Blogger barkley for governor said...

Steve Spurrier probably continues to be mentioned because he is thought of by many as one of the top 3 coaches of all time.

Just a guess.

3:42 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

So Willis knows who the new guy is, Jay postpones campfire...announcement imminent?

3:47 PM  
Blogger Alan said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

3:48 PM  
Blogger Alan said...

Sometimes the bar eats you....

3:49 PM  
Blogger WDEwg said...

Biscuit
Don'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.

3:50 PM  
Blogger JD said...

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.

3:50 PM  
Blogger WDEwg said...

Biscuit-
By the way, who's Ole Champ?

3:52 PM  
Blogger WDEwg said...

Nevermind- Muschamp.

3:52 PM  
Blogger Jim in Scranton said...

For 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.

3:52 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I'm almost 100% sure James Willis doesn't know who the next coach will be.

3:54 PM  
Blogger JD said...

WDE, 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...

3:55 PM  
Blogger barkley for governor said...

I said he is considered by many, not necessarily considered by me.

You 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.

3:56 PM  
Blogger TB said...

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?

3:57 PM  
Blogger TB said...

Thus the reason for the Garner and Nix interviews.

3:58 PM  
Blogger krewe said...

Jay 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.

3:59 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

"Coach in Waiting" contracts should be illegal.

3:59 PM  
Blogger Roland said...

TB- That's what I was thinking...of course I know nothing.

4:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe when Klaatu lands Friday he will reveal the new coach.

On seond thought, he'll probably just say "Whoa" and bail.

4:00 PM  
Blogger Roland said...

I'm bailing on that movie

4:00 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Doug Marrone to Cuse.
Everybody get's their coach before us. hmmmphhh!

4:02 PM  
Blogger JD said...

Jay---the buzzkiller!

4:03 PM  
Blogger TB said...

You 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.

4:03 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Monica, do you have a source?

4:03 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Jay 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?

4:03 PM  
Blogger AUBigCat said...

Mo we must be on the same hotline! :)

4:04 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

krewe....I want a new bike NOW!!!

4:05 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Yes, I do.

4:05 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

I've been told that by my source too but have been unable to confirm said hiring.

4:05 PM  
Blogger BinOBA said...

I'll be sending my t shirt payment out on fri/saturday depending on work.

4:05 PM  
Blogger JD said...

Man I wanted cuse to hire gill so he'd be out of contention.I want the auburn dream team of coordinators and assistants.

4:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am officially a millionare in waiting.

4:09 PM  
Blogger Roland said...

I am an Auburn fan in waiting...for a new coach to be announced

4:09 PM  
Blogger Joseph said...

Brian 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.

4:15 PM  
Blogger JD said...

Okay about the Spurrier thing I'd have to say my top 3 alltime coaches are #1 Knute Rockney #2 paul bryant :( #3 Fielding Yost

4:16 PM  
Blogger Joseph said...

Correction the Family has already embraced him, we're just waiting on JJ to introduce him.

4:16 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Wow I didn't know the Marrone thing was a big scoop! My source is unimpeachable.

4:22 PM  
Blogger CovingtonTigerFan said...

Great article on Nall, JG. Thanks!

4:23 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

I heard it on ESPN radio! lol I didn't know it was a big deal.

PS. S stop reading while you're driving!

4:24 PM  
Blogger JD said...

In light of what Jay G. said TB that is a very good question. Jay got an answer for TB's query???

4:28 PM  
Blogger wes said...

my defenses impregnable...

4:29 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

That 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.

4:32 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Totally swamped at work today. Too lazy to read the 100+ posts. I'm sure someone will tell me if we have a new coach ;-)

Looks like Brady Hoke arrived at AU at 1 pm today and Patterson may be arriving soon.
(flightaware)

4:35 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

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.

4:37 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Tar - I just heard it announced on ESPN radio about 30 minutes ago. So, who knows.

4:38 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I 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.

4:39 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

SteveFC-
you said it like I meant

4:41 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Rats! Just got here and gotta go. Be back with the HOTTIES sometime tonight.

4:45 PM  
Blogger TB said...

Just 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.

4:49 PM  
Blogger Denny Crum said...

I 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.

4:50 PM  
Blogger Chris in Inverness said...

Marrone what?

4:57 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Doug Marrone was hired as Syracuse HC.

4:59 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Noel Mazzone is the Syracuse coach?

5:28 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

No, Noel Devine is!

5:31 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Flight Muncie>Auburn Cessna twin piston
Flight Ft. Wuth>Auburn Cessna twin jet

IF those planes carried coaches, it's easy to deduce who is the more serious candidate

5:40 PM  
Blogger wartiger said...

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?

5:43 PM  
Blogger wartiger said...

Oh!! Where do I go to view the AU jet tracker?

5:44 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

flightaware.com and they aren't AU jets. The flight from Indiana left Portland, IN which is very close to Ball State

5:47 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

flightaware.com and they aren't AU jets. The flight from Indiana left Portland, IN which is very close to Ball State

5:47 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

oops, not sure what I did there, but it was obviously retarded.

5:48 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Saints and Bears tonight. :-)

5:53 PM  
Blogger wartiger said...

ok if it's not an AU jet then which jet do I track?..please

5:57 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

just watched jj get off a private plane from ft worth. Tcu is in ft worth. More to come.

6:00 PM  
Blogger FSJ said...

Now that is good reporting Jay G..

6:02 PM  
Blogger barkley for governor said...

uhhhh, i would rather have turner gill than gary patterson. let's make a splash

6:05 PM  
Blogger Seanzie said...

Gary Patterson has a solid resume and a great track record at TCU.

6:07 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Ya 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.

6:10 PM  
Blogger barkley for governor said...

TCU plays a soft schedule, they played two good teams this year and lost to both of them.

6:12 PM  
Blogger Monica said...

Barkley are you on Facebook yet?

6:13 PM  
Blogger barkley for governor said...

Yeah, I have a facebook account.

6:16 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

wartiger-
you 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 ;-)

6:23 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Jay GT-
Didn'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.

6:25 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

everyone head over to the new post/thread

6:30 PM  

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