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2.03.2010

Gene Chizik live blog

Hey everyone. Coach Gene Chizik is holding his annual National Signing Day debriefing.

Please enjoy.

  • He has arrived.

  • ``It's a very exciting day for the Auburn family."

  • ``Literally when this day ended a year ago, we came other and laid down a vision of what we wanted to do for the next year."

  • ``We laid down a blueprint of what we were looking for ... for Auburn. It's not always about getting the best player. He has to be the right player. I'm as much or more proud of that than the talent we brought into this class."

  • On how the class stacks up nationally: ``Everybody's going to have a different opinion on that. We knew we really had to use this class to build a foundation of what we're trying to do at Auburn. This building block, exactly a year later, was exactly what we envisioned."

  • ``I want the people to be excited. I also want people to understand this is the first building block on a foundation. A year ago looking back, our goal was simply to start laying that foundation and building it from the ground up."

  • On the recruits: ``They stuck with Auburn thick and thin -- and nothing was going to change them. That's a tribute to our coaches."

  • ``Alabama is our No. 1 priority, kids in this state. We signed 11."

  • ``It unfolded about how we thought it would. It's the first block in a long building process."

  • On early momentum: ``As the commitments were build behind the scenes, a lot of them stayed in touch with each there. There really was an uncommon bond there. So many guys in this particular class -- it seems like they've been playing together for a year. It's been a real cool, clear line of communication."

  • On winning on out-of-state turf: ``The young man goes through a more difficult process. What we try to tell these guys is really simple -- you have to go with your heart. You'll have people around you with agendas. If you make this a fair fight, so to speak, we'll always have a chance to go into other states and recruit well."

  • On this being a top-5 class: ``It's nice that on this day that the people who are experts are along the same line of thinking -- that it's a good class. We don't know how it's going to pan out. Those rankings really, they won't pan out for two or three years in terms of knowing how good those classes really were."

  • On the 28-player max: ``You have to have a great plan. You really have to be cognizant during the past few days when scholarships are going out. As long as you've got a good plan and you're organized, it shouldn't be an issue."

  • Said he was going primarily after OL, DL and LB.

  • ``We need upgrades everywhere on our football team. Overall, I think we addressed our needs."

  • On kickers: ``I'm willing to use scholarships on guys who can change our field position."

  • On having one spot still open: ``We have one slot where, if the situation arises that's out of the ordinary, we can capitalize on it."

  • Anxious?: ``There are a lot of sleepless nights. It's stressful for the young men. It's stressful for the families. It's stressful for everybody. Sometimes, recruiting is about the last man standing. You have to work right down to the end. I'm anxious until I get the fax in."

  • On Lemonier: ``We had a great hope for what Corey was going to be doing today. He had so many great choices out there. It could have gone either way. We fought until the very end. We weren't necessarily 100 percent sure. We had an idea. You never know how they're going to unfold. We had an idea."

  • On Jeffrey Whitaker: ``He's a physical presence in the middle of the defense. As we try to build the defense from the ground up, the better you are on defense is directly correlated to how good you are on the front four. He brings a great deal of talent. He's exactly what we're looking for."

  • On the "surprises": ``You have changes. It's volatile through the whole year. Who is the next guy? The next guy isn't always a down-the-line player. We go back to: Is he the right fit for Auburn?"

  • Talking about Ladarious Phillips. ``He can play on the offensives side of the ball, he can play on the defensive side of the ball. That's one of those situation that popped up."

  • On Trovon Reed: ``You talk about solid guys ... and guys being under pressure, he has been a rock. He would be one who, as solid as he was, it would have shocked me if he went in another direction. He was solid. A lot of guys were solid and never wavered."

  • On BCW and the like: ``We talk about being creative and things we can create to attract student-athletes. We'll go back and we'll revisit this whole recruiting year. We'll troubleshoot what didn't go well and how we can fix it. We have to figure out a way to make next year's class better than this year's class."

  • On Michael Dyer: "Rock. Solid rock -- from beginning to end. It's incredible what he brings to the table. His commitment to Auburn. He's one of the funnest players we're recruited. He played some practical jokes here at the end that we didn't appreciate. (laughs) He brings a rare ability to the backfield. He has a combination of power and speed."

  • On Marcus Lattimore: ``We don't talk about the ones we didn't get."

  • That's a wrap.


Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

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

130 Comments:

Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

squirrel!

1:59 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

Dos!!

2:00 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

WOOOOHHOOOO....love me some Chiz!!!!!!

2:00 PM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

o well

2:00 PM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Cinco!!

2:00 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

In honor of Michael, I'll let you know they are waiting for him to arrive.

2:01 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

All hail The Might Chiz

2:01 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

Of course, they have CJ Mosely on the front page of the state site

2:01 PM  
Blogger Emmett said...

War Eagle - Welcome to all of the new Tigers today

Great Job today JG - I was giving info to most of the guys I work with before their scouts or rivals had it posted. I was also hearing your name a lot on Dunaway and Brown today...I think HABOTN was their goto for news

2:02 PM  
Blogger mwdeav said...

I heard he's going to do the LSU press conference instead.

2:02 PM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

Angry FSU lost Demar Dorsey to michigan

2:02 PM  
Blogger Aubie said...

any way to listen live?

2:03 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

welcome to the new CNN. the CHIZ NEWS NETWORK. bring it homes.

2:04 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

I am sure we will get substance from Chiz (wink wink)

2:04 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

JG, have you slept?

2:05 PM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Chiz on Auburn landing a higher ranked recruiting class than Alabama:

"It is what it is."

2:05 PM  
Blogger Emmett said...

CGC is always an open book on the stand

2:05 PM  
Blogger Norm said...

Dan "The Duke" Davis of ESPN Radio just told me that it was UF, UT, UAT, AU then some others... Did I miss something?

2:06 PM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Norm...that is ESPN rankings, which may or may not include Jucos. I can't remember.

2:07 PM  
Blogger ehyou said...

Dan Davis can eat it. He sounds old and senile anyway.

2:08 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

I love me some tateblog

2:09 PM  
Blogger Aubie said...

Chiz presser on JOX live

2:09 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

Us in the construction industry love blueprints...
listening on the afternoon show

2:09 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Dare we say about this staff ... NO DROPS?

2:10 PM  
Blogger ehyou said...

WJOX

2:11 PM  
Blogger War Eagle Girl said...

Jet, did you get all the presents you wanted?!

2:11 PM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Thanks ehyou.

2:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JG getting comments out faster that the JOX feed.

2:12 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

My stocking runneth over.

2:13 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

More building blocks in this press conference than in a 1st grade classroom.

2:13 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

Chizik must have been a carpenter in another life with all his building blocks.

2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I guess we now have a "Process" also. Easy buzzword to use.

2:14 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

So far all is well Chiz sticking to boiler plate comments

2:14 PM  
Blogger missinit said...

Blueprints...work with em everyday.

Couldn't do my job without 'em.

Chizik is in the construction bidness too. Working on constructing a "power" house!!!

We got us some!!!

2:14 PM  
Blogger Scott Coats said...

Maybe he's a Mason...laying block...

2:15 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

build block foundation... throw in a few articles, prepositions, and conjunctions and that pretty much sums it up.

I bet at times like this the AU beat writers sort of, perhaps deep down inside, wish they were listening to Kiffen.

2:15 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Could Chiz, the stone that the college football builders rejected, become college football's chief cornerstone?

It will be fun to see him try.

2:16 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

Maybe he will be a plumber in the fall and Lay Some Pipe to the SEC....

2:16 PM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

Give this man some Lincoln Logs!

Stat!

2:17 PM  
Blogger ehyou said...

I'm a plumber 'cause I lay.....ahh nevermind.

2:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Missinit ...you're right ...."We. Got. US. Some"

2:18 PM  
Blogger Dear Leader said...

ask him about lache

2:20 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

The Cornerstone. Nice New Testament paraphrase, Jet.

2:20 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

Ask Chiz if he recruits from magazines.

2:21 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Who we will be seeing playing this next season is obviously the next question. Newton and Gayden are pretty obvious choices. Bonolomonomo is another. The JUCOs will play. We will obviously see some freshmen linebackers get some playing time, although not starting. There is probably room for a DT in the playing rotation. Dyer will definitely get some playing time too. This should be very interesting.

2:22 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Well, Comm'r, in times like these, you know I like to turn to the Good Book.

2:22 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

Having one spot open, now that is interesting. Sounds like it was part of the plan. Makes sense.

2:24 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

THT ... Let me be the first to say that I tried to tell your ass. WDE!!! Awesome job boys.

2:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

ESPNU is still talking about the retards we had show up at the airport when Chizik arrived. If you happen to know some of these people please tell them Steve said thanks, smack them up side the head, and tell them have a nice day.

2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Finebaum making it a point to announe that on Rivals AU is #3 and Bama is #5. He also noted that Rivals is the Bama fan's preferred rating service because of the 2 previously #1 rankings.

Now will Finescum admit he was wrong on his comment that AU woyuld never beat CNS in recruiting?

2:25 PM  
Blogger Dear Leader said...

do we have a lache sighting???

2:27 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hoopie, believe it or not some don't care about mindbomb. He is Jerry Springer with a face for radio.

2:27 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

I wish we would Leader. I bet someone on the staff has at least gave him a call to gauge interest.

2:29 PM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

I wanna be a mason

2:29 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

Hoopie, I was literally just wondering that myself!!

2:29 PM  
Blogger Dear Leader said...

can chiz get a bigger watch band?

2:29 PM  
Blogger AUnMobilz (CAM-"Da Man") said...

Go Coach Chiz!!!!

2:30 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

WOW I love it
Make next years class better than this years.

2:30 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

Chiz We talk about being creative and things we can create to attract student-athletes. We'll go back and we'll revisit this whole recruiting year. We'll troubleshoot what didn't go well and how we can fix it. We have to figure out a way to make next year's class better than this year's class

I Love that attitude. Make the next class even better.

Go Get'tem Chiz & Co.

2:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Steve, I got sucked into his show after they dropped the presser.

2:31 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

UF roll continues. Chaz Green no. 4 OL in nation to Gators. Not complaining, but maybe Chiz should fake retiring next year for recruiting. Geez.

2:32 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

That's a wrap.

2:32 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

I agree. Next question?

2:32 PM  
Blogger Loganville Tiger said...

On Marcus Lattimore: ``We don't talk about the ones we didn't get."

I like that comment even better - don't waste your breath - it is their loss not ours....

2:33 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

Jay G, thank you SO much for all your hard work the past two days. I'm sure you're EXHAUSTED!

2:34 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

If you can't say something nice about a feller don't say nuttin at all.
good policy

2:34 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

the Gators are freakin' reDONKuLusss.

2:34 PM  
Blogger E-Bro said...

That's a wrap, people.

2:35 PM  
Blogger digger4au said...

And what a day it was

2:36 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

Actually, when asked about Lattimore, Chiz replied:

" Cut me some slack, Jack! Chump don' want no help, chump don't GET da' help! Jive ass dude don't got no brains anyhow!"

2:36 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

JayG: Thanks for the great info today. BTW, we'd like those 2011 recruiting profiles by 5 pm, please.

2:37 PM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

Chizik interview coming up on ESPNU

2:38 PM  
Blogger Ephemeral said...

Thanks to JayG and all the Hotties for keeping the information coming today.

JayG, the non-Homer, is worth his weight in gold, especially after you hear some of the true-homer beat writers that are around.

We can depend on what Jay tells us.

2:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Bammers think that JG is an AU Homer.

The Auburn Eagle folks think that JG is an AU Hater.

THe Hotties know that JG puts out an outstanding product.

Many thanks to Sportswriter Tate.

2:38 PM  
Blogger Aubie said...

Cecil on F-baum.
Ask him about SHON!!

2:39 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Comm'r: Yeah Jay, 5pm would be good...That gives me a couple of hours to act like I'm working today!

2:40 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Jay G ... Rest ...

GET SOME!

2:40 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

JayGT - have a safe drive home and get some rest. FANTASTIC coverage. I don't understand how you do that live blog transcription get it on the internet thing as the words spill out of his mouth.

2:40 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

Agreed, Hoopie!

2:40 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

These ESPNU love to get people to do the tomahawk chop for some reason.

2:40 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I do love the way Chizik handles press conferences. He really knows what not to say.

2:40 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

Tar Heel, I don't know how he does it either. I think only us Hotties know what we have with him.

2:42 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Excellent job Jay.

Chizik is on ESPNU now.

2:42 PM  
Blogger Aubie said...

Cecil gives Auburn coaches credit for retaining Coleman. Good to hear.

2:42 PM  
Blogger Dear Leader said...

it aint over unit I have my cup of Lache.....

2:44 PM  
Blogger michael said...

DL, be patient. This Lache thing isn't over yet.

2:45 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

GET SOME

2:46 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Has Lache not signed yet?

2:46 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

WHY IS THE CHIZ TALKING TO ESPNU WHEN HE COULD BE TALKING TO LACHE?

2:47 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

;)

2:48 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

We play UF again in 2012. Great!

2:48 PM  
Blogger Dear Leader said...

I have been keeping an eye on the big O sites and none of them have announced a fax yet...

the question is WHY?

If he was such a commit... why not fax the papers...

With Lat out of the picture Laches role at AU is much clearer...

2:49 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

Comm'r, it ought to be an interesting game.

2:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

According to Scout, Lache hasn't signed.

2:49 PM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

UF CLASS= Unreal...how did they do it

2:50 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

relax Hotties. Lache not showing up as signed cause Ducks aren't letting anybody see their list until 1 PST.

2:50 PM  
Blogger Andrew said...

It cracks me up when cecil hurt gets so butthurt when anything bammer related is questioned. What an objective writer he is!

2:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oregon will release names at 1 pm PST(+/- 9 min.)

2:52 PM  
Blogger Aubie said...

butthurt!
hahahaha

2:52 PM  
Blogger Andrew said...

I may be way off though..That guy has always made my skin crawl even more than finebaum...

It's beyond redic that bammers hang on that clowns every word and call Jay a homer...

2:52 PM  
Blogger Dear Leader said...

THT if you blog it enough it will come true...

2:52 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

Tar Heel, what about the 4 they have listed on rivals?

2:53 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

i'm just funnin' for Lache. it has been such a great day it's sad to see it end. plus, i'm greedy. i want more!

2:53 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

I want Bo Jackson!

2:54 PM  
Blogger Tar Heel Tiger said...

Luv - I would guess those kids communicated directly with rivals

2:54 PM  
Blogger AUnMobilz (CAM-"Da Man") said...

funny.... "Coach talk about Marcus Lattimore......silence...... Next Question"!

2:55 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

UAT really didn't want Shon Coleman. We know this because he signed with Auburn.

2:55 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

I may be wrong, but I don't think the Lache Love Level is near as high in Auburn as it once was. Whether it be because Dyer doesn't like him, or coaches think he's more trouble than he's worth or he wears goofy glasses, it became obvious that the coaches set him aside and pursued Lattimore.

When it looked like Lattimore was gone, none of the names the insiders were mentioning was Seastrunk.

We're good. Save the scholly, pick up an OL, DL or LB later.

2:56 PM  
Blogger Andrew said...

uhhh. dey was just offerin more playin time. dem guys couldnt make the turd team here in t-town. row tahd.

it has begun.

2:57 PM  
Blogger JgobravesHAG said...

Miss State only returns 3 offensive starters...LOL

2:57 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

Jet, or anyone, expand please on the rumors about Dyer not liking Lache & Howard calling Lattimore. Seems a good way to squeeze out every drop of crutin' today.

2:58 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

that may not be a bad thing Jhag....did you see them play last year? hahaha. sorry, i had to.

2:58 PM  
Blogger Andrew said...

state and ole mrs. are hurtin offensively!

2:58 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

I'm with Jet. Surely the coaches can come up with something to do with all the RBs Auburn does have. Let's save that scholarship for the position that has more of a need.

2:58 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

Looks like we did pretty well today. Hopefully these kids will pan out and lead us back to where we need to be and possibly to where we all want to be.

Hopefully Sensi AUGroundhog's prediction of

"I saw my shadow. I will go back in my hole of no championships and nothing to talk about until next decade."

turns out to be far from true.

3:00 PM  
Blogger Andrew said...

Right when I thought this day could get no better..I just now realized that we don't have a midweek b-ball game this week! AUsome!!

3:01 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

WERK, Sensi really said that? Is he really an Auburn fan or an imposter?

3:02 PM  
Blogger WarEagleRK said...

I have no doubt Sensi is an Auburn fan.

3:04 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Comm'r ...

1. It's been bouncing around for a long time that Dyer didn't like Lache, and loved Lattimore. That was part of the speculation behind the fact that Lache disappeared from the radar shortly after Dyer's commitment and Lattimore became Target Alpha. True? Who knows? Also heard lots of talk that Lache and his mother were extremely high maintenance.

2. Rumors abound that Lattimore received a call from Howard saying that Auburn was doing him wrong, and would be filling Lattimore with a bunch of bull. Did the call occur? Who knows? I just don't think it would have had an effect on Lattimore's decision. Surely, Lattimore knew that he was a much more coveted recruit than Howard, and that as a top 10 player in the nation he could rely on a featured role. Ultimately, Lattimore was smothered and covered by home folks who wanted him to stay home. With Travon Reed, it was somewhat different. His mother passed away last year. He was in a better position to reject the calls to stay home.

3:06 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

WERK, I realize that some Auburn fans only see Auburn football through orange and blue glasses, but he takes it to the total opposite end of the spectrum.

3:11 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

Howard is to Lattimore, as Finnebaum is to Kirk Herbstreet. The former believes they're on the same level, even when the latter doesn't recognize or acknowledge them and won't take their calls.

3:15 PM  
Blogger Wakeriderof87 said...

He's an Auburn fan Luv, some people are just pessimists, doesn't mean they don't love Auburn.

3:16 PM  
Blogger Commish of Old Pimps said...

Better yet: Howard = White Goodman (Dodgeball)

3:17 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

How can he say there's nothing to talk about? Auburn having the #3 recruiting class in the nation with more 4 and 5* in over 10 years isn't something to talk about?

3:21 PM  
Blogger Jet said...

Hey, White, don't cry when I spank you in front of all these people.

3:21 PM  
Blogger Miller said...

On to next year. I'm ready for our first 2011 commit!

3:21 PM  
Blogger Scott Chocolate said...

I'm ready for spring practice!

3:22 PM  
Blogger Wakeriderof87 said...

Alright its after 1 PST isn't it. Shouldn't Oregon have released the LOI's?

I highly doubt Lache is considering coming to Auburn, but it'd be nice to see that rumor solidly put to rest before I give up all hope.

3:23 PM  
Blogger LuvAU1968 said...

I see ESPNU has UAT's class at #3 and Auburn's at #4...

3:23 PM  
Blogger Wakeriderof87 said...

I just checked, Scout shows him as having LOI in. It was a fun thought.

3:24 PM  

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