I also tend to believe that Tuberville was on the way out early in the season because of some discussions with Gene and Jay Jordan to see if Gene was available. The Okie state coach comments just let the cat out of the bag. Gene knew his staff was probably not up to the task of recruiting enough players probably by end of 2007 to move very much up in the Big 12 recruiting wars. Gene seemed more disengaged the second year than the first.
How can you go from three wins against decent teams to only two wins against nobodys and say you are involved and doing your job?
His coaching approach was not going to take us to the next tier. It was descending to the abyss. The nebraska game and the way it played out was very strange. We had everything to win being at home and we played like we were noy even in their league. Something was missing.
Gene never mentally moved his mind to Ames. He was already thinking about his next gig. He chose us as an stepping stone and one that he was watching his lifeclock to ensure he did not stay too long.
How does an Auburn AD hire a 5-19 coach unless something was preplanned? The old Geno coaches were thrown under the bus also when he exited. Thought he would take more of them.
This year also makes you wonder if Geno was recruting players for Auburn the second half of the season. Does anyone smell a rotten fish? Gene ended up being the transition coach between Dan and PR.
Bottom line, he did us a favor. He found a new job and we now have an engaged coach who is trying to do what should have been done two years ago.
Shep is an interesting case. If he told the players the truth, I can see where some loved him and others rebelled. Makes you think that we need two new strength coaches - one of tough demeanor and one that can handle the other type of players.
This conspiracy theory is just wrong. a lot of things don't make sense.
1) Gene demotes his best buddies two weeks before he goes and does not take them with him. Why would he do that? If he knew he was going, he could have left them as coordinators so they would have a better chance at getting a job.
2) Auburn interviewed and courted somethign like 6 coaches before settling for Chizik. Why on earth would Auburn spend the time and money if they already had chizik wrapped up? Especially the embarrasment of racism with Gill. Not logical.
3) Chizik has recruited only one player off our offer list and that is Corey Gaines. If he was recruiting for Auburn over ISU, he would have more.
4) From most accounts, the news came as a surprise to EVERYONE including his staff. He would have given his best buddies a heads up.
5) tubberville wasn't gone until Alabama and according to some sources, it is because a donor was meddling after that game and Tubby could wallk and get paid.
6) Nebraska game made sense. Arnaud was hurt, bates had left, we were trying to save Tiller's redshirt, we had rearranged our OL. So we went very conservative on offense. After that game they really opened it up.
IMO- Tubby heard a donor was tryign to hire Nutt through THEIR agent. He walked because after the last time he had it happen he got a clause added in his contract. Which is why he resigned and got his money. Auburn approached 5 different coaches and all said no because the coaches wanted to control their hires. Chiz got the call to see if he would be interested and he took it. and why wouldn't he? In his opinion, it is easier to win at Auburn, he was failing at ISU and he is not used to failing.