Give Gene Chizik some credit for Auburn’s success
The general rule of thumb is that deserved or not, the head coach is always the first person lauded or lambasted for a team’s triumphs or tribulations. In the case of Auburn’s surprising 8-0 start and No. 1 spot in the BCS standings, however, some observers are looking to credit everyone but head coach Gene Chizik
Stewart, with Iowa State’s upset of Texas this weekend, Paul Rhoads has notched a second victory over a major opponent in just his second year there. When Gene Chizik left Iowa State for Auburn, there was talk that he wasn’t really as bad a coach as his 5-19 record may have indicated there because it’s just that difficult to succeed at Iowa State. My question is, how much of Chizik’s success at Auburn can be attributed to offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and dynamic playmaker Cam Newton? Are we going to see Auburn sliding back into mediocrity once Malzahn inevitably leaves for a head-coaching position and Newton departs for the NFL?
As the CEO of a major college program, the head coach’s two most important responsibilities are assembling and managing his staff and recruiting great players. To this point, Chizik gets an “A” for both. He had the foresight to recognize that Malzahn, then at Tulsa following a brief and controversial stint at Arkansas, did in fact have the acumen to succeed in the SEC. Meanwhile, in a very short time, Chizik turned Auburn into a force in the recruiting world, landing a top five class last season. Note that the three most talented players on Auburn’s roster — Newton, defensive tackle Nick Fairley (a juco transfer) and freshman tailback Michael Dyer — were all members of Chizik’s two recruiting classes. They wouldn’t have signed if they didn’t like what the head coach was selling.
cnn.com
10/29/10
Magnolia Tribune
