Report: Auburn to Introduce Gus Malzahn as Head Coach

He was a high school offensive coordinator just six years ago or so, now he's in the driver's seat of high-profile, yet radioactive school. This might kill his career completely if he doesn't come through. There's just nothing about him that screams "Auburn" to me. Auburn is supposed to be powerhouse, smash-mouth, defense-driven football. He's going to turn it into a three-ring circus. I see another winless SEC season or two for the Plaineagletigersmen.

Including our old "friend" -- Trooper Taylor?

Probably a smart move, but still a little surprising, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, when I'm sure some of those coaches were the same ones that reported to him when he was the OC.

The twists and turns of staff changes.

Jacobs said when Chizik was let go the staff was as well, but they could serve out the remainder of their contracts. Is that released, or retained?

As I understand what Malzahn said they are all released, but after the new coordinators are hired they can interview for their positions. Some are still on contract. So, is this released, or retained?

One thing that throws an interesting side story in this mix is the article quoting Reuben Foster saying "if you want to sign him, you better hire Trooper." One of the reasons—and there are many—I was turned off of the NBA were players dictating who is the coach. Now, we have high school kids doing the same?

I've mentioned before the problems at AU this past season remind me of what happened at UT in the last few years of the Fulmer era. Coincidence they share the same assistant coach?

If we see a coach hired that was involved with the program when these players were recruiting (Gus) and then we see a coach "re-hired" that a lot of these kids were specifically recruited by what changes should anyone see in the future?

The Springdale Five. Nice. I hadn't thought about that. Mustain has come up when conversations about the development of QB's have been discussed the last day or two. The only reason I remember Mustain is because he transferred to USC.

And now that I think about it...wasn't his mom pitching a fit about something?

Yep...playing time.

I had to look. It's a great point to bring up.

Two left because of playing time; Mustain and Williams (WR) and ended up at SC. One WR I didn't see where he ended up when he wasn't showing up on the team stats for what would have been their junior year. The last of the four players, in his Jr. year, had 1 recept for one yard.

I spoke to a guy that covers the Arkansas program a few minutes and asked him, "looking back, how do you judge those players and Malzahn today?"

Summing up in a word what he said, "dissension."