Gus bus purrs along at the speed of success

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...because Malzahn is a throwback coach.
He comes from the mold of Bear Bryant, ironically; Bryant, too, was from Arkansas but a legend as Alabama’s coach. Bryant didn’t make his quarterback fit a system, but used a system that fit his quarterback.

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Gus Malzahn continuously shifted his weight and gripped the podium with both hands.
A year ago, he was nervous and uncomfortable as a rookie head coach in the SEC as he addressed about 500 reporters at the conference media days here.
On Monday, he was just uncomfortable, looking like he would rather be watching film or lining the fields like he did as a head coach at Hughes years ago than taking questions about the coming season, including inquiries about the report that quarterback Nick Marshall was caught with marijuana last week.
Malzahn was the first choice by a lot of Arkansas Razorbacks fans to be their head coach after interim coach John L. Smith’s debacle. It wasn’t so much political or an arrogance of not admitting Arkansas State exists that kept Malzahn from being approached by Athletic Director Jeff Long.
It might have been concern about dividing the fan base, some of which came down squarely on Houston Nutt’s side during the one turbulent season when Malzahn was the Hogs’ offensive coordinator.
Or it might have been that Long knew Auburn was going to come calling and he wasn’t sure if Malzahn, an Arkansas native, still viewed Arkansas as his dream job after spending a BCS championship season with the Tigers as an unrestricted playcaller.
Other than having his bank account swell beyond his wildest dreams, Malzahn doesn’t seem to have changed much from his days at Hughes, Shiloh Christian and Springdale high schools. Or since his stints at Arkansas, Tulsa and back to Auburn as the head coach.
Malzahn, by all accounts, is a good Christian man. A strong, supportive husband and father. And a friend and confidant to only a few.
He keeps his cards close to his vest and trusts few, especially in the media.
During that tumultuous season at Arkansas, he was asked how things were going. Rumors had him all but locked out of the coaches’ circle, called “High School” by Razorbacks defensive coordinator Reggie Herring and having his plays for the next game reduced to one page.
He never said a word and still hasn’t. Probably never will.
The only hint of unhappiness came after the final practice for the Capital One Bowl in 2007 when he showed a reporter his offensive scheme for Wisconsin, coached by Bret Bielema, and it was one page on a clipboard. He just shrugged his shoulders. The Hogs lost 17-14, the second time they scored that few points the entire season.
Much is said about Malzahn’s offense, a two-minute adventure he runs the entire game with the intent of causing fatigue to make cowards of his opponents. He first started with the old Wing T and all the misdirection and options it offered, but he’s tweaked that considerably because Malzahn is a throwback coach.
He comes from the mold of Bear Bryant, ironically; Bryant, too, was from Arkansas but a legend as Alabama’s coach. Bryant didn’t make his quarterback fit a system, but used a system that fit his quarterback.
With that in mind, look for the Tigers to pass more this year. Malzahn mentioned Monday that after leading the nation in rushing, he knew opponents would focus on stopping that part of his scheme this season.
Last season, of course, was a dream one. Coming off a 3-9 season, including 0-8 in the SEC, Malzahn led the Tigers to the BCS Championship Game where they fell 34-31 to undefeated Florida State. The Tigers were like a team of destiny with a four-leaf clover in every pocket as they turned losses, with help or injuries, to victories over Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.
Now Malzahn and the Tigers are squarely on everyone’s radar. But Malzahn is an unconventional playcaller in a conventional league, and he loves a challenge even if he doesn’t admit it.

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