re: Insider Notes From BM: It's Happening

Just another example of people talking out of their asses...

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Yeah, I have a feeling BM is just stirring shite up.

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If it's true we shouldn't have to wait too long to hear similar things from more reliable sources than Marcello

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Just another example of people talking out of their asses...

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BM might have a vendetta against Malzahn.

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but it doesn't change me thinking that he enjoys reporting it. Not in an "I hate Auburn way", but more like he gets bored being a beat writer where nothing happens.

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I feel like this is completely reasonable.


I would much rather be a reporter covering turmoil and intrigue than writing the same fluff piece every year about a perfectly run staff/program.

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Marcello has loved negative reporting.

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Based on what little I've heard/read from him, I'd say it is less

"loved negative reporting"

and more

"Marcello is a bitter, cynical and pessimistic human being who could find negatives about winning the mega millions"

I don't believe this crap for a second.

There's no smart person in America that would just eat $38M. That's too much money to justify after one season. (I'm not sure if there's any offset language in there though)

If you ask me, I think this is Marcello just stirring the pot. He does this quite often actually. He did this when Arkansas supposedly had him agreed to a contract last fall. I wouldn't be surprised if he's hearing this from one (small) booster, who thinks they represent the overall scope of boosters, but I don't think there's enough smart rich people who would just be ok giving someone $38M to walk away.

Some excerpts from a Jay G Tate article I received from a friend.

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Auburn is a mess right now. People always figure everything has to do with the football's team's 4-3 record, and that's certainly a news-maker in its own right, but it's more complicated than a football coach struggling to win football games. This really is a fable that starts with a maverick university president who chose to saddle, champion and celebrate Gus Malzahn's contract extension last winter. He did this against pointed advice that he lay low — advice dispensed by long-time Auburn people who have seen many coaching regimes fall apart despite strong appearances and strong tailwinds. Yet Leath starred in his own parade anyway. And now he's in a precarious position. Does he double down on his bet that Malzahn will be worth $49 million over seven years? Or does he offer forth a "New Phone Who Dis" and cut Malzahn at the knees knowing that the coach is owed $32 million?

It's a tough call. People with whom we've conferred aren't sure which road Leath would travel if pressed into action. See, he's really invested in this situation because he feels the pressure. Yes, everyone knows he was a central figure in The Great Malzahn Contract Debacle, though he had at least tacit support from well-regarded members of the Board of Trustees, and that debacle may cost the university a whole lot of money. There's more. Leath is unpopular on the academic side for various reasons. Everyone over there keeps talking about cost overruns associated with renovations at the president's mansion, renovations he's been overseeing, and other issues of lesser financial impact and spectacle. Leath also appears to be unpopular with the BOT for reasons I can't quite enumerate in this space. Frankly, I'm still getting up to speed on that stuff.

Still, I've never seen an Auburn president so loathed from all sides.

My opinion? His seat is at least as hot as Malzahn's.

My opinion? At least one of these men, Leath or Malzahn or both, will not be employed by Auburn University come Dec. 1.

A lot can happen between today (Oct. 17) and that random deadline I just created for effect. If Auburn loses this game at Ole Miss, which certainly is possible, Malzahn may get fired within a few days. I'd consider that a likely scenario, in fact. If Auburn wins the game in Oxford, well, I'm not sure if that changes much considering the team still has some major challenges ahead with A&M, Georgia and Alabama. From where I sit, a win against Ole Miss merely changes the timeline of an event that, honestly, feels like a foregone conclusion right now. I see no evidence of meaningful support for Malzahn at this stage. Nobody appears to have his back. Nobody is clamoring for patience. Nobody believes in Malzahn.

So what will Leath do and when will he do it?

Considering his own pressures, I believe he'll make the move that gives him the best chance to save his own job. I'm not sure what that will be — I'm still getting up to speed on that — but my gut tells me that Leath will try to string this thing out as long as possible. Why? Anything that keeps him from eating a $32 million buyout seems prudent.

There is another angle, however. Auburn may contend that it will not pay Malzahn $32 million as expected. Auburn may find ways to influence Malzahn to accept less than $32 million, though I find that difficult to envision given Malzahn's unyielding personality. But let's be honest with each other: Auburn can be a savage, cutthroat place. We've seen it many times. We saw it on Oct. 23, 1998, when Terry Bowden was cut loose with a month remaining in the season. (That 20-year anniversary is just days away!) We saw it in 2003 when Auburn officials covertly discussed Tommy Tuberville's job with Bobby Petrino while Tuberville still was employed. We saw it in 2012 when Gene Chizik was cut loose a couple years after winning a national title. And here we are again in 2018. Auburn wants to elude a $32 million payout and if past is prologue, Auburn will, in fact, elude a $32 million payout.

Treachery doesn't have to be illegal. Or even immoral.

If Auburn feels like it can make a defensible case to whittle down that buyout, I believe that fact will impact Leath's thinking when it comes to making a call on Malzahn. In that case, he'll be more likely to remove Malzahn and can say, with a straight face, that it won't cost the university a mound of money.

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I do agree AU money people give no fricks. If they want Kiffin, then it will happen.

We are in a bad situation.

I've said this since Tubs was here, I hate coaching searches. I dont understand why people like them so much. The chances of getting someone better is almost always a coin flip and getting someone worse is usually just as likely.

I'm not saying Gus should stay. I lean toward getting rid of him, but I'm not at all certain that will make us better. Unlike last year when we were a KJ injury away from the playoffs and possible national title, I don't think we sniff one or get as close as last year for a good 5 years if we fire Gus. Doubt a new Cam or Nick just falls in our lap again.

Who knows, he probably needs to go, but again, I hate coaching searches and we arent gonna land a big or proven name regardless.

Would be wild if Malzahn pulls a Tuberville and somehow beats Bama or UGA this year