re: Rumor Steele gone if Gus stays

I'd have to go back and look at records, but I don't feel like Gus drops many games that we're "supposed" to win. Sure, there are outliers, but I don't think that's the problem. The problem is that he can't coach our guys to a win. If we have more talent, then he gets it done. If it's close, then the offense is done for the most part.

recycling Gus proteges? No thanks.

Gus was someone we recycled back after he left here for Ark St, and look how we feel now 7 years later?

If we are keeping Gus b/c of the contract or b/c he beats Alabama, then I just want Gus to continue to bear the brunt of his offense, even next year w/ now a more experienced QB...

A lot of interesting points in that piece, even if it's from Marcello

There's one thing I take issue with, however:

quote:

---

Look no further than the seven-year, $49 million deal then-president Steven Leath rewarded Gus Malzahn in 2017. Victories against then-No. 1 Alabama and Georgia seemed fantastic at the time. Then Auburn lost to Georgia in the rematch in the SEC title game, and Alabama and Georgia still got what it wanted and met in the national championship game. By the time January rolled on the calendar and Auburn lost to UCF in the Peach Bowl, Auburn fans were already upset with the new contract.

---

I seem to recall that most AU fans with whom I had contact, including on this forum, were upset with the contract the minute the terms of the buyout were leaked. A few of us attempted to half-heartedly rationalize it as providing "security" to aid in recruiting, but deep down we pretty much all knew that the buyout was a horrible, horrible idea, even if we believed Gustav was capable of earning such a lofty yearly salary.

Let's face it, despite the challenges of playing in CFB's toughest division with a true FR QB, this year was probably Gustav's last real chance at the playoffs at AU. None of the teams who are likely to make the top 4 are world beaters. LSU, even with its record-setting offense, is very beatable. Obviously, UF and UGa are deeply flawed. And there don't seem to be any real juggernauts out there on the P5 landscape.

Sure, Nix will get better (I hope). And maybe our OL won't be any worse than this year's edition. But AU had a real chance to have a special season this year, and we've managed to let it slip away.

In contrast to what other SEC fanbases say, we are realistic in that we know we aren't going to win our division 4 out of every 5 years, or beat our three biggest rivals 8/10, like Bama has the past decade. But we do expect to go .500 against them, and to take advantage of our limited opportunities to compete for a title.

Can Gustav do that going forward? After this year, I'd say no. Whether that makes it a good idea to pay him $27 million to go away is a decision well above my paygrade.

It is kind of crazy to think what this conversation would look like if we didn't choke vs TN & LSU last season

- 10-4, wins UGA/Bama
- 10-3, Win LSU, Wash
- 9-4, W v Oregon, close L vs LSU/UGA with Frosh QB 5*

Losing the competitive games that we very realistically could/should have won is killing Gus. I don't mean games where we just couldn't battle it out (2015 Arky) or games where we were really beat up (Oklahoma) or unmotivated (UCF) or lost to a Mississippi school. I'm just talking about games where the game was there for the taking and we missed the opportunity. No herculean effort needed, just mere competence on offense:

2015 UGA, 2016 UGA, 2016 Clemson, 2017 LSU, 2018 LSU, 2018 Tennessee

If he won 3-4 of them the position on Gus is so much different right now, even without any added titles. And obviously that doesn't include any of the losses this year, at least one of which (UGA, probably) belongs on the list.

quote:

---

Losing the competitive games that we very realistically could/should have won is killing Gus.

---

0-10 in Baton Rogue, Athens, and Tuscaloosa is killing Gus.

quote:

---

RL

---

I like ol' Rhett but personally id rather have CHip LIndsey

quote:

---

0-10 in Baton Rogue, Athens, and Tuscaloosa is killing Gus.

---

fuuuuuuuuuuck

To put that in perspective, Doug Barfield was 2-0 vs UGa between the hedges.

And that was when Vince Dooley was their HC. AU knocked them out of the Sugar Bowl the year before their most recent NC.

Kern