re: What are we doing, seriously?????

Agreed. I always try and look at teams when their QB plays bad and see how they do. That's why I like Vandy's coach a lot. Even when Pavia plays awful, they are still in games. Their defense plays really sound and they are a disciplined team and generally have found a way to win most of the time.

Today's game the QB position is so important and a lot of coaches have been made into big names because they struck gold with one and it covers up a lot of issues. If you are at a historically lesser team and still able to win without some superstar playing out of his mind every game, that says a lot about how you coach a team. Cignetti definitely fits in that mold as well.

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I actually think if you look at the general college football landscape and current AP top 10/15 the thing that matters now more than ever is simply being a good football coach.

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You see, when I look at the general college football landscape and current AP top 10/15, I see a bunch of coaches who’ve gotten extremely fortunate with their easy schedules.

Top 15 opponents played to date:

1. Ohio State- zero
Most difficult opponent: #24 Illinois

2. Indiana- one (1-0)
Most difficult opponent: #6 Oregon

3. Texas A&M- one (1-0)
Most difficult opponent: #12 Notre Dame

4. Alabama- two (2-0)
Most difficult opponent: #5 Georgia

5. Georgia- two (1-1)
Most difficult opponent: #4 Alabama

6. Oregon- one (0-1)
Most difficult opponent: #2 Indiana

7. Georgia Tech- zero
Most difficult opponent: no one in the AP Top 35 if you include teams receiving votes

8. Ole Miss- one (0-1)
Most difficult opponent: #5 Georgia

9. Miami- one (1-0)
Most difficult opponent: #12 Notre Dams

10. Vanderbilt- one (0-1)
Most difficult opponent: #4 Alabama

11. BYU- zero
Most difficult opponent: #27 Utah

12. Notre Dame- two (0-2)
Most difficult opponent: #3 Texas A&M

13. Oklahoma- zero
Most difficult opponent: #25 Michigan

14. Texas Tech- zero
Most difficult opponent: #27 Utah

15. Missouri- one (0-1)
Most difficult opponent: #5 Alabama

Meanwhile…

Auburn- FOUR (0-4)
Most difficult opponent: #3 Texas A&M

Those 15 teams have averaged playing just 0.9 Top 15 opponent apiece.

Teams #6 -#15 are a combined 1-6 against the AP Top 15…. Plus a combined 2 other losses to lower ranked or unranked opponents.

At some point, college football has to address the issue of strength of schedule variance among the teams.

Texas Tech is ranked #14. They lost to an Arizona State team that lost to Mississippi State and only beat Baylor by 3 points… a team Auburn beat by 14. It is completely logical to assume that had Texas Tech played Auburn’s schedule, they’d have the exact same record we have at the moment.

Even within the SEC, there is too much disparity. Auburn took Missouri to overtime… outgained them in total yardage, yards per play, and had a better net success rate. It’s not a stretch to say there’s not much difference between Auburn and Mizzou based upon the on-field meeting. Their schedule thus far has been:
Central Arkansas
Kansas
Louisiana
South Carolina
UMass
Alabama
@ Auburn

Auburn would be at worst 5-2 with that schedule and possibly 6-1.

Oklahoma’s schedule will get more difficult down the stretch, but to date they’ve played:
Illinois State
Michigan
Temple
Auburn
Kent St
Texas
@ South Carolina

No doubt had we hosted the Sooners in Jordan-Hare and not been screwed by the officials, we’d be 6-1 and possibly 7-0 against their schedule.

Two coaches on the hot seat, Freeze and Venables… one gifted one of the easiest first 7 games in the league, and one gifted the most difficult schedule in the league through 7 games. One’s job is hanging by a thread, and one seems to be off the hot seat completely. The only real difference through 7 games: the schedule.

And while we’re at it… look at Michigan. Michigan is ranked in the Top 25. They lost at Oklahoma by 11 while we lost to the Sooners by just 7… and the Sooners were gifted a free TD. They were blown out by unranked USC by 18 points. Their wins?… New Mexico, Central Michigan, Nebraska, and Washington. The Wolverines only Top 25 opponent has been Oklahoma and they lost more lopsidedly than we did. But we played 3 additional Top 15 opponents and they’ve played no one else in the Top 25.

Something has got to be done to make all these schedules more uniform.

And when it comes to coaches, it skews the perception. Had Freeze played Georgia Tech’s schedule this far, everyone would be talking about how Auburn is back and what a great turnaround we’ve had. If Brent Key had played Auburn’s schedule, Tech would be 3-4 at best, and all four losses would have been far more lopsided. And they probably would have lost to Baylor also. But instead of being 2-5, Tech is sitting at 7-0 and #7 in the country.

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There is absolutely nothing to suggest Schumann and Durkin could handle NIL/portal successfully at a big time program any better than Sumrall

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Other than the fact that they've been around it 24/7 since inception.

Yes, there are distinct ways that big time, winning programs operate.
This is a critical fact when you don't have a crystal ball.

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That's why I like Vandy's coach a lot. Even when Pavia plays awful, they are still in games.

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What's his record without Pavia?

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Shut up

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Such a compelling rebuttle.

Not great. Also completely irrelevant to the point I was making as every coach does worse when they have worse players. Point was that Pavia isn't the only reason they have been good the past two years and I like to see how a team plays when that star QB does struggle to see how the rest of the team is coached. He has had some absolutely awful games that they've still won. Hell just look at our game last year. His teams still play people close even though they are severely outmatched, when they aren't getting super play from the QB position. It is the sign of a well coached team.

I didn't say we should hire him, I said it is why I like him. He has done a good job rebuilding that team from the dumpster fire Mason left them in.

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most mentally weak team I have watched in 30 years of Auburn football.

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2012 was worse

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And when it comes to coaches, it skews the perception. Had Freeze played Georgia Tech’s schedule this far, everyone would be talking about how Auburn is back and what a great turnaround we’ve had. If Brent Key had played Auburn’s schedule, Tech would be 3-4 at best, and all four losses would have been far more lopsided. And they probably would have lost to Baylor also. But instead of being 2-5, Tech is sitting at 7-0 and #7 in the country.

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this is a specious argument

sure, we’ve played a tough schedule and Tech has played an easy one

but every game we’ve lost has been winnable, but we still lost them - meanwhile Tech has been in similar situations and came out winners every time this year (and quite frankly, i dont think Freezus would have found a way to beat Clemson or Wake, especially not with Tech’s talent)

but all this is a moot point since we haven’t fired Freezus yet

so i will ask you this: under what circumstances would you consider giving him his walking papers NOT be a “kneejerk reaction”?

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but every game we’ve lost has been winnable, but we still lost them - meanwhile Tech has been in similar situations and came out winners every time this year

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Wow. I wonder if that has anything to do with our close games being against teams like Oklahoma, A&M, and Georgia and their close games being against Wake Forest and Duke?

They were also gifted a win in a bad call by the officials against Wake while we essentially had a win taken away against Oklahoma.

Winning at Baylor is every bit as good of a win as any win Tech has to date.

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so i will ask you this: under what circumstances would you consider giving him his walking papers NOT be a “kneejerk reaction”?

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Just have a solid hire locked down before you pull the trigger. Make sure it’s a guy who fans, players, and recruits can all be excited about.

We are dangerously close to firing Freeze, and after a four week search of being turned down again and again, hiring another Brian Harsin who will only deplete the talent level that Freeze built up.

Despite his issues, Freeze brought in the talent that has gotten us to within a TD of beating Top 5 and 10 teams. Another guy can easily lose the roster, not recruit as well, and we’ll still be losing these games only it’s by 21 and 28 points.