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Split Zone Duo podcast Patreon episode on this situation recap
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:13 am
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:13 am
For those who don't listen to Split Zone Duo, it's arguably one of the best CFB podcasts out there, and you should give it a listen. Hosts are Richard Johnson (Thinking Out Loud on SEC Network), Alex Kirshner (Independent Journalist, formerly of SBNation), and Steven Godfrey (He hates your team).
They did an episode last night on their Patreon about Auburn and what they know talking from multiple sources both inside and outside the program, here's a basic rundown:
Harsin came in and basically said "I'm a football coach and I'm only going to coach football. Not doing booster shite, not going to no Bo Jackson golf thing, just football."
He completely shut out ALL of the local beat writers, 247/Rivals writers, media, etc. Refused to meet with any of them just to kind of get to know them, etc. Also when SID team came to him with opportunities, he said no. That's why when everything started breaking on Thursday, he had to go to ESPN and Pete Thamel to get his side out, because he had no relationship with the beat writers. It's also why you didn't really see any puff pieces in the off season before his first game about how his culture is going to change Auburn (Even Urban Meyer got puff pieces about how he was going to do great in the NFL)
When he hired Austin Davis, he basically expected him to come in and be a ready-made SEC OC on day one, which means recruiting, something Davis has never done. Davis basically took a personal day one day and never came back because he couldn't work in that situation.
More or less, if Harsin had come in on day one, and done maybe two things that he didn't do, he would've survived this. But when you don't kiss up to the boosters, go to certain events that as the Auburn coach you HAVE to go to, lose your highly respected DC (in the coaching community) to Mike fricking Gundy for a 400k pay cut, and then don't have someone who can help you spin things, it makes your job impossible.
They think the only way he survives is if there's a player support groundswell that builds over the coming days. But it would have to happen fast.
They also said while we have no problems paying buyouts, we apparently get cheap as shite on things like Assistant Coach salaries (why Napier didn't come last year), but the only two names they mentioned as replacements were Freezus, and then Muschamp, but in a "How far down the road of being told 'NO' do they have to go before his name comes up."
I'm sure I missed some stuff, but that's the basic jist of it all.
They did an episode last night on their Patreon about Auburn and what they know talking from multiple sources both inside and outside the program, here's a basic rundown:
Harsin came in and basically said "I'm a football coach and I'm only going to coach football. Not doing booster shite, not going to no Bo Jackson golf thing, just football."
He completely shut out ALL of the local beat writers, 247/Rivals writers, media, etc. Refused to meet with any of them just to kind of get to know them, etc. Also when SID team came to him with opportunities, he said no. That's why when everything started breaking on Thursday, he had to go to ESPN and Pete Thamel to get his side out, because he had no relationship with the beat writers. It's also why you didn't really see any puff pieces in the off season before his first game about how his culture is going to change Auburn (Even Urban Meyer got puff pieces about how he was going to do great in the NFL)
When he hired Austin Davis, he basically expected him to come in and be a ready-made SEC OC on day one, which means recruiting, something Davis has never done. Davis basically took a personal day one day and never came back because he couldn't work in that situation.
More or less, if Harsin had come in on day one, and done maybe two things that he didn't do, he would've survived this. But when you don't kiss up to the boosters, go to certain events that as the Auburn coach you HAVE to go to, lose your highly respected DC (in the coaching community) to Mike fricking Gundy for a 400k pay cut, and then don't have someone who can help you spin things, it makes your job impossible.
They think the only way he survives is if there's a player support groundswell that builds over the coming days. But it would have to happen fast.
They also said while we have no problems paying buyouts, we apparently get cheap as shite on things like Assistant Coach salaries (why Napier didn't come last year), but the only two names they mentioned as replacements were Freezus, and then Muschamp, but in a "How far down the road of being told 'NO' do they have to go before his name comes up."
I'm sure I missed some stuff, but that's the basic jist of it all.
This post was edited on 2/8/22 at 9:17 am
5
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:22 am to Lee County Tiger
Most of that seems plausible, although it's gleaned from message board conventional wisdom. Which is fine, that's what everyone is running with because Harsin doesn't talk and national guys don't have sources at Auburn.
This part in particular, although I don't think that Napier part is correct:
This part in particular, although I don't think that Napier part is correct:
quote:
They also said while we have no problems paying buyouts, we apparently get cheap as shite on things like Assistant Coach salaries (why Napier didn't come last year), but the only two names they mentioned as replacements were Freezus, and then Muschamp, but in a "How far down the road of being told 'NO' do they have to go before his name comes up."
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:25 am to Pettifogger
They said Napier was absolutely not going to go to USCe, just because he didn't want to go to a place where he would possibly be fired in 3 years, but they had heard from multiple folks close to him that arse't Coach salary pool was laughably low. Also, Napier really thought he was going to be a candidate for the LSU job this year, but LSU politics got in the way of that.
And that no one thought that the UF job would be open this year, so it worked out for Billy in the end.
ETA: It was an hour and 5 minutes long. I'm sure I missed some more bits of information that would be pertinent here.
And that no one thought that the UF job would be open this year, so it worked out for Billy in the end.
ETA: It was an hour and 5 minutes long. I'm sure I missed some more bits of information that would be pertinent here.
This post was edited on 2/8/22 at 9:31 am
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:31 am to Lee County Tiger
quote:
we apparently get cheap as shite on things like Assistant Coach salaries
I call bs on this. Chizik and Gus both had some of the highest paid assistants in the country.
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:33 am to jvilletiger25
I took it as we were trying to frick Harsin. Not a money issue
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:34 am to Pettifogger
Can't get cheap on us now. They put us in this position with their absurd contracts.
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:35 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
I call bs on this. Chizik and Gus both had some of the highest paid assistants in the country.
Jay would give Gus blank checks.
ADAG took away the smoothie machines
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:36 am to jangalang
We also weren't paying potentially 35-40 million in buyouts at that time.
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:37 am to Lee County Tiger
Sounds about right
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:38 am to Lee County Tiger
quote:
We also weren't paying potentially 35-40 million in buyouts at that time.
What buyouts were we paying when ADAG cut 10% from each sport budget?
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:39 am to Lee County Tiger
I haven't looked at his contract, but if he was not contractually obligated to attend booster events, then he is doing nothing wrong. Now, it may not be a good look, but he is who he is. It is apparent he hates those types of gatherings. And he also made it clear he doesn't golf.
I don't understand why this wasn't hashed out with him during the interview process? Couldn't they have told him what was expected in this regard?
I don't understand why this wasn't hashed out with him during the interview process? Couldn't they have told him what was expected in this regard?
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:40 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
I call bs on this. Chizik and Gus both had some of the highest paid assistants in the country.
Mason was the 10th highest paid in the country at 1.5 Million.
Under Gus, Kevin Steele was at 2.5 Mil and Morris at $750,000.
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:40 am to jangalang
Probably Terry Bowden's still at that point.
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:45 am to jvilletiger25
quote:Yep
call bs on this. Chizik and Gus both had some of the highest paid assistants in the country.
Kind of calls into question their other “insights”.
Of course it could be that Gustav’s replacement was hamstrung in an effort to cut costs. But I don’t recall seeing that 2021 assistants salaries were significantly less than 2020.
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:45 am to Lee County Tiger
Seems legit
Posted on 2/8/22 at 9:46 am to Lee County Tiger
Steele HC with Harsin as OC and HC in waiting while he learns the SEC, recruiting, and become more comfortable doing meet and greets with boosters. Reducing Harsin's salary to $1 million, putting the difference in salary in an annuity Harsin can only recieve once he signs a top 5 recruiting class and wins the west as HC once he internship under Steele ends in 4 years.
ADAG also getting a 4 year contract to oversee this, ensure a smooth transition, and to make sure everyone plays nice in the sandbox.
This way the PTB feel everyone gets a turn and it is fair.
ADAG also getting a 4 year contract to oversee this, ensure a smooth transition, and to make sure everyone plays nice in the sandbox.
This way the PTB feel everyone gets a turn and it is fair.
This post was edited on 2/8/22 at 9:59 am
Posted on 2/8/22 at 2:36 pm to Poker Dough
Pretty funny. Sounds about as accurate as anything else. We are reluctant to trust a coach without certain requirements. If all this was the main reason, wouldn’t you just put those requirements in a contract? Required to attend certain functions for the University? Or at least AD AG should have said hey Brian, no choice on this one or you won’t succeed. But he doesn’t need to be required to talk to our horrible beat writers who have turned on every coach and written every negative thing they can. Most of their click bait is Negative new, not positive
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