re: Auburn could have hired Kirby after the 2012 season.

I don't understand why so many people think that Gus isn't a great hire.
In 5 years against the toughest conference in football:
1) 2 SEC championship appearances
2) National championship appearance
3) 2 NY6 appearances
4) 2-3 against in state rival and one of the greatest dynasties in college football.

There have been mistakes, yes, but he's a few plays away from a national championship.
Also, there's not another coach in the SEC that has beaten Saban once, he's done it twice and this year pretty convincingly. He has been stubborn as a HC, but toward the end of the year it really seemed that some growth and changes were made.