re: Article: The High Cost of Holding Onto a Fractured Relationship at Auburn

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As disappointing as this season has been, as much as it’s evident that the high preseason rankings were unjustified, Auburn should likely be 9-1, no worse than 8-2. Instead, Auburn is 6-4, with 7-5 the likely final record. No loss was worse than the Tennessee loss and no play symbolized how stagnant the program has become than Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt snuffing out an Auburn trick play before the snap, resulting in an interception.

Later in the game, Pruitt recognized another play before the snap, yelling to a Tennessee defensive back that a pass was coming his way. Sure enough, it did. Pruitt, in all likelihood, is hardly the only coach who’s capable of deciphering Auburn’s plays. His display just happened to be more demonstrative.

All of this has become so predictable – the playcalling, the outcry from fans, the refusal by Malzahn to change, the university’s lack of leadership, and its decision to continue down a timid, uninspiring course. Does anyone believe the relationship between Malzahn and Auburn is going to work? It’s not, especially now that the program and its head coach have been so damaged. There appears to be no other outcome, at this point.

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