Anonymous SEC football coach VERY critical of Gus Malzahn

I disagree that they have a mediocre coach.
And I disagree that they had the best team in college football those two years.
In summary, I disagree.

Auburn was not the best team in either season

ETA: Here's the actual quote

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“Auburn is paying Gus Malzahn $50 million ($49 million over seven years) and he underachieved again,” an anonymous SEC coach told Lindy’s. “If Nick Saban had Auburn's talent, he'd have won national championships the last two years. Auburn had the best front seven in college ball last year, but the offense sometimes disappears. If Gus would leave (offensive coordinator) Chip Lindsey alone, Auburn would be more explosive. Instead, they lost to Central Florida (in the Sugar Bowl) and got the crap kicked out of them by Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, after beating Georgia a few weeks before. And they give him a new contract? For what? Mediocrity?"

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Auburn has a good coach. He just happens to play in the same state/division as Saban. The contract; however, was stupid, but Auburn gonna Auburn.

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Kirby maybe?

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I don't think they these quotes come from head coaches

Tim Horton

If this is another one of those "we talked to coaches all over the SEC and this is what they said" things, then it's highly unlikely to be a head coach making these statements. And Kirby is, imho, one of the least likely to be talking trash anonymously anyway. He seems to be from the Saban school of thought, where anonymous gossip and the like are silly and distracting. At least that's the impression I've gotten.

Edit: I could actually see it being Muschamp, not out of any questions about his character but because he has compelling personal reasons to have a strong opinion on the issue.

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Auburn has a good coach. He just happens to play in the same state/division as Saban. The contract; however, was stupid, but Auburn gonna Auburn.

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Having a good coach can be a problem for a fanbase. There are better coaches out there, but they may not be attainable. And you could do way worse than what you have.

See: LSU.

It sounds like something Grantham or Muschamp would've said before they matured, so definitely Pruitt.

Oh man, imagine the awesomeness if Kiffin was at Auburn.

That sounds more like a pizzed off fan than a coach. If it is a coach it is one who recruits directly against AU and is sowing dissent. Malzahn is a damn good offensive coach. He has pulled off some minor miracles for AU, not only as H/C ut as an assistant as well. And he works every angle because that is what AU has to do to compete against primarily UA but also UGA.

They work the graduate transfer program as well as anyone and have to do that to match up. The basic differences in the programs is UA and most times UGA as well have an edge up front. But give AU credit, they've got Garner with his connections and his "ways" and they bring in a ton of transfers to cover up some of the gap on the OL. Last year they had several three 5th year senior OL transfer/starters, one from Texas, one from Ole Miss and one who made AA @ Jax St. to go along with a couple of guys they had recruited/developed. And he keeps grabing these transfer QB's

Malzahn is good and he is smart enough to allow K Steele to totally run the defense. Totally. Alabama was a bad arse team with a scatter gun QB but still far better than AU in 2016. They blistered AU even with Hurts looking like a junior high guy. @ one point he either fumbled or threw interceptions four plays in a row. And last year the gap between UA and the rest of the country talent wise was large. AU had a lot of older, experienced guys and had a chance if everything went right against most anyone. But talent wise they were what their final record says they were....3rd.