re: Why can't Auburn maintain success.

Define maintaining success.

What program besides Alabama has not had rebuilding or hiccup years? How many programs in the SEC can go more than two seasons without losing more than 3 games?

I would say that Auburn is in the middle of a very dark age but just so happened to have legendary-caliber quarterbacks that gave us some magical seasons. Gene Chizik destroyed Auburn's identity of having a tough defense. Malzahn didn't come in to fix it. I think Gus has a lot of potential, but as we saw last season, he wasn't equipped to adjust for poor quarterback play.

So when people say, "Why isn't Auburn maintaining success?" for the current era of Auburn football, I would respond with, "Just how in the world are we escaping utter failure over the past six seasons?"

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Selective memory

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Not really

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The truth was Rich Rod was someone they wanted.

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Yea.......he was our #2 choice behind Saban. Did I not say that above?

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You can not hide from the Shula, Price, Fran, Dubose and Curry hires.

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Why would I hide from them? They were disasters for the most part. I don't really blame anyone for Shula, there were no other options. Price was a terrible fit, they should have known that from the minute they looked into his past. Fran was a decent hire at the outset it appeared, and he appeared to have things going in the right direction before bolting, but then it became obvious he was quite possibly the worst recruiter of all time. DuBose was a disaster.

What exactly is your point here? Our Athletic Department was a mess of good ole boy Bryant guys until Mal decided to get serious about fundraising and building facilities. At that point we started laying the foundation that allowed us to get Saban.

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Alabama dominated Auburn throughout the 90s. Bama was 7-3 against Auburn and won two SEC title games and a national championship. Bama had a predictable down period after Bear died and a self inflicted down period from 2000-2007. Auburn fans like to forget the 90s ever happened. Since Bear died all Auburn fans talk about is the 80s and Tub's 6 straight.

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Alabama was better in the 90s yes but from Bear to Saban, Auburn was the overall better program for sure.

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Define maintaining success

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One thing that just baffles me is that Auburn has never had back to back ten win seasons. As good as they are or have been, that is just unbelievable. Even the Pat Dye and Shug Jordan years.

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How did Chizik destroy Auburn identity of having a tough defense

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Lack of talent/depth and Ted Roof.

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Auburn will never put a consistently good team together as long as they sell out to win big on occasion rather than building a solid total team

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but how have we not built a solid total team? I haven't seen any areas that are deficient in recruiting? The problem is clearly in development and effectively utilizing the talent that is there.

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How did Chizik destroy Auburn identity of having a tough defense when he was and is a good defensive coordinator? Maybe the things that transpired weren't as much his fault as people think.

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I've consider this, and I'm sure AU fans have as well. Could it be that the offense AU implemented when hiring Chizik destroyed AU's defense?

I certainly don't know, but Gene Chizik is a fantastic defensive coach.

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Alabama was better in the 90s yes but from Bear to Saban, Auburn was the overall better program for sure

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Auburn was better in the 80's, Alabama better in the 90's Auburn better in the early-mid 2000s, Alabama better 2008 - 2015

Pretty simple

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The problem is clearly in development and effectively utilizing the talent that is there.

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I think that they whole practice being run and centered around a fast offense 100% has a detrimental effect on a defense developing.

When practice is geared towards working on running as many plays as possible as fast as possible and there is no time to stop and teach defensively it very much effects that side of the ball. From what I read Gus backed off on that last year as part of his deal with Muschamp, but sounds like he wants to return to it this year.

I just don't think, from reading football people who know what they are talking about, that you can practice at warp speed to prepare your offense and not suffer on the defensive side in terms of development and teaching.

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Has Auburn had a good defense with Malzahn on the staff or as head coach?

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Why would Malzahn as an offensive coordinator affect the defense?

People like to shite on his scheme, but he's a run-first offense. Plenty of high-paced offenses have been complemented by good defenses. Oregon has had plenty of good defenses. Florida and Ohio State under Meyer as well.

And as mentioned already, Auburn switched to a pro style offense in 2012 and had the worst defense in SEC history.

Auburn in 2008 switched to the Tony Franklin NASCAR offense and still produced a top notch defense.