December 28, 2008

Spread Eagle II: Auburn hires Tulsa's Malzahn

Hot on the heels of the Tony Franklin experience, it appears that Auburn University may be going back to the spread offense. Gus Malzahn, the man who created the Wildcat offense at Arkansas and brought the spread offense to Tulsa, has been hired as the new OC at Auburn.

Malzahn brings a no-huddle, fast-paced attack to the Tigers, who abandoned a struggling spread offense in midseason and returned to a more smashmouth style.

Tulsa led the nation in total offense in 2007 and ranks second going into the Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl against Ball State in Mobile.

Malzahn, who spent one season as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, will join Auburn's staff after the bowl game.

"Gus is one of the great offensive minds in college football and we are very excited to have him join the Auburn staff," Chizik said. "His track record at all levels of coaching is remarkable and his offenses have been extremely successful both running and passing the ball."

Spread option ruminations aside, I think this is the best hire that the Tigers could have made. Malzahn has shown that he can take whatever talent a team has and find a way to attack defenses at any level. He might use the spread. He might implement some unimaginable running attack that our feeble minds can't comprehend.

Whatever it is... you can bet that the Auburn offense will be improved in 2009.

Comments:

Spread Eagle II: Auburn hires Tulsa's Malzahn
Hot on the heels of the Tony Franklin experience, it appears that Auburn University may be going back to the spread offense. Gus Malzahn, the man who created the Wildcat offense at Arkansas and brought the spread offense to Tulsa, has been hired as the new OC at Auburn.
Malzahn brings a no-huddle, fast-paced attack to the Tigers, who abandoned a struggling spread offense in midseason and returned to a more smashmouth style. Tulsa led the nation in total offense in 2007 and ranks second going into the Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl against Ball State in Mobile. Malzahn, who spent one season as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, will join Auburn's staff after the bowl game. "Gus is one of the great offensive minds in college football and we are very excited to have him join the Auburn staff," Chizik said. "His track record at all levels of coaching is remarkable and his offenses have been extremely successful both running and passing the ball."
Spread option ruminations aside, I think this is the best hire that the Tigers could have made. Malzahn has shown that he can take whatever talent a team has and find a way to attack defenses at any level. He might use the spread. He might implement some unimaginable running attack that our feeble minds can't comprehend. Whatever it is... you can bet that the Auburn offense will be improved in 2009.