December 09, 2003
Auburn President & AD in hot water
Given the recent flare-up over the trip made to recruit Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino, both Auburn President William Walker and AD David Housel are under increasing pressure to step down. It's not so much that Auburn fans & alumni don't think that Tommy Tuberville should be replaced, but it's the secret, behind-the-back way in which Petrino was courted that has people in an uproar.
So far, the Alumni Association has asked the Governor for the resignation of Walker and everyone involved in the scheme (including trustee Bobby Lowder who is --according to Terry Bowden-- the puppetmaster of the fire Tuberville plan). The Alumni Association says that the scheme brought "national embarrassment" to Auburn.
There is also a petition drive going on online to have the President and AD removed for violating part of the Auburn creed. (""I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.") This is going to be sent to the Governor as well.
Meanwhile, Housel is confident that he won't be the fall guy for this flare-up, calling it "one mistake in 34 years of work, credibility, and dedication" at Auburn.
Elsewhere, Auburn beat writer Brent Schrotenboer has a piece from last week pointing out that --had it not been for the media's investigations-- it stands to reason that Petrino and Mike Price would have been the coaches in the 2004 Iron Bowl.
I don't know what to make of all this. Seems like everyone wants Tuberville gone, but everyone's embarrassed by how it was handled. Hey, get it over, I say. This is the way thinks work sometimes. Auburn had a chance to go get one of the up & coming coaches (who is a *great* in game coach, BTW, something lacking at Auburn). Sometimes you have to go and feel the guy out and get everything squared away. Heck, recruiting would have started in just a few days and Auburn needed to know where they stood. They couldn't just fire Tuberville, start a commission and lose the recruiting window, could they?!
Auburn fans need to wise up. Your President (snake that he may be) was acting in the best interest of the university. Where it not for the media, you would be going into a much better position next season with a great new coach. Instead, you've delighted the 'Bama fans by making a mountain out of a molehill (#1) and you're left with an average coach with a passion unnecessary risks.
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Comments & Trackbacks
Sean says:
posted on December 10, 2003 12:00 AM — linkFire the lot of em.
In addition, Auburn was put on SACS probation today due to the micromanagement of certain trustees (*cough*BobbyLowder&Co.*cough*) meaning they are close to not being an accredited university and losing all federal research grants and student aide!
Youvegottobekidding says:
posted on December 10, 2003 02:26 PM — linkWhat coach would want to come to Auburn now that the fickle admin. and fan base have been exposed? Auburn looks just as pathetic as Alabama at this point. Hell, the whole state of Alabama looks like a bunch of redneck outlaws who want to win at all costs.
Terry Bowden was smart to get out of town and to stay out of town. Auburn fans have more than a few screws loose.
Pete Holiday says:
posted on December 11, 2003 04:35 PM — linkTruth be told, I'm not sure why a coach would have wanted to coach at Auburn BEFORE this, but now especially much so. However, you're ignorant generalization about the state is a little weak.
Riddle me this, ygtbk, would "redneck outlaws who want to win at all costs" fire a head coach over going to a nudie-bar?
Didn't think so. Thanks for playing.
Pete Holiday says:
posted on December 11, 2003 04:35 PM — linkTruth be told, I'm not sure why a coach would have wanted to coach at Auburn BEFORE this, but now especially much so. However, you're ignorant generalization about the state is a little weak.
Riddle me this, ygtbk, would "redneck outlaws who want to win at all costs" fire a head coach over going to a nudie-bar?
Didn't think so. Thanks for playing.
Sean says:
posted on December 11, 2003 04:55 PM — link"Terry Bowden was smart to get out of town and to stay out of town."
Wasn't Terry Bowden run out of town by a Bobby Lowder-led lynchmob or am I getting my stories mixed up?
Dan Canalejo says:
posted on December 17, 2003 03:16 PM — linkThoughout the whole year I have felt that coach Tubberville made a mistake by placing coach Nall in the offensive coordinator's position. Coach Tubberville has helped Auburn football, but he helped made a potential great season into an average one by not hiring an experienced offensive coordinator. A seventy year old quarterback is not my idea of a new offensive mind!(even if he is a consultant)
Drew says:
posted on January 10, 2004 02:38 PM — linkOk you war eagle hatin people,
Auburn will return to greatness even without 5 of the 7 defensive front line coming back next year. Have any of you ever even been in the glorious village. Spent a day there? How about heaven. Who wouldn't want to coach there? The nicest people in the world with a great atmosphere. Auburn is already pre ranked at number 18 for next year. Wait, Wait...WHERE IS BAMA? Oh my gosh! There not even in the top 25. War eagle, return to greatness (again) in 2004!!!Lloyd Severence says:
posted on January 10, 2004 03:05 PM — linkThese preseason rankings don't mean to much to me right now.. it's not until close to end of the preseason practices..
Pete Holiday says:
posted on January 10, 2004 07:30 PM — link"Return" to greatness, eh Drew? Hopefully you weren't talking about this year's "greatness" which amounted to a tremendous let down and waste of talent -- and that's putting it nicely.
I've been to Auburn several times, actually, and I was not at all impressed.
Auburn is already pre ranked at number 18 for next year.
Well... if we follow this year's trend, Auburn should be a bottom dweller by mid season. Pre-season, as you should very well know, means nothing.
I also love how, despite how "great" Auburn is, it's still shown in terms of how they are compared to Alabama -- and that can't be a good thing for anyone... except everyone else you play.
