Gus Malzahn is Back in the SEC
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Gus Malzahn was hired at Arkansas, battled with Houston Nutt, then bolted after only one pretty successful season as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator for what most would perceive as a step backward by accepting the same position at a much smaller school at Tulsa.
But despite the fact that Houston Nutt has moved on to Ole Miss, Mitch Mustain and Damien Williams, two of Malzahns stars from the 2005 Springdale state championship team, have bolted for USC, and Bobby Petrino has been hired as the Razorback head coach, Malzahn will open a lot of old wounds with the announcement that he will become the offensive coordinator at Auburn.
Auburn is no stranger to drama lately either. After a disappointing season, longtime Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville was fired at the end of the season this year, despite being only a few years removed from a undefeated season and a Co-National Championship in 2004. Tuberville’s firing was unpopular with some, but nothing compared to the firestorm that was created when Auburn announced Iowa State Coach Gene Chizik would replace Tuberville.
Chizik was an Auburn assistant from 2002-2004, but has compiled a dismal 5-19 record as a head coach during two years at Iowa State.
Now, re-enter Malzahn, who some blame for all the drama of the Razorbacks’ 2006 season, while others wished Malzahn had become the head coach after Nutt “resigned” at the end of the 2007 season at Arkansas. There were also the widely circulated rumors that Malzahn and Houston Nutt famously did not get along from day one because of the circumstances surrounding his hiring, and more rumors that since departed athletic director Frank Broyles forced Nutt to hire Malzahn despite the two coaches’ vast differences in football philosophy.
Are you still following all this?
Now, throw all of these “logs” on the fire that is the always crazy SEC, and you’ve got the potential for some real fireworks in the 2009 season.
There will be those that will hope that Malzahn will end up as the head coach after Bobby Petrino leaves Arkansas. There will be others that will never forgive Malzahn for their perception that he was a large part of the problems that led to all kinds of bad press for the Razorbacks. Then there’s the fact that Malzahn will face his former boss in Houston Nutt once a year, since Auburn and Nutt’s new team at Ole Miss are division rivals. Throw in Nick Saban, now at Alabama after bolting from division rival LSU, and Steve Spurrier formerly of Florida now at South Carolina, and you’ve got a serious mess of bad blood and double crossings.
It all makes for some great rivalries in the tradition-rich conference that is the SEC, and should make for a great season to watch in 2009
Comments
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By Total Bastard on December 30th, 2008
I love Gus Malzahn. I mean, LOVE the guy. Seriously, what’s not to love?
And I never really hated Auburn that badly anyway.
I’d like to thank Frank Broyles for making this possible.
By sg on December 30th, 2008
Great move by Chizik, despite my sourness for him being named head coach of Auburn (such a storied program should have a better name in that spot).
I mentioned to friends a while back that if Malzahn could break offensive records at Tulsa with non A-list athletes, then imagine what he could do at a school with resources and access to said athletes. His stint at Arkansas was littered with turmoil and we all know (or are pretty darn sure) that he wasn’t given the full reigns with our offense.
This is a double-edged sword for us Hog fans. It builds up our side of the conference and brings more offensive firepower to a recently-lacking SEC. On the flip side, Malzahn was at Springdale long enough to have ties to Arkansas — which could hurt us in the recruiting field.
I’m happy for Malzahn. I sure hope he whips the crap out of Nutt, he’ll just have to make sure his players are buying into his system.
By Bubb Rubb on December 30th, 2008
Wow. I love the hire, but had to sit down when I was reading Wally Hall’s article today. Tuberville was not fired according to the article. It read something along the lines that after Auburn went behind his back by talking to then Louisville coach BOBBY PETRINO, Jimmy Sexton (agent to both Tuberville and Nutt) had Auburn write a provision into Tuberville’s contract that basically said that they couldn’t do that. Why is this important? Because apparently some big-time Auburn boster called Nutt before the Auburn/Bama game to see if he wanted to become coach of Auburn. In addition to declining, Nutt called Sexton to tell him what happened. Needless to say, Tuberville got to use that handy little provision and walk away with $6,000,000. Biggest winner of all in the SEC? Jimmy Sexton.
This guy represents Tuberville, Nutt, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer. No conflict of interest there at all. He also represents Butch Davis in case you are wondering where that annual rumor comes from. As far as qualities he likes in people according to an interview with CBS: “Honesty, integrity and most of all, loyalty.” Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Nutt got a fat raise after this season.
By Lee Stovel on January 14th, 2009
You wrote “Malzahn will open a lot of old wounds”.Wrong.
Malzahn will coach.Malzahn will continue to be successful.
YOU will open up old wounds by writing stupid crap.