Since Steve Spurrier introduced the "Fun-N-Gun" to the SEC, fans all over the conference have been craving for high-scoring, aerial assault offenses. So, when Tony Franklin was introduced as Auburn's new offensive coordinator, Tigers fans dreamed of eating up yardage in big chunks with the most innovative of spread offenses going.
How big were the dreams on the Plains? Auburn fans were spending hundreds of dollars just to purchase a book explaining Franklin's offensive philosophy.
Unfortunately, unlike college textbooks, Auburn fans can't return those books back for cash.
The release of Tony Franklin was the result of an experiment gone horribly wrong. While Auburn's defense rose to the occasion, their offense, to put it lightly, never took wings. The rumbling began after Auburn pulled off a 3-2 win over Mississippi State in what had to be the ugliest game of the decade, and reached its boiling point when Auburn lacked any offensive punch in a 14-13 loss to Vanderbilt.
Or did it? After Franklin was released last week by Tommy Tuberville, in what sounded like a seperation of two very bitter parties, Auburn faced a young, scrappy Arkansas team that was not only better organized, but seemed in every way to want the game more than the Tigers.
The result? Despite numerous blunders by the young piglets, Arkansas pulled off a 25-22 win, igniting flames of hope in the Ozarks and flames of destruction on the Plains.
While Auburn is reeling right now, the question arises not to whether the system worked. After all, Tuberville himself said it was a good system, and they kept the same playbook last Saturday. This is a question of the cohesion of coaches in today's business.
Though college football is supposed to display some of the purest forms of team unity, it is obvious that the coaches who preach unity to their players don't practice it amongst each other. Take Auburn, for example. We have no clue as to who was right or wrong and what the coaches argued about, but there was no question that Franklin and the other coaches didn't agree with each other. And when that happens, it becomes poisonous to a program.
Now, the expectations at Auburn have sunk faster than last week's stock market numbers. A team that was predicted to win the SEC West at Media Days is now hoping they can reach a bowl game. Thoughts of a seventh consecutive win against Alabama are growing extremely faint (though it's wise to always toss stats out before an Iron Bowl).
To add to that, one only needs to look at Clemson, which parted ways with Tommy Bowden this week. Judging from the reactions of the players, there was some dissension between the players with their head coach. But it didn't stop there. The proof is in one Dabo Swinney, who now inherits the interim coaching title, despite the Tigers having two assistants with head coaching experience.
The proof also lies in Rob Spence, the Clemson offensive coordinator who was not retained for the rest of the season.
There's no doubt every assistant coach dreams of reaching the head spot. The problem now rests in that assistant coaches nowadays seem to be so intent on beating everyone else to get a head coaching slot that they lose the focus on the job they currently have. The result? Disappointing seasons, upset fans, and their own free fall down the coaching ladder.
The good coaches are the ones who can manage everyone around them, from the water boys to their top assistants. It's certainly a wake-up call for the fans in Auburn and Clemson, who realize they have a lot of work cut out for their programs.
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