Auburn fired coach Gene Chizik Sunday, just two years after leading the Tigers to the National Championship. Talk about what have you done for me lately. . .
Chizik’s dismissal caps a four-year run at Auburn that was significant in its unbeaten season of 2010 with Cam Newton at quarterback and spectacular in it failure this year, failing to win an SEC game, low-lighted by a 49-0 stomping by arch-rival Alabama on Saturday.
The fluctuation in production shows how far the program has fallen. And in Auburn, that just is not acceptable.
How bad has the fall been? The Tigers endured the worst slide within two years of winning a national championship of any team since the Associated Press poll started in 1936 and hadn’t lost this many games since going 0-10 in 1950. The decision came 17 months after Auburn gave Chizik a contract worth some $3.5 million annually through 2015 with a hefty buyout.
“After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our football program, I have recommended that Coach Chizik not be retained,” Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. “President (Jay) Gogue has accepted my recommendation. Earlier this morning, I informed Gene that he will not return as head coach.”
Said Chizik: “I’m extremely disappointed with the way this season turned out and I apologize to the Auburn family and our team for what they have had to endure. In my 27 years of coaching, I have gained an understanding of the high expectations in this profession. When expectations are not met, I understand changes must be made.”
The Tigers went from 14-0 with a perfect SEC record in 2010 to 3-9 and 0-8, losing their final three league games by a combined 150-21. Auburn was blown out by Texas A&M (63-21) and Georgia (38-0) but the finale was even more painful for Tigers fans.
No. 2 Alabama cruised to a six-touchdown halftime lead en route to a 49-0 demolition Saturday that could easily have been much worse. It was still the second-most lopsided Iron Bowl in history, behind only the Tide’s 55-0 win in 1948.
“While we experienced a tremendous low in 2012, I will always be proud of the incredible highs that we achieved, including three bowl victories, an SEC championship and a national championship,” Chizik said.
