The Sad Case of Michael Dyer

I believe it is official, Michael Dyer has left the Auburn football team.  It is just sad to me all around.  I mean compared to truly real-world bad things it is nothing but in the context of the Auburn football team it is sad.  Once again I think Jay Tate said it best...

"Why would Dyer leave rather than remain at Auburn and fix what’s broken?

We may never know the answer.

We know Dyer was on his way to immortality at Auburn. He broke Bo Jackson’s record for rushing as a freshman. He was one of a handful of Auburn backs to be named a first-team All-SEC performer. He was the featured back for a national championship team. Had he played his cards right, Dyer would have been a truly beloved player — forever associated with the program’s greatest single season.

Players train and grind and hope and pray to be in that position. Dyer was there."

As Tate points out, he could have been a legend at Auburn who truly is "Running Back U".  He broke Bo's freshman record, he was the national championship MVP, he put up over 1000 yards rushing in his first two seasons, etc...  As Tate said he could have been a truly beloved player and owned most all of the career rushing records at Auburn if he had stayed.  NFL careers are short but being an Auburn legend is something that could last a lifetime and always provide employment.  Finally, as Tate points out there are thousands of players who would give anything to be in Dyer's position and he has decided to just throw it all away.

First, I hate it that this kid appears to be making some bad decisions that will hurt him in the long run.  I definitely understand when some kids transfer but it sure looks to me like Dyer has less room to complain than anybody else on Auburn's team.  Second, this is going to hurt Auburn.  Yes it looks like we have some reinforcements coming in to help at running back but I do not think we have anybody coming in as good as Dyer.  I think the sunshine pumpers who say Dyer is no big loss should take another look at his accomplishments.  That stuff does not happen every day.  Finally it just takes a little bit away from when you rewatch the national championship game and see his MVP performance.

Auburn will move forward and be successful and Michael Dyer might as well but I think both would be better off together.  I just wish Michael Dyer recognized that.