Kentucky 10 Auburn 3. In my almost 50 years of watching Auburn football (yes 50 years) I have seen a lot of bad games. The worst seasons in modern Auburn football history are 1980, 1998, 2008, 2012, and the last five seasons. The first four seasons there ended the tenures of coaches Barfield, Bowden, Tuberville, and Chizik. The last five ended the tenure of Bryan Harsin and now thank goodness the far-too-long tenure of Hugh Freeze. I still believe everything I wrote last week. The powers-that-be were going to keep him if he beat Kentucky (previously the worst team in the SEC) and Mercer. Now thanks to that Kentucky team and Freeze's almost unbelievable ineptitude the plan changed. For the final time he is the worst x's and o's coach I have ever seen in my life.
The game last night was one of if not the worst offensive game in Auburn history (and that is saying something). The powers-that-be had no choice but to fire him after that abomination at home against the previous worst team in the SEC. There is nothing else to say. Let us just move on and finally blessedly look ahead. D.J. Durkin has been named interim head coach. I wish it had been sooner but I will take it. It may be very short lived because it is almost impossible for an interim to change a team. HOWEVER there are two factors here you don't usually see in a team that fires its coach midseason. One I believe this is the most talented team with this bad a record in Auburn history. I just believe and I maybe wrong that we will see an immediate difference Saturday. It may not be enough but I believe we will see it.
Next, D.J. Durkin is an experienced coach who has done a great job the last three years (with the exception of those third and longs but not going to talk about that now). You usually do not have as good a coach in-house to take over. He can now tailor this offense to help his defense that has been far better than I ever thought they would be. They have been exceptional. I saw the stat that the two other teams with defenses as good statistically as Auburn are Ohio State and Indiana who are both undefeated. I could be wrong (and usually am) but Vanderbilt better watch out. For those laughing, I hear you but give me this, if you have read this blog you know it does NOT happen often. I hope he fires up the offense like he has the defense. I would relentlessly run the ball and get good at a few play-action pass plays.
This offensive line just cannot pass block so you have to run which helps the defense. It also allows this line to do the one thing they might could do half decent and be aggressive. I think it would also help the frustrated Auburn wide receivers. There might not be as many pass plays but there would be more big plays. I am actually excited about Saturday and I don't think I have been excited about a game since 4th and 31. I mean I think everyone deep down knew that there was no coming back from that loss, first season or not. It was evident early on this offense was terrible and nothing ever changed. We just all had to watch the same crap game after game, season after season till now. I am excited about seeing a coach that might have a different philosophy from Malzahn, Harsin, or Freeze. I know it cannot change too much but I do not think Durkin gets this opportunity and does not try something different.
I think it is too early to discuss candidates. All I will say is I vehemently say HELL NO to Eli Drinkwitz and Rhett Lashlee who are both GUS MALZAHN disciples who both run a version of his offense. I CANNOT WATCH THAT CRAP AGAIN. NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! PLEASE! Right now lets see what Durkin can do. I think everyone still expects Vanderbilt to win this coming Saturday but I will borrow a line from another recently retired coach... not so fast my friend. Everyone has sure seen the worst in Auburn over the last few years but every once in awhile and it is even rarer now but every once in awhile we get to see Auburn do something amazing. I think a win this Saturday would be. WAR DAMN EAGLE.
