Gene Chizik to Auburn

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 1:53 PM CST in Football Comment 21 comments

There's really no words to express what's happening. I was a guy that believed in Chizik from the beginning. I've seen the program from the inside and the outside and liked what I saw, and liked what he was doing.

It's hard to knock a guy for wanting a head coaching job in the SEC, but it also means his loyalty to the university was lukewarm at best. We were a speedbump in the process. Chizik was supposed to be one of those guys brought in not only because he was supposed to win football games, but for integrity as well. Not so much.

Now we've got another coaching search to run. Dan McCarney isn't coming back, so anyone that's suggesting that can just move on. Too many burnt bridges. I'd imagine Turner Gill will be contacted, but will he even listen?

So, the Gene Chizik era ends with a 5-19 record. Two conference wins. Where do we go from here?

One would have to imagine we'll face some defections. Many of the current freshmen on the team came to Iowa State thanks to the coaching staff. One would imagine none of that staff will stay, so will guys like Leonard Johnson stay?

Jamie Pollard - what do you do? Chizik was a big hire when you got him, and apparently still big enough to get one of those big jobs elsewhere? Can you sell that? Or that Chizik had no interest in trying to build Iowa State, and tried to get out as quick as he can?

Gene was a guy that, if you talked to, you'd believe in him til the end. Maybe that's what the Auburn AD was experiencing. Auburn fans can't be happy. Iowa State fans aren't happy. We've been screwed over.

Again.

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Wow

It’s hard to get my mind around this. I always assumed that he would eventually leave for a bigger job but to get that job after 5 wins in 2 years is pretty amazing. It’s kind of depressing to think that kind of performance at ISU is apparently good enough to get you a job in the SEC. I don’t understand how Auburn can think that going from Tuberville to Chizik is some type of upgrade but maybe it is. I’d take Tommy in a heartbeat though.

It’s tough to blame Chizik for taking the job but the whole thing still rubs me the wrong way. To talk shit on the program to other coaches is pretty low in my book. Yeah, I’m sure he didn’t think it would get out but it usually does. It’s not the easiest place to win at but it can be done so quit bitching and just do it. I guess it’s easier to spend two years and leave on the first plane out of town…

by Pauli on Dec 13, 2008 2:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Again

like you said, it’s hard to fault a guy leaving for an SEC job, but there’s still two big questions

1) How does this get you hired at Auburn?
2) Was he apparently just feeding us a line about wanting to be here?

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 2:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

#2

Clearly yes. Loyalty is dead in college football. There’s too much money at stake for everyone involved to worry about things like that.

by Pauli on Dec 13, 2008 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You are very right

Auburn fans are LIVID that this is happening. This is not who we wanted and are shocked to see our Athletic Department, namely Jay Jacobs, go this route. This will completely divide the Auburn fan base and the big donors. It is truly a sad day for Auburn University.

by kerr024 on Dec 13, 2008 2:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Best of luck

to you guys. I guess I wish you guys success, though I don’t necessarily feel the same way towards your new head coach.

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 2:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Luck...that is exactly what we are going to need

I apologize that our athletic director stole your coach. He obviously saw somethng the fans didn’t and he will end up. I wish you guys the best in your new search now. I would highly recommend Turner Gill. But as we see in this search, what the fans want, the fans don’t get.

by kerr024 on Dec 13, 2008 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The kicker is

I liked and wanted Chiz from the beginning. I’ve met him on numerous occasions. It still just befuddles me.

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 2:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You have to be careful...

…about what the fans want sometimes.

See: Mike DuBose

RollBamaRoll.com

by Nico2.0 on Dec 13, 2008 3:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

rooting for him to fail

although i can understand why he took the job

he was a failure and Ames, and will be gone in Auburn by 2011

later fraud

by Will McDonald on Dec 13, 2008 2:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll trade him for Tuberville

straight up

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jaime Pollard has destroyed ISU

I’m not sure why everyone gave him the benefit of the doubt when he came in, but by the time this is all over, its not going to be pretty

by Will McDonald on Dec 13, 2008 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We still have volleyball

PLAYIN FOR THE FINAL FOUR!!

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 3:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hang in there man..um...always darkest before the dawn?

Yeah…this shocked the heck out of us over at RockM…will be interesting

"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever." - Anonymous
Rock M Nation

by The Beef on Dec 13, 2008 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Things are not going well for Jaime right now

I liked the Chizik hire, didn’t like the GMac hire. Unfortunately we’re in a Catch-22 where we need facilities upgrades to compete in the Big 12 but it’s tough to raise the money without some wins. Something like this could screw us for years if we don’t get the right guy now.

by Pauli on Dec 13, 2008 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree

Pretty much could not have turned out worse.

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 4:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What about Leaf...

Ryan Leaf is available right?

by TroyDavis4Life on Dec 13, 2008 5:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

he could be a 2fer

and coach golf.

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 5:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Face Reality

There has been a lot of buzz over the past year by young and old alums about Pollard and some of the things that he as done at Iowa State. My biggest bitch has nothing to do with him. That lying coward that preceded him ditched a baseball program that could play well against some of the best in the nation and was bringing in good recruits. Just go back and look at Big 8/Big 12 tournament performance in the final years. I digress. The reality for Iowa State is that until people open their wallets and put money into the program, it will not grow the way many people expect. “Fans” love to show up and hit the tailgates. “Fans” will flock to Hilton when the ‘Clones are winning. But, “fans” will not dig into their pockets and support the program so that it can grow. You cannot tell me that the money that ISU alums have is not adequate! What does Nebraska have that Iowa doesn’t. Don’t tell me for a minute that ISU alums don’t have money that they can give to grow the athletic department! Iowa State is on a nice run right now in volleyball and the wrestling team is going to be near the top. Women’s basketball could do okay this year. Pollard has a vision, which is something that many “fans” don’t have.

by I'm right on Dec 13, 2008 7:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

nebraska only has one team

what is pollard’s vision

to me he looks like a classic young guy who got a job too early, came in trying to prove he had the biggest -- in the room and preceded to make a series of bad hires, while demanding $$ for a product that was getting worse

by Will McDonald on Dec 13, 2008 8:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's gonna make a big splash

he came in guns ablazing……let’s hope it works out in our next coaching search.

by CrossCyed on Dec 13, 2008 8:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair...

We have three teams. Women’s Volleyball (going to the Final Four this year in Omaha) and Baseball. But yes, our 900lb gorilla is (and probably always will be) football.

I don’t know if I-State has former players out there who are good coaches, but damn, I hope you guys can get someone who actually WANTS to be in Ames. This sucks.

by Wolvie on Dec 14, 2008 2:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs