What is the state of Auburn Football?

With Gene Chizik days away from his first game as Auburn’s head football coach, what is the real state of the program he inherits?… Auburn has always been in an interesting position. Geographically, it is in an advantageous location. Prospects in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are within easy driving distance of the Auburn campus. But the problem is that Auburn isn’t the No. 1 recruiting power in any of those states… For the first time in a long time, there is no conflict between the football coaching staff and the administration. No one is squeezing the football program. Chizik is going to get most of the things he asks for. From all indications, everyone is on the same page. That’s a good thing… No fans anywhere are more passionate than Auburn fans. They love their school and they love their football program. Auburn fans, some of them anyway, tend to be pessimistic. Even in good times, they worry bad times are coming. And when they are unhappy, they don’t hide it… Auburn’s facilities are not bad. But when compared to Alabama, Florida and others, they lack the wow factor. And the wow factor matters these days… Auburn’s athletic department budget of some $80 million is in the upper echelon of the SEC… Add it all up and where does Auburn’s football program stand today? In my opinion, it stands at a crossroads. For most of the past decade, Auburn has been able to look the best in the SEC and the nation in the eye. But Florida, Georgia, Alabama and LSU have flung down the gauntlet. Can everything it takes for Auburn to keep up come together? History says it can happen, but that doesn’t mean it will. Even with commitment, courage and unity, the road ahead will be treacherous. We’ll see where it leads. – AuburnUndercover.com

The Firing Line: Will Tuberville “Dye” Hard?

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville…

Some believe no matter what happens this week, or for the rest of the season for that matter, it won’t save Tuberville or Fulmer. It’s hard to imagine one bad year could put either coach on the unemployment line, but that’s the way it is in the high stakes world of college football these days. All it can take is one bad year or even one bad game against a special rival, and even with the records Tuberville and Fulmer have compiled that can be the old ball game… Tuberville is not unemployed yet. He’s still the Auburn coach, but this season has been a catastrophe for Auburn, even more so than just the 4-4 record. It was a win, oddly enough, that started this snowball rolling down the hill - Auburn’s 3-2 win over Mississippi State. That score over a supposed inferior opponent embarrassed Auburn supporters, and by supporters I mean the power brokers who can hire and fire at Auburn. – The Randolph Leader

Auburn’s players haven’t quit in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and coach Tommy Tuberville said he doesn’t expect his team to ever give in. Tuberville was asked to respond to comments made by former Auburn coach Pat Dye on Paul Finebaum’s radio program Monday afternoon. Dye said the Tigers’ last two games have been “sad” because he sees “kids that early in the year were playing as hard as they could play and right now they’re not playing that way.” Tuberville rejected that suggestion. “I don’t know how you determine that,” he said. “Our guys have a lot of pride. They practice like everybody else. One thing we’re going to do is we’re going to play hard and we’re going to play for four quarters. Now, we might not play very well, and fatigue is a factor in that. But when people start talking about quitting, they start looking for excuses. We have no excuses.” – Huntsville Times

Last week, Tuberville shot down rumors about his health and his future at a weekly press conference that was anything but routine. Three days later, Auburn lost a third straight game - at West Virginia - for the first time since 2001. The continuing drama has raised the question. Will this spiral end with Tuberville’s dismissal? – Birmingham News