As Alabama football rises, the Auburn Tigers continue to stumble. On an SEC football Sunday, a building question is when will DJ Durkin become another SEC Coordinator to gain an Interim Head Coach role in the SEC?
So far, the count is one with Sam Pitman going down at Arkansas on Sunday. Pittman was a dead man walking going into the season. The well-liked Arkansas coach was on borrowed time the minute Bobby Petrino was hired as the Razorback's Offensive Coordinator.
Hugh Freeze may be next. In College Station, Freeze's Auburn offense produced three points. Yes, Auburn scored 10 points, but the touchdown 'drive' was only two yards. The other numbers for the Offensive Wizard's offense were no third-down conversions in 13 chances, five sacks allowed from an offensive line Auburn fans labelled in the preseason as NFL-bound, and a paltry 177 total yards.
In his third season with Auburn, Freeze is 14-16 overall, including 5-13 in SEC games, and 1-10 against ranked opponents. Basing hiring decisions on head coaches and transfer quarterbacks who have had some success beating an Alabama football team has not worked well for the Tigers.
How disappointed and angry are Auburn football fans? After the loss to Texas A&M, the Fly War Eagle site graded Auburn players and coaches. Hugh Freeze and the offensive staff got an 'F' grade. The Auburn offensive line also received an 'F' grade. Tigers' QB, Jackson Arnold, was only slightly higher with a 'D' grade.
Alabama football fans will gladly support Hugh's claim
After the game, Freeze claimed, "We're not far off." Even the staunchest Auburn fan should be stunned. Andrew Hughes, writing for Fly War Eagle, suggested the Tigers should look to replace Freeze with Fran Brown, Sonny Dykes, or Deion Sanders, reminding Auburn fans that more accomplished coaches are beyond Auburn's reach.
Right now, Auburn fans would likely celebrate any of three or DJ Durkin replacing Freeze. Will Auburn power-brokers balk on Dykes, Brown, and Sanders because they have never beaten Alabama?
Going back to Gene Chizik, I have lobbied for Auburn to retain every head coach. From Chizik to Malzahn, to Harsin, it never worked. I doubt it can work with Freeze either, but every Auburn game he coaches is a boost to the Alabama football program.