Harsin vs. Auburn boosters is the hottest rivalry in college football

[aubiefifty 17,488]

Hayes: Bryan Harsin vs. Auburn boosters is the hottest rivalry in college football

Matt Hayes

6-7 minutes

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ATLANTA — This is who they hired, and why they hired him. What did Auburn think was going to happen?

Bryan Harsin will not go gentle into the good night. He will rage, rage, against the dying of the light.

The rain poured on the roof of the College Football Hall of Fame Thursday as Harsin walked, a confident pounding stride, to the podium of SEC Media Days.

Then let it fly.

“There was an inquiry. It was uncomfortable,” Harsin began, his jaw set and his back bowed. “It was unfounded and it presented an opportunity for people to personally attack me, my family and also our program. And it didn’t work.”

But it didn’t end there. For the first few minutes of his highly-anticipate first address since the attempted coup at Auburn — because that’s what it always is with Auburn boosters — Harsin made it very clear what happened, the absurdity of why it did, and how he’s in charge moving forward.

For however long that is.

Rage, Bryan Harsin. Rage against the dying of the light.

Rage against the worst job in college football.

Away from the stage, when I reminded Harsin of the classic Dylan Thomas poem from the 1940s — Do not go gentle into the good night — there was a confident, purposeful smile.

“That will be the last time I talk about that,” Harsin said earlier on stage. “If you want any more information on it, just go Google it.”

I’ll save you the search — and provide some reality.

Harsin was hired at Auburn last year for this very reason — because he has the backbone, the fortitude, the unwavering personality, that screams we’re doing this my way. Not the way of those lunatic fat-cat boosters, who do everything in their power to soil the Loveliest Village on The Plain in the name of winning football.

This was the plan all along. Hire an outsider as athletic director (Allen Greene in 2018), and have him begin the process of decoupling from those with too much money and too much influence.

Three football seasons later, Greene got his chance when Auburn and coach Gus Malzahn — who beat Alabama coach Nick Saban 3 times — decided enough was enough and it was time to part ways.

Greene then tried to hire — in no uncertain order — Louisiana coach Billy Napier (now at Florida), Shane Beamer (who chose South Carolina) and Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables (now at Oklahoma) — and struck out because all three were concerned with Auburn’s alignment between the those inside the football building and those outside of it (see: board of trustees, boosters).

So Greene went further outside the box and found the one personality who would not budge when faced with the historic meddling from the Auburn board of trustees and boosters. Then a collapse in the second half of Harsin’s first season happened, and those same boosters saw their opportunity.

It was a difficult argument to fire Harsin after Year 1 — assistant coaches and players leave all the time after Year 1 because of fit and buy-in — so those with money decided to get dirty. Because this is how it works at Auburn: Those with money overshadow a wonderful university and community, with salt of the earth people, to satisfy their own greedy needs.

They’ve taken what should be a top-10 job — the beautiful campus, the unwavering fan support, the facilities — and turned it into the Raiders of the NFL.

Then came the dirtiest move of all in the fight to remove Harsin: a nasty social media campaign that included an alleged affair with a member of the athletic department. Because what better way to get Harsin than by jumping into the sewer that is social media — and allowing it to take over.

“Brutal, just brutal,” an SEC coach told me. “We’ve all heard the stories about that place, but to see it play out like that. Just sickening.”

The inquiry began and the investigation concluded and there was no real reason to fire Harsin — other than a disappointing first season and his refusal to bend to fat-cat boosters.

Again, this is what you wanted, Auburn. You wanted a strong personality who would stand toe-to-toe with Saban and not blink. More to the point, who wouldn’t back down from outside influence.

So after Tank Bigsby forgot to get down inbounds in the last 90 seconds of the Iron Bowl — in what would’ve likely sealed a victory over Alabama — the fallout began.

Eight months later, Harsin was standing on the stage at SEC Media Days addressing the nonsense of the offseason before finally moving forward to what he does best: coach ball.

“It united our football team, our players, our staff,” Harsin said. “I’m proud of what seething like that, that could be very challenging and difficult for a lot of people, how our guys stepped up and handled it.”

Said Auburn DE Derick Hall: “He’s my guy. Has been from the first day. Nothing will change that.”

Nothing, too, will change what those in power want at Auburn. If Harsin doesn’t win enough games this season — 8 or 9 games? — he’ll more than likely not make it to Year 3.

That’s how it works at Auburn. It’s how Terry Bowden was forced to quit, and Tommy Tuberville was run off, and Gene Chizik was kneecapped and Malzahn was finally worn down.

Four coaches with winning records, two with unbeaten seasons (Bowden, Tuberville), one who beat Alabama 6 times (Tuberville), one with a national title (Chizik) and one who beat Saban more than any other SEC coach (Malzahn).

All fired from the worst job in college football.

“Anytime we’re going backward, talking about the past, we’re not moving forward, talking about the future,” Harsin said. “We’ve moved on.”

Rage, Bryan Harsin. Rage, against the dying of the light.

[WarTim 3,461]

Hayes = asshat 

[Win4AU 4,057]

Every Coach since Dye vs. The Board of Trustees is the hottest and oldest rivalry in college football history

[NoALtiger 3,875]

Man that’s harsh to see in print. Maybe a little one sided but there’s some definite truth in there.  

[aubiefifty 17,488]

26 minutes ago, WarTim said:

Hayes = asshat 

i do not know anything about him so maybe thaqt is a good thing......grins

[PoetTiger 1,901]

Truth hurts.

[icanthearyou 4,468]

Money and power are the "game".   The more unequal a society, the more truth that statement holds.

The boosters will "win".  Harsin will "win".   They share power.  They don't really have to compete.  Their coexistence is contractually, mutually understood.  They have guarantees, insurances, assurances.

The fans, the team... they have little power.

If this year's team is successful.  I will not credit the boosters or, Harsin.  I will give all of the credit to the competitive spirit of the team members.  They were caught in the middle of a power play and, chose to do the best they could rather than simply giving up.

The boosters, Harsin, they can sit back and enjoy whatever the outcome knowing that,,, it really won't affect their lives one way or, the other.

The sad truth is, if the NIL situation is as unregulated as it appears to be, it will be the fans who are ultimately left as the only ones who are willing to "show up" without a guarantee, without knowing they will "get paid".

 

 

[AUwent 3,786]

IDK how many times this and this need to be linked to, but ok.

 

Edited July 24, 2022 by AUwent

[Hank2020 3,233]

1 hour ago, NoALtiger said:

Man that’s harsh to see in print. Maybe a little one sided but there’s some definite truth in there.  

Thats the best lie there is. Put a touch of truth blanketed with total untruths. 

[icanthearyou 4,468]

5 minutes ago, Hank2020 said:

Thats the best lie there is. Put a touch of truth blanketed with total untruths. 

That is the truth! 

[AUApostle 7,663]

Journalism is dead.

[NWALA Tiger 3,536]

Did AU extend an offer to Shane Beamer? I find that hard to believe. I can see Venables and maybe Napier

[AUwent 3,786]

11 minutes ago, NWALA Tiger said:

Did AU extend an offer to Shane Beamer? I find that hard to believe. I can see Venables and maybe Napier

I hope not. Because if we did that does not bode well for even being able to get who I want if we need a change (except maybe TWill). But this article feels like a smear.

Edited July 24, 2022 by AUwent

[icanthearyou 4,468]

The folly of the article is this:  the dynamics are in no way exclusive to Auburn.  All you have to do is look at the numerous other programs with long-term and, short-term dysfunction.

The part that is really difficult is this:  our biggest rival has it figured out.  The coach respects the power structure.  The power structure respects the coach.  The egos are huge but, they coexist and cooperate seamlessly.  But remember, they learned this lesson the hard way.  They stayed with a coach too long and then, went through several in a hurry before finding the right guy.

IMHO, the big deal here, now, is that with the NILs and mega conference deals, we do not have the luxury of time trying get the egos, power, and money together.

IMHO, there are dozens and dozens of coaches who can handle the football aspects.  There aren't but a few who can subordinate their egos and handle the power structures behind big time programs.

[augolf1716 21,579]

1 hour ago, AUwent said:

But this article feels like a smear.

All it is....

[NWALA Tiger 3,536]

11 minutes ago, AUwent said:

I hope not. Because if we did that does not bode well for even being able to get who I want if we need a change (except maybe TWill). But this article feels like a smear.

Who does this cat write for? When he says AU is the worst coaching job in the country,  kinda feels like a hit piece from Bummer or Jawja

Edited July 24, 2022 by NWALA Tiger

[PoetTiger 1,901]

5 minutes ago, icanthearyou said:

The folly of the article is this:  the dynamics are in no way exclusive to Auburn.  All you have to do is look at the numerous other programs with long-term and, short-term dysfunction.

The part that is really difficult is this:  our biggest rival has it figured out.  The coach respects the power structure.  The power structure respects the coach.  The egos are huge but, they coexist and cooperate seamlessly.  But remember, they learned this lesson the hard way.  They stayed with a coach too long and then, went through several in a hurry before finding the right guy.

IMHO, the big deal here, now, is that with the NILs and mega conference deals, we do not have the luxury of time trying get the egos, power, and money together.

IMHO, there are dozens and dozens of coaches who can handle the football aspects.  There aren't but a few who can subordinate their egos and handle the power structures behind big time programs.

Auburn for some reason just can’t seem to keep its business in house. 

[PoetTiger 1,901]

4 minutes ago, NWALA Tiger said:

Who does this cat write for? When he says AU is the worst coaching job in the country,  kinda feels like a hit piece from Bummer or Jawja

Definitely don’t think it’s the worst job, but I believe it could easily be a top 5 job, if the athletic department, coaches, and boosters can ever get on the same page. You got fans/supporters in the booster’s corner, AD Dept corner and coaches corner. The division even exists on this site. Football just appears to be stuck on stupid, and is in dire need of leadership in the right direction. 

[icanthearyou 4,468]

2 hours ago, Win4AU said:

Every Coach since Dye vs. The Board of Trustees is the hottest and oldest rivalry in college football history

I think this is true because,,, there was mutual respect between Dye and the power structure.  It wasn't just about winning.  It was in large part about communicating.

[eaglenest 332]

Some of the comments in this thread is a head scratcher to me, I'm going to quote something from a movie that I think pertains to some of y'all opinions from this Artical. Every piece of this is man's bull****, they call this war" a cloud over the land" but they made the weather and then they stand in the rain and say "s***, it's raining. Every piece of this Artical is spot on this is not a smear or attack, it is truth.

[Hank2020 3,233]

1 hour ago, NWALA Tiger said:

Did AU extend an offer to Shane Beamer? I find that hard to believe. I can see Venables and maybe Napier

Venables never showed for an interview so definitely did not get an offer. No offer/interview publicized to Beamer.

[gravejd 3,281]

The attack on Harsin was dirty and looked really bad. And I fully believe AU people and folks close to the athletic department were involved. I don’t think it was a random internet rumor that the media ran with. But about everything else was sensational and major spin. It’s a hit piece and nothing more. AU is a tough job right now but worse job in college football. Mkay 

[Mikey 16,781]

Napier never got an offer either. He may have been approached, but he definitely was not offered the job. Paraphrasing AD Greene about hiring Harsin: "We met some years ago, talked a good bit and I decided then that if I ever had a job opening for a head football coach, I'd go after Brian Harsin first".

The rest of this is nothing but a groundless hit piece designed to make AU look bad.

[PoetTiger 1,901]

1 hour ago, Mikey said:

Napier never got an offer either. He may have been approached, but he definitely was not offered the job. Paraphrasing AD Greene about hiring Harsin: "We met some years ago, talked a good bit and I decided then that if I ever had a job opening for a head football coach, I'd go after Brian Harsin first".

The rest of this is nothing but a groundless hit piece designed to make AU look bad.

Auburn football administration has been doing a pretty good job of making themselves look bad for quite some time now. The right coach will never fix it if there are detractors with enough influence,  especially in the PR department. Whether we choose to believe it or not, the football program and how it is managed has a serious internal problem. Until it is resolved we will never get the winning consistency we desire.

[IronMan70 3,282]

What many people haven't transitioned to is the fact that we are now part of a pro football league and that effects everything. On the football part, I think we have a guy that can coach football, we will see on that count soon enough. Then there is the money part and to that point, those that have or are in charge of the money to support AU in this new pro league better get with the program.

They need to stop the pettiness and put AU first because AU football doesn't have the luxury of time. If they don't, the rest of this stuff is hot air and Auburn football will keep falling behind. So don't tell us you support Auburn then turn right around and withold the money AU needs to be successful in a pro football league. 

Edited July 25, 2022 by IronMan70