Feel good aspect of the Harsin Era

[AUght2win 6,910]

There isn’t really such a thing as a feel good aspect to CBH’s tenure. But this is kind of close to one. 

Former Auburn head coach Doug Barfield is a family friend. He’s alive and still working today. He’s also an extremely sweet man who still resides in the state.

Sadly, for many years now, the name “Barfield” has become synonymous with bad Auburn football. I’m not here to make the argument the association was off base. I mean, even I have been guilty of using his name when things are looking bleak on the field.

CDB and his family are well aware to the fact he’s been our quintessential punching bag for 40 years. Yet, to this day, Coach Barfield holds no grudge for Auburn or its fans - despite certainly having a legitimate reason to. He’s been our Bill Buckner. And that’s not a fun thing to be.

But the bright side, is just as Buckner was freed of his stigma when the Red Sox finally won it all in 2004, Doug Barfield is now free of the title of “worst ever” when it comes to Auburn football. That easily belongs to Bryan Harsin - whose lack of effort and disrespect for the Auburn job makes him a much more fitting barometer of bad than Coach Barfield. Especially when you add to the fact that CDB didn’t take home even a fraction of $15 million for his struggles. 

Breaking it down in retrospect, Barfield’s tenure nearly as bad as it’s been portrayed. CDB inherited a much worse program than CBH did, and slowly built it back up. He finished his four years at Auburn with an overall winning record, and a winning record in conference play (when accounting for 2 Miss State forfeits). He was 2-0 in Athens, with two blowout wins. In 1979, he was 7 points short of a conference title. Throughout his tenure, he was also responsible for some of the best offenses and most exciting players in school history - laying the foundation of Auburn becoming Runningback U.

I think this will happen naturally. But going forward, let’s stop using Coach Barfield’s name when things are at rock bottom. We now have a new rock bottom - and the name who brought it to us is “Harsin”.

War Eagle, Coach Barfield. And here’s to the relief you’ve long deserved!

Edited November 2, 2022 by AUght2win

[3rdgeneration 6,473]

I love this and thank you for sharing.  It’s not easy to coach at Auburn, as passionate as our fans are.  

[Taker 494]

I am on board.... the Barfield Era will now be known as just a low point in AU football.... Now the Hard up harsin Era will be the new standard for SUCKING

[AUINSY 2,228]

The one redeeming factor is at least we won in Baton Rouge for the first time…this century? No other upside besides that 

[AUght2win 6,910]

10 minutes ago, 3rdgeneration said:

I love this and thank you for sharing.  It’s not easy to coach at Auburn, as passionate as our fans are.  

Says a lot about how good Auburn is as a program that a guy who had a winning record over 4 years in the SEC was vilified so much. Coach Barfield could have posted these results at many other mid level Power 5 schools and stayed for years - perhaps even having time to grow into an elite coach. I think the Tennessee game in 80 was so intensely bad that everybody forgot his whole tenure wasn’t a disaster. 

[gr82be 14,558]

4 minutes ago, Taker said:

I am on board.... the Barfield Era will now be known as just a low point in AU football.... Now the Hard up harsin Era will be the new standard for SUCKING

However, I'm sure through no fault of his own, Doug Barfield had to be the worst dressed Auburn coach based on this photo. 

[Taker 494]

4 minutes ago, gr82be said:

However, I'm sure through no fault of his own, Doug Barfield had to be the worst dressed Auburn coach based on this photo. 

Apparently style was not on his radar back then lol.... as you can see in the other photo he came around

[gr82be 14,558]

@AUght2win not to take away from your assessment overall but the W/L record doesn't add up. Looks like he was 27-27-1 overall and 13-16-1 in the SEC. 

 

Did that reflect a forfeit from someone along the way?

Edited November 2, 2022 by gr82be

[AUght2win 6,910]

14 minutes ago, gr82be said:

@AUght2win not to take away from your assessment overall but the W/L record doesn't add up. Looks like he was 27-27-1 overall and 13-16-1 in the SEC. 

 

Did that reflect a forfeit from someone along the way?

Yes I believe so. Miss State had 2 forfeits. But on the field I think he was .500. Don’t quote me on that.

[AUght2win 6,910]

25 minutes ago, gr82be said:

However, I'm sure through no fault of his own, Doug Barfield had to be the worst dressed Auburn coach based on this photo. 

Oh my man, are you not familiar with a man by the name of Gene Chizik?

[AuCivilEng1 11,081]

Every Auburn coach since Barfield has been instrumental in building the Auburn brand, except Harsin. Auburn history will not be kind to him and he deserves it.

 

Edited November 2, 2022 by AuCivilEng1

[passthebiscuits 6,889]

Barfield went on to a very successful coaching career at Opelika High. Great man and always an Auburn ambassador. 

[AuCivilEng1 11,081]

2 minutes ago, AUght2win said:

Oh my man, are you not familiar with a man by the name of Gene Chizik?

Whatchu talking bout! Chiz dressed like a pimp! His paisley shirts fueled Auburn’s natty run!

[AUght2win 6,910]

Also worth noting (I’m not an expert, wasn’t alive during his era so those who were there feel free to chime in or correct) Barfield dealt with NCAA sanctions that prevented him from ever taking his team to a bowl (1979 especially) from infractions that took place prior to his HC tenure. Although, he was on staff when the infractions were committed. Still, another tough obstacle he dealt with. 

[passthebiscuits 6,889]

1 hour ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

Whatchu talking bout! Chiz dressed like a pimp! His paisley shirts fueled Auburn’s natty run!

Don’t forget the jersey shorts and the no arms windbreakers. 

[aucom96 1,648]

2 hours ago, passthebiscuits said:

Don’t forget the jersey shorts and the no arms windbreakers. 

The Members Only Jacket of college football.

[api1957 1,783]

5 hours ago, gr82be said:

However, I'm sure through no fault of his own, Doug Barfield had to be the worst dressed Auburn coach based on this photo. 

I’d rock the hell outta that ‘fit!!

[Gowebb11 9,522]

I always gave Coach Barfield a pass because he bought us Brooks and Cribbs and Fast Freddie Smith. Win or lose, those guys made AU football fun to watch. 

[Hay Field 101 639]

3 hours ago, api1957 said:

I’d rock the hell outta that ‘fit!!

I want one !!!!!!!!!!!  somebody send me a link and I will wear it the first home game of the new coach. 

[AEAugirl 9,642]

8 hours ago, AuCivilEng1 said:

Every Auburn coach since Barfield has been instrumental in building the Auburn brand, except Harsin. Auburn history will not be kind to him and he deserves it.

 

Bowden…..eh.  Not sure what was instrumental about his time here, it was full of drama. 

Edited November 2, 2022 by AEAugirl

[EagleEye67 1,947]

4 hours ago, aucom96 said:

The Members Only Jacket 

 

Hey, I had a couple of those....

[AuCivilEng1 11,081]

1 hour ago, AEAugirl said:

Bowden…..eh.  Not sure what was instrumental about his time here, it was full of drama. 

His first couple of years were huge. And let’s be honest. It was full of drama for the time it was, but Auburn has been surrounded by drama ever since, as well.

[SaltyTiger 8,071]

10 hours ago, gr82be said:

However, I'm sure through no fault of his own, Doug Barfield had to be the worst dressed Auburn coach based on this photo. 

Looks “cool” to me.

[The Colonel 34]

I think, technically, the Earl Brown era was the absolute low point of Auburn football.  Barfield seemed to be headed slowly upward then BAM - 1980 UT game and it all came crashing down.  

 

[ShocksMyBrain 9,401]

8 hours ago, passthebiscuits said:

Don’t forget the jersey shorts and the no arms windbreakers. 

The Shacket!