Tony “Dumbass” Franklin was unceremoniously sent packing yesterday as Auburn’s offensive coordinator. Franklin will be survived by basically no one, as he did not bring any of his own staff with him, and will be remembered by the Auburn faithful for making poor play calling decisions and spearheading an offense so bad that calling it “lackluster” would be a compliment.
Franklin came in just prior to Auburn’s bowl game against Clemson last year to bring the spread offense to the plains, and managed to put together a decent showing with veteran quarterback Brandon Cox and the freshman heir apparent, Kodi the Burns. The 2008 season was marked with quarterback controversy between Burns and JuCo transfer Chris Todd, inexplicably poor play calls at crucial moments in the game, and passes that arced like a rainbow and hung in the air longer than most punts.
Franklin apparently didn’t realize that Coach Tommy Tuberville had given him 6 games to get the Tigers up to a national championship caliber spread offense. Given the lack of talent at quarterback and in the receiving corps, and rumored friction between Franklin and long-time Tuberville assistant coaches Hugh Nall and Greg Knox, the dumbass never had a chance. He will be missed for his blubbering press conferences full of self loathing following each poor offensive showing.
Look for Auburn to get a new temporary Offensive Coordinator sometime in the near future, but don’t worry, because we’re still committed to the spread, as all 25 recruits that make up Auburns #4 ranked recruiting class are coming because of the spread offense. It will be interesting to see how a group of assistant coaches who don’t fully know the spread offense are going to implement it for the next 6 games.
Also to watch for, more bitchy bandwagon Auburn fans to complain about how Franklin ruined the Tigers offensively, even though these were the same lemmings who were touting Franklin as the greatest thing since canned chili six months ago. Meanwhile, Tommy Tuberville hasn’t been in a situation this bad since… oh wait… last season. Nevermind. We’ll probably end up renegotiating Tubbs’ contract at the end of another 8 – 4 season this year. Call me when we get a coach who’s second half strategy isn’t nicknamed “The Tubbershell”.
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Since the editor is one of those calling for Tuberville's head I repost this rebuttal (originally on al.com) even thought the obession for Tuberville's head on that board made the editor look like a completely disinterested Patriots fan who isn't quite sure where Auburn is and decided he didn't like that Tuberville's first and last name both start with T. So if this seems overly harsh/combative it was because the original audience had lost their freaking minds.
All this we aren't a national contender talk has got me wondering if you all are a little delusional. Outside of USC I can't think of anyone who sniffs the title every year. National contenders are teams that have 2 to 4 losses every year and then one year the team completely comes together into an amazing run USC 2004, Texas 2005, Auburn 2004, or the breaks go their way Ohio State 2002, LSU 2003, Florida 2006, LSU 2007. You notice only one team on that list twice and USC is the only team that was in the discussion for all, but one of those years. CTT definitely has had us teetering on the wrong edge of the 9-4 to 11-2 waiting area that is so critical in terms of recuriting. Since that great 2004 season we are 9-4, 11-2 and 9-4. This year and another at 9-4 and below and then we can talk about needing a change to get back into the pool. For those with short memories we were 8-5 the season before 13-0. Florida was 9-4 before 12-1. And LSU won a national championship with our 2006 11-2 record. It isn't even that I wouldn't have faith in CTT's ability to turn it around, but falling like that destroys recuriting especially with an in-state rival. We would need to change in order to revitalize recuriting more than anything else. So for now even a rational outsider would have good reason to support CTT and isn't the whole idea of being a fan supporting your team even when it isn't rational?
War Eagle!!!
I'm not actually calling for CTT's head. Let me clarify my position: I've never liked Tuberville's offensive coaching style or choices of OC, and I tend to complain vocally about it. I respect everything the man has done for Auburn football and how he has given us a level of respect nationally that we have never had before.
I hate how he is called (or was) the "Riverboat Gambler" and yet consistently fails to gamble. The thing that I have most against him is that when he gets a single TD lead, he goes into the Tubbershell. Nothing is more frustrating to me than watching a coach intentionally hamstring an offense, and rely on (an incredible) defense. I realize that this has won us many games, but it has also kept many teams in the game against us when they should have been put away.
I fully remember the days when cheering for Auburn meant I only got to yell on a few first downs and the occasional field goal. CTT has brought us a loooong way from there. I just wish that he could find a functional offensive identity, and one of Les Miles' testicles for use during the second half of games. Both of Les Miles' balls would lead to stupid decision making, but one would add just enough spice to the mix.
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