The events within the Auburn football program the last few days are simply mind boggling. With irritation bubbling up over the Tigers’ 7-4 record and then exacerbated by the blowout loss to No.1 Alabama, President Steven Leath (along with some encouragement from at least one trustee) may have damaged the program.
By now the entire nation knows that the Leath tried to bluff Gus Malzahn into balking at an offer to retain his job by asking him to make a new deal. To their surprise Gus is considering the offer. That offer would include reducing the huge buyout that Leath agreed to less than 12 months ago along with requiring Gus to relinquish some control of his program. The specifics of the second demand have not been revealed but sources close to the situation say one of those limitations would be the ability to make changes to his staff.
It’s unbelievable that Gus would even come to the table to discuss restraints on his ability to run his program. It goes to show how much he wants to remain the Tigers coach. It’s not a money issue with him; it’s a desire to stay in Auburn. But to consider staying with restraints on his ability to run the program defies logic both for Gus and the University. Why would a school want to keep a coach and make it more difficult for him to win?
It damages the program in the short run because it could not have come at a worse time. While Auburn coaches are crisscrossing the country to stock the stalls with future talent, they are being cut off at the knees by opposing coaches who are using the noxious situation to undercut Auburn recruiting efforts at every turn. And the way this has been handled, in the long run, will give pause to any top coaching prospect to ever want to consider the Auburn job.
Frankly, if Gus wants to take less money, that’s his business but frankly I hope he doesn’t agree to those “restraint” terms. It would be setting a bad precedent. Hobbling a coach with restraints (be it Gus or the next guy) is no answer for building a wining program. In fact it’s a recipe for disaster. If he or the next coach can’t hire who they want, can’t run the program the way they want, then there will certainly be more disappointing seasons the likes of which Tennessee has had to endure the past decade; except Tennessee’s situation did not involve spurious actions on the part of the administration.
Auburn football has taken a big PR hit. And unless Leath does the honorable thing, the program may have been damaged to the point it could take years to recover. The fact that Leath agreed to a contract that defied logic thereby upsetting many in the fan base should not be grounds to deal dishonorably now.
It doesn’t matter if those reading this are pro Gus or want to see him leave. This is a matter of doing the right thing – something that the Auburn Creed alludes to.
What the president and the trustees should do is give their coach everything he needs (including their100 % support) to be successful; either that or anti up the buyout that Leath put his name to last December and replace him with the man of their choice.
To do otherwise is at best unprincipled and at least smacks of dishonest dealings. Maybe new presidents should be required to memorize the Auburn Creed; in particular the line that reads, ““I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.”
The post It’s Wrong to try to Force Gus Malzahn to Accept a New Deal appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.
from Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog http://trackemtigers.com/its-wrong-to-try-to-force-gus-malzahn-to-accept-a-new-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-wrong-to-try-to-force-gus-malzahn-to-accept-a-new-deal
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