James Franklin to Brent Key, sounding off on 10 Auburn coaching candidates
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The firings will continue until morale improves.
Auburn became the latest SEC school to succumb to misery, firing Hugh Freeze to put an end to his awful tenure. This becomes Auburn’s third firing in six seasons at a program that once punched at the highest level.
As the Tigers limp toward what would be a fifth consecutive losing season, it begs the question: Is this still a good job?
On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams debate the merits of the Auburn job. They consider the candidacy of 10 potential targets, taking a particular shine to one coach who’s thriving at a nearby school in the ACC.
Auburn becomes the fourth SEC school hiring for a new coach.
“The reality is, it’s no longer time to be patient. It’s time to act,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said. “It’s time for us to make a jump. It’s time for Auburn to make a jump. Our fans deserve that, and I want that to happen as quickly as possible.”
Should Auburn football consider hiring these coaching candidates?
James Franklin, former Penn State coach
Adams: Like it. It’s tough to unsee those losses to UCLA and Northwestern, but the rest of Franklin’s career says he’d be good for Auburn.
Toppmeyer: Like it. He’d restore Auburn to a level of competency not seen since Gus Malzahn.
Dan Mullen, UNLV
Adams: No thanks. I like Mullen better for Arkansas.
Toppmeyer: Like it. See what I wrote about Franklin.
Brent Key, Georgia Tech
Adams: Love it. His Georgia Tech team is just what Auburn needs.
Toppmeyer: Love it. A perfect fit who could fix the problems ailing Auburn’s offense.
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
Adams: No thanks. The SEC job Drinkwitz is suited best to is the one he’s doing now.
Toppmeyer: No thanks. Being great for Missouri doesn’t make him good for Auburn.
Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Adams: Like it. Bigger question: Why would Lashlee leave SMU? He won’t.
Toppmeyer: Like it. Could Auburn convince him to leave after that SMU contract extension? Worth finding out.
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Adams: No thanks. Last time Auburn looked west, it got Bryan Harsin. Dillingham’s not Harsin, but maybe just don’t look west.
Toppmeyer: Like it. My only hesitation: Do we know whether last season will go down as an aberration, or the start of a great coaching career? He’s worth considering, if only he’d leave his alma mater.
Jon Sumrall, Tulane
Adams: Love it. He just looks like an SEC coach. He’s already won at Troy and Tulane. He’d be my next call after Key.
Toppmeyer: Like it. Good though Sumrall’s been in the Group of Five, that doesn’t make him a slam dunk success in the SEC, but he’s trending that way.
Alex Golesh, South Florida
Adams: No thanks. He’s doing well at USF, but I like others on this list better.
Toppmeyer: Like it. He’d liven up Auburn’s moribund offense.
Urban Meyer, FOX analyst
Adams: Love it. Stop paying bad coaches buyouts. See if Urban will take $15 million to revive Auburn.
Toppmeyer: Love it. Make Urban say no!
Jon Gruden, Barstool Sports personality
Adams: Love it. (Not really, but I want to see it.)
Toppmeyer: No thanks, but he couldn’t be any worse than Harsin or Freeze.
Later in the episode
∎ A discussion of whether the SEC can qualify five teams for the College Football Playoff, and whether one of those five might be Texas.
SEC football Week 11 picks against the spread!
Toppmeyer’s five-pack of picks (picks in bold):
∎ Georgia (-7.5) at Mississippi State
∎ Texas A&M (-7.5) at Missouri
∎ Auburn at Vanderbilt (-7.5)
∎ Florida (-3.5) at Kentucky
∎ Indiana (-16.5) at Penn State
Season record: 23-27 (1-4 last week)
—-
Adams’ five-pack of picks (picks in bold):
∎ Texas A&M (-7.5) at Missouri
∎ Auburn at Vanderbilt (-7.5)
∎ Florida (-3.5) at Kentucky
∎ LSU at Alabama (-11.5)
∎ Massachusetts at Akron (-10.5)
Season record: 25-25 (3-2 last week)
Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered
Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 Auburn football coaching candidates: Like it, love it or no thanks
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