I made a mistake. I admit that. We hired Tony Franklin, and it wasnt Tony Franklins fault, it was my fault. And were gonna get it straight. Tony’s a good person and a good guy and I dont want anything said bad about him. It was not his fault. For some reason we struggled and didnt get it done. But my first responsibility is to Auburn – and Auburn University.
Monthly Archive for October, 2008
Page 3 of 3
-Tuberville / Steve Ensmenger Named CO-Offensive Coordinators-
QBs coach Steve Ensmenger and head coach Tommy Tuberville will both call plays for the Auburn Offense for the remainder of the year. Steve Ensminger will take charge of Auburn’s offense, but he won’t be the offensive coordinator. Tuberville said the search for a new offensive coordinator will begin shortly but he won’t name one until after the season. He also said none of AU’s current assistants will be considered for the position. As for the remainder of the season, Tuberville said they won’t be making any major changes to the offense and still plan to continue using the no-huddle system that was installed by Franklin. Tuberville doesn’t plan to bring in an outside consultant as he did in 2003 when the offense struggled with Ensminger and current offensive line coach Hugh Nall sharing the offensive coordinator position….cause we all know how that turned out:
From Opelika Auburn News:
MIKE SZVETITZSTAFF WRITERPublished: October 8, 2008
Tony Franklin has been fired as Auburn’s offensive coordinator a source close to the program told the Opelika-Auburn News on Wednesday afternoon.
Franklin was hired in December of 2007, just a few days after then-AU offensive coordinator Al Borges was let go by head coach Tommy Tuberville.
Franklin, who spent the last two years at Troy, was brought to Auburn to run the spread offense – or the “Tony Franklin System” which has been installed at high school programs across the country.
Franklin’s offense hasn’t lived up to its expectations this season, as the Tigers are 4-2, 2-2 in the SEC.
The offense is near or at the bottom in most offensive categories in the SEC and the country. Auburn ranks 104th in total offense (309.2 yards per game), 105th in pass efficiency (104.98), tied for 111th in red zone offense (65 percent) and 112th in third-down conversions (29.7 percent).
For more, check back to http://www.oanow.com and read Thursday’s Opelika-Auburn News.
AND READ THIS ARTICLE ON THE ‘AUBURN SPREAD’
Now, this is raw speculation, but here’s my best guess: Franklin comes in, and does not bring in any other staff. The rest of the staff does not buy into this system. They didn’t think it would work, and Franklin has not convinced them. They are convinced they don’t have the players (more on that in a bit) and that either they can’t go too spread too quickly, or they have to keep some other elements, or the play-calling is off, or something. Plus, since he didn’t bring the rest of his staff in, Franklin had to coach the coaches in his offense, and at that he apparently did a poor job.
There is also video included of Franklin’s spread when he was @ KY.
I’m just curious how one could go from dominating the game with a great running offense (under center) to thinking “hey, we’re ahead now, why don’t we try that spread thing again”??????? Seriously, why didn’t we just go back to what worked? It’s unbelievable. Not one time did we got back to what was working for us. We are two separate teams, first half (or shorter) and second half. We have no finishing skills. We have no red zone skills. Now I have been pro-tubby for the last 8 years, but I’m losing faith. Is he growing so tame in his old age that he won’t step up to the task? Has my faith in Franklin been misplaced? Don’t get me wrong, I want to believe in the Spread Eagle soooooooooooo badly, but it’s starting to wane. I mean, I had my thoughts about holding back the playbook to not give things away, but now I think we just aren’t that good. Todd? Burns? Doesn’t matter. Receivers, come on, catch something……if you touch it, you should catch it. Offensive line? Laxing more every week. I have and will always be one of the biggest Auburn supporters, but at some point, either you have to call it what it is or you are senile. I’m still willing to believe in the spread eagle offense, but if we don’t stop holding back OR if we cant find our rhythm (i.e. go with what works), then I think we need to find a coach (or coaches) who can agree on a plan and stick with it, or find all new coaches in general.
Now, its 10:25 pm on Saturday and I MIGHT have drank too much liquor after our loss, but damnit, I’m coherent enough to type and that’s good enough for me.
Whatever the score, its great the be an auburn tiger, I love this place, what it represents and the people who make it what it is. More than I could ever express, and it doesn’t matter if we go 0-10 AS LONG AS we beat those hackneyed houndstooth homers from across the state.
P.S. F*ck Byrum and his crooked leg. (It’s almost like he assumed he didn’t have to practice this summer because he did decently last year. Gimme a break, he’s already missed several key kicks)
10 ) Giant calculator reads: “AUBURN WINS”
9 ) Gameday or not, your still all nerds
8 ) The Average Vandy student’s IQ is higher than the average Bama fan credit score
7 ) Vanderbilt? Really? Here?
6 ) Dont Fire Fulmer 14-12
5 ) Dores swing both ways
4 ) Lou Holths ith a penith
3 ) I got here in Julio’s new escalade
2 ) Thank God Kirt isn’t Auburn’s Quarterback
1 ) HEY AUBURN OFFENSE…SHOW US YOUR TD’S!!!!!
or just go with this…
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