Odds and Ends

- I don't think the Gene Chizik hire is all that bad. Auburn's biggest problem is the lack of an elite quaterback. Their defense has been solid and should remain so under Tuberville Lite. If Chizik can recruit a quaterback, Auburn wont be far from 8-4 or 9-3. However, that might be a big if since the PR fiasco that was the Gene Chizik/Turner Gill situation.

- Outside of that, there is not much going on. UFC 92 should be an amazing time. I'll be staying down in the keys for a week but plan on finding a way to see it. My next post will be a preview/breakdown of the fight.

Randomness

-If you believe Auburn AD Jay Jacobs when he says that Tommy Tuberville left on his own, you probably have traveled to Vermont looking for lake monsters or have been to one too many Panic shows. If you quit a job, you don't get a contractual buyout. Said another way, bosses just don't give you a buyout of that size out of the goodness of their hearts. They paid Tubs to leave, stay quiet and take the high road. Don't forget Lowder's bank just got some dough from Uncle Sam, too. I would expect to see Tubs in a television role sometime soon.

-Chris Petersen is headed to Mississippi State. I know no one reads this yet, but in the future you can look back at this post and note that I'm on of the first to call it. Expect an announcement this weekend.

-If Mike Leach does head to Auburn, it would be a terrible fit. Leach coached under Hal Mumme with Tony Franklin and runs a very similar system. As Colin Cowherd might say, this would be a "dumpster fire."

-I'm a huge fan of mixed martial arts so expect some previews coming up of Fight for the Troops on December 10, The Ultimate Fighter finale on the 13th and UFC 92 on the 27th.

- I'll be out and about causing chaos before the UF Bama game and hopefully will have some nice pictures of the freak show that is SEC football. It's a track meet vs. a street fight, Bama bangs vs. jorts. Should be fun. UF wins by 21.

Finebaum on Tubs

From one controversial columnist to another, Paul Finebaum has thrown in his two cents on the Tommy Tuberville situation at Auburn. Officially, Coach Tubs is awaiting a final decision after meeting with Auburn AD Jay Jacobs. (You might even say he's all ears...sorry couldn't resist.)

I also believe that Tuberville will be back because, well what other option is there? Mike Leach is going to get a huge payday from Texas Tech or Washington, Brian Kelly is staying at Cincy(!) and Butch Davis and David Cutcliffe both seem content. I hear Terry Bowden is availabe, though.

Terence on Willie

Terence Moore's article in the AJC this morning calls for Bulldog fans to leave Willie Martinez alone. In my opinion, an endorsement from Terrible Terence is more of a reason to send him on his merry way. If you want to read the article here it is.

Basically, Terence says that because of Richt's prior eight seasons of success, we shouldn't rock the boat by changing the staff. Of course, if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten. I don't want Willie to leave because of X's and O's. I want him out because we need to wipe the slate clean and change some attitudes.

Draft Day Dawgs

David Hale has a great interview with ESPN director of college football scouting Todd McShay up here.

McShay believes Stafford should be the first QB taken, Moreno is a solid mid-first rounder and that Jeff Owens should stay. He also has projections for Mo Mass, Asher Allen, Dannell Ellerbe, Brannan Southerland and even Rennie Curran.

Paul Westerdawg has some mock draft projections posted. All 3 have Stafford number one overall to the Detroit Lions. Granted, it is way, way, way too early for a mock draft. Even the draft order is mostly guesswork. I just can't see Stafford playing in Detroit. They have so many issues in Detroit, and have wasted so many picks on skill position players while neglecting the lines of scrimmage, I just cannot see them throwing money at Stafford for them to maybe improve to 2-14 next season. If I were Detroit I'd sign a veteran QB and wait to draft one once the NFL enacts the rookie wage scale and save yourself millions. Also, I have a feeling Stafford will be eaten alive in Detroit next year.

On The Kiffin Hiring...

Unless you've been under a rock all weekend, you've probably heard that this morning Lane Kiffin has been introduced as the new head football coach in Knoxville. I would imagine that a majority of UT fans are elated by this because they were searching for a sexy name to head up their program. Phil Fulmer was a solid head football coach but sexy he was not. Some fans are taking a more realistic approach such as Clay Travis over at Deadspin which you can check out here. I agree with Clay in that there is no middle ground in this hire, it will either work or it won't. I just don't see this going well.

For one thing, Kiffin is 33 years young. Would you hire a 33 year old to run a corporation with about $70 in annual revenue? That's basically what this situation is. Also, Kiffin has an alarming lack of experience. He was a grad assistant at Fresno State and Colorado State, then in charge of Defensive Quality Control for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Honestly, I have no idea what that means, if it does mean anything. Sort of like Assistant to the Regional Manager (Dunder Kifflin). After that he went on to be co-OC at USC. He never was given the sole opportunity to call plays. Then he was hired by Gargamel.

Word has already trickled down about Kiffin bringing along his father, renowned defensive guru Monte Kiffin of the Tampa Bay Bucs, to be his DC in the land of all things orange. I think this could be huge mistake. UT's defense was the best part of their team this year. I know that is sort of like being the tallest midget, but still, I can't recall the last time UT's defense has been outright bad. That's because DC John Chavis has been there 20 years and is a UT alum. Kiffin is a west coast guy, and coming into Knoxville replacing Fulmer will be tough enough. If he also boots Fulmer's long time right-hand man, it may set him off on the wrong foot with boosters. Also Kiffin may bring along Ed Orgeron, former Ole Miss coach and one of USC's top recruiters. I'm not sure how hard it is to recruit kids to Los Angeles, but Coach O did a heck of job there and in Oxford.

It'll be interesting to see if this young kid can coach with the likes of Saban, Richt, Meyer, Miles, Spurrier, Petrino and Nutt. Either way it works out, I was surprised by the absolute ballsiness of this hire. Let's just hope Oakland wasn't a fluke.