Franklin out at Auburn

With all the great work Ken and JL have done lately, I didn't want to stomp on their front-page work, so I thought this would be better in the FanPosts.

I have been studying the firing of Tony Franklin by Auburn University, and have come to a few of conclusions:

1. Tuberville was wrong to hire Franklin without getting his other assistants on board.  It is clear that what Auburn was running was not Franklin's version of the Spread Option, but some kind of hybrid that was failing miserably.  When you run an offensive system that different from what you were doing, you can't run a cobbled-together mess.  If all your coaches aren't on board, you get what Auburn got -- no offense at all.


2. Tuberville was never committed to Franklin.  He gave it lip service, but he  just wasn't.  Tommy cheated on Tony from day one, and the other AU assistants had the long knives out for Franklin because they weren't believers in and didn't want the spread.  Bad marriages usually end in messy divorces.
   
   
3. Auburn is better off without Franklin.  Franklin was never going to be a true OC, and he new it.  I would not be surprised if he didn't force the firing by reminding Tuberville that he was violating his agreement.  Bosses don't like that, and the usual outcome is being freed up for other opportunities.
   
   
4. Franklin is better off without Auburn.  Franklin's version of the Spread Option has worked virtually everywhere it has been installed, except one.  Better not to tarnish the brand any further.
   
   
5. Tuberville is the huge loser.  No matter how this season goes, many Auburn fans will want to replace him -- many already do.  The administration has been wanting a bigger, better deal for years now, and this season looks like the perfect excuse.  If AU doesn't win the SEC west at least, I will be expecting Tuberville to be off the Plains next year.  This is another marriage that has been going south a long time, and firing two OC's in 10 months might just be enough.  I place Tuberville's odds at being coach next year at 40%, and if several prized recruits of the '09 class defect, as is widely expected, those odds could drop precipitously.
   

I personally hate to see things like this happen.  Even though I have no feelings one way or the other about Auburn, I feel for their players and fans.  Even though Tony Franklin was coach under Hal Mumme, I feel for him as well.  We have certainly been through coaching travails in recent years, and it always sucks.

It may not seem likely right now, but if that Arkansas team that played Florida close for three quarters on Saturday shows up in War Eagle territory this weekend, the radiation from Tuberville's seat may be felt as far north as Cleveland, even if he wins ugly.  If he loses, I might have to move to Canada to avoid the flashburns.  While some AU fans are grateful it is Arkansas and not Alabama coming to town this weekend, Tuberville badly needs a convincing win, or he will suffer.