The Bodda Getta

How much time is enough for Barbee? 4 more years and he gets it done? What if we wait four more years and have the same results? 7 yrs down the drain? At some point, all that counts are the Ws!

I had hoped for more wins from Barbee's team in year 3, especially since the SEC is really weak this year. Some of the December losses were head-scratchers. HOWEVER, it doesn't change my opinion that a) what he inherited from Lebo was awful--if I recall, Lebo's last team was stacked with mostly experienced seniors that didn't get the job done, b) Barbee was as good a hire Auburn should have expected to get given the state of the program (so who should we expect to attract if we cut him loose???), c) he should be given 5 years to show measurable progress and not a minute less--I think our compliance dept., right or wrong, is very risk averse right now and watching every move he makes in recruiting, especially in the AAU world, so maybe he doesn't have the flexibility his SEC counterparts have?

I see signs of the program coming back to life. Recruiting is looking better every year, and yes I think Barbee made some questionable decisions early on, probably too impatient and it led to some risky signees he shouldn't have taken. CLEARLY, talent required to get us back to the NCAA tournament is scarce on this roster, but it is starting to show up. There is no scarcity of hustle and our defense is good minus some lapses that better talent can cure.

One last thought comparing the situation in basketball vs. baseball...Barbee should get the most time to turn things around. I'm confident he will. In baseball, there is NO reason Auburn shouldn't be very competitive every year. Pawlowski inherited big time talent that Slater brought in, thus contributing to his early success. I'm less than impressed since. If he doesn't take it up a few notches this year, he should be shown the door. Maybe give Gabe Gross a try?????

I'll be in the stands (not just on the couch) supporting both Barbee and Pawlowski as much as a 7 hour roundtrip to Auburn will allow.

As to Houston Nutt's salary for doing nothing, it seems evident that if anyone can land a HC job in the SEC schools you have it made. Granted Nutt did the least of all the SEC coaches while in his two jobs as head coach in the SEC but his bank account doesn't know that. Neither does Tuberville's, Dooley's, Chizik's, and all their staffs' as well.

I remember when Bowden ran off , Auburn had to pay him $125K a year for a number of years if he didn't get another coaching job. (or at least i think I remember that correctly).
Well my how things have changed since the '80s. Not that long ago.

What this says to me is that the agents are on the upper end of the negotiating table. The schools need to close up some holes.