The Bodda Getta

At this point I'm willing to let Gus hire a new AD. He seems better at getting top flight coaches to the Plains than anyone else.

OK, folks, I'm close to being ready to give up. I can't write anything about Auburn's current situation without people who really have no clue what they are talking about accusing me of standing up for a "friend." This column was about expectations, about concerns about coaches who don't have high expectations. It wasn't about Jay Jacobs at all. If you have read what I've written you know that I do not ever call for anyone to be fired.. Period. End of story. I don't do it. I won't do it. I also don't base opinions on supposed friendships. Honestly, I'm growing very tired of having my credibility and integrity attacked in that way. It's not true. It's never been true. Anyone who says it is true is either uninformed or lying.

PM - your partial statement "must be held accountable and must be unceremoniously kicked out the door. Maybe that’s true and maybe it’s not" The part I advocate is "must be held accountable". This can be accomplished without the addition of "and must be unceremoniously kicked out the door".

Anyone is free to disagree with my opinion of anything. I'm certainly not afraid of that. What is out of control if this notion, started God knows where, that I have some kind of special relationship that is causing me to write what I write. That's a bogus notion. It's not true, has never been true and will never be true. Anyone who says they know it is true is not telling the truth. Whether someone has the opinion Jay Jacobs should be fired or shouldn't be or whatever is fine with me. Constantly questioning my integrity and credibility because I don't say Jay Jacobs or anyone else should be fired is not fine with me.

You got it! The good ole boy network does it again. Put a lightweight in the job and get lightweight results.

PM my statement in no way accuses you of anything and I for one don't believe that you have one biased bone in your body and fully believe in your high standard of reporting and in your editorials. I have never and will never question your integrity or honesty. If I had questions I would not be on this board. I came to this board because of you. I used to go al.com just to read your articles in Huntsville. Thank you for your work.

You make some very good points, Augray. Good enough to change my mind a little bit. Mal Moore made the big hire with Saban. Everyone said he paid too much. As it turned out, Saban's hire was a tremendously good investment. Auburn has never made the "big hire". Every coach has been an up-and-comer, with some never quite getting there. Pat Dye from Wyoming via East Carolina and Tuberville from Ole Miss were both risky hires that turned out okay. But, Auburn has never shelled out the big bucks to hire a National Championship coach. Auburn has spent gazillions on facilities and even coaches, but Auburn has never taken the big leap and hired a proven coach away from a major program. After thinking about it awhile, maybe you are right. JJ may not be a large enough figure to lead Auburn trustees, President, and big donors toward the idea that you must think big. Auburn people want change, and I believe that change must come from leaders above JJ's pay grade. Sometimes, if you want excellence, you have to pay for it. Thanks for your good comments.

I hear ya Phillip but not expecting to finish in the bottom third of the conference in the money sports is not a high expectation, just a reasonable one.