The Bodda Getta

I would hope that the venom would stop and stop soon. As we've all heard, "one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch." I don't know and you don't know who or what that "one bad apple" was but most, if not all, of these coaches did "their" job and perhaps did it very well. They all worked hard and for some reason, it didn't work out. Many of them helped us win our NC in 2010, just like CGC. Enough venom, they did do some great things for AU and I thank them and wish them the best. I would even like to see some of them hired by CGM. Time will tell but Good Luck to all.

Glad to see my good friend, Scott Fountain, staying with the program. There's not a finer individual from a finer family out there. He and his brothers - legendary high school coach Hugh Fountain and Jason Fountain - are fine men of character and have been successul wherever they have been. I think it also speaks volumes to the integrity of our recruiting and confidence in our innocence in any NCAA matters that CGM is retaining Scott.

Great article, Phillip!

I just want to point out a couple of things... It's easy to focus on the salaries the assistants make and say everything is ok. Just remember that a lot of those coaches paid their dues at the high school level and smaller colleges before they got an opportunity to make the big bucks. When my wife and I got married I was still finishing my bachelor's and she had her bachelor's and worked as a teacher and completed two master's degrees -- all from Auburn. At that time we were at or below what was considered the poverty line. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember what it was like to be poor. It is easy for people to think someone "has it made" but most people like that didn't start out "having it made." And these coaches are asked to spend a lot of time away from their families to be out on the road recruiting, breaking down film, overseeing players, etc. I'm not defending that at all because that is the life they chose. I just think a lot of people see the $$$ and don't think what responsibility comes with it.

Final comment is this... I have learned in life making money is not the real problem. Managing money is the problem. If you can't manage money when you have a little, you damn sure can't manage it when you have a lot. It's not about what you make, it's about what you keep.

A sad but realistic story of career choices. I hope all assistant coaches will land on their feet and that CGM will continue to make the right coaching choices. The Gus Bus has to continue moving without second thoughts. The Auburn program is larger than any of the coaches.