Eighty-five wins in 10 years, including a perfect season, would often guarantee a coach some legitimate job security.  Considering that winning tradition was built in the toughest conference in America, you can’t blame Tommy Tuberville for wondering what more he could have done. 

The reality is that given the Renaissance in Tuscaloosa and Georgia’s recent success, Auburn’s administration felt like time was of the essence.  Shortly after AU’s 36-0 loss to then-#1 Bama, Tuberville submitted his resignation, and an era of uncommon stability came to an end.

Fast forward 8 months and Gene Chizik is talking about rebuilding a once-proud program.  Last year’s 5-7 record hangs over Toomer’s Corner like toilet paper once did after meaningful wins.  Excitement for the future centers around the architect of the 2004 defense that led Auburn to a perfect season and one of the brightest stars in offensive football coaching.   “We feel like we’ve assembled one of the best coaching staffs in the country, certainly in the league,” said Chizik at the SEC Media Days. 

Skeptics will say “You better!” given Chizik’s embarrassingly weak resume as a head coach.  No one believes it is easy to win at Ames, Iowa, but Dan McCartney had done pretty well.  Chizik, on the other hand, won five games in two years with one of those coming against a Division I-AA school (South Dakota State).  His Iowa State teams won 2 conference games in two seasons.  And this is the mastermind that is supposed to restore Auburn’s football tradition?

Chizik has turned the offense over to former Arkansas and Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.  No one is making high school jokes about Malzahn, now.  The former Springdale (Ark.) High School head coach showed flashes of brilliance in his turbulent season as the Razorback offensive coordinator in 2006.  In two seasons at Tulsa, Malzahn was able to fully unleash his hurry-up, spread attack.  He is now prepared to take his second swing at SEC defenses.  “I feel very strongly in the efforts of running the football,” says Chizik.  Malzahn’s teams at Tulsa certainly did that, although the look will not remind Tiger fans much of the days of Bo Jackson. 

The central question on The Plains is, “Who will drive this new offensive machine?”  Kodi Burns comes back for another turn, having been recruited by Malzahn while he was in Fayetteville.  Many feel like his time has passed, though.  Junior Neil Caudle will probably start the season opener against Louisiana Tech.  He is the superior passer of the two, although Burns can make things happen with his legs.  Both could end up watching highly-touted newcomer Tyrik Rollison.  The Texan was regarded as one of the best dual threat QBs coming out of high school, and Malzhan certainly prefers a mobile quarterback.

Ben Tate is back to carry the load in the backfield after a frustrating second-half of the season last year.  Ontario McCaleb will push Tate and likely see some carries.  Malzahn had the luxury of McFadden and Jones at Arkansas, and proved he could use two superstars effectively.  Tate and McCaleb are far from those two NFL stars, but they can both expect to have some fun in this offense.

The receiving corps will get plenty of work this year – if the Tigers can find someone to throw the ball to them.  The real focus, though, is on the freshmen.  DeAngelo Benton and Emory Blake project as future stars in the SEC.  Coach Chizik hopes they can hit the ground running right away.  “We hope they (Blake and Benton) can step up to the plate and help our offense this year,” he said.  There are some playmakers on campus, too, with Mario Fannin, Davin Adams, and Tim Hawthorne ready to lead the way while the young pups get acclimated to life in the SEC.  Look for Tommy Trott to be a leader for the entire offense, too.  The tight end can provide a great example for both the new pass catchers and the big uglies that will need to get dirty each week in the trenches.

Coach Chizik says Auburn “want(s) to create a physical brand of football,” and he has an offensive line that can help.  Big Lee Ziemba (6’ 8”, 304 lbs) broke the hearts of many Razorback fans when he left northwest Arkansas for Auburn.  Now, he’s a leader of the Auburn line.  The Tigers have an experienced group coming back this season with all five projected starters having gone through the SEC wars as either a starter or backup last year.  They will need to be quicker and in peak physical condition to handle the hurry-up, spread attack of Malzahn.

Former Duke Head Coach Ted Roof takes over as the defensive coordinator at Auburn, but don’t expect him to be alone in the meeting rooms and film sessions.  Coach Chizik will have a tremendous influence on a group that played well despite getting no help from its offense last year.  Senior Antonio Coleman leads the defensive front after surprising some by opting to come back for his fifth season.  According to Coleman “this has been the hardest summer of my life”, referring to the rigorous off-season training he and his mates have endured.  Expect Mike Blanc to anchor the interior line this season after spending the past few years as a backup.

Walt McFadden is back in the secondary, and his teammates will look to him to lead after the early exit of Jerraud Powers to the NFL.  Strong safety Zac Etheridge hopes to make the leap in his junior season to one of the best in the SEC if he can stay healthy.

OUTLOOK

It is never easy to rebuild in the SEC.  Just look at what happened in Fayetteville last season.  And, that was with a proven, successful coach at the helm.  The Tigers have their work cut out for them this season.  Making it to a bowl game seems reasonable, but I also would not be stunned if this group took awhile to come together and built slowly like the Hogs did in 2008.  Auburn’s defense, though, could give the Tigers a chance to hang around and win some they would otherwise likely lose.

September looks pretty manageable with the most dangerous game coming first.  Louisiana Tech is no joke, and I’m not sure I would want to break in a new offense and coaching staff against this squad coming off an Independence Bowl win–just ask Mississippi State what they think about the boys from Ruston.  That said, this should be an Auburn win that starts a four-game home stand to start the year.  Wins over Mississippi State, a declining West Virginia team, and Ball State should follow. 

October starts with an awful two-game road test that should send the Tigers back to Jordan-Hare 5-1 at best.  I’d look for both Tennessee and Arkansas to defend the home turf, but winning one of those two is not the longest of shots.  Auburn returns home for a dangerous game against Kentucky before they head to LSU.  Ole Miss comes to town on Halloween to end a brutal month for Auburn.

November starts with a breather against Division I-AA Furman before the trip up to Athens to take on Georgia in what is always an entertaining game.  Mercifully, the Tigers get an open week before the Iron Bowl on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Most likely:  Auburn has some growing pains offensively, but finds its way back to the post-season at 7-5.

With a lucky break:  If Auburn pulls off the back-to-back wins over Tennessee and Arkansas and avoids the upset against Kentucky, a 9-3 season could be there for the taking.

Best case scenario:  Winning at Georgia could get this group to 10 wins.

Bold prediction:  Auburn wins the Iron Bowl this year.

When South Carolina went out in 2004 and picked up the Porsche 911 of college football coaches, Steve Spurrier, no one could blame the Gamecocks fan base for dreaming about putting the top down, cranking up “2001 A Space Odyssey” and cruising to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game on a regular basis.

Now, as Spurrier enters his fifth season in Columbia, with a record of 28-22 overall and 15-17 in the SEC (and no more than 8 wins in a season), even Spurrier seems to understand why a segment of the eminently loyal Gamecocks fan base is suffering from a bit of buyer’s remorse.

Refreshingly unable or unwilling to mince words,  Spurrier appeared to acknowledge that this is a pivotal year for his regime once the breathless Woodward and Bernsteins at the SEC Media Days finally took a break from grilling him about Tebowgate to talk about his team.

“I feel very fortunate to be coming into my 17^th (season in the SEC),” he said. “ (I) just hope to make it next year. But if it doesn’t go pretty well, change is part of the coaching profession. We all understand that. We understand it happens.” 

He also seemed to suggest that he has lingering doubts, as well.  When asked about league head coaching newcomers “stirring” the pot as he had been one to do during his salad days as Florida head coach, Spurrier was, per the usual, brutally honest, even at his own expense.

“In life when you’re winning a lot, you’re winning sort of big, you naturally do that,” he said at SEC Media Days.  “ I’m not the only coach that has done that. And then when you’re 7-6, like I am now, you don’t have much to say. That’s just the way it is. I’m a 7 and sort of 6 coach right now. I don’t have all the answers and don’t pretend to.”

To be sure, Spurrier sees that the “Check Engine” light is on, and is searching for answers.  He hasn’t just tuned up the coaching staff–he has rebuilt it–with five new assistants and a new strength and conditioning coach.

New Running Game Coordinator and Offensive Line coach Eric Wolford will have his work cut out for him as he inherits a group that, while experienced, will have to shake off the demons from its 70 sacks allowed the last two seasons, combined.

Spurrier thinks he is up to the task on the sideline and on the recruiting trail, and has lauded Wolford as a rainmaker in the hunt for new talent.

The Old Ball Coach “sort of stole” (his words) new assistant coach Lorenzo Ward from Arkansas and Bobby Petrino, and in doing so, added another dynamic recruiter that has a wealth of experience, having played at Alabama, coached in the NFL (Oakland), SEC (Arkansas) and ACC and Big East (Virginia Tech, 7 seasons).

Ward was attracted by the opportunity to technically take over the defense coordinator position, a move that was made possible by the willingness of South Carolina native and veteran of SEC wars (and quick, but understandable, defections from the Arkansas staff) Ellis Johnson to vacate the title.

Johnson now holds the title of Assistant Head Coach and assistant coach in charge of the defense and linebackers. 

Also joining the staff are former Tennessee Volunteer running back Jay Graham (running backs), Jeep Hunter (tight ends) G.A. Mangus (Quarterbacks) and Craig Fitzgerald (Strength & Conditioning).

The good news for Spurrier and his assistants on the offensive side of the ball is that the quarterback carousel that has been an increasingly less productive staple of Spurrier-led offenses may be out the door (now if they can just work on the visor).

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Sophomore Stephen Garcia (6’2 219) is the returning starter at quarterback, and he no longer has to worry about the faint odor of fresh potential pine as Chris Smelley has taken his wares to the University of Alabama baseball squad.

Garcia possesses all the tools to be a superstar, but has also displayed questionable decision-making on-and-off the field , and a work ethic that has had Spurrier openly prodding him for an increased commitment.

The struggles of the South Carolina offense a year ago cannot all be laid at Garcia’s feet, though.  In fact, the offensive line’s inability to keep him on his feet, and not his back, was a major factor in the Gamecocks’ offensive inconsistency in ‘08.

Senior Center and solid NFL prospect Garrett Anderson (6’4 307) returns to anchor the line. Given the struggles of the recent years, the waters around him may be fairly choppy. 

Former JUCO transfer Jarriel King started 11 games a year ago and seems to have the left tackle spot battened down.  Junior right tackle Hutch Eckerson (6-6, 290) has previous starting experience and should man that spot.

Lemuel Jeanpierre (6-4, 294) will be in the mix on the offensive line, as well as fellow veteran Seaver Brown  and Terrence Campbell, T.J. Johnson, and Quintin Richardson.

The “skill” positions desperately need a new leader with the departure of stalwart Kenny McKinley.  The most likely candidate is senior WR Moe Brown who is looking to become a dependable threat and lead on the field in the same way he does in the lockerroom. Junior Dion Lecorn also has experience and could emerge. Jason Barnes is a returning starter.

Weslye Saunders will start at TE, a spot that had been manned by USC’s biggest playmaker, Jared Cook. He will not be expected to match Cook’s production, but will be asked to provide a threat in the middle of the field for Garcia.  Cliff Matthews will also play tight end, but will see time at defensive end, as well.

The running backs do not currently have a home run hitter in their midst, having finished at the bottom of the league in rushing last year, but true freshman Jarvis Giles (5-11, 183) could fit that bill.

The offensive backfield could get also get a boost with the insertion of 2008 South Carolina Gatorade High School Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore, (who projects long term as a cornerback) as the QB in the Wild Cat/Hog/Rebel/Dolphin offense. 

Gilmore is a sorely needed playmaker, and will be given plenty of opportunities to make an immediate impact.

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On the defensive side of the ball, the secondary provides the frightening question marks, and linebacker Eric Norwood, who passed up an opportunity to head to the NFL, and the rest of the front seven, provide some of the answers.

A number of members of the Gamecocks’ ‘08 secondary made an early exit, though, and as a result, Spurrier and company will be asking some newcomers to grow up quickly. 

With All-league talent to go with their All-World names, Captain Munnerlyn, Stoney Woodson and Emmanuel Cook will be tough to replace, but the mostly likely candidate to shine is Gilmore.   Darian Stewart and Akeem Auguste are no slouches, either, and all of their efforts will be supported by Norwood and the other hosses in front of them.

In addition to Norwood, who had nine sacks last year in the shadow of departed superstar, Jasper Brinkley, Rodney Paulk is a solid breakout candidate at MLB in ‘09 after nabbing his fair share of Brinkley and Norwood’s leftovers last year.

And, a DL full of talented veterans like Matthews, Ladi Ajiboye (who had academic issues that led to his suspension, but should be eligible), Nathan Pepper and Clifton Geathers make its defense a clear team strength, even though it may be susceptible to growing pains in the secondary. 

Spencer Lanning and Adam Yates will vie for the spot vacated by one of the SEC’s biggest legs, Ryan Succop.

After getting blitzed to the tune of 118-30 in three consecutive losses to Florida, Clemson and Iowa (Outback Bowl) to end last season, the Gamecocks head right back into the fire with a September slate that features a nationally televised, Thursday night opener at N.C. State and a road trip nine days later to Georgia.

If South Carolina can beat the Wolfpack, it will have a chance to build some momentum with a rare four-week homestand that will feature Florida Atlantic, Ole Miss, South Carolina State and Kentucky.

Anything less than three wins during that stretch, though, will likely make the ride to improvement on Spurrier’s 8-win-high water mark at South Carolina a bumpy one–particularly in a Ferrari with quite a few miles on the odometer.

South Carolina Offense:

Returning starters: 7

Key Players: Stephen Garcia, QB, Moe Brown, WR, Garrett Anderson, C

One to Watch: Stephon Gilmore, QB

South Carolina  Defense:

Returning Players: 6

Key Players: Eric Norwood, LB, Ladi Ojiboye, DT, Darian Stewart, hybrid.

One to Watch: Clifton Geathers, DE

Key Game(s): @ N.C. State Sept. 3, Ole Miss Sept. 24, Florida Nov. 14, Clemson Nov. 28

Schedule/Predicted Result: (7-5)

9/3 at NC State                   W
9/12 at Georgia                   L
9/19 Florida Atlantic          W
9/24 Ole Miss                     W
10/3 SC State                      W
10/10 Kentucky                   W
10/17 at Alabama                L
10/24 Vanderbilt                 W
10/31 at Tennessee              L
11/7 at Arkansas                  L
11/14 Florida                       L
11/21 OPEN DATE
11/28 Clemson                    W