Spread the news: Auburn’s Spread guru fired
Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, after a few days of speculation surrounding his status with the program, was fired by head coach Tommy Tuberville this afternoon.
Auburn is ranked 104th in the nation in total offense and has lost its way after a few years of powering the offense with the run game. The Spread offense just never caught the Plains on fire, which was surprising considering Franklin’s lenghty resume of success.
Here’s more from the Birmingham News:
Head coach Tommy Tuberville told the team 3:30 of the dismissal.
“After evaluating where we are at this point of the season offensively, I felt it was in the best interest of the Auburn football program to make this change,” Tuberville said. “I’m not satisfied with where we are and I am personally going to take a larger role with the offense the remainder of the season. We are going to work harder than ever to make sure we consistently improve as we move forward.”
Tuberville said he’ll decide in the next day or so who will call the plays in Saturday’s game against Arkansas.
Franklin packed up a few boxes and left the Auburn athletic complex earlier this afternoon and joked with a few reporters but did not comment on his ouster, according Evan Woodberry of the Mobile Press-Register.
Here’s more:
He joked with reporters who were following his every move, saying “Y’all look like you got fired,” and “Better me than you.”
Then he asked if reporters were just going to stand there, or whether they wanted to help him pack up his boxes. (No one took him up on the offer).
Franklin said he wouldn’t comment on his dismissal until at least this evening or tomorrow after he spoke with some people.
So how much will the Auburn offense change this week when the Hogs come to town Saturday? No clue, but I’ll ask the Arkansas players and coaches what they think about the firing on the Plains after the Razorbacks conclude practice this afternoon.
(Photo by Associated Press)
– Brandon Marcello
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4 Responses to “Spread the news: Auburn’s Spread guru fired”
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Lots of politics there that none of us will ever know about. I wonder if this was truly Tuberville’s doing or if he was pressured into it.
Meanwhile, I still believe Petrino’s spread offense needs time. Five games and a team no where near as experienced as Auburn makes for no legitimate comparison.
Hey Kodi, wanna transfer????
Some in the Auburn nation believe Franklin not playing Kodi contributed in part to his firing. Watch for him to play a lot more this weekend.
[...] made this prediction before the news broke of Tony Franklin’s firing as Auburn’s offensive coordinator, but I still think it sticks. Auburn’s run game with [...]
We don’t need Kodi…let him scramble his butt off out in Alabama. He had his opportunity to come to the Hill. Besides, we have Ryan coming in next year and load of others who are more than capable.
You were right about not comparing the offenses, ua87. Hell, with all the youth we have here…our offense has STILL looked better than Auburn’s has. Then again, no one mistook Franklin for Petrino either. Worlds of difference there.