Earlier today I reported that despite Auburn football coach Gene Chizik’s repeated refusals to confirm that all Auburn football players were currently academically eligible to play, the entire squad traveled to Arizona Monday to continue preparations for the BCS Championship Game against Oregon on Jan. 10.

(If you believe Auburn Athletic Jay Jacobs, it does.)

After the Tigers arrived in the Phoenix area following a flight from Atlanta, Auburn247sports.com Senior Editor Phillip Marshall followed up on the subject of player academic eligibility with Chizik. The coach, once again, was silent on the issue. But Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs was a different story. Read more…

Less than 24 hours ago David Morrison of the OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS reported that Auburn football coach Gene Chizik had not yet confirmed all of the team’s players as academically eligible for the BCS Championship game against Oregon in Arizona on Jan. 10.

(WWGD)

Morrison reported from Chizik’s most recent meeting with the media:

Auburn head coach Gene Chizik continued his vow of silence on whether any Tigers players wouldn’t be making the trip to the BCS National Championship game Sunday night, the night before Auburn is scheduled to fly to Glendale, Ariz.

“Like I said, if the roster changes with anybody, I will certainly let you know,” Chizik told reporters.

He also said he didn’t know when that time of notification would be.

“I haven’t really thought that far in advance,” Chizik said. “But you’ll know.”

At 1pm Monday the Auburn football team departed for Glendale, Arizona, with all of the Tiger football players in tow.

Morrison Tweeted from the scene:

Nick Fairley says “EVERYBODY” is playing. I assume that includes him, Terrell Zachery, Mike Blanc, etc.

Despite the Auburn defensive lineman’s claim that “everybody” on the Auburn squad would play in the game, the tenuous academic status of an Auburn player or players has not changed. Read more…

All indications are that Cam Newton will be eligible to play for Auburn when the Tigers tee it up with Oregon at the BCS Championship Game in Arizona on Jan. 10.

But just when Auburn fans thought they could relax, a cryptic comment by head coach Gene Chizik last week indicated the barn door on eligibility issues for the Tigers hasn’t swung shut just yet.

The MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER reported last week:

Chizik said Auburn is “still getting some things cleared up academically” and isn’t yet sure if all players are in good academic standing.

Read more…

One of the great mysteries of the universe, or at least the SEC West Division, was the inexplicable hiring of Gene Chizik as head football coach of Auburn in 2008.

(Auburn President: Radio silence on Newton story, FBI arrests)

Though a former defensive coordinator for the Tigers, Chizik had just completed coaching Iowa State to a 5-19 record when he was offered one of the most prestigious jobs in college football.

Even stranger though was the circumstances surrounding Chizik’s hire, which included school officials being heckled at an airport by Auburn fans before Chizik had even signed a contract. Though those events didn’t prevent current Auburn President Jay Gogue from taking complete responsibility for the hire.

From an ASSOCIATED PRESS report shortly after Chizik was hired:

Auburn University President Jay Gogue said he made the decision to hire football coach Gene Chizik, and he said he did it without seeking or receiving input from school trustees or other boosters.

Gogue told The Birmingham News in a story Thursday that the ex-Iowa State coach was the only candidate recommended by athletic director Jay Jacobs.

The hiring has drawn criticism by some Auburn fans because Chizik was only 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State.

Gogue said he was “somewhat surprised” by the negative reaction.

Gogue said he wasn’t involved in interviewing any other candidate before meeting with Chizik and Jacobs Saturday in Memphis.

The president also instructed Jacobs to get permission from a school’s athletic director before interviewing a coach.

Gogue’s vocal defense of Auburn Athletics was ironic considering that he had previously admitted having nothing to do with the coaching search besides signing off on Chizik after Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs recommended him.

A Chizik who, despite his 5-19 Big 12 coaching record and then-current 10-game losing streak, was the only candidate Gogue talked to before making *his* hire.

Yet Gogue was “somewhat surprised” by the outrage over the hire?

Gogue is either too naive to be president of a major university or was not being entirely honest with the public.

I’m not so sure what’s so unbelievable, Chizik getting hired as head coach of an SEC powerhouse while on a 10-game coaching losing streak or the fact that the president of Auburn revealed that Chizik was the only candidate whom he was “recommended” by Jacobs.

Then again, we are talking Auburn, so perhaps “unbelievable” isn’t the best choice of a word here.

Immediately after Chizik was hired, on Dec. 15, 2008, the BIRMINGHAM NEWS reported: Read more…

Sunday I posted the most egregious cheap shot of the football season, a blindside spear delivered by Auburn’s Nick Fairley into the back of Georgia Quarterback Aaron Murray.

Another example of overt dirty play by Fairley came earlier in the game.

After Murray delivered a pass in the first quarter, Fairley took multiple steps before driving the quarterback into the ground. While Murray was on his back, Fairley used his facemask to gouge the chin of the quarterback. Murray’s resulting bloody wound had to be bandaged by Georgia medical personnel.

Certainly that play wasn’t as bad as the spear Fairley delivered to Murray later in the game (above), but the conduct was still unacceptable and was yet another illustration of Fairley’s dirty play during the game and this season.
Read more…

Over the weekend, Auburn held a bit of a crazy bash for several recruits. It was called “Big Cat Weekend,” even though there were no actual tigers, lions, panthers, pumas, ocelots, mountain lions, jaguars, or this guy in attendance. Nonetheless, the recruits had a blast being celebrated, as you can see here.

(The NCAA might make Auburn a much less smiley destination for recruits.)

As a matter of fact, as one recruit (Ladarius Owens) was announced, another recruit, Lache Seastrunk (above) actually called out Nick Saban (that’ll end well, we’re sure), saying Saban was “S.O.L.” on recruiting Owens. Fans whooped and cheered at Seastrunk’s proclamation, and a great time was had by all.

Well, all but Auburn’s compliance department, anyway, since the whole thing was blatantly illegal.

Read more…

Remember way back in October, when the Indianapolis Colts were 3-4 and their playoff hopes looked completely dead in the water? What a difference a couple of months make. Last night’s 31-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was the team’s eighth straight, clinching a playoff berth and as the INDIANAPOLIS STAR notes, made them the first team ever to win 11 or more games in six straight seasons. And Tony Dungy became the first coach since the merger to make the playoffs in ten straight years.

All impressive, but the star of the night was Peyton Manning. You might not have noticed, but after struggling a bit during the team’s early slump, Peyton’s stepped out of his little brother Eli’s shadow, putting together a string of great performances despite not having a run game to speak of. And last night might have been his best yet: 364 yards and three touchdowns, including completing his first 17 passes in a row.

If he keeps this up, he might get some endorsements in the future. The game was a bit of a letdown for Jaguars fans, but their highlight had to come before the game, when paralyzed lineman Richard Collier took the field in a wheelchair with his teammates. No jokes there, just a Christmas wish that no other NFL players (or athletes) are the victims of needless crime in 2009.

Meanwhile, the NFL wants you to become a narc. Not about drugs (so please stop following Ricky Williams around, thanks), but about unruly fan behavior. USA TODAY reports that NFL teams are giving fans a way to report obnoxious fans to stadium security by sending a text message.

It’s more discreet than having to find a security guard and point someone out, but it does lend itself to “prank texts” of people wanting to kick people out of the stadium. For example, Buffalo fans shouldn’t text message security and demand that Dick Jauron is kicked out of the stadium for “impersonating an NFL head coach.” Note: the Saints, Rams and Titans don’t offer this service, so feel free to act like complete cretins at these games.

• NESW SPORTS has footage of Chris Webber going “Iraqi Shoe Thrower” on Charles Barkley in the name of “Gene Chiznik” (I think he meant Chizik). I haven’t seen Sir Charles move that fast since a Vegas pit boss came towards him to collect his marker:
• You can remove the Boston Red Sox from the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes: owner John Henry tells the BOSTON GLOBE that “after hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.“
• The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that NASCAR and Mauricia Grant have settled her sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit out of court. Apparently with the auto industry going into the tank, NASCAR decided that having a $225 million lawsuit hanging over its shoulder might not be a great idea.
• They’re getting Wrigley Field ready for the Winter Classic NHL game, and apparently they’re also indulging in some egg nog (or Old Style) while they are at it. GOING FIVE HOLE has video of an incident that occurred while unloading one of the Zambonis. Just call it a “Zam-boner.”
• KCBS 2 has the details of a suspected child molester who was working as a youth sports coach in Orange County. Remind me to send my kids to tap lessons instead.
• Not only do they take their high school football seriously in Texas (even if the fields can kill you), but God is right up their too. The HERALD DEMOCRAT reports on how their Christian faith has guided the Celina High football team to eight state title games in 11 years.
• In case you missed it, Tim Tebow questioned Mel Kiper Jr. on why the draft pundit thought he wouldn’t make it as an NFL QB, and the Hair Helmeted One really didn’t have a good answer. COLLEGE FOOTBALL TALK says that comments like that (and anger over not winning the Heisman Trophy this year) might drive Tebow from Florida and into the NFL.
• GOLF DIGEST says that Jack Nicklaus has a holiday message for Tiger Woods: get well soon, but don’t break any more of my records. And get off my lawn!
• THE SPORTING BLOG rolls up with word that Bronson Arroyo’s personal motto is “It ain’t no fun unless the homeys can have some!” from a Snoop Dogg song, meaning sharing the sexual services of young ladies with your friends. Talk about a Hot Corner…
• Finally, an Argentine soccer player tells the AP that he feels terrible that he killed a pigeon when it was struck by a ball he kicked. Go tell it to Dave Winfield.

• The New York Giants don’t appreciate one fan’s busting out of support.

• T.O. has a new target for his temper tantrums: ESPN’s Ed Werder.

• Some Flyers float in to have some fun at a Philly frat party.

• The Arena League season, which was off, then on, is now off again.

Read more…

Ever since Auburn announced that it was hiring Iowa State head coach Gene Chizik to replace Tommy Tuberville as head coach of their football team, they haven’t been getting much love from the fan base. Sure, Chizik spent a few years as defensive coordinator at Auburn under Tuberville, and was also the defensive coordinator for the Texas Longhorns the year they won the BCS National Championship, but his 5-19 record at Iowa State isn’t exactly impressive.

The question most Tiger fans have had is why would the school get rid of Tuberville to hire a coach that’s barely won 25% of the games he’s coached? If he can’t turn Iowa State around in the Big 12, how is he supposed to restore Auburn to glory in the SEC? Well, while he doesn’t know the answers to those questions, former Auburn basketball player Charles Barkley is pretty sure he knows why the school chose Chizik over Buffalo’s Turner Gill.

Chizik is white.

Read more…

Sure, the Gene Chizik hiring is probably the most baffling story of the year, and why not? The guy missed the three toughest teams in the Big XII this season and still went 0-8 in conference play, and all of a sudden he’s Auburn’s perfect candidate to take on Nick Saban in the Iron Bowl. No sensey makey. But nothing truly outlandish, aside from the hire itself, has gone down since then.

(Leaving your team after two years is the height of bitchassness.)

Enter Iowa State WR Darius Darks. Darks, pictured above in a facebook profile photo dated in June 2008, compiled 49 catches for 477 yards as a true freshman this season, and he was expected to be one of ISU’s stars on offense in 2009. But the head coach takes a new job and sh*t goes crazy. Darks reacted to Chizik’s departure by posting two wildly inflammatory videos on his facebook page, which is visible to anybody in the Iowa State or Des Moines network. In the videos (since removed), Darks and teammate Jeremiah Schwartz express vivid personal offense to Chizik’s “lying,” and in a way that all people their age understand and appreciate–wild and random swearing: Read more…