More airport fun on the way

It’s Sunday, the sun has risen, professional tackle football is on TV and Gene Chizik, like it or not, is still your new head coach.

From what I’ve been reading on the message boards today, that reality has sunk in for a bulk of the previously perturbed fans. And even those that are still upset, I think, are finally realizing there’s nothing they can do about it.

He’ll be Auburn’s man for a while now, and I really don’t expect to see many empty seats at Jordan-Hare Stadium throughout the 2009 season.

Chizik and some other unknowns will be landing at the Robert G. Pitts Auburn airport at 5:10 p.m. I will be there, of course, and I’m expecting a good amount of Auburn fans to be present as well. I’m really hoping they aren’t as classless as some of the fans were yesterday. That wouldn’t make for the warmest of welcomes and I’m hoping he’ll talk to the liberal media for more than 33 seconds.

Chizik is expected to address the team tonight before getting all dressed up to address an even larger contingent of liberal media at tomorrow’s press conference. Sorry, but you’re not invited.

Plenty of updates to come throughout the evening.

Spin me right round, baby

There’s no way around it. Gene Chizik is a tough sell.

Here’s how Auburn media relations, in its long-awaited release, depicted Chizik’s two rough years at Iowa State.

During his two seasons at Iowa State, the 46-year old Chizik was in the midst of a rebuilding process, directing the Cyclones to a 5-19 mark. The Iowa State administration rewarded Chizik’s leadership and vision for the program by offering him a two-year contract extension following this season.

Chizik’s first win came against intrastate rival Iowa in 2007, making him the first Cyclone coach since 1907 to beat the Hawkeyes in his inaugural season. The 2007 season also included conference wins over Kansas State and bowl-bound Colorado.

Here are some quotables provided by Auburn media relations from Chizik, athletic director Jay Jacobs and some former Auburn players that played under Chizik.

Chizik
“Through my travels in coaching over the last 23 years, there’s one place that I’ve always wanted to return to and that is Auburn. The tradition of the Auburn football program combined with the passionate fans and their love for Auburn are second to none. My family and I are Auburn through and through, and look forward to being part of the Auburn family and community.”

“I am dedicated to working tirelessly to win championships. We will not be outworked in any facet of the building process. I’m excited to get on the recruiting trail, meeting with the current players and reconnecting with past players.  We want to develop young men into champions not only on the playing field, but in the classroom and in the community.”

Jacobs
“I’m extremely proud and excited to have Gene returning to Auburn to take over as head football coach of this program. I know that we have found the right fit for Auburn. Gene’s body of work during his 23 years in this profession is remarkable. He has a strong knowledge of this athletics program, this university and the community, and he knows how to be successful in the Southeastern Conference. He is a high-energy coach that is an outstanding motivator and demands a tough, physical style of football. I’m confident that Gene can build upon the foundation that has been established and make this a program that competes for championships on a consistent basis.”

Washington Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers
“This was the best decision Auburn could have made. Coach Chizik was like a dad to me. From a player and student point of view he’s exactly what Auburn needs in a head coach.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell Williams
“Coach Chizik is a players’ coach. Even though he was on the defensive side of the ball, he taught all of us the importance of hard work. He’s the kind of coach recruits hope to get to play for, and I think this is a great hire. I’m excited for Auburn.”

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dontarrious Thomas
“Gene Chizik will make a great addition for Auburn. He knows the game of football and knows how to motivate and relate to young athletes. He knows how to motivate them to be successful not only on the field but in the classroom and in the game of life. He will be a blessing for the players and for Auburn University.“

CHIZIK HIRED

Gene Chizik will be named Auburn’s new head coach, the Opelika-Auburn News has confirmed.

The deal was finalized late Saturday afternoon after athletic director Jay Jacobs, President Dr. Jay Gogue and his advisors deplaned at the Robert G. Pitts Auburn airport, returning from a trip to Memphis.

Chizik’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, is based out of Memphis. The buyout in Chizik’s ISU contract is $750,000, according to the Ames Tribune.

Chizik, 46, began his coaching career in 1990 as a defensive ends coach at Middle Tennessee State before eventually landing at Auburn from 2002-04 as the team’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Chizik spent two seasons as a co-defensive coordinator at Texas before landing his first head-coaching gig at Iowa State in 2007.

The Cyclones have struggled under Chizik, going 5-19 overall, including a 2-10 2008 campaign. Iowa State went 0-8 against the Big 12 this season.

That poor performance has not sat well with the majority of Auburn fans on Internet message boards and on talk radio. The next two days promise to be a big test for the Auburn PR department on how to sell Chizik on an obviously upset fanbase.

About 30 fans gathered at the airport, many of which heckled the four men as they deplaned. One man stepped ahead of the reporters and booed loudly, waving his arms up and down with his thumbs pointed downward. He continued to do so during Jacobs’ 33-second interview, which did not confirm nor deny earlier reports that Chizik had been hired.

Here’s the Chizik file.

Age: 46
Alma Mater: Florida (1985)
Hometown: Clearwater, Fla.
Record: 5-19
Wife: Jonna
Children: Daughters Landry Grace and Kennedy Danielle (10), and son Cally (7).
Year-by-Year as Head Coach
2006: 3-9 (2-6 Big 12)
2007: 2-10 (0-8 Big 12)
Coaching experience
1986-87: Seminole (Fla.) HS, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1988-89: Clemson, Graduate Assistant/Outside Linebackers
1990-91: Middle Tennessee State, Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends
1992-94: Stephen F. Austin, Assistant Coach/Linebackers
1995: Stephen F. Austin, Assistant Coach/Secondary
1996-97: Stephen F. Austin, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
1998: Central Florida, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1999-2001: Central Florida, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2002-04: Auburn, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2005-06: Texas, Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
2007-08: Iowa State, Head Coach
2009-?: Auburn, Head Coach

Jacobs: ‘We’re still in the process’

Athletic director Jay Jacobs stepped off an Auburn jet Saturday afternoon and sidestepped around questions regarding the possibility that Iowa State coach Gene Chizik had been named the Auburn head coach.

Asked if Auburn had its man, Jacobs replied, “Nope, we’re still in the process.”

That statement didn’t confirm nor deny multiple local and national reports that Chizik was hired Saturday afternoon.

“I think that if everything continues to go well then in the next few days, we ought to have the process narrowed down pretty well,” Jacobs said to a group of reporters gathered near the tarmac at the Robert G. Pitts Auburn airport. “We’ll go from there, but we’re still moving along. It’s been good so far.”

Asked if he was in the negotiating stages with Chizik, Jacobs remained ambiguous.

“We’re just still processing right now,” Jacobs said. “A lot of things going on.”

Asked to confirm or deny multiple reports saying that Chizik had been hired, Jacobs was brief and far from concrete in his answer before walking to his car.

“We’re just still working through the deal,” Jacobs said.

President Dr. Jay Gogue, and associate athletic directors Tim Jackson and Mark Richard were also on the flight, which returned from a daylong trip to Memphis. Chizik’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, is based out of Memphis.

A spokesman at Iowa State said he could not confirm the reports.

Chizik’s mother, Rita Chizik, told the Des Moines Register that her son had yet to contact her about his alleged new job.

“If he took another job, that little rascal didn’t call me,“ she said. “I’ll be darned.“

The Opelika-Auburn News reported Saturday morning that Chizik was Auburn’s top candidate to replace Tommy Tuberville and that a decision could be announced as soon as Monday.

Chizik, 46, began his coaching career in 1990 as a defensive ends coach at Middle Tennessee State before eventually landing at Auburn from 2002-04 as the team’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Chizik spent two seasons as a co-defensive coordinator at Texas before landing his first head-coaching gig at Iowa State in 2007.

The Cyclones have struggled under Chizik, going 5-19 overall, including a 2-10 2008 campaign. Iowa State went 0-8 against the Big 12 this season.

That poor performance has not sat well with the majority of fans on Internet message boards and on talk radio.

About 30 fans gathered at the airport, many of which heckled the four men as they deplaned. One man stepped ahead of the reporters and booed loudly, waving his arms up and down with his thumbs pointed downward. He continued to do so during Jacobs’ 33-second interview in front of the airport.

Dooley pulls his name out of contention

Straight from the “coffee is hot” and “the sun will rise tomorrow” news bureau, Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley has pulled his name out of contention for the opening at Auburn.

Dooley interviewed Tuesday in New York, when athletic director Jay Jacobs was knocking out interviews faster than a round of speed dating. His candidacy never really got off the ground.

Here’s the official La. Tech release.

RUSTON—In light of the continued speculation, Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley confirmed Saturday that he has removed his name as a potential candidate for the Auburn head coaching position.

“As I have said on many occasions, we are very happy in Ruston and are excited about the continued investments that our administration is committed to making into our athletic program,” Dooley said. “Our team will begin bowl preparation on Sunday and any further speculation about my future would be an unfair and distracting element.”

Dooley and the Bulldogs posted a 7-5 mark this season and finished second in the Western Athletic Conference, earning the program’s first bowl appearance since 2001 and only its third since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1989. Tech will face Northern Illinois Dec. 28 in the 33rd Independence Bowl in Shreveport.