AU FOOTBALL: Chizik mostly mum on Franklin

MONTGOMERY — Gene Chizik made his first public comments Tuesday regarding the recent controversial statements made by former offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.

Not surprisingly, Chizik didn’t have much to say.

“Everything at Auburn right now is great,” Chizik said before a speaking engagement with the Montgomery Auburn Club at a local Embassy Suites. “What’s happened in the past, what people say, I certainly had no control over that and have no control over it.”

Franklin, who now serves as the offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State, said in a Saturday Montgomery Advertiser article that Auburn was the “most unusual place” he’d ever been because of its tension-heavy environment, which caused Tommy Tuberville and his coaching staff to be “paranoid.”

“No one liked anybody else,” Franklin told the newspaper. “There was this deep distrust of everybody. The coaches didn’t trust the administration, the administration didn’t trust each other or the coaches. It was very strange and very unnerving. You would walk down the halls and there would be tension you could just feel.”

Franklin also said that he was treated like an outsider and was bothered by the religious atmosphere, which was “overwhelming at times” during his short-lived tenure at Auburn. Franklin was fired six games into his first season with the program.

Chizik didn’t delve into any of the article’s specifics in his response.

“This is a whole new deal,” Chizik said. “You know, I got bigger to fish to fry at Auburn.”

Other topics Chizik addressed in his brief session with reporters Tuesday included:

— Chizik said he “felt good where everybody is,” including incoming quarterback Tyrik Rollison, when prompted about his players’ eligibility heading into the 2009 season.

“Obviously, until they get here, we’re not going to make any statements about it,” Chizik said. “But we feel good on all those fronts.”

— In response to some news outlets and columnists referring to Auburn’s new recruiting tactics as “cavalier,” Chizik said he and his staff are “just doing their job.”

“I’ve said since Day 1 that we’re just trying to recruit and do things the right way and do things a little bit outside the box, if you will.” Chizik said. “That’s what we’re trying to do and we’ll continue to do that.

“As far as being cavalier and things of that nature, I don’t see that at all.”

— Chizik offered no opinion on the potential of an early signing period for high school players who come to their college decision well before their senior season.

“Until you can iron out all the dos and don’ts, it’s not just that simple,” he said. “For me to have a really strong feeling about it, I’d have to see the entire plan. I don’t know if there’s an entire plan that someone feels good about from beginning to end.”

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