Auburn president Jay Gogue, after being seemingly placed in the witness protection program for most of the football season, issued a statement today about the football program that said absolutely nothing. The aimless statement posted on the school website was four paragraphs long and made no mention of football coach Gene Chizik.
Gogue did encourage fans to support the players.
“Later today, Auburn students and the local community will gather to cheer on the football team as they practice,” said Gogue. “I encourage others to follow their example by coming together and getting behind the young men who wear the orange and blue each fall Saturday.”
If Gogue was hoping to calm the fan base, he missed big time. His note will only raise more speculation about Chizik. There was no offer of support for the fourth-year coach.
By saying nothing, he’s said a lot.
Here’s the entire text of President Gogue’s message:
A Message to the Auburn Family about Auburn Football
The Auburn spirit is part of everything we do – in the classroom and beyond. It includes the spirit we show when we support those who represent us on the playing field.
Later today, Auburn students and the local community will gather to cheer on the football team as they practice. I encourage others to follow their example by coming together and getting behind the young men who wear the orange and blue each fall Saturday.
In the past few weeks, many of you have contacted me, and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share your thoughts about the football program. I know your concerns are sincere and heartfelt, and I share many of them. As we do every year, the football program will be evaluated in an objective, thorough and professional process.
For everything there is a time, and now is the time to support. The young men and women – our students – who make up Auburn University are grateful for the dedication of their extended Auburn Family. So am I.
War Eagle!
Jay Gogue
Tags: auburn coaching controversy, Auburn Football, auburn Tigers, Gene Chizik, jay coulter, jay gogue, trackem tigers
Is Gogue’s statement is supposed to show leadership? f so, I am really starting to question the leadership of our beloved alma mater. What was the purpose of this “say nothing” statement?
This was the statement I thought we would have heard from JJ by now. You have heard it before. “We will evaluate the football program at the end of the season as we always do.” No support but who wants that kiss of death anyway. I am glad the president tried to stir up some support for the kids and the game this week.
I don’ know if it is my competitive spirit wanting to get another crack at winning or my spirit feels like something good might happen this weekend. Either one I will be there supporting my Tigers!
War Eagle
It’s certainly peculiar that Gogue didn’t allow Jacobs to put the statement out. He’s been adamant that Jacobs runs the athletic department, yet it was him speaking out, not Jacobs.
Took the words right out of my mouth….. I actually sa
Said the same thing to my brother inlaw about 30 minutes ago. I hope this foreshadows Jacobs’ departure from the program.
Post season events will help me further evaluate our current institutional and athletic department leadership.
Chizik is a goner. The tenseness of the statement and lack of voiced support for Chizik is a giveaway.
Who’s “We” in the sentence about making decisions at the end of the year?
That’s the million dollar question.
Maybe he just delivered the perfect mid season speech. Do we really want a true democracy electing our football coach? The non committal tone may light the perfect fire under the right bottoms. Well documented that chiz told JJ in the spring that this “switch” in approaches would/could cause serious issues this year with understanding that it would be the foundation of competing year in and year out with our foes . We just might see a different bunch take the field this Saturday !
Pushinwithrope,
I am at a failure to see how whatever is happening right now will be “the foundation of competing” in the future.
Michael Val
(who is glad he doesn’t understand football programs, so he can simply watch and cheer–or cry)
The last paragraph’s first sentence seems broken. Support who? This statement had a few things going on for sure.
Also, by ending with “So am I” indicates that he is signaling he has less pride than the students. The language is interesting.
“So am I” signals a distancing from the football program. He seems detached throughout the statement.
My guess is the “we” in the statement is calling the shots, not him.
This statement would of been better off not released.
On a paid site I visit frequently… the same speculation is going on.
The “insiders” indicate that a huge departure has occured and they point to two key events to mark that departure:
1) Gouge shows know signs of support to either Chizik or Jacobs
2) And that today the practice was opened to “students”.
They make the case that because of the last event… this is a huge departure from Chizik clandestine operations. According to that I guess we are to assume that things are in full motion?
Honestly, until I see ACTION I will consider this statement from a gentle older gentlemen who is simply trying to keep the peace. I feel like Restless… I think unless you are meaning to do something – you probably should just stay silent.
WDE
Should say “no” sign….
WDE
The fact that he said he has been contacted by many people tells me that the contact was from contributers to AU. If you aren’t a big bucks supporter, you don’t get the ear of the prez. Means to me he has had pressure put on him to do something. After all he is the true “buck stops here” guy.
Like my father in law has said many times….If you want the answer to a question, follow the money, it will lead you to the truth every time.
IMO, nothing will change until after the season is thankfully over. We will lose 9 or 10 games and then the soap opera will start. I just am hopeful for a happy ending.
I think the most interesting part to me is where he says “I know your concerns…I share many of them.” Now rumors of a big departure. Practice opened to students. No endorsement for chiz.” now if only that letter had said,” we will pound with mason 4 quarters this week. And watch as Sammie Coates hauls in every ball in a 15′ radius.
Jay,
Please update your RSS feed, it hasn’t updated since Oct. 8.
Thanks,
Evan
Thanks Evan. I didn’t realize it. I’ll get it fixed.
……Make sure you’re using this feed for the main site:
http://trackemtigers.com/?feed=rss2
…..It updates every hour, I think. As does the one for the comments:
http://trackemtigers.com/?feed=comments-rss2
That is inspiring. And does anyone wonder how a guy like Bobby Lowder got his start?
I am not surprised though. As I have said many times… nobody in leadership is listening. They are content to run out the season and allow a re-start next year. This season is shot anyway. It has been since we lost to Arkansas.
My reasons for saying this (some I have heard here that make logical sense):
1) Auburn isn’t paying another buy out clause on a coach’s contract and Chizik’s contract does prevent him from being fired due to losing. If I had to guess, I would bet that all of them have this type of contract language giving them some kind of cash pay out (big three – Football, baseball and basketball).
2) AU isn’t ready to coach search again anyway. We never are. Besides, in football programs alone we all know that likely UT, UK, UA and AU are all going to be looking for a head coach in the next year or two. AU will take choose sloppy seconds and once again attempt to underwhelm trying to attract a talented coach. We will go after somone with inexperience… good thing Terry Bowden and his brothers are out of the State. But watch UT and UA climb back into National Relevance by getting a big time coach. My bet, AU uses the time and hires a guy like Turner Gill. What could it hurt?
3) Truth is that Auburn won’t be motivated by a desire to get back into national prominence until folks stop buying tickets. Only when the money stops flowing will the University start getting motivated to make a change. With some of the folks here – I don’t think we will see a serious drop in AU turn out until sometime next season (if all things remain the same).
4) Who knows… maybe Chizik somehow puts it back together in a year or three?
Meanwhile… the clock ticks. I am not a betting man… but I got a funny feeling my earlier prediction will be closer than any of us cares for it to be.
Dr. Gouge, action’s speak louder than words. Obviously.
My advice to the President: lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!
WDE
What else could he say at this stage? This statement is better than some empty, insincere “vote of confidence” that would neither fool nor reassure anyone. I am glad that the statement came from the president and not JJ because it may be an indication that JJ’s days are numbered. Change is coming – we just have to hunker down and support the team through the rest of the season and then hope for the best.
Agreed
If Gouge were smart, he would be on Lowder’s plane to Arkansas to see Mr. Petrino tonight.
This would be the worst decision for Auburn football and of his presidency.
Coach Chizik = dead man walking
I think the last time we heard anything out of Gouge about football was the Jerraud Powers incident, so he should just bite, I mean SLAP, Chizik on the hand for this subpar season and give him another chance.
It may all come down to which candidates are really interested in Auburn. You they are all salivating at the potential bidding war between us, Arkansas, and Tennessee, just to name a few. We may be stuck with our current crop of numbskulls if the braintrust shies away from the bidding war.
I was in Auburn yesterday for the Auburn/Alabama girls soccer game. Great win by the Auburn girls in the last 30 seconds of the second overtime.
I did roam the campus and talked to other Auburn fans and the assumption was that Chizik and perhaps Jacobs will be gone after the game with Alabama. These are difficult times for Auburn, but they will be back. It takes an elite group of players to successfully run a pro style offense in college and I feel that Auburn should have stayed with the spread.
I will still be at the game on Saturday, win or lose. WDE!
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