Epic Fail by Auburn

[IBGPN]

Gene Chizik, ladies man...looks like Louder's entire payroll turned out:

Chizik arrives to cheers
Posted by Evan Woodbery, Press-Register December 14, 2008 6:29 PM
Categories: Football
New Auburn football coach Gene Chizik arrived on the Plains at about 6 p.m. About 200 cheering fans and supporters were there to greet him. If any unhappy folks were present at the Auburn/Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport, they didn't say anything.

Chizik's first (and to this point, only) words to the local media:

"First of all, I am very, very overwhelmed. I'm back home. What can I say? I'm back home. I feel very blessed. My family, myself, this is a dream come true for us. And this is going to brief, but I'll tell you this -- these people of Auburn University and the Auburn family is what I got into coaching for. And I left it with a dream to one day come back to it, and today I'm living that dream and I want to thank you guys. And War Eagle."

Auburn mayor Bill Ham presented Chizik with some sort of memento as he got off the plane (I couldn't tell what). The crowd was a who's who of athletic department personnel. Many recruiting hosts and hostesses were there. Aubie and the team's cheerleaders also made an appearance.

Fans yelled "Warrr..." as the university jet approached and "Eagle!" as it touched down on the ground.

[DirtyRiver79]

You know how Auburn can help me out? Hire Patrick Nix as their OC. PLEASE. Get that clown out of Miami. He is a joke and by reading this post, he would fit in quiet well back at Auburn.

[Lilred36]

Hey your not a razorback fan? Sounds to me like you have some strong feelings towards Auburn.

[IBGPN]

Yeah I am a Razorback fan, but between TN with Kiffin, and now AU doing this the Hogs will be sitting pretty soon. I am not the only one that thinks this was the dumbest move ever, just have a look at this booster welcoming Jacobs back... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8dxvwG5BVY

[Lilred36]

Seen it!! thought it was great!I really feel kinda bad for Phil at Tenn. put alot of years in there.

[IBGPN]

What him taking no pay now? I can not believe they did that to him, he built that program to what it was and will be again after Kiffin is done.

[IBGPN]

And the joke on Auburn just got a little bit sicker....


Iowa native Paul Rhoads, defensive coordinator at Auburn this past season, has been hired as the new head football coach at Iowa State, a prominent booster told The Des Moines Register this morning.
Advertisement

Richard Stark of Fort Dodge said Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard phoned him at his Florida residence this morning to tell him of Rhoads’ hiring.

“He’s also sent a text message to the players,’’ Stark said.

Stark said he had a good idea last night that Rhoads, an Ankeny native, would be Pollard’s choice.

“I think this is one of those hires that will not raise a lot of eyebrows, but I think it’s a helluva hire,’’ Stark said. “He’s a smart guy, a charismatic guy, an Ankeny guy. I think he’s a helluva pick.’’

Later this morning, Iowa State confirmed the hiring and said Rhoads will be introduced to fans during the men’s basketball game tonight against Jacksonville State in Ames.

Iowa State officials said Rhoads agreed to a five-year deal worth $5.75 million — or $1.15 million per years — with incentives available to increase that total.

Rhoads grew up in Ankeny and was valedictorian for his high school class. He played football at Missouri Western as a defensive back.

He spent eight seasons as a defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh, before taking the same job at Auburn in 2008.

The 41-year-old father of two was also an assistant at Iowa State earlier in his career, coaching linebackers and the secondary.

Rhoads got his start in college coaching as a graduate assistant at Utah State in 1989-90. He was then a graduate assistant at Ohio State for a season before joining the staff at Pacific in 1992.

From there Rhoads went to Iowa State, where he coached linebackers in 1995 and the secondary from 1996-99 before moving on to Pittsburgh.

Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson said the hiring brings relief.

Johnson, who will be a sophomore, talked to his new coach early this morning.

“I just got a call from him. It made me feel good,” Johnson said. “I was just happy to have somebody in charge.”

Johnson said last week he would consider transferring, but when asked if he felt better about his future as a Cyclone, Johnson said, “You could say that.”

He is in his native Florida, so won’t be at today’s press conference, but Johnson expects to be back on campus Jan. 12.

Read continuing coverage at DesMoinesRegister.com throughout the day — and find more in tomorrow's Sunday Register.