Keith Farner | 17 hours ago
As Auburn continues its search to find the replacement for Gus Malzahn, the program is increasingly dealing with any number of influential boosters, fat cats or power brokers inserting themselves into the process.
Many schools have people like this around the program, but SEC Network host Paul Finebaum explained how Auburn is different. On his regular appearance on “The Roundtable” on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham, Alabama, Finebaum was asked why these people are so closely involved to the point of meddling.
“You have to remember, these so-called fat cats, this is not their main gig,” Finebaum said. “They’re all successful in their own right, so therefore they think they can do anything and be anywhere. It’s like NFL owners, they always seem to make the most idiotic decision because they really don’t understand what they’re doing and I think it’s the same way here. If you have a booster who’s meddling in Auburn’s affairs, this is his hobby and what he wants is to have access.”
The thing about Auburn is it’s been like this for many years, Finebaum said, and it comes down to access, and how much Malzahn, for example, offered. Then how would a possible new hire handle this situation.
“It’s the same way in Washington, why do people throw good money after bad to be close to power. I think Auburn is one of the worst cases I’ve ever seen and I’ve watched it from a very up-close view over the years and it never ends,” Finebaum said. “What I mean by that is you have a group of people who have really not dramatically changed over 35 years maybe longer, 40 years. The difference is that the structure of universities has changed, and there’s more accountability than there used to be. Everyone wants to be friends with the coach. Everyone wants to be able to slap them on the back and have access. I think under (Gus) Malzahn, that wasn’t really available. Malzahn was a loner, he was aloof. He knew you had to be friendly to the important people, but that didn’t mean you could call plays and stand on the sideline.”
Finebaum was asked about the likes of Louisiana coach Billy Napier and UAB coach Bill Clark reportedly turning down Auburn. The reporting seems to suggest that these coaches were being asked to keep certain members of the staff, and they didn’t agree to those terms.
“If Bill Clark says no to Auburn, he probably has won my respect for the end of time and then the next couple of universes,” Finebaum said. “Because that would mean that he’s got integrity and he’s not going to be told by some guy in a smoke-filled room, you have to retain this particular coach. That happens though.”
Finebaum then detailed how former Alabama coach Gene Stallings didn’t hire his own staff.
December 22, 2020 at 10:04PM
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Paul Finebaum calls Auburn’s meddling boosters one of the worst cases he’s seen - Saturday Down South
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