BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The hiring of Auburn coach Gene Chizik last offseason wasn’t a popular choice in the minds of fans and alumni of the program.
Chizik had two years of head coaching experience with Iowa State, going a combined 5-19 with the Cyclones, and a brief stint as Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2002-04.
But beating Tennessee, 26-22, on Oct. 3 for the team’s fifth win in a row to begin the season won the trust of War Eagle Nation.
Chizik bought himself enough time and support to make it through the rest of the season, and the Tiger faithful were on board with the coach’s plan for the future.
“The most important thing that we felt like needed to happen last year was for us to build a foundation for what we’re trying to do down the road,” Chizik said. “This is a long-term plan. This is a long-term vision.”
Auburn went on to drop the next three games after starting 5-0, one of them being the pounding at the hands of LSU, 31-10, in Tiger Stadium.
“There were times when we played well, and there were times when we didn’t play well,” Chizik said.
Auburn did win two more games and earned a birth in the Outback Bowl against Northwestern.
Auburn squeaked by the Wildcats, 38-35, in overtime after a 21-yard field goal by then-junior kicker Wes Byrum.
Junior Cameron Newton is set to take the reigns at quarterback this season after transferring from Blinn College in Texas.
Newton began his career at Florida, seeing limited time as a backup for two seasons, before moving to Blinn College.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked for him,” Chizik said. “It’s a good thing that he’s had a little bit of experience in this league.”
Auburn has been winning on the recruiting front as well, especially against LSU.
Auburn’s 2010 recruiting class was ranked No. 6 by Scout.com, while LSU’s class was at the No. 7 spot.
A new indoor athletic facility set to open in the fall of 2011 has been used as a bargaining tool by Auburn on the recruiting trail.
Auburn beat LSU for the commitment of running back Michael Dyer from Little Rock, Ark., and wide receiver Trovon Reed from Thibodaux, La., in the 2010 class.
Reed was the top-rated Louisiana recruit last year, and Chizik said the Tigers plan to use Reed, who played quarterback at Thibodaux High School.
“Trovon is one of those guys that can do so many things,” Chizik said. “We have ideas of where he can fit and what he can do. We know that when he has the ball in his hands, he’s a threat.”
Wide receiver DeAngelo Benton from Bastrop signed twice with LSU but didn’t qualify and ended up signing with Auburn in the 2009 class after finally getting his grades in order.
“We’ll continue to recruit in state, that’s our No. 1 priority, and then we’ll go from there,” Chizik said.
Auburn and LSU will faceoff Oct. 23 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
—-Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected].