This is a Mal Moore appreciation post. The former Alabama player and Assistant who spent the final years of his life as Alabama’s Athletic Director. He was the man who convinced Nick Saban to leave The NFL for Tuscaloosa. The biggest promise Mal Moore made to Saban was that he would be THE WALL between him and meddling boosters that had become a part of Alabama’s dysfunction since the retirement and death of Bear Bryant. Moore did that from Day 1. Limited access. No influence. Nick Saban made all decisions and “NO” was never the answer. The first year ended with a 4 game losing streak including the embarrassing loss to La-Monroe. 6-6 and a bowl trip to the Independence Bowl (The modern day equivalent would be The Birmingham Bowl). Mal Moore made sure that the boosters didn’t challenge the process. Everybody kept pulling in the same direction and Saban landed a recruiting class that included Mark Ingram and Julio Jones. The Best Dynasty in College Football History continues 15 years later. Auburn doesn’t have that firewall yet. The AD and President that can stand between the Boosters and The Coach. We may or may not learn stuff about Bryan Harsin that makes this separation seem reasonable, but Allen Greene the AD isn’t the one making that decision. The new hire will come out of sequence from the normal hiring cycle which instantly shrinks your list of candidates. It comes after recruiting and most of the portal free agency, so the roster will be what it is which limits any instant success a candidate can have in year one. There are a lot of programs in worse shape than Auburn, but few with the pedigree of the Orange and Blue. The next hours, days, weeks and months will be hard work, luckily that’s in The Auburn Creed. Now they just need someone to do the work while making the needy group of Old School Boosters happy. – Jim Dunaway
GAMES TO WATCH TODAY: (All Times Central)
NCAA: Virginia at #9 Duke 6:00pm ESPN
NHL: Hurricanes at Maple Leafs 6:00pm ESPN+
NBA: Suns at Bulls 7:00pm NBA
NCAA: #10 Kansas at #23 Texas 8:00pm ESPN
ON THE SHOW: (All Times Central)
9:25am TOM LUGINBILL, ESPN presented by Jack’s Western Wear
10:00am CHRIS LOW, ESPN
11:00am STEVEN PEARL, Auburn Assistant
11:30am TRASH with LT presented by Mortgage Right
TOP LINKS TODAY: ($$=Subscription Needed)
- ANDY STAPLES: ($$) Bryan Harsin the recruiter, is why Auburn wants him out READ
- MATT HAYES FIRST AND 10: It’s not you Bryan, it is just ‘The Auburn Way’ READ
- TONY FAIR DEFENDS HARSIN: Former Players are stepping up to defend AU Coach READ
- JOE GOODMAN: Bryan Harsin feeling the burn from a familiar fire in Auburn READ
- BRYAN HARSIN’S FUTURE: How did things get so bad so quick at Auburn READ
- CONNOR O’GARA: Jimbo not pulling any punches and it will define his legacy READ
- LSU UPS THE NIL GAMES: Fanatics and LSU strike deal on Jersey Sales READ
- ARCH MANNING RECRUITMENT: Clemson out, see who is still in the mix READ
- IVAN MAISEL: Luke Fickell is still thinking about the Alabama Loss READ
- DABO BUILDING NIL FACILITY: Clemson Coach “The rules are the rules” READ
- DENNIS DODD: Are changed needed to reign in the Transfer Portal? READ
- NCAA.com TOP 25: NCAA website releases CFB Way-to-early Ranking READ
- SCHOOL RECORD: Jelly Walker breaks Andy Kennedy’s UAB Record READ
- COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Winners and Losers from the weekends action READ
- CHASE GOODBREAD: 6 Takeaways from The Senior Bowl READ
- NO RELAXING IN NASHVILLE: Titans have strong feelings on Aaron Rodgers READ
- COLLECTORS ARE INTERESTING: Half of a baseball card sells for $475,960 READ
- MUST SEE: If you missed this Jordan Spieth shot on the cliff, could you do it? WATCH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Chris Rock 57, Ashton Kutcher 44, Matt Stafford 34, Garth Brooks 60, Steve Nash 48, James Spader 62, Steven Stamkos 32,
