Tag: Al Borges

Remebering the bizarre end to Tony Franklin’s tenure at Auburn

Franklin’s brief history as Auburn’s offensive coordinator was eventful to say the least.

The 2008 season is one that Auburn fans never want to remember.

The Tigers ended the season with a 5-7 record. Several noteworthy games from that season include the infamous 3-2 win over Mississippi State, a blown game at Vanderbilt, and a 36-0 drubbing by Alabama to end a six-game winning streak in the series.

The season ended with the firing of head coach [autotag]Tommy Tuberville[/autotag], but it was another firing during that season that became the most noteworthy.

Tuberville replaced offensive coordinator [autotag]Al Borges[/autotag] with air raid guru [autotag]Tony Franklin[/autotag] ahead of the 2008 season, and it was a disaster from the very beginning.

There was a four-game stretch where Auburn failed to score more than 21 points, which led to the early dismissal of Franklin. However, the story leading up to his demise is far from normal.

According to a report by The Athletic, Franklin came up with a plan to revamp his image following the loss to Vanderbilt, which included using lyrics to a popular song by rapper Eminem.

“He was tired of walking on eggshells and wanted to express to his players that from that day forward, they’d be dealing with a whole new man. He started Monday’s team meeting by walking into the room with a stack of books and quoting lines from Eminem’s song “Without Me,” telling his athletes “Guess who’s back, back again. Franklin’s back. Tell a friend.

Franklin’s approach seemingly worked too, as Tuberville had offered his support to Franklin both privately and publicly to local reporters.”

The “new image” lasted just one day, however, as he would be dismissed from his position just one day later. The firing of Franklin tops USA TODAY Sports’ 10 most cringeworthy college football departures list. Joining Franklin on the list is Lane Kiffin’s infamous “tarmac” firing, Todd Graham’s resignation from Pitt via text, and George O’Leary’s questionable resume.

Auburn finished the 2008 season with a 1-5 record following Franklin’s firing. Two seasons later under head coach [autotag]Gene Chizik[/autotag], Auburn would win the program’s second national championship.

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Former Auburn assistant makes case for the 2004 title

Looks like we are back on this discussion again.

Anytime that you bring up the 2004 BCS National Championship, the Auburn Tigers faithful can get a bit heated.

There is good reason for that, the team finished 1-0 under head coach Tommy Tuberville. They won the SEC Championship over the Tennessee Vols, 38-28. The team would accept a Sugar Bowl invite and defeated the No. 9 Virginia Tech Hokies.

The team featured quarterback Jason Campbell, the running back duo of Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown, and leading receiver Courtney Taylor. Al Borges coordinated the offense that scored 32.1 points per game.

Borges joined The Paul Finebaum Show and discussed who should claim that 2004 BCS Championship after the USC Trojans had to vacate the title. In that game, the Trojans defeated the Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 55-19.

“Whether people want to admit it or not, the game the year before did have a little effect,” said Borges. “And we were a completely different team, that’s an unfair analogy, but I think that might have had a little bit to do with it. But SC kind of eliminated themselves with their problems, and that’s really the case that (Tommy Tuberville) makes is: SC’s not even a factor because they supposedly caught their hand in the cookie jar.”

Borges went on to say that the Auburn Tigers should be awarded the vacated championship but also stated that his view is a little slanted.

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Al Borges details coaching, developing quarterbacks

Al Borges details coaching, developing quarterbacks.

Al Borges was an important part of Auburn’s undefeated and Southeastern Conference championship team in 2004.

Borges helped develop senior quarterback Jason Campbell (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) in one season into an NFL first-round draft pick.

He was hired as Auburn’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach ahead of the 2004 campaign.

During Campbell’s first three seasons at Auburn, he experienced a new offensive coordinator each year.

Jason Campbell. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2004 Dale Zanine

Borges quickly developed Campbell and provided him stability to grow as a signal-caller.

“We were a complete football team,” Borges said of Auburn in 2004 on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days.” “The missing cog of the chain was getting our quarterback confident. Once Jason quit worrying about making mistakes, and let it rip and play, he turned the page and made our offense everything it could be.”

Al Borges. (AP Photo/Todd J. Van Emst)

Borges develops quarterbacks with a focus on footwork, stance and having confidence.

“I always coach the quarterback about 90 percent from the waist down and neck up,” Borges said. “Get him some good functional intelligence and do a good job of teaching him your system. Footwork is just a huge part of it. 

“It’s such a huge part of how you teach the quarterback; is footwork, timing, his balance, the rhythm of the throws and getting him to know when to release the ball and making sure he is hitting the receiver as he comes open – not when he’s open, but as he comes open. All of things that I learned at a very early age, and as I coached longer and understood it better, I could implement it easier. You get a willing participant like Jason Campbell who kind of fed on anything you said, was just looking for an opportunity to show what he could do.”

Jarrett Guarantano. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Campbell appeared in 49 games at Auburn from 2001-04. He totaled 7,373 passing yards, 45 touchdowns and 25 interceptions to go along with 308 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) has experienced similar turnover in having numerous offensive coordinators during his collegiate career.

Since 2016, Guarantano has played for offensive coordinators Mike DeBord, Larry Scott, Tyson Helton and Jim Chaney during his career at Tennessee. Chris Weinke has served as his quarterbacks coach for the past two seasons.

Through 40 games at Tennessee, Guarantano has totaled 6,018 passing yards and 16 interceptions to go along with -56 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Guarantano has lacked progression with his footwork, stance and confidence from a standpoint of overthinking initial instincts, much like Borges detailed how Campbell needed to “quit worrying about making mistakes.”

Ahead of last season’s loss to Georgia State, Guarantano described how he is a thinker before games.

“I am really a thinker,” Guarantano said. “Going into a game, going into whatever it is, I am always thinking about what I can do better. I am thinking about different concepts and defenses that can be shown.”

The entire show with Borges can be listened to here or below.

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