[jwplayer mFsaaDf5]
If you pay attention to what Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports has to say about Gus Malzahn’s tenure at Auburn, you’d think the new UCF coach was coaching with both hands locked in handcuffs behind his back.
In a preview of things to look for during spring practice, Dodd has this to say about Malzahn:
“After getting out from under the strictures at Auburn (available on request), he has the chance to go back to his roots as a play-callin’ ball coach savant with the Knights.”
Sorry if I take a second to laugh at that sentence. What, exactly, was Dodd watching these past four or five seasons at Auburn? One of the biggest complains of the Malzahn era was that his play-calling, when he was the one actually calling the plays, got stale. Opposing defensive coordinator had figured it out. It was no secret anymore and the magic that was the 2013 Tigers offense wasn’t coming back.
So what were these strictures that Malzahn was so-called under? As far as we know, Malzahn wasn’t forced to bring in Chad Morris or Chip Lindsey and have them call the plays nor was he forced to go back to play-calling duty all by himself, where he said he felt more natural, in 2019. Sure, there are some powerful people that like to pretend that they run the football program but not so much that they would have control like Dodd is projecting.
As for getting back to his roots, maybe Malzahn will do that but did those roots ever really leave him during his time at Auburn? Possibly so. At times it was like he couldn’t decide what type of coach he wanted to be. Hands-on? A CEO type? The “play-calling’ ball coach savant?” That last one we all wanted him to be.
Personally, I’m rooting for Malzahn to do great things at UCF. I hope he takes the American Athletic Conference by storm and leads the Knights to amazing wins. Saying that, I still think Dodd is off base when saying he was under strictures during his time on the Plains. A lot of good happened during Malzahn’s watch at Auburn and, eventually, the relationship ran its course.
It happens, yet the cheap shot at Auburn wasn’t necessary. Malzahn has said nothing but good things about his time on the Plains. Maybe it is time for others to see it as what it was: eight years of majors ups and downs that came to an end.
Save the drama for somewhere else.