Auburn fans have been complaining about their offensive coordinator since Shug Jordan was a gleam in his mama's eye. But when does Auburn actually fire its offensive coordinator in the middle of a season?
When Auburn loses to Vanderbilt for the first time since 1955, of course.
The university announced today that Tony Franklin has been fired.
If you're an embattled SEC coach who wants to keep his job, here's Rule No. 1: Whatever you do, don't lose to Vanderbilt.
On Saturday in Nashville, the Tiger offense scored two touchdowns, one more than it scored a week earlier against Tennessee. But against Tennessee, the defense scored a touchdown and the kicker hit all his PATs and Auburn won the game.
And as history has shown, when an SEC team loses to Vanderbilt, somebody must be fired. Usually, the head coach.
Case in point:
• In 1982, Ole Miss lost 19-10 in Nashville; Steve Sloan was gone by the end of the season.
• In 1988, with Emmitt Smith in the backfield, Galen Hall lost 24-9 in Nashville; he survived the end of the season but was fired in 1989 ... five days before the Vanderbilt game.
• In 1990, LSU lost 24-21 in Nashville, Vanderbilt's only victory all season; Mike Archer was fired.
• In 1994, Georgia lost 43-30 in Athens — on homecoming — and Ray Goff was fired soon thereafter.
• In 1998, South Carolina lost 17-14 in Nashville, breaking Vanderbilt's 22-game SEC losing streak; Brad Scott was fired.
• In 2000, Kentucky lost 24-20 in Lexington, and Hal Mumme, whose problems extended beyond losing games, was fired.
• In 2007, Ole Miss lost 31-17 in Nashville; Ed Orgeron was fired and Houston Nutt was hired.
2 comments:
Should I cheer for Vandy to beat UT?
Good question. A loss to Vanderbilt in Little Neyland could seal the deal for Fulmer.
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