Auburn Absolutely Wasted Arkansas Gift

Tigers had their own Dan Enos-Kenny Guiton moment and completely messed it up

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 8, 2023 12:13 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After the gift Arkansas handed
Auburn last season, this is what was done with it?

Boosters spent the offseason trying to figure out a way to get rid of Bryan Harsin but failed, then Razorbacks show up months later on Halloween weekend and handed the insane pitchfork wielding check writers the smoking gun they needed to run Harsin out of town.

A wobbly Arkansas team that nearly got beat at home by Southeast Missouri State came to Alabama and walked a mud hole through one of the more apathetic teams to ever take the field in the SEC. Two days later, Harsin was officially gone and the reins were handed over to Cadillac Williams.

A group of players who had been lifeless for weeks suddenly felt up to playing again. They rallied around Williams and he inspired them to bring out their best. For the first time in a while there was a spirit around Auburn that hadn't been seen since shortly after the Cam Newton years.

Williams nearly led Auburn to a win over a really good Mississippi State team in one of Mike Leach's last games and then reeled off back-to-back wins. In three games, Williams had won almost as many games as Harsin had in eight. Now, the entire SEC outside of Alabama fans believed Auburn might have a chance. And if they didn't pull it off in 2022, then the 2023 showdown between Williams and Nick Saban was definitely going to be must-watch TV.

But then, something that defies all logic took place, which makes it the most Auburn thing Auburn could do. The administration and boosters took one look around at all the energy, positivity and excitement generated by Williams as he built an atmosphere that screamed for recruits to hop on board and dumped a warm bottle of flat Mountain Dew all over it.

Instead of going with the heart of the program, the people of Auburn thought it would be a good idea to load up all of Hugh Freeze's baggage and drag it into town. What is even more illogical is Williams stayed. Administrators looked this man in his eye, told him all his effort in turning the program around didn't matter when they were the ones responsible for destroying it, then had the gall to offer him a promotion from running backs coach to running backs coach.

The second Williams said yes, whatever Freeze may have signed should have been torn up because with all the ridiculous things that happen to head coaches in Auburn as a result of the biggest group of meddling boosters outside of Austin, Texas, anyone willing to be that loyal should have given the job on the spot.

It's not a head coaching situation, but offensive coordinator Kenny Guiton has generated that same spirit in the offensive players at Arkansas. The energy and love for him shown after the win over Florida mirrors what everyone saw players show for Williams at Auburn last season.

Just imagine the reaction if Guiton continues to turn around this Razorback offense, and then at season's end, PIttman turns his back on him the way Auburn did Williams and hires Butch Davis as offensive coordinator. How Tigers fans didn't burn down the trees at Toomer's Corner in protest when Freeze got drug up from the NCAA dungeon is dumbfounding. They owed Williams their support.

Of course, as much as Arkansas played a role in putting the final nail in Harsin's coffin last year, the Razorbacks probably had a bigger role in getting Freeze to Auburn. The second Liberty pulled off the 21-19 upset of the Razorbacks on the same weekend Williams made his debut, some Auburn fan with too much time and money decided "You know what this program really needs? A third consecutive Arkansas State coach with an affinity for sweater vests. That'll really shake things up around here."

As both Arkansas fans and Sam Pittman have learned first hand, the energy surrounding a coach matters almost as much as what he knows. And if that energy gets too bad, it doesn't matter what the guy knows. No one will play for someone they either hate, don't believe in, or don't trust.

Auburn may have won a couple of games of late against the dregs of the SEC, but that doesn't mean the players believe in or trust Freeze. The boosters and administration missed that boat. The right man's busy coaching running backs out of loyalty when he should be somewhere else at least running someone's offense.

There's no doubt Auburn hired the wrong man. What a waste of a gift.