After the search for Auburn football’s next coach seemed to reach an unsatisfying conclusion, the fanbase was revitalized by the news that Steve Sarkisian has an interview.
Frustration was reaching a boiling point for Auburn football fans in the past few days, with numerous names popping up in the search for their next head coach that inspired strong feelings that were far from positive.
First, there was Lane Kiffin’s name being floated around different circles. Of course, the former Nick Saban underling at Alabama is a known flight-risk wherever he goes and is only one season into a turnaround of the Ole Miss program. Many seem open to the idea of the offensive guru signing on the dotted line anyway and the Lane Train pulling into the Plains, and Kiffin seems interested as well.
Not a bad choice overall.
Then, there was the idea of former Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn. Tigers Nation almost unanimously shunned the idea of Quinn returning to college football as a head coach for Auburn. Then there was the #StopSteele movement after it appeared that Kevin Steele would be promoted within.
To say fans had given up hope would be a pointed understatement. Luckily, the football gods provided the college football world with one of the juiciest possible names to emerge in the search: Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian:
"Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is expected to interview for the Auburn job after this weekend’s SEC championship game, sources told AL.com. The expectation is that Auburn will interview Sarkisian on Sunday, per sources. The Broyles Award semifinalist has made it clear that he doesn’t want to have any communication about the job until after the SEC title game.Sarkisian, who was a top candidate for the Mississippi State and Colorado State jobs last offseason, is considered the hottest name in the country among assistant coaches. He is tied with current Auburn interim coach Kevin Steele as the nation’s highest-paid assistant ($2.5 million annually). If Sarkisian were to leave for a head coach position, it is believed he would not have a buyout to get out of his Alabama contract that runs through 2023."
You cannot script having Sarkisian defect from underneath Saban’s wing–after filling in for him against the Tigers this season, mind you–and going to Alabama’s top rival. Auburn football fans should be thrilled that there appears to be a name linked to the head coaching job that inspires confidence and excitement, rather than, I don’t know, a viral movement to prevent him from being hired.
Interviewing Sarkisian is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for Auburn.