Auburn football fans eviscerated a perceived Pat Dye hat tip — one in the form of the phrase “in the arena,” a possible reference to the deceased head coach’s book, being used in a shared Theodore Roosevelt quote — from disgraced former head coach Bryan Harsin.
The credit belongs to those who are actually in the Arena! #respect pic.twitter.com/rzhPCoze5o
— Bryan Harsin (@CoachHarsin) September 5, 2023
The Boise native’s first post since August 19 was not a popular one.
Says The man who stole a University Rental car and sold his home in Auburn complete with Boise St Jerseys, Helmets and other Colleges Memorabilia and all furniture still in the house “AS IS” Pat Dye wrote a book .. IN THE ARENA.. you’re not even close to the Library. GTHOH https://t.co/frXJWDU78U
— TheRealStuntmanJohn (@StuntmanReal) September 6, 2023
Th credit belongs to those who know where Thompson High School is! #disrespect https://t.co/xp8KvNOmM4
— MTP (@marytylerpoor) September 6, 2023
harsin and barbee should start the worst podcast of all time https://t.co/Hs2kqz6yNp
— Brice (@dBriceJ) September 6, 2023
Bryan, if I gave you a blank map of the state of Alabama and told you to point to the general regional location of five high schools, would you be able to fulfill that task? “Failing while daring greatly” doesn’t apply to lazy people. https://t.co/n7nuOU74oX
— Nathan Deal, now on BlueSky (@NattyD13) September 6, 2023
Replace "the arena" with "the recruiting trail" and this becomes a colossal self-own. https://t.co/gTTBRnME8E
— Bad Freeze Puns (@Jonny_Dent) September 5, 2023
Auburn literally paid you $15 million to get out of our arena https://t.co/0XKKGFqAW4
— BARN CHEATIN 💰 (@mikehatessports) September 5, 2023
When it comes to getting one of the highest profile jobs in the country and doing absolutely nothing to earn the 10-figure salary handed to him, Harsin tried that in a small town. And while he got his money, he will forever get the accompanying scorn from a fanbase that looked to him as a leader but ended up seeing him leave as a bottom-feeder.
Podcaster points out Bryan Harsin angle in Week 2 Auburn football matchup
As Auburn Twitter great Pablo Escobarner relayed, the upcoming Week 2 matchup against Cal will have a Harsin angle — adding an extra level of contempt from an opponent whose fanbase is not afraid to take the low road on their home state social media giant, X.
Idk if anyone has touched on this yet, so sorry if you have, but Cal head coach Justin Wilcox is from the same Chris Petersen coaching tree. Spent several years under as his DC at Boise St.
— Pablo Escobarner (blue chek) (@PabloEscoburner) September 5, 2023
Harsin and him are pals that go way back. Additional narrative angle. Lol
“(I don’t know) if anyone has touched on this yet, so sorry if you have, but Cal head coach Justin Wilcox is from the same Chris Petersen coaching tree,” Escobarner prefaced before saying, “Spent several years under as his DC at Boise St. Harsin and him are pals that go way back. Additional narrative angle.”
While there will be uncertainty in the Cal QB room, there will be just as much uncertainty for the Tigers. Will Jarquez Hunter finally take the field after missing the deb-Hugh due to a possible suspension due to an ongoing conduct violation investigation? It doesn’t seem likely. And what of the run defense that allowed 5.2 yards per rush?
If the Tigers can address those issues properly in Berkeley on September 9, Hugh Freeze will have a 2-0 team with rapidly building momentum ahead of conference play starting Week 4.
And they’ll also earn a win that Harsin wouldn’t want to see given the Wilcox connection. Although something tells me no Auburn win is one he wants to see.