With Bo Nix becoming the heavy betting favorite for the 2023 Heisman Award, the dialogue about how Auburn football fans should feel about it is raging on all over social media; driving division among the fanbase and the media.
One fan in particular challenged On3’s Justin Hokanson on the reporter’s assertion that there shouldn’t be a single fan not supporting Nix in his Heisman bid. This led to a battle between the two about whether or not Nix loves AU following his transfer to Oregon after the 2021 regular season.
“Bo Nix quite literally grew up loving Auburn to his core, standing on the sidelines in an Auburn uniform cheering on his dad,” Hokanson said when asked by the fan why the Auburn fanbase should care since Nix plays at Oregon. “He didn’t want to leave Auburn, but felt it necessary for a myriad of reasons that are understandable. Wish him well and be happy for his success.”
“If Bo Nix loved Auburn, he would still be at Auburn,” fired back the fan. “He and his family clearly have disdain for the football program and fanbase. Good riddance.”
Hokanson assessed the take as “terrible.”
Auburn football fans turning back on Bo Nix for transferring while simultaneously trashing Bryan Harsin lost the plot
So at once, there are fans who believe Bryan Harsin was the biggest problem the Plains has ever seen on the gridiron sidelines, but Nix also had to bear through it despite admitting that he was miserable?
Huh?
When it comes to Nix, he did what was best for him. If he wasn’t the quarterback at Auburn and instead was a regular non-football player from Pinson, few would question him for doing what is happy for him; even if it meant leaving his home to do so. There are people like that out there, though, who don’t want to see you thrive elsewhere. Even if it means staying in a situation you’re not happy in.
Don’t be like them. Bo went out and became great, perhaps enough to live out his NFL dream while making NFL draft first-rounder money.
If that bothers you because it didn’t happen at AU, I hate to break it to you: you tie your personality too much to a college football team.