Grades are in on Auburn’s worst coaching change in history, and it’s no shocker

The grades are in on the worst Auburn football coaching change in history according to Opelika-Auburn News editor Justin Lee, and the assessment isn’t a shocker — Bryan Harsin taking over for Gus Malzahn was (obviously) given the crown (of thorns).

“The test is over,” Lee prefaced in a response to a poster trying to give Malzahn flack for how left the program before saying, “The grades are in. We’ve seen the results of the choices. Malzahn to Harsin was a bad coaching change, the worst in Auburn football history. We’re allowed to say it!”

Lee would compare the sudden firing of Malzahn to Georgia’s dismissal of Mark Richt in 2015 when one poster claimed the former was fired because he would’ve potentially won favor after a hypothetical 2021 Iron Bowl; too much favor to be fired.

“Possibly and plausibly, and silly if so,” Lee prefaced of the suggestion before saying, “Georgia fired Mark Richt after 9 regular-season wins. Just set the expectations, even if they’re high, and see if he reaches them or not. Shifting the goal posts, or keeping them secret, is how you end up with two losing seasons.”

Bryan Harsin may make his return after unceremonious Auburn football firing

Harsin may just weasel his way back into the college football mix, being linked to the New Mexico opening; one vacated after the Lobos dismissed Danny Gonzales.

“The candidate pool may be competitive with several Mountain West schools concurrently seeking new head coaches, including Boise State and San Diego State,” Mountain West Wire’s Roger Holien prefaced before saying, “Potential names in the mix include Gary Patterson, Bryan Harsin, Bronco Mendenhall, Matt Wells, Ken Niumatalolo, Jason Eck, Brent Vigen, and Brennan Marion.”

With New Mexico on the 2024 schedule, a potential Plains return for Harsin might not be far away. If he can do what the Lobos’ primary rival, New Mexico State, did, well…

Let’s not even go there.