AUBURN, Alabama — It was just another day at the office for Auburn coaches Sunday as they entertained recruits and reviewed how Alabama beat the Tigers 42-14 Saturday.
That meant there was no movement on the coaching staff.
Gene Chizik didn’t address his assistants by name Sunday, but it was clear he was talking about offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn about the possibility of someone landing a head coaching job.
“There are going to be guys who are going to be sought after as head coaches. There will be different variables,” he said.
Overall, Chizik said, “I put a priority on staff continuity.”
As far as possible changes, he said, “I haven’t given it a lot of thought. I have definitely a plan in place if it happens.”
Chizik said he’ll assess his assistants — but he says that’s not usual. He said he’ll assess the overall program.
“That includes assessing everything. Coaches, players, trainers. Everything. We were 14-0 last year and I did the same thing,” he said. “I assessed every single person in this program when we 14-0. I assessed every person, including myself.”
**On the loss to Alabama, Chizik said the loss was no better after watching the game film.
“Very disappointing,” Chizik said.
He said Alabama is “obviously a very good football team.”
**Chizik said the one-sided SEC losses were also disappointing.
“Regardless of what the rest of the records are, anytime you get beat against a Georgia or Alabama, very unfavorably like we did, it is very disappointing,” he said. “The losses that we did have that were lopsided against very good football teams.
“We said from the beginning our margin of error is very small. When we played in those games when they were lopsided, we did things we cannot do.”
**Looking ahead to whether he’ll throw the quarterback race open in spring practice:
“I consider having a wide-open race everywhere, every position,” he said.
**Chizik said the players would take the next two weeks off for academics while the Tigers await their bowl destination.
**Chizik said he hopes true freshman linebacker Kris Frost will be able to get in some bowl practice time. He won’t play, but it’d be a bonus.
“He’s trying to work himself into that. He’s one of the guys who will be able to do something during bowl practice,” Chizik said. “We know he’s a great athlete, and can probably play anywhere at the linebacker positions we want.”
**On offensive lineman Shon Coleman, who has battled cancer.
“I think he’s doing medically really well. It sounds he doing well in his treatment. IT’s been very encouraging, but what that means on him playing, ever playing,” Chizik said he wasn’t sure.
