High expectations kill college coaching careers. Shug Jordan, Doug Barfield, Terry Bowden, Tommy Tuberville, and Gene Chizik all started their final year on the Plains ranked in the preseason polls. Each ended the season with a losing record.
Last preseason and this, there has been talk that Gus Malzahn is on the hot seat at Auburn. Making the 2017 Sugar Bowl did nothing to help Gus in the eyes of his critics. One analyst said Gus would have to beat Bama or win before he could feel secure.
Gus doesn’t get much credit for 2016, in part, because of how Auburn lost early games to Clemson and Texas A&M.