Who is the Norv Turner of college football?

         

         Finbaum stokes the Tuberville to A&M rumors further in his most recent article. I met a nice couple from Texas over the weekend. We were in a restaurant bar watching Georgia vs. Auburn, making idle conversation. I asked who they were pulling for in the game and they told me that they didn’t care. They were A&M fans and just enjoying a close game (it was the third quarter.) I mentioned that they might be watching their new coach. They had never heard of him. I have no idea if these were soidisant fans or if no one in Texas has been told what is common knowledge around here. The short of it is that they started asking me all these questions about Tuberville. I was telling them all about his record against top ten teams, his ability to put together murderous defensive units despite being the second team in the state (they loved that,) and then they asked why he isn’t well known.
          I’m not a big pro football fan. My parents are from Maryland and I was raised on the Redskins but that’s the only team I watch. After the skins game I spend Sundays watching reruns from Saturday on ESPNU. Being a Redskins’ fan I know about Marty Schottenhiemer (but I have no idea how to spell his name.) Schottenhiemer is a fantastic NFL coach. He has a very specific scheme (Big Word!) known to fans as Martyball. At the same time he has a very specific scheme (Twice!) known to detractors as Martyball. The problem with Schottenhiemer is that his teams will always be in the playoffs. Why is that a problem? They will never win. He brings his teams to the brink every year but just can’t get them to the level required to win a championship. Who does that remind you of?
          As a Redskins head coach Schottenhiemer lost his first six games then he won his next eight (thoroughly researched!) He didn’t get a second season with the Skins. They decided to take a chance on Spurrier with regretable results. Schottenhiemer went on to coach the San Diego Chargers, keep them in a state of static contention and then get replaced by Norv Turner (oops.)
         I can’t help but come to the conclusion that Tuberville is the Schottenhiemer of college football. He’s won some amazing games as the coach at Auburn but he seems unable to sustain a campaign. All he has to show for his 78-33 record at Auburn is one SEC Championship (bitch all you want about 2004 – he didn’t get it, dimestore rings aside.) 
         I still recommended Tuberville highly to the A&M couple. What else can you do? What can Auburn do? It’s an odd position to be in; do you let a coach with the third best record over the last (????) three years (????) coming into this season go (numbers 1 and 2 both have national championships) or do you keep someone who has a knack for winning games but seems incapable of winning championships stay? 
        Any attempt to break out of the current contender/second ran rut will be met with opposition. Does Auburn gamble and refuse to give a raise to the eighth highest paid coach in DIV1 football (I have yet to accept FBS.) and give someone else a chance? That risks fan retribution. It also risks a colege equivalent Norv Turner whomever that might be. Does Auburn maintain the status quo? That risks nothing. But it gains nothing as well. Then again Texas A&M may take the decision out of Auburns hands entirely.