Watch: Bryan Harsin pumps up Auburn basketball crowd a day after controversy

Bryan Harsin was seen pumping up the Auburn basketball crowd literally the day after the dust settled from his highly-publicized offseason controversy.

Spotted at Saturday’s Auburn basketball game vs. Texas A&M was none other than head football coach Bryan Harsin.

While there is not a hotter ticket in town than cheering on Bruce Pearl’s No. 1 Tigers team, the football program has been in perpetual chaos for the better part of two years. Though Harsin will remain the football coach for a second season, he and his family have been through a lot over the last few weeks. He and the rest of the Auburn team have been forced into an impossible situation.

Even if Harsin can breathe relatively easy heading into spring practice, he presumably will need to have a season akin to the 2010 or 2013 campaigns to get a third year down on The Plains.

Here he is cheering on the juggernaut men’s basketball team on Saturday live from Auburn Arena.

Bryan Harsin cheers on Auburn basketball team a day after controversy ended

No matter what happens to Auburn on the gridiron this fall, the university’s administration, the athletic department and the boosters need to find alignment. If that means they need to start over at head coach or replace athletic director Allen Greene, they will cross that bridge when they get there. In the meantime, there is no excuse to drag their fans through this nonsense going forward.

Auburn men’s hoops may be at its pinnacle, but the football program should be so much better than it is. Harsin is not at fault here, as he and his staff must do a better job in recruiting. Relying on grit is not going to help Auburn contend annually with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M on the football field. This is a program that should be contending for championships.

The Tigers won the SEC West in 2017, the SEC in 2013 and a national title in 2010. This is not ancient history, folks. Yes, you have to play the two preeminent programs in the sport annually, as well as the three who are dominating recruiting, but this is Auburn, a place where with the right head coach, magical things can happen. The question remains if Harsin is the right guy for Auburn.

To say Harsin’s second season with the Tigers is beyond critical would be a gross understatement.

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