Bryan Harsin sounds off on the bulls**t surrounding his future at Auburn
By John Buhler
Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin made it abundantly clear in a lengthy interview with ESPN that all that transpired this past offseason was nothing short of bulls**t.
In Bryan Harsin’s third season as the Auburn football coach, he will not only have to battle the best of the best an SEC schedule has to offer, but the bulls**t surrounding what was nothing short of a tumultuous offseason for he and his family.
“The simplest, strongest statement to come out of all this was what I said at the time, that it was bulls—, and I still feel like that,” said Harsin to ESPN’s Chris Low.
Harsin had been under fire only a few months ago. Auburn University directed an inquiry into the program that Harsin was running. Players and coordinators were leaving in droves, many of whom to Orlando to play for former Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn at UCF. Even if one former player said Harsin treated them like they were dogs, the Auburn head coach is so ready to move on.
Auburn went 6-7 (3-5) in 2021, including a tough loss to Houston in the Birmingham Bowl.
Bryan Harsin vs. the bulls**t: Auburn football head coach speaks his mind
Even if it felt like Harsin’s days were numbered down on The Plains, he is not treating this upcoming season like one where he is on the hot seat. It may not be up to him, but he is not going down without a fight either. This could be one of those great spite seasons of epic proportion or a total disaster. Either way, all the drama surrounding Auburn and Harsin will be utterly captivating.
“Everything we were going through — these players, this program, the attacks on my character and my family — was bulls**t,” continued Harsin. “Let’s be clear on that. We’re not folding our tent whatsoever. We’ll fight, and we’ll keep doing it. That’s not going to change. We’re fighting for the kids on this team. They’re worth fighting for.”
With Auburn president Jay Gogue retiring soon and Chris Roberts taking over for him on May 16, Harsin’s future leading the football program will hinge entirely on how this fall goes for the Tigers. Auburn does play in the toughest division in the Power Five, but the Tigers nearly beat the arch rival Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl last season. This team could go 8-4 if all goes right.
Ultimately, Harsin has a strong reputation as a head coach, but only at the Group of Five level. He may have done a fine job at Boise State and briefly at Arkansas State before that, but this is the SEC. While Auburn may not be able to improve all that much off last year’s 6-7 record, the Tigers need to play significantly better down the stretch than a season ago. Otherwise, Harsin is cooked.
Fueled by rage amidst adversity, look for Harsin to damn the torpedoes heading into this season.
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