College Football Coaches as Star Wars Characters

Apr 18, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn looks on during the spring game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

Gus Malzahn: Luke Skywalker

When Palpatine rose to power and Anakin Skywalker fell to the dark side, there was only one hope to overthrow the Galactic Empire. That hope was Luke Skywalker, who would become Darth Vader’s nemesis. Well, his son too.

Gus Malzahn became that hope for the hope to overthrow the Nick Saban empire. What better place to start than the state of Alabama? Well, he had a great start by beating the Tide and ending their dynasty in 2013 with a thrilling finish. We all remember that. And it established Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers as a legitimate threat to Saban’s establishment with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

So let’s consider that game the Battle of Yavin, where Luke Skywalker blew up the Death Star and was established as a legitimate threat to the Empire, a point which Darth Vader recognized the Force being strong with him.

But then, in Empire Strikes Back, Luke lost terribly in a fight with Vader because he hadn’t completed his training. Malzahn lost a heartbreaker in the national championship to Jimbo Fisher’s Florida State Seminoles because he hadn’t completed his recruiting class.

This past season is the lull period between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. During that time, Luke completed his training and was ready by the third movie to overthrow the Emperor and take on Vader.

Malzahn is in the process of completing his roster, evidenced by another Top 10 class, the way Luke was completing his training. He should be ready to knock off the Saban empire if he keeps this up.

Next: Butch Jones: Leia Skywalker