Auburn Football: Is Gus Malzahn’s job in trouble if Tigers don’t beat Alabama?

If Gus Malzahn fails to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide, then one booster could be on the search for a new Auburn football head coach.

After Auburn football’s successful 2017 season, which included a win over Alabama and a trip to the SEC championship game, Gus Malzahn received a hefty new contract by former president, Steven Leath.

The 2018 season proved that contract to be one of the biggest wastes of money in college football history. The Tigers lost to Mississippi State and Tennessee, both programs being led by first-year head coaches in Joe Moorhead and Jeremy Pruitt. The season ended with two miserable losses to Georgia and Alabama.

Rumors circled the Plains during the 2018 offseason. Boosters seemed to be working together to pay off Malzahn’s enormous buyout and kick him to the curb. Bob Stoops, former Oklahoma head coach, was consistently connected to these rumors as Malzahn’s potential replacement.

Here we are, going into Week 4 of the 2019 season and the rumors have returned. Surprisingly these rumors are not following a terrible season, such as last year’s. They are instead following a 3-0 start.

Auburn is looked at as one of the sleeping giants of the season. Being led out the gate by Tiger prodigy Bo Nix, Malzahn’s offense may finally have a spark. But even as things look to be turning around for the Tigers, there are still some who just don’t want Malzahn around.

According to Los Angeles sports guru, Brooks Melchior, Malzahn’s job might not be his anymore if he fails to beat Alabama.

The final part of that report, “if the latter [Malzahn] fails to beat Alabama this season,” is what raises some eyebrows. So, you’re telling me if Auburn wins every single game except the Iron Bowl, that Malzahn will be fired? I’m not buying it.

But if that is the case, then the AU boosters are seriously wanting a change. We are to assume nothing, but I imagine if “super-booster”Jimmy Dane, who is well known in Alabama, is on board to kick Malzahn out, then there are probably many other boosters who are in agreement.

I wouldn’t take it too seriously, not right now anyway, but if Brooke Melchior’s words stay true, then Malzahn’s future at Auburn might just rely on the Tigers’ performance against the Crimson Tide.

We are getting an early dosage of “silly season” this year. Regardless if Malzahn gets fired or not, one has to think that if the Tigers continue to lose the big games, that something has to change on the plains.