Hog Calls

Fans often fit geniuses with dunce caps

In this Nov. 21, 2015, file photo, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, left, and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, right, watch the action against Idaho during the first half of an NCAA football game in Auburn, Ala. Malzahn, who built his career on offensive play calling and creativity, has finally handed over the reins to let offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee call plays. (AP Photo/Mark Almond, File)
In this Nov. 21, 2015, file photo, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, left, and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, right, watch the action against Idaho during the first half of an NCAA football game in Auburn, Ala. Malzahn, who built his career on offensive play calling and creativity, has finally handed over the reins to let offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee call plays. (AP Photo/Mark Almond, File)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Interesting how genius offensive coordinators often become dumbed-down head coaches.

Of course, they aren't actually dumbed down. Just dumbed down in the eyes of administrators, media and fans tending to tear geniuses down as fast as they build them up.

The play-calling genius who gets an open-arms welcome as the next great head coach often doesn't seem so brilliant as time goes by.

Discontent mushrooms into demanding that the genius sit back as head coach and let the next trendy genius coordinator call plays instead.

Sometimes, the demands of being a head coach seem to overwhelm the play-caller. Regardless, it seems what goes around comes around.

It has come around on Gus Malzahn, the Auburn coach who no longer is calling his own plays.

Malzahn, a Fort Smith native, built an influential following as a champion high school coach in Arkansas.

In 2006, play-calling Razorbacks Coach Houston Nutt was under pressure, and Malzahn was hired as Arkansas' play-calling offensive coordinator.

Most in Arkansas recall that season as a soap opera, even with a 10-4 SEC West champion.

Malzahn moved on to happier days coordinating Tulsa's offense in 2007 and 2008.

He then became Gene Chizik's play-calling Auburn offensive coordinator in 2009, then an Auburn folk hero by 2010. Malzahn called plays for quarterback Cam Newton's 2010 national championship team. After spending 2012 as the head coach of Arkansas State, he returned to Auburn as the play-calling head coach for a 2013 national runner-up team.

Two so-so seasons thereafter found Malzahn twice relinquishing play-calling duties in 2015 but vowing in 2016 to resume charge of it all.

After this season's 1-2 start, Malzahn handed play-calling to offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.

Malzhan says it was his choice. Survival customarily is the choice for an embattled head coach, especially at a place devouring its own like Auburn.

Chizik was fired just two seasons after winning a national championship. Tommy Tuberville went 85-40 at Auburn from 1998-2008, beat Alabama six successive years and still was forced out.

It's not just Auburn.

Nutt acceded to Malzahn calling plays in 2006 after subpar 2004 and 2005 campaigns interrupted six successive bowl seasons.

Jack Crowe was promoted to Arkansas head coach in 1990 for his play-calling brilliance while serving Ken Hatfield's 1989 Southwest Conference champions. By 1992, Crowe was compelled to change his offense, hire a play-caller and still got canned after losing the season opener.

Geniuses come and go on both sides of the ball.

Kirby Smart was the Alabama genius defensive coordinator for four Nick Saban national championships. This year, Georgia brought alumnus Smart home to coach "between the hedges" of Sanford Stadium after firing Mark Richt, 145-51 in 15 Georgia years.

Now Smart becomes the Richt successor who just lost at home to Vanderbilt.

Similar disasters will mean the ex-Alabama genius will become the next Georgian trimmed between the hedges.

Sports on 10/22/2016

Upcoming Events