Auburn is failing in resource dispersion

It’s time for a conversation to be had about the displacement of NIL dollars in the Auburn Athletic Department

Football has always been the central focus of Auburn university athletics. It was all most fans cared about and for a period of time was one of the most successful programs in the country. The same cannot be said today, while many have instilled trust in Hugh Freeze, myself included, results have not yet shown. However, other programs such as Men’s Basketball, Gymnastics, Men’s Golf, Baseball, Equestrian, have all been far more successful as of late. Yet, the NIL dollars being dispersed is still overwhelmingly flowing to the football program. On3 estimates the roster is worth 9.8 million dollars. Not to mention, numerous buyouts still being paid, DJ Durkins new salary increase, and the ability to recruit amongst the best without playing as the best in the last three cycles. Meanwhile, OTV is penny-pinching Bruce Pearl. They showed no signs of support or even in interest in previous WBB head coach Johnnie Harris. The potential is there for Auburn to make strides in Olympics sports as well, but first the basketball programs and their funding must be addressed.

To address women’s basketball and the recent decisions regarding that program. John Cohen making the decision to fire Coach Harris was both premature and possibly premeditated. Watching the Women’s basketball team this year, issues were evident. Offensively they looked one dimensional with a strong interior presence and a lack of perimeter scoring. At times the looks weren’t even manufactured, just forced low block post ups. Is it true that in her four seasons as head coach the offense was never amazing? Yes, however the fix to that problem was supposed to be Taliah Scott. A true scorer at the two who unfortunately only played three games due to injury. Some other key players dealt with nagging injuries in the offseason and during the season. The problem is that Auburn had no depth because they didn’t have the NIL dollars to acquire it. If the Men’s team lost Dylan Cardwell to injury, the effect would be drastic, because Pearl and his staff didn’t have the NIL dollars for Flory Bidunga this past offseason. Same deal for the women, Harris alone was payed in the bottom quarter of coaches in the SEC. Her ability to recruit off relationships alone was rather impressive because she never had money to offer these recruits what they’re worth. Harris landed Yuting Deng off a relationship with her trainer.

With strong talent acquisition and tangible momentum in the win column her first three seasons, one injury riddled season is cause for termination? That logic doesn’t make sense given the astounding low level support Johnnie Harris was given by the current athletic department. It leads me to believe John Cohen was simply looking for a reason to fire her. He had an opportunity to hire Harris at Mississippi State as she was an assistant and chose not to. That along with the pledged one million dollar check to the program from Charles Barkley never arriving due to an alleged inability to assure Barkley that his money would go to Women’s Basketball, leads to the assumption she was not going to be the coach much longer. That poses the question, what are John Cohen’s expectations for a woefully under-funded program? Harris took Auburn to the tournament and just signed one of the best classes in recent memory, always produced great defenses, and was a bright spot in the community. I’m not saying Harris was a perfect coach and didn’t have flaws, but who is Cohen going to hire at the previous pay level that is even comparable to Johnnie Harris? Certainly not Kellie Harper (Former Tennessee Volunteers coach) and internally many of us are found of Harper and what she can bring to Auburn. However she isn’t coming cheap, and she will demand a certain level of support financially and administratively that has never been offered to this program. The next hire will represent John Cohen’s commitment to the program in a very telling manner immediately.

Bruce Pearl is a top two coach in the history of Auburn athletics. It is 1a and 1b between him and Pat Dye. There is no reason, he shouldn’t be able to outbid Cincinnati for Shon Abaev. Flory Bidunga is understandable because of the basketball commitment at Kansas as well as Bill Self and his success. However, Auburn has money for one of the best college football facilities in the nation, but Bruce can’t get a practice facility. He chose NIL funding over the facility but he shouldn’t have to, he’s established, consistent, and winning. None of that can be said about the football program at this point in time. How many recruitments has Bruce lost to NIL, Joe Phillips, Shon Abaev, Chris Cenac (to an extent), Bryson Tiller? Not saying break the bank for Dybantsa and his price, but the money people at Auburn are selling Bruce short and it’s unacceptable. It’s a testament to his ability that he finds talent in the depths of lower level basketball. With the likes of, Chaney Johnson, Chad Baker-Mazara, J’von McCormick, Samir Doughty, etc. This years team is phenomenal and their success is historic, but when Steven Pearl openly admits Auburn is near the bottom of the SEC in NIL, that’s an issue.

Not suggesting slashing Football’s funding, Freeze is trending in the right direction and has my confidence. However, certain cuts should be made that allow him to keep momentum but properly support the basketball programs that deserve the funding.

The early return on John Cohen is not impressive. If he makes the decision to hire Sam Purcell for the Women’s Basketball program, any confidence I had in his abilities will be significantly diminished. Outside of good returns in Softball he has done nothing productive. The Nike deal was a forgone conclusion before he arrived, Baseball and Football renovations were far along in discussions before he arrived as well. He’s not Allen Greene but I’m not impressed with his tenure either.

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