Fun fact: Lucas liked The Last Jedi, unlike the installments that Abrams directed. The reason is simple, and revealed here—he wanted something new. Further, the crap that the worst and most negative fans pile on Rian Johnson for Luke Skywalker's arc? That was heavily based on Lucas's own original ideas—a broken Luke in self-imposed exile, haunted by a betrayal of a student, cut off from the Force, and acting as a mentor to a young female protagonist only reluctantly.
Hottest of takes here, but Rian Johnson was simply one of the best directors we ever had on a mainline Star Wars installment, and the fandom is full of childish idiots that should have been ignored. He has the originality of Lucas, respected his vision, and is innovative and the master of his craft. He managed to get more emotion out of the actors for Rey, Kylo, and Luke than Abrams ever did, and his special effects were interesting and spectacular. The throne room scene in particular was truly great.
That more people do not appreciate what Johnson did is because they are philistines. He should have been allowed to direct and write all three installments. Somewhere in an alternative universe, people there got to enjoy a sequel trilogy that wasn't childish and derivative trash. I'm jealous.
I was on a train across China with an English teacher eager to talk about all the new construction.
When asked about opposition, she said the elderly always oppose it so they have a public hearing for them to complain. Then they ignore them and build.
America must do the same.
Alright, here is my list of issues with this take:
1) Auburn already has a GM handling the roster.
2) He is terrible on a microphone. He very often puts his foot in his mouth and says something very dumb. (More on this later)
3) He is not good at in-game management at all.
4) He has built a mentally weak culture.
5) His team is undisciplined and commits a ton of penalties.
6) He is very bad at preparing his team. (i.e. not having a silent count prepared for the offense on the road at Oklahoma and Texas A&M; finding out his LT has hearing issues 6 weeks into the season; repeated inability to line the punt team up in a legal formation)
7) He is very much not a likable personality at all. (Blames players at literally every opportunity, looks tired all of the time; see #2 as well)
8) He does not do a good job bringing people together. (i.e. player reactions to how he handled the Damari Alston situation--which is another example of #2)
9) If retained, he will enter 2026 with the hottest seat in the country.
10) No "dynamo" OCs are going to hitch their wagon to a coach that can be fired in mid-October.
11) Auburn's recruiting success has a lot less to do with Hugh Freeze than most people realize.
12) We saw this exact situation take place with Gus Malzahn, and we saw Gus wrest play calling duties back as soon as the offense had a bad game. There is zero reason to think that someone as proud as Hugh Freeze would not do the same--especially if he thinks his job is on the line--which it would be.
So no, Auburn cannot--and should not--allow him to coach in 2026 with a "new" OC.
I will not back down.
Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.
What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?
Brruuuce. What a career. So happy for you my friend. You are a True Auburn legend! Enjoy retirement. See you on the course this summer! @coachbrucepearl