Lowering the Boom: Back at Auburn, Muschamp oozes confidence, bravado
Will Muschamp thought he was home in Gainesville, but he's learning Auburn is a much better fit for his talent and personality. Coach 'Boom' is ready to rock the SEC West.
By
Dennis Dodd
•
5 min read
AUBURN, Ala. -- There are no visible scars on the psyche. That frat-boy swagger still lights up a room. The famous smirk masked a recent playful, sarcastic bout with reporters.
“I’m just kidding you, Jason,” the coach they call “Boom” told one. “You’re not going to get mad at me?”
Sometimes it seems no one gets mad at Will Muschamp -- not even those within Florida's athletic department when they fired him after last season. Muschamp's departure from the Gators after four years was about the classiest exit you’ll see in the sometimes messed-up college coaching profession.
“I have zero bitterness,” Muschamp told CBS Sports on Monday. “I have nothing but great memories of the University of Florida, of Gainesville. People look at me like I’m nuts, but I do. I wish we’d have won more games, [but] we changed the culture of that program.”
For the sake of his ego and career, Muschamp couldn’t have found a cushier landing spot than Auburn. He’s back in a familiar spot in a familiar job, defensive coordinator.
His task is to bring back his own magic. It’s here in 2006-07 that Muschamp assembled a couple of top 10 defenses. That was after winning a national championship with Nick Saban at LSU and following him to the NFL.
It was at Auburn that he became “Boom.” ESPN caught Muschamp on the sideline exhorting his defense with some rather colorful language.
“Then you’ve got to explain to your mom and your wife and kids what exactly you said,” Muschamp recalled.
His star was rising. Still is, in a way. If this is the way his career plays out, there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. His five SEC defenses at LSU and Auburn have all finished in the top 10.
The man was the coach-in-waiting at Texas, until he couldn’t wait any longer. With Muschamp as head coach, Florida finished outside of the top 10 in total defense just once in four seasons.
For such a quality guy, it was hard to watch it go downhill. His Gators were imbalanced. Good defenses and special teams. But the offenses? Hold your nose.
Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson, a key to whatever happens down on The Plains, can’t wait to get back on the field. The Tigers' entire season changed when Lawson blew out his knee last May. Muschamp was asked if he’s ever had a player this anxious to get back.
“My third year, we had about 12,” he said.
| Florida Gators under Will Muschamp | ||
| Season | Record | Bowl |
| 2011 | 7-6 (3-5 SEC) | W Gator |
| 2012 | 11-2 (7-1 SEC) | L Sugar |
| 2013 | 4-8 (3-5 SEC) | - |
| 2014 | 6-5 (4-4 SEC) | W Birmingham* |
| * Fired, did not coach bowl game. | ||
Actually, it was eight season-ending injuries to starters that contributed to a 4-8 finish at Florida in 2013. It was the Gators' first losing season since 1979, and it foreshadowed the end of Muschamp's tenure in Gainesville.
“Don’t let your business affect your personal …” Muschamp said of his firing. “I don’t agree with the decision, but I’m not going to let that affect me personally with people.
“I preach that to the players all the time. You may have an issue at home. Don’t bring it to the workplace. I need to practice the same thing.”
And then for a moment, the Boom we all know and love flashed. That sideline menace of a human time-bomb ready to go off.
What was that about changing the culture at Florida?
“[We] changed the culture of the program that was labeled by the previous head coach as ‘broken,’” Muschamp said, referring to the icon he replaced, Urban Meyer. “He said it, I didn’t.”
There is no love lost between the two. Ohio State under Meyer turned in Florida for two secondary violations when Muschamp was there.
The “broken” comment came at the end of Meyer’s final season at Florida in 2010. Muschamp took over in 2011; a year later, he was named Co-SEC Coach of the Year.
Remember? Probably not, as it is Muschamp’s rebound that made news instead of his departure. Auburn needed him as much as he needed the Tigers to remake his professional self.
“I may have an issue with [the firing],” he said. “At the end of the day, a decision was made. I respect the people who made the decision. Doesn’t mean you have to like it.”
After a 5-0 start last season, the Tigers finished 3-5, giving up an average of more than 38 points per game to their last seven FBS opponents. The defense posted just 21 sacks, 95th nationally.
“I would equate it to what happened to us offensively at Florida,” Muschamp said. “You lose confidence. Sometimes change is what you need a little bit. You need to shake things up a little bit.”
The defense loves Muschamp. Auburn loves him more, paying him $1.6 million per season. That’s more than at least 58 FBS head coaches. Add in his Florida buyout -- reportedly more than $6 million over two years -- and it's definitely financially good to be Boom.
Head coach Gus Malzahn is so confident in his hire, he barely visits the defensive side of the practice field. That highlights the biggest question of Auburn’s season.
Can a 44-year-old father of two, who doesn’t so much as stick his hand in the ground, make a difference for this defense?
For your answer, first check that frat-boy smirk. Then check with the Tigers.
“As long as you have confidence in yourself,” defensive back Johnathan Ford said, “anything is possible.”
