The post season awards have started coming in for the Auburn Football program. Offensive Coordinator, Gus Malzahn has won the Frank Broyles Award. The honor is named for legendary Arkansas Coach Frank Broyles and is given to recognize the nation's Top Assistant Coach in College Football. Malzahn will be the second coach on the Auburn staff to have won the award. Head Coach Gene Chizik was the Broyles Award winner when he was the Defensive Coordinator on Auburn's 2004 team that finished the year 13-0.
Gus Malzahn was one of Gene Chizik's first hires after taking over at Auburn in December, 2008. In his two year tenure he has fashioned the best offense in Auburn history. Last years team set a school record with 5,613 yards of total offense. The 2010 offense will by far exceed that amount. In addition this year's team has tied the 2004 team's season record of 13-0 and has already scored 555 points for a 42.7 points per game average.
Several other Tigers are up for post season awards including Head Coach Gene Chizik who is a finalist for at least three different National Head Coach of the Year honors. Nick Fairley is a finalist for the Lombardi and two National Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and of course Cam Newton is a finalist for the Heisman which will be awarded this Saturday night in New York, City.
While we are very proud of Coach Malzahn, this honor will serve to make him an even more attractive candidate for a head coaching job. I just hope we are ready to give him a substantial raise to possibly help influence him to remain a Tiger a little while longer. He will pick up his award tonight in a banquet in Little Rock, Arkansas. Congratulations Coach Malzahn and War Eagle!