Coffee and Magnolia: 2 December 2014

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR SEARCH

The reports are pretty much the same everywhere: Auburn is interested in Will Muschamp, Will Muschamp is interested in Auburn, but he has the time and the ability to play the field and let this all play out to his advantage. Muschamp is on vacation, Malzahn is out recruiting, so all discussions are going on through agents. I wouldn't expect an announcement today, but hey you never know. Sometimes things work fast.

AL.com's Joel Erickson takes a look at four things Auburn needs in its next defensive coordinator.

The Columbus Ledger Enquirer throws out two names I haven't really seen mentioned elsewhere (though they have been brought up in a comment or two on the site) in their list of five names to watch for the position. Those names are Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and Houston Defensive Coordinator David Gibbs. Gibbs has already spent a year on the Plains as Auburn defensive coordinator in 2005. He left after that season to return to the NFL.

One candidate on most people's list is UAB Head Coach Bill Clark. He would be an interesting choice, but let's hope his current situation has a better ending than him needing another job.

AUBURN FOOTBALL

The Montgomery Advertiser has an article out this morning about how Auburn "lost focus" down the stretch.

Bowl projections are starting to solidify, and there are a number of bowls Auburn could end up in. Bowl selection will be done a bit differently this season, as there are not going to be tie-ins with bowls able to make a choice in order based on teams left in the pool to choose from. There are also a few different teams Auburn is projected to play in these bowl games. Some I'd be thrilled with, some I'd be OK with, and some have me responding like this. I'll have some thoughts up on this subject in a fleshed out article this afternoon.

AUBURN BASKETBALL

Bruce Pearl held a press conference yesterday, and we put together some highlights through tweets. I tried to do that every week for Gus Malzahn's PCs and I will do much the same with Coach Pearl if he keeps to a regular schedule with them.

Auburn's men's team travels west for the third time this season on Wednesday to take on Texas Tech. As always, we will have a preview, game thread, and post-game recap/review covering the basketball game.

The ladies will be facing Marquette tonight at home. Tip-off is 6pm at Auburn Arena.

OTHER SPORTS

Auburn's gymnastics team put on a practice performance last night at the Auburn Arena in their version of A-Day. It appears that the coaches and gymnasts were pleased with the way the event went.

Auburn women's golf coach Kim Evans has been awarded the highest honor given out by the Women's Golf Coaches' Association, the Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award. The Palmer Award "is intended to honor individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the evolution and growth of women's collegiate golf. Recipients of this prestigious award have influenced women's golf in a manner that changed the complexion of the sport."