Gene Chizik and Paul Rhoads

Gene Chizik and Paul Rhoads are two football coaches at two quite different programs. Two different programs that have two different expectations.

Chizik led Auburn to a national title in 2009. He had an outstanding assist from quarterback Cam Newton. Chizik left Iowa State after only two years with an overall mark of 5-19. How he landed the Auburn job is still a miracle other than he was a former defensive coordinator. But Chizik silenced his early critics taking the Tigers to the college football Promise Land.

But Chizik is feeling the heat at Auburn. Geno has the Tigers off to a 1-5 overall start and 0-4 in the football king Southeastern Conference. Auburn might only win two games remaining on its schedule: New Mexico State and Alabama A&M. The Tigers could also sneak a SEC win against Vanderbilt this week or maybe in two weeks against Texas A&M, but the games against Georgia and Alabama are almost certain losses.

Chizik has charted to No. 2 on the Coaches Hot Seat rankings (www.coacheshotseat.com).

Rhoads, in his fourth season at Iowa State, is 22-22 overall. He was the defensive coordinator at Auburn but lost his job when Tommy Tuberville was fired. Rhoads has taken the Cyclones to two bowl games and fans of the program absolutely love the guy.

My question is why has Rhoads secured more success at Iowa State than Chizik? Is Rhoads a better coach than Chizik? If Chizik and Rhoads had the same type of players at Iowa State, I would give the nod to Rhoads. Give Rhoads Chizik’s Auburn roster and Rhoads would do just as well or better than Chizik at Auburn too.