Auburn fires coach

AUBURN, Ala. ( AP) — Auburn coach Gene Chizik was fired Sunday after the Tigers’ rapid fall from a national champion to a winless Southeastern Conference season.

The Tigers endured the worst slide within two years of winning a national championship of any team since the Associated Press poll started in 1936 and hadn’t lost this many games since going 0- 10 in 1950. The decision came 17 months after Auburn gave Chizik a contract worth some $ 3.5 million annually through 2015 with a hefty buyout.

“After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our football program, I have recommended that Coach Chizik not be retained,” Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. “President ( Jay) Gogue has accepted my recommendation. Earlier this morning, I informed Gene that he will not return as head coach.”

The players were informed in a team meeting Sunday. Jacobs scheduled a news conference for later in the afternoon.

“I’m extremely disappointed with the way this season turned out and I apologize to the Auburn family and our team for what they have had to endure,” Chizik said. “In my 27 years of coaching, I have gained an understanding of the high expectations in this profession. When expectations are not met, I understand changes must be made.

The Tigers went from 14- 0 with a perfect SEC record with Cam Newton leading the offense in 2010 to 3- 9 and 0- 8, losing their final three league games by a combined 150- 21. Auburn was blown out by Texas A& M ( 63- 21) and Georgia ( 38- 0) but the finale was even more painful for Tigers fans.

No. 2 Alabama cruised to a six- touchdown halftime lead en route to a 49- 0 demolition Saturday that could easily have been much worse. It was still the secondmost lopsided Iron Bowl in history, behind only the Tide’s 55- 0 win in 1948.