Auburn’s Chizik willing to duke it out for Alabama recruits

By Robert Rousseau  |   Wednesday, May 06, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

Auburn Tigers
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In 2008, the Auburn Tigers lost the Iron Bowl against hated rival Alabama for the first time in a while. In fact, the Crimson Tide team the Tigers lost to was undefeated at the time.

So why the change in this historic rivalry? First, Auburn wasn't all that good. Second, Alabama has Nick Saban. Beyond being a stellar college football coach, it's hard to ignore the job Saban has done recruiting for the Tide. On the flip side, it's not lost on the Tigers' new head coach, Gene Chizik, that they haven't been successful bringing in a top 10 instate recruit in two years.

Perhaps Auburn's recruiting focus is about to change.

"We understand the importance of the state of Alabama to Auburn football and I think that's going to be evident," Chizik said regarding recruiting. "We have a chance to provide a chance to play early and a chance to play at a great program like Auburn. That's big. You don't often get a chance to sell both of those things. Hopefully three years from now, after we've built up some depth, that won't be the case. But today there is a great opportunity to come in and play right away."

In other words, Chizik is already making his plea to instate prospects, and clearly feels that he needs to make inroads where his predecessor was unable. Further, he Tigers' efforts in Alabama when it comes to the 2010 recruiting class are quite evident. Of the five players on the 2010 Rivals 250 from Alabama, the Tigers are in the running for every one of them right now. For a team that has always been known more for out-of-state recruiting than the job it's done in Alabama, that represents a significant change.

But here's the question: Is recruiting in Alabama important? Well, let's put it this way: Alabama is a football state that regularly produces talented players. In addition, every big-time player the Tigers manage to lure their way is one their rivals won't take home. Sure, the Tigers used to win without emerging with the upper recruiting hand in Alabama, but that was before Saban came to town, and Chizik seems to understand as much.

He clearly has his recruiting priorities in order.
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About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or ...
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