Call it a bad hire. It just never worked. Still, it caught us all off guard with the timing of Tuberville's firing. The news came down mid-season, on a Wednesday afternoon of a game week. Sounds like Tuberville had lost faith in Coach Franklin's ability to lead the Auburn Offense and the situation must have hit a boiling point. 
    I can almost here the heated conversation from here in Atlanta. 
    "Tommy, I sick and tired of you butting in on my offense, Tony probably said. "It's all your fault...and these coaches you stuck me with stink." 
    "My fault?, Tuberville probably responded. "Tony you been nothing but a screw-up since the day we hired you."
    "Go back down to the defensive meeting and leave me alone, You %$$#&*$, " Franklin probably told him.
    "Clean out your offense and be out of here by the top of the hour," Tub probably said. "I've seen better offensive coaches in the youth leagues."
    The numbers are shocking. Auburn's Offense, or Tony Franklin's Offense was among the worst in all of college football. Scoring Offense: #103 nationally @ 18.6. Total Offense: #104 nationally. 3rd Down Conversions: #112 at 29%. Ugly. Embarrassing. Unacceptable. Auburn scored 13 points against Vanderbilt...14 points on Tennessee.
And just 3 points against Mississippi State.
    Tuberville and Franklin couldn't agree on much. The QB. The location of Coach Franklin during the game. Gameplans. Play-calls. Imagine the disagreements that went on behind the scenes that didn't get out.
    There was an off week coming up after Saturday's game against Arkansas. But this just couldn't wait. Guess Ensminger will call the plays starting Saturday and the offense will be a hybrid (part spread, part traditional).
    And I wonder what Bobby Lowder had to say about all this?
     "Tommy, do what you have to do...I'll cut this loser a check today."