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Talking Tiger football
Published June 6, 2009
GUNTERSVILLE — Scott Fountain says new head football coach Gene Chizik has built a great foundation at Auburn.
Fountain, who served as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator on Chizik’s staff at Iowa State, said yes when Chizik called him a second time and offered him a position on the Tigers’ staff in February.
Fountain — Auburn’s football operations coordinator — spoke to the Northeast Alabama Auburn Club Meeting Thursday night at Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge.
Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was scheduled to address the combined Auburn Clubs from Marshall, DeKalb and Jackson counties, but he canceled his trip to remain in Auburn and spend time with a top prospect the Tigers are recruiting for the class of 2010.
Kevin Hawk, president of the Marshall County Auburn Club, said it was Thursday afternoon when the clubs learned Malzahn wasn’t coming.
“Coach Chizik hired great assistants who are great recruiters,” said Fountain.
“Coach Chizik is preaching tough, physical football.
“This summer, we’re going to workouts at 6 a.m. and then going to class.
“Every future is built on a solid foundation. An example of a bad foundation would be O.J. Simpson.”
Fountain stressed recruiting is a priority for Chizik and his staff. He mentioned the success of the “Tiger Prowl,” the staff’s limousine recruiting tour of parts of the state this spring.
“We will be up this way next spring on the ‘Tiger Prowl.’ We just ran out of time this year,” he said.
“To win a national championship, we have to get the players back in here like in 2004 when Coach Chizik was here the first time (as defensive coordinator).”
Fountain said Chizik’s staff considers athleticism, grades and character when evaluating a prospect.
He added players also fall into three other categories — holdouts, dropouts and allouts.
“Allouts never quit, they’re dedicated and they’re committed. We’re looking for allouts,” he said, citing Tiger legends Bo Jackson and Tracy Rocker as examples of allouts.
Rocker is serving as Chizik’s defensive line coach.
Fountain said Chizik’s first team doesn’t have great depth at every position, particularly the offensive line.
“We finished the spring with maybe nine offensive linemen on scholarship,” he said.
Fountain praised the work of Malzahn, describing him as a “great mind” who is “so detailed” in his schemes.
“The things Gus is doing will give us a chance offensively,” Fountain said.
Fountain expects all of the Tigers’ incoming freshman receivers to be given an opportunity to earn a spot in the playing rotation.
Receiver isn’t the only position where freshmen could help the Tigers.
“I’ll be surprised if we don’t have from seven to 10 kids play for us,” Fountain said.
One of those freshmen could be heralded quarterback recruit Tyrik Lawson, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, if he qualifies academically.
“We feel like he’s in,” Fountain said. “But it’s never final until they (the NCAA Clearinghouse) say it’s final.
“In the next week to 10 days we expect to see a definite answer on that.”
Fountain believes junior college transfer Eltoro Freeman, a linebacker, will be an impact player.
“Eltoro Freeman is definitely the most intense guy on the football team,” Fountain said.
“He’ll be a great addition, a much-needed addition to our ballteam.”
Coming out of spring practice, Fountain said the best surprise was the players are buying into the program and starting to become a family.
“Coach (Pat) Dye came over some and talked to the team about toughness, and I’m seeing more of a toughness,” Fountain said.
Fountain had uncles who played football at both Alabama and Auburn. Fountain, a native of East Brewton, played at Samford for Terry Bowden.
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