On Saturday, Aug. 31, the world of football will name a new “mad scientist.” The Auburn Tigers host Washington State as the current “mad scientist” Mike Leach leads his Cougars into battle with Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. Malzahn, who is easily the top offensive mind in college football, has transformed every program he touched since becoming a head coach in 1992.
While Leach currently holds the title of “mad scientist” for his prolific passing attacks at Texas Tech, Malzahn has had a much larger impact on the way football is played on all levels.
Malzahn’s offenses, from 1996-2012, have produced two high school dynasties, rewrote offensive record books and transformed the game of football. From the time Malzahn hit the college sidelines in 2006, his offensive units have improved dramatically each year. The Arkansas Razorbacks were 4-7 in 2005 and ranked 76th in the nation in total offense. Malzahn became the offensive coordinator in 2006, and the Hogs finished 10-4, including a loss in the SEC Championship game, while ranking in the top 20 in total offense; not a bad one-year turnaround. Not to mention, Malzahn used running back Darren McFadden to invent the “wildcat” or “wildhog” formation that was later used in the NFL by the Miami Dolphins with former Auburn running back Ronnie Brown.
The next year, Malzahn landed as the offensive coordinator for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. In year one, Tulsa posted a league-high 7,832 offensive yards (tops in the nation) while averaging better than 41 points-per-game. In 2008, Tulsa improved to a near record-setting 7,978 yards and scored 47 points-per-game. Tulsa’s offense, under the “new mad scientist”, was the second-most prolific offense in NCAA history, averaging 309.9 pass-yards-per-game and 268 rush-yards-per-game. This assault on defenses allowed Malzahn the opportunity to be the offensive coordinator for Auburn in 2009.
The Tigers improved from 105th in total offense in 2008 to 16th in 2009. Auburn went on to rank 3rd in total offense in 2010 en route to a National Championship.
In 2012, Malzahn took on the task of taking Arkansas State to the next level by building the program up even further after Hugh Freeze started the task in 2011 before leaving for Ole Miss. The Red Wolves posted a 9-3 record with Malzahn and won the Sun Belt Championship while finishing in the top 25 in total offense.
This “new mad scientist” knows how to rack up yards and points against any opponent on any level. This year he is reunited with offensive weapons he recruited personally, like quarterback Kiehl Frazier and running back Tre Mason. Auburn should easily improve on their 3-9 record and 117th ranked offense. The Tigers offense will surely be a fun one to watch, as the “new mad scientist” mixes his crazy concoctions of plays, schemes and tempo en route to a bowl game at the end of the season. While the offense will not set records for yards or scoring in 2013, SEC teams are being put on notice by the threat the Auburn offense now poses.
Joshua Cook is an SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoCo217, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
