With all eyes on the Crimson Tide as they head into the Championship game, Auburn is presently flying under the radar. So it is not a bad time to take a look at Coach Gene Chizik and his Tiger team and see how far they have come after one season.

This time last year, the Auburn nation was is complete disarray.

The ever-popular Tommy Tuberville had fallen from the graces of many of the Auburn faithful after a dismal 5-7 season. While some wanted to give him a pass on the bad season and the decision to hire, then fire, Tony Franklin, others wanted to see a fresh start.

So on December 13, athletic director Jay Jacobs made the announcement that Chizik would be the new Auburn coach.

With a five-year agreement to the tune of $1.9 million per year, Jacobs said of his new coach, "I know that we have found the right fit for Auburn. Gene's body of work during his 23 years in this profession is remarkable.”

Chizik had been a popular assistant at Auburn as defensive coordinator from 2002-2004, helping the ’04 Tigers to go 13-0 and win the SEC championship. He had been equally successful at Texas in 2005 as co-defensive coordinator / assistant head coach where the Longhorns won the National Championship, defeating USC in the Rose Bowl.

But many were questioning his ability as a head coach.

In 2007, Chizik’s Iowa State squad went 3-9, only winning two conference games in the Big 12. The following season was even worse as Chizik led his team to a 2-10 season, winning not a single conference game.

Things, however, went well for the 47-year-old in his first season on the Plains.

In his very first game as Auburn’s head man, 81,143 Auburn faithful welcomed Chizik back to Auburn as the Tigers rolled to an easy 37-13 victory.

The next four games were as good as the first, beating Mississippi State 49-24, West Virginia 41-30, Ball State 54-30, and a big road win over the Tennessee Vols 26-22 on an ESPN prime-time game in front of 102,941 fans in Knoxville.

In his first five games at Auburn, Chizik had won as many games as he had in two seasons at Iowa State.

Chizik was handed his first loss when Auburn visited Arkansas on October 10, losing 44-23, followed by an unexpected loss to Kentucky 21-14, followed by a whipping from LSU 31-10.

Auburn bounced back, beating pre-season favorite Ole Miss 33-20, and doubling up on Furman 63-31.

At that point, most Auburn fans were generally happy, with the Tigers were facing Georgia in the deep south’s oldest rivalry, followed by the ever popular Iron Bowl against the Tide.

Both games were literally within the grasp of the Tigers. Georgia slipped away, winning 26-21, and Auburn led Alabama the entire contest before the Crimson Tide scored with less than 2 minutes to play to win the game.

While a 7-5 season would not be acceptable during an average year, most Tiger fans would be quick to say that their questions and reservations about Gene Chizik were answered and that, after last years’ train wreck, 7-5 was a relief.

Winning the Outback Bowl in Tampa would give Auburn an 8-win season and some much needed momentum headed into 2010.

At this point, it looks as if Auburn will probably be in the top ten in recruiting this season and expectations will be high, once again.

Needless to say, this season has been, and will turn out to be, Chizik’s most carefree and relaxed of any he will ever experience at Auburn. A seven-win season is only a relief after things have gone south and a coach has been fired.

Now fans know he can coach.  They know he can win. And they are learning that he can recruit.

Now, the pressure is on.

‘Hit ‘em straight

Dale Jones is a staff writer for The Islander. Reach him at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.