Borges out, won't coach bowl game

AUBURN - Less than 24 hours after Auburn offensive coordinator Al Borges resigned Monday night, Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville has apparently found the replacement.

Troy offensive coordinator Tony Franklin will replace Borges, according to the Huntsville Times Web site.

"Al and I discussed this during the last week and after a decision was made, I began looking for a new offensive coordinator," Tuberville said Tuesday in a statement. "We hope to have someone on board in the near future."

Tuberville wasn't kidding about the near future part.

Franklin comes from Troy, where he took over a predominant run offense and made it a spread passing system. Under Franklin, the Trojans had the 17th-ranked offense in the nation - well ahead of Auburn's 101st ranking.

In Franklin's system, Troy threw the ball more than 43 times per game in 2007. Trojans quarterback Omar Haugabook, the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2006, led the team in carries this season while rushing for over 600 yards and throwing for 2,975 yards.

Franklin, who had been out of collegiate coaching from 2001-2004, hand-picked Haugabook from Dodge (Kan.) Community College to run his system at Troy.

Before coming to Troy, Franklin was Kentucky's offensive coordinator in 2000.

Franklin will replace Borges, who resigned Monday after serving as Auburn's offensive coordinator for four seasons.

"After speaking with coach (Tommy) Tuberville for the better part of 20 minutes, it became increasingly clear that Auburn needed a new offensive coordinator," Borges said.

Borges came under scrutiny earlier this season when his offense turned the ball over 10 times in back-to-back losses to South Florida and Mississippi State.

The Tigers ranked ninth in the SEC in scoring offense, red zone offense and 10th in total offense. Auburn also ranked 11th in third-down conversions.

That is in direct contrast to Borges' first two years with the Tigers.

In 2004, Borges' innovative offense helped Auburn to an undefeated season and solidified running backs Ronnie Brown and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams as first-round picks while morphing quarterback Jason Campbell into a first-round selection.

Campbell, who had struggled at times through his first three years, enjoyed his best statistical season by far in '04.

Even when Borges lost those three stars in 2005, his offense ranked first in both scoring offense and total offense.

But over the past two years, Borges' offense stumbled.

That prompted Tuberville to look for a solution.

When Auburn resumes practice on Friday, Franklin is expected to be in place as coordinator.

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said he gave permission for the University to speak with Franklin on Sunday night.