I am so glad to see CGM doing this for Auburn. Whatever Chizik's logic was in keeping the wall up, it amounts to missed opportunities for mentoring and shared wisdom from those that have been there and done the job. I can't believe SPIKES went 17 years without coming back to Auburn. That dude would make a killer LB coach for anyone looking to hire him and would afford him an ability to keep the fire lit that he mentions missing in the article below.
Despite coaching responsibilities that keep him busy nearly year round, Malzahn makes it a priority to establish a friendship with the alumni players, even ones he never had a prior relationship with.
“He keeps in touch with all the guys and always says, ‘I have an open-door policy.’ At least to me anyway,” Spikes joked. “He’ll just say, ‘Come on in, man.’ It’s good to be able to have that relationship with him.”
For those that have hung up their cleats, like Spikes, it’s also a chance to remain around the game they’ve dedicated more than half their life to.
“It’s the transition (that can be difficult), not only me but for all guys. It’s tough,” said Spikes, who retired in 2013 after a 14-year career in the NFL. “For me, to be able to come back to the games — that was therapy for me. I had the opportunity to see my high school football team (on) Friday nights, then I get a dose of this on Saturday. So it really eased the pain for me.”
Spikes left Auburn after his junior season in 1997 and was the No. 13 overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played four seasons before stops in Buffalo, Philadelphia, San Francisco and San Diego.
Spikes returned to his alma mater plenty during Auburn’s incredible turnaround 2013 season, even providing an emotionally charged and effective pregame speech prior to the Ole Miss game when the Tigers’ defense came up with a season-high six sacks, including on back-to-back plays to clinch a 30-22 victory.
“That was my first time. I was honored to do it. I thought it was a marvelous idea, not just me, but to bring former players in so guys can relate,” Spikes said. “I’m a firm believer, as a player, whenever you’re living in the moment at that time, you have to pay homage to the guys that came before you. To be able to understand that, in order to know where you want to go.
