Dyer’s case one to remember

Todd Van Emst/Auburn U.

Hey everyone.

So Mike Dyer was granted his conditional release from Auburn on Thursday. His permission-to-contact letter included a handful of teams where Dyer is permitted to land without any gripe from Auburn. Arkansas State, former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s new home, is on that list.

And with that, one of most dynamic young backs in Auburn history is gone.

Dyer’s reasoning here is curious. He was temporarily removed from the team (Gene Chizik’s words) in early December, though Dyer had the opportunity to return provided he met certain provisions. Auburn never has stated publicly why Dyer was suspended. We know the offense wasn’t a career-ending situation on its own merit.

Why would Dyer leave rather than remain at Auburn and fix what’s broken?

We may never know the answer.

We know Dyer was on his way to immortality at Auburn. He broke Bo Jackson’s record for rushing as a freshman. He was one of a handful of Auburn backs to be named a first-team All-SEC performer. He was the featured back for a national championship team. Had he played his cards right, Dyer would have been a truly beloved player — forever associated with the program’s greatest single season.

Players train and grind and hope and pray to be in that position. Dyer was there.

Will he go to Arkansas State? I’m still not sure. That move doesn’t make much sense to me because he’s ready for the NFL right now. Why sit out the 2012 season, play in 2013 to get a shot in the 2014 NFL Draft? Heading for an FCS program, playing in 2012 and hitting the 2013 NFL Draft seems like the better play.

The best play, of course, would have been to make things right at Auburn.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE FORUMS