In the aftermath of January’s BCS Championship Game, only one national champion assistant decided to pick up and leave Auburn.  That man happened to be an Auburn grad.

But new Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker isn’t looking back on his decision with regret.

“After coaching 17 years of college ball I have aspirations as a coach, and it’s not just to sit there at my alma mater and just be there,” Rocker told The Tennessean.  “At Auburn, I’d already had success as a player and then to come in an win the SEC and national championship in my second year, and to have (Nick Fairley) win the Lombardi Award… my wife kind of asked me, ‘What else do you think you need to do at Auburn?’ and I aid, ‘I don’t know’

“All of a sudden, this thing happens with the Titans, so I guess that was the new calling.  For me, it’s definitely a dream come true.”

Rocker also made it clear that he won’t spend much time missing recruiting.

“You stay out on the road a lot, and then when you’re in meetings, if a kid calls, you’ve got to take the call.  You can’t say, ‘We’ll get you some other time.”

Louisville defensive line coach Clint Hurtt — ESPN’s National Recruiter of the Year this year — will be staying at Louisville and not joining Auburn’s coaching staff.

“Big news!! The big hurtt is staying with the cardinals,” tweeted U of L coach Charlie Strong today.  Hurtt took part in a much-publicized interview session with Auburn yesterday.

Auburn is looking for a replacement for former D-line coach Tracy Rocker who left AU for a job with the Tennessee Titans.  Former Minnesota assistant Tim Cross is expected to meet with Gene Chizik in the near future, if he hasn’t already.

When Rocker left, we suggested that finding a replacement might be a tad tougher than expected due to the NCAA’s ongoing look-see into the Tiger program.  Now maybe Hurtt and Chizik didn’t hit it off or maybe an offer was never made or maybe we’re just adding 2 + 2 and coming up with five… but one does have to wonder why a coach at Louisville would turn down the opportunity (if it was offered) to move to Auburn, the home of the defending national champs.  Doesn’t one?

1.  The attack on Toomer’s Corner couldn’t inspire Auburn’s basketball team which was blasted 90-59 at Ole Miss last night.

2.  Former Auburn defensive line coach Tracy Rocker didn’t know the Tennessee Titans were watching him.

3.  Gene Chizik is now in search of a new assistant.

4.  Anthony Grant says Alabama’s rematch with LSU tonight won’t be as easy as the Tide’s 70-46 win last month.

5.  The University of Alabama has added no extra security to landmarks on the Tuscaloosa campus following the attack on Auburn’s famous oak trees.

6.  Arkansas recorded a much-needed easy win against Florida A&M last night…

7.  The Hogs’ stretch run is set as they battle for a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament.

8.  Some Razorback players say John Pelphrey has cranked up his energy a little bit more in recent weeks.

9.  LSU’s Matt Derenbecker says “the goal is to ruin someone else’s season.”  The Tigers host Bama tonight.

10.  LSU needs to “rebound better and not turn the ball over” to snap an eight-game losing streak.

11.  Mississippi’s 31-point win over Auburn was a “feel-good game” for the Rebels.

12.  Terrance Henry and Reggie Buckner came up big down low.

13.  This writer says he was wrong to suggest Renardo Sidney takes himself out of games whenever he likes… but he still thinks Sidney has avoided accountability for much of his life.