Chizik: Time for Auburn to get back to work

By John Zenor

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 11 2011 9:56 a.m. MST

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Associated Press Sports Enterprise editor John Affleck, left, presents Auburn head coach Gene Chizik with the Associated Press National Championship trophy, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Auburn beat Oregon 22-19 to capture the championship.

Morry Gash, Associated Press

Summary

Auburn coach Gene Chizik says the time to savor the national title has already "expired."

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Auburn coach Gene Chizik says the time to savor the national title has already "expired."

Chizik said Tuesday morning that it's time to get back to work following a 22-19 victory over Oregon that secured the Tigers' first national championship since 1957. He says the program's foundation is still being built and it's time to "start all over."

Auburn loses 23 seniors from a team that went 14-0 and captured nine comeback victories. The two biggest stars, quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley, are juniors weighing a potential jump into the NFL draft.

Chizik called Newton "probably the most competitive guy I've ever been around." The Heisman Trophy winner is set to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Tuesday evening.

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