IMG: Decision made 2 weeks ago not to have 13th episode of Auburn Football Every Day

Auburn Football Every Day, a behind-the-scenes television program featuring Auburn players and coaches including head coach Gene Chizik, will not air a thirteenth episode which would have been shown after the Iron Bowl game against Alabama but will produce a spring football show.

A representative for IMG College said the decision not to have an end of season show was made two weeks ago and blamed the timing of the announcement on a clerical error.

“The pre-SEC championship show was always seen as tentative. The decision not to go ahead with it was made two weeks ago,” said Andrew Giangola, Vice President of Strategic Communications for IMG College, to The Advertiser. “That should have been immediately communicated to our affiliates. Unfortunately there was a communications lapse which we learned about today and the email was sent out this morning.”

The Tuesday morning announcement set off immediate speculation regarding a potential coaching change at Auburn. Coach Gene Chizik has been under fire as Auburn (2-8, 0-6 SEC) is in the midst of its worst season in 60 years.

“This season, we have decided to forego a tentatively scheduled 13th show on November 26th but will produce a spring football show in keeping with past practices,” Giagola said in a statement. “Each year, the schedule for Auburn Football: Every Day is fluid and subject to change. We based our decision on what we believe is best for fans, advertisers, and our TV partners.”

Auburn IMG also issued a statement, explaining the university is obligated to produce 11 shows of the program and “specialty shows” such as championship and bowl games can be added.

“IMG College, which operates the Auburn IMG Sports Network and produces the Auburn Football: Every Day television program, is contractually obligated to Auburn University to produce 11 shows during the regular season as part of our multi-media rights contract with the University,” said Jon Cole, General Manager of Auburn IMG Sports Marketing, in a statement to The Advertiser. “IMG also owns the rights to produce specialty shows for events such as championship games, bowl games and spring football.”

WRBL, a Columbus, Ga. station which carries the show, reported it had been sent an email from Drew Walker, Asst. Executive Director of Video Production, notifying them of the cancellation of the originally planned 13th episode of the program, which is a collaborative effort between Auburn University athletics and Auburn IMG Sports Network.

“We have decided not to run a 13th Auburn Football: Every Day show which would be the post Alabama episode,” Walker said in the email posted on WRBL’s website. “We felt it best to inform everyone now to give folks time to find a way to fill in that time slot.”

Asked for reaction to the decision not to air the originally planned episode, Chizik said he had none.

“Don’t really have a reaction to it. We appreciate everything they’ve done,” Chizik said, adding he was not involved in the decision not to air a thirteenth episode.