Conflicting reports on Charlie Strong, Auburn interview

AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli
Despite Saturday’s loss, Charlie Strong and the Cardinals still have goals to accomplish this season.

Charles Goldberg of al.com and Jay G. Tate of AuburnSports.com reported Auburn interviewed Louisville football coach Charlie Strong for its coaching position. Almost immediately, SI’s Pete Thamel and Yahoo! Sports’ Pat Forde refuted these reports via twitter, quoting Strong who denied the reports.

Citing “someone familiar with the process,” al.com reported, “the interview took place in the last two days with a representative of Auburn (…) The conversation may have been by telephone.”

Forde tweeted, “Charlie Strong, just now: ‘I didn’t interview with Auburn, I have a job.’”

“Just spoke to Charlie Strong. He’s angry,” Thamel tweeted. “He says he did not interview at Auburn and has not spoken to them. ‘It’s not true.’”

Steve Jones of the Courier-Journal in Louisville added Louisville president James Ramsey “had not heard anything relating to Charlie Strong/Auburn until I mentioned new report to him.”

On Tuesday, Ryan Wood of the Opelika-Auburn News tweeted “Auburn has not contacted Louisville to speak (with) Charlie Strong about its coaching vacancy, according to a UL source.”

Auburn fired Gene Chizik on Sunday following a 3-9 season though he also led the Tigers to the 2010 BCS National Championship.

Auburn is believed to be interested in former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher, TCU coach Gary Patterson and Boise State’s Chris Petersen.