Is Brian VanGorder a great hire by Auburn head coach Gene Chizik?

I love the hire of Brian VanGorder by Auburn Tigers coach Gene Chizik. The last month has been tough for the Auburn Family. We lost both of our coordinators, our top recruit to the Alabama Crimson Tide, our best player, Mike Dyer, has left the team, and Bama won the BCS National Title. The perception of the program and overall direction seemed to have been in a downward spiral. We really needed to change the momentum heading into National Recruiting Signing Day by making a big splash, and I think hiring a coach with NFL pedigree as our defensive coordinator did just that. 

I also like the timing of announcing the new defensive coordinator by Coach Chizik. It was not coincidental the announcement came on the same day two of Auburn's Rivals, the LSU Tigers and Bama, were playing in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. Instead of being completely forgotten during tomorrow's media coverage of college football because a rival won the Title, the Tigers new hire will also be discussed and will steal some of the press Bama would have gotten in-state and in the SEC. His timing, in my opinion, was brilliant. The only other time of making the announcement that might have been better would have been the day after the BCS Title game.

• In 2001, the Bulldogs allowed 18.9 points per game, No. 5 in rushing defense and No. 17 in scoring defense. 
• In 2002, led the Southeastern Conference in scoring defense at fewer than 15 points per game as Georgia won the league championship and finished No.3 in the polls.
• In 2003, VanGorder's defense was No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, No. 4 in total defense and No. 6 in passing defense. He won the Frank Boyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.
• In 2004, VanGorder's final season, the Bulldogs were No. 8 nationally in scoring defense.

Those are damn impressive statistics and are directly relevant for evaluating his potential at Auburn. He has had success in the South Eastern Conference and with the talent currently at Auburn, he should be able to produce better results and have more success than Auburn's former DC, Ted Roof. Adding NFL experience should make him even better.