TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- After it was all over, after another blowout loss to Alabama put the final touches on the school's worst season in six decades, Auburn's players emerged from the locker room and tried to make sense of a disastrous year.

Faced with a barrage of questions about whether or not Gene Chizik is the man to pull Auburn out of this hole, the Tigers stood united on one key point.

The Tigers want Chizik and his coaching staff back.

"He should be back," quarterback Jonathan Wallace said. "They know exactly where this program needs to go, and they know what to do. I hope they are back next year. I really have no doubt. I really do believe they will be."

Asked to explain how Auburn (3-9, 0-8) spiraled out of control, most players found themselves at a loss for words.

All of Auburn's foibles were on display in the Iron Bowl. The Tigers committed eight penalties, turned it over three times, missed tackles, repeatedly gave up the deep ball and never pushed a drive past the Alabama 40.

For a team that finished 2011 8-5 and opened 2012 with lofty expectations, the 3-9 finish left most Tigers a little shell-shocked.

"I'm not sure, because we all had the same expectations," running back Tre Mason said. "We all wanted to go far, and some things happened, and everything went wrong. We tried to fix it."

The Tigers have repeatedly refused any questions about the team quitting on Chizik.

Auburn, according to the players, has kept fighting despite the team's shift from playing LSU tough to losing three games to the SEC's elite in Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama by a combined score of 150-21.

"I don't think there are any quitters on our team," Mason said.

But the hard truth is that the worst season Auburn has endured could claim Chizik's job. Asked about that possibility, the Tigers left the decision up to the administration.

"Of course I want him back," Mason said. "But that's not my decision to make."

Auburn president Jay Gogue has said he will evaluate the program at the end of the season, but a coaching change could force some hard decisions for returning Tigers.

Any coaching search brings the possibility of attrition as players try to build relationships with a new staff.

Wallace, for his part, said he would not transfer, and several Tigers echoed Wallace's willingness to work toward rebuilding the program, regardless of whether or not Chizik is the head coach.

"You know, it would hurt, but at the same time, it's something that you sign up for when you get to college," defensive tackle Angelo Blackson said. "Coaching change is a part of the game. We just want to keep taking the right steps to get this back on track."

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