By Andy Bitter
abitter@ledger-enquirer.com

AUBURN, Ala. – Tony Franklin, whose spread offense failed to produce in the season’s first six weeks, was relieved of his duties as Auburn’s offensive coordinator Wednesday, less than a year after he took the job.

Head coach Tommy Tuberville met with players prior to the team’s afternoon practice to inform them of the decision.

“After evaluating where we are at this point of the season offensively, I felt it was in the best interest of the Auburn football program to make this change,” Tuberville said in a release from the school.

“I’m not satisfied with where we are and I am personally going to take a larger role with the offense the remainder of the season. We are going to work harder than ever to make sure we consistently improve as we move forward.”

It is not clear who will handle offensive play-calling duties when Auburn hosts Arkansas on Saturday.

Franklin was hired last year to install the “Tony Franklin Offense,” a spread formation that had enormous success at Troy, where Franklin was the offensive coordinator the previous two years.

But the Tigers have struggled all season. They rank 103rd nationally in scoring offense, 103rd in passing offense and 104th in total offense.

Updates to follow.