Today had an interesting twist to the coaching search saga.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs made a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, today, presumably to interview TCU coach Gary Patterson. TCU and Auburn aren't commenting.

But a few crack reporters decided to stake out the Auburn-Opelika Airport. Jacobs and some of his advisers returned on flight from -- guess where? -- Fort Worth, Texas. On board were Jacobs, executive associate athletic director Tim Jackson, senior associate AD Mark Richard and radio sideline reporter Quentin Riggins, a former all-SEC linebacker at Auburn.

The plane landed at 5:54 and stopped on the tarmac. A brown SUV then drove out to pick them up and leave out of a secret airport exit. And here's the kicker! The crew drove off, only to return to the airport 15 minutes later to drop the party off so they could leave in their respective vehicles.

Riggins was the only one to offer a no comment.

Auburn is certainly going to great -- some would say ridiculous -- lengths to avoid any detection in this coaching search. The plane the group traveled in wasn't even an Auburn plane. It is registered to Warren Manufacturing Inc., a company based in Birmingham.

Very clever, Auburn. Very clever.

The game is on.