Auburn acknowledges it has expanded inquiries into football coach Bryan Harsin's first year with program

Auburn University acknowledged Monday that the school is making expanded inquiries into the tenure of football coach Bryan Harsin.

In a statement that doesn't mention Harsin by name, the university said it is «collecting information from a variety of perspectives, including our student-athletes.»

This extends the awkward limbo of Harsin's future at Auburn, three days after the outgoing school president, Jay Gogue, acknowledged the school was preparing to make the «appropriate decision» on Harsin's future.

Since then, both sides in this most unusual faceoff appear to be digging in. Auburn's inquiries have included questions as to why 20 players and five coaches have left the program after Harsin went 6-7 in his first season.

Harsin has characterized any attacks on his character to ESPN as «bulls---.» His acknowledgement that he plans to return to his job is a window into where he stands.

Harsin is out of the country on a previously scheduled vacation and slated to return Wednesday. SEC head coaches are slated to meet in person in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday, which would potentially be Harsin's first formal public appearance upon return from his vacation.

The player interviews mentioned in the statement appear to be the latest step in Auburn's inquiry into Harsin, as Gogue has said the school is trying to separate fact from fiction.

Auburn has also been interviewing current assistant coaches and staffers about Harsin, sources have told ESPN. Some of those interviews took place Sunday and others were expected to spill over into Monday. The coaches and staffers were asked about some alleged issues that have arisen during Harsin's tenure, with the idea of drilling in on what's factual, per sources.

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