Charles Barkley: Auburn coach Bryan Harsin has 'courage' to take on 'King Kong' Nick Saban

Charles Barkley endorsed Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin on Wednesday at the Regions Tradition ProAm golf tournament in Hoover, Alabama.

"I'm a big Coach Harsin fan," Barkley said. "I think what he did takes tremendous courage, and I'm really, really excited."

Harsin came to Auburn this spring after seven years as the head coach at Boise State, where he went 69-19 and 3-2 in bowl games.

"To leave the confines of Boise, where your could probably win seven or eight games a year and live happily ever after, to come down to Alabama and take on King Kong, that takes tremendous courage and belief in yourself," Barkley said.

Barkley's King King reference alluded to Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who was brought into focus as Barkley discussed the state of both programs.

"How many championships have they won in the last couple years? Six?" Barkley said. "I would consider since we've only won two in 50 years, I would consider that a big gap."

Since Saban took over in 2007, Alabama is 9-5 in the Iron Bowl and has won seven SEC Championships to Auburn's two.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Charles Barkley says Auburn coach Bryan Harsin can take on Nick Saban