Random Thoughts About A Momentous Week On The Plains

by Jay Coulter on Dec 5, 2008 4:00 AM CST in Football Comment 18 comments

It's been one hell of a ride. Tuberville will be missed.

Like a death in the family, it usually takes a few days for it to hit you. Now I'm not suggesting Tommy Tuberville's departure from Auburn is similar to the death of a loved one, but you certainly feel some of the same emotions. The idea of Tuberville being gone as head coach is starting to be felt by most everyone.

Looking back over the past ten years, one thing is clear: We all had a damn good time. If you're a long time reader of Track'em Tigers you know that I put Pat Dye on a pedestal when it comes to Auburn greats. He restored Auburn to equal footing with Alabama. Few that endured the nine straight losses to Alabama will ever forget what he gave us.

As for Tuberville's legacy, he took things a step further. He gave Auburn fans an opportunity to look down on the Alabama program. For that reason and a million others, he'll always be an Auburn man.

He'll likely move on somewhere else in the coming years and will wear different colors. But regardless of what the future holds for him, he'll always be a true Auburn great. Like Dye was to our generation, Tuberville will always be Auburn's coach to a generation of fans who grew up watching him and learning to love Tiger football because of him.

There are so many good memories that you tear up just thinking about them. Few coaches leave a mark like Thomas Hawley Tuberville has at Auburn. I'd hate to be the guy that follows him.

Athletic Director Jay Jacobs' press conference yesterday is drawing mixed reviews from the Auburn Nation and the college football world in general. I've been shocked at the number of Auburn fans who simply don't believe the story he told to the media. I'm still undecided. I do find it far-fetched that the University would agree to pay $5 million to a coach who quits - just because it's the right thing to do.

I tend to believe what those close to Tuberville are saying today. After three days of talks that went nowhere, he finally threw his arms up and said I'm done negotiating. There was probably relief on both sides and from there the story was formulated.

Knowing Tuberville's character, it's highly unlikely that we'll ever know what truly happened. And that's OK. It's refreshing to not know the sordid details especially after what Auburn fans endured with Terry Bowden a decade ago.

I hope all of you have a great weekend. There's still some football left to be played. Be sure to put on your Florida orange and blue this weekend and support the Gators. We could all use a little good news after this week. War Eagle!

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No way

Jacobs and the pres just decided to give Tubberville 5.1 million. We will never no the full story, I would assume it is somewhere in middle.

by AU04Natlchamps on Dec 5, 2008 7:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

You don’t just pay someone 5.1 mil because it’s “the right thing to do.” Well, I sure will miss Tubs, but I am thankful for the 10 years he was with us.

by Rene4AU on Dec 5, 2008 8:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You could tell

,,,,,Jacobs was lying because his lips were moving. NOBODY in their right mind would give up 5.1 million because it was the right thing to do.

I heard on the radio last night that Tubs called his Mom right atfer his last meeting with Jacobs and told her he just got fired. Apparently she called the radio show and told them that. I don’t thing Tubs Mom lied.

by James4au on Dec 5, 2008 8:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Jay Jacobs is an incompetent moron...

if he thinks the AU alumni and fans are dumb enough to buy his story. Jacobs should be held accountable maybe then the string puller would realize his thinly veiled manipulation will not be tolerated. FIRE JAY JACOBS.

I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU

by Todd92 on Dec 5, 2008 8:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

i hear ya...

But until the string pullers of the world are held accountable we will never have a coach stay here longer than 5 or 6 years. Tuberville only stayed longer than that because he won over the fans in ’03 and we refused to let him go. Otherwise they would have gotten rid of him back then. But i will agree that we can start with Jacobs.

And do it now while we can still get Tubs as our new AD.

by Paratiger on Dec 5, 2008 8:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Tubs

was a man of character. I am not convinced that the Admin won’t botch finding a worthy replacement. Especially considering that the front choice on al.com this morning is Houstan Nutt.
I echo Todd92’s sentiment: FIRE JAY JACOBS!

by Tiger on the mountain on Dec 5, 2008 9:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The only way to slap.....

the string puller right now is to take away his puppet.

I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU

by Todd92 on Dec 5, 2008 9:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot.
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot.
Drink up me ’earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.

We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack.
Drink up me ’earties, Yo Ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even hijack.
Drink up me ’earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.

We kindle and char, inflame and ignite.
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
We burn up the city, we’re really a fright.
Drink up me ’earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.

We’re rascals, scoundrels, villans and knaves.
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
We’re devils and black sheep, really bad eggs!
Drink up me ’earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.

We’re beggars and blighters and ne’er-do-well cads.
Drink up me ‘earties, Yo Ho!
Aye! But we’re loved by our mommies and dads!
Drink up me ’earties, Yo Ho!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate’s life for me.

by suicidewatch on Dec 5, 2008 10:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If this morning's rumors are true...

…..It will be interesting to see if we’ll be able to run a sharp out-cut with some of the guys on the roster… I liked Jerry’s idea on the Joe Cribbs Carwash. Bring Leach, keep Paul Rhodes.

…..Problem is that even if Leach is brought in, I’m not sure it will work. We’re CERTAINLY a recruiting class, at least, away from being able to run his offense on the better SEC defenses.

……Even so, I WAY prefer Leach over the other front runners. Petrino (this would be the worst), Nutt (Giggity!), or Fisher; that would be settling for mediocrity, which Jacobs promised yesterday NOT to deliver us! We believe Jacobs, right?

by Acid Reign on Dec 5, 2008 11:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If leach is brought in,

then we need Sly Croom as DC.

How serious is this Nutt crap???

by Tiger on the mountain on Dec 5, 2008 12:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Your yall's sake...

I hope you don’t get Nutt. He’s the worst recruiter ever, and recruiting will be AU’s biggest challenge over the next 5-10 years.

by LSU Jonno on Dec 5, 2008 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Always ....

count on Jay to provide a voice of reason !
No divorce is pretty no matter where the most blame lies. But as in divorce , both sides want the family to stay together. We are where we are.
I’m thankful for what Tommy has done at Auburn and I’m thankful that he wants to be an ambassadore for Auburn. I hope all that are upset will followed his lead in promoting Auburn !
War Eagle !

aubtigerman

by aubtigerman on Dec 5, 2008 11:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Leach close to coming to Auburn?

http://whatsthefuss.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/04/mike-leach-to-auburn/508/

Note: this was timestamped last night around 9 PM. No other sites are picking up on this scoop. It could all be baloney.

War Damn Eagle!

by PowerOfDixieland on Dec 5, 2008 11:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

i’m gonna just start reporting my own rumors.

Pete Carrol is coming to Auburn. it’s a done deal. he’s tired of listening to SEC fans whine about how easy he has it in the Pac 10 and will be coming to the SEC to crush the dreams of all who stand in his way.

by suicidewatch on Dec 5, 2008 11:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I heard Bill Belichick is coming to Auburn

And will hire Urban Meyer as his OC and Nick Saban as his DC

War Damn Eagle!

by PowerOfDixieland on Dec 5, 2008 11:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

or better yet,

Auburn will be making Hal9000 their next headcoach. HAL is an artificial intelligence, the sentient on-board computer of the spaceship Discovery…he will be bringing his cold soulless logic to the illogical world of the SEC West where he looks forward to dueling it out with the Alabama’s Nick Saban (who is actually a robot from an alternate timeline sent back in time to kill the Auburn football program).

by suicidewatch on Dec 5, 2008 11:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs