Tuberville Addresses Texas A&M Rumors

by Jay Coulter on Nov 6, 2007 8:49 PM CST in News

By Jay Coulter
jccoulter@gmail.com

With rumors running rampant from Texas to Alabama about the possibility of Tommy Tuberville becoming the next coach at Texas A&M, the man at the center of the storm addressed the issue with the media on Tuesday.

As he’s done in recent days, Tuberville down played all the talk.

"Every year, for some reason, my name gets thrown in for a lot of them," said Tuberville. "That's just part of it. After we started off 1-2, I thought I was going to have to be taking a job at the end of the year one way or the other.

"As I told our players, that's the least of our worries or anybody's worries. They work very hard – the players, the coaches and the fans look forward to these two games – and we're not going to ruin it by discussing any of that stuff because anything I say will be looked at, turned around and flipped around. It doesn't make any difference."

There’s been criticism of the comments made by Athletic Director Jay Jacobs who said the Auburn administration will wait until the end of the year to address the contract issue. On Tuesday, Tuberville said it was best to wait until after the Alabama game.

"It's better to wait," said Tuberville. "We've talked. It's better to wait. We do it every year. That's how it is done. There's no reason to change that. There's no urgency about anything.

"I told them this is what our players work for, to play these two games. We don't want to break stride from that at all. We want it to be for the players and the fans, and everything else will take care of itself."

Most people close to the situation believe Tuberville will listen to Texas A&M, but will ultimately stay at Auburn. In addition to more money, Tuberville is interested in getting all of his assistants’ two year contracts, something they currently don’t have now.

He’s also said to want more control over the program, including money to retain defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who will undoubtedly be courted by other teams in the off-season.

Another issue is the lack of an adequate indoor practice facility. Tuberville has asked for it in the past and it has been passed over for other athletic department facilities.

What may ultimately keep Tuberville at Auburn are his assistant coaches. He has five assistants on staff that followed him from Ole Miss in 1999. In two years they become vested in the Alabama State Retirement System. It’s a significant perk and something that Tuberville badly wants for his guys.

I may be wrong, but after calling around today and talking to numerous people, I feel pretty good about Tuberville remaining at Auburn.

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I still think it behooves us to make a move.

.....If I were a trustee at TAMU that REALLY wanted Tuberville, I sure wouldn't wait. I'd have a buyout lined up with Fran, and I'd have a preliminary offer over to Jimmy Sexton, yesterday! TAMU WANTS us to wait. Meanwhile, Sexton is calling Tuberville on the hour, touting the $4 mil/Saban money, etc. Sexton's payday goes nowhere but up, if Tuberville moves. Our administration can sit on their butt till after Thanksgiving, but that's a dicey move, at best.

.....Yeah, we might (I don't think so) tank our last two games, and end up in Shreveport. Doesn't matter. We NEED to keep Tub, Muschamp, Borges and Co. around to coach these outstanding young guys they've developed this year. The LAST thing we need is some Orgeron/Mazzone/Callahan-like, new bunch of coaches coming in, spinning up a new, inscrutable playbook. Guys, Auburn football in the past half-decade is in THE BEST SHAPE IT'S EVER BEEN! At least since Donahue...

by Acid Reign on Nov 7, 2007 12:08 AM CST 0 recs

I agree!

While the money has yet to be discussed, I can't say that I disagree with any of the things Tubby is going to ask for. I want our coaches to stay for at least 2 years, especially CWM!!! The defensive talent we've been able to stockpile over the last two years, not to mention the guys that we are in the running for this year, has a lot to do with this guy closing the deal. I love watching him on the sideline and can imagine it would be great to play for a coach that gets this excited. Also, the indoor facility has been an issue for awhile, and it's time the administration came through on that. Afterall, all other AU programs are feeding off of the money the football program is bringing in right now. Hpefully that will change with Lebo's boys this year, but right now that's the way it is.

by aubiefan2 on Nov 7, 2007 2:01 AM CST 0 recs

I dunno

I'll put this up front. I'm a Bama fan.

That said. I've got mixed feeling on this. I can certainly understand if CTT decided to leave due to an unhealthy relationship with the University (not the fans, the administrative staff). But, that's the only way I see him leaving.

Reasons for CTT to stay

Awesome recruiting base. He's in AL and real close the FL which are two of the deepest recruiting pools in the nation (Cal is the third)

Devoted fan base that loves him

Ego, he's had his way in the state for 5 or 6 years. Now he gets to prove to himself that he can go instate against a great recruiter and hold his own.

Possible career suicide. If he leaves, it will be used against him. I wouldn't be surprised if Brown and Leach were to refer to CTT as a coward who ran from a challenge when dealing with potential recruits.

Hopefully CTT decides to stay as he seems to be a great fit for Auburn and from what I've been told is a great guy off the field.

Good luck holding on to him!

by Yamez on Nov 7, 2007 8:13 AM CST 0 recs

Disagree on a couple of points

First, IMO Alabama is not a top 3 recruiting base. I'd say the top three (in no particular order) are Florida, Texas, and California. That makes UTx's plight this year all the more befuddling; Mack's got as much talent as he could ask for, how are they this bad?

Second, I don't think it would be career suicide. When he left Ole Miss, it didn't negatively affect him in the way you're suggesting. When Coach Fran left, his career didn't hit the toilet in that way (it did only because he forgot how to coach and how to utilize the forward pass).

War Damn Eagle!

by PowerOfDixieland on Nov 7, 2007 10:45 AM CST up 0 recs

You're partly right

Thought I had read somewhere that Alabama was now considered deeper than Texas. I remembered incorrectly.

Maybe career suicide is to strong a choice of words. I think that the other Texas schools would play up on it and it would have an impact on recruiting.

The transition from Ole Miss to Auburn could not have ever been perceived of CTT fleeing from a recruiting dilemma as this would/could be. CTT stayed in the same conference and went to what many would consider to be a more difficult job in Auburn.

Fran had the benefit of saying that he didn't want to deal with the penalties handed down by the NCAA on UA, CTT wouldn't have that luxury.

by Yamez on Nov 7, 2007 12:18 PM CST up 0 recs

Good points

Something I forgot to point out in my original post was that I believe Alabama is definitely a top 10 talent pool, especially the Mobile area.

I only meant to say that Tubs has recruited well at Auburn despite what other coaches might have said negatively about him, when he left Ole Miss. You're right, it's an obviously different scenario this time around.

War Damn Eagle!

by PowerOfDixieland on Nov 7, 2007 1:25 PM CST up 0 recs

That's why they coach and we watch!

I couldn't think of a proper title for this comment, but here goes. I like Coach Tubs I believe that he has worked wonders for Auburn University. That being said, I believe beyond a shadow of doubt that if he is offered 3.5 million by Texas AM-He should take it. I do not believe that it would benefit Auburn to try and retain Tuberville for that price. Especially if it backfired. So, if he get's that great of an offer, I say God Bless because he hasn't done anything at Auburn worth +3.5 million. For an extra million, Auburn could woo a big name coach out from underneath shortcomings and obscurity. AKA-Petrino and/or Spurrier....Take one!

by ArieGold on Nov 7, 2007 12:40 PM CST 0 recs

I hope that doesn't happen

Can't remember where I saw this (CBS Sportsline?) but Tubs and his crew are one year away from being fully vested in the state retirement program. I can't really picture CTT shafting his employees like that.

Besides, I want UA to have every chance possible to even the W-L counter against CTT!!!

by Yamez on Nov 7, 2007 2:27 PM CST up 0 recs

MUSCHAMP

If he leaves....let Muschamp take the reigns!

Justin A. Schreurs

by jschreurs on Nov 8, 2007 2:24 PM CST up 0 recs

I agree

I think your analysis on Tubs' is excellent, and more A&M fans should put down the kool-aid and read it.

A Head Coach is only as good as his staff, and as you've pointed out, they have little incentive to leave Auburn.

If A&M hires a "big name" head coach, it will be Butch Davis, other than that, I would expect Byrne to hire an Asst Coach, like Charlie Strong or a coach from the non-BCS like Chris Petersen.

by The 12th Manchild on Nov 7, 2007 3:55 PM CST 0 recs

Don't think we could get Petrino,

.....And I don't want the OBC. Steve's getting up there in years, and I don't want an arrogant, trash-talking coach. Petrino's in the NFL, now. Even with his starting, MVP quarterback in jail, I don't think he's done too badly. Yeah, the Falcons are 2-6. The 24-3 loss in the opener hurts, but the Vikings are pretty good this year. You've got close losses to Jacksonville, Carolina, the Titans, and the Saints. Those four are decent teams. And there's blowout loss to the Giants. Manning QBs can do that to you. Frankly, that's not a bad record, missing your MVP. There aren't many NFL teams that can win consistently with their MVP QB out. Imagine the Colts without Manning, or the Patriots without Brady. Hmmmm?

.....Mark my words. A&M WILL have an offer over to Sexton before the week is out. There will be pressure on Tuberville to jump on it, with the implication that someone else will if Tub doesn't. We NEED to have a counter-offer ready, or at least some sort of assurance that we're willing to deal. We sit at our peril. Our recruiting will go in the toilet this year, if Tub takes an A&M offer...

by Acid Reign on Nov 7, 2007 4:18 PM CST 0 recs

My turn to chime in.

Alright, I have been vocal against Tubberville as a coach this season and I stick by it now. I think he does a great job at recruiting underrated talent that he can utilize in his system. He does a great job at getting the team ready to go for big games. But where are they in the small games?

Why do, and why did, we play so poorly against the likes of Miss State and South Florida? Please don't rebuttal and say, "Ooh! But they're good teams!" They aren't. We gave them both the games with about 5 turnovers in each and those were probably the better stats in the games. A good coach prepares his team for both the big, and the small games.

With that being said. I think we need to do whatever is necessary to keep Muschamp. I love this guy and think he could be a great head coach if need be. He is young, energetic and full of spunk. With Muschamp at the helm we could really be up for all the games next season.

If we don't find a way into the top 3 next season we might not ever. Our schedule should circle back and give us every advantage to run the table and we have a ton of talent coming back.

by Mattco on Nov 7, 2007 5:40 PM CST 0 recs

Mattco,

.....I have to disagree with you about Tuberville. Every coach has teams with off-days. Witness the parade of teams that have climbed into the top five, this year, only to get beaten! I love Orson Swindle's "MAO!" Vietnamese boathouse/Russian roulette/Apocalypse Now comparison.

.....Oh, next year is certainly bright with promise! Three things, though.

Who's going to be the QB? Clearly, Burns has a LONG way to go. Field? Caudle? We will be a little green here, and I'm nervous about it.

Who's going to start opposite Jeraud Powers? I think your starting corners are probably the second most critical spot on a modern defense. (Tackles are the most important)

Who's going to start at fullback? Our choices: converted tight ends, freshmen, or possibly Fannin/Tate. Or we can run a spread with a new QB. Where's that savvy, knock-down block/saving-throw emergency protection going to come from?

.....I think we'll be very strong, but these three areas will hurt in a big game or two. I think we will be even stronger in 2009, and even with the schedule, we might run it to a crystal trophy!

.....War Eagle!

by Acid Reign on Nov 7, 2007 6:42 PM CST 0 recs

Looking at 2010

That's when I'm expecting our next big season.

LSU at home
South Carolina at home
Georgia at home
Arkansas at home
Clemson at home
Alabama on the road
Kentucky on the road
Ole Miss on the road
Miss. State on the road

That seems like a very winnable schedule to me. Kodi Burns will be a senior (barring a redshirt), our three freshmen O-Linemen will all be seniors, our kickers/punters will be seniors, and all the other freshmen that have gotten significant playing time this year will be seniors. If KB can progress to his projected talent level, I think the sky is the limit on 2010. 2008 and 2009 should be good years too, but I'm circling 2010.

War Damn Eagle!

by PowerOfDixieland on Nov 7, 2007 10:45 PM CST up 0 recs

Time to give my two cents worth.

First of all to answer the question "what has Tommy Tuberville done to deserve 3.5 million or more?" answer: Beat Bama consistantly (understatement), vie for championships consistantly, continually keep top assistants rolling in after said assistants move in a supposedly upward manner, has run the cleanest program at AU since Shug walked the sidelines, kept Bobby Lowder out of the daily affairs of the program for the first time since Lowder became a trustee, and damnit last of all the pay scale has been raised get over it (don't forget that Tubby was in the top 5 highest paid coaches when his last contract was signed, its just people have passed him by).

I would rather make an offer last in a business deal anyday of the week. It gives you a hell of a lot more flexability in how you structure it and shows the "client" that you really want his services. It also makes it less likely that he will entertain a counter offer from the poacher. If A&M offers him 4 million to take over a mess, then AU will be able to keep him at a lesser price and that price will be known (remember Rich Rodriguez).

Now reasons to not take the A&M job. Go to work for boosters who were happy to get the "news letter" and pay for it (probably at their own request) and were just as happy to turn on him when he couldn't win enough (can you say coach fran to mid major at best). The same boosters who chose to boot R.C. Sloacum because he had a couple of down years despite having several good years and running a clean program (sound familiar?). The same boosters that lauded Jackie Sherrill until he got caught. We have enough experience in NCAA infractions to know that the root of the problem is in boosters that want to control the program, A&M is busting at the seems with boosters that think their money buys them clout with the program. The other side of the equation is Tubby is happy in Auburn, his family is happy in Auburn, his assistants are happy in Auburn. He has a nationally relevant program in AU. He is loaded to the gills with young talent at AU and the future is bright. He is playing in the SEC the most powerful top to bottom conference by far as opposed to the extremely top heavy Big 12. And lets not forget that A&M is not near the top. WAR DAMN EAGLE!

by Todd92 on Nov 8, 2007 10:45 AM CST 0 recs