It's Time For Tuberville To Make A Decision

by Jay Coulter on Dec 4, 2007 6:01 AM CST in News Comment 16 comments

By Jay Coulter
jccoulter@gmail.com

Listening to talk radio on Monday, it appears public opinion is beginning to turn against Tommy Tuberville. While it seems the majority of Auburn fans still support the coach, many feel like his actions are starting to hurt the program.

It’s hard to argue that point. While most college coaches are out on the recruiting trail, Tuberville has spent the last week negotiating a new contract and hunting in the woods of Arkansas.

Saturday morning he left for New York to get in a little Christmas shopping before this week’s National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Meeting.

This is not sitting well with a lot of Auburn fans.

Coaches are in the middle of a heavy recruiting period where they are allowed to make in-home visits with high school players. It’s apparent that Tuberville doesn’t see the need.

Maybe he knows something the rest of us don’t. Regardless, he’s left a lot of people scratching their heads.

Word is beginning to leak out of Fayetteville that Arkansas has turned its attention to Clemson’s Tommy Bowden. We all know not to trust a rumor coming from Arkansas, but all indications are that they’ve turned away from Tuberville.

To say things haven’t gone well for Tubs since last Thursday is an understatement. Auburn people are beginning to question whether he was ever really a strong candidate for the Texas A&M or Arkansas jobs.

Some are suggesting that this whole ordeal was a charade created by Tuberville’s agent, Jimmy Sexton.

Whether this is true or not really doesn’t matter. Today, Tuberville is sitting at the table with few bargaining chips. All of the sudden there is no option B for him.

Auburn officials need to act with care.

Tuberville is still one of the best coaches in college football. He may not get a call this season, but he most certainly will in the future. As I’ve said before, Auburn must do the right thing and give in to some of Tuberville’s demands.

On the flip side, Tuberville must remember that his contract has not expired. He didn’t win the SEC or the SEC West this season. There were some high points this year, but it was far from perfect. See South Florida and Mississippi State.

With that said, things must get resolved fast. Coaches around the South are already using this against Auburn in recruiting. They are telling recruits that Tuberville is looking to leave, saying that he wants his buyout eliminated so he can find another job.

This may or may not be true. But the fact is, it’s starting to hurt the recruiting process and make Auburn look silly.

It’s time for Tuberville to stop dodging reporters and making vague statements. He needs to come out and say he wants to remain at Auburn or he needs to go elsewhere.

We love you coach, but it’s time to fish or cut bait.

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I have to agree...

It is time for Tuberville to decide what he wants to do. Either sign the contract or tell them thanks, but no thanks. At least then we will know where he stands. I feel that he has done a lot of damage already and just hope it's something that can be repaired.

Tuberville has made a lot of BOT's and people within the Auburn administration very upset over this whole thing. Not only that but fans are getting upset also. The ball is in his court so make the decision already, would ya?

by kerr024 on Dec 4, 2007 6:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Decision

"Listening to talk radio on Monday, it appears public opinion is beginning to turn against Tommy Tuberville." If this has hurt the program, it is only because it has been such a public spectacle. Who made it that way? That can be answered with one word, "BAMMERS".

There are people calling the troll's show and complaining, but, how many of those people are bammers saying they are are Auburn fans? The bammers and their spokesman, the troll, have done their best to keep this in the public eye. With every tidbit of information that comes out, they have done their best to twist it the way they want it to be.

The BOT (read that as Bobby Lowder) needs to butt out of the football program, except to figure out how to come up with the money to upgrade the facilities.

I am sick of Bobby Lowder acting like a little kid that can't get his way. I am sick of bammers stirring crap up in the Auburn camp and Auburn people listening to them. I am sick of Auburn being bammers bitch. I am sick the press MAKING news. I, too, am sick of this whole mess, but, I support Coach Tubs. Tuberville will be our coach and it will be announced by the end of the week.

Sexton and Tuberville may have been behind these rumors all along, but who among us will not do everthing he or she can to build their stock to get a raise?

The people I know that are real Auburn fans still support Tubs, and so do I.

Come on, Auburn fans,,,,,,let's support our program and our coach.

by James on Dec 4, 2007 8:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

James

Speaking of the troll, I still read his column for a good laugh most of the time, but every now and then he really nails something--like his column Saturday on Tuberville's situation. If you haven't already, read it--you don't have to perform the customary nose-holding when you do.

I don't listen to him on the radio, even though I could stream it. It's the audio equivilant of watching paint dry.

Hey, we really struck a nerve with Pete Holiday over there on fanhouse, huh?

by War Eagle Atlanta on Dec 4, 2007 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fanboy

Finebaum's callers are so obvious, that it is ridiculous. I usually listen to his show on the way home from work, and many times, I get a laugh out of his callers. The troll, himself, is even obvious, but this whole thing has gotten way out of hand and, NOW, Auburn fans are starting to believe the troll's callers are Auburn fans. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THESE CLOWNS? Anyway, all I am saying is let's just give Tubs a few more days.

Yep,,,the number one fanboy, Petey Holiday, had several nerves struck with the comments. Hey, if he can't stand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen.

WAR EAGLE

by James on Dec 4, 2007 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fanhouse--house of shame!

Fanhouse collectively took a dump when they removed the individual homers from editing their teams' sections--except for CBH* Holiday, of course. Remember that Jay used to be in charge of it last year, but they decided to change it up after last season.

If you have objective guys editing your site, then that's okay, but sorry--if you have an Alabama guy posting jokes about us on our own site, that's entirely out of bounds. The biggest of which is the little video posted here after our loss to MSU.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/...

I have no problem with Petey posting it on Bama's fanhouse--that's fair game. But our own? Please let me return serve, Peter. He rationalizes it by allowing Acid Reign to write the occasional column for the fanhouse. Gee, thanks, Pete for letting an Auburn guy say a few words on Auburn's behalf. Why don't you flip him the keys to the Bama fanhouse while you're at it?

Maybe Jay remembers some passcodes to get in the back door and we can visit the Bama fanhouse after hours?

The ironic part is that I thought the video was funny and very clever and well done. Just don't post it on our site and claim objectivity out of the other side of your mouth!

*--Chief Bama Homer

by War Eagle Atlanta on Dec 4, 2007 4:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fanhouse-house of shame 2

I do indeed remember that Jay was the Auburn blogger last year. I really enjoyed it when Jay was there beacause there was always something inetersting to read. Good or bad, we knew Jay was an Auburn guy, through and through.

Now, we know there will be nothng but negative BS to read because CBH Holiday is writing the blog. Have you noticed that most of Petey's blogs are boring and even the bammers don't do a lot of posting on them? If you haven't noticed, go back and look. His blogs usually do not generate a lot of comments.

Petey came up with that little video that you posted but did he write anything negative about bammer when $aban got his crooming? The answer is NO. As a matter of fact, he changed his tune about getting "croomed" and what it meant. Just your typical Petey, the bammer, Holiday crap.

WAR EAGLE

by James on Dec 4, 2007 5:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks James...

I appreciate the nice comments. I'm surprised they kept Pete on. They started with about 30 of us and decided to trim down to 7 or 8 because of finances. They pretty much stuck with those that covered both football and basketball. Because I was a football guy only, I moved on.

I'm still not sure how Pete stayed on. He never really caught on in my opinion. Now I do like Ryan Ferguson. I know a lot of you don't, be he's a good guy. He loves the Gators. He can be critical of Auburn but he lets you know up front that Florida is his school. I'm ok with it.

Pete just writes to put Auburn down. He shouldn't have taken the job if he knew he couldn't be objective. In dealing with Pete, the best thing to do is to just ignore him. Maybe he'll go away.

by Jay Coulter on Dec 4, 2007 7:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jay

,,,,the good thing about the whole issue is you still write a blog.

We appreciate the objectivity and hard work.

WAR EAGLE

by James on Dec 5, 2007 7:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.....

Pete is anything but objective and even the bammers don't seem to post much on his blogs. And you are spot on with Ryan Ferguson, objective in his blogs most of the time although he does get a little gooey talking about his gators. But Pete (and you can add Andy Katzer to the list) should find another calling. Maybe Pete could apply for a private ass kisser position with Saban (he has the qualifications). And Jay I dont always agree with what you have to say but I definitely agree with James and appreciate the job you do. War Eagle.

by Todd92 on Dec 5, 2007 8:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It actually

..took me a while to figure out who Ferguson was for. He jumped on Auburn like everybody else when we lost those two games up front, but he had newfound respect for us after we beat Florida and became more objective overall. He's not so bad.

If you want to write something critical of your arch-rival, that's ok as long as it's objective in it's tone, but little hack videos are way out of bounds. It's not an opinion, it's a smear job.

by War Eagle Atlanta on Dec 5, 2007 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Done Deal.

Cut the man a break. It's Christmas shopping season--in New York City, no less. chorus: NEW YORK CITY!!! Has any of you ever been to NYC during this time of year? It's Beautiful! I actually haven't been during Christmas, but I did watch When Harry Met Sally.

Seriously, this thing is done. Sexton has played out the hand as far as it will go and just gave Jack Welch a run for his money with the art of the deal. Tuberville just got a significant raise for the coaches just by having a very average season. He'll ink it by the end of the week. Now let's move on.

Did Auburn get played? Yes, they did. Who was the pawn in all of this? The average Auburn fan, crying out to save Tubs at all cost--"Give him what he wants if he just won't leave us..." Should we be mad about it? No, it's just business. Sexton is a masterful agent. We don't know the specifics of what all he did to manipulate the demand like he did, so we don't know about the ethics. Time may tell.

Regardless, we'll keep our coach, but keep in mind that we're now complicit in raising the cost of tea in China--and we know how that effects the prices of tickets at Jordan-Hare--directly proportional.

by War Eagle Atlanta on Dec 4, 2007 11:23 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

don't jump to conclusions.

Just because you haven't heard of any recruiting doesn't mean it isn't happening. CTT was schedule to be out recruiting Friday. Muschamp has been out on the trail too. I'm sure there are several coaches out visting recruits. This whole thing really isn't that big of a deal. The last time CTT signed an extension it wasn't overnight. It took several weeks. The point also needs to be made. It is an extension. If it goes unsigned he is still under contract. He will still be the coach at Auburn. CTT seemed to have made it clear, he dosen't want to leave. Honestly, untill you hear Tuberville himself, or a school offical, AU or otherwise, state it, there is no need to think CTT is going anywhere. I have yet to hear or see a "credible" source about CTT being interested in another school. Relax and enjoy 6 in a row.
War Eagle!

by aubiz on Dec 4, 2007 5:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I concur!

WAR EAGLE

by James on Dec 4, 2007 5:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tuberville agrees to contract extension

Posted by Phillip Marshall, The Huntsville Times December 04, 2007 5:14 PM
Categories: Football
NEW YORK - After meeting with athletics director Jay Jacobs here Tuesday, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said he has agreed to a two-year contract extension.

"We are excited about it," Tuberville told reporters who followed him here for National Football Foundation Hall of Fame festivities. "It's one of those things where we worked it slow. I know people have been anxious. I haven't been looking at any other jobs and don't want another job. I love Auburn.

"We want to be at Auburn a long time, as long as we can be there. Good things happen slow, and we are excited about it."

The decision ended weeks of speculation. Tuberville's name had been prominently mention for head coaching jobs at Texas A&M and at Arkansas.

Tuberville, who said Monday making sure his assistants are happy was his main concern, said Tuesday they are happy.

"I wanted to make sure our coaches were comfortable, and they are," Tuberville said. "They are excited about it. I've been working with some of them on looking at other jobs. I feel good about the things for them."

Any raises or contracts for the assistant coaches or facilities upgrades, things Tuberville had talked about leading up to the agreement, are not part of the contract.

The agreement extends Tuberville's contract to six years and will pay him at least $19.8 million over the life of the contract, an average of $3.3 million per year. It guarantees him a $200,000 raise each year. The buyout - the amount Tuberville would have to pay to leave and Auburn would have to pay to fire him - will be $6 million in 2008, $5 million in 2009 and $4 million from 2010 through 2013.

See Thursday's Huntsville Times

WARRRRRRRRRR EAGLE

by James on Dec 4, 2007 6:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

and that is the end of that......

Now if only Lowder would have a Scrooge like epiphany and give to AU without the desire for control. But I will settle for having a coach that doesnt have to kiss his arse....bless you Tommy Tuberville. Lets beat hell out of Clemson. War Damn Eagle.

by Todd92 on Dec 4, 2007 6:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wow. I missed all this stuff!

.....This might be a post WAY too late to be seen in the blogosphere, but... I was back to work after a 13-day vacation/personal day fest celebrating Thanksgiving and the Iron bowl, and I had TONS of undone stuff awaiting me, and didn't look. Heck, I didn't WANT to look, and find that our coach had been hired away, and we might be getting Bobby Petrino, or Bill Calahan, or Chan Gailey, etc....

.....Yeah, I know Pete Holiday is a Bama fanboy, and isn't objective about Auburn. That's a given. No, I didn't promise not to trash him in exchange for the opportunity to write a column. 90 percent of my family are Bama grads and/or fans. I EXPECT that sort of homer/intolerant thing. I REFUSE to get down to the level of launching "joke" posts every time an Alabama football player gets arrested, or when Bama loses to a non-conference, non-BCS foe. Heck, who has the time?

.....No, I'd rather argue Auburn's position from a frame of rational thought. Unless I'm pushed over the edge, I'll keep it cool and try to ignore the trash-talk. I've tried to do this with Pete's posts, and argue rationally.

.....Pete emailed me while I was at the beach, the week starting with the miserable Mississippi State loss. I was at a loss, but trying not to dwell on it, and enjoy my sun, Cuervo, and water. But yeah, it was flattering. I was being asked to write something for the Fanhouse. I'm the guy who makes D's in English. A writer wants MY opinion enough to email me? Cool.

.....Pete praised me on my ability to remain objective, and asked what I thought was wrong with Brandon Cox. I answered as best as I could. He posted it, without much chopping or editing. I was cool with that.

.....Since, I have disliked a lot of his posts, (Chop Block! Joke Contract! We didn't lose, Auburn just wanted it more!) and I have tried to voice my displeasure, but I am NOT going to go on ANYONE's blog and call them "teh suk!" I use the same rationale in staying OFF the Bama Fanhouse blog, and not taunting the animals.

.....I'd love to have a reasonable Bama poster to debate with, but so far, it hasn't happened. Pete ain't it. But no, I haven't sold my soul to the Tide, to get Pete to publish a post. Heck, I can spew comments ad nauseam. Who needs the responsibility of their own columns and blogs?

by Acid Reign on Dec 9, 2007 11:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs