TUBERVILLE TO ARKANSAS
`I’m not looking to go anywhere.”
–Tommy Tuberville on Tiger Talk this past Thursday.
Multiple sources tell KNWA that Tommy Tuberville willl be Arkansas’ next head football coach.
–Matt Turner, NWA.com, Thursday.
Tommy Tuberville may have just completed the long-delayed departure he began back in 2003 when he survived Bobby Lawder’s attempt to depose him and bring in Bobby Petrino behind his back: Arkansas media types are reporting that Tuberville has agreed to be the next head coach at Arkansas, a story we’re not really sure we believe at this point.
Thanks to Kevin for encoding the video for the public football interest. He’s cool like that.
The early signs came with the story that Tuberville was not present at a scheduled meeting with Auburn AD Jay Jacobs earlier this week; then the additive snowballing of rumors and continued radio silence on the part of both Tuberville and Auburn officialdom made things even more suspicious for the paranoid types who, being broken clocks twice a day, really thought this might happen.
The quick, hastily scanned impact of this IF TRUE ALL SHAKY RUMOR AT THIS POINT HOLD OFF ON FACTINESS:
–Tuberville inherits a roster full of manageable talent to work with at Arkansas. Being a CEO kind of guy, the staff Tuberville assembles will matter immensely, and with his current DC Will Muschamp being considered for head jobs, he’s gonna need a bright young defensive mind at the least if offensive coordinator Al Borges follows him.
–Auburn, like the guy who never deletes a single lady’s phone number from his cell phone, will likely booty call the coach they got caught engaging in a backdoor case of coitus interruptus with in 2003: Bobby Petrino. Alabama may soon have two extremely overpaid coaches, especially given the increasingly hopeless situation at qb in Atlanta. Hopeless, in case you didn’t know, is spelled H-A-R-R-I-N-G-T-O-N. Or L-E-F-T-W-I-C-H. Or you could just say “It’s a Somalia, man,” and watch everyone nod knowingly. The effect is the same all around.
–If Petrino is as unbudgeable (and with the demonstrated tolerance of being mediocre as a college coach after being a superb college HC being a two years, see Spurrier and Saban) as we suspect he might be, then Auburn’s stuck in the nasty position of hunting retreads in a job market with Michigan and Nebraska still prowling. That’s an ugly proposition, though Auburn could certainly outbid almost any other program around. The only issue is how many bananas are left on the shelf when they get around to actually shopping for replacement.
–We’ll say it again: LEACH. LEACH. LEACH. Just because we want him in the SEC so, sooooooooo bad. Hire Orgeron as your line coach and head of recruiting and you’ll hear us purring for miles.
–Paul was right, Paul was right, Paul was right. Never underestimate the power of Wal-Mart. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army bought Tuberville through the wallet of the Walton family if Tuberville did come through, and Paul Westerdawg was righter than Ron Paul on this.
–In state, this gives Nick Saban a bit of breathing room in terms of competitive advantage. He’ll have a running head start on recruiting that will be impossible to make up this year, especially with Tuberville raiding south the instant he hits the door in Fayetteville.
–More later, because this is the SEC, where we’ve figured out what to do with the other eight months of the year not involving actual football games: a little exercise we like to call Scandalicise! Feel the burn, Auburn fans!









1
Jerkwheat says:
If this falls apart, and I refuse to believe in it until I see Tommy at a presser in Fayetteville, then I think you’ll be getting your wish granted and the Dread Pirate Leach will land in Fayetteville – I think Jeff Long is rather fond of him and he’s pretty high on the list of candidates
November 29th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
2
baconboy says:
I’ve heard it wasn’t Walton family money, but Jerry Jones money that is being used to pay the cost of buying out Tuberville’s contract.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
3
Jerkwheat says:
Oh, and it rumors are true – and it’s rumors we are dealing with here – it’s not Wal Mart’s money doing this – it’s Jerry Jones.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
4
Will says:
…whoever’s money it is— and there are a lot of candidates (Wal-Mart money, Tyson’s money, JJ’s money, the interest from the Fire Nutt Banner Fund), it is going to be mind-boggling.
3.5 million in Nutt buyout; check. 6 million Tubbs buyout; check. 3.5 million for Tubbs per year; also check.
That’s a 12.5 million dollar statement that ‘8-4 is a firing offense at Arkansas.’
Who said Bammers are the only people with the will to bust a budget?
Maybe now they’ll yank those games out of Little Rock, play them all on campus, and finish enclosing RRS to make it 90,000. God knows there is enough money left over, even with that ridiculous price tag.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
5
Will says:
….er…13 million. Darn that Sun Belt undergrad education.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
6
TideDruid says:
Pat Dye for interim coach!
Just kidding. I think this is all fake, and Tubby will be back in Auburn with his new $3 million+ smile.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
7
NewAZTiger says:
Let’s see, tonight, CTT has denied it, Sexton has denied it, Jacobs has denied it, and Arkansas’ AD has denied it.
The multiple sources – Tigerdroppings.com, Tider Insider, and a handful of Hog boards.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
8
Anal Roberts says:
I’m gonna shit in my pants.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
9
NewAZTiger says:
Tubs’ Denial
Quote from Arkansas AD “”I won’t narrow it that far, but I will say that many of the reports about an SEC West coach are extremely premature and actually aren’t even premature,” Long said. “They’re fantasy.”"
Jay Jacobs, AU’s AD denies it.
ESPN is reporting that CTT and Sexton denied it and both stated he would be at AU next year.
Welcome to 2007’s College Football Version of War of the Worlds.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
10
bamafanintigerland says:
Tommy said the only way he was living Auburn was in a pine box…..or by a jet to sign the new contract with Arkansas.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
11
bamafanintigerland says:
and apparently Auburn’s 6 victory over my team made sure I cannot spell…..*leaving* not living.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
12
Will says:
…..for the money they’re paying him, he could line that box in silk, $1,000 bills, and co-ed titty. I’m just saying it’d be a hell of a comfortable box
November 30th, 2007 at 12:01 am
13
fotodog says:
I think Leach could have a similar effect on the SEC as Spurrier did in the early-mid 90s, when the SEC teams started to open their offenses to catch up. Or then again, he could be Hal Mumme Part II.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:07 am
14
NewAZTiger says:
fotodog – Leach was in the SEC, with Hal Mumme.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:09 am
15
Will says:
…on a hillarious note– if this falls through, Jeff Long may be fired before he officially gets to start his new job on Jan 1.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:15 am
16
John says:
Nick Saban, Houston Nutt and now Tommy Tuberville? Why does the SEC have the coach-whores?
November 30th, 2007 at 12:22 am
17
Will says:
… John, it’s the SEC. If you can’t beat ‘em, you buy ‘em
November 30th, 2007 at 12:24 am
18
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Well I hate to see him go before we can pay his ass back. If we get Ar-Kansas on the ropes, and he is the coach, run up the score. Auburn is a duck on the pond now……The SEC West will only have Saban and Croom left over….Miles—Dead,will be at Michigan…..Tubby—-Dead, will be at Ar-Kansas, specifically to win a MNC—-Oregeron—Dead—-Houston Nutt—-Dead, but in Orgerons office—-Neidlemeyer—Dead
Hell the only one with any Seniority in the SEC West Coaches Union is the Croomster…I’ll take my chances this year…..See ya Tubs, the SEC West is One BIG SWINGERS CONVENTION, I’LL COACH UR TEAM IF YOU’LL COACH MINE>>>>
November 30th, 2007 at 12:28 am
19
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Hell if this is true, expect Alabama fans to be rollin Toomer Corner soon…..How is Tubbs gonna get outta town now? I hope he had PODS on standby….
November 30th, 2007 at 12:30 am
20
Mr Pelican Pants says:
Whores? Not so much…Swingers,well lets see…
Saban-LSU swapped with Bama with a Miami affair inbetween
Nutt—Arkansas, now sleeping with Colonel Reb
Tubberville—Auburns Mr. Mediocre is now doin a Hogg in Nutts old bed…
Orgeron—I dont think he knows he fired yet……
Miles—Leavin LSU for the whore Ann Arbor, screwed LSU outta MNC while eyefucking that whore….
Croom–Bama asst Coach doin a Bulldog…
November 30th, 2007 at 12:37 am
21
spartymike says:
Come on, Orson, I know you’ve seen Blood Diamond. The correct quote re: Petrino would be…
TIA. This Is Atlanta. Knowing nods to follow.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:44 am
22
This Is Your Captain Speaking says:
I hate to detract from the Tuberville rumors, but TigerDroppings is reporting, surprising no one, Les Miles has accepted the Meeeechigan job. Apparently, he told the players after practice today.
http://www.tigerdroppings.com/rant/messagetopic.asp?p=6245874
November 30th, 2007 at 1:19 am
23
Harvey Wireman says:
Is the Arkansas job more prestigious than the Auburn coaching job?
Why would anyone do that, besides more dead presidents?
Isn’t that like leaving Elizabeth Taylor for Totie Fields?
November 30th, 2007 at 1:38 am
24
Harvey Wireman says:
The Michigan job is more prestigious than LSU’s, no problem there.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:40 am
25
Harvey Wireman says:
Saban, Nutt, Tubby, Miles, all chump change compared to Pete Carroll, check out this profile of Pete C in the ghetto:
http://www.lamag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=14D5B253DB1D499F9AD38F459D8E926A&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=FBED63DFDC694D699DA4EAF13E24562D
November 30th, 2007 at 2:01 am
26
D-nice says:
Do you Michigan fans think Miles is a good hire? Obviously he’s high profile and has had success, but what about his actual coaching abilities.
It’ss a great story, since he’s a “Michigan Man,” but could there be a downside?
November 30th, 2007 at 3:34 am
27
6 in a Row says:
By the way- is Orson getting plagiarized?
http://www.entertainmenttwist.com/tag/tommy-tuberville-to-arkansas/
November 30th, 2007 at 7:33 am
28
6 in a Row says:
or the other way around?
November 30th, 2007 at 7:34 am
29
howboutdemgators says:
Leave Auburn, Alabama for Arkansas? Tubby’s too smart for that, Walton money or not. The majority of the idiots involved in the 2003 fiasco are gone, he’s won 6 in a row over Bama, he just needs to make Auburn throw down some more money and then stick around until his ears get too big to fit a headset on.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:34 am
30
Excuse me Stewardess, but I speak jive says:
I think [read: HOPE] Tubby’s just playing hard-ball.
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/sports/1196417971307080.xml&coll=3&thispage=1
I know he hates Lowder, but who doesn’t- that’s not reason enough to leave as long as they are kissing your ass while you keep beating Alabama (which we all know is objective #1 in the state) and beat most of your other opponents.
I also don’t believe any of the propeganda that he has been planning this coup since Arkansas offered him a job long ago and when Lowder tried to ass-rape him- that just doesn’t make sense.
This a great tactic to play hardball at a school that has more tradition and long-term potential and money than Arkansas does, and he’s just trying to have his demands met- which, as you can read anywhere, are NOT for more money, but for better facilities, stronger contracts for his staff, and basically the control that a coach should be afforded. If he wanted to stick it to Lowder and the Athletic Department, he would do exactly this- strong-arm them into giving him exactly what they tried to take away during Petrino-gate: respect.
But I have been wrong before…
November 30th, 2007 at 7:47 am
31
Bama93 says:
#7 – when so many “deny” it that typically means it will happen. See Tubbs 10 years ago at Ole Miss, Saban at Miami, the OSU basketball coach, etc….
#23 & 29 – I agree. While I’m no fan of the plains, I can’t imagine Arky has more to offer than auburn. Tubbs simply selling his soul at this point?
November 30th, 2007 at 8:11 am
32
Crabs says:
“and with the demonstrated tolerance of being mediocre as a college coach after being a superb college HC being a two years, see Spurrier and Saban”
I think I understand what you are saying – maybe?
On a side note – it appears Mr.P-Pants is just giddy this a.m.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
33
Excuse me Stewardess, but I speak jive says:
all things aside, though, I wouldn’t mind seeing what “Boom motherfucker” Muschamp could do at the helm of a team… maybe if Tubbs leaves and he stays he could take a shot and it could be a blessing in disguise for the Tigers.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:26 am
34
NewAZTiger says:
#27, I’d say yes.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:26 am
35
Biggus Rickus says:
Is Auburn really that much better a job? I mean Arkansas has a pretty good tradition, the overall winning percentages of the two schools are Auburn .629 and Arkansas .592. They both won national titles a long time ago. Certainly Auburn has had more success of late, but when you have Danny Ford and Houston Nutt as your coaches there’s a pretty firm ceiling on your success (about 6 wins for one and 9 for the other). I don’t really get the move if it happens, because he’s already established his program at Auburn. But all things being equal I don’t see Auburn as an obviously superior job.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:35 am
36
Excuse me Stewardess, but I speak jive says:
Rickus-
as far as coaching gigs go, I think any decent coach and any school with a football program with a budget to pay the coaching staff well has it pretty good. Hell, you don’t even need that much tradition (see: the University of South Florida). I think when people talk about one school being better than another, I would think that it is more of a whole picture thing than jsut a “where would I rather coach” thing.
And I think you have it backwards with the “Auburn has had more success of late” comment, since I believe if you take a poll, most people asked would say that AU has a much deeper history in College Football than Arkansas, be it in past players or memorable games or history of winning or whatever, whereas Arkansas- while always being a contender in the SEC, has never really gained that national attention until recently with McFadden and a few years of great play.
But you make a valid point- a coaching gig is a coaching gig, as long as you get paid and you can win. So what does that mean for Big Poppa Charlie Weiss? He’s getting paid but can’t win… I guess that’s a whole nother thread-jack altogether.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:46 am
37
Big Head says:
I heard TT was in contract negotiations with Auburn. Shit, if he’s not on the hot seat, he’s looking at other gigs.
ESPN First Take, you’re a bunch of bastards!
November 30th, 2007 at 8:56 am
38
RIP Logan Young says:
9
You think “I’m not looking to go anywhere” is a denial?
Trust us — we’ve been there, many, many times — that ain’t a denial.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:56 am
39
TIGERinATL says:
This smells a LOT like the Rich Rod to Bama rumors last year. Tubs is holding Jacobs hostage for facilities/assistant pay and using Arkansas as the gun. A $6MM “iron clad” buyout is significant kevlar though. We’ll all just have to wait and see.
#35 – I’m sure you see Houndstooth U as a better job than both, which at this point is laughable considering how many rejections they got last year and how much they ultimately had to fork over in a one sided contract.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:57 am
40
RIP Logan Young says:
38
Houndstooth U pulled a sitting NFL coach, who signed with Alabama for a million bucks a year less than he was making in Miami.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:59 am
41
TIGERinATL says:
#36 – Arkansas has some MNCs from before facemasks were standard equipment. To UAT fans, those are all that count toward a programs tradition cache.
November 30th, 2007 at 9:01 am
42
Year2-Dave says:
I’m amazed no one has made any “coaching incest” jokes about the SEC, since the conference seems determined to keep everyone in the family – Spurrier, Saban, Nutt, Tuberville once, perhaps Tuberville again, hopefully Orgeron, etc.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:28 am
43
The Last Dragon says:
I’ll believe the Tubs thing when I see it.
But the thought of SEC media day with Spurrier and Leach makes me giddy. Someone please bring the Pirate to the conference.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:29 am
44
Tater Salad says:
Tiger,
Rickus is a bulldog you dumb fuck.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:33 am
45
Excuse me Stewardess, but I speak jive says:
39
and that’s still a couple million more than he’s worth
November 30th, 2007 at 10:39 am
46
okiedomer says:
i too have been pining for a leach/orgeron combo, though before reading about this tubby fiasco last night, i figured the best chance would be UCLA
although it occurred to me last night that if i was really selfish, i’d want someone to hire Venables away from OU so Stoops could replace him with Orgeron
November 30th, 2007 at 10:42 am
47
RIP Logan Young says:
40
How many MNC’s do y’all have in the facemask era? Zero?
November 30th, 2007 at 10:45 am
48
TIGERinATL says:
Tater,
I apologize for not memorizing every commentors allegiance. I must be such an ass hole.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:57 am
49
Tim says:
Upon hearing that the news had been leaked, Tubberville whimsically paced back and forth, head slightly down, with a wry, subtle smirk on his face.
Then, when his wife called him to dinner, Tubberville quietly paced to the dining room, head slightly down, with a slight smile on his face.
Afterwards, Tubberville spent some time on the toilet, head cocked slightly, with an absurdist-yet-reflective smile on his face.
The man rivals Paris Hilton for the person who most employs his or her one and only look.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:08 am
50
That Pederast Hanrahan says:
#48
To which school’s football team should we pin allegiance for someone with a name like “Tater Salad?”
November 30th, 2007 at 11:19 am