INTRODUCING THE TUBBERNATOR

AN UNBIASED LOOK AT TOMMY TUBERVILLE'S FUTURE POLITICAL CAREER, WRITTEN BY AN UNBIASED PERSON WHOSE BELOVED TEAM WAS COACHED BY TOMMY TUBERVILLE THE LAST FOUR YEARS

By ActionCookbook@actioncookbook Feb 22, 2017, 9:53am EST

This week, reports surfaced that Tommy Tuberville, former head coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati, might consider a run for the governorship of Alabama once incumbent Robert Bentley’s term-limited tenure is up in 2019.

It’s not without precedent, a sports figure crossing over into the political arena - a few examples come to mind. Legendary Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne served three terms in Congress after hanging up his whistle. Former Tennessee star and NFL journeyman quarterback Heath Shuler also served three terms in the House. Jack Kemp, Jim Bunning, Steve Largent - and of course Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura - there’s plenty of examples. Why, even current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell came to us from the sports world!

So, to the question “Can a sports figure like Tommy Tuberville successfully enter the political world?”, the answer is a resounding “sure, I guess”.

But, as Coach Tubbs well knows, it’s not just a matter of getting the job: what happens once you’re there?

Fortunately, we employ a crack team of data journalists here at Every Day Should Be Saturday - every bit as accountable as other major outlets - and we’ve been able to simulate Tubb’s four-season run in Montgomery. [hits sim]

Tommy Tuberville Elected Governor of Alabama, Promises New Era Ahead

“I want to be a leader that helps this state go to the next level. Not that there haven’t been a lot of accomplishments, and there have. A lot of great things have happened, but there’s always a next step. I’m going to get questions on why did you come to Montgomery. I want to help Alabama take that next step forward. That next step so that we can get better every day as a group and as a state.”

OPINION: Tuberville Faces Challenges As Governor