Now, these are all rumors, and it sounds suspiciously like the Rodriguez to 'Bama rumors that we heard around this time last year, but there have certainly been rumblings, and between Coach Tuberville missing a meeting scheduled to hash out a contract extension to reports that Tuberville had not, in fact, agreed to an extension, things are starting to look grim for the Auburn faithful.
If this comes to pass, there are going to be a lot of FanHouse commenters eating crow. That said, it's not done until he shows up at a press conference in Fayetteville. Video from the KNWA-TV break-in after the jump.
Major hat-tip to Kevin Donahue at Fanblogs for this story and the video.
Updates to follow...
11:08pm: A little scouring turned up some interesting info. Apparently Tuberville is in Arkansas for a hunting trip. Some plane trackers, though, found a plane owned by Arkansas booster David Griffin made a round trip from Tunica, MS to Auburn today. Auburn blogger Jay Coulter is reporting a few different denials, but one of them (that Tuberville hasn't accepted a job yet) could easily be true even if he's agreed in principle to coach there and the second, a second-hand quote from Tuberville's agent is to be expected, one way or the other. There's no surer a way to poison the negotiations with Auburn than to get caught fooling around with Arkansas. That said, expect this to be wild couple of days. The longer it takes for Tuberville to make a statement, the more likely it is that he's actually talking to Arkansas and, therefore, the more likely it is that he'll end up coaching his third SEC West school in 10 years.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. I cant believe Tubs would go to Arkansas...........a lateral step at best.....unless something is afoot at the barn. I know the owners there hate tubs...and I keep hearing some vague rumors about an investigation by the NCAA at Aubieland, but that is usually BS.....anybody have any ideas?
Posted at 11:29PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Randal Palm
2. if this is true, it's a homerun for my hogs
Posted at 11:30PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Adam
3. why wouldn't you be able to believe Tubs to Arkansas? lateral move... probably. but so is Les Miles from LSU to Michigan, and no one seems flabbergasted by that. Tubs is from Arkansas... it's a dream job when you grow up a Razorback fan.
Posted at 11:33PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Adam
4. A Tub move to Arkansas would be a dream come true for the Bama nation, 1- it would throw Auburn into chaos, and 2- he would still be in the SEC West for some well-deserved payback. Roll Tide!
Posted at 11:51PM on Nov 29th 2007 by Jon
5. Hogwash, TT's contract says Arkansas must contact Auburn to talk to him, which they haven't done. And unless Jerry Jones pitches in some money, there's no way the Arkansas foundation will pay off a 6 million dollar contract.
Posted at 12:02AM on Nov 30th 2007 by JD07
6. JD07... you do realize that the contract couldn't possibly stop Arkansas from negotiating with Tuberville's agent, right?
The entire contract could be basically set before anyone from Arkansas speaks so much as a word to Tuberville.
Posted at 12:12AM on Nov 30th 2007 by Pete Holiday
7. I haven't had much luck getting comments to actually go through on this blog lately, but, I'll try again.
The nuts and bolts of the thing remain, that Tuberville (or someone who hires him) will owe Auburn six million bucks if Tub leaves, unless Jacobs and Gogue botch the thing horribly. Auburn COULD waive the fee, but they'd be crazy to, especially if Tub were to take an SEC West job. Maybe if Tub were to take the Washington State job, and they had someone lined up... But not to Arky.
I won't have to eat crow, because I haven't been able to comment, here. I still don't think Tuberville's leaving, but I'd never go so far as to guarantee it!
As to Iron Bowl comments, in case this goes through, congratulations to Bama on a hard-fought contest. My son was really fired up when we took a ten-zip lead, but I warned him: "This is the Iron Bowl. Bama will fight back." And they did, admirably. Bama was basically a lucky tipped-ball in the end zone and a stupid shoving Brandon Cox penalty/automatic first down away from winning, from where I sat. Auburn needs more playmakers on offense, Bama needs more beef up front on D.
Posted at 12:41AM on Nov 30th 2007 by Acid Reign
8. Pete, yep I do understand that, I also understand Arkansas well. First, they will lie to their grandmother if they deem it in their best interest to do so. And they may think it would be better to float big names around, as if to give the indication that big names are interested in the Hog job. And secondly, I know the Razorback foundation aint paying off a 6 million contract for Vince Lombardi, let alone anyone else. They've always traditionally been exceptionally cheap, and they've already been generous this yr to a football coach. That's not to say Jerry Jones wouldn't divvy up the cash for Tuberville, it wouldn't phase him in the slightest. And that's not to say preliminary/unofficial talks didn't happen "on their hunting trip." But I doubt Tuberville would be stupid enough to weaken his dollar value, by violating the terms of his current contract, without being 99.9% sure someone was going to pay off the 6 mil. BTW.. I have no clue what you're talking about when it comes to eating crow? Maybe the fact that most people believe that no big name guys would touch Arkansas after all of this? That's not necessarily true, I mean Tuberville is from Arkansas, there is that possibility, I still say a very slight possibility however. I'd also say the more likely scenario is what Arkansas always does, hire an up and coming coach with promise, pay them as little as they can get by with, and if they improve their SEC/overall value, force them out the door, and roll the dice again.
Posted at 7:13AM on Nov 30th 2007 by JD07
9. From The Morning News in Arkansas:
Sources: Arkansas Has No Deal With Tuberville
This article was published on Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:52 PM CST in Razorback Central
By Alex Abrams
THE MORNING NEWS
Old Jdub,,,,,I think Tuberville already OWNS that little piece of property.
WAR EAGLE
Posted at 8:59AM on Nov 30th 2007 by James
10. I would indeed be shocked were Tubberville to leave. Thats not a lateral move its a big step down. I do believe Tuberville is a big step up for Arkansas however. Regardless he would move from competing for SEC West Titles yearly to a one year out of 3 or 4 at best. And I don't think we would have too much trouble finding a quality replacement for Tubby should he leave. I just hope this is more hooey being spread around by the likes of Pete and other would be newsbreakers as I suspect it is.
Posted at 9:33AM on Nov 30th 2007 by Todd92
11. The guy the Hogs really need is coaching Boise State. Wish they could make that happen. Remember, Houston Nutt coached Boise from obscurity.
Posted at 9:39AM on Nov 30th 2007 by jhjeffery
12. the orange and blue k mart boys may have won 6 times on us but times will be changing. hope tubs stays to get some of it back. if he leaves cooked cat will be served a little sooner than expected and hog is always good.
Posted at 9:55AM on Nov 30th 2007 by rds
13. Why would he leave Auburn? #1. Every Auburn fan I know hates him. #2. From November 26, 2003:
In a shocking revelation, Auburn President Dr. William Walker and AU Athletic Director admitted late yesterday to having a secret meeting with current Louisville head football coach Bobby Petrino--a full two days before the Iron Bowl!
Posted at 9:59AM on Nov 30th 2007 by Randy1950
14. Pete...just FYI...Tommy doesn't have an agent per say...it's against Auburn University policy. Tubbs is staying in God's Country...WAR EAGLE!!
Posted at 10:20AM on Nov 30th 2007 by War Eagle 1
15. AUBURN SUCKS........ IF TOMMY HAS ANY BRAIN AT ALL, HE'LL BAIL OUT AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY HE IS PRESENTED. WHO THE HELL WOULD WANT TO STAY IN A HELL HOLE LIKE AUBURN. A SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS RIDE TRACTORS TO CLASS AND SPIT SNUFF ON THE CLASS ROOM FLOORS. RUN TOMMY RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 10:33AM on Nov 30th 2007 by lisa
16. Tubesnake aint going to Arky...it is a lateral move...and his eyes are set on LSU. Remember who told you first. Doublewide U fans should not be sad, as your DC will be asked to become head coach when Tubs leaves. BTW- you WONT get Falcon's coach- aint gonna happen this time around. In his time at the barn, Tub was able to whip up on Bama, given the Tide was all but emasculated by the NCAA, but that time has passed, and given the recruiting Saban is doing, in 2 years the thumb will begin to firmly be inserted up every Aubbie's ass by Bama. (Note the latest get by Bama- 395 lb defensive lineman, with two of the best WR in the nation to follow soon.) The barn could barely beat Bama with a playing field tilted completely in their favor. And for all the talk, Tubs won HOW MANY SEC TITLES during the time he has been at Doublewide U??? Thank Jesus you've had the run against Bama that you have had, but the end is coming soon, as well as a possible preliminary letter of investigation from someone special....Merry Christmas!! How long DOES it take an Awburn "student-athlete" to pass a class they failed for cheating? Hmmmmmm. The same amount of time it takes to get a Sociology degree? LOLOLOLOL The owners of the Barn, Chowderhead and Pat "if he's talkin he's lying" Dye, hate Tubesnake with a passion, so its just a matter of time for him, and he knows it. Barners need to relax, go put a couple more tie downs around the doublewide before the winter winds blow, and wait to see who coaches the barn next.
Posted at 10:34AM on Nov 30th 2007 by Randal Palm
17. Why would he go to Arkansas? Maybe he is really holding out for the LSU job or just playing games to get a better contract from AU. I am curious to see how it all pans out.
Posted at 11:34AM on Nov 30th 2007 by scottharlan2
18. "In a shocking revelation, Auburn President Dr. William Walker and AU Athletic Director admitted late yesterday to having a secret meeting with current Louisville head football coach Bobby Petrino--a full two days before the Iron Bowl!"
Nice '03 comment. And what happened the next season?
And as to your friends that don't like Tuberville, they're either freshmen or just plain stupid. Coach Tubs has done wonders for the program and brought it back to prominence.
Posted at 12:27PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Benji AU
19. Randy i have no idea what the hell you are talking about, but everybody here like Tubs. The entire campus. Do you go here? NO! So how would u know? As for way back in 03, William Walker is dead! Tommy could care less about a dead man anymore. I thin think AD Jacobs and the Board know that the entire Auburn Family wouldn't be too happy if they let Tubs get away...
Posted at 12:54PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Charlie
20. as much as I would hate to see tubs leave Auburn if he wanted out or they wanted him out I would wait on the LSU job if I were Tubs. Either LSU or Ark would snap him up but LSU would be the premo job because I think Miles is as good as gone. Cannot beleive Ark. isnt going after Jim Grobe at Wake Forest, very successful rebuilding with far less talent then the SEC. As we have seen contracts are meant to be broken FAST!!!!!!!!!!! Whats left at Ark.? Two Dicks at QB an d a Defensive coordinator who will leave if he is not offered head job. Oz
Posted at 1:42PM on Nov 30th 2007 by ozarktarheel