http://www.al.com/s****ts/press-register/pfinebaum.ssf?/base/s****ts/122821293469790.xml&coll=3
or,
http://tinyurl.com/5n3s39
This was the week a year ago that Tommy Tuberville took his infamous duck
hunting trip to Arkansas. Today, assuming the re****ts are accurate, he
will
be retained for an 11th year. The head coach will be dealing with ducks
again - as in unofficially becoming a lame duck at Auburn.
Whether Tuberville deserves a mulligan for this appalling 5-7 season and
36-0 cataclysmic loss in the Iron Bowl is open for spirited debate.
Considering the respect he has brought the school over the period - to say
nothing of the difficult job for school officials to pay his $6 million
buyout and find a suitable replacement - many feel it is the right
decision.
But it doesn't change the fact Tuberville could be a dead man walking. It
doesn't change the fact this program is a train wreck that nothing short
of
a government bailout could probably save.
Oh, the heat will probably subside as the cold weather intensifies, and
Tuberville can try and reenergize the severely fractured fan base with the
firing of long-time assistants and the hiring of his sixth offensive
coordinator. That's always good for a headline or two. However, it will do
little to change the cheerless mood of the Auburn family, which must be
wondering what happened to prosperity and dominance over Alabama.
For all of the wonderment of the six-game streak over the Tide, the
bookend
losses in 2001 and 2008 were so devastating, it comes close to wiping out
all of the joy of the winning. In those two games, Tuberville's teams were
outscored 67-7. A differential of 60 points. In the six consecutive wins
over Alabama, Auburn outscored the Tide by a total of only 47 points.
For all of Tuberville's savvy, he often can be his own worst enemy. Case
in
point being his raising of seven fingers during Tiger Walk before
Saturday's
game. There is nothing wrong with having fun with fans. But make sure you
can back it up. After viewing one of the most incompetent and embarrassing
coaching displays in modern Auburn history, one graduate said to me
Saturday
night, "I have always sup****ted Tuberville, but his behavior before this
game was a joke. It showed no class."
This is to funny. Tubbervillian and class will never belong together.
war eagle indeed.
MountainFramer
Roll Tide.
--
"Bryant can take his and beat yours, and then he can turn around and take
yours and beat his." Houston Oiler head coach Bum Phillips, a former
player
under Coach Bryant.
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