Marchers protest treatment of Tuberville
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Protest the Tuberville Staff firings
Video from the
Cliff Williams | Opelika-Auburn News
Auburn University students leave the concourse near the Haley Center on the Auburn University campus to march to the president’s mansion in support of Tuberville Tuesday, December 9, 2008.
STAFF WRITER
Published: December 9, 2008
Updated: December 10, 2008
An idea conceived on a couch four days ago turned into a 60-person march in support of Tommy Tuberville at noon on Tuesday.
Shouts of “War Eagle” and “Bring Tubby Back” could be heard from police-escorted marchers as they walked from the Haley Concourse to the Auburn University president’s mansion.
The march took about 10 minutes.
The end of Tuberville’s tenure at Auburn was announced last week. Although Tuberville resigned, many students believe the former football coach was forced out.
Marchers supported their claims by pointing to a $6 million buyout Tuberville was to receive if he was fired.
AU officials say that Tuberville resigned but that he will get the money because it is “the right thing to do.”
Taylor Jones, a freshman majoring in political science, came up with the idea of the march while sitting on his couch. He spread the idea through Facebook.
“I started it to see how it would go, and it exploded,” he said.
Jay Gogue, AU president, contacted Jones. The president wanted to speak with him before the march, Jones said.
“I’ve gotten nothing but support from the university,” Jones said.
Despite that, Jones said he’s unsure the public was told the truth about the resignation.
“There have been theories that several boosters are behind this,” he said. “It’s too sketchy with them paying his buyout when he resigned ... Everybody here wants him to stay.”
Other students at the march agreed.
“You wouldn’t pay somebody $6 million if you’re resigning,” said Michael Babin, a freshman majoring in wireless engineering. He said the march was a show of support for Tuberville.
As the gathering ended, students began discussing plans for what to do next.
A new Facebook group — “Protest the Tuberville Staff Firings” — was created where like-minded individuals could meet.
“We’re planning on protesting at a trustees (meeting) soon,” Jones said.
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Reader Reactions
I support you guys in standing up for Tommy. Do they honestly think he is the only coach that has had an off season. Tommy is truly a man to admire and look up to! You guys keep up the good work! I think it is great that you are being heard and letting Tommy and the Auburn Family know what he means to us all. It amazes me that the “powers-that-be” feel they need to sugar coat things ~ give us a break…do they think we are all so nieve that we don’t know what happened behind those closed doors? WAR EAGLE and I agree BRING TOMMY BACK.
GO TO CLASS KIDS!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Bobby L.
I definitely support the protest, but was not able to make it out there. Tommy was a amazing guy/coach/role model…The athletic department is not being truthful with the Auburn family and not setting a good example for us students. Auburn Staff says we’re all a family? Well, is that the way you treat your family? I know I do not! Bring Coach Tubs back!!!
I completely agree with the protesters and others supporting Tommy. What has been stated publicly by AU and the actions taken do not appear to be in synch. This entire episode provides bad taste and negative perception about AU. What does this morally and ethically teach the AU students? Must question the entire leadership at AU and those outside of AU who apparently have major influence. Let’s bring Tommy back!
I would like to do something to show my total disgust with the way Coach Tuberville has been treated. The protest was a great start and if I had known about it I would have been right there along side you guys.
The Auburn Family is very large and we need to unite in mass to bring Tommy back and rid our university of the corruption that rules Auburn. Where are all the former players now in the NFL? Why aren’t they speaking out? Carnell, Ronnie, Quentin, Jason, Marcus, King, Ben, David,Brandon, Stanley,Ben, Will, Reggie, Marcus and the rest of the former AU players who are playing in the NFL. Why are you silent???? You guys have the medias ear. Speak out!!!
The firing and forcing out of our great coach cannot go silently into the night. Every Auburn Family member should rise up and say “XXXX NO”!!! Make your voice heard and speard the news so the protest at the board meeting will be larger the the march. 87,000+ people come to every game to be a part of Auburn’s traditions and spirit, and support our football program. Don’t let this coruption become part of our tradition!!!
I think the only way to get these knuckleheads to listen is to kick them where it hurts, in the…wallet. A university can’t operate w/o the tuition paid by its students. Students need to force the real problem people out of AU and keep good men like Tuberville. Sometimes there are more important things than winning.
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