Of Olive, hospitality and beef meximelts

By Joe McAdory

Published: December 8, 2008

God bless Olive Tuberville. She is a sweet woman. Never heard a bad word about her. Don’t expect to either.

Wednesday night, she answered the door at Tommy Tuberville’s Auburn home and let me inside. The coach was not there, at least not yet. She was very welcoming as we walked toward the living room where we chatted for a while. The family dog, a white maltese, can’t remember its name, wagged its tail and was receptive to this stranger’s petting.

Mrs. Tuberville answered questions and defended her son. She seemed at peace with her son’s near future, which does not include the trials of coaching college football, though she was adamant that he did not resign. Instead, she said he was fired, as quoted in my story. The university issued a statement regarding Tuberville’s resignation earlier that afternoon.

Moments later, Suzanne Tuberville and friends came home. Olive said Suzanne had been shopping.

At about 7 p.m., Tommy walked through the front door and proceeded into a back room. I don’t know if it was a bedroom or an office. I don’t suppose what type of room really matters anyway. He didn’t acknowledge anyone as he walked in. Obviously, it was a rough day. I don’t blame him.

Family friends suggested I come back another time. I don’t blame them either. I was an outsider in the Tubervilles’ living room. But you know, they made me feel welcome regardless of the circumstances and I thank them for that.

Yes, Olive Tuberville said her son was fired. I’ll take that to my grave. What does ‘fired’ mean these days? What does ‘resigned’ mean these days? Sometimes the two can intertwine. Sometimes they do not. What do you think?

On another note ... I tracked down Patriots fullback Heath Evans, a former Auburn standout under Tuberville, for his thoughts on the change atop the AU football program. He’s an outspoken dude. But one thing that amazed me during the interview, via his cellphone, was a new voice on the other end.

Heath: Hold on a second, I’m about to place an order.

Joe: OK

New voice: Welcome to Taco Bell, may I take your order.

Heath: I’d like a beef meximelt.

Wow. The dude’s in the NFL and he’s ordering off of the 99 cent menu at Taco Bell. He said he was on his way to a Boston Celtics game and didn’t like the food there. I don’t blame him. I make a run for the border every now and then too.