It’s official: Fran steps down at Texas A&M
An hour after his team’s huge 38-30 win over No. 12 Texas, Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione resigned as the Aggies head coach after five years. He said he will not coach the team in their bowl game.
We all saw that one coming.
The question is, are the rumors that A&M is interested in Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville real? Maybe. Maybe not.
The fact is, Auburn’s got the biggest game of its season in less than 24 hours. I promise, Tuberville’s got nothing else on his mind but beating Alabama.
But once that final whistle blows—and either Auburn is a six in a row winner or Saban gets the Tide its first Iron Bowl victory since 2001—you know people are going to want to know what’s what. Does Tuberville want to leave? Does he want to stay? Is Texas A&M even going to make a play for Tubs, who spent a year in College Station as the defensive coordinator?
Tuberville said Monday that he “loves Auburn” and wants to stay as long as Auburn wants him. No, that’s not the same as “I’ll coach the Tigers next year.“ But it’s more than he’s been saying in the past few weeks.
Tuberville is smart. He knows how to play the game.
I’m under the impression he wants to stay at Auburn. He’s happy here. And let’s face it, he’s not going to be coaching into his Bobby Bowden years. Tommy’s looking at another five-eight years, and then he’s got a microphone waiting for him as a TV analyst.
But he does want to be wanted. And he wants his assistants to get a raise. So, if he is going to stay on the Plains, he’s going to want the university to come with a contract extension and some tidings for his assistants.
We all know that.
If that doesn’t happen—which is really unlikely—Tuberville would go ... at least that’s what I think.
Again, he’s smart. And money talks. Plus, if he’s not wanted in Auburn, or at least if he perceives he’s not wanted in Auburn (ie, not having a new contract after meeting with AU’s AD and president) he’d bolt. And I couldn’t blame him.
However, I’d give pigs better odds of showing up on a radar screen than I would of Auburn not offering Tubs more money for him and his assistants.
Bottom line gut feeling: Tuberville is coach Auburn next year and for the next four, at least.
But, I’ve been wrong before.
Plus, all this is contingent on Texas A&M wanting Tuberville. Remember, he’s got a $6 million buyout. That’s a lot of money, I don’t care how much oil you have.
Either way, Tuberville comes away a big winner. Tell me another coach you know can lose four games (maybe five or six, depending on what happens in Saturday’s Iron Bowl and then a subsequent bowl game) to get a raise?
