Jacobs leaves office with nothing much to say

By Andrew Gribble
Auburn University Beat Reporter
Published: December 2, 2008

After nearly nine hours of reporters waiting in the Auburn Athletic Complex lobby and other, secret exits, athletic director Jay Jacobs emerged from his office around 6:50 p.m. He had very little to say in an exchange with reporters that lasted about 30 seconds.

Here’s the transcription.

Jacobs: Tommy and I met this morning, and we’ll meet again over the next couple of days. I’ll let you know how it goes. That’s really it.

Are you aiming for a resolution for this week?

Jacobs: Yes, I’d like to be.

Do you think that’s going to happen?
Jacobs: We’ll just have to see.

Is there any concern about this delay, open-endedness hurting the program?

Jacobs: (non-verbal no)

Jacobs: That’s it. Hey, is there a better way to do this?

The End.

Here’s what we in the biz call the “full write-thru” of the days’ events at the AAC.

Tommy Tuberville’s status as head football coach seemingly remains in limbo after an inconclusive Tuesday morning meeting with athletic director Jay Jacobs.

Jacobs left his office around 6:50 p.m. and briefly addressed reporters before leaving for the day. He did not have much to say.

“Tommy and I met this morning, and we’ll meet again over the next couple of days,” Jacobs said. “I’ll let you know how it goes. That’s really it.”

Jacobs said the meeting “went well,” and said he hoped a resolution would be reached some time this week.

“We’ll just have to see,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs shook his head and did not verbally respond when asked if the delay and open-ended nature of the meetings was hurting the program.

Staffers said Tuberville left the building some time between 3 and 4 p.m.

Auburn Director of Public Affairs Brian Keeter said through an e-mail that President Dr. Jay Gogue “now expects to hear sometime soon from Athletics Director Jay Jacobs about any recommendations he may have on the overall direction of the program.”

Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Kirk Sampson emerged from Jacobs’ office late in the afternoon and said no formal statement would be released Tuesday. A brief, ambiguous statement was released late Monday evening confirming that Tuberville, Jacobs and Gogue met Monday morning for their annual end-of-season meeting.

Tuberville’s 5-7, 2008 season was his worst at Auburn since 1999 – his first year with the program. He is 85-40 all-time with the Tigers and has led the team to eight bowl games in ten years, including an undefeated 2004 season where Auburn was left out of the National Championship game.

Last year’s meeting, amid speculation that Tuberville was interested in the open coaching job at Arkansas, resulted in Tuberville’s signing a two-year contract extension, which included a $200,000 annual raise. The extension elongated his contract through 2013 and included a buyout that currently stands at $6 million. It will drop to $5 million in 2009 and $4 million after that if Tuberville leaves for another job or is fired.