Tommy Tuberville has a contract that says he will be the head football coach at Auburn until 2013.
That’s why, among all the speculation that he may or may not be kept along for 2009 and beyond, Tuberville reiterated Sunday he is living, preparing and recruiting as if nothing will change.
“I plan on being here,” Tuberville said in his weekly teleconference. “I think it’s an opportunity that coaches look to in terms of knowing that you can get the job done. We’ve done it here eight out of 10 years, having better than average football seasons, and we’re going to continue to have that.”
As he did after Saturday’s 36-0 Iron Bowl drubbing in Tuscaloosa, Tuberville stumped to be back with the Tigers next year and said the team is a few adjustments and playmakers away from returning as an elite team not only within the SEC, but all of college football.
“There’s no doubt that we can get this thing turned back around. I didn’t turn into a bad coach overnight,” Tuberville said. “I know this program better than anybody. I know what it takes. I know the type of people that you can get to come in. I know their strengths, I know their weaknesses and I’m fully committed to doing it.”
Tuberville said he had no news to share regarding when he plans to meet with athletic director Jay Jacobs and President Dr. Jay Gogue. It won’t be today, as Tuberville will be out of town recruiting, but Tuberville said it likely could be sooner than later “because of the publicity and all that.”
Tuberville was not in his office for Sunday’s teleconference.
Amid speculation that Tuberville was interested in the open coaching job at Arkansas, last year’s meeting 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.
While he is on the recruiting trail this week, Tuberville said he will target specific players who may be wavering because of his seemingly unknown status.
“I want to hit those guys first,” Tuberville said. “There’s probably four or five of those, but we won’t bring up any names.
“I’m going on as planned. That’s how I’m looking at it.”
A column that ran in Sunday’s Birmingham News said, “according to well-connected people,” that Tuberville has already received word from Jacobs that he will return for next season.
“I have no clue about where that came from,” Tuberville said.
Asked to clarify whether that information was true or false, Tuberville remained ambiguous.
“No,” he said. “I have no clue where that came from.“
agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement