Tuberville in Arkansas
Tommy Tuberville is in Arkansas for a hunting trip. Negotiations with Auburn appear to be at a standstill, but Phillip Marshall of The Huntsville Times says it’s likely that Tuberville stays put on the plains:
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville left Thursday for a hunting trip in Arkansas without saying anything publicly about contract negotiations with athletics director Jay Jacobs. Beyond a statement after he and Tuberville met with university president Jay Gogue last Monday, Jacobs also has been silent.
Tuberville’s hunting trip will be a short one. He is expected back in Auburn on Friday afternoon. He’ll be on the road at high school games Friday night. He plans to leave Sunday for New York City and the annual National Football Foundation gathering.
All we know for sure at this point is that Jacobs made a verbal proposal for a contract extension in a meeting with Tuberville on Tuesday and that Tuberville has yet to accept it. According to the terms of Tuberville’s contract, which runs through Dec. 31, 2011, Auburn must make a written offer to extend the contract no later than Saturday. Tuberville would then have until Dec. 31 to accept it.
There is no late word on whether Arkansas, looking for a replacement for Houston Nutt, will actually pursue Tuberville. Also muddying the waters is a potential opening at LSU, though there is no indication, at least at this point, that there would be interest on LSU’s or Tuberville’s part if Les Miles bolts for Michigan.
Frankly, it’s hard to imagine Tuberville or anyone else coaching at three different West Division schools in a 10-year period, which would be the case if Tuberville went to either Arkansas or LSU.
The bottom line: It would still be very surprising if Tuberville is coaching anywhere but Auburn next season.
Yeah well…Toomer’s Corner is probably the only place that would register surprise if Tuberville leaves.