There are basically two major college football teams to choose from in the state of Alabama. It's the Tigers or the Tide. Alabama or Auburn. The Bear or Bo. Folks in the state, for all intents and purposes, allow just one choice when it comes to the Iron Bowl, and there's no fudging on the choice.
It's like trying to decide, as an undecided or independent, which side to choose when moving to Washington, D.C.—Democrat or Republican. It seems to be one or the other.
President Donald J. Trump, who's the incumbent in the White House, announced his choice for the next Republican senatorial candidate from Alabama. Trump chose Tommy Tuberville, the former head football coach of the Auburn Tigers, ahead of Jeff Sessions, the former Alabama senator who became Trump's attorney general, but who was eventually fired by President Trump in 2018.
Sessions, who was the first U.S. Senator to endorse Trump in the 2016 presidential race, got back into the senatorial fray, but Trump eventually endorsed Tuberville.
Trump touted Tuberville's prowess as coach of the Auburn Tigers as to why he endorsed him.
"Tommy was a terrific head football coach at Auburn University. He is a REAL LEADER who will never let MAGA/KAG, or our Country, down!" Trump tweeted. "Tommy will protect your Second Amendment, (which is under siege), is strong on Crime and the Border, and truly LOVES our Military and our Vets. He will be a great Senator for the people of Alabama. Coach Tommy Tuberville, a winner, has my Complete and Total Endorsement. I love Alabama!"
Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) is running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Alabama. Tommy was a terrific head football coach at Auburn University. He is a REAL LEADER who will never let MAGA/KAG, or our Country, down! Tommy will protect your Second Amendment....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2020
Tuberville responded with a tweet, saying he was grateful for Trump's endorsement, but not long after he tweeted that he looked forward to helping the president "drain the swamp."
"BREAKING NEWS: @realDonaldTrump officially endorsed my campaign for U.S. Senate. Help me finish what the President started and fire Jeff Sessions on March 31st."
BREAKING NEWS: @realDonaldTrump officially endorsed my campaign for U.S. Senate. Help me finish what the President started and fire Jeff Sessions on March 31st. Can you donate $5 today and help us win? #MAGAhttps://t.co/GX6Sb08RQj pic.twitter.com/BelrdP76yN
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) March 11, 2020
Tuberville coached major college football from 1995-2016, amassing 258 wins and 159 losses in that span as he coached Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati. His most successful time came as coach of the Auburn Tigers, where he went 85-40 over 10 seasons at Auburn, which included a 13-0 season in 2004 when the Tigers were on probation.
Tuberville went 25-20 as the head coach at Ole Miss before taking the job at Auburn from 1999-2008, when he left after a dismal 5-7 season. He then coached at Texas Tech in the Big 12 for three seasons (with an overall 20-17 record) before four years at Cincinnati, where he had a 29-22 record.
He has an overall bowl record of 7-6, which included three-straight losses at Cincinnati.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Scott McDonald is a Newsweek deputy night editor based in Cape Coral, Florida. His focus is assigning and writing stories ... Read more
