The Coaching Carousel: If Tuberville Leaves, Where Will Auburn Go Next?

The end of the season is approaching, rumors are flying, and the coaching carousel is turning once again.

Auburn’s head coach, Tommy Tuberville, appears to be one of the leading candidates to replace Texas A&M’s Dennis Franchione at the end of the year. Tuberville was defensive coordinator for the Aggies in 1994 and helped coach them to a 10-0-1 record. 

The Auburn faithful might have reason to worry.

Auburn and Tuberville do have a bit of a rocky past. In 2003, preseason hype had the Tigers in the National Title picture, but after a disappointing 7-5 regular season, Tuberville’s status at Auburn was a hot topic.

High-ranking Auburn officials flew to Louisville to interview head coach Bobby Petrino on the night of the Iron Bowl. Once the situation was made public, it backfired. Tuberville won the Iron Bowl and the bowl game after, and went 13-0 the next season, making him the most powerful man in Auburn.

As recently as this year, Tuberville heard some cries for his head after his early season loss to Mississippi State, dropping his record to 1-2 at the time. Needless to say, Auburn has not been great to Coach Tubs, and I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten.

Word is Tommy still has a house in College Station.

So as the reality that Tuberville may be leaving at the end of the year becomes more apparent, the Auburn nation is bracing itself for what may be the second coaching change in the state of Alabama in as many years.

But who should be on Auburn’s shortlist of candidates if Tuberville decides to bolt, and what are Auburn’s chances of landing these coaches?

1. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

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