tuberville arkansas

Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville was sitting on a deer stand in rural Arkansas early this morning. Cell phones, of course, work even in deer stands if they're not too far out in the sticks.

Tuberville, who will be back in Auburn around lunchtime today, said he was incredulous when he learned after emerging from the woods Thursday night of the reports flooding out of Arkansas that he was on the verge of agreeing to become the Razorbacks' coach.

Tuberville didn't want to be quoted, but he had some strong words for those responsible for those reports. Neither he nor his agent, Jimmy Sexton, Tuberville said, has had any contact at all with Arkansas officials about the job vacated by Houston Nutt.

By the way, he and assistants Eddie Gran and Steve Ensminger were planning to hunt ducks but ended up hunting deer. Gran bagged a deer. The
FAYETTEVILLE ― Reliable but conflicting sources Thursday night paint a puzzle whether Auburn coach and Camden native Tommy Tuberville will or won't be the Razorbacks' next head football coach.

Some media and Internet outlets reported Thursday night that Tuberville likely will be named at the University of Arkansas to replace Houston Nutt.

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Some sources, while not claiming it's a done deal, said Thursday night Tuberville appears close to accepting a UA offer.

However other sources who have proven reliable in the past insist that Tuberville, because of hefty financial considerations (including a $6 million buyout) is not in the mix of coaches considered by incoming Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long.

Long doesn't officially replace retiring Arkansas athletics director Frank Broyles until Jan. 1, but was called upon by UA Chancellor John White to conduct the search to replace Nutt.

Nutt resigned Monday after 10 years coaching Arkansas and was named last Tuesday as the head coach at Ole Miss.

Ironically, Ole Miss is where Tuberville coached when he and Nutt were the coaches the UA Search Committee most considered before Nutt was named in December of 1997 to replace Danny Ford.

Tuberville's name has been bandied about this year when Nutt was just rumored to be leaving. He's been widely considered one Arkansas would seek once Nutt's resignation became official.

However during halftime of Wednesday night's Arkansas-Missouri basketball game, Long at a press conference seemed to dismiss Tuberville as a presently-considered candidate without mentioning him by name.

"I will say that many reports about an SEC West coach are extremely premature, not only premature but fantasy," Long said Wednesday night.

The Mobile Press Register reported Thursday that Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs has not been contacted by Arkansas for permission to talk to Tuberville.

"I haven't been contacted by Arkansas," Jacobs told The Press Register, "and I can't imagine them hiring somebody without talking to me first."

Does he expect Tuberville to remain at Auburn?

"Yeah," Jacobs was quoted, "based on our conversation Tuesday, It was