Tommy Tuberville, SEC Coaches Play Musical Colleges

Tommy Tuberville is a native Arkansan, born in Camden, Arkansas. He has a long history of coaching within the state beginning in 1976 when he coached at Hermitage High School and then Arkansas State University. His history of coaching in Arkansas ended when he landed an assistant coaching position at the University of Miami in 1986. Then in 1997, he was asked to consider coming back to Arkansas.

The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville asked Tuberville to apply for the job of head coach in 1997, but Tuberville didn't want to go through the interview process. He just wanted to look at the situation and go from there. Obviously, Frank Broyles didn't agree with that. Broyles is leaving his position as athletic director at the end of this year and his hiring duties do not officially end until December 31, 2007. However, Chancellor John White turned over hiring duties to Jeff Long who is taking over for Broyles starting at the first of next year. Maybe Long and Tuberville have compromised on the application and interview process. Regardless, it seems that popular belief is that Tuberville is going to be the new head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Several Arkansas news outlets are reporting that Tuberville has all but signed the dotted line. Adding to this rumor, Tuberville is reported to be here in Arkansas duck hunting with friends. It is duck hunting season and ironically, coach hunting season it seems as well. Tuberville appeared on "Tiger Talk," an Auburn coaches talk show, and stated that he didn't plan on going anywhere. This is a tune familiar to Arkansas fans as Houston Nutt had been singing the same song for several weeks prior to Monday, November 26, 2007 when the fat lady sang as he resigned.

According to Arkansas360.com, Auburn has not been contacted by Arkansas and Auburn is planning to offer Tuberville an extension Friday. In my opinion, it's very plausible that Tuberville will be the next head coach. Since Frank Broyles vacating at the end of the year and the new athletic director, Jeff Long is at the reigns this time, Tuberville seems to be the missing piece to the puzzle for the University of Arkansas. With entirely new athletic management on "the hill," the Razorbacks are prime for growth and Tuberville has stated that he's ready for a team that can grow. If the finicky Razorback fans will hang in there a couple of years through the growth seasons, Arkansas could be a contender for serious bowl rankings.