Family reunion: Tommy Tuberville watches son make Auburn debut
By Brandon Marcello | bmarcello@al.com AL.com /storypackage /#article_inset Article
Auburn, AL
On the outside seat a few rows deep in section 28, Tommy Tuberville pumped his fist in the air at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
His son, Tucker, was entering the game Saturday against Idaho for the first time in his Auburn career. Three seasons as a scout team quarterback that have led to bruises -- "Especially this year with coach (Will) Muschamp," said Tucker Tuberville. "He yells thud the quarterback about 30 times in practice." -- finally resulted in a tangible prize: playing time.
"Now he's just got to get a pass," Tommy Tuberville said after his son ran nine yards on a quarterback draw with under 5 minutes remaining in the 56-34 Auburn win.
Tommy Tuberville is a legend of sorts here. He's the pleasant every-man coach, and in many ways he's still an Auburn Man after coaching the Tigers to five SEC West championships, one SEC title and a 13-0 season during his tenure ranging from 1999 and 2008. The Cincinnati coach visits when he can, including a pair of games this season, and he knew the opportunity for his son to play was on the radar against Idaho.
Following a 65-27 loss at South Florida, Tommy Tuberville and his wife, Suzanne, jumped in a car at 12:30 a.m. Saturday and drove to Valdosta, Georgia, where they booked a hotel, slept a few hours and finished the leg to Auburn to watch their son don an Auburn uniform inside the stadium they once called home for 10 years.
"This means a lot," Tommy Tuberville said in between plays. "I appreciate coach (Gus) Malzahn doing this. He doesn't have to do this, but it's always good to get your kids in there, the walkons. The kids on the sideline love it. I try to play as many as I can."
Two plays later, Tucker Tuberville ran five yards as Auburn milked the clock and held on to a 56-34 lead.
"He's gonna run it," Tommy Tuberville said, his voice reflecting that of every other player's dad vested in their son's success. "Come on, let him throw it once."
Tucker Tuberville grew up in Auburn and attended Lee-Scott Academy. He watched countless practices on the Tigers' intramural fields, wore Auburn gear and cheered the Tigers. He followed his father to Texas Tech, played high school football as a quarterback and walked on at Tech. His father left for Cincinnati following the fall of 2012, but Tucker Tuberville decided to transfer to the place he had long called home.
"Welp, I'm all for you," Tommy Tuberville said. "You've got to get on the team yourself. I'm not pulling any strings. You have to go to coach Malzqhn and talk to him. He's really enjoyed it. He's really learned a lot."
Tucker Tuberville didn't attempt a pass in eight plays Saturday, but he finished with 14 yards on two carries.
Why no passes? "
"Uh, we'll have to ask (offensive coordinator) Rhett (Lashlee) that," Malzahn deadpanned.
Start of Brightcove Player End of Brightcove Player Tucker Tuberville makes Auburn debutAuburn scout team quarterback Tucker Tuberville made the first appearance of his career against Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. His father, former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, was at Jordan-Hare Stadium to watch him play his first and possibly final game on the college level.
"I told him, 'Whatever you do, when you get in there, you will always be in the stats," Tommy Tuberville said.
Tucker Tuberville was grinning ear to ear after the game. He was on "Cloud 9" after playing a game in an Auburn jersey. It was here he made friends as a kid and was a ball boy along the sidelines during the days his father won sixstraight against Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
"Tucker's an oustanding young man," Malzahn said. "He's been a blessing for us as coaches and just one of those bright spots. He's going to be a heck of a coach, too. We're very happy for him. It's good for him to go out there and do his thing."
Tucker Tuberville will graduate in the spring. He's been on the academic honor roll every semester on campus and his next step is garner a graduate assistant job at a football program. He just doesn't know where yet. Coaching alongside his father is a possibility, but he hasn't given it as much thought "as I should."
Tucker Tuberville has been heavily involved in Auburn's signaling of plays along the sideline on game days. He's often the guy with the headset holding a clipboard.
"I love coach Malzahn," Tucker Tuberville said. "He gave me a great opportunity here and I love being able to soak everything up I can from here: from how to handle certain situations to his offense and everything. It's been such a blessing to be here the last three years."
On Sunday, father will head back to Cincinnati to prepare for a trip to East Carolina. Meanwhile, Tucker will hit the practice fields and absorb few more licks as a scout-team quarterback. His playing days after five minutes on the field are probably over.
"I was really blessed," Tucker Tuberville said. "It's hard for [dad] to do that, so for him to drive up from Tampa from the game and take time out of his day -- because they have a big game next week -- is really special. I probably don't appreciate it as much as I should. There's not a lot of guys who would do that, who would take the time out of their day to make it happen."