News of the day, 11/29

Hey everyone. Tremendously busy day as you'd expect. Let's get to business.

You know what that 6 is for? They want to buy out Tuberville. Only takes $6 million.

You don't need a reduced buyout to shut us up. A new MacBook would do the trick here at the HOTTEST Auburn blog on the 'net.

It's been an absolutely crazy night of awkward comments and developments. It's matched only by the night Jetgate broke and the afternoon of 10/23/98 when Terry Bowden resigned.

Here is what I know:
*Auburn has not been contacted by Arkansas.
*A Ft. Smith, Ark., television station is reporting that Tuberville will be the next coach at Arkansas.
*Tuberville's weekly appearance on "Tiger Talk" included a long rant about how the program can't progress if it continues along its current course. He later made references to the need for upgraded facilities and to get the attention of "people in charge"
*Tuberville is in Arkansas hunting ... animals.
*Auburn is planning to offer Tuberville an extension Friday.

What I don't know:
*Where the Arkansas television station got its information, which is premature at best.
*Why Tuberville is taking his opinions to the airwaves.
*Whom Tuberville is identifying when he says "the people that are in charge."

By request, here are the Quotes You Need To Read (as judged by me) from Tuberville's appearance on "Tiger Talk":

``I want everybody, not just our administration but also our fans, to understand we are at a point and if we are going to get to another point we can’t keep on as is. You've got to make changes -- facilities. You have got to have a plan. A plan has to be intact."

``I am not looking to go anywhere. I am looking to make sure people understand what we need to do to get better. This program needs to take some steps in some areas to improve and some need to be talked about with our president, who is a great guy, and we had a great visit, and also Jay Jacobs, our athletic director."

``People don’t need to panic or anything. This is for the betterment of Auburn. Obviously, I always look out for my family, which is my coaches and their families. I'm in charge of over 100 people. I want to make sure everybody is happy, healthy, but also has a chance to have success. We have had great success in nine years and we want the success to improve in the next nine years. I think everybody wants that.”

So what does your favorite Montgomery Advertiser Auburn beat writer think of all this? My initial thought is that a rift absolutely exists between Tuberville and at least a few of "the people that are in charge." It looks like he's playing a game of chicken. He's taking jabs on "Tiger Talk" and dragging his feet on these talks with Auburn. Is that the kind of behavior you'd expect from a coach who allegedly is content with finishing his career at Auburn?

I wonder what "Michael S." (see the 11/28 blog) thinks about all this.