Former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville secured another massive victory, getting elected Alabama’s governor. He straight up defeated Democratic challenger Doug Jones, adding a huge political win to his already wild career.
From the Senate to the Governor’s Mansion
Look, this isn’t Tuberville’s first rodeo in the political arena. He took on Jones back in 2020 too, but that time it was for a U.S. Senate seat. He won that one handily, wiping out Jones with over 60% of the vote! This time around, for the governor’s office, it was a bit tighter, with Tuberville pulling out the win by just over 4% of the vote. That’s a solid victory, and it officially moves him from the Senate right into the Governor’s Mansion. He’s set to succeed current governor Kay Ivey in January when he gets sworn in. Talk about a career pivot!
The Unforgettable Run on The Plains
Before he was running elections, Tuberville was running football programs, and folks down South know his name well. He spent over two decades coaching, but his most iconic gig was definitely at Auburn. He led the Tigers for 10 seasons, compiling an impressive 85-40 record. And man, that 2004 season? Unforgettable. His Tigers went a perfect 13-0! Can you believe they got left out of the BCS National Championship? USC and Oklahoma were also undefeated, yeah, but still, 13-0! That season alone landed him National Coach of the Year and SEC Coach of the Year honors. The guy also absolutely owned the Iron Bowl against Alabama, going 7-3, including a monster six-game winning streak from 2002 to 2007. He left Auburn after a “disappointing 2008 season,” but that 13-0 run still echoes.
Coaching Stops Beyond Auburn
Auburn was big, but it wasn’t his only coaching stop. Tuberville got his start at Ole Miss in 1995, where he racked up a 25-20 record over four seasons. After Auburn, he actually returned to the sidelines just two years later, taking over at Texas Tech in 2010 for three seasons. Then he moved to Cincinnati in 2012. He had a strong start there with two nine-win seasons, but things cooled off. After a rough 4-8 campaign in 2016, he resigned. It was quite a journey from the gridiron to the state capital, showing this guy knows how to compete, whether it’s on the field or at the ballot box.
So, come January, Tommy Tuberville officially steps into the Governor’s Mansion. From a perfect, if snubbed, 13-0 season to dominating the Iron Bowl, and now, winning the top office in Alabama. It’s a wild ride, and you gotta wonder what kind of plays he’ll be drawing up next for the state.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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