Say this for Tommy Tuberville: Of all the late 50's/early 60's out-of-work coaches, he definitely has the biggest dreams.
Rather than throw his name around for this coaching job or that one, Tuberville poked around at running for governor of Alabama. That didn't happen, and now he has his eyes on a slightly lower prize -- the AD job at Auburn.
"I would love to help Auburn's athletic program," Tuberville told WNSP radio in Mobile, via AL.com. "I don't think there's anyone more qualified than me. I know it. I know the people. I know the boosters, the alumni. I know the city, the community. I would love to talk to the president, whether I am a candidate or whether I can help."
Jay Jacobs has announced he will step down from a job he has held since 2005 on June 1.
"They are way underachieving in that athletic program, as we speak," Tuberville told the station. "There are a lot of great things and a lot of good people.
"Everywhere I go - I'm going to Ames, Iowa, this week to do Oklahoma State-Iowa State - I will get questions about 'What in the world is going on at Auburn?' I'll get that in the airport in Atlanta."
"I just want Auburn to get the full use out of everything they have because it is a great place," he said. "I've always told people - even when I was there - you can't worry about anyone else but Auburn. You can take it or leave it. But I don't think there are many people who know it any better than me, not just Auburn, but the entire conference and the southeast.
"I'd love the opportunity to help Auburn become successful as it can be."
Tuberville has no athletics administrative experience, but went 85-40 as the Tigers' head coach from 1999-08. He most recently coached at Cincinnati from 2012-16. He now works as a color analyst for ESPN alongside Mike Patrick.
The AD position has become more professionalized of late, though South Carolina and Mississippi State have moved their baseball coaches straight to the AD suite in recent years. Barry Alvarez has been a success story at Wisconsin. That said, the next Auburn AD will have to compete with young, professional recently hired ADs at Alabama, Florida and Tennessee.
There's never a dull day at Auburn.