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Tommy Tuberville may have been a winner in football, but he’s a loser in life.
I have always detested coaches who act in any way that all of their players are not 100 percent equal, regardless of their athletic ability, their performance in the classroom and community, their backgrounds and, yes, their race.
Alabama senior senator Tuberville had never shown much interest in politics until the 45th president got him to run against moderate Dem incumbent Doug Jones, who had a sterling record in his three years after taking over when Jeff Sessions was named the new attorney general. Coach Tub won by 20 points. Sweet Home Alabama.
Tuberville faced accusations of racism at Auburn, where he divided the state by beating Alabama six straight times and won five national coach of the year awards with an 85-40 record on the Plains. He left both Auburn and later Texas Tech after telling his team and fans he would stay.
But there was always a hint of racism as a coach, which can never be the case in any locker room. Major college football and basketball coaches have made millions on the backs of talented white players and players of color. Any successful coach who does not acknowledge that is ungrateful and/or plain stupid.
Tommy Tuberville during his tenure as Auburn football’s head coach. (Photo via AP File.)
So now, Tuberville has done something that may be more symbolic than truly dangerous by using his vote to block the confirmation of 250 Marine administrators and officers, leaving that branch of military without permanent leadership for the first time in 164 years. And Tuberville did this on the 79th anniversary of his father driving a tank on D-Day.
Coach Tub was already in a battle with his colleagues in Congress over avowed or known White Nationalists serving in the military while an investigation is ongoing to try to root out the truth, a word that has little meaning these days. He originally said, “Some people call them White Nationalists, I call them Americans” before walking that back.
There is also this little matter about the military retaining a more liberal policy on abortion, which provides full paid leave and reimbursement costs to all service members who cross state lines to end a pregnancy. Tuberville claims the policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from paying for abortions.
Of course, the GOP is split on Coach Tub’s stance and has given him several options to get out of this political mess and possible security risk for the country. But like he was known as the “riverboat gambler” when calling plays from the sideline, Tuberville seemingly doesn’t realize or care that he’s no longer coaching football.
Photo via AP Photo/Andrew Harnik.
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