From Deseret News archives:
Tuberville wins AP coaches' award
A year after he was nearly replaced by Auburn, Tuberville is The Associated Press coach of the year. Utah's Urban Meyer was a distant second in voting by the AP. Former Weber State coach Mike Price (2), who led UTEP to a bowl game, and former Utah State assistant Bobby Petrino (1), whose Louisville team is in the Liberty Bowl, also received votes.
"I learned a lot last year from what we went through at the end of the season," he said. "I've been more relaxed."
In his sixth season at Auburn, Tuberville has led the third-ranked Tigers to a 12-0 regular season and its first Southeastern Conference championship in 15 years.
"It's probably been my easiest season as a head coach because of the great senior leadership this team has," Tuberville said. "Coaches tend to think the world is on their shoulders. I've delegated more authority this season than before. Because of that, I think it's been an easier year."
But not quite perfect, despite the perfect record.
The Tigers failed to reach the Orange Bowl to play for the Bowl Championship Series national title. Auburn never could get past Oklahoma and Southern California in the BCS standings and will play Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 3.
Tuberville did far better in the coach of the year voting than his team did in the polls. He was a runaway winner, getting 35 of the 63 votes from the panel of media members.
Meyer, who led the Utes to an unbeaten season and a berth in the BCS before taking the Florida job, was second with 14 votes.
USC's Pete Carroll and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz received four votes, California's Jeff Tedford got three votes and Texas-El Paso's Mike Price got two. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Louisville's Petrino each received one vote.
Tuberville is the second straight SEC coach to win the AP award. LSU's Nick Saban won in 2003.
As disappointing as being left out of the title game has been for Tuberville and his undefeated Tigers, this season has been far more enjoyable than last.
The Tigers began the 2003 campaign ranked in the top 10 and favored to win the SEC. But they lost their first two games of the season and stumbled to a disappointing 8-5 finish. There was speculation late in the season Tuberville might be on the way out.
It almost happened. It became public that Auburn officials, including the university president, had covertly courted Petrino to replace Tuberville.
"A little bizarre is an understatement," Tuberville said.
The failed coup was an embarrassment for the Auburn hierarchy and helped rally support for Tuberville from Tigers fans who felt he was treated unfairly.
Tuberville never griped about the administration's sneaky move and decided to stay with Auburn.
"I came back for two reasons," he said. "The players stayed behind us 100 percent and 99 percent of the people in the Auburn family stayed behind us.
"I told my staff 'We're not going to dwell on it. We're not going to hold grudges."'
Tuberville's actions strengthened his relationship with the players.
"I always respected him. I respect him even more now for staying with us, even though they plotted to get him out of here," receiver Courtney Taylor said. "It takes a bigger man to stay here and face everything that went on down here during that time. I love the man."
