Tuberville Makes a Political Error
By Paul Myerberg // Apr 28, 2011
As you may have heard, there’s been a bit of a political brouhaha over President Obama’s purported birth certificate; one side attests Obama was not born in America, which if true would invalidate his presidential eligibility. Without straying too far outside my comfort zone, I can say that similarly outlandish claims are the hallmark of political football, from Obama to the more recent President Bush, to Clinton, Reagan, Carter and so on. We’re used to hearing vitriol from both sides, but typically from the type of “carnival barkers” the President referenced yesterday afternoon — politicians hoping to make a mountain out of a molehill.
We’re not used to getting this talk from our athletic figures, particularly those in leadership positions — the coaches. Though we have seen some of it in the past, if you can recall: Joe Paterno opted against greeting former President Clinton when he came through State College in 2008; North Carolina’s Dean Smith made his presence felt in the state’s Democratic machine, though more after his coaching career concluded, not when he was leading the Tar Heels.
It’s still rare to see a coach speak out on political matters, much as Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville did on a Fox News’ panel on Tuesday. Tuberville weighed in on the issue of Obama’s birth certificate, saying to panel host Sean Hannity:
“Well, we’ve got enough controversy going on in this country. I don’t know why he wouldn’t just step up and say, you know, ‘Here it is.’ Obviously there’s got to be something on there that he doesn’t want anybody to see. I don’t understand it. You know, as a common American, I just don’t understand why we just go through this and I think it’s continued to divide the country.”
Alright, keep it clean. This isn’t about politics; it’s about why Tuberville, a college football coach — and a successful one at that — thought aligning himself publicly with any political cause, whether it leaned to the left or the right, would be a wise decision. Not because his views don’t matter, and not because his views automatically lack merit because he’s a football coach.
It was a poorly thought-out decision for two reasons. One, as a football coach, Tuberville is a leading representative of Texas Tech University, a public institution — and as such, should save his personal sentiments for his post-coaching career. In fact, one could very well say that Tuberville is the most recognizable public figure currently associated with the university.
Not to say that Texas Tech, as a whole, might not sympathize with Tubverille’s sentiments. It’s merely that Tuberville should not publicize his relationship with Texas Tech while being political, such as he did with a university pin on his lapel during the round table discussion; he was described as a “former Auburn coach,” however.
Two, he opens himself and his program up to negativity, which could manifest itself on the recruiting trail and in public support in and out of Lubbock. Opposing coaches have negatively recruitd using far less ammunition, I can assure you, and Tuberville’s appearance may be used against him in the future.
Because of race? Man, I hope not. Could another coach make a connection between Tubverille’s statements and race, raising the issue with a black recruit? Again, I hope not — but never say never, and this is a cutthroat business.
It would be less of a stretch for an opposing coach to simply associate Tuberville with the movement questioning Obama’s birth certificate, one viewed by the general public as involving some of society’s more — careful, careful — radical thinkers. Associating Tuberville with such a group? Well, it’s easy, and it’s potentially beneficial for a coach in direct competition with either Texas Tech or its coach.
You can also follow Paul Myerberg and Pre-Snap Read on Twitter.
Tags: Texas Tech, Tommy Tuberville
Home
Comments
Leave a Comment
Follow us
RSS | 
Twitter
I would like to have a President who works as hard as Nick Saban and with the possible exceptions of Polk and Truman, when have we had such a man in office ?
I also wish we had DeLoss Dodds running this country’s finances. When the University of Texas invests 1 billion dollars in gold and insists on taking possession of it, you better get your heads on a swivel boys because things are about to get ugly financially speaking.
As to Tubs and his comments,they will play well in White Deer, Pampa and West Texas. Not many inner city blue chips end up on Tech’s roster anyway and those that do are only occasional readers of The New York Times. I have known many Tech football players and they make me look like Karl Marx.
As to Tubs, he is not recruiting
Paul: Love the James K. Polk reference. Perhaps the hardest-working President in our country’s history, as well as our most overlooked. If our college football coaches did run for public office, I don’t think Saban would be President; he’d be Secretary of Defense, however. I’d think Jim Harbaugh might have had what it took for the highest office, but since he’s no longer an option, how about Mark Richt? Strong on family values, strong in the South and a good track record. Paterno’s a little old; Tressel’s out of the running; Beamer’s a bit too unknown out of his region; Stoops seems a little too slick; and June Jones hasn’t done enough to raise his profile on a big stage. That leaves Mack as our most presidential coach, though Pat Fitzgerald could make an Obama-like surge in the polls. So, because it’s too silly for a real post, here’s our college football cabinet:
Mack Brown, President
Les Miles, Vice President
Brian Kelly, Secretary of State
Kirk Ferentz, Secretary of the Treasury
Nick Saban, Secretary of Defense
Derek Dooley, Attorney General
Lane Kiffin, Transportation Secretary
Gary Patterson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Jeff Tedford, Secretary of Education
Mike Stoops, Secretary of Energy
This is very off-topic.
Too bad he got canned, because Charlie Weis would have made a great Surgeon General.
Why would you hope that other coaches don’t use Tuberville’s statement against him on the recruiting trail? Birtherism is a clear symptom of stupidity and racism. I guarantee you that I were a head coach and knew I was up against Texas Tech on the recruiting trail I’d tell every recruit about Texas Tech’s racist coach and the institution that allows his stupidity to unpunished.
Dooley gets attorney general over Beamer? Talk about getting hosed!
Paul: Thanks to Dooley’s law degree. Beamer is so predictably excellent as to be a boring, overlooked politician.
Lol @ “former Auburn coach” take that, Texas Tech.
The guy made a statement, simple as that, he said what he thought. I’m sure Texas Tech is plagued with left leaning professors that invade their influential students with their far left dribble on a daily basis. Tubbs leans left and just asked why Barry didn’t produce the Birth Certificate long time ago. That’s it. If this would have been a coach 10 years ago making a statement about how Bush was a war criminal then the guy would be praised as a brave man taking a stand.
Oh and sweater vest would make a good Governor in Illinois.
Paul: Unfortunately, I think you’re somewhat correct on the Bush comparison — not to the degree you think, but there would be far less of an outcry. Make of that what you will. Regardless, however, I think you can agree that Tuberville made a poor decision in speaking publicly about his political views. That’s not because of his viewpoint, as noted, but because he represents an institution that shouldn’t align itself in either political direction.
I’d really like to see Mike Gundy as Press Secretary.
Tuberville made a dumb mistake in saying something that’s going to be controversial in a number of recruits’ households. He also made a mistake going on a political talk show. I want my coach to talk about football, charitable work, his family, or the odd book or movie recommendation. Save the talk about politics until he retires, and don’t go on politics shows (unless the topic is football.)
With all due respect, I do not think that many of you understand Texas Tech. Tech very rarely signs a blue – chip. They have a roster filled with kids who who were snubbed by Texas, A&M, OU, etc. They coach and play with a chip on their shoulder and it has nothing to do with race. They do a helluva job. Their downfall is usually twofold. First, they do not have enough talent or home games to run the table and win championships. Second, they are so maniacal about beating Texas and A&M, that they are prone to the inexplicable upset in the weeks before and after those games.
Tech is the school of choice in a very conservative part of a conservative state. It is a god forsaken land populated by tough,self reliant people who, by and large, do not care for big government.
It is against this backdrop, that Tubs is measured. Yes, he should stick to football. However, he is coaching and recruiting in Lubbock- which is a lot different from Austin, much less Ann Arbor or Madison. I do not believe his comments offended the vast majority of Tech supporters. I seriously doubt his comments will impact recruiting.
Finally, some have chosen to equate Tub’s comments to racism. The truth is only he knows what lies in his heart. What I know is Tubs has been successful coaching in the South for many years and I do not believe that would be possible if his players considered him a racist. Frankly, he has more experience in dealing with black -white dynamics and cultivating racial harmony than any of us – his
livelihood has depended on it for the past 15 years.
To illustrate @Burnt Orange’s point a little further, look at Tuberville’s record at Auburn with quarterbacks. It may matter more to recruits that regardless of the guy’s views, will he give them a legitimate shot to play? Will he trust them enough if they have an off game or will he pull them for a white player? I don’t think that you look at Tuberville’s record and find evidence of disparate treatment of players.
I still don’t like that he jumped into politics, and I want coaches in general to stay out of it. His particular view may or may not affect recruiting. But why take that risk? And why not realize that some of your fans might be the odd Lubbock liberal?
Also, full disclosure, I was just as annoyed when basketball coach Rick Majerus was getting to politics on the liberal side in 2008.
*It is a god forsaken land populated by tough,self reliant people who, by and large, do not care for big government.*
Unless, of course, that big government is handing them agricultural or oil subsidies…
thank you dave.
That is a good point Dave. 72 percent of Texas farmers and ranchers receive no subsidies. Most farmers and ranchers I know are opposed to them. I am not aware of any oil subsidies for individuals. If you like, pick your political forum or web site and I’ll meet you there to discuss further.