LIKE IT IS : Petrino, Tuberville leave Jetgate in the past

WALLY HALL

Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/239627/

Almost five years ago, the president and the athletic director at Auburn University, a much respected institution of higher education, made a serious mistake.

They slipped into the private jet of a wealthy booster and flew to Louisville, Ky.

There, they met privately with Louisville Coach Bobby Petrino and, with their mission accomplished secretly, returned home. Petrino had spent the 2002 season as Auburn’s offensive coordinator, helping the Tigers to a 9-4 record and trips to the SEC Championship Game and the Citrus Bowl, but he headed to Louisville the next season.

So the Auburn faithful were familiar with Petrino.

Auburn’s AD, David Housel, is the most dedicated and passionate man in history when it comes to anything and everything Auburn.

He had protested the trip, the interview and everything else concerned with the clandestine rendezvous, begging that they wait until at least the end of the regular season, but he followed orders when told to get on the plane.

Some folks, especially a wealthy booster, were not happy that the Tigers were 6-5 and wanted a change ready Nov. 23, the day after the Alabama game, which incidentally Auburn won.

Well, the secret meeting, now dubbed Jetgate, was — as they usually are — exposed, and three things happened. The first was to be expected, the second was a travesty, and the third was great fortune.

First, Auburn President William Walker was given his walking papers, as he should have been. How does the president of a major university get involved in such under-the-table dealings ?

Second, Housel was moved to emeritus status, which was a slap in the face for someone who had dedicated his life to Auburn. Housel was, is and always will be an Auburn treasure.

Third, and this happened a year later after Tuberville led Auburn to a 13-0 season, a longterm financial agreement was reached to keep Tuberville on the plains until he is a senior citizen.

Saturday will be the first time Tuberville and Petrino have met on the field, so it was natural the story of five years ago came up.

“Water under the bridge,” Tuberville said Monday evening on Sports Animals. “Bobby and I have sat down, talked about it and now we laugh about it.”

Since the Jetgate season, only one program in the SEC has a higher winning percentage than Auburn’s 82 percent, and that is LSU at 83 percent.

Both coaches have said Jetgate is a distant memory, but there will be a bit of a doubleedged sword Saturday when the Razorbacks travel to Auburn.

Almost 11 years ago, Tuberville was ready to leave Ole Miss for the Arkansas job — and he was told it was his at one point — but a showdown among the members of the selection committee, who had to have a unanimous vote, went from his receiving all but one vote on the first tally to hours of blood, sweat, swearing and tears before the job went to Houston Nutt.

A year later, Tuberville, who took the Rebels’ job when the program was on probation and had the Rebels headed in the right direction, left for Auburn.

Last August, while yours truly was touring Arkansas’ SEC opponents, Tuberville was asked about the Arkansas job.

“At one time, I was very interested,” he admitted. “What coach who grows up in Arkansas doesn’t dream of coaching the Razorbacks ? Not now, though. My family really likes it here.”

Tuberville, who turned 54 last month, added: “I’d be shocked if I didn’t retire here. This is a beautiful place with really good people.”

No, he didn’t add “most of them anyway.”

Within a couple of days of the news breaking about Jetgate, Housel went to Tuberville’s office and apologized for his role, and Tuberville forgave him on the spot.

There could have been a lot of drama going into this game, but with everything out in the open, it is just an SEC game between two teams needing a victory.