Bearcats' smooth-talking Tuberville winning PR game
Mar 10, 2013


Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Tommy Tuberville looks to blow the whistle during Cincinnati first scrimmage of the spring at Nippert Stadium Saturday March 9, 2013. The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II

Written by
Tom Groeschen

Those who know Tommy Tuberville say he seems happier than he has been in years.

After a sometimes rocky tenure at Texas Tech, Tuberville in three months as University of Cincinnati football coach quickly has won friends and influenced people. On and off the field.

“He’s loving it so far,” said Tuberville’s son, Tucker. Tucker Tuberville, who redshirted as a freshman quarterback at Texas Tech last year, has transferred to UC to be with his father.

Tommy Tuberville’s unique blend of relaxed intensity, for a head coach, is rarely seen in major college sports.

For instance, right in the middle of a spring practice, Tuberville walks over to a reporter to say hello. Not just hello – he stays and talks. For several minutes. And on more than one occasion.

“You’ve covered the Reds? What kind of guy is Dusty Baker?”

Make no mistake, Tuberville is still watching his football team. But he also is getting to know you.

“Going to the (new Horseshoe) casino? I like to go. Not to gamble, but for the food. They have a Bobby Flay’s, right? And a Binion’s. Casinos usually have good food.”

Generally, this does not happen. Big-time college head coaches generally don’t stop during practice to chat with reporters. But Tuberville does.

People who know Tuberville say that’s the way he is. An Arkansas native who retains his Southern accent, Tuberville has a folksy, easy charm that instantly endears him to many he meets. Prominent UC boosters feel they’ve already known Tuberville for years.

Mostly, Tuberville, at age 58, is comfortable in his own skin. He won three national title rings as an assistant at the University of Miami. As head coach at Auburn, he once beat archrival Alabama six straight times and nearly reached the top again in 2004 (13-0 record, No. 2 final ranking in both polls).

Whereas younger coaches Brian Kelly (now at Notre Dame) and Butch Jones (Tennessee) pushed UC players hard, Tuberville pushes them just as hard, but with less noise.

“I like Coach Tuberville,” UC junior linebacker Jeff Luc said. “He’s laid-back. He lets his coaches coach.”

Some still wonder why Tuberville took a perceived step down to UC. Yes, Texas Tech fans never really embraced him. Yes, Tuberville’s wife is from the Cincinnati area. Yes, Tuberville had some history with UC athletic director Whit Babcock, having worked with him at Auburn.

Yet UC, even with its recent run of success, is not one of college football’s glamour programs. Not to mention, the league formerly known as the Big East continues to crumble.

Tuberville insists all that does not affect him:

“As football coaches, we’re just trying to win the next game.”

The first real game is Aug. 31 against Purdue. For now, Tuberville is winning the public relations game. In a blowout.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130...ng-PR-game

In Charlotte, there was a group of fans cheering on the team as they left the hotel for the Belk Bowl. While we were waiting, Tuberville casually walked into the crowd with his family and talked to anyone who approached him. He was very calm and casual and didn't feel like he was trying to sell you something or big-shot you. Seemed more like another fan than a big name coach. I was very appreciative of that experience and could never imagine Kelly or Jones behaving the same way. Seems like a genuinely nice guy.

In Kelly's first year, he walked through all the tailgate lots shaking everyones hand and thanked them for coming. This was 90 minutes before game time. I never thought I would see that and I am pretty sure I never will again.

He has a very calming demeanor you can see it and hear it in his interviews, he seems like a genuinely nice guy.

Since he took the job at UC he seems very happy and laid back. He also seems that he wants to be here. Hope this works out for us all.

(03-11-2013 07:26 AM)jnewyouth Wrote:  In Charlotte, there was a group of fans cheering on the team as they left the hotel for the Belk Bowl. While we were waiting, Tuberville casually walked into the crowd with his family and talked to anyone who approached him. He was very calm and casual and didn't feel like he was trying to sell you something or big-shot you. Seemed more like another fan than a big name coach. I was very appreciative of that experience and could never imagine Kelly or Jones behaving the same way. Seems like a genuinely nice guy.

I was at the Precinct with my brother celebrating his graduation from Law School, and we caught a glimpse of Coach Tub coming in the door with his son. My brother went up and asked for a picture and he was more than willing to oblige, then went on to talk to us for a good 5-10 minutes while he was waiting for his table and ended up buying us a celebratory round before heading to the back. Great, classy guy, I'll be on his side for a long time becuase of that move.