BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Even in the Middle East, Tommy Tuberville couldn't resist a playful poke at rival Alabama's six-year losing streak to his Auburn teams.
This time it was the seven-finger salute.
Tuberville made the gesture after helping coach U.S. military personnel to a victory in a 7-on-7 flag football game during a goodwill tour to the Middle East.
In fairness, he did have a little encouragement.
``There were SEC guys on both teams,'' Tuberville told The Birmingham News at the Southeastern Conference meetings Tuesday. ``They said, `Hold up seven fingers, coach.' Anything to get a laugh.''
The gesture might have drawn the ire of some Crimson Tide fans, but not all of them.
``One guy said, `I'm an Alabama guy, but go ahead and put up seven anyway. Doesn't make any difference,''' Tuberville said.
It's not the first time the coach has enjoyed a little fun at 'Bama's expense. He raised four fingers into the air after win No. 4 in Tuscaloosa and was later photographed on a bowl trip to Orlando wearing a ``Fear the Thumb'' T-shirt referring to a bid for a fifth straight win.
The seven-finger salute was captured by a photographer, and it has since made the Internet rounds.
If the photo gets Tide fans riled, Tuberville is OK with that.
``Everybody ought to be fired up,'' he said. ``It needs to be a good game. People need to be into it.''
As for the streak, ``Sooner or later, it's gonna end. We're gonna have fun while it lasts. If it was on the other side, it would be the same way. It's just a game.''
Tuberville said he signed plenty of Alabama paraphernalia for troops in the Middle East. While the teams and fans around the state don't treat it as ``just a game,'' he has a little different perspective with the weeklong trip fresh in his mind.
``It's not life-or-death,'' he said. ``What we just left, that's serious. It puts it into perspective.''
Thursday
October 24th, 2024
4:21PM
