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.''
Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, right, shakes hands with Alabama coach Nick Saban after Auburn defeated Alabama last season. Tuberville has irked some Crimson Tide fans again during a recent trip to the Middle East. / photo: Associated Press
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