MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -The Auburn Tigers apparently settled two significant issues Sunday: They’ll play No. 15 Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and coach Tommy Tuberville is staying put.
Beyond that, Tuberville and athletic director Jay Jacobs shed little light on the status of ongoing contract negotiations. Both, however, said they had not been contacted by Arkansas officials seeking to replace Houston Nutt.
“Everything’s going fine. Everything’s going just fine,” Tuberville said. “We’re looking forward to the Chick-fil-A Bowl.”
Auburn (8-4) will play Clemson (9-3) at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Dec. 31 after ending the regular season with a sixth consecutive win over in-state rival Alabama.
M, then Arkansas – has been a much hotter topic than the Tigers’ bowl destination.
Auburn offered Tuberville a two-year contract extension on Friday that reportedly would include a $200,000 raise and be worth an average of $3.3 million and through 2013. Neither Tuberville nor Jacobs would discuss the negotiations.
“It’s great to have a coach that’s wanted,” Jacobs said. “We’ve got 15 head coaches and I wish they were all wanted as much as Tommy is. There has been a lot of things ‘blowing up,’ if that’s what you call it, but there’s never been any doubt in my mind or Tommy’s that he’s going be our coach for many years to come.”
Tuberville’s take on that statement: “I concur.”
The bowl game has other storylines, too.
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden is a former Auburn assistant whose brother, Terry, preceded Tuberville as head coach of the Tigers.
The meeting accelerates the reunion of two former rivals. They are scheduled to play in a home-and-home series in 2010 and 2011. Auburn and Clemson have played 45 times but haven’t met since Auburn’s 21-17 win in the 1997 Peach Bowl.
Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves is already somewhat familiar with Clemson.
“I’ve had the chance to watch them on a couple of Saturday night games and they are a good team,” Groves said. “Their running backs, C.J. Spiller and James Davis, are very good. You watch them and wonder if they are that fast in person and now we get a chance to find out.”
Groves said Auburn players are content with their bowl trip, even though it’s only about 90 minutes from campus.
“There are a lot of teams that won’t get the chance to play in a bowl,” he said. “It’s always special when you get a chance to play, especially one as good as this one. We’ve had a good year and we are very thankful for the chance to be rewarded for that.”
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