Tommy Tuberville is making a gubernatorial run in the state of Alabama next year, with current governor Kay Ivey set to be replaced. If Tuberville had it his way, Auburn Tigers basketball coach Bruce Pearl wouldn't be the man to replace him on Capitol Hill.
The reason? Pearl is doing too good of a job on the Plains leading the charge for AU's hoops program.
“The compensation is a little bit different. I wouldn’t let him do it because he did such a good job at Auburn,” Tuberville told Semafor's Shelby Talcott and Burgess Everett. “We need him there.”
The Semafor report claimed Pearl was planning on running for the seat opposite Katie Britt.
"One person familiar with the situation said they heard Pearl plans to run — he’s chairman of the US Israel Education Association, and he was on Capitol Hill just last week. His X feed, meanwhile, isn’t what one would typically expect of a head college coach: One of his most recent posts calls for dismantling Iran’s nuclear program," the report read.
"Despite his clear interest in some political issues, others are skeptical Pearl would ever get into the race and see him as a longshot given his success on the court."
Steven Pearl can replace Bruce Pearl as Auburn Tigers basketball coach
If Bruce is planning to pivot to politics, his son, Steven, could continue the Pearl family business on the Plains.
Steven has long been seen as Bruce's successor. Reading the tea leaves, it's fair to predict 2025-26 being Bruce's last season as head coach.
Steven's time could be imminent if Bruce's support of Israel and Donald Trump's values draws him into politics.