To begin, let me say that I do not always agree with how Tuberville coaches. In particular his "let their offense make mistakes" mentality when Auburn has any kind of lead is brutal to my nerves. With that said however, recent posts across the internet about how Tuberville needs to go at the end of the season are, in my opinion, incredible (look up the term in the dictionary). So to remind those fans with short and skewed memories I have decided to list some facts about previous Auburn football coaches.

The revered, and rightfully so, Ralf "Shug" Jordan went 175-83-7 (.674) over a 24 year period. He was not good consistently, especially against Alabama (9-16). His first winning season was his third season (7-3-1). He had 3 ten win seasons, including the 1957 National Championship team but he also had 5 six win seasons. His longest streak of winning seasons with 8 or more wins was from 1969-1972. Outside of this he never went more than 2 seasons in a row with 8 or more wins. More importantly in his first nine seasons his record was 63-27-3 or (.677).

The next great coach was Pat Dye, who in 11 years was 99-39-4 (.711). Part of Dye's allure comes from the fact he finally broke Alabama's 9 game win streak in 1982. Dye had more consistency in his winning than had Jordan winning 8 or more games from 1982-1990. Never did he go undefeated but he did have 4 ten or more win seasons. Unfortunately he also had 3 five win seasons including his last two before he left Auburn burdened by his shady recruiting tactics. Against bama he was 6-6, and 6-3 in his first nine attempts. His first nine seasons he went 71-25-2 (.724).

Riding Dye's recruits to success was Terry Bowden who was 47-17-1 (.731). After winning his first 21 games, Bowden's production slowed. Still he was seemingly a stable coach, but his coaching tactics lead to his departure in 1998 in the midst of a 3-8 season. Not counting his last half season he was 3-2 against Alabama, otherwise his teams were 3-3.

Then came Tuberville to clean up the mess of Bowden, much as Jordan and Dye had done for their predecessors. Against Alabama he is 7-2, a feat achieved by no other coach in their first nine years. His first 9 seasons he went 78-32 (.709), and he has won 8 or more games since 2002, including the impressive but national championship denied 14-0 of 2004.

At this point Tuberville, regardless of whether we always agree with his coaching, belongs in the trinity of great AU football coaches. His first nine years are only bested by Pat Dye who it seems, like all the big coaches of his day, earned that record through illegal and ultimately costly recruiting. Having earned his spot among the AU coaching greats he deserves the same leniency those other coaches received. Jordan went 19-14-2 (.542) in his last three seasons and Dye went 18-14-2 (.529). Even if Tuberville does not win another game this season he would still be 24-14 (.631).

It is hard to dispute the numbers, though no doubt some of you will. Tommy Tuberville deserves to stay at Auburn until he has at least two seasons in a row with less than 6 wins. Let's face it, Jordan wasn't fired and Dye would have lasted longer had he not be force out because of the recruiting scandal. Other coaches were given more slack and Tuberville deserves no less. He has proven he can coach and win in the SEC, a hard feat to manage even at top-tier schools (see Tennessee the last few years).

To state or even hint that Tuberville needs to be fired at the end of the season only demonstrates an ignorance of Auburn history and a refusal to recognize Tuberville's success (he's gotten us the closest we've been to a national championship team since 1957). I may not always like him but he is the best thing for Auburn football and to throw him aside after his accomplishments at Auburn really smacks of Tuscaloosa, not Auburn, football and character (see Bill Curry, 26-10, .722 and was fired after 9-3 and 10-2 seasons). War Eagle and Long Live Tuberville!