On the eve of the Alabama Republican runoff for a seat in the United States Senate, President Donald Trump spoke about favorite Tommy Tuberville while invoking the Iron Bowl rivalry.
Trump, speaking on a conference call in support of the former Auburn coach, took a soccer angle in his comments.
“Really successful coach,” said Trump of Tuberville, who was 85-40 in 10 years with Auburn. “Beat Alabama, like six in a row, but we won’t even mention that.”
Then he turned to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
“As he said … so, maybe we have Lou Saban,” said Trump. “… And it’s great, Lou Saban, what a great job you have done.”
Lou Saban was an NFL and college head coach who died in 2009. He may have been distant cousins with the Alabama head coach, his widow Joyce said in her Associated Press obituary, but the families were unable to make the connection. with total certainty.
Nick Saban’s middle name is also Lou.
Lou Saban was actually 0-1 as a coach against Alabama, with his Miami Hurricanes losing 36-0 to Bear Bryant in 1977. A year later, Miami defeated Auburn 17-15.
Tuberville is running against former US Senator and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
RELATED: President Trump Talks About Tommy Tuberville On Election Day Conference Call
Trump has a history with Alabama football during his presidency, regularly mentioning the Crimson Tide while attending two games in recent years. Last week, when UA System Chancellor Finis St. John was in the White House, Trump asked about the Alabama football season as he
“Say hello to the coach,” Trump told San Juan without saying his name. “Great coach”.
RELATED: President Trump Wants to Know If Alabama Will Play Soccer This Fall
Trump also attended the 2018 national title game Alabama won over Georgia before coming to Tuscaloosa for last year’s game with LSU. Saban met Trump at the White House in 2018 after beating Georgia in the title game.
Michael Casagrande is a Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow her on Twitter @ByCasagrande or in Facebook.
