Report: Tuberville gets pay raise

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville will be paid more for his services in the coming future.

The Birmingham News reported Thursday that he has agreed to a new five-year contract that will pay him $1.5 million annually. The paper said the new deal will be signed sometime this week, and includes a buyout clause that will make it difficult for either side to walk away.

Tuberville guided the Tigers to their second nine-win season in three years in 2002.

Auburn was 9-4 last season, including an upset win over Alabama and a victory over Penn State in the Capital One Bowl.

The newspaper said that Tuberville will receive a raise of $250,000 annually, could receive an additional $500,000 in incentives, and a $1 million bonus if he completes the five seasons.

His salary would be the third-highest in the Southeastern Conference behind Phillip Fulmer of Tennessee and Nick Saban of LSU, who each earn about $1.6 million annually.

The Birmingham News added that the contract calls for Tuberville to pay Auburn $3 million if he decided to leave the school, and that Auburn would have to pay Tuberville a base buyout of $3 million, plus $200,000 for each year he completes the contract, should he be removed as coach.

The contract would be the third in four years for Tuberville, who took over a program in shambles following the departure of Terry Bowden. Tuberville was 5-6 in his first season in 1999, and improved to 9-4 and 7-5 the next two seasons.