Time to take a step forward

AUBURN - Like two jets passing in the night, there's poetic symmetry to Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino coming to Auburn the same week Tony Franklin was fired.

When Petrino and the Razorbacks meet with No. 20 Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium today, it will serve as a reminder of two remarkable offensive failures under Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville.

One reminder will be on the field. Whether the Tigers score 50 points or zero points, Auburn fans will compare this weekend's offensive output to what Franklin produced during his seven-game stint at Auburn.

The other reminder will preside on the opposing sideline.

Auburn entered 2003 with lofty expectations - even picked by many to win the national championship.

The Tigers returned much of their talent from the previous year, with one major change. Hugh Nall, who is currently coaching Auburn's offensive line, was trying to run Petrino's offense.

The previous year, Petrino served as Auburn's offensive coordinator and helped guide the Tigers to a 9-4 record. After the season, Petrino signed on as Louisville's new head coach.

With Nall trying to run Petrino's offense in 2003, Auburn struggled out of the gates, opening the season with two humiliating losses during which Southern California and Georgia Tech outscored the Tigers 40-3.

The Tigers finished the season with a disappointing 8-5 record that nearly cost Tuberville his job.

Days before the Alabama game that year, key Auburn athletics boosters and personnel flew to Louisville discuss the Auburn head coaching job with Petrino. One problem: Tuberville had not yet been fired.

Tuberville ultimately survived the coup and said Tuesday he has no hard feelings toward Petrino.

"Obviously at that time, I was a little confused as to what was going on," Tuberville said. "Just going through it over the last four or five years as this happened; you know this is a business.

"Bobby is a good football coach. He was at a great place at Auburn. He realized that. I guess he felt like if there was going to be a change, why not him. That is all passed."

Tuberville now downplays what has become one of Auburn football's more infamous moments.

Some have speculated that after firing Franklin on Wednesday, Tuberville is under the type of pressure he hasn't felt since 'Jetgate'.

Auburn is an 18 1/2-point favorite against an Arkansas team that has lost its last three games by a combined score of 139-31.

If Petrino, who nearly took Tuberville's job, can lead Arkansas to an upset, it could ultimately go a long way toward putting the Auburn head coach back on the hot seat.