According to his latest TV interview, Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl is leaving the door open to possibly run for the U.S. Senate in Alabama.

Since U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville officially announced his intention to be Alabama’s next governor, there’s been speculation that the Tigers’ head coach would campaign for the open seat.

Sunday on Fox News, Pearl admitted that he’s currently committed to Auburn basketball, but didn’t outright deny that he might end up running for the political office.

“I love my country, but I love being the basketball coach at Auburn,” Pearl said. “And as we’re speaking right now, I’m in Atlanta recruiting players. So, look, these issues matter to me, and it’s really not as much about politics as much as it is about the survival of our country and what direction that we’re looking to move forward.”

While Pearl is a very successful coach for the Tigers, he also has not shied away from speaking out on political issues, especially when it comes to national security and Israel.

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“It bothers me to see the Democratic Party moving so far over to the left on so many issues,” Pearl continued. “I wake up in the morning, and these are the things I think about as far as the future of my children and my grandchildren. And then, Brian, I am truly grateful for President Trump and the leadership that he’s taking in the Middle East. I mean, right now, it is safer than it’s ever been before. And what he has done to join Israel to make sure that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. So many presidents before said it, but never did anything about it. And Israel would have to, on their own, take out what they had in Iraq or on their own had to take out Syria.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee