U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Friday at the 58th Annual Induction Banquet in Birmingham, capping a coaching career that made him one of Auburn’s most celebrated figures.

“At the end of the day, it all comes down to work ethic and putting yourself in the right spot around good people,” Tuberville said.

Tuberville compiled an 85-40 record at Auburn with six consecutive Iron Bowl victories and five SEC Western Division titles.

The 2004 squad went 13-0, won the SEC Championship and the Sugar Bowl over Virginia Tech, and was recently recognized as national champions. Four players from that team were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

His 2004 starting quarterback, Jason Campbell, entered the Hall alongside him. “He was one that you knew was going to be a good player, not just because of athletic ability, but because of his discipline,” Tuberville said.

Tuberville called the honor a shared one. “This is definitely a team award, because one person doesn’t win in football. There’s so many people that make a difference,” he said.

When asked what stood out most from his tenure, Tuberville pointed to the Iron Bowl streak. “When I first got to Auburn, I was told, ‘You will be judged on how you participate against Alabama.’ I was told that by the people that hired me,” he said. “That’s how serious it is.”

Tuberville, the Republican frontrunner for governor, drew a sharp line between the two careers. “Football is a game. You go play it, and then you start your life,” he said. “In politics, it’s life. Every day you’re going to affect somebody’s life on every decision you make, some good, some bad, and hopefully you do more good than you do bad.”

The full Class of 2026 includes Tuberville, Campbell, Jeff Brantley, John Copeland, Kim Evans, Evan Mathis, Ray Odums, and Les Stuedeman, bringing the Hall’s total to 417.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].