This week, reports surfaced that Tommy Tuberville, former head coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati, might consider a run for the governorship of Alabama once incumbent Robert Bentley’s term-limited tenure is up in 2019.
It’s not without precedent, a sports figure crossing over into the political arena - a few examples come to mind. Legendary Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne served three terms in Congress after hanging up his whistle. Former Tennessee star and NFL journeyman quarterback Heath Shuler also served three terms in the House. Jack Kemp, Jim Bunning, Steve Largent - and of course Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura - there’s plenty of examples.