Tuberville Wants Trial Delayed Because Of New Coaching Job

Former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville is asking a civil trial in which he is a defendant be postponed because of his new job.

Tuberville recently left the head football coaching job at Texas Tech University to take a similar position at the University of Cincinnati.

In a document filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Tuberville asks the trial set for August be delayed until December or a time agreed upon by all parties.

Seven defendants filed suit in February, 2012 accusing Tuberville and TS Partners co-founder John David Stroud of bilking them out of $1.7 million. Tuberville claims he is a victim in the case with Stroud owing him $450,000.  

"Because of Tuberville's new job in a new state, it would pose an extreme and undue hardship on him to appear for trial in Alabama in August of this year," the document states.  The filing also notes Stroud failed to appear for a scheduled deposition in the matter, testimony needed for Tuberville's civil case.  Stroud's trial is set for April and the motion to delay trial notes Tuberville's attorney may not be able to obtain information needed regarding Stroud until late March.

The request to delay the trial further states, "Simply put, a new football coach with a new staff and a new team cannot afford to be absent for two weeks just before the beginning of the college football season.  Although no time is ever convenient for a long trial in another state, continuing trial by just four months until December of 2013 (after the end of the regular football season) would pose considerably less hardship on Tuberville, with minimal (if any) inconvenience on the Plaintiffs.

A judge will rule on the request at a later date.