Props to Gus for getting Tucker in the game.

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Tucker Tuberville has spent hundreds of games inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. On Saturday afternoon, the Auburn native finally played in one.

Tuberville, a scout team quarterback and son of former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville, entered the game with 10:09 left in the fourth quarter of Auburn’s 56-34 win against Idaho and manned the Tigers’ offense for the final three possessions of the game.

“It was surreal,” Tuberville said. “Like I said, I didn’t expect to at all. I really appreciate getting the chance to do that. I’ve been in that stadium a lot of times, so to be out on that field for once, it was something different. It was fun.”

Tuberville didn’t attempt a pass during the first game action of his college career, mostly handing the ball off to Roc Thomas and Lawyer Tillman as Auburn tried to run the clock out with a comfortable lead. He didn’t mind not being able to attempt a pass; he was just happy to be in the game.

The former transfer from Texas Tech did manage to get in the stat sheet, though.

Tuberville ran the ball twice, totaling 14 yards. On his second drive, Tuberville opened with a 9-yard run and then had a 5-yard rush two plays later.

“It’s something I will never forget, for sure,” Tuberville said.

What made the moment even more special for the 6-foot, 192-pound senior was that his father — whose Cincinnati team played South Florida in Tampa on Friday night — made the drive to Auburn and was in the stands Saturday afternoon. Tommy told his son on Thursday that he’d be able to make the game, though neither knew that Tuberville would actually see the field.

The moment was years in the making for Tuberville, who has spent the last three seasons as Auburn’s scout team quarterback while learning a thing or two about coaching from Auburn’s staff. After graduation in the spring, Tuberville hopes to become a graduate assistant at some program — possibly his father’s in Cincinnati.

“He’s going to be a heck of a coach, too,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said, a noticeable smile forming on his face. “We’re very happy for him. It’s good for him to get out here and do his thing.”

For the last three seasons, of course, Tuberville’s “thing” has been helping relay plays in to the offense from the sideline — and taking a pounding from Auburn’s defense during game preparation at practices. The number of bruises he sustains varies on a week-to-week basis; it depends on the style of offense Auburn’s opponent that week runs, he says.

There was a couple weeks earlier in the season where Tuberville was particularly knocked around in practice. He says, especially with Will Muschamp running Auburn’s defense, he was taking about 30 hits per practice.

The nagging pain of those bruises these last three years were worth the elation Tuberville felt on Saturday, though.

“That’s a good feeling,” Tuberville said. “I’m kind of on Cloud 9 right now; it hasn’t really hit me yet, but it’s something I’ll definitely always remember.”

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