Former Auburn linebacker Eltoro Freeman plays defense again for Tommy Tuberville in new ad

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Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville speaks to supporters after he defeated Jeff Sessions in Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

On Wednesday, U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville released a new ad featuring former Auburn football player Eltoro Freeman, reported Yellowhammer News. Freeman speaks freely in the 60-second ad, singing Tuberville’s praises. The ad was released the day after Eltoro was interviewed by Yellowhammer News, where he described talking to Mark Bechtel, an editor with Sports Illustrated. Freeman felt Bechtel was trying to get him and other former football players to say disparaging things about Tuberville. Freeman was “very disturbed” by the interaction and reached out to set the record straight. Freeman then called on Bechtel to interview him for a truthful account of the kind of man Tuberville is.

“I just want to set the record clear … I know a lot of my former teammates — they are upset about it as well,” Freeman stated. “Because one of the main things Coach Tommy Tuberville stood for, the first thing, was establishing a relationship with God and making sure all of us knew about God.”

In the new ad, which air on broadcast and cable stations throughout the state, Freeman continues that same description of Tuberville. “In 2006, I had the opportunity to meet Coach Tommy Tuberville. The thing that separated Coach Tuberville from all the other coaches was he seemed to care more about Eltoro Freeman, the person instead of Eltoro Freeman, the athlete,” Freeman stated. “Coach Tommy Tuberville was like a father figure. His ultimate goal was to make you a better man,” he continued.

When speaking of Tuberville’s Christian faith, Freeman stated, “He’s a man of faith. He’s a man of love. Coach Tommy Tuberville is running for Senate because he simply just cares about the people.”

Eltoro Freeman was an outside linebacker for Auburn University and played in the 2010 BCS National Championship with the team. He graduated in 2011. Tuberville noted, “I’ve had a lot of special experiences as a Senate candidate over the past year-and-a-half, but hearing the kind words Eltoro had to share about the influence I had upon him may be the most special.”