I believe he was all but fired after the 2003 season. If I recall correctly, Tuberville was basically fired after the year and Petrino was set to be hired. Then, for whatever reason, Petrino backed out or Auburn boosters decided not to go through with it or something. Thus, Tuberville remained the head coach and went 13-0 the next season and got screwed out of a national championship berth. Auburn was a preseason top 5 team in '03 IIRC. They went on to disappoint for much of that year, going 6-5 in their first 11 games. After the Georgia game, JetGate took place, Petrino was interviewed. However, Auburn won the next game, the Alabama-Auburn game. They also beat Wisconsin in the bowl game by two touchdowns, and those two final games of the '03 season temporarily saved Tuberville's job. Auburn went on to go 13-0 in the 2004 season, cementing Tuberville as head coach for several more years.