Auburn Tigers coach Bruce Pearl got the attention of both college basketball and college football fans and spectators recently on social media. On Saturday, Aug. 30, the Florida State Seminoles defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in their opener of the 2025 college football season by 14 points, 31-17, in the former’s home pitch in what many are calling a huge upset at the start of the campaign.
Being a coach from a rival program in both basketball and football, this prompted Pearl to troll the Crimson Tide by posting an animated photo of now Florida State offensive coordinator and former Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn driving a bus that reads “Gus Bus” over the Crimson Tide elephant mascot.
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— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) August 30, 2025
Both college basketball and college football fans and spectators then troll Pearl for his shady post, as they think it was unwarranted.
“This is pathetic coach behavior. Imagine if Oats posted something like this 😭,” one user said with a crying emoji mentioning Alabama Crimson Tide college hoops coach Nate Oats.
“Damn Bruce! Take it easy on the Bama fans! They are in uncharted territory!,” another user claimed.
“Y’all probably wish you had him back…Is he still on the buyout payroll?????,” another questioned while alluding to Gus Malzahn’s exit from the Tigers five years ago.
“Funny, Bruce, try not choking in the tournament,” a user wrote.
Other users on X/Twitter, especially the Auburn faithful and even fans of other college programs, were in support of Pearl’s upload as they found it hilarious.
“You can take the man out of Auburn but you can’t take Auburn out the man,” one fan posted, alluding to Malzahn’s time at Auburn.
“😆😆😒 Love it, Coach Pearl!! Biggest mistake Auburn made wasn’t firing Gus, it was pulling support for him after the contract extension, withholding the Woltosz Center a prime example. Gus is a good, decent guy and a great coach,” another fan explained with emojis.
“NOW THIS IS A TROLL 😭😭,” a user exclaimed with crying emojis.
Malzahn and coach Mike Norvell’s Seminoles’ next game will be against the East Texas A&M Lions on Saturday, Sept. 6, on their home pitch, while coach Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide returns to action, looking to get a tally on the win column, on the same day against the UL Monroe Warhawks in their home arena. Pearl, on the other hand, is steadily preparing for his 11th season at the helm of the Auburn basketball coaching staff.
Gus Malzahn served as the Auburn Tigers football coach from 2013 to 2020
Before entering his first season as the offensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles in this year’s college football campaign, Gus Malzahn notably served at the helm of the Auburn Tigers football coaching staff for eight years from 2013 to 2020. He had an overall record of 68-35 with the team (39-27 SEC), and had three NFL draft classes to his name, wherein five or more of his players were selected.
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