Friends of Auburn Society

Open letter to new Auburn President Jay Gogue: As you prepare to assume the presidency of Auburn University you will be briefed on many important issues that confront our university. Those briefings will come mainly from present university officials. They will not tell you about the intricate web of personal, political and financial relationships that weaves itself throughout the university. The Friends of Auburn Society, a sub rosa society of Auburn professionals, feels that it is incumbent upon us to brief you on a matter that has for years been part of the dark underbelly of corruption at our university. The Alabama press continues to ignore this intriguing story first because of its complexity and secondly because of the relentless propaganda espoused from the central figure of this morass when there are inquiries. No, it is not Colonial Bank CEO Bobby Lowder. The head coach and quarterback in this financial football game is Representative Mike Hubbard of Auburn.

Mike Hubbard’s Auburn Network Inc. is aptly named because of the net he has been able to cast over all Auburn Athletic Department and Tigers Unlimited financial dealings. Over many years Mike Hubbard has directly reaped millions of dollars from Auburn University coffers into his personal business enterprises or indirectly with surrogates into their businesses. Most of these funds come directly from the Auburn Athletic Department and its fund raising arm Tigers Unlimited. He has used his influence both through legislation and personal political acquaintances to maintain a stranglehold on Auburn athletic receipts and create his personal multi million dollar empire.

In his most recent complex scheme Mike Hubbard made another million dollars when he shepherded the sale of his property using Auburn University as the conduit. In a merry go round web the Auburn University Federal Credit Union sold its building and property on campus to Auburn University. Then from those proceeds the Auburn University Federal Credit Union bought property from Mike Hubbard next to his Auburn Network building on East University Drive. The credit union building has been conveniently and accessibly located for years on the Auburn campus. Now Auburn University employees must travel off campus about 2 miles from the present location to the new location to conduct their personal business.

The names of many of the individuals that were involved in this most recent transaction are also listed as contributors on Representative Mike Hubbard’s campaign finance reports on file at the Office of the Alabama Secretary of State. They include members of the Auburn University Board of Trustees, Auburn University Administrators and Auburn University Federal Credit Union officials. Additionally these same campaign finance reports show contributions from Auburn Athletic Department and Tigers Unlimited officials who regular do business with Mike Hubbard.

Mike Hubbard’s monopoly profits immensely from a no-bid contract with the Auburn University Athletics Department. The university has lost millions of dollars in advertising and broadcast revenue while giving Hubbard near total control of lucrative sports advertising, merchandising, printing, vending, internet services, in addition to allowing Hubbard to act as sports agent for Auburn’s coaches. Since its inception, Hubbard’s Auburn Network Inc. (now called ISP) has held the broadcast rights to Auburn’s sports programs and had virtual total control over the university’s sports advertising, printing and vending services. These rights came via agreements struck by Hubbard and the university outside of the normal competitive bidding or through highly unusual bid procedures. Several years ago Hubbard was instrumental in passage of a state law that appears to have further secured his company’s profits by eliminating the need for Auburn University to solicit competitive bids for any sports-related contractual service, such as providing broadcast services. In addition to the broadcast rights, Hubbard and his company rake in untold revenues from print, radio, and TV advertising and internet subscriptions. A revue of Hubbard’s campaign finance reports will show that these advertisers also make contributions to his political campaigns.

We are listing below a few of the lucrative rights that Mike Hubbard controls at our university: Hubbard controls and coordinates, produces and distributes all sports radio broadcasts, weekly coach’s call-in-show and weekly television shows for football and men’s basketball. Hubbard controls the right to sell and secure commercial advertisers and sponsors for all games and shows. Hubbard controls Auburn’s pay-per-view television production, all Auburn video projects, and controls marketing, promotional and licensing activities related to Auburn Athletics. Hubbard controls the right to market and sell highlight audio and video tapes of games and sports events. He keeps 40 percent of all net profits. Hubbard has the exclusive right to act as agent for all Auburn head coaches for all personal endorsements. This covers all TV and radio commercials, personal appearances and participation in promotional activities. Hubbard controls the rights to negotiate and approve advertising deals for drink cups and food containers used by vendors at home games. Hubbard controls all printing of game programs, team schedule cards, posters and team calendars. Most of this printing is done by Hubbard’s Craftmaster Printers Inc. Hubbard controls the official Auburn Athletics Department website www.auburntigers.com. He keeps lists of subscribers to use for political purposes. Hubbard keeps 40 percent of gross revenue collected for any pay internet services offered via the official sports department website. Hubbard controls nearly 1000 Auburn football season tickets and over 100 parking passes to Auburn home games. Additionally he controls hundreds of away game tickets. Auburn furnishes him with two luxury suites at all Auburn home games. These are furnished to his legislative pals, political contributors and business partners.

We know that you have been approached about the formation of a blue ribbon committee to study the financial relationship of legislators to Auburn University and make recommendations to correct this relationship. We urge you to move quickly on this matter before the powers that be squash this movement. We will follow up with additional information about these matters in a few days.

Congratulations on becoming the President of Auburn!

Sincerely, Friends of Auburn Society

Copies: Alabama Legislature Alabama Ethics Commission Auburn Board of Trustees Alabama Newspapers Auburn Alumni