Former Auburn University head football coach Tommy Tuberville is not a fan of the University of Virginia men’s basketball team refusing President Donald Trump’s invitation to be honored at the White House for their recent national championship victory.

UVA defeated Auburn in a controversial Final Four ending, and the Tigers recently celebrated their season at the Alabama Governor’s Mansion with Gov. Kay Ivey and other state officials.

A UVA player, after the team declined the president’s invitation, tweeted, “No thanks Trump.”

In a Facebook post, Tuberville said he was “disappointed to read about the University of Virginia’s decision to deny their basketball program the once in a life-time opportunity to visit the White House and meet with the President.”

Tuberville’s comments came from his experience “[a]s one who has visited the White House with several college football national championship teams.”

“It’s a shame that the school’s administrators are denying the coaches, players, and fans the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime,” he emphasized. “I know my third visit to the White House was just as special as my first.”

“Whether Democrat or Republican it’s not about the occupant, it’s about the office of the presidency. It’s unfortunate that the University of Virginia is robbing their program of an opportunity they may never get again,” Tuberville concluded.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn