AUBURN – Tommy Tuberville quit as Auburn’s football coach with a short resignation letter that said he will receive more than $5 million under a buyout clause that requires the school to pay him should it fire him.

The university released a copy of the letter Thursday to The Associated Press. A spokeswoman said it was the only paperwork surrounding Tuberville’s departure.

University officials have said Tuberville quit after 10 years; his mother told a newspaper he was fired.

In Tuberville’s letter to athletics director Jay Jacobs, the coach said he decided to quit “after long consideration.” It was dated Dec. 3, the day Tuberville’s departure was announced.

Tuberville wrote that he would get the buyout money even though he was quitting. Jacobs wrote a one-word response: “Agreed.”