Apple CEO Tim Cook is an Alabama native and attended Auburn for his undergraduate degree. Cook then went on to Duke to obtain his Master’s degree.

So, naturally, Cook is fired up about Auburn’s NCAA Tournament run all the way to the Final Four, and on Thursday, Cook made a surprise call in to The Paul Finebaum Show. Finebaun took the call and quickly realized it was no ordinary caller.

“I could not be more thrilled, and I really wish the best to Coach Pearl and the entire team,” Cook told Finebaum. “We are incredibly proud of them.”

Finebaum asked Cook what his plans were for the Final Four, and although he won’t be there Saturday night, he plans to be there Monday.

“Saturday I’ll be watching on TV and plan to be there Monday (for the national championship game),” Cook said of his plans.

Naturally, Cook is a Bruce Pearl fan, and he knows Pearl’s impact has helped take the program to another level.

“I think Bruce is an original, and there’s nobody quite like him,” Cook told Finebaum. “I think he’s energized the program like no one, quite frankly, that I’ve ever seen in Auburn’s history and has brought the basketball team to be a contender. I think we’re all proud of him.”

Cook attended Auburn right before Charles Barkley played for the Tigers.

Finebaum then asked Cook whether he discussed sports with other major CEOs during meetings.

“I think sports is still a great unifier,” Cook said. “So it’s one thing we can all rally around, and people put their interests aside to either fight the other side or hopefully join forces. Of course, sports always come up. CEOs are people too. They love sports too.”

Auburn faces Virginia Saturday night at 6:09 p.m. ET from Minneapolis, Minnesota.