I was poised at the keyboard to try to capture a few quotes from Tubby’s interview today on ESPN Sports Radio. Tubby’s responses were faster than my fat fingers could type them, so I apologize if the following isn’t a verbatim record of his responses. Follow along after the jump.
How long was move was in the making? “When you stay in a place for a period of time… it was something that happened… you have people who talk behind [the scenes], and say ‘Tubby would this be something you would be interested in?’”
In typical Tubby rambling style, he never gave a definitive answer. In my crappy live-blog of yesterday’s events, I remember reading an article that Thursday was the first day UKAA was officially aware Tubby was being talked to by the Minnesota folks. So my best guess is that this happened very quickly and quietly, probably starting as soon as the buzzer sounded in Chicago on Tubby’s last season.
Why are you leaving? “Challenge. We all need to be challenged…. its never easy anywhere you go at this level of competition…. This will give me a new life, a new start.”
Um, Tubs, you weren’t feeling challenged at UK? You know, to improve the program and prove yourself against your detractors? I think Tubby really means, “I’m getting out while the getting is good.” Minnesota probably gave him all the right answers.
What do you think about Kentucky fans’ expectations? “They’re always there, there are expectations at Minnesota… [His resignation] is about Tubby Smith and what motivates him.”
To paraphrase what I didn’t type down, Tubby also mentioned how there are high expectations for every team, and that at any job you will have to deal with the talk show chatter. I don’t want to get into the argument that the Kentucky fan base is probably the most passionate, compared to teams like Minnesota, because honestly I don’t live there and couldn’t tell you how U of Minnesota athletics effect the state.
How realistic are the Kentucky fanbase’s expectations? “Theres a long history, long legacy… The expectations are that you’re gonna win national championships… There’s no excuses or anything like that, but [you have to] be happy.
Tubby wouldn’t touch this question with a ten loss foot pole.
If he didn’t decide to leave, did he think he’d be back as Kentucky’s coach? “That was not an issue. I had 4 years on my contract. Expectations weren’t going to change… [There is a] great group of kids there, I had the most fun coaching last year… they will continue to compete.”
I believe Tubby here, I don’t think UKAA had any desire to force Tubby out at this juncture. That being said, I think that there is some truth in what everybody is saying about Barnhart probably being more insistent on staff changes.
What are his thoughts regarding Pitino’s stating that if Kentucky were to get rid of Tubby, it would be setting the program back 10-15 years? “Rick is a special person, that’s why he’s able to recruit special people. Everywhere he’s been… Rick has done a fantastic jobs. He was reacting to the naysayers and the doomsday sayers that call in…. We’re going to really miss Kentucky, there are a lot of great things happening in that region.”
I thought this was interesting since Tubby often never says anything regarding the negative criticism, other than it exists and exists everywhere. Also, I’m tickled that he used the word “naysayers” since that is my favorite Rich Brooks term for the football edition of the Big Blue Moan.
So there you have it, a typical rambling Tubby Smith interview. I’m sure the Twin Cities press corps are licking their chops for such a quoteworthy coach. I wish that Tubby would have given us the details of how negotiations started between his agent and Minnesota, who else contacted him, what he thought about the Michigan job and why he wasn’t interested in it, etc.
And one last thing: TubbySmith.com is still blue and white, and little virtual Tubby still comes out to say, “Kentucky fans are the best, and the love Wildcat basketball.”