Tommy Tuberville Bailed on Recruits Mid-Dinner to take Cincinnati Job

Dillon Cheverere12 years ago

I’m still trying to make sense of this guy’s conscious decision to leave Texas Tech and take over the head coaching gig at the University of Cincinnati. I mean, the slums of Ohio aren’t exactly known for churning out blue chip football prospects, but apparently the move was an easy enough decision for former Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville. So easy, in fact, that he tossed common decency aside during his unexpected departure. Coach Tubs left a dinner table loaded with recruits, mid-meal, and never returned. He accepted the Cincy job the following day.

Nice table manners, Tubs.

Junior college offensive lineman Devonte Danzey, who was in Lubbock for an official visit last weekend, told the recruiting site Wreckem247.com that Tuberville stepped away from a dinner with several recruits and assistant coaches on Friday night and never returned. On Saturday morning, Tuberville surprised many by accepting an offer to become Cincinnati’s coach.

Danzey told Wreckem247.com that he asked Tuberville about his future plans at Texas Tech, how long he expected to remain with the program, but Tuberville tiptoed around the question.

Moments later, Danzey said, Tuberville disappeared.

“The waitress brought our food out, and we thought (Tuberville) went to the bathroom, but he never came back to dinner,” Danzey said. “Then next thing I know, the next day, he made an announcement that he’s going to Cincinnati.”

Now I’m conflicted after going through the details. Is this a power move disguised as a dick move?

This isn’t the first time Silver Fox Tubs slammed the door on his own ass during an impromptu exit. In 1998, while coaching at Ole Miss, Tuberville promised he was staying by telling fans, “They’ll have to carry me out of here in a pine box.” Less than a week later he accepted the job at Auburn.

One could claim karma is in play here, as well. Take a look at his sequencial coaching destinations: Oxford, Mississippi —> Auburn, Alabama —> Lubbock, Texas —> Cincinnati, Ohio. These aren’t exactly thriving metropolises here.

[Source]