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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2009 > February > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUGA should try Tubby, then Bobby
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bob Knight to Georgia as Bulldogs basketball coach? I wouldn’t mind it. In fact, I’d love it, especially since I’ve experienced the real Bob Knight up close and personal through the years.
He never hit me, by the way, either with his fists or his tongue.
I covered many of Knight’s Indiana teams during the late 1970s when I worked for the Cincinnati Enquirer, and the undisputed leader of those teams was Hawks coach Mike Woodson. We’ve talked often about the Knight that most folks don’t see.
It’s the Knight that consistently does and says things in private on a positive level. It’s also the Knight that would bring out the “student” in every student-athlete he coaches at Georgia. Plus, as the owner of 902 victories and three national championships for starters, he would make each of those players significantly better as a basketball player, too.
That said, Knight to the Bulldogs? It won’t happen. It shouldn’t happen, but not for the reasons you think — as in any of those things involving The General and his famously excitable ways.
It shouldn’t happen, because Georgia basketball needs somebody to help it grow into prominence over a course of years, and Knight doesn’t have “years” left as a coach. He is 68. It mostly shouldn’t happen, because, as I typed last week, the Bulldogs need to go back to the future with Tubby Smith, now coaching Minnesota.
For one, Smith is younger than Knight (by 11 years). For another, Smith is pretty great after prolific stops at Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky. And, despite sitting in his second season of turning what was a pitiful Gophers program into its current Top 25 status, I’m guessing that Smith could be persuaded to come back to Georgia.
Smith’s wife, Donna, loves Athens/Atlanta, and as I previously wrote, Smith told me as recently as last season with the Gophers that he dreamed of becoming the Vince Dooley of Georgia basketball.
If Smith says no, then Georgia should go to Plan B.
As in Bobby.
Permalink | Comments (39) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
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By Matt
February 4, 2009 12:33 PM | Link to this
Tubby ain’t leaving Minnesota. He has an excellent group of kids there now and a top 10 class of talent coming in the fall.
Why would he leave a program that has embraced him and his family and draws sell out crowds to the Barn? Contrast the status of Basketball at UGA and the lack of support there.
People actually care about basketball at Minnesota and I don’t think the same can be said about UGA. (And yes I do know they did better when Tubby was there, but Basketball will always be an afterthought there.
Also, an argument can be made about the SEC vs. the Big 10 as far as level of competition goes as well. Looking at the talent levels of the various programs, I would argue that the Big 10 is far superior (this year at least) compared to the SEC.
By Steve Richards
February 4, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this
I can see that. I doubt Knight would stay long enough to do the things that need to be done. The young men that need recruiting probably know it as well.
By griffdawg1
February 4, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this
we tried tubby and he abandoned us! what makes you think he won’t do it again!
By DirtyDawg
February 4, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
And another thing, my guess is that Tubby would like nothing better than to return to the SEC and try his hand out on whipping Kentucky a couple or three times a year. First of all, he’d put an end to Georgia MacDonald’s AA’s automatically heading to Lexington, then we’ll see where it goes from there. Frankly, even though I’m in support of the decision to let Coach Felton go now, the downside is that if you’re waiting for Tubby, it could become obvious. Then again any coach worth his salt, except for Knight of course, is also got another month or more business to attend to before an offer could be extended so the process would likely extend over a couple of months anyway. By the way, does anybody here think that Bobby Knight would ‘put up with’ being put through a vetting process in order to land the Georgia job? His ego wouldn’t allow it. My guess is that Alabama will make an offer - they like grand-standing in Tuscaloosa - and will be lauded for being decisive. I’m willing to let the ‘process’ play out and see what it looks like in a year or two.
By Herschel Talker
February 4, 2009 12:48 PM | Link to this
Probably Terence’s best article ever. Which of course isn’t saying much since they all stink. But this one is spot on.
By JB
February 4, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
Tubby Smith had his chance to be the Vince Dooley of Georgia basketball. He left after 2 years. Remember?
By Terence...
February 4, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this
…You can never go home again, so Tubby is NOT going to come back, nor should he - he already showed us the door, so to speak, so he should not be under consideration.
By Ryan Erwin
February 4, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
What makes you think Tubby wants to leave Minnesota?
By Hairofthedawg
February 4, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
We gave Tubby the job once already and he abonded the program to go to UK. UGA was stepping stone between Tulsa and a coach’s dream job, UK. I say no to Tubby.
By RadBurn
February 4, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this
Why would we want Tubby back? So he can leave again? I want Spud Webb.
By Hoopie
February 4, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
Tubby has ditched UGA once. UGA would be nuts to hire that jobhopper-oportunist again.
Your articles are incredibly predictable with the same social hidden agendas. You are boring and a great example of what is wrong with the AJC.
By Ted Striker
February 4, 2009 2:21 PM | Link to this
I absolutely concur Georgia should approach Tubby, and absolutely disagree that they should ever approach Knight.
Knight is a great coach. What’s more, I concur he genuinely cares for his players and has an abidingly supportive side that the public rarely gets a real glimpse of. Despite those things — and they’re great things — the flaws are too often fatal, and he’s a lightening rod for controversy.
UGA basketball just isn’t a good place for any more controversy to come to roost.
I’d be interested to know your thoughts on plan C.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
February 4, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Tubby wanted so bad to be the Vince Dooley of Basketball, he went to Kentucky.
Another fine piece of journalism from the AJC’s Jayson Blair.
By matthew magnus
February 4, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this
Tubby would love to come back to UGA. Every day he was at Kentucky he regretted not staying at UGA. When Tubby comes back to UGA, Steagman Coliseum will be sold out. Please remember when he took over Minnessota, they hasd 19 losses the year before. Tubby has interest in coming back because if he did not he would have already told the media that he had no interst like he did regarding Alabama. Terrence I disagree with you a lot but respect your overall professional opinion. This was a good written article.
By ATLDawg272
February 4, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
Didn’t you just write the exact same article two days ago? Strapped for material these days, are we?
By GW
February 4, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this
Tubby likely remembered UGA more fondly during his Kentucky years than he does now. The folks in the Bluegrass got real tough on him while Georgia fans loved him and his wife. For all of you wanting Knight, including the media, the first time he blew his top you would say, “Well Georgia knew what they were getting.”
By BILLY JACK
February 4, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this
Terrence i finally agree with something you said-sort of-UGA basketball is in such a low spot only someone like Bobby Knight or Tubby Smith can save it.I hate some of the other names i have heard not exciting enough.We need somebody to fill the place only these 2 coaches can do that.Damon needs to pull the trigger we need something dramatic.
By kirkinga
February 4, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this
There’s no harm in asking Tubby if he’d like to return. We all knew there was one job that he would leave for and it came open.
Now he’s lived his dream job and it wasn’t all he thought it would be. I think he’d welcome a return to a place where most folks welcomed him.
Evans wouldn’t be doing his due diligence as AD if he didn’t contact Tubby who has won a championship. Georgia should be after coaches who have won big before they go for the “hot” coaches.
By Brian in Athens
February 4, 2009 5:30 PM | Link to this
When Kentucky came calling it was where Tubby had been an assistant and loved it and much higher paying than UGA. Anybody, ANYBODY, in that situation would have been gone. There was no question, and all of the UGA fans knew it, and hated it. However, Who is going to come calling now? I love the idea of Tubby coming back. I believe he would be here until he retired. If the only reason you don’t want Tubby is that you feel spurned, then that reason is no longer valid. If you want to win then he has been nothing but a winner, without the Bobby Knight baggage. Go get him.
By Florida Dawg
February 4, 2009 5:53 PM | Link to this
Tubby is the first person I call….I agree with TM on this one.
By Jim
February 4, 2009 5:54 PM | Link to this
Bring Tubby back. Yes he left UGA and went where? To UK, a premier basketball program that any coach would jump at. You can’t hold his leaving for Lexington against him. Its not like he woke up and said ” I want to coach at Va.Tech or S.C. It was Ky. you cannot blame him for that move. Bring him back - great coach and UGA needs him.
By 'ol dawg
February 4, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this
Terence,
Tubby’s buyout is too high, and the salary UGA would have to give him is not worth the price!
By GT
February 4, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
Terence, you have been talking to Tubby. He is down here a lot recruiting, has players up there who should be playing at Georgia right now, actually recruits better up there down here than Georgia does right now. He probably won’t come unless there is a committment to build better facilities, but Vince the football coach athletic director is gone, and you have one of the best Afro American athletic directors in the country in his place. Minnessota ain’t Georgia, and I am sure a home boy craves some southern cooking. Smart idea.
By LawDawg
February 4, 2009 6:35 PM | Link to this
Ramble On:
you are unbelievable…your a$$ is on these UGA blogs more than anyone and you call yourself “Ramble On”? I’ll bet you are constantly trolling the internet and don’t have a real job? I know for a fact that you havbe no social life becauser you have been quoted on these blogs at all hours. I bet your eyes are terrible from looking at your monitor 24/7!……Get a damn life!!
By HoosierDaddy
February 4, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
UGA basketball fans have to be the most delusional fans on earth and I grew up around Notre Dame fans, so that is saying a LOT.
First they are turning their nose up at Bobby Knight and now would not welcome back Tubby Smith.
WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK WANT TO COME TO THIS CRAP PROGRAM???
Those hot, YOUNG coaches are NOT going to risk happening to them what happened to Felton.
By Hairy Dawg
February 4, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this
Bobby Knight is a has-been. He’s an all-time great has-been, but a has-been nonetheless.
He coached Texas Tech to the NCAAs four times in seven years. That’s not bad, but he made it to the Sweet Sixteen just once. In fact, since the 1992-93 season, Knight guided his teams to the Sweet Sixteen only twice. That’s in fifteen years of being an “all-time great,” folks. If UGA truly wants to build a program with a coach that will be fully committed (and young enough…and without the baggage) to be successful in Athens, Bobby Knight is not the guy.
By AfroDawg
February 4, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
Why the infatuation with Tubby? the guy was firmly ensconced at Georgia, they’d have given him the moon if he’d stayed on, but he suddenly became “Snubby Smith”. I know everyone thinks he couldn’t turn down the dream job at Kentucky, but I detected a bit of mercenarism in the guy. It was a pleasure to see him run out of Lexington on a rail, deserved him right What’s to say the traitor won’t do it again?
By Hairy Dawg
February 4, 2009 7:00 PM | Link to this
Oh, and Tubby just got to Minnesota. He can win just as easily up there as he did in Athens.
By ED FROM ELLIJAY
February 4, 2009 7:15 PM | Link to this
HIRE KNIGHT FOR A FEW YEARS, THEN GO AFTER TUBBY WHEN KNIGHT RETIRES. MICHAEL ADAMS WILL NOT HIRE KNIGHT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ADAMS GOES FASTER THAN FELTON THIS TIME. HIRE KNIGHT OR GO ADAMS!!!!!!!!! YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO MICHAEL ADAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!UGA ALUM 1978
By JEANTOBY
February 4, 2009 8:23 PM | Link to this
MOORE WOULD SAY TUBBY SMITH, BUT HE HAD HIS CHANCE AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE DOGS FOR KENTUCKY LET TUBBY STAY WHERE HE IS AT, HE COULD HAVE HAD A GREAT PROGRAM AT GEORGIA BY NOW BUT CHOSE TO TURN TAIL AND RUN
By Gene
February 4, 2009 9:01 PM | Link to this
Tubby is a great guy and outstanding coach. He was treated badly at UK. Adams won’t go for Tubby, and he is scared witless of Knight. Furthermore, Tubby knows all about Adams and would have no part of that circus. Only a very inexperienced or very week coach would put up with Adams’ micromanagement and abuse.
By Trainwreck
February 4, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this
It’s great to see that a student is passing a petition to get Bob Knight at UGA. This is why experienced people like The AD and school President get to make the decision of hiring a coach and not a bunch of people who have no idea what it takes to “build” a basketball program. College basketball is all about recruiting the right players and has little to do with coaching. You should not be looking for a coach the fills the coliseum because everyone is waiting to see if he is going to blow up, but need to fill the building because the basketball program is relevant and building towards being a national power. I doubt that Bob Knight can recruit todays players and be an effective coach anymore. You do not want him in Athens… Also, Tubby is NOT coming back… Get over it and move on !
By sapelodawg
February 4, 2009 9:21 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Racist Moore ………………. the dawgs had Tubby Smith as head coach and he quit them. I would not feed him if he were starving. He is a quitter, not a coach. PLEASE if you love him so much, move to Minnesota. Then, you and millions of Georgians will be a hell of a lot happier.
By mike
February 4, 2009 9:26 PM | Link to this
tubby left us high and dry for teh greener grass in lexington. He dosent deserve to come back.
By Big MIKE
February 5, 2009 11:44 PM | Link to this
IT’S AMAZING HOW SOME BLOGGERS SAY THAT EVERY CONFERENCE IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE SEC.CONSIDER THE FACTS, LAST 3 NATL CHAMPS IN FOOTBALL: SEC, 2 OUT OF LAST 3 IN BASKETBALL: SEC, RUNNER-UP IN BASEBALL LAST YEAR: SEC, GYMNASTICS:SEC. THE MOST PLAYERS FROM ONE CONFERENCE IN THE NFL: SEC. FAKERS WHO DON’T KNOW THE FACTS, PLEASE SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE. YOU DONT KNOW, THIS IS, HAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE BEST CONFERENCE IN AMERICA! P.S. ASK O.K., AND OSU!
By james mason
February 6, 2009 3:25 AM | Link to this
why is not much said who georgia basketball coach maybe are who maybe leading .
By Dave In Tampa
February 6, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this
Just have to remind people that it was quoted early on when Tuby Smith said that the only position he would leave UGA for was if UK came calling. There was no surprise at him going to UK. That job is an elite 3 coaching position in college. Don’t speak badly of Coach Smith because of that.
However, he did have his chance and went that direction. I’m not sure he deserves another chance, but then again, look at what he did for the program. It’s a tough call.
Personally, I don’t think Bobby Knight would be the answer right now. He would leave inside of 4 years.
By Dawg92
February 12, 2009 11:55 PM | Link to this
Umm… didn’t even read the article but I can’t believe this… I can’t bring myself to say this… ugh! gnnaaaa!!!! ugggghhh!!!! I agreeee with Terrenccccccccccccc…. no. I can’t say it. But I think Tubby first. Bobby second. If Terrence agrees with me - so be it.
By Dawg92
February 13, 2009 12:05 AM | Link to this
Ok. In all seriousness… to read some of the comments on here. Tubby Smith should be commended for the great work he did at UGA. Great guy. Great coach. He left UGA because we went o the SEC tourney as favorites and UK brought 20K fans and we brought 5K. Would UGA fans think a Kentucky coach would be a bad person for choosing to coach a football school like Georgia instead of the Wildcats? As a capitalist, I commend Coach Smith for making the right move at the right time. All he got was a Nat. Championship ring on his resume. THAT BEING SAID, I think now would be the best time for him to come back. He has run the circuit. Been there, done that. If he comes back to UGA I think he stays for the long haul. Coach Knight would be great. But I think he would be around for 2-3 years at the most. It would still be an honor to have him on our staff. If anything, maybe he could teach Coach Richt a little bit about DISCIPLINE!!!!!!