Tommy Tuberville left Texas Tech for Cincinnati this weekend, an odd occurrence that left the athletic department at Texas Tech "completely blindsided." Also blindsided by Tuberville's exit: The recruits with whom he was having dinner, when Tuberville left—to go to the bathroom? to take a phone call from Cincinnati AD (and old Tuberville friend) Whit Babcock? to put his house on sale?—to do something pressing just before the waitress brought the food out, and never rejoined the group. It's like a father telling his kid he's going out for a pack of cigarettes and leaving forever, except Tuberville didn't give an excuse.
Devonte Danzey of Hutchinson (Kansas) C.C. arrived in Lubbock for his official visit.
Shortly after arriving in Lubbock, Danzey and at least two other recruits - lineman Sunny Odogwu and receiver Javess Blue - along with "eight to 10" coaches, including Tuberville, all went to dinner at the 50-Yard Line Restaurant on South Loop 289, Danzey said.
In the midst of the conversation at the table, he asked the coaches how long they expected to be at Tech (if they were not fired), he said.
Danzey says Tuberville dodged the question, prattling on for a bit about how long he'd been at Auburn (ten years! Four years ago) and then slipped away:
He added: "The waitress brought our food out, and we thought (Tuberville) went to the bathroom, but he never came back to dinner. Then next thing I know, the next day, he made an announcement that he's going to Cincinnati."
The best part: Tuberville must have decided to go sometime between ordering and eating, right? The next Texas Tech coach gets his entrée in a doggy bag. Danzey says he was leaning toward Tech, but will now reconsider.
Tuberville Left Recruits At Dinner [247sports.com]