I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that at around 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, the day stopped being Thursday and became "HOLY CRAP!" day.
The media has had time now to move on from reporting what was happening to pontificating on it, and the results have been mixed.
There's been a merciful lack of racist angles thus far, save one in the local rag (natch). The money quote, though, is from S.T. Roach, the coaching legend from Dunbar High School, the original one.
Well put. And I agree. There are a lot of factors in this whole thing, and while there are no doubt racist UK fans -- just like there are racist Knicks fans, Florida fans or Sabres fans -- I think that, in terms of race, if anything the Bluegrass overall presented itself well. The vast majority of Big Blue Fans shouted down anything resembling racist sentiments in regards to Tubby on the rare occasions they emerged.
One of the huge remaining unknowns with Tubby's departure is the role it will play on the decisions of blue chippers Jai Lucas and Patrick Patterson.
Lucas was non-committal but honest about UK's status post-Smith:
Patterson was said to be shocked and surprised, and came off a little bit hurt. His mother was blunt when asked about how she thought the news affected her son's recruitment:
No offense to the Pattersons, but had they not dallied and hemmed and hawed, Smith probably wouldn't have found himself looking elsewhere. A Patterson commit would have inured Smith to much of the criticism he received down the stretch of the season, so forgive me if I'm not too moved by your shock and dismay at Smith's departure.
Oh, and he wasn't forced out.
In fact, it's looking like Smith (through his agent) may have been looking for a golden parachute for some time, as long as six weeks.
Maturi said he was respectful of his profession and didn't want to contact Smith directly while he was coaching. He said Smith was part of his "Plan A," including a few other high-profile coaches he refused to name. He said he had a "Plan B" list if that didn't work out. He worked with a search firm out of Atlanta led by Dan Parker. Once Parker found out there was interest in the Smith camp, Maturi and Lefft got together.
While there is no indication that Smith personally put out feelers, it's unlikely he had no contact with his own agent, who was no doubt getting news and information the whole time UK was struggling to beat Vandy and Tennessee. It's a little surprising to learn that that Smith -- who I've personally lauded over his loyalty and ethics -- was at least considering a move like this. And it sure doesn't align well with his inability to convince two McDonald's All-Americans that the program desperately needs that he was going to be around after the season.
Dan Wetzel, quickly becoming a UK fan favorite for his generally even-handed and understanding, if not downright glowing, commentary on the UK program, believes the move was "win-win" for Smith and UK.
ESPN.com's Pat Forde, who has been both criminally joyful at UK's struggles and critical of Smith in the past, thinks the move is also a smart one for both parties.
CBSSportsline's Gregg Doyel, generally a Kentucky antagonist but a Tubby critic when it came to recruiting and talent issues, gives Smith the business for bailing.
The Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy looks ahead to the coaching search and puts in a plug for Tom Crean of Marquette.
All in all, a mixed response, but not as negative as I actually expected. But it's still early.