Tuesday, November 6, 2001

Signing Off
Fill DMC and support Tubbs

Billy Tubbs’ abrupt announcement of resignation as head men’s basketball coach immediately after the season means more than just to sports fans at TCU.

He was more to TCU than a basketball coach. He was a catalyst for TCU’s transformation toward national prominence. After coming to Fort Worth in 1994, Tubbs anchored a much-needed turnaround for TCU.

Despite his success, Tubbs’ critics will question if his decision came at the right time or whether he should have waited and announced his resignation at the end of the season.

But the critics cannot argue what Tubbs has given to TCU.

Over his seven-year tenure at TCU, Tubbs achieved a 140-80 record, claiming two coach-of-the-year honors and bringing a aura of winning to a basketball program notoriously known for losing.

He may be regarded as the coach who could not win a game in the NCAA Tournament, never a tournament conference crown and never be able to push TCU to the next level.

But that’s OK.

Tubbs, who ranks 12th among the NCAA’s all-time winningiest active coaches, will be missed for his famous one-liners during postgame interviews, his touching conversations with officials on the court and his stylish goggles which protected his eyes from coins thrown by rowdy SMU fans at Moody Coliseum in Dallas.

For all he has given the TCU community, Tubbs deserves a send-off. Do not send cards or words of wisdom. TCU fans should pack Daniel-Meyer Coliseum and provide the Frogs with a formidable homecourt advantage. More than anything else, Tubbs would be grateful if every game he comes out of the tunnel to 7,200 purple-draped fans.

While Tubbs made his announcement, junior forward Bingo Merriex was on the floor of Daniel-Meyer practicing his shot in anticipation of the exhibition game that followed five hours later. The rest of TCU should follow in Merriex’s path and move on, but should enjoy the final ride of “Billyball.”