Rockober
03-03-2007, 10:05 AM
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030207/spc_8337227.shtml
Tipton said some fans believe Smith's 1998 national title belongs to his predecessor because the players were Pitino's.
"Everything [Smith has done] got compared to a three-year period, '95, '96, '97," Tipton said. "When they won it all in '98, it was like the title was won by Pitino by proxy. It sort of slowly unraveled from there."
Smith does have support from someone with Kentucky ties, however. Florida coach Billy Donovan worked with Smith for two seasons under Pitino until Smith left in 1991 to become Tulsa's head coach.
"Tubby is someone I've got a great deal of respect and admiration for, both as a coach and a person," said Donovan, who's mentioned on message boards as a possible successor for Smith.
"When I was young and first starting in coaching, he had a big influence on me. [I appreciate] the amount of time he spent with me and the time he gave me, teaching me, helping me learn.
"When you feel like you have to live up to expectations of other people, I think you really go through life unhappy. . . . There's always going to be somebody that's upset, unsatisfied, unhappy or bothered. There's the old saying you can't keep everybody happy."
Especially in Kentucky
Tipton said some fans believe Smith's 1998 national title belongs to his predecessor because the players were Pitino's.
"Everything [Smith has done] got compared to a three-year period, '95, '96, '97," Tipton said. "When they won it all in '98, it was like the title was won by Pitino by proxy. It sort of slowly unraveled from there."
Smith does have support from someone with Kentucky ties, however. Florida coach Billy Donovan worked with Smith for two seasons under Pitino until Smith left in 1991 to become Tulsa's head coach.
"Tubby is someone I've got a great deal of respect and admiration for, both as a coach and a person," said Donovan, who's mentioned on message boards as a possible successor for Smith.
"When I was young and first starting in coaching, he had a big influence on me. [I appreciate] the amount of time he spent with me and the time he gave me, teaching me, helping me learn.
"When you feel like you have to live up to expectations of other people, I think you really go through life unhappy. . . . There's always going to be somebody that's upset, unsatisfied, unhappy or bothered. There's the old saying you can't keep everybody happy."
Especially in Kentucky
