2013 NCAA Tournament: Tubby Smith Now Safe with Minnesota Golden Gophers

The Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ fan base is a fickle bunch of people. Lost in their train of thought while discussing the employment of Tubby Smith has been their lack of appearances in the NCAA Tournament pre-Smith. Before this year being Smith’s third appearance with the program, the Golden Gophers have only legally appeared in the big dance one other time in nearly two decades.

Still, folks were calling for Smith’s head on a platter.

Not only did Smith lead Minnesota to the tournament triple the amount of times in one quarter of the time it took for the school to make it once, now the Golden Gophers are only a step away from making the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the 1989-90 season — again proving that Minnesota is better with Smith at the helm and not some far-fetched, fictional coach that the fans have dreamed up.

All around the college landscape, coaches are starting to lose their jobs while a select few have secured theirs for at least on more season. If Smith were able to take the Golden Gophers to the Sweet Sixteen, it would all but guarantee him another year or two with the program.

However, in a ironic twist of fate, if Smith was able to do what all Minnesota fans claim he can’t, but want him to do — bring them to the Elite Eight — well, don’t be shocked of he becomes to good for Minnesota rather than the other way around.

Funny, isn’t it? How a victory in March can change the narrative of a coach who Minnesota fans have been trying to fire since January.

 

Joe is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JosephNardone