Tommy Tuberville wasn't expecting a call from an old acquaintance. A few hours later, he was headed north for a new job. Tuberville left Texas Tech to become Cincinnati's football coach Saturday, moving away from a Big 12 school to one that has an uncertain future with conference realignment. He left the Red Raiders after three years to coach at a school where his recent predecessors have lasted no longer. Two hours after Cincinnati's 11th-ranked basketball team won its ninth game of the season, the Bearcats hauled out their Big East trophies and held a pep rally -- complete with cheerleaders, band and several hundred fans -- for the new coach at midcourt. "There's always a next step," Tuberville said. "I'm going to get the question: Why did you come to Cincinnati? That's exactly it." His quick hiring ended a whirlwind week in Cincinnati, which had won a share of its fourth Big East title in the past five years a week earlier. Coach Butch Jones interviewed at Purdue and Colorado before accepting the job at Tennessee on Friday morning. Athletics director Whit Babcock had Tuberville -- whom he worked with for three years at Auburn -- at the top of his list of candidates. Working on two hours of sleep, Babcock called Tuberville on Saturday morning to see if he was interested. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football...tech-raiders-become-coach-cincinnati-bearcats
