If you’re like us, you’ve been glued to your computer the last several days in hopes of catching some good news on the fate of head coach Shaka Smart.
Since the Rams tough loss against Michigan this past weekend, reports of both UCLA (11 national titles) and Minnesota (headed by former VCU AD Norwood Teague) pursuing the VCU star have most likely sent Xanax prescriptions through the roof throughout the Richmond Metro area, with fears of Smart headed elsewhere reaching an all-time high.
Those tensions were somewhat eased yesterday when Fox Sports Radio AM910’s Wes McElroy tweeted, “I’ve been told by a reliable source that VCU is actively working on restructuring Shaka Smart’s contract and working to make it so he stays here for quite sometime. Was told, ‘Shaka wants to stay here,’ More at 3pm.”.
Not only is McElroy a well respected media member in Richmond, but a friend of both Smart and VCU Athletics. Shortly after, his report was echoed by other outlets in the area, launching a boom of national outlets doing the same.
As stressful as it’s been for VCU fans, it’s almost been as equally entertaining. Hoping to cash in on the chaos (or just gain some extra fans), amateur reporters from coast-to-coast have “leaked” information from his whereabouts, to contract details to breakfast choices.
Chad Groth (@areacodes) tweeted at 11:38 PM on Tue, Mar 26, 2013,
“A close source said Shaka Smart is in Minneapolis, my hometown & I love it! 3.3 & 7 Guaranteed 21+million”
Tweets like those sent Gopher fans into a frenzy, not to mention caught the attention of larger outlets like this one: Big Lead Sports) before VCU student, Brandon Thomas (@bmonahan512), tweeted a picture of Coach Smart having breakfast in VCU’s Shafer Court this morning (which begs the question, Belgian waffle or biscuits and gravy?).
The truth is, we won’t know for certain until the final details are released of whatever contract Smart eventually signs, but we are certainly guaranteed a massive amount of entertainment–and perhaps stress–that comes with the ridiculousness that has become a post-Twitter “anyone’s a reporter” news world.
