Comments on: Pearl Passes On Coaching, Stays In Knoxville

By: AustinVol

AustinVol — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:03:15 +0000

I see your point, but he was not fired because Tennessee wanted to fire him. He was fired because the NCAA held a gun to their head and said, "fire him". Tennessee would have kept him if at all possible. He committed violations that were exceedingly minor and would have been deemed secondary by the NCAA (and all programs/coaches have those). He obviously made a terrible decision in lying, but it's not as if Tennessee wanted or needed to fire him (like Buzz Peterson, Fulmer, etc.).

By: AllTideUp

AllTideUp — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:33:42 +0000

I don't think Pearl is a bad guy or anything, but if you legitimately do something deserving of being fired then for anyone at that employer to give you another job down the road would be stupid.

I don't have a problem with him getting another college coaching job one day though.

By: AustinVol

AustinVol — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:52:45 +0000

The countdown hasn't started yet? But seriously, kudos to Pearl for being humble enough to accept a job outside of basketball that many will ridicule. He could have landed a job in the D-League or somewhere else, but chose family instead. While it's probably exceedingly far-fetched, having Pearl return in 3 years would be ideal. Obviously, if Martin is able to turn things around and get the program back to Pearl's level by year 3, it will be a moot point. But if not, Pearl would then have the opportunity to atone for his mistakes and return to the position for which he is the perfect fit. It would be a great story for most of us (I'm sure the holier than thou media types – of which MrSec is NOT one – would take more opportunities to revisit the decaying horse corpse of Pearl's horrid transgressions and further eviscerate him) to see him given a second a chance.

As for Cheek, if he's still around in 3 years we'll be fortunate if the University and AD are still standing. The next good thing that happens on Cheek's watch…will be the first. The search for the new AD has gone splendidly.