Comments on: Ex-UT Coach Pearl Hired By ESPN; Bizarre, Bizarre, Bizarre

By: AustinVol

AustinVol — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:37:43 +0000

A mid-major coach with a D2 National Championship, National Championship Runner-Up, and multiple NCAA Tournament Appearances (including a Sweet 16), the second-fastest NCAA coach to reach 300 victories, etc. Kind of like comparing the resume of a recent college grad to a seasoned executive. Not hating on Martin. Nice guy. I would have accepted the offer as well. Hamilton is the one who dropped the ball…again.

By: TheN8tureBoy

TheN8tureBoy — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:26:47 +0000

@John at MrSEC It is never the crime, it is the coverup. Always.

As a 26-year old Tennessee fan, Bruce Pearl made the Basketvols relevant year-in, year-out for the first time in my life. He had to go. I hate it but we couldn’t keep him.

By: TheN8tureBoy

TheN8tureBoy — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:24:41 +0000

@AustinVol Hating on Coach Martin? He was a hot prospect and did well last season. Remember, Coach Pearl was just a mid major coach as well…

By: Homepage | MrSEC

Homepage | MrSEC — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:15:26 +0000

[...] Ex-UT Coach Pearl Hired By ESPN; Bizarre, Bizarre, Bizarre [...]

By: AustinVol

AustinVol — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:41:48 +0000

Given our recent run of “luck” compounded by incompetence (Keeping Fulmer 4 seasons too long, Pete Carroll leaving – resulting in Lane Kiffin bolting, losing the best coach in UT Bball history over a BBQ/Fib and subsequent mismanagement of the situation, hiring two mid-major coaches based on nothing more than association with previously successful head coaches, etc.), I’m shocked we didn’t get the death penalty either. Granted, the NCAA probably looked at the direction of the AD and decided there was no danger of UT being competitive in the foreseeable future and decided that allowing the programs to “live” would indeed be sufficient punishment.

By: OZVOL

OZVOL — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:35:28 +0000

Well at least Hamilton & UT didn’t call for an independent investigation of “BBQ-gate”…we might have gotten the death penalty!
Go Bruce & Go Vols!

By: AustinVol

AustinVol — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:04:59 +0000

That’s interesting information. The more that comes out about Hamilton’s handling of the situation, the more incompetent he appears. Sure, many UT fans would have been angry if Pearl had gotten suspended for a year. But sometimes those who have all the information have to make decisions that will be unpopular and bear the criticism for the overall good of their employer (and their own job). Many would’ve been angry at the time, but it would be infinitely better than the current status of the basketball program. I’d take that scenario in a heartbeat. Thanks Mike, for making a very bad situation catastrophic.

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:51:25 +0000

@AustinVol

Actually, Pearl got justice because he lied to the NCAA about the barbecue. As Penn State found out… the cover-up only amplifies the problem. Had Pearl come clean about the barbecue and not called a player’s father in what appeared to be an attempt to get him to cover up, he’d still be coaching today.

Not trying to argue, but it wasn’t the jaywalking that got Pearl, it was the perjury regarding the jaywalking that got Pearl thrown in the NCAA clink. And UT didn’t do him any favors by simply docking his pay… something the NCAA couldn’t have cared less about. Trust me, I’ve heard that from NUMEROUS sources. But if Tennessee had suspended him for a season, again, he’d probably still be coaching today.

Thanks for reading the site,
John

By: AustinVol

AustinVol — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:39:57 +0000

In light of the Penn State story, perhaps ESPN felt a bit guilty for tirelessly excoriating Pearl and calling for all manner of swift “justice” over a friggin’ barbecue. Maybe they realized he’s a good guy with good intentions who was given the proverbial death penalty for jay walking? Just kidding…sort of.