UT Shouldn’t Be Too Cocky About Pearl’s Buyout

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Earlier today, Jimmy Hyams told you on this site that Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton is confident he won’t lose Bruce Pearl to Memphis.

Partly because of a $1.8 million buyout.

Pearl also feels a great deal of loyalty to Hamilton for giving him his first shot at the big time.  Family considerations might also keep UT’s coach in Knoxville.

But the buyout, in my view, is the least important aspect of this deal.

If Fred Smith, the president of FedEx, wants a coach, he’ll spend whatever it takes to get that coach.



Right now, Memphis can offer more money than Tennessee.  Memphis can offer an easier conference and therefore an easier path to a national championship.  And Memphis can offer the opportunity of being the biggest fish in the sea… not the second-fiddle to Lane Kiffin.

At the same time, Memphis’ program might be gutted like a fish if Calipari takes recruits, commitments, signees and transfers with him to Lexington.



If Memphis is truly interested in Pearl, it will be interesting to see how Pearl responds.

In the past, he has not spoken to other schools.  However, most people around Pearl believe that he would speak to other schools this offseason.

The coach didn’t like some of the grumbling he heard as his team “stumbled” to yet another East Division title this year.  He also witnessed the dismissal of Phillip Fulmer.  Fulmer had started his career hot only to fall off and then have the fanbase turn on him.  Coaches pay attention to that kind of thing.

In normal situations, a coach might send a message to his fanbase by listening to another school’s offer… and then staying put.

But Memphis is one of Tennessee’s biggest rivals.  Simply listening to a Tiger offer would probably burn some Knoxville bridges for Pearl.  Even if he didn’t really intend to leave.

And with the money now being thrown around to head coaches (Anthony Grant is right at $2 million, for example, not to mention John Calipari’s deal at Kentucky), Pearl might want to get himself another raise.

Again, if he tries to use Memphis for leverage, he might burn some Knoxville bridges.



It’s a fascinating situation due to the dislike between the schools.  Right now there is no guarantee that Memphis will try to contact Pearl or that Pearl will listen if contacted.

But the buyout money should be the last thing to make Tennessee fans feel confident.  If there’s one thing Memphis has plenty of… it’s money.