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I always give them both credit for UT basketball being what it is today. If Barnes was to win a Natty he would owe Pearl a little bit of gratitude.
If Barnes isn't able to get it done, the next coach that comes in and gets it done is going to owe both Barnes and Pearl a ton of gratitude for building a culture of winning here at UT in respect to Basketball.
I'm not meaning to say that's why they initially chose Nashville. I'm just saying I understand why they continue to play it there. And I'd also argue that it being the primary location for much of this century (pre or post-expansion) is partly due to its central locality to the conference footprint. Certainly not the only reason, though.
Other than the head to heads, Bama’s resume is better. Ours is too. But whatever.
You could give him some credit if you wanted to I guess. You going to have a much tougher argument, tho.
Coach Cal and Pope could give credit to Rupp if they wanted to.
Even so, you guys are acting like it wasn't Pearl that put Tennessee men's basketball back on the map (or even on the map in the modern era).
It's silly.
He would in the simple fact Barnes doesn’t even make it to Tennessee if Bruce doesn't change the fact we were just a football school.He doesn't owe him anything. Pearl hasn't been coach in almost 15 years. And he had a 4 year gap before he even took over. Just like Pearl doesn't owe Jerry Green anything even though by your own logic he should.
Fair enough. Too much good basketball to watch to argue over something so silly.
I will say one last thing if I could...
I have actually already heard coach Rick Barnes say he is thankful for what Pearl accomplished here at Tennessee.
When Tennessee fired Don DeVoe in 1989 Barnes met with Dickey about the job here.
Two of Barnes close friends (reporters John Feinstein and Dave Gavitt ) told Barnes not to take the job at Tennessee because people in Tennessee don't care about men's basketball.
Barnes listened to them and passed on the job.
Barnes said in a more recent r interview:
" That was the perception, and it didn't have anything to do with Doug Dickey. That's just where the league was. They were set on being the beat football program in the country"
You see, I don't really have to doubt Barnes most likely doesn't take the job if not for Pearl because he already had pased on it once.
What changed? Ask yourself that.....
Pearl was one of the first coaches that started putting not just Tennessee basketball but SEC basketball back on the Map. If you can't even acknowledge that I doubt you're going to be honest enough to have a conversation about this with.Barnes offering gratitude isnt' the same as he OWES him some, like you said.
The second part of your post you seem to be interjecting your opinion into a topic that from quotes I don't see any mention of Pearl. You're inferring from what Barnes said about the job in 1989 meant that what Pearl did here made him take it in 2015 unless you can provide a quote and not your opinon.
SEC basketball in general was a completely different league than the SEC in 1989. His quote was "where the league was".
Why does Barnes owe Pearl and not Martin? Martin took the team to the S16 and was very close to an EE 2 years before Barnes took the job.
He would in the simple fact Barnes doesn’t even make it to Tennessee if Bruce doesn't change the fact we were just a football school.
Like I have said multiple times, us being just a football school is why Barnes didn't take the job here when first offered. This is per Rick Barnes.
If Pearl doesn't create a culture of winning at Tennessee over several seasons, and prove there is a place for a top coach to be successful at Tennessee, then Barnes doesn’t come here.
Barnes has already said he is greatful for what Pearl did here at Tennessee. I don't know why you guys have such a problem with this.
Barnes and Pearl are friends. Bruce actually called him recently to thank/congratulate him for beating Alabama. It's ok to be thankful for what Pearl did for Tennessee and be grateful and proud of what Barnes has accomplished.
When the next coach comes in and has success it's going to be ok for him to have appreciation for what both Barnes and Pearl did for the University of Tennessee men's basketball, too.
Why were they different in 1989 and 2015?Now you're moving the goalposts, and that' what everyone has a problem with.
This started from YOU saying he "owed" Pearl gratitude. Barnes choosing to do so isn't the same as owing. Not sure why that is hard for you to understand.
Second you are saying he owes Pearl but downplaying Pearl owing Green when you literally can make the exact same arguments. But seems like you're downplaying that because Pearl was a showman, Green was not. I already listed what Green did but you seem to not want to acknowledge them.
Third, you just said Barnes was approached to coach here in 1989.....that is when he was first offered and he said by his own words the SEC itself was football first. He then took the job in 2015. Do I need to explain to you why comparing something he said about the job in 1989 and in 2015 are apples and oranges. Because SEC basketball in 2015 was much much much different than 1989.
This isn't about Pearl and Barnes being friends, nobody said they weren't. Nobody said Barnes didn't appreciate what Pearl did here, Pearl has praised what Barnes has done here. This is about what YOU said. So own it.