Auburn Postgame Thread

[walkenvol]

Ehh, you can be a likeable person and still be a sleaze bag. In fact, the biggest sleaze bags are often the most likeable people because that is how they want to be perceived.

Ask Jason Shay, Tony Jones, and Steve Forbes how they feel about Bruce Pearl, and off the record, I'd venture to guess you'd be given an accurate portrayal of just how sleazy and self-serving he really is when the going gets tough.

I don’t know anything about BP personally and everything you state may be 100% accurate but, I’d question that Pat Summit was a bit better judge of character than to be totally duped by a complete slimeball into putting on a cheerleader outfit and singing rocky top on TV. Maybe not, but she had a very solid reputation to be so gullible.

As to his self serving nature when the shat hit the fan, we’ll that’s about 98% of all the folks I’ve ever come across in my 58 years.

He lied and was caught red handed so whatever the punishment he had no one to blame but himself. However, there’s very few folks breathing who have always been 100% honest on every statement for their entire lives. Why continue to judge him, seems like he paid a stiff penalty? I’m happier with who we’ve got now anyway so it’s all good in the end

 

[VolsSportsFan]

[QUOTE="walkenvol, post: 18048838, member: 51350"]I don’t know anything about BP personally and everything you state may be 100% accurate but, I’d question that Pat Summit was a bit better judge of character than to be totally duped by a complete slimeball into putting on a cheerleader outfit and singing rocky top on TV. Maybe not, but she had a very solid reputation to be so gullible.[/QUote]

As to his self serving nature when the shat hit the fan, we’ll that’s about 98% of all the folks I’ve ever come across in my 58 years.

He lied and was caught red handed so whatever the punishment he had no one to blame but himself. However, there’s very few folks breathing who have always been 100% honest on every statement for their entire lives. Why continue to judge him, seems like he paid a stiff penalty? I’m happier with who we’ve got now anyway so it’s all good in the end[/QUOTE]

What would her doing that have to do with whether Pearl was a sleazebag or not? That was something that promoted UT basketball, not some sort of show of how great she thought Bruce Pearl was.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I don’t know anything about BP personally and everything you state may be 100% accurate but, I’d question that Pat Summit was a bit better judge of character than to be totally duped by a complete slimeball into putting on a cheerleader outfit and singing rocky top on TV. Maybe not, but she had a very solid reputation to be so gullible.

As to his self serving nature when the shat hit the fan, we’ll that’s about 98% of all the folks I’ve ever come across in my 58 years.

He lied and was caught red handed so whatever the punishment he had no one to blame but himself. However, there’s very few folks breathing who have always been 100% honest on every statement for their entire lives. Why continue to judge him, seems like he paid a stiff penalty? I’m happier with who we’ve got now anyway so it’s all good in the end

What would her doing that have to do with whether Pearl was a sleazebag or not? That was something that promoted UT basketball, not some sort of show of how great she thought Bruce Pearl was.

 

[walkenvol]

Personally, I’d have to really like someone and think very highly of them to do something of that nature. Maybe I’m different in that way?

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Personally, I’d have to really like someone and think very highly of them to do something of that nature. Maybe I’m different in that way?

I think you're looking way too much into what was essentially a publicity stunt.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Personally, I’d have to really like someone and think very highly of them to do something of that nature. Maybe I’m different in that way?

Most of us including me, still like Bruce Pearl but he’s a selfish person who tries to cover his own butt before anyone else’s.

Unfortunately, that’s a lot of people this day & time.

 

[cardvolfan]

I loved Bruce when he was here, but I know I was on a message board - I don't think it was this one - and someone supposedly in the know continuously told us we would one day hate him, because he was a sleazebag behind the scenes.

I think Bruce is a great on the court coach. He truly loves people. He also - in my opinion - does whatever he thinks he can get by with, behind the scenes. Like all people, he has his good side and his bad side. His fans will try to always see his good side - and they are right. His detractors will always want to see his bad side. They are also right. That is my opinion.

As for being the best coach in the SEC: all things considered, I would put Calipari at the top, because of recruiting (regardless of tactics). I would put Pearl second, because of gameday coaching. I would put Barnes in the 3 - 5 category due to player development.

I like your take. All very good points.

 

[cardvolfan]

Curiously, Bruce came out of the locker room about 5-7 minutes before game time. He immediately stopped along the first row of courtside seats and hugged several guys, and chatted briefly. I'm not sure who they were. He made his way to the oldest Mr. Haslam and although they shook hands, their interaction was brief and didn't seem to be filled with a lot of "love" for each other. Not sure who supported who in his final months, but the interactions yesterday were interesting, if nothing else.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Curiously, Bruce came out of the locker room about 5-7 minutes before game time. He immediately stopped along the first row of courtside seats and hugged several guys, and chatted briefly. I'm not sure who they were. He made his way to the oldest Mr. Haslam and although they shook hands, their interaction was brief and didn't seem to be filled with a lot of "love" for each other. Not sure who supported who in his final months, but the interactions yesterday were interesting, if nothing else.

I didn't see it. Bob Goodfriend (and his son) sits at the end of the row between Haslam and the TV play-by-play announcer's table. Bruce and Goodfriend could have attended the same synagogue. Thunder Thornton sits next to the TV table on the visitor's end. The Sockless Lawyer is about 6 seats down from Thunder. Fulmer sat next to Thornton for a while on Ssturday. I'd like to know the rest. I think that sometimes Allan Jones, from Check Into Cash and the new swim facility, sits between the Haslams and the students. Too bad Gus Manning can no longer attend. He used to have the point right in the student section next to Millionaires Row. Charlie Anderson and his celebrity wife used to sit right behind the TV guys, but I haven't noticed them there for years. I wouldn't know what Bill Sansom looks like. He hired Bruce to work at his company (HT Hackney) after UT cut Bruce loose. I think that Ray Hand, the beer distributor, stays up in a skybox.

 

[VolGee4]

It still amazes me how some UT fans hate Bruce now, with no appreciation for what he accomplished here.

Has he made mistakes? Yes
Did he bend rules? Yes
Guess what, just about all coaches bend the rules. Of coarse, most are minor compared to Will Wade or Sean Miller

Do I want him back? No. And I believe most of us who appreciate him realize that probably wouldn't work again.

He wins everywhere he goes, and like it or not haters, he is the best coach in the SEC

This is so misguided. Many on here who are now critical of Bruce loved him while he was here. I hated the day we fired him.

But as you say, Bruce bends the rules, and we have people on here who try to say he runs a “clean” program. That is absolute nonsense. He is at a perfect school- one that has had trouble with the rules. Match made in heaven. I just get tired of people reminding us that he would have done this and that if he had stayed. Well, he didn’t, and he is to mostly blame for it. That’s all in the past, and people have revisionist history about his career. Barnes actually got UT to the NCAAT quicker than Pearl did at Auburn, but that doesn’t fit the argument that people want to spin.

At some point, it’s time for some of “our” fans to just move on.

 

[VolArmy74]

The NCAA released a multi-sport infractions report at the time the Pearl stuff was investigated. It was part of a 22 month long investigation involving football and baseball too. Hamilton offered up Bruce so the school wouldn't take any heat. It was short sighted as it turned out. You could have hammered football with no major impact on the program because it was trash under Dooley anyway and losing Bruce cost the school 25-30 million in basketball revenue. To the "HE GOT CAUGHT AND LIED!!!" crowd. Find me a coach who didn't lie. Bruce's issue wasn't the lie, it was the complete lack of support from Hamilton.

Frank Haith's investigation changed the NCAA enforcement completely. The NCAA was challenged on it and backed down because they have virtually no real power. Haith provided 100,000+ dollars to a man who was paying recruits, throwing yacht parties for them etc. Haith told the NCAA 3 different stories about what happened in the 3 times they interviewed him. He had went to Missouri from Miami already, Missou basically told the NCAA to kick rocks, they were keeping him. Haith got 8 games.

Jim Boeheim lied to the NCAA for 20 years or so during an 8 year NCAA investigaion, Syracuse had massive academic fraud going on, was giving players extra benefits including pay, and was ignoring positive drugs tests, and Boeheim got 9 games.

Bruce Pearl's 3 year ban is the most ridiculous penalty in NCAA history.

 

[cardvolfan]

I didn't see it. Bob Goodfriend (and his son) sits at the end of the row between Haslam and the TV play-by-play announcer's table. Bruce and Goodfriend could have attended the same synagogue. Thunder Thornton sits next to the TV table on the visitor's end. The Sockless Lawyer is about 6 seats down from Thunder. Fulmer sat next to Thornton for a while on Ssturday. I'd like to know the rest. I think that sometimes Allan Jones, from Check Into Cash and the new swim facility, sits between the Haslams and the students. Too bad Gus Manning can no longer attend. He used to have the point right in the student section next to Millionaires Row. Charlie Anderson and his celebrity wife used to sit right behind the TV guys, but I haven't noticed them there for years. I wouldn't know what Bill Sansom looks like. He hired Bruce to work at his company (HT Hackney) after UT cut Bruce loose. I think that Ray Hand, the beer distributor, stays up in a skybox.

I think that was Allan Jones he hugged and talked to for a few minutes. After the game, Pearl went back over and talked to Jones again. He didn't seem to interact long with Goodfriend.....just a handshake.

 

[cardvolfan]

This is so misguided. Many on here who are now critical of Bruce loved him while he was here. I hated the day we fired him.

But as you say, Bruce bends the rules, and we have people on here who try to say he runs a “clean” program. That is absolute nonsense. He is at a perfect school- one that has had trouble with the rules. Match made in heaven. I just get tired of people reminding us that he would have done this and that if he had stated. Well, he didn’t, and he is to mostly blame for it. That’s all in the past, and people have revisionist history about his career. Barnes actually got UT to the NCAAT quicker than Pearl did at Auburn, butcthat diesnt for the argument that people want to spin.

At some point, it’s time for some of “our” fans to just move on.

That ship sailed long ago.

 

[VolGee4]

The NCAA released a multi-sport infractions report at the time the Pearl stuff was investigated. It was part of a 22 month long investigation involving football and baseball too. Hamilton offered up Bruce so the school wouldn't take any heat. It was short sighted as it turned out. You could have hammered football with no major impact on the program because it was trash under Dooley anyway and losing Bruce cost the school 25-30 million in basketball revenue. To the "HE GOT CAUGHT AND LIED!!!" crowd. Find me a coach who didn't lie. Bruce's issue wasn't the lie, it was the complete lack of support from Hamilton.

Frank Haith's investigation changed the NCAA enforcement completely. The NCAA was challenged on it and backed down because they have virtually no real power. Haith provided 100,000+ dollars to a man who was paying recruits, throwing yacht parties for them etc. Haith told the NCAA 3 different stories about what happened in the 3 times they interviewed him. He had went to Missouri from Miami already, Missou basically told the NCAA to kick rocks, they were keeping him. Haith got 8 games.

Jim Boeheim lied to the NCAA for 20 years or so during an 8 year NCAA investigaion, Syracuse had massive academic fraud going on, was giving players extra benefits including pay, and was ignoring positive drugs tests, and Boeheim got 9 games.

Bruce Pearl's 3 year ban is the most ridiculous penalty in NCAA history.

Sure, so let’s talk about him like he’s still our coach or people want him to be our coach. People got to get over it.

 

[VolArmy74]

Sure, so let’s talk about him like he’s still our coach or people want him to be our coach. People got to get over it.

People will never do that. People still want Neyland, Majors or Fulmer to be our coach. It was great when Bruce was here and it's not rational to think people will ever stop wanting that back. That said, the vast majority are satisfied with Barnes and hopefully next season we are back in the conversation for NCAA advancement.

 

[VolGee4]

People will never do that. People still want Neyland, Majors or Fulmer to be our coach. It was great when Bruce was here and it's not rational to think people will ever stop wanting that back. That said, the vast majority are satisfied with Barnes and hopefully next season we are back in the conversation for NCAA advancement.

Well, by people, I think it’s mostly fringe basketball fans. Ones that only follow when the team is really winning, and that’s all they know.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Well, by people, I think it’s mostly fringe basketball fans. Ones that only follow when the team is really winning, and that’s all they know.

This. I mean I can always tell who the fairweather, fringe fans are when they talk about "the Memphis game" as if it was some striking critical moment in college basketball history. They also don't seem to remember Pearl, like Barnes, wasn't a great postseason coach when he was here.

 

[cardvolfan]

And where have all those Memphis fans.....apologists.....or whatever they were, gone? When those Tigers went south, so did those 7-8 posters.

 

[cncchris33]

Agreed. Plav needs to reign it in and learn how to be physical making basketball plays. You can be a very physical player within the rules.

Grant and Admiral are both good examples. I feel like JJJ can become that type of player. He should be able to abuse smaller guards. Excited for Springer as he seems to have that element to his game.

I question whether JJJ will ever have the mental makeup to be that kind of player. Physically, I agree he could be that bulky like Admiral was. He just has miles to go with the mindset, and that is typically something you are either born with or you're not. His high school coach had to beg him to be the dominant player for his HS team, too.

 

[cncchris33]

I don’t know anything about BP personally and everything you state may be 100% accurate but, I’d question that Pat Summit was a bit better judge of character than to be totally duped by a complete slimeball into putting on a cheerleader outfit and singing rocky top on TV. Maybe not, but she had a very solid reputation to be so gullible.

As to his self serving nature when the shat hit the fan, we’ll that’s about 98% of all the folks I’ve ever come across in my 58 years.

He lied and was caught red handed so whatever the punishment he had no one to blame but himself. However, there’s very few folks breathing who have always been 100% honest on every statement for their entire lives. Why continue to judge him, seems like he paid a stiff penalty? I’m happier with who we’ve got now anyway so it’s all good in the end

I'm talking more about how little he did to help those assistant coaches when he went behind closed doors to negotiate his own $1 million golden parachute while negotiating a bag of hot poo for his assistants. He screwed them hard.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I question whether JJJ will ever have the mental makeup to be that kind of player. Physically, I agree he could be that bulky like Admiral was. He just has miles to go with the mindset, and that is typically something you are either born with or you're not. His high school coach had to beg him to be the dominant player for his HS team, too.

I think JJJ needs some guidance to become that great player he was meant to be.

Let him have a one on one conservation with Schofield about becoming an alpha male on the basketball court.

 

[cncchris33]

I think JJJ needs some guidance to become that great player he was meant to be.

Let him have a one on one conservation with Schofield about becoming an alpha male on the basketball court.

Being that alpha either comes naturally or it doesn't, most often. If he is having to be told to do it, and has since high school, then he probably just never will be. Talking to Admiral can't hurt, but the die is probably cast for the kind of temperament he'll have on the court, at this point.

 

[sechamp2012]

Ehh, you can be a likeable person and still be a sleaze bag. In fact, the biggest sleaze bags are often the most likeable people because that is how they want to be perceived.

Ask Jason Shay, Tony Jones, and Steve Forbes how they feel about Bruce Pearl, and off the record, I'd venture to guess you'd be given an accurate portrayal of just how sleazy and self-serving he really is when the going gets tough.

Heard an interview with Forbes this last week and a story came up about how BP treated his assistants compared to Pat and Forbes sort of laughed and then told a story that let you know BP was for BP.

 

[cncchris33]

Heard an interview with Forbes this last week and a story came up about how BP treated his assistants compared to Pat and Forbes sort of laughed and then told a story that let you know BP was for BP.

I have no doubt. The information is out there for those that really want to know. The fact is, most people would rather live amongst the best memories of Pearl and believe that ignorance is bliss with regard to the other side of him. And I say that as someone who was a HUGE fan of Pearl when he was here, and only changed my allegiance after hearing some really unflattering things about him, his tenure, and the way we crapped on his assistants on the way out the door after they put their much less heralded careers on the line for him during the investigation process.

 

[BreatheUT]

That's debatable.

I don't hate him at all, I hate Vol "fans" that use him as troll material. I also hate Vol "fans" who have orange colored nostalgia glasses about his time here. Fact is his teams generally underachieved in the postseason here, much like we're bashing Barnes for. He had 2 teams that didn't underachieve in the PS, but 1 of those was an infamous meltdown against Ohio St., and the other (Elite 8 run) came after we got absolute sh** kicked in the SECT by UK.

In fact I'm more pissed he's been able to do at Auburn what he couldn't do here, including being able to recruit point guards.

Chuck Person