ESPN reports that a source close to Pearl says he has no fear of being fired

#101
#101
LawVol13 said:
I really don't think you can compare the post-season records, but I think it is safe to say that Mears underperformed when he made it to the dance. Of course, at the same time, making it to the dance was a significant accomplishment then, much more so than now.
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You don't get to play American University when there are only 25 teams in the tournament.
 
#103
#103
LawVol13 said:
Yes, but he had some really good teams that were capable of going further than they did. I think that's a fair criticism of Mears.
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I'm old enough to just barely remember Mears, but not any of the specifics about how bad his losses were. Were they Witchita State bad? I have no idea.

I just think in general it's impossible to evaluate coaches from that era in the same way that we evaluate them in the modern era -- ie, by putting about 95 percent of the weight on the postseason. Having only 22-25 teams in the tournament back then made it an entirely different animal. Getting in, who you met early, everything.

Up until last year, Pearl's NCAA performance had been decidedly underwhelming too, considering how good his teams were supposed to be. If Mears had coached in an era when 64 teams got in the tourney every year, he would have been in the NCAAs almost every year too, and surely he would have had a deep run or two of his own. He had good teams every single year, yet only got to play in the tournament three times.
 
#104
#104
Vercingetorix said:
I'm old enough to just barely remember Mears, but not any of the specifics about how bad his losses were. Were they Witchita State bad? I have no idea.

I just think in general it's impossible to evaluate coaches from that era in the same way that we evaluate them in the modern era -- ie, by putting about 95 percent of the weight on the postseason. Having only 22-25 teams in the tournament back then made it an entirely different animal. Getting in, who you met early, everything.

Up until last year, Pearl's NCAA performance had been decidedly underwhelming too, considering how good his teams were supposed to be. If Mears had coached in an era when 64 teams got in the tourney every year, he would have been in the NCAAs almost every year too, and surely he would have had a deep run or two of his own. He had good teams every single year, yet only got to play in the tournament three times.
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I'm not arguing that Pearl's better than Mears. I don't think he is, by any stretch. My dad usually talked about losing to teams that they were clearly better than when Mears was there. I believe one of them was a Syracuse team that Tennessee was supposedly clearly better than.
 
#105
#105
Vols520 said:
It cracks me up when people act like he killed somebody. I am sure he had no idea the NCAA had the picture, and he assumed there was no way to prove the bbq actualy occured.

Of course he would lie, because he didn't want to incriminate himself.

Not that it's okay, but it's human nature to do whatever it takes to survive if you are backed in a corner. He probably panicked, and thought he would never get caught.
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He lied when he was shown the picture. Pretty sure he knew they had it when he looked at it. He said he couldn't identify where the picture was taken (his own house) nor could he identify the woman in the background (one of the assistant's wife) and had no knowledge of a picture being taken.
 
#106
#106
LawVol13 said:
I'm not arguing that Pearl's better than Mears. I don't think he is, by any stretch. My dad usually talked about losing to teams that they were clearly better than when Mears was there. I believe one of them was a Syracuse team that Tennessee was supposedly clearly better than.
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I just think it's impossible to extrapolate too much about Mears's coaching abilities when N=3. Three games is not enough. When you look at his teams' records, it's clear that in the modern format, they'd have been in the tournament basically every single year. But they only went three times.

To me it looks roughly like Mears built the UT program up to the about the same relative level where Pearl has had it in recent years, and then sustained it for 15 years. Given the difference in eras, I don't know that you can make a clear argument for one over the other as the best coach in team history. Depends on which axe you want to grind, I guess.
 
#107
#107
bowlinggreenvol said:
He lied when he was shown the picture. Pretty sure he knew they had it when he looked at it. He said he couldn't identify where the picture was taken (his own house) nor could he identify the woman in the background (one of the assistant's wife) and had no knowledge of a picture being taken.
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:eek:k:
 
#108
#108
Vercingetorix said:
Jerry Freaking Green had 90 percent of the resume at UT that Pearl does, and everybody thinks he sucks.
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zjcvols said:
I bet that if we didn't win the Ohio State game, or Tyler Smith never had a gun, 75% of the fanbase would want Pearl gone.
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Sudeepvol said:
If Pearl can win these last three games, their conference record would be a push. Their overall record is a push. Mears gets the advantage there though because it is over a 15 year period. At the same time, as much as Pearl is dogged for his lack of tournament success, 60% of his years has ended in Sweet 16 finishes. That's pretty good. Mears has only 1 (I believe). I know you'll say we can't compare post-season success now vs 30 years ago, but I don't see another way of evaluating coaches based strictly on results.
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tvolsfan said:
Until last year, there wasn't much of a difference at all, IIRC.
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LawVol13 said:
I really don't think you can compare the post-season records, but I think it is safe to say that Mears underperformed when he made it to the dance. Of course, at the same time, making it to the dance was a significant accomplishment then, much more so than now.
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yea, but my brother can beat up your brother and your mother wears army boots.
 
#112
#112
zjcvols said:
Because you put the coach ahead of the program, and while Bruce has done a good job here, he's isn't John Wooden, or Adolph Rupp, or Dean Smith, or Coach K. He's a good coach that can be replaced. I don't want to waste a season because our idiot coach lied to NCAA investigators and tried to lie about it. Plus it would look terrible on the program.
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Great scenario there but you left out that all of those schools are top premier basketball schools. UT doesn't
even come close to those and if we can so easily go get a huge coach why haven't we before him.
 
#113
#113
If i was in charge of a program id hire bruce real quick. Yeah he lied. So what. Every coach does it. Bruce just got caught. And who gives a crap if he lied to the ncaa! Its the ncaa people! They are garbage. If ya wanna win at a school that sucks then u gotta bend the rules to get the job done. Im sorry but its life.
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#114
#114
BasketvolsFan said:
According to ESPN, Pearl is secure in his job and has no fear of being fired. Guess that settles all the speculation about his future. Apparently UT told him he would not be fired if no new findings came out of the investigation.
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Haslam is a big supporter of Pearl. I wouldn't be worried either with him in my corner. He's one of UT's biggest contributors.
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#115
#115
Neyland Law Vol said:
If the NCAA slaps a year coaching ban or NCAA tourny ban - You may see TN change its tune. But if neither of those come down, Pearl will stay.
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I don't think I agree with this statement...while I admit those would be harsh penalties and the UT Board would have to take a hard look, I still think CBP keeps his job.....one thing to remember...the writers, sports analyst etc. that are outlining the doomsday scenarios are pontificating their opinions and nothing more....There's so much double standard-ness out there it's really hard to get a feel for where this is ultimately headed....the "bump" incident should be easy to refute....Let's wait and see...But I do know this...At the end of the day we are still the University of Tennessee...We will recover..... arrogance???...ah, maybe a little...
 
#116
#116
easleychuck said:
To mention the word SMU and these 'infractions' is beyond accurate.
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Agreed...and the NCAA agrees....YOU WILL NEVER SEE A PROGRAM GET THE DEATH PENALTY AGAIN....Thats not my opinion....that's the NCAA's opinion....Biggest mistake the NCAA ever committed....and maybe the "firing of Tark" at UNLV....cost them a boatload of money due to lawsuit...
 
#118
#118
strongtower said:
Great scenario there but you left out that all of those schools are top premier basketball schools. UT doesn't
even come close to those and if we can so easily go get a huge coach why haven't we before him.
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Okay. How about Jim Calhoun, Jim Boehiem, Denny Crum, Billy Donovan, or John Thompson II?
 
#119
#119
LynxVol said:
Haslam is a big supporter of Pearl. I wouldn't be worried either with him in my corner. He's one of UT's biggest contributors.
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There were lots of rumors going around about how Haslam was a big Fulmer Supporter and that's why he was here as long as he was. Not sure what happened with that.

This is the same thing only different.
:crazy:
 
#120
#120
zjcvols said:
Because you put the coach ahead of the program, and while Bruce has done a good job here, he's isn't John Wooden, or Adolph Rupp, or Dean Smith, or Coach K. He's a good coach that can be replaced. I don't want to waste a season because our idiot coach lied to NCAA investigators and tried to lie about it. Plus it would look terrible on the program.
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Waste a season??? Wheather he's suspended or not, it's not going to change next season. If he's fired. Then it would change. Players leaving. Other top players take UT off there list without Pearl. Pearl is a great coach. He's staying so these threads are a mute point. I really think most fools on here wanting him to go are trolls!
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#121
#121
OrangeDog said:
There were lots of rumors going around about how Haslam was a big Fulmer Supporter and that's why he was here as long as he was. Not sure what happened with that.

This is the same thing only different.
:crazy:
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Fulmer was losing. He wasn't putting in the effort to stay on top. Lackluster recruiting, especially. Little bit of a different situation. We all respected Fulmer, but when you start losing, this is afterall a business.

Pearl has changed the culture of UT basketball. We are relevant and winning. Haslam was sitting behind the bench at the Vandy game. He was one of the first guys to congratulate Pearl after the game.
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#123
#123
235lbVol said:
Waste a season??? Wheather he's suspended or not, it's not going to change next season. If he's fired. Then it would change. Players leaving. Other top players take UT off there list without Pearl. Pearl is a great coach. He's staying so these threads are a mute point. I really think most fools on here wanting him to go are trolls!
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Always good to call people names who have a different view than you. It sure beats an intelligent and factual conversation doesn't it? Some people care about UT's image and long term recruiting affects that will surely come from this. Some people believe UT is great enough to be successful with another coach. Some people believe that he committed a fireable offense. Some people are embarrassed by this, and some people aren't naive enough to think this won't have a negative effect on the future of the program. Some feel that UT has done as much or more for Bruce than he has UT. Some people feel that paying him millions and giving him everything he needs to win here shows that UT deserves more than what Pearl gave in return during this mess. Not like Pearl was coaching for free here, so some fans don't buy the "all he has done for UT" business. Some people believe that building a program doesn't give one the right to tear down a program.

However, even though I sat through the Wade, Oneill, Green, and Buzz years; I am just a troll. I secretly hate UT and had season tix and went to every game because I hated them so much I tried to fill TBA with negative energy. I really want Buzz Peterson back, that has been my goal from day 1, same as others who feel that Bruce should be fired. We love Buzz ball and we believe that UT is a desperate program that will have to beg a high school coach to take this job. We believe Bruce is more important than the history or rep. of UT. I am glad to get that off my chest.
 
#124
#124
Amen!!! Well stated. The image of our university and athletic program absolutely should be more important that any coach. The only way to change that image that we value wins over integrity is to fire Pearl.
 
#125
#125
BasketvolsFan said:
Amen!!! Well stated. The image of our university and athletic program absolutely should be more important that any coach. The only way to change that image that we value wins over integrity is to fire Pearl.
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Agree. I don't get why the "Pearl S UT bball crowd" have nothing to say but attack those who have a different opinion(which the majority of college bball people agree with) that Pearl deserves to go. It really hurts their credibility when all they can say is "anyone who wants Pearl gone isn't a real fan". How rediculous is that. If someone thinks he should stay, fine. However, if their reasoning is "He IS UT bball", "who ya gonna get", "everyone lies", "NCAA rules are dumb", etc, then I have a hard time respecting that. If someone thinks that 1 possible 1-2 year suspension wouldn't devastate the program for years, moreso than cutting ties, then I don't know what to say to that. How hard would it be to recruit to UT? The really disturbing thing is, having lived in KY twice, UT fans are starting to sound alot like KY fans with how they defend Cal and how they look the other way in past times of NCAA trouble. I dont want to be Kentucky.
 
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