On Sept. 20, 2008, then-Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl hosted a cookout at his house, a decision that led to his downfall, three-year banishment from NCAA sidelines and, finally, his triumphant return when he was hired Tuesday by Auburn in a bold statement about not just the coach, but the state of college athletics.
Tennessee lost a football game that day, but Pearl's focus was on three basketball recruits who came to town on unofficial visits they, and their parents, paid to drive themselves to Knoxville. As such, no one associated with UT could give them a ride anywhere, let alone provide them food or drink.
Why? Who knows? At some point, some subcommittee of college sports leaders decided cookouts during unofficial visits should be against the rules, even if they would seem to be an excellent way for everyone players, parents, coaches to get to know each other in a relaxed environment.
