If Barnes retires when ZZ is done ......

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The oversimplification of events leading to Pearl's dismissal is willfully ignorant.

He didn't get fired for having a BBQ. He didn't even get fired for having junior recruits at the event. He got fired for lying about it to the NCAA when caught red-handed, attempting to cover it up by contacting a recruit and asking him and his family to lie about it, and then committing additional recruiting violations while the case was being reviewed. He dug his own grave, and then was still graciously paid $1 million to accept the universities decision while taking a huge dump on his assistant coaches and their families behind closed doors and doing nothing to negotiate adequate settlements for them.

He also blatantly lied to his bosses at UT. You can’t allow that kind of judgement, bad morality, and insubordination and lack of respect for the institution go unchecked. I wish the Bring Back Brucers would just shut up and go away. It’s stupid to keep rehashing his ****.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I would understand the nostalgic desire for him to return (I'd still disagree, but I would get it) if he was making deep, consistent NCAAT runs at Auburn and/or our program was struggling. Neither of those things is occurring, yet there's still people who seriously want him back.

Listen to Auburn fans talk about Pearl. They love him, but at tournament time they get really chirpy. Multiple regular seasons that were really good, but a lot of early NCAAT exits. That sounds familiar!

I've said this several times too, people have some revisionist history here. Before the EE run, people (probably some of the very same who keep bringing him up) were rumbling that he may not be a very good postseason coach. Remember his best team that may be the best Tennessee team ever got b-slapped by Louisville in the S16. Like that game was never competitive. And then the next year we had the SECT almost gift wrapped to us and we didn't show up in the championship game and then was 1 and done in the NCAAT. Not to mention the EE run came after UK b slapped us in the SECT. Nobody really saw that coming.

In fact I go so far to say that if he hadn't made that EE run that year and say only got to the S16 or esepcially if we just went 1-1 that the upset at him leaving might have been a bit less because of his perceived lack of ability to win in March.

 

[05_never_again]

I've said this several times too, people have some revisionist history here. Before the EE run, people (probably some of the very same who keep bringing him up) were rumbling that he may not be a very good postseason coach. Remember his best team that may be the best Tennessee team ever got b-slapped by Louisville in the S16. Like that game was never competitive. And then the next year we had the SECT almost gift wrapped to us and we didn't show up in the championship game and then was 1 and done in the NCAAT. Not to mention the EE run came after UK b slapped us in the SECT. Nobody really saw that coming.

In fact I go so far to say that if he hadn't made that EE run that year and say only got to the S16 or esepcially if we just went 1-1 that the upset at him leaving might have been a bit less because of his perceived lack of ability to win in March.

If Rick had this set of tournament performances during his time at Tennessee, my bet is that these people calling for Bruce would be upset:

2018: Nailbiter victory over 13 seed College of Charleston, then lost by 31 to Clemson in the second round
2019: Final Four. Were nearly upset by 12 seed New Mexico St in the first round
2022: Comfy win over Jacksonville St in the first round, but then smoked by 10 seed Miami in the second round
2023: 8-point win over 8 seed Iowa in first round, then smoked by admittedly a much better Houston team in the second round
2024: Lose in first round to 13 seed Yale

 

[UTS4EVR]

We should go get Chris Beard, Ole Miss's coach and make him turn us down. If he won't come, then other good options would be (in order of preference):

1. Mark Byington from Vandy
2. T.J. Otzelberger from Iowa State
3. Chris Jans from Miss. State
4. Patrick Kelsey from Louisville
6. Mike White from Georgia


We can outbid any of those schools. We have better facilities and a better chance of success and a higher ceiling as a program than any of them as well.

Thoughts?

Better facilities than Louisville? I doubt that one. Honestly, I think only Mike White is a possibility, and even that’s a stretch

 

[UTS4EVR]

Would never happen in 274647373 years and a lot of people will say “I think you smoked a little too much”

But honestly, I 100% believe JJ Reddick would be great ass college coach. Surround him with kids that actually want to play instead of NBA divas and I think he would kill it.


As for who I think will coach after Barnes, I’ll say:
- English (not a great choice)
- Forbes
- I wouldn’t be surprised if Danny just hired his brother

Oh yeah….Reddick leaving the Lakers for Tennessee….or any school besides Duke, is ridiculous. Just let it go.

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

I’m high as ****….bring me the Drake coach. Kind of the basketball version of Cignetti.

Won 4 national championships at the D2 level. First season at Drake, 18-2.

Overall record of 410-93

I like the option. My only question would be his ability to recruit at the highest level. I would assume that is a question to any coach.

 

[87Vol]

I’ll never step foot in that building again if Chris Beard is ever hired. I highly doubt it will be an issue.

I doubt anyone here cares.

 

[Golfprovol]

I haven't seen a Final Four yet. And doubt I will anytime soon. Pearl has taken Auburn there and most likely will again soon. Had he not got ousted by a dumb admin dept, the sky was the limit. I'd love to have the ring coach Cal has as well. No hate for Barnes, but would love to have Pearl back should he retire.

I'll bet you were a huge Kiffin fan, right?
Sell your soul for that one win. Pearl is a cheater and a liar. He wasn't even sorry for what he did to our program.

I would rather have class on our sidelines and a bunch of elite eight appearances than some POS like Cal. You remember his 1 ring, but failed to mention all the first weekend losses. He had 5 NBA players and got beat in the first weekend.

 

[87Vol]

He’s a defensive guy any way.

If fans are complaining about Barne’s philosophy, then they won’t like his either.

I don’t know about anyone else, but the only philosophy Icare about is winning!

 

[Golfprovol]

The oversimplification of events leading to Pearl's dismissal is willfully ignorant.

He didn't get fired for having a BBQ. He didn't even get fired for having junior recruits at the event. He got fired for lying about it to the NCAA when caught red-handed, attempting to cover it up by contacting a recruit and asking him and his family to lie about it, and then committing additional recruiting violations while the case was being reviewed. He dug his own grave, and then was still graciously paid $1 million to accept the universities decision while taking a huge dump on his assistant coaches and their families behind closed doors and doing nothing to negotiate adequate settlements for them.

Like I said to someone else.....a huge POS!!

 

[njvols]

I'd say Kim English would be worth a call.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Oh yeah….Reddick leaving the Lakers for Tennessee….or any school besides Duke, is ridiculous. Just let it go.

Prob should’ve worded that differently, apologies.

Mostly meant he would be a good college coach, imo.

I want the Drake coach

 

[TrippieRedd]

I like the option. My only question would be his ability to recruit at the highest level. I would assume that is a question to any coach.

Hey if KC can make the jump and sign a top 5 class her first year, then I’d give this guy a chance.

He wins.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

If Rick had this set of tournament performances during his time at Tennessee, my bet is that these people calling for Bruce would be upset:

2018: Nailbiter victory over 13 seed College of Charleston, then lost by 31 to Clemson in the second round
2019: Final Four. Were nearly upset by 12 seed New Mexico St in the first round
2022: Comfy win over Jacksonville St in the first round, but then smoked by 10 seed Miami in the second round
2023: 8-point win over 8 seed Iowa in first round, then smoked by admittedly a much better Houston team in the second round
2024: Lose in first round to 13 seed Yale

I think if Barnes made the FF that would give a lot of grace but for many I think they just are fixated on Pearl the character. No matter what they are going to want him back. To an extent kind of like the people that still seem to want Kiffin back even though it's not completely apples to apples since Pearl has accomplished a lot more than Kiffin has. It's some weird cult of personality.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Oh yeah….Reddick leaving the Lakers for Tennessee….or any school besides Duke, is ridiculous. Just let it go.

Lucky you, you didn't have a white knight run in and scold you.

 

[05_never_again]

I think if Barnes made the FF that would give a lot of grace but for many I think they just are fixated on Pearl the character. No matter what they are going to want him back. To an extent kind of like the people that still seem to want Kiffin back even though it's not completely apples to apples since Pearl has accomplished a lot more than Kiffin has. It's some weird cult of personality.

I honestly don't think it would. If Rick made that FF, we'd be over 5 years removed from it now and would not have advanced very far in the tournament since then (or even before then). People have short memories.

I do agree that there are a lot of commonalities between folks wishing for Kiffin and Pearl. Both coaches have outsized personalities and left Tennessee not because of poor performance. There's definitely a "what if" or "the one that got away" thing going on with them, like a hot but crazy ex-girlfriend.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I'd say Kim English would be worth a call.

Possible Peter Principle about to kick in with his career. But he is only 36 so it could be that he only needs more experience.

What does the list of coaches under 40 years old look like? English does check a lot of boxes for a young’un. Played in the NBA. A great recruiter at UT. Head coaching experience in a big time conference. Mentored by Rick Barnes. And I think he went to a UT game last year during an open week that he had.

The jury is still out. An NCAAT appearance or two would shoot him up the list of candidates.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Danny is a good AD to evaluate Kim English and other less known possibilities. He’d know if CKE is the real deal or not.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

I'd say Kim English would be worth a call.

Why? He’s not done anything and is staring down a .500 season. Maybe he gets a courtesy call since he worked for Barnes, but I can’t imagine he will receive serious consideration unless we get turned down many times.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I honestly don't think it would. If Rick made that FF, we'd be over 5 years removed from it now and would not have advanced very far in the tournament since then (or even before then). People have short memories.

I do agree that there are a lot of commonalities between folks wishing for Kiffin and Pearl. Both coaches have outsized personalities and left Tennessee not because of poor performance. There's definitely a "what if" or "the one that got away" thing going on with them, like a hot but crazy ex-girlfriend.

You're probably right. The "what if" I wonder is what if Pearl hadn't been fired and stayed but that EE was his ceiling. If after 5-6 years we never got to the EE again and especially if we didn't get of out of the first weekend, would people be calling for Pearl's head? I think so.

 

[KTrain]

He is good, but I think there are too many open wounds that simply won't heal.

IMO, it is not a good idea to even bring up his name if the job ever comes open, it's very disruptive to the trajectory of the University. There are some that just like to stir things up. Theres a lot of ppl that just bring things up to try to blow things up. I know one guy at work brags about man I gotem' going again other night in that Vol thread on Facebook. Also, Pearl is getting old 65, and his health very red faced and he's out of shape and overweight.

 

[05_never_again]

You're probably right. The "what if" I wonder is what if Pearl hadn't been fired and stayed but that EE was his ceiling. If after 5-6 years we never got to the EE again and especially if we didn't get of out of the first weekend, would people be calling for Pearl's head? I think so.

Oh, absolutely. The downhill spiral probably would have started with his last season at Tennessee. Everybody seems to forget what a disappointment that year was.

 

[RockyTop140]

Barnes will probably get a say in who we hire. Hopefully White takes it into consideration but doesn’t simply hire because Barnes said so. Need to go out and find the best available guy if he decides to hang it up after this season. Which I imagine is likely

 

[ColinS]

Folks, Louisville is a better basketball job than us. Kelsey wouldn’t even take our phone call.

It's not 1985. Most SEC jobs are on par or better than Louisville.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think if Barnes made the FF that would give a lot of grace but for many I think they just are fixated on Pearl the character. No matter what they are going to want him back. To an extent kind of like the people that still seem to want Kiffin back even though it's not completely apples to apples since Pearl has accomplished a lot more than Kiffin has. It's some weird cult of personality.