Pearl was on Dan Patrick this morning

[lawgator1]

Highlights (some good, some bad):

1) He said there had been some feelers thrown his way but he denied being contacted by any specific programs, including St. John's, saying that he had made it clear that he was happy at UT.

2) Said he thohght that the success he has had at UT has caused some other coaches to get fired because of how quickly he has had success there.

3) Was asked if UT is a football school. Said no, and started talking about Summit (which made me want to throw up, but I get the PR issue, I suppose).

and the big one ....

4) Was asked about Kiffin and said he thought he was a good coach, liked his Dad, and that he doesn't think he would have left except that it was USC. But, he said that he disagreed with Kiffin's comment that he was leaving the program in better shape than he found it because of the fact that the kids on the team had already been through a lot and now they have to go from Fulmer to Kiffin to Dooley and its tough to get them to buy in to new approaches so quickly.

Overall, good interview.

 

[westtnvol]

Sounds to me like the whole thing was a good interview.

 

[getyopopcornready]

Yea, gator, I don't see anything bad in that interview.

 

[Majorvol23]

Hey, thanks for sharing and filling us in... sounded good overall to me, especially what he said about kiffin
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[hmanvolfan]

Pearl is the basketball coach lg.
Nevermind: this was posted in the Tennessee Vols Football forum...

 

[andymuffins]

Pearl is rapidly becoming the biggest representative for the Vols Athletic Program.

 

[allvol9]

Wish I had heard it. Thanks for the summary lawgator.

 

[crazyguy]

Is Patrick on Fox now? I listen to Colin if i'm going to listen to sports talk during the morning.

 

[Wonky92]

I wouldn't mind seeing Pearl end up as Athletic Director when his tenure as basketball coach is finished here.

 

[Gorilla33]

Is Patrick on Fox now? I listen to Colin if i'm going to listen to sports talk during the morning.

yeah, he is broadcast on foxsportsradio.com and also si.com...His show is really funny, by far my favorite sports radio show.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I wouldn't mind seeing Pearl end up as Athletic Director when his tenure as basketball coach is finished here.

I think the days of coaches essentially retiring into the AD chair are about finished. The position is now more of a CEO style gig because the Ath Depts have become such large businesses.

 

[BJSforVols]

I wouldn't mind seeing Pearl end up as Athletic Director when his tenure as basketball coach is finished here.

I like Pearl, but let's don't go overboard.

 

[tvolsfan]

1) He said there had been some feelers thrown his way but he denied being contacted by any specific programs, including St. John's, saying that he had made it clear that he was happy at UT.

I'm not sure how truthful that is, but it sounds good. I don't think Pearl is the best guy, and I definitely think he has to change some things to be successful at the level we all really want, but I'd take my chances on Pearl getting there eventually. I'm very concerned that a bad hire to replace him could result in total apathy.

2) Said he thohght that the success he has had at UT has caused some other coaches to get fired because of how quickly he has had success there.

Maybe true... I feel like we've talked about this before, but I can't think of any examples. Not sure if I would say this, though.

3) Was asked if UT is a football school. Said no, and started talking about Summit (which made me want to throw up, but I get the PR issue, I suppose).

This is just wrong. UT is a football school

4) Was asked about Kiffin and said he thought he was a good coach, liked his Dad, and that he doesn't think he would have left except that it was USC. But, he said that he disagreed with Kiffin's comment that he was leaving the program in better shape than he found it because of the fact that the kids on the team had already been through a lot and now they have to go from Fulmer to Kiffin to Dooley and its tough to get them to buy in to new approaches so quickly.

I could probably agree with all of this. Did he improve the team, absolutely, but his leaving set us back without a doubt.

 

[tvolsfan]

I think the days of coaches essentially retiring into the AD chair are about finished. The position is now more of a CEO style gig because the Ath Depts have become such large businesses.

I would love to see people capable of making the best hires in football and men's basketball get the job over businessmen because winning means more to me than the AD turning a profit. (Although I obviously understand why people in the AD would feel differently) However, I'd rather see businessmen than beloved legacies take over.

 

[ridethelightening]

I would love to see people capable of making the best hires in football and men's basketball get the job over businessmen because winning means more to me than the AD turning a profit. (Although I obviously understand why people in the AD would feel differently) However, I'd rather see businessmen than beloved legacies take over.

This makes about as much sense as a football bat.

Winning usually means you will turn a profit.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[lawgator1]

I have to say, he comes across as one of the most honest, and no typical bs coach speak guys I've heard in a long time. He has to walk a line, and he does so, but its with a bit of a wink and a nod and it comes across as very genuine.

 

[WesternKyVol]

I'm not sure how truthful that is, but it sounds good. I don't think Pearl is the best guy, and I definitely think he has to change some things to be successful at the level we all really want, but I'd take my chances on Pearl getting there eventually. I'm very concerned that a bad hire to replace him could result in total apathy.

I think he's one of the top five coaches inthe country.

Maybe true... I feel like we've talked about this before, but I can't think of any examples. Not sure if I would say this, though.

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas.

This is just wrong. UT is a football school...

I think it's wrong to label a school a "football" or "basketball" school unless it is absolutely balatantly obvious. I just don't see the point. Our attendance rank in basketball is actually better than it is in football. Almost any school that has had big football success will be labeled a football school. But whereas entry into football's elite is a qauntum leap, with the right coach, a school can become a basketball powerhouse as well.

I could probably agree with all of this. Did he improve the team, absolutely, but his leaving set us back without a doubt.

Yes the team improved. However, I personally think that his whole tenure was a black eye to what has always been a proud and classy football program.

 

[lawgator1]

Yes the team improved. However, I personally think that his whole tenure was a black eye to what has always been a proud and classy football program.

You'll have to hear a bit more about it from time to time, especially if Kiffin is either successful or bursts into flames out in LA. Otherwise, by middle of next season I think people will pretty much have forgotten about it.

 

[armchair]

to leave UT for any program other than one that is bona fide top tier--meaning unc/duke/louisville/uconn, maybe a couple of others. The money at UT is good, the facilities are very good, he's got the program on a definite and fairly major upswing--and all this in a conference that has been relatively weak, which helps the Vols make the Big Dance--which is the bar by which coaches are judged nowadays.

 

[lawgator1]

to leave UT for any program other than one that is bona fide top tier--meaning unc/duke/louisville/uconn, maybe a couple of others. The money at UT is good, the facilities are very good, he's got the program on a definite and fairly major upswing--and all this in a conference that has been relatively weak, which helps the Vols make the Big Dance--which is the bar by which coaches are judged nowadays.

If we really do go to 96 teams, everybody .500 or above in conference is getting in.

 

[QuickdrawMcVols]

96 teams is a joke.

 

[tvolsfan]

I think he's one of the top five coaches inthe country.

You can argue that. I think he has to prove more for that to be a legit claim, but I'm not going to pretend I'm not satisfied with his tenure to this point.

Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas

I appreciate the info, because I don't know enough about basketball at bad schools to think of examples like stuff like that, but are you sure those are all right? Seems like Georgia, Auburn, and Arkansas didn't really fight to improve their coaching situation. I could be wrong.

I think it's wrong to label a school a "football" or "basketball" school unless it is absolutely balatantly obvious. I just don't see the point. Our attendance rank in basketball is actually better than it is in football. Almost any school that has had big football success will be labeled a football school. But whereas entry into football's elite is a qauntum leap, with the right coach, a school can become a basketball powerhouse as well.

Eh... I see your point, but I'll respectfully disagree. Although UT has been mediocre in football for some time, and attendance is droppings, I'd still say the vast majority of UT fans are football first. I could be wrong. I'm not saying "football schools" can't be good in basketball, but I guess it depends on your opinion of the definition.

Yes the team improved. However, I personally think that his whole tenure was a black eye to what has always been a proud and classy football program.

I can agree with that. Everything is, at best, uncertain now.

 

[tvolsfan]

This makes about as much sense as a football bat.

Winning usually means you will turn a profit.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

You realize it's possible for a school to turn a profit while producing less than exceptional results, right? If my favorite team is not producing well with the coach, but the seats are still being filled, I'd still want the AD to kick the coaches rear to the curb and hire a good coach, even if the finances were doing fine. I feel like a business man may be less likely to do that at times.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

This is just wrong. UT is a football school.

Labeling something as a "football" or "basketball" school using has a bit of a negative flair to it; meaning everyone only really cares about one sport. Alabama is definitely a football school, I'm not sure they know any other sport exists. They couldn't even get people to show up back in the late 90s or early 00s when they were ranked #1 for a bit early in the season.

I think in that regard UT isn't a football school. Obviously football is still the #1 sport. Even with the program being down, 5 years of good basketball fortune isn't going to out do decades of football tradition. But I also think it's clear UT isn't a 1 sport school anymore. Here in Nashville the MSU game Sunday was the highest rated non-championship basketball game ever and 3rd highest rated game ever.

I don't think UT will ever because a "basketball" school but I will say that if the football program doesn't get going in the next 3-5 years and the basketball program continues to rise, you'll see the national perception change.

 

[CAVol]

I think he's one of the top five coaches inthe country.

I'd like to see your top 5.

My top 5:

1a) Roy Williams
1b) Coach K
3) Tom Izzo
4) Jim Calhoun
5) Bill Self

You really think Bruce Pearl deserves to be on that list?