Pretty Brutal Article on Pearl

#26
#26
Originally posted by vols2345@Jun 8, 2005 11:09 PM
Man do I wish I knew what is going on........
]When Bruce Pearl took over the men’s basketball program at Tennessee in March, he hoped to make an immediate impact by securing two blue chip recruits from the Midstate. Tyler Smith of Giles County had to be re-recruited after signing a letter of intent with the Vols under Buzz Peterson. Pearl’s goal was to couple that with the signing of Jamont Gordon, a former Glencliff star who finished the season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.​
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1. Fact: Smith's father wouldn't allow Tyler and Pearl to get to know each other. Smith's father made the decisions, Pearl tried but the father wasn't allowing it.
2. Jamont Gordon was at no time going to sign with Tennessee. His mother hates UT and wouldn't have signed the papers. How come Buzz couldn't sign Gordon? Gordon was just using UT and in the end took the first offer other than UT.

Neither Smith nor Gordon will play in Knoxville this fall, and the ensuing scramble for players has prompted the Vols coach to resort to tactics that are legal, but in many minds unethical.
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This is Bull over the last 10 years these same things have played out in schools all across the college landscape. It was not too long ago that a certain SEC football coach did the same thing. The media and hacks especially see this as a chance to get a zinger in without researching a topic. They are also the same ones that find themselves on the outside looking in when a team turns it around. An HC has an obligation to do what's right for his program, he has been hired for a specific reason and at UT that is to rebuild the program. He cannot do that if the signee is not an SEC talent, a meddling father or an undisciplined pot head. What Pearl has done is neither illegal or unethical by todays standards.

It started with the failed attempt to build a relationship with Smith, who led Giles County to a state championship as a sophomore. Pearl eventually kept Smith on scholarship despite Smith’s desire to be released, and as a result Smith will sit out two years while Pearl eats an unused scholarship.

The message sent: You sign with a school and not a coach.
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Why was it a failed attempt? why didn't this hack tell the rest of the story?
Because it doesn't fit with his theme that's why.
Tylers Dad refused to allow a relationship to be built, and there is still an investigation going on over it.

The message is the correct one and more schools should re-inforce this.

The Vol coach then turned around and signed Childress after he was released from his scholarship at Pearl’s previous school, Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Pearl had recruited Childress in the same manor that Peterson had Smith.

The message sent: You sign with a coach and not a school.
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Fact: Pearl did not at any time try and recruit Childress and even pushed him to honor his commitment to UWM. It was UWM that released him not Pearl and it was Childress's parents that contacted Pearl.

See Previous thought! Now this hack needs to go talk to UWM.

With that backdrop, Pearl hatched a heartless plan to rid himself of Dotson, whom he felt could not play at the SEC level. After stating that he would honor all the scholarships awarded by Peterson, Pearl sent several obvious signals that he had no desire to see Dotson in Orange. He had virtually no contact with Dotson until late May, when Dotson visited campus to make preparations to enter summer school. He registered for classes, played pickup with the players and met the coaches.

Less than a week later, the Hickman County star was told via cell phone by Pearl not to attend summer school, one day before class was to start. All of the other incoming Vol freshmen are enrolled in the current session.

Pearl proceeded to tell Dotson that he would never play in front of Childress, who has played exactly the same amount of college games as Dotson — zero. Dotson could no longer ignore the signs, and was left with no choice but to ask for his release.
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Now we get to blatant lies by the writer. As stated Dotson's father initated the contact and discussion about his son's playing time and how he fit in the system and it was Pearl who was honest and told him that his son was not a good fit for his system. It was also left out that while playing with current UT players he couldn't hold his own (and that by itself says alot). Pearl also offered to honor the scholarship but it was in fact Dotson that chose to leave. The author also failed to talk about the new rules by the AD on summer school by non-football players and the case by case decisions on who could and couldn't attend summer school in a cost cutting move. Maybe Pearl did tell him not to come for summer school so what it is neither required nor needed.

All of Pearl’s actions are legal. He can look everyone in the eye and say he honored the scholarship offer. But there was no honor in what he did to Dotson.
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Again it was all Dotson's decision not to attend Tennessee. If he was so confident in his ability why leave? Why not show up take the scholarship and prove Pearl wrong. Obviously Dotson didn't want to put out the offer to prove it.


Will this hurt future UT recruiting in state? NO, playing time and winning and losing are what determines how successful your program is in instate recruiting for basketball.

Does this give hacks and hometown newspapers who feel they're boy got jilted fodder to bash a coach and a school? You bet!
There are still alot of people upset over Buzz getting fired and are unwilling to give Pearl a chance and willing to jump on anything that smacks of making Pearl look bad whether true or even just half baked as this article and Climer's article are. The facts are this Buzz while a great guy proved at UT he was a horrible talent evaluator and an average coach at best and people need to understand that Mike Hamilton Fired him. Bruce Pearl did not take Buzz's job, he accepted an open coaching position at The University of Tennessee. It's not Pearls fault UT is abysmal in basketball but he will turn it around, it may not be pretty at first but it hasn't been pretty in a long time. All Pearl has done since he got to UT is try and turn a program around while State Newspapers, alumni and Fans have tried and tear him down. He will be successful inspite of these hate filled people. you want to see the real snakes in the grass look at these same State Newspapers, alumni and Fans.

​
 
#27
#27
I liked hearing Pearl on 104.5 The Zone here in Nashville yesterday eveing on the drive home from work. He took on Willy Daunic & Plaster and did not back down from any of their questions and I did not think there were any sotballs thrown at him. I gained alot of respect for him with his answers, especially in admitting he did make a few mistakes, and his energy level through these tough questions.

It is clear to me that this coach is there to fix a program and win games that matter. If he hurts some feelings along the way, then that is just the price that has to be paid to fix the program.

Before the interview, I was a little hesitant about Pearl's early decisions. Now that I have had a chance to hear his direct words and not strategically placed quotes from the press, I am damn proud to have him and think he is the coach this program has neeeded for a long, long time.

Go Vols!
 
#28
#28
Great post Vol67! I think you pretty much summed up everything I was gonna say. If you truly want this basketball program to succeed then you will let Pearl do his job and quit acting ignorant over some idiot sports writers who pretend to be biast in the media.

The bottom line is Dotson is not an SEC player. He wouldn't have helped TN, and he definitely would not have fit into Pearl's system. He may be an outstanding kid, but to be honest he would not have even started on my high school team.

The problem with Buzz was he signed kids who are mid-major college players talent wise, and saw his results by having losing seasons. Buzz may be a wonderful guy, but he stinks at evaluating SEC basketball talent. Some of our current players right now I question whether they have enough talent to play at the SEC level.

If you want a program to compete on the national level, you better go out and find kids who can play at that level. If you don't then you will be just like Buzz and see the results of an average basketball team.

All this Pearl bashing makes me laugh. The guy stepped into a bad situation with the Smith kid and his idiot father. He consulted with his players and made a decision. That decision he knew would upset some folks, but guess what, he did what was best for "his team". I don't blame him one darn bit.

Tennessee men's basketball needs a kick in the a**. This man has got the ball rolling in the right direction. I am pumped to see his product on the floor next fall. Given a fair amount of time, and better talent evaluation, he will succeed, and make all these whiny babies out there stick a fork in their mouth!

Pearl keep on keeping on my man. These people who are bashing you now will be riding your coat tails after the wins pile up. Its sickening to hear some comments on here.

Go Vols!
 
#30
#30
Pearl may just have some bad luck and be a victim of unfortunate circumstances and I don't blame him for the Tyler Smith fiasco. I am behind Pearl 100% and I think he has a good chance to get things done around here. Nobody is perfect, however, and I think at the very least it sounds like he may be guilty of lack of communication. I don't think this Dotson kid and his parents just changed their mind at the last minute. Why was this conversation that the father supposedly instigated done so late? Why wasn't this done when Pearl got here or at the very least when Childress was signed?

I agree that Dotson may not be SEC caliber talent and I don't have a problem with Pearl cutting him loose but he should have sat down and talked about all of this when he got here and then the father wouldn't have to be calling and asking where his son stood......because he would know.

Or maybe Pearl has just had some bad luck being involved with some parents who are bad communicators. That's possible I guess.
 
#31
#31
Originally posted by Vol67@Jun 9, 2005 7:53 AM
All it is is a couple of hacks that failed to research an article before they wrote it and have no clue as to what is really going on.
1. Fact: Smith's father wouldn't allow Tyler and Pearl to get to know each other. Smith's father made the decisions, Pearl tried but the father wasn't allowing it.
2. Jamont Gordon was at no time going to sign with Tennessee. His mother hates UT and wouldn't have signed the papers. How come Buzz couldn't sign Gordon? Gordon was just using UT and in the end took the first offer other than UT.
This is Bull over the last 10 years these same things have played out in schools all across the college landscape. It was not too long ago that a certain SEC football coach did the same thing. The media and hacks especially see this as a chance to get a zinger in without researching a topic. They are also the same ones that find themselves on the outside looking in when a team turns it around. An HC has an obligation to do what's right for his program, he has been hired for a specific reason and at UT that is to rebuild the program. He cannot do that if the signee is not an SEC talent, a meddling father or an undisciplined pot head. What Pearl has done is neither illegal or unethical by todays standards.
Why was it a failed attempt? why didn't this hack tell the rest of the story?
Because it doesn't fit with his theme that's why.
Tylers Dad refused to allow a relationship to be built, and there is still an investigation going on over it.

The message is the correct one and more schools should re-inforce this.
Fact: Pearl did not at any time try and recruit Childress and even pushed him to honor his commitment to UWM. It was UWM that released him not Pearl and it was Childress's parents that contacted Pearl.

See Previous thought! Now this hack needs to go talk to UWM.
Now we get to blatant lies by the writer. As stated Dotson's father initated the contact and discussion about his son's playing time and how he fit in the system and it was Pearl who was honest and told him that his son was not a good fit for his system. It was also left out that while playing with current UT players he couldn't hold his own (and that by itself says alot). Pearl also offered to honor the scholarship but it was in fact Dotson that chose to leave. The author also failed to talk about the new rules by the AD on summer school by non-football players and the case by case decisions on who could and couldn't attend summer school in a cost cutting move. Maybe Pearl did tell him not to come for summer school so what it is neither required nor needed.
Again it was all Dotson's decision not to attend Tennessee. If he was so confident in his ability why leave? Why not show up take the scholarship and prove Pearl wrong. Obviously Dotson didn't want to put out the offer to prove it.
Will this hurt future UT recruiting in state? NO, playing time and winning and losing are what determines how successful your program is in instate recruiting for basketball.

Does this give hacks and hometown newspapers who feel they're boy got jilted fodder to bash a coach and a school? You bet!
There are still alot of people upset over Buzz getting fired and are unwilling to give Pearl a chance and willing to jump on anything that smacks of making Pearl look bad whether true or even just half baked as this article and Climer's article are. The facts are this Buzz while a great guy proved at UT he was a horrible talent evaluator and an average coach at best and people need to understand that Mike Hamilton Fired him. Bruce Pearl did not take Buzz's job, he accepted an open coaching position at The University of Tennessee. It's not Pearls fault UT is abysmal in basketball but he will turn it around, it may not be pretty at first but it hasn't been pretty in a long time. All Pearl has done since he got to UT is try and turn a program around while State Newspapers, alumni and Fans have tried and tear him down. He will be successful inspite of these hate filled people. you want to see the real snakes in the grass look at these same State Newspapers, alumni and Fans.
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MAN, I enjoyed reading that, vol67!!

:worship:
 
#32
#32
Who knows why his father waited so long. If he was my son I would have been knocking on Pearls door the day after he was hired, which obviously Mr. Dotson didn't do. It still boils down to Dotson had the choice to stay and prove Pearl wrong in his assessment and for whatever reason chose not to and I don't care how you look at good or bad you have ot look at Dotson.
 
#33
#33
If the Sentinel reports I have read are correct, Charlie Benson is Dotson's AAU coach. Hence, I'm glad Pearl sent him packing. I sincerely hope we use our newly formed alliance with the Pump brothers and adidas to destroy Benson and his whole sick organization.
 
#34
#34
I think I would have done the same if he was my son, Vol67. But I also would have sat down and addressed all that in the beginning with the kid and his dad if I was coach Pearl. I mean you would think that they all would have met when coach Pearl arrived. I would find it strange that the dad didn't ask about Matthew's playing time and what Pearl thought about him being a contributor to the team. Who knows.

Again, this may very well have been 100% the dad and kids fault, but from everything we know and from what happended with Thomas (you can blame his mother for ruining it for him but the kid was sitting at home fully expecting to receive his papers in the mail) it COULD be looked at as a pattern, not of wrong doing, but as mis-communications.

I am behind him and I will let our wins and losses talk for Pearl over the next few years but I don't think the publicity from all this is making Pearl's life any easier.
 
#35
#35
Its not making it any easier but its also in part coming from people who doesn't want him to succeed. In the Thomas case he knew very well that his mother had to visit UT and his offer was conditional on that happening. Yes he was expecting papers but he also wasn't expecting his mother to refuse to visit UT. I do think maybe Pearl not getting with the parent soon enough also contributed but also remember this and everyone should remember especially if they have a child lucky enough to get a scholarship. UT went thru a coaching change during a critical part of the recruiting process and Pearl was trying to hit the ground running and also hire assistants, deal with the Gordon and Smith situation, plus look at what was available in 2006 since its just a few months away meet with everyone he needs to meet with plus getting out and showing support for UT's other programs and bring some visibility to the basketball program. The parents of a child going thru this should always contact the coach and set up a time for discussion on how the player will fit with the new coaches system and how the new coach evaluates the player. Then there can be no confusion and things don't get lost due to other pressing concerns of which UT basketball has numerous.
 
#36
#36
As always, there will be some that are convinced that BP is an utterly honest and upfront guy, and others that see him as a slimy snake oil salesman. Since all we have to work with generally, is what occurs in the public domain, that is what I use to judge.

I do see a pattern here. It seems at this point that he will say one thing and do another when it suits his purposes. He pledged to honor the LOI's when he came in, and promptly did not do so when it was to his advantage.

One perspective could be that he was being honest when he said he would honor those LOI's, but changed his position later when he had more details. Another perspective is that it SOUNDED good when he said he would honor the LOI's, however he had no intention to actually do so.

As an example, let us all recall the "I put down deep roots", "It would need to be a no brainer opportunity", and "I could see myself retiring in Milwaukee" comments.

It is apparent to me that he did not mean a word of what he said when he made those statements, but they sounded GREAT and served the purpose of driving up the price from his suitors in Knoxville. He even went so far as to repeat his welcome speech from UWM almost word for word in Knoxville, only replacing "Milwaukee" with "Tennessee".

I have come to the conclusion that BP is a great coach, and a powerful motivator. He is also the slickest and most convincing “Used Car Salesman” you will ever meet. He has the ability to make you believe he truly cares about your welfare as he is screwing you in the ass.

No one can question the success of his teams here at UWM, or anywhere else. At the same time, I don't think that because he was partially responsible for a Sweet 16 appearance, we should be blind to his obvious character deficiencies.

Simply put he is the best coach/con man you will ever meet.

I wish UT the best of luck in a tough SEC. I hope that you guys have a winner to cheer for in the years to come.

As a UWM alum, I can tell you first hand how exciting having a winning program can be after years of failure and misery.
 
#38
#38
Simply put he is the best coach/con man you will ever meet.

Seems from the outside looking in, which I most definitely am as regards basketball, that coach/con man is alittle bit what you want[see Phil Jackson]. Now I'm not espousing deceitfullness, but I'm sure you've gotta tweak a lot of different personalities to make a program fly. A certain measure of "right words at the right moment" would seem to be prerequisite for the job.

Great comments! Welcome UWM!
 
#39
#39
Originally posted by UWM_98Alum@Jun 10, 2005 9:46 AM
As always, there will be some that are convinced that BP is an utterly honest and upfront guy, and others that see him as a slimy snake oil salesman.  Since all we have to work with generally, is what occurs in the public domain, that is what I use to judge.

I do see a pattern here.  It seems at this point that he will say one thing and do another when it suits his purposes.  He pledged to honor the LOI's when he came in, and promptly did not do so when it was to his advantage.

One perspective could be that he was being honest when he said he would honor those LOI's, but changed his position later when he had more details.  Another perspective is that it SOUNDED good when he said he would honor the LOI's, however he had no intention to actually do so.

As an example, let us all recall the "I put down deep roots", "It would need to be a no brainer opportunity", and "I could see myself retiring in Milwaukee" comments. 

It is apparent to me that he did not mean a word of what he said when he made those statements, but they sounded GREAT and served the purpose of driving up the price from his suitors in Knoxville.  He even went so far as to repeat his welcome speech from UWM almost word for word in Knoxville, only replacing "Milwaukee" with "Tennessee".

I have come to the conclusion that BP is a great coach, and a powerful motivator.  He is also the slickest and most convincing “Used Car Salesman” you will ever meet.  He has the ability to make you believe he truly cares about your welfare as he is screwing you in the ass.

No one can question the success of his teams here at UWM, or anywhere else.  At the same time, I don't think that because he was partially responsible for a Sweet 16 appearance, we should be blind to his obvious character deficiencies.

Simply put he is the best coach/con man you will ever meet.

I wish UT the best of luck in a touch SEC.  I hope that you guys have a winner to cheer for in the years to come.

As a UWM alum, I can tell you first hand how exciting having a winning program can be after years of failure and misery.
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I will again stress that Pearl did not say he wasn't going to honor the LOI. He simply told Dotson and his family that Matt would have a very difficult time playing at the high D1 level. In reality, the only coach who thought Dotson coluld play at this level was a buffoon desperate for bodies after much better recruits jumped ship to Auburn.
 
#40
#40
Excuse me. Talk about sour grapes.

1. He offered to honor the LOI understand, at no time did ask for Dotson to sign a release. It was Dotson who wanted a release.

Those are facts UWM_98Alum so you can stop trying to twist it around, the articles were written by little men with a vendetta against UT, just as you sound like someone who has sour grapes because a coach left your team for another one. How do you know he wasn't planning on retiring in Milwaukee? Money talks and Bull_ _ _ t walks and that comment is walking all over the place and if your naive enough to believe any coach would stay at a mid-level over a high profile school who can pay him alot more money I'm sorry. The other remark about used car salesman show point blank fact your still upset you wes gilted by a coach you thought was great. He isn't perfect and no one including me has said he was and where that comment came from is beyond me but before you pop off about things at least read the facts and get them straight before you formulate a reply that is as ill concieved at the articles written by these last 2 jokers and printed in a newspaper.

All coaches are used car salemen every last one of them just some are better than others.
 
#41
#41
I'm sorry that my opinion upsets some of you so much. I wasn't intending that, but such is life sometimes.

While you may see BP as just one more like all the others, he himself will try to convince you otherwise. I am far from a "Johhny Come Lately" to the Bruce Pearl party. I've met the man once or twice in passing, and have watched him work his trade for years.

As far as "sour grapes" is concerned, nothing could be farther from the truth. I am excited about the prospects of Rob Jeter and the future of UWM. I pull for the program, not the guy walking the sidelines.

And not to put too fine a point on it, but UWM is far from a cellar dweller where coaches go to hide and/or die. We have 3 more appearances in the post season the the Vols do in the last 5 years, if I'm not mistaken.

I understand that you REALLY REALLY want to believe the slop he dishes out because it sounds SOOOO WONDERFUL. How much he loves his playes, how dedicated to the school and the community he is.

I'm just trying to warn you of what I learned. I believed every word when he said it would take a "no brainer" opportunity for him to even consider leaving. I don't think that even the most die hard fan would call the Tennessee job a "no brainer", unless you are referring to the football program.

But what's most disgusting to me is that he even had his dad shilling for him in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal during the tournament. Saying things like how he didn't think BP would leave for a long time because he hd it so great at UWM and he really felt at home here.

Call it spin, call it salesmanship, call it typical coach speak. Call it whatever you want, but up here in the frozen north, we call saying something you know is not true "lies". Seems to cut through the confusion a little.
 
#43
#43
Who is Willy Daunic? He sounds like he's Anti-UT. Was he on ESPN--the VOLS Haters?

I guess he's up for the Pulitzer ? Some people just can't stand to see someone succeed.



 
#45
#45
Originally posted by UWM_98Alum@Jun 10, 2005 3:26 PM
As far as "sour grapes" is concerned, nothing could be farther from the truth.  I am excited about the prospects of Rob Jeter and the future of UWM.  I pull for the program, not the guy walking the sidelines.
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Of course not....because all of this was constantly said during his ran with UWM :rolleyes:
 
#47
#47
Con-Man is way off-based for Pearl and I am tired of reading about it. My comments are coming from someone who has followed his career much longer than anyone on this board and any writer in TN or with SI or whoever. Salesman is the better term to use and what makes him any different than Pitino, Caliperi, Coach K, etc? Why don't you hear Con-Man with these other names? Because they have had success in D I. After Pearl starts winning here this will all change, but until someone can validate why he is a "Con-Man", then keep the comments to yourself. And Illini fans don't bring up with Jimmy Collins and Deon Thomas case because we all know the truth here. Bob Knight and others can validate the true Con-Man in Lou Henson and J. Collins.
 
#49
#49
TroyCG

Why in the world did you post that half baked piece of trash. That things is about as stupid as the other one and it is also filled with half-truth's by a bitter old man who cannot or will not do his homework. Climer doesn't have a clue and if he would have researched his article instead of allowing his hatred of UT to come to the surface he wouldn't have wrote that trash. They are enough lies in that article to fill a boat. Read my earlier post it also applys to this drivel from someone that breathes up good air.
 
#50
#50
glad to hear Vol67 likes Climer as much as I do.
 
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