Tux
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- Jul 3, 2010
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Tennessee fans are getting it. The University of Tennessee is now as much of a basketball school as it is a football school. Our fans enjoy the two sports and understand that be a winning basketball program does not take away from the football program and it is just as much fun to follow.
We have had a lot of fun following the Vols basketball success the past six years, with Bruce Pearl at the helm. We have also enjoyed the swagger and dynamic style that Bruce brought to the table. Together they brought basketball to the forefront of fans attention and our fans understand that you can be successful and enjoy two sports as much as they other. Basketball should not have to take backstage and be looked at as something to do to fill time between football seasons. Our national attendance and our NCAA success make it clear that we are a known basketball program with a fan base that loves and wants a successful basketball program. Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas... formerly known as "football schools" - their fans get it....and now so do University of Tennessee fans.
Bruce Pearl, built this program and we have some players, who will test the NBA waters. Personally, I believe that both will likely return for one more season. As midwest radio personality Christopher Gabriel, put it to me, "This next hire is going to be huge. But I'm concerned we're looking to pick a hot flavor instead of waiting a week. Yes, we need to be expeditious, but we also need to build and move forward on what Bruce built". Christopher Gabriel added, "But I'm concerned we're looking to pick a hot flavor instead of waiting a week. Yes, we need to be expeditious, but we also need to build and move forward on what Bruce built. If we get a boring, walk-it-up coach who is aloof from everyone... that would be a step backwards ."
We will never be able to replace Bruce Pearl. It will be nearly impossible to find a coach who pressed fans buttons like Bruce Pearl did. He endeared himself to fans with his love for what he did and how he gave back a big part of himself to the fans in public. However, Christopher is right. We have to take or time and make a solid choice with this next pick. Do we keep level and move forward on the foundation that Bruce Pearl built? Or do we settle for flavor of the day or a "safe" pick that will scuttle the Vols momentum and send our program backwards?
There is no reason why our program can not continue to be successful. We will not find another coach with the swashbuckling flair of Bruce, but we can hire a very good basketball coach who can recruit, who can win, and who can make sure that basketball remains on the national basketball stage and keep UT basketball important with University of Tennessee sports fans. I can't wait for next basketball season.
We have had a lot of fun following the Vols basketball success the past six years, with Bruce Pearl at the helm. We have also enjoyed the swagger and dynamic style that Bruce brought to the table. Together they brought basketball to the forefront of fans attention and our fans understand that you can be successful and enjoy two sports as much as they other. Basketball should not have to take backstage and be looked at as something to do to fill time between football seasons. Our national attendance and our NCAA success make it clear that we are a known basketball program with a fan base that loves and wants a successful basketball program. Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas... formerly known as "football schools" - their fans get it....and now so do University of Tennessee fans.
Bruce Pearl, built this program and we have some players, who will test the NBA waters. Personally, I believe that both will likely return for one more season. As midwest radio personality Christopher Gabriel, put it to me, "This next hire is going to be huge. But I'm concerned we're looking to pick a hot flavor instead of waiting a week. Yes, we need to be expeditious, but we also need to build and move forward on what Bruce built". Christopher Gabriel added, "But I'm concerned we're looking to pick a hot flavor instead of waiting a week. Yes, we need to be expeditious, but we also need to build and move forward on what Bruce built. If we get a boring, walk-it-up coach who is aloof from everyone... that would be a step backwards ."
We will never be able to replace Bruce Pearl. It will be nearly impossible to find a coach who pressed fans buttons like Bruce Pearl did. He endeared himself to fans with his love for what he did and how he gave back a big part of himself to the fans in public. However, Christopher is right. We have to take or time and make a solid choice with this next pick. Do we keep level and move forward on the foundation that Bruce Pearl built? Or do we settle for flavor of the day or a "safe" pick that will scuttle the Vols momentum and send our program backwards?
There is no reason why our program can not continue to be successful. We will not find another coach with the swashbuckling flair of Bruce, but we can hire a very good basketball coach who can recruit, who can win, and who can make sure that basketball remains on the national basketball stage and keep UT basketball important with University of Tennessee sports fans. I can't wait for next basketball season.
