Wes Rucker on Bruce Pearl

#101
#101
Slydell said:
Sports is big business now more than ever before. Everyone's salary is moving up quicker than before. If UT wants to get into the big time in football or basketball, they need to change their approach. But, my opinion.
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I'm not really disagreeing with you, but thinking back, Calipari, Saban and Spurrier are about the only SEC hires from the past 15 years that fit your description.
 
#102
#102
GAVol said:
I'm not really disagreeing with you, but thinking back, Calipari, Saban and Spurrier are about the only SEC hires from the past 15 years that fit your description.
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They improved and elevated the programs, yes? I know some others have had good success that came cheaper, though. I'm like many others in wanting the return to prominence sooner rather than later. Could be an age thing with me. I'd like to see it in my lifetime.
 
#103
#103
GAVol said:
I'm not really disagreeing with you, but thinking back, Calipari, Saban and Spurrier are about the only SEC hires from the past 15 years that fit your description.
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I think what Sly is saying (don't want to put words in his mouth) there is middle ground here. We don't necessarily have to have the Saban or the Calapari but we shouldn't have to run to Google every time a coach is hired.
 
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#104
#104
InVOLuntary said:
I think what Sly is saying (don't want to put words in his mouth) there is middle ground here. We don't necessarily have to have the Saban or the Calapari but we shouldn't have to run to Google every time a coach is hired.
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Yep. Nice wording. Never thought of it that way.
 
#105
#105
InVOLuntary said:
No I didn't but I had more confidence then because I knew who made the hire. The people in charge will go with another nobody and we'll be in this same predicament three or four years down the road. They are buffoons IMO and I have ZERO confidence in them.
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Yeah but Hamilton made that hire, and at the time the general sentiment was Pearl was another ho hum hire.

Hamilton also hired Kiffin, Dooley(!), Martin, and he hired Todd Raleigh who buried the baseball program.

So I can't see how you'd have less confidence in Hart as compared to Hamilton. Hart may turn out to suck just as bad, but basically Pearl was the one hire Hamilton got right and based on his other hires, it was pure dumb luck.
 
#106
#106
VolsSportsFan said:
Yeah but Hamilton made that hire, and at the time the general sentiment was Pearl was another ho hum hire.

Hamilton also hired Kiffin, Dooley(!), Martin, and he hired Todd Raleigh who buried the baseball program.

So I can't see how you'd have less confidence in Hart as compared to Hamilton. Hart may turn out to suck just as bad, but basically Pearl was the one hire Hamilton got right and based on his other hires, it was pure dumb luck.
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Hamilton didn't really hire Pearl.
Hart didn't really hire Jones.
 
#108
#108
InVOLuntary said:
I think what Sly is saying (don't want to put words in his mouth) there is middle ground here. We don't necessarily have to have the Saban or the Calapari but we shouldn't have to run to Google every time a coach is hired.
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For once, I actually did laugh out loud haha
 
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#110
#110
InVOLuntary said:
I think what Sly is saying (don't want to put words in his mouth) there is middle ground here. We don't necessarily have to have the Saban or the Calapari but we shouldn't have to run to Google every time a coach is hired.
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One of the problems now is that even a Louisville who has a 55,000 seat stadium (I was going to say about a 50,000 seat stadium but I knew one of you boogers would look it up and go "no it's not it's a 55,000 seat stadium") is willing to pony up $3-4 million dollars for a football coach so its harder and harder to hire one away for what our BOT are willing to pay. In reality if Louisville is willing to pay $3 million we should be willing to pay $6 million.

P.S.-Also, if they can pay $4 million for a basketball coach we can pay $5 million but we won't. We are a cheapskate university.
P.S.P.S.-I also know one of you guys will go we're not cheap we pay $3 million for a football coach. Well, that is mid-tier in the SEC and we are not the leader in salaries for coaches (except the women) even though we have two of the largest stadiums in the country and very wealthy donors.)
 
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#113
#113
Sandvol said:
One of the problems now is that even a Louisville who has a 55,000 seat stadium (I was going to say about a 50,000 seat stadium but I knew one of you boogers would look it up and go "no it's not it's a 55,000 seat stadium") is willing to pony up $3-4 million dollars for a football coach so its harder and harder to hire one away for what our BOT are willing to pay. In reality if Louisville is willing to pay $3 million we should be willing to pay $6 million.

P.S.-Also, if they can pay $4 million for a basketball coach we can pay $5 million but we won't. We are a cheapskate university.
P.S.P.S.-I also know one of you guys will go we're not cheap we pay $3 million for a football coach. Well, that is mid-tier in the SEC and we are not the leader in salaries for coaches (except the women) even though we have two of the largest stadiums in the country and very wealthy donors.)
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I agree and to me they are taking advantage of fan loyalty. Sort of the approach "put anybody in there, they'll still come."
 
#114
#114
If you think about it with the amount of money our athletic department generates with our stadium ( and arena) and TV contracts we should be able to go to Coach K at Duke and just double or triple his salary and hire him away. If not him whoever at most of the "basketball" schools or a Shaka Smart at VCU. We get another great coach in here and he'd pay for himself. But no, we have to try to get a "deal", get a coach on the cheap. We could outbid Louisville for Pitino if we wanted. Maybe not him but I guarantee we could get somebody damn good. We're small minded.

See what getting a coach on the cheap is doing-BRING OUT THE CURTAINS!
 
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#115
#115
Interest in UT basketball was at an all time high and what do they do? Hire Cuonzo.

Sorry, I'm on a rant now.
 
#117
#117
VolsSportsFan said:
I've likely forgotten more about UT basketball than you know.

And knowing UT history has nothing to do with what you posted. You flat out said you hope we get to see Pearl at another SEC school.
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Dude, turn your sarcasm meter back on. Geeesh.

Like most, myself included, his scenario scares the heck out of me. A little like LSU fans must feel knowing Saban leads their rival. Although they have fared better than anyone against that juggernaut, it must be a pretty nasty feeling.
I would rather have Pearl on our team than someone else's.
 
#118
#118
Sandvol said:
If you think about it with the amount of money our athletic department generates with our stadium ( and arena) and TV contracts we should be able to go to Coach K at Duke and just double or triple his salary and hire him away. If not him whoever at most of the "basketball" schools or a Shaka Smart at VCU. We get another great coach in here and he'd pay for himself. But no, we have to try to get a "deal", get a coach on the cheap. We could outbid Louisville for Pitino if we wanted. Maybe not him but I guarantee we could get somebody damn good. We're small minded.

See what getting a coach on the cheap is doing-BRING OUT THE CURTAINS!
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I know a couple members of the BOT, casually, not close enough to call them up and they are very successful business people. I can't believe they don't apply the "takes money to make money" principal.
 
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#119
#119
VolGee4 said:
This line of thinking is defeatist. It is not Pearl or bust. Tennessee can find a good coach, but they either have to pay or think outside the box. Yikes, this board.
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And what if history repeats itself since Ray Meats, sans BP of course.
 
#120
#120
InVOLuntary said:
I know a couple members of the BOT, casually, not close enough to call them up and they are very successful business people. I can't believe they don't apply the "takes money to make money" principal.
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It just doesn't seem like we apply that principle. We're bobbing around in the ocean like a cork in both major sports.
 
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#121
#121
I'm surprised some are actually surprised by this. For the last 3 years I thought it was just an act, but they were actually being serious apparently.
 
#122
#122
No, Pearl surely isn't an option. It is too bad because it will be extremely difficult for UT to find another coach like him. It's possible--remember that Pearl came from a small school--but he was the best thing to hit UT basketball since Ray Mears.
 
#124
#124
VolsSportsFan said:
Rucker is on 104.5 FM in Nashville right now, on the Midday 180.

He said that unless he's being lied to, there's no chance Pearl will be hired if Martin is fired after this season. He said if we brought him back, the NCAA would be all over the UT program and UT doesn't want that.

He also said those that say it's just about a BBQ are missing the point; that it goes beyond that. He said Pearl probably burned bridges with the whole "conspiracy" to get people to lie to cover it up, and said that it wasn't just to the NCAA but also to UT. He then said he doesn't know too many people who tried to embarrass their bosses getting a second chance.

Having said all that, he said he'll never say never and didn't rule out that Pearl could be the coach again in the future, but that it won't happen next year.

Just passing along. Proceed to rip him a new one :)
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Just like the NCAA was all over Miami for a scheme involving millions an recruits?
 
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