Even if Tennessee weren’t winning big, coach Bruce Pearl would still be getting national attention.

From fashion critics.

First it was the neon orange sports coat. Now, it’s the sweaty suit.

Pearl fielded questions on Thursday’s SEC teleconference about sweating through his olive-hued suit during Wednesday night’s 76-72 win over Florida in the steamy O’Connell Center.

"It was just awful,’’ Pearl said. "Not a very pretty look.’’

Dark sweat spots began to appear on Pearl’s back, shoulders and even the legs of his pants in the first half and continued to spread.

"I tend to defend and rebound out there with my players from the coaching box,’’ Pearl said. "I tend to get more animated than I ought to.

"That was the toughest place I’ve coached in, or it would rival the Sportscenter in Owensboro (where Pearl coached Southern Indiana against rival Kentucky Wesleyan). The proximity of the fans, the heat’s up and there’s quite a bit of humidity in the building.’’

Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt was in attendance and couldn’t resist a comment Thursday night after the Lady Vols’ 81-56 victory over Auburn at Thompson-Boling Arena.

"He sweated a little bit more than his players,’’ she said. "But while he didn’t score any points, he had a lot to do with the scoring."

Pearl said he intends to let his wife pack his suits for future road trips.

"I’ve just got to wear a darker suit,’’ he said. "I understand why (Florida’s) Billy Donovan coaches in that white shirt.’’

Asked if he wore the suit home on the plane, Pearl said he changed into a warm-up suit.

"But it wasn’t a stinky sweat,’’ he protested. " I sweat sweet. It’s pretty.

"My son (West High School player Steven) sweats stinky. I don’t.’’

ESPN.com’s Pat Forde wrote Thursday that notorious sweater Gary Williams of Maryland has finally met his match.