Posted by jevolball7 on January 12, 2008 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think,perhaps,what we have all thought,just got verified. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!! Almost sickening.Feel sorry for those guys.This article should bring,I hope, some DEEP posting. I still can't believe what I just read.

Posted by Hunter on January 12, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I feel so badly for the guys who played for Jerry Green. He was always a grade-A jerk who NEVER gave his all for Tennessee. Players won't play for someone who cares less than they do. Does anyone question now who wants Tennessee to win more than anyone? Bruce Pearl, that's who. Buzz was a nice guy and really tried with the students, but just didn't have what it takes at the SEC level. Basketball has always been my first love at UT - now I'm glad my love is no longer unrequited......

Posted by Phowell23 on January 12, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I really feel for these guys who played on that team. We have already heard from Harris and Baker basically echos what he said and tells us even more. Baker, I'm glad you made Knoxville your home and we appreciate everything you and your teammates did for TN. It's sad to see what a bad coach can do with such great talent...I hope we never let Bruce Pearl go.

Posted by jevolball7 on January 12, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hunter; A-MEN! It's 8pm,time to log off and enjoy basketball in K-town.Kinda feels good does'nt it??!!

Posted by bmaples on January 12, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's always interesting, I think, to see the team play, then later to find out why they played that way. For many years, I was so frustrated with UT basketball that I couldn't even talk about it. At times I felt like we all needed a "UT Basketball Anonymous" group. ("Hi, I'm Bruce, and I'm a UT basketball fan." "Hi, Bruce.") Year after year, you had the uneasy feeling that we just weren't living up to expectations.

For the longest time, it seemed like we either had jerks who could (sorta) coach, or nice guys who just couldn't coach at all. (Fill in which was which for yourself.)

Now, with Bruce Pearl, it appears we have a great coach, a great motivator, a great recruiter, and a great guy. I hope the guys on the team currently will read this story and think about what they've got. Pay your dues, go to class, make the grades, and pay attention -- you've only got the one shot, and you want to make the most of it.

Posted by tigervol9802 on January 12, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The more I learn about Buzz, the bigger liar and fake I think he really is. At least with Green what you saw was what you got. He didn't try to hide anything. He didn't care, end of story.

But, are we really surprised about Buzz and Green when you looked at who hired them? Dickey didn't care two cents about basketball and probably gave them the same treatment they gave their players. That's probably why we were stuck with coaches like them in the first place.

I am quite thankful for Hamilton is his personnel decisions. It seems like all the major hires since he has come on are guys who will win on the court or field and want the players to do well outside of the athletic arena as well.

Oh well, here's hoping #5 catches fire in the 2nd half tonight.

Posted by bugman on January 12, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We are VERY lucky to have gotten Pearl because the guy is a hall of fame coach. He won a national championship for gosh sakes. We need to start paying him more but he's such a Class good guy that loyalty is above money. Good things to come fans....

Posted by weisgarber2003 on January 12, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Buzz Peterson was the biggest joke of a coach to come down the avenue. A bad hire by Dickey. He was very personable while here, but couldn't coach at any level and compete. He couldn't even win at Coastal Carolina and bailed out. Oh, his teams at CC might have been at .500 or slightly above, but that was about as good as he ever was going to be.

Posted by BigVolinCarolina on January 12, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"When Buzz Peterson took over for Jerry Green, the team's GPA was 1.6."

Not only sad, but there's no excuse for that. Do you know how hard it is to fail a class in college (assuming your not in a major you hate or are in over your head in a class you don't belong in)?

It was crystal clear that Jerry Green's teams weren't discipline. Too bad. The arena floor had a lot of talent on it during that stretch, but not what was needed on the sideline.

Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on January 12, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This smells bad to me...something like sour grapes having had time to ferment a little?

One player's view, nothing more.

Posted by khelton657 on January 12, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Justisiscumin -

It is said that people hire in their own image..this sounds like a good example.

Posted by budd on January 12, 2008 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

if they realized it then why didn't they discipline themselves and win. Another round of pampered athlete whine. Too bad Baker learn and move on

Posted by eb502us on January 12, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This article just confirms what we all knew which is that Jerry Greene could coach but didn't give a damn about the players or the fans, and that Buzz couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag and was basically a train wreck waiting to happen. And for those who think Buzz was such a great guy, he was no better a person than Jerry Greene, alway's blaming someone else (referee's, players etc..) for his losing ways. I think too many people got caught up in the "Buzz is a good Christian man" BS (and I mean no disrespect to Catholics or anyone else) when in fact he was just the opposite. Good people (Christians or not) don't throw others under the bus like Buzz did.

Posted by budd on January 12, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Buzz was a loser Green was a loser and I don't want to hear whinnig players either. You make what you can of your situation and you go on

Posted by johnlg00 on January 12, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This doesn't surprise me in the least. I know for years when I would watch UT basketball, it just seemed to me that the players didn't LIKE to play ball. A sub would come on the floor, dragging a** as if he were going to his own execution! It was like, "Oh, man, you mean I got do this AGAIN?" The coaches--not so much O'Neill, but Houston, Green, Peterson--were standing around like bumps on a log. When I saw the talent on the team in the Green years and early Peterson years, I couldn't understand why we didn't play with more passion. Thank God for CBP! His guys nearly ALWAYS hit the court like they can't wait to KICK a**, not dragging it! Del always struck me as a nice guy; glad he's still around and doing well.

Posted by VolBall on January 13, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Then comes Bruce Pearl. Instant energy. Instant accoutability. Never flinched at "football school label" or "lady bball school". He established instantly an environment and system that players and fans feed off of. Players take the court with the same demeanor he displays on the sidelines; sheer confidence and healthy swagger.

UT simply must butter his bread as heavily as it takes to keep him in Knoxville and allow him to solidify his legacy in orange.

Posted by 2000man on January 13, 2008 at 2:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jerry Green was an idiot with a wealth of talent. Buzz was an idiot with very little talent. Thank God both are gone and we have a Pearl.

Posted by rkastens on January 13, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mark - I'm not sure what purpose this article really serves. If you're trying to run off Green and Peterson, they are already gone (in case you didn't know). If you are trying to praise Bruce Pearl (and I agree that he's done an outstanding job) there are better ways than beating on previous coaches. The only thing your article does, in my opinion, is to toss blood in the water to the sharks who still want to gripe about stuff from four years ago or more. What's next? An article pointing out Randy Sander's flaws from the 5-6 season?

Posted by TurboFan on January 13, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One player is intereviewed. Many posters here lambasted Pennington last fall for talking to a lot more former players.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 13, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Slap, Slap!!

The guys hasn't balled in how many years??? That is wild stuff. Back in my day, we'd ball out in Vestal. Don't play the fool man. Cats packin' heat and everything. Good times though

Posted by Gustoly on January 13, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Uncle Jed was a drunken bum just stealing money from UT in his last days. Buzz was a pretty boy "who roomed with Michael" and was of the carolina line. I say BS. None of those players deserved the treatment they received. B.P. is an example of what a coach can do who cares about the players and the program. Tall Guy is the one who let the BB program go into the doghouse because he was a FB man who also didn't care about BB in any way. He also is the reason K.O. left so soon. B.P.'s teams have been fun to watch and disclipline is definitely in the program today.

Posted by waterskier3 on January 13, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

what the worst about this is that he hasn't cared about ut basketball... i mean you dedicate that much of your life to something than walk away.... it must have been bad... how many other players feel the same????

Posted by calvolfromkingsport on January 13, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

J Green was and is still an arrogant jerk who 's claim to fame was working as an asst coach for Roy Williams.Poor ol Buzz is a nice man who was MJ's roomie. It's still hard to fathom what Dickey must have been thinking when he made those hires!

Posted by TurboFan on January 13, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN, don't disagree with ya, or many of the posts, just pointing out what appears to me to be a bit of a double standard. Of course, Pennington didn't name his multiple sources.

Posted by volinky on January 13, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)

Not a shock with Green...this is really disappointing with Buzz.

Posted by ReallyAVolFan on January 13, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Perhaps the biggest loss was Vincent Yarbrough's. He came out of Cleveland where he had no discipline and almost no real cocaching into a UT program with no discipline and no real coaching. He honestly was a no better player his senior year at UT than he was his junior year at Cleveland when they won the state chanmpionship. If someone had ridden him hard and made him get better, he'd be an NBA star today. He was an absolutely amzing high school player!!!

Posted by volinky on January 13, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The more I think about this article, the more frustrated I am with Doug Dickey and what an outstanding hire Mike Hamiliton made with Pearl. Truly, how did Dickey get it wrong with so many attempts with the basketball program? Maybe former coaches are not the best fit for the AD role.

Posted by MadGreenHornet on January 13, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Doug Dickey & Joe Johnson were the reasons our men's basketball program was almost destroyed. Thank goodness both are gone, as well as Phil Scheurer, the biggest jerk we ever had on campus. UT has had some of the most arrogant, pompous administrators on earth. We are fortunate that those 3 are out of here. We may not have the very best President we could have, but at least he behaves himself. Our AD is at least more personable than his predecessor. We are fortunate to have Hamilton.

Posted by ReallyAVolFan on January 13, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TouchdownTN: you must not have seen him play in Murfreesboro during the state championship!!! He was a man among boys -- so much natural ability, so smooth!! I guess I've just forgotten, but I don't remember him being much of a force at all at UT as a senior!!

Posted by winbigvols on January 13, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dickey, Green, and Buzz all sucked. They didn't care about basketball. Hamilton has brought all Tennessee athletics to a new level. All 3 of these bosso's were jerks and didn't care about anything but lining there own pockets. A coach should care about their players as people not just players. Its about time these things came out, we all could see it in the program. I just can't believe they were let to go on. Just a disgrace. Another black eye for the program before the Bruce Pearl days. I'm just glad we have him and Hamilton, we will be lucky to keep both of them. Go Vols, this paper should never post another thing about Buzz, he is a disgrace to the program and I for one don't want to hear another thing about him period. Good luck Mr. Baker, you deserved better and so did your team.

Posted by DCSOvol on January 13, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The parents of former Vols from the Green era agree with you, Del. I work with Brandon Wharton's dad, and let me tell you, there is no love lost between Mr. Wharton and Jerry Green. I asked him one morning about Pearl, and he said, "about time". Mr. Wharton then proceeded to lay out every point that Del made almost verbatim. Sad.

Posted by DCSOvol on January 13, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Green reminded me of Col. Tigh from Battlestar Galactica.

Posted by Vols1998 on January 13, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do we really need to go down this road? can we just focus on now? If these things are true, ok, but as for grades...hey, I had to study, research and type my own papers without any assistance. The classroom is the responsibility of the student, the basketball court is the coach. Stop dwelling on the past and walk out of the shadows of percieved failures. Everything happens for a reason. I quote an old saying "IF, if and buts were candy and nuts, what a Merry Christmas it would be". Everyone is dealt a different hand, blaming others only prevents you from going forward.

I like the new coaches at UT, they've brought in new excitement and all the things we wanted, but I've seen many blogger's teeth and nails grow when things did not work out UT's way.

I've been a fan, not always a happy fan, but a fan of UT Sports.

Go Vols!!

Posted by TurboFan on January 13, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN, as am I. Was taking a jab at those that aren't.

Posted by etvolfan on January 13, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jerry Green reminded me of Eddie Albert from Green Acres.

Mike Hamilton reminds me of Radar from M*A*S*H*...I do think that Radar...er I mean Hamilton has done a nice job with the athletic program.

Posted by doctorvol on January 13, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just confirms from the player's perspective what many fans/alums perceived. Really, this article is indicts Dick(ey) most-content with bb mediocrity.

Posted by OrangeNation on January 13, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I still remember when the Vols reached #4 in the polls under Green & then didn't win another game the rest of the year. I also remember reading in Sports Illustrated that the following exchange was overheard at a Tennessee practice. "Pass me the ball because I'm going to the league." "No you're not, because I'm not giving you the ball."

I knew Green was gone after that. Thank goodness Bruce has instilled discipline & I applaud Baker for standing up & noticing not just privately but publicly also. Discipline isn't necessarily what you want to hear as a player but later on in life when you look back & wish a coach or a team had some discipline it's to late.

Thank you for your comments Del & I wish things had worked out a little differently for you.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 13, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Madgreenhornet - Joe Johnson was a great president, twice. Dissing him just lets me know you know nothing and I can skip your posts.

Posted by grvol on January 13, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Football players will be looking back someday talking about Fulmer like that.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 13, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

grvol - They already talk about Fulmer. Many took out an ad in the paper. When they talk of Fulmer, they talk of class, dedication and a father figure. Do you have facts to support your comments, other than maybe one disqruntled player? Let's hear them>

Posted by doctorvol on January 13, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

can't compare Fulmer and Green. The few players I've known certainly don't.

Posted by grvol on January 13, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Del Baker didn't talk before Pearl came around... until then he didn't realize just how bad Green (Fulmer type win/loss deal) and Buzz were... same with Fulmer. Someday TN will have a superior FB coach as well. Took a long time in BB. Thought it would happen first in FB. I was wrong.

Posted by 55Vol on January 13, 2008 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

grvol....and you are wrong about Fulmer.

Posted by grvol on January 13, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope you're right. But 10 years since 98' tells me you ain't.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 13, 2008 at 9:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Grvol - no need to hope. plenty of data now. Consider former players sending their sons. You can debate his record of late, but not his character.

Posted by rbatten9 on January 13, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm glad this was written. It just makes me appreciate all the more what we have. We are truly lucky and blessed.

I'll say as long as the hoops team this year plays unselfishly as they can, Tenn will go far in the tourney and possibly win our first conference crown in a long long time.

So I am thankful for Pearl and hope he, Hamilton, Fulmer, Summit and the other coaches that show class have many more successes at Tennessee.

Posted by jevolball7 on January 13, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Eddie Albert was way too smart! Green always reminds me of Jed Clampett,except by god,old Jed's clan could shoot!!! Guns that is.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on January 14, 2008 at 1:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get a starter to talk about it. Disgruntled bench warmer? I'm not convinced. Green could win games, I don't know about caring about the players. Peterson, on the other hand, always struck me as concerned about his players, but played to keep it close.

Posted by anthony on January 14, 2008 at 2:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Man, it's nice for some of the truth to come out.If not for someone's true feelings.

Posted by johnlg00 on January 14, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have to agree with the comments above about Yarbrough(sp?). He is the ultimate example in my mind of the player who coasted through his career on his natural gifts without learning the necessity of working to get better. He left UT with exactly the physique and skill set he brought here, not getting any bigger or stronger and playing with the same "too-cool-for-school" glide, lest he break a sweat or appear to actually care about winning games. Given who he played for, I am not surprised that no one was able to change him. I hope he is enjoying playing...wherever he is now instead of in the NBA, where he should and could have been.

Posted by murrayvol on January 14, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know about the rest of you guys but I didn't need Del Baker to tell me there was virtually no discipline under Green and precious little w/Buzz.

Green was the poster boy for disconnected coaches. He had talented players but he didn't teach them how to play the game because he couldn't. He didn't insist on them "making progress toward a degree" because he didn't give a s**t.

May this be the last article about either one of these dorks.

Posted by JHite7 on January 15, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I used to love to watch Jerry Green sit on the bench with his face scrunched up and ***** slap at the wind like a fairy at a missed call.

But in all honesty...these guys looked like John Wooden next to Wade Houston. Oh baby were those the days.

Posted by voll123 on January 15, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by ReallyAVolFan on January 15, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

johnlg00: I'm pretty much over this one, but you made the point about Vincent better than I did!! I completely agree with how you said it!!

Posted by icecream on January 17, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Uncle Jerry was like that brother in law you had to put up with for about three years. thank goodness for the divorce.

Posted by shyann on January 18, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Way to go Del! I'm sure most of your former teammates feel the same way as you, I really dont think you are the only one that feels that way. Sounds like voll123 is a typical HATER! If you are a male I'm sure you're upset that maybe you just aren’t as fine as Mr. Baker and Mr. Yarbrough. If you are a female maybe upset because you tried to talk to one or the other and they didn’t give you the time of day. Both were great players and it sounds like they just got a raw deal having to play for the coaches they played for. As for your comment about Vincent driving around in a Navigator why is that ANY of your business and what does that have to do with anything this article is about. I'm sure both Del and Vincent are doing well and certainly don’t think about negative and ignorant people and the comments they make about them and the days when they played ball at UT. I actually have to sit and laugh when reading your comment because the more I read the DUMBER you sound.

Posted by voll123 on January 22, 2008 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Shyann,

Turn off your rent-a-center computer, put Springer back on, and keep squirtin out those babies.

Posted by shyann on January 24, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VOLL123,

Do you really have nothing better to do at 12:46 A.M. than sit on your computer and post another ignorant comment
grow up and get a life sweetheart

Posted by voll123 on January 29, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Shyann,

What the heck does 12:46 am have to do with anything? 1:59 or 2:19 better? Oh, I get it, Springer is over at 1:00.

Posted by jsc1973 on February 2, 2008 at 2:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jerry Green used to brag about how he was 89-36 in four years or something like that. I always said that if he'd been worth a shoot, he'd have been more like 109-16 with the talent on those teams. A trained monkey could have won 20 games a year with those guys.

The sad part is the only coaches who have been in the SEC in the last 20 years who probably would have done worse than Green were Wade Houston and Buzz Peterson. And we had them too!