Tennessee is in the process of a coaching search in football. Could UT be looking for a new men's basketball coach after this season?
Get ready in case Ernie Grunfeld lures Bruce Pearl to the NBA.
Blame it on the Charlotte Observer for now.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 84
byobbio writes:
First
tnbigg writes:
It's no rumor...
byobbio writes:
Only
Volfeva writes:
yawn
soccervol writes:
Pearl is too happy where he is at...Loves wearing the orange jacket!
wildberry14 writes:
if this happens, eric berry will be the only thing keeping me from killing myself. and EB only has about 1.1 years left here. bruce's system will never work in the nba. they dont want to play defense in the league. he is perfect for college. bruce, if you leave, you are to blame for my death
utfan15govols writes:
I didn't hear that Bruce Pearl's name mention, but I did hear Pat Summit name mention!
TurboFan writes:
Maybe he tried to get a discount on a haircut and wasn't happy with the results.
Hope not.
caskew#218608 writes:
No.
JBruce writes:
Bruce would be gone in a heartbeat, if he was offered the Wizards job. That being said, I don't think they will offer him.
FWBVol writes:
Ernie G loves Tennessee, but his job and first responsibilties are to the Washington Wizards. If anyone knows what kind of coach Bruce Pearl is and whether his style will play in the NBA, it's Ernie.
But please, say it ain't so.
eutefan writes:
Woe be unto you, foolish ones, who scribe life and fortune to the trifling foibles of a bouncing ball and they who wear the orange.
blitzshoot writes:
Ut can't keep him forever.
thevoice writes:
Agreed, but if Ernie does indeed hire him, Ernie will basically be turning his back on UT forever!
Please stay Bruce. You're good not only for UT, but for all of college basketball.
givehim6 writes:
I think BP want to be the FACE of men's basketball at UT, like Pat is the FACE of womens basketball.
scottmichaelmoore#540590 writes:
I heard it is a done deal....he is leaving after we loose in the Sweet 16, and Dane Bradshaw is taking over for him. Apparently his ex-wife's new salon is really making him sweat....
longtimefan writes:
Bruce wont leave Tennessee until 2012 according to the Mayan calender.
CleverUserNameVol writes:
You've got to be kidding me. So we may be headed back to students wearing bags on their heads in the stands. Great. I don't think his coaching style would go over very well in the NBA though, he expects his guys to play hard and pro players seem to be allergic to hard work. Guess Hamilton's gonna have to shell out a pantload of a raise. Bruce deserves it though, so whatever. Even if it is just rumor and speculation it kinda takes the wind out of your sails, doesn't it?
BillVol writes:
Bruce is smarter than to get involved in the NBA. He'd last about two years there as a head coach and then would bounce from team to team as an assistant. Here, at Tennessee, he is a god, with a lifetime contract.
OrangeAppeal writes:
Professional players who make more money than the coach do not respond to the same type of motivation that college players do. Just ask Spurrier.
Pearl is made for college.
dowdpat#654244 writes:
Where did the reporter here this from? Buzz Peterson happens to work in the Charlotte Bobcats front office and this article was from the Bobcats beat reporter. I wonder if this was floated out there by the beat reporter as a favor to Buzz to mess with Mike Hamilton. Can't let it go Buzz?
fundamentals83 writes:
Can anyone say Billy Donovan?
why36knot#656113 writes:
I don't see the NBA in Pearl's future but I do see him leaving for another college job for more money than Tennessee is willing to pay..maybe not this year but it will happen. That is the other side of the coin. At Tennessee if a coach doesn't produce he will be fired... if he does produce he will be hired away. Exceptions to this would be home grown winning coaches like coach Fulmer would turn down a better "deal". I don't think Pearl is close to being fired but he would be a fool to turn down what he deems a better"deal".
GreerVol22 writes:
...there are a few coaches at Duke and NC that have refused the NBA...for a reason. Pearl is smart enough to know what to do.
Vewb1 writes:
Well one thing is for certain. Cincinnati's basketball coach is an alumnist and said he will never leave. So don't go lookin up north for your basketball coach either when Pearl bolts.
EntourageVol writes:
Pearl still has some unfinished business in Knoxville
andefromtn#212139 writes:
Coach, please stay here. You have the talent and personality that can stand stand side by side with Pat Summitt and whoever is UT's football coach. You can set up a legacy here and we will support while you do it.
THE_VOL writes:
Unbelievable! Some ignorant bored beat writer trying to make a name for himself floats some ridiculous "story" and 99% of you fools go for it. Seems we've gone through this every year since he got here no matter how many times he rebukes the rumors.
Now here we are, still in freaking November, and people start this phooey which is nothing more than speculation and distraction. Believe what you want but it is an absolute FACT that Pearl has NO INTEREST in the NBA. As for Grunfeld, despite his pathetic record hiring coaches, even HE knows the BP system is NOT for the NBA. Reference Paul Westhead, Rick Pitino, et al. who've tried that run n gun nonsense in the league. And when was the last time you saw a pressing defense by the pros???? They don't play it cause it won't work. And all that Pearl rah-rah hoopla would get laughed out of the locker room. This is a stupid "reporter" trying to put square pegs in round holes and a bunch of paranoid redneck fools buying into it!
JeffBleedsOrange writes:
yea, "First" Loser.
agfa.
rockytopron writes:
wildberry
Chill out! Get a hobby or something.
rockytopron writes:
You doom and gloomers need to get used to this, as long as UT wins his name will be mentioned for several open jobs.
However, knowing you doom and gloomers, if Pearl's team doesn't win a NCAA championship soon, you'll be calling for his head anyway.
xvolx writes:
yep I'd turn down 10 mill. a year for 1 mill. not
BBALLVOL writes:
Mentioned, Mentioned. this is why people make fun of Tennesseans.
SemperVol writes:
Bubby had it in for him...
Never trust a scissor-wielding gay man who works for your estranged ex-wife.
Just one of life's many lessons...
serenehunter#668900 writes:
Given Camel's excessiveness when it came to buyig ahouse he may go!. But on the other hand the way Mike"play money Hamilton throws money around that's not his. We may be able to keep him
CatScratchFever writes:
I have heard this too. The Washington Post had an article recently that reported Grunfeld and Pearl have discussed a possible deal for next year. I think this would explain why Tapscott was named interim for the remainder of this season.
Grunfeld would really like to have Pearl, and is prepared to make him a very wealthy man. Anyone who thinks that he would not leave Tennessee for the NBA is delusional. These guys are wired to seek challenges and personal exposure. Their loyalty to the school has to do with a paycheck.
Go ahead and start your list of possible replacements now.
xvolx writes:
buster crabb
TurboFan writes:
Here's a possible strategy if Pearl grabs for the cash register: let him go, hire Buzz Petereson (or name your own short term pedestrian coach) for a two year contract until Bruce ($10 million richer) figures out the NBA isn't for him, then hire him back.
As for another school hiring him, who has a bigger name, bigger arena and/or deeper pockets? Is Coach K going to retire anytime soon? Is Roy about had enough at UNC? Would Ky even consider a hand me up from Tennessee? Not likely.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree with everything you said about Pearl's coaching system and personality not fitting with NBA players. I agree with the others who have said that Pearl loves UT and vice-versa, and that he can create a lasting legacy if he stays. I also agree that this may just be some muck-raking reporter spouting off. That said, the paranoiac in me says that Ernie G. may be thinking that if he brings in CBP on, say, a 2-year/$10mil contract, he could help clear out some of the Wizards' dead wood, spark up the attitudes of the rest, and lay a foundation for a REAL NBA coach to build on for the future. After that, who knows? I think this would be a tragedy on many levels, but, as I said, sometimes I get paranoid(:-D)!
overatedvols writes:
Nice in depth reporting. Goes something like, "We could be looking for a new basketball coach........now over to charlotte for the details" Then there is a couple of lines that basically says.. Ernie likes Bruce Pearl and might consider him.... Good way to start rumors.
I think you guys are safe if you like Pearl. What NBA team would hire a college coach that hasn't even proven himself at the college level. I don't see any national titles associated with his name. Not even any final 4's. You guys really think the ownership and fans that have no relationship with Tenn. would go for hiring an unproven coach based on Ernie's.."he's got potentiental" story. I believe your stuck with him.
TexasVolunteer writes:
I just read this...I believe I now have some intestinal issues... Coach Pearl...please stay!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Just because some of us are paranoid, that doesn't mean somebody isn't out to get, uh, our coach(;-P)! However, until I see evidence to the contrary, I prefer to take CBP at his word that he loves UT and intends at least to fulfill his contract. After all, we did give him his chance at the big time when he was all but radioactive in the coaching fraternity. As for some of us wanting to throw him out if he doesn't win a championship soon, I'm pretty sure most of us are willing to give him at least two more years to do that(:-D)!
bugman writes:
it's funny how people like you come on here and call people rednecks but don't say where you're from. In fact I bet you live in Tennessee. If you don't I wouldn't go around calling people names to their face because it's likely going to get smack off. Just some advice...
BigVolOnBoard writes:
Expect to see Bruce move on. He saw what a bad season will do for even a national championship coach at UT. Not to mention the ugly divorce/girlfriend situation - his wife named her salon Alimony's! Bruce will have to get his girlfriend to a new town pretty soon where everyone doesn't think of her as a tramp.
SemperVol writes:
TexasVolunteer....interesting screen name.
Will you return the favor? Tennessee is being invaded by illegal Mexicans and we need some help.
Hope that intestinal thing gets better for ya, man! Hang in there...
byobbio writes:
This is what will happen with the football team. Once we get a great coach and he wins, he's off to the NFL (see Miami Football). Thanks a lot Small Mikes of the world! Get ready for a life time contract with a football coach that if he wins, he bolts. If he loses, he takes home $10 mil. In the end, he couldn't "give a SHI& about the Tennessee job."
BYOBBIO
Major_Magilicutty writes:
hopefully phooey...but I would fall into a serious depression if this happens. The excitement about basketball is the only reason I am not there already.
TotalPackage1 writes:
Now that is funny!
BallBreaker1 writes:
Give me a break! To the ones that fall for this malarkey needs to look at the facts.
1. Pearl-48 years old (Time of life-it's better to hold them
AND fold them)"catch my drift with number 7"
2. Treated as a god for what he has done for UT
3. Special treatment no matter where he goes in Tennessee
4. Makes MILLIONS
5. No longer has the other half to answer to
6. Just purchased Tennessee's answer to the Playboy Mansion
7. Has unlimited beautiful East Tennessee arm candy at
his disposal.
Now who the heck in their right mind would see greener grass elsewhere? The guy is living every 48 year old American males dream. Pearl will not go anywhere soon. Bank on it!
CleverUserNameVol writes:
lol. It's funny and you didn't call anyone a moron or a dumb redneck. Kudos
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