The University of Memphis coaching search appears to be moving quickly today toward a push for Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl.
FedEx vice president Alan Graf, a mega-booster who is leading the search for a new men’s basketball coach at the University of Memphis, is in Detroit today where the Final Four is being held, according to a source close to the search.
Though it’s unclear who Graf has been talking to in Detroit today, Pearl – believed to be the top candidate for the position – is also in the Motor City at the national coaches’ convention.
As of early this afternoon, however, a source close to Pearl said he had not been contacted about the job and the people around Pearl were mystified why he had not received a phone call. Memphis has not officially requested Tennessee for permission to speak to Pearl, but is expected to do so.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 78
wildberry14 writes:
stay away from him
EverydayisSunday writes:
The plot thickens.
NashvillePreds writes:
Get a life Memphis High.
eduardo writes:
Why would anyone want to live in that God forsaken town?????????????????????????
RockyTop1998 writes:
Communist appeal is the worst paper ever.
lomas98 writes:
Yes, Pearl is in Detroit. So is every other college basketball coach. If I was in charge of conducting a coaching search I would high tail it toward Detroit as well this week. The headline of this story makes it sound like Pearl is the only coach there. I would feel better about this whole thing if Bruce came out like Donovan did and stop all the rumors. Donovan did it after about 2 or 3 hours of speculation.
ravensearay writes:
You know what they say, "even if there is no credibility to a story - if you say it enough, pretty soon it may come true". Bruce -----"Back away from the light......"
Go VOLS
UTandETSUfan writes:
Anyone want some football semi-news? apparently a player quit today, but he is unnamed. This also links to a podcast w/ CLK (I'm at work though and don't have speakers so I have to wait until midnight when I get off to listen to it)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/column...
TooLegit2Quit writes:
So Commercial Appeal is now flip-flopping? What's going on?
stinky_pinky writes:
the Banana Peal at its best
vol4gzus writes:
What do you have against Coach Pearl? He didn't do his press defense as in last years as personnel were not as fleet in their feet as Juan and our other guards. That defense got UT alot of trash buckets ,whereas this years team had to work more in the half court for production. Since you obviously don't like Coach Pearl who do you want? Jerry Green? OOPS already run out of town for mostly same reasons as Gillespie at UK. Oh well have a nice day and try to enjoy things as they are without negativity.
OrangeMandM writes:
If somebody was going to give me $$$MILLIONS$$$.... I would
dfreeman writes:
Clearly you are missing the benefit of brain matter! So if Pearl stays does that mean we can get rid of you?
Ironcity writes:
He's their to watch the game.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Lennon Creer?
nudomucho writes:
Keeo your tiger high paws off brucey
UTandETSUfan writes:
Hopefully not, but if it is ANY position I'd say RB or DB (due to the large recruiting pickups at those positions)
jtywilli writes:
I believe uneducated describes yourself. 4 years and 4 NCAA tournaments...that has NEVER been done at TN! A "down" year this year means sharing the East division, making it to the SEC champ game, & being one bucket from the 2nd round of the NCAA tourney. A "down" year previously was 5-22 with Wade or making NO tourney whatsoever with Buzz. If you like that, then Pearl's not your coach. As for me, I love the guy and we need to do everything in our power to keep him. Otherwise, we'll be cycling through Houston, O'Neal, Green, Peterson, etc. How much fun was that?!?!?!
UTandETSUfan writes:
96 years of NOTHING, then 4 solid years.... hmm sounds like he is making a great headway in turning the program around.
OrangeMandM writes:
It only said a player "wants to quit". Probably a walk-on cause I wouldn't think anyone would want to lose their scholly. Nice link and good read. thanks
UTandETSUfan writes:
Yeah my bad, I meant to type that but I'm distracted here at work. lol. Maybe CLK convinced him to stay?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Sadly, true.
Even with injuries and whatever, big underacheivement (whew) out of a no guard offense.
BP is the man and I really hope he stays.
How many days, GerryOp?
UTandETSUfan writes:
Okay, so Gary Parrish at sportsline.com (now cbssports.com) reporting that Floyd shot down both Zona and Memphis, and Memphis is now going b@lls to the wall after CBP
CHISMNUMBER1FAN writes:
Some of the people posting on here really make me sick. How can you say such nasty things about CBP? My goodness; no he did not have a great season this year; but guess what HE DID NOT HAVE JUJUAN AND CHRIS! Why not look at Calipari's numbers his first 4 years at Memphis...how did he do? What about Coach K at Duke..how were his first four years? I would say that CBP has done an amazing job! I have lived in Knoxville 26 years and until 4 years ago UT mens basektball was a side bar not a headline.
OrangeMandM writes:
Yeah I'm at work myself. My second shift week sucks. Anywho.... Quitters never win, and winners never quit!
UTandETSUfan writes:
Yep, Floyd told them both he was staying. And of course Parrish is quoting "numerous unnamed sources" so take the UM going after CBP for what that is worth.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/en...
AlpharettaVol writes:
It's amazing how the Memphis fans hated Bruce Pearl until two days ago. Now they love him. Makes you wonder about any loyalty they may have to anyone or anything.
UTandETSUfan writes:
Excellent point. Maybe he's just not that use to the S & C program that has been implemented, and if that's the case... GOOD, he's doing his job! lol
Ironcity writes:
We are not a historic basketball school. We are first and foremost a football school. We have no history to speak of. Coach Pearl and the players he has coached have put us on the map and are trying to create a tradition. In time we could become a basketball school but that will only happen if we can keep a coach like Pearl around long enough to develop it. Fans like you scare the heck out of me. Then again I doubt you really are a fan. Your probably here just to stir the pot.
utkalumn writes:
Stay away from Bruce. He is our coach damnit!!
UTandETSUfan writes:
Lane has finally bought a house, I just hope it wasn't Bruce's!
SmokyMTNVol writes:
While I agree that Pearl is by no means a great coach he does bring a lot of excitement into the program. Do I think he can bring a national championship to UT? No, but I do think he can get us in the tourney on a consistent basis.
VolJunkie writes:
What a non-story ... every f'ing D1 coach in the country is in Detroit. Ford Field will be the Neiman Marcus for coaches this weekend though I don't think there will be any sale prices!
Go Vols!
ArealVolFan writes:
Yeah, I agree. I hope Memphis takes all the time in the world to go and find them a good coach. Bruce sucks. They shouldn't make any sort of move to go and get him. In fact, UT should give him more money so we look even more stupid. I mean look had terrible that Kiffin hire was, top ten recruiting class and #1 recruit in the nation. If these are the terrible coaches UT is bringing in then we should def. just go ahead and lock them up so we can spare any other school the torment of having them...really we are doing Memphis a favor by keeping him. I hope we do keep him, no other school should have to go through what we have had to go through under Bruce. Its just terrible.
ArealVolFan writes:
Please, stop being a Vol fan.
ctownvol writes:
I was in Atlanta the same time Bobby Cox was, but that doesn't mean he wants me to be a reliever.
SmokyMTNVol writes:
Quit being a douche!
debaser11 writes:
Why would Pearl want to move to Arkansas anyway?
Oh yeah, its the Land of Opportunity!
SmokyMTNVol writes:
Would you have liked me to say Bruce Pearl is a great coach and will win multi national championships while here at UT? Sorry, I like coach Pearl and like what he has brought to UT but he is not an elite coach.
Seriouslyorange writes:
If only people could realize how demoralizing it is to live in Memphis where once they got "cleanest city in America". Broad streets, lovely trees, the river to enjoy, good ribs,SOME nice people,the list goes on and on. BUT, along about the late 60's it all went to hell. April 4, 1968 to be exact. I go back there (lived there from '61 to '91)and all you hear from old neighbors,friends is how awful it is and how really afraid they are to go to malls, out at night, grocery stores,you name it. These good people are really afraid, and it is so sad.Every quick shop type store has bars on windows and you have to be "buzzed" in after they look you over. It was not always this way, but now is now and it is this way. It is terrible that you have to move every few years to the east to escape the stuff in the city. I have friends who have moved 3 or 4 times, not because of prejudice,but sheer fear and losing hugh money in property value. There is a horrible cloud hanging over Memphis and all the money Fred-x can carry in a jumbo jet or the cotton money of Billy Dunavant or anything else will ever change or reverse what has happened to Memphis.
Heaven help anyone who has to live there if it is not of their own free will and they are unable to move.
ArealVolFan writes:
You need to stop being a moron. TN has never had the successes it has had in Basketball over a four year stretch. Bruce is responsible for that. If this year was a "down year" I'll take it. If you honestly think Bruce can't win a National Title here, then you are just wrong. I'm not saying he will to say he can't is just flat stupid. He can recruit and flat out Coach. If he couldn't Mempuss news wouldn't be salivating over the chance to have him as a coach. They know he can keep them legitimate. If you don't fully support a coach that has done nothing but prove himself here, then I don't think you have any right to support the Vols.
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
Why in the hell would Bruce Pearl want to go to Memphis in Conference USA?
UTandETSUfan writes:
Why not? He has been here 4 years, and has done multiple times what John Calipari did in his first 4 years... and done so in a MUCH tougher conference.
tailgate2k#204921 writes:
thats not accurate. When Cal came to Memphis, CUSA was a very good bb conference. Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette, etc...Bruce Has done a great job, but you are twisting facts with that.
UTandETSUfan writes:
A good conference, but you can't tell me it was as tough as the SEC was 2 years ago (during the Gators "dynasty")
SmokyMTNVol writes:
I have been to more UT games in one year than you have been to in a lifetime.
I have seen great coaches and I am sorry that I am hurting your feelings by saying Pearl is not one of them. This team underachieved greatly this year. They were crushed twice by a horrible UK team that got there arses handed to them by every other team in the SEC. I just don't get why the man crushes with Pearl are all about. He is a GOOD coach. No where near a great one.
Sorry my man but in a crucial game I would take coach Summitt with a blindfold on over Pearl. Sorry! Call them like I see them.
tailgate2k#204921 writes:
we are splitting hairs now, but I would say CUSA didn't have a FL, but from top to bottom, CUSA was as good or better.
UTandETSUfan writes:
I don't know if I'd go that far w/ the SEC getting 6 teams in each of the first 2 years (if I remember correctly), but even still... 4 straight NCAA births and 2 sweet 16's (only 3 before him, ever), vs. cal's 2 NITs and 2 NCAAs... I really don't see the comparison, with all due respect.
ArealVolFan writes:
Go read the Commercial Appeal Article, they made the exact same point VolsandETSU fan did. And the SEC has only been down this year. When BRuce came Florida was starting its back to back championship season. LSU made the Final Four. Vandy made at least one sweet sixteen.Arkansas and Ole Miss and Georgia have all also made the tourney in his time here. CUSA....not so much.
walt23tn writes:
It's taking too long to hear something from Pearl. I am hoping it's because he's meeting with Hamilton and reassuring him he's staying. I don't like waiting this out. We need Pearl, and if we don't pay him, the University isn't going to pay another elite coach to come in. That means we go back to hanging all of our hopes and dreams on football. I'm not ready for that. I like being a multidimensional sports program, and a fan year round. KEEP PEARL!!!
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