Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.
Bruce Pearl and his neon orange sports coat will be back on the sideline tonight when Tennessee ventures into Rupp Arena.
After serving his eight games in timeout, as dictated by SEC commissioner Mike Slive, Pearl emerges rested and ready — and chastened — for the remaining eight games of the conference season.
And what a stretch run it will be. The SEC East standings are a logjam. Pearl had better be up to speed when he hits the court.
“I think when Commissioner Slive penalized me the eight games, he originally wanted to do 10,’’ Pearl said Monday.
“But when he looked at the schedule and saw that we have to go to Rupp and the O-Dome, he decided to settle for just eight and make me go to those two places.’’
I doubt Slive was being devious. Still, Pearl’s return does coincide with Tennessee’s most significant and challenging week of the entire 2010-11 regular season.
Consecutive road games at Kentucky and Florida (on Saturday) are as tough as it gets in the contemporary SEC.
Traveling to Georgia and Connecticut back-to-back was no picnic, but the latter didn’t affect the SEC standings. The Vols swept Ole Miss and Auburn. Nice work, but neither venue will be mistaken for Rupp or the Rowdy Reptiles.
Tennessee hasn’t played in Lexington and Gainesville back-to-back since the 1989-90 season. Wade Houston’s first UT team earned a split, beating a Florida outfit that would go 7-21 and losing to a 14-14 Kentucky team.
This week, the bar is higher. Florida leads the East; Kentucky, with a new crop of spectacular freshmen, may be struggling on the road but is unbeaten in Rupp.
Coming through Pearl’s suspension at 5-3 was solid work by Tony Jones, the staff and the players. Two of the losses were in overtime (ouch) but also at home (big ouch).
Pearl refuses to play the what-if game and he’s right. What’s the point?
The only point that matters is where Tennessee goes from here. At 15-8, the Vols are still on course to secure a sixth consecutive NCAA tournament berth, which would be a program first.
This week a year ago, the team was also becoming whole again. Brian Williams was the last of the players suspended on New Year’s Day to rejoin the rotation.
That team finished strong, advancing within one agonizing possession of the Final Four.
Surely Pearl’s presence in the heat of battle now is even more valuable than Williams’ was then.
It better be. The Vols are hardly out of the woods after this week. Future highlights include a trip to Vanderbilt and home games with Georgia and Kentucky.
A strong finish is desirable in any case, but it’s an especially good idea for Tennessee this season. Who knows what adversity will complicate 2011-12.
The NCAA has yet to weigh in on the infractions that led to Pearl’s SEC suspension.
In the gamut of possible penalties is, of course, another suspension.
Worrying over that scenario now is a waste of time. Better to concentrate on Kentucky’s dangerous transition game and then Florida’s ability to score at all five positions.
I promise you that’s exactly where Pearl’s focus is.
He has worked the Tennessee sideline in 187 games. And considering what he’s just been through and might yet endure in the future, you can bet he’s going to revel in every possession of these next eight.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 23
collegegrad writes:
Pearl ought to be thankful the University didn't fire him. If this had been anywhere else where someone lied to their boss, or an agency investigating that firm, that employee would've received the pink slip and be standing in the unemployment line.
brokebackvol writes:
I don't approve of what Pearl did, but it's hard to argue about what the man has meant to a program that has been both listless & dead in between his tenure and that of Coach Mears. The University took punitive measures, but decided to retain the coach considering his value to the program.
If he screws up again like this, he will probably be gone. But until then, Trolls/h8rs are invited to take a long walk off a short pier.
tenndave writes:
Bruce is the man. He screwed up. He apologized, took a pay cut, served a suspension and knows he may face more. He has paid the price. Until he screws up again, he is the man. Get over it. He made UT relevant again and we are headed in the right direction. Trolls be *!#*%$*. GO UT VOLS! Beat UK!
manoffewwords writes:
AMEN.
Playoffnow writes:
It is merely specultaion that Bruce "lied to his boss." The thing that many haven't focused on is Hamilton's role in this thing (if any). I would encourage people to look at both the basketball and football allegations. The football team probably did send hostesses (aka. fine looking women) to watch prospects' games. Bruce, for sure, invited some atheletes to an "illegal" cook-out. The University of Tennessee has for the most part; violated rules in both sports. I think the thing that upsets most VOL fans is that we all know that AUBURN just bought a title. No reasonable person (Auburn fans included) can; with a sober face: say that there is no way Cam's family didn't get paid. That crew is laughing all the way to the bank. No reasonable person (Memphis fans included) can; with a sober face say that Calipari had no idea that someone took D. Rose's test for him. The NCAA is a joke, and it seems as though Tennessee is caught in a perfect storm. I think that if we are found guilty of each charge, it will not be a death nell for basketball or football. You lose schalarships every year via attrition, so basically you just have to reduce the risks in your program. If the NCAA is seriousl they will make good on sanctions against guilty coaches. How can Georgia hire Harrick after UCLA and Rhode Island? How can Fresno State hire Tarktanian, Indiana hire Sampson, Kentucky hire Cal after he has had 2 ( yes 2) schools stripped of achievements? Oh yeah, just coincidence. What a bunch of phooey! Bruce Pearl must have had whores and cocaine at that BBQ. Oh no he didn't, he just made a bad decision. This cannot be worse than Larry Johnson in a hot tub with agents. Can't be worse than Harrick's kid teaching a bogus class for Georgia b-ball players that have as much college potential as a kid too stupid to qualify on his own at Memphis (not Princeton, or even UT, but Memphis). How is Calipari still coaching? Oh yeah, it's because the NCAA is a hypocritical org. that keeps the money rolling (don't worry Auburn or Ohio State about those possibly minor violations that you commited; as long as the money keeps coming in)and refuses to admitt that the fans are right to want a football playoff. Tennessee is a fortunate victim for them right now.
tnvol4ever writes:
Well said tenndave!!!
GO VOLS!!!
Lazybones writes:
Not to worry. Lyin' Bruce is back and all is well in Vol Land. We may never lose another game.... Lyin' Bruce can walk on water. All hail Lyin' Bruce. He is laughing all the way to the bank and he is laughing at UT who he has in his back pocket.
CoverOrange writes:
The NCAA is not Bruce's employer. The NCAA cannot fire Bruce or any other coach. That is up to Hamilton and he has already made his position known.
gglardon50#417841 writes:
so lieing and cheating is good because Tennessee needs a championship.Funny cheating usually helps in winning.Doesn't seem to help the Vols much.Losers in football,losers in baseball.Basketball-getting to the final 8 -not really a big deal
tennrich1 writes:
Man what world are YOU living in? I can thing of NO company or government agency that practices what you preach...and believe me I deal with this VERY think every day....You blow somebody for giving misleading info and we'll see you in court...listen to this one simple phrase and the argument is OVER..."Progressive discipline"....no court in the land will overrule that simple concept of discipline practiced by every company, entity and government agency in the nation!...Not advocating lying or being an unfit employee....just the way things are......Just a thought to REALLY naive thinking...
Volgrad777 writes:
I have cheated at my job. I have lied to my employer. You have as well....called in sick when you werent?? Still a lie there St. Peter. I might ask prospective employees to cover for me sure. Your last question reaks of ignorance to much to speak on.
I really am amazed at this site. The sad part is, you are but one of the complete and utter MORONS on this site. Your posts literally stinch of ignorance and stupidity. Supporting a guy who has given the University more than we will ever know, supporting him in spite of the fact he made mistakes, that means im selling my soul?? Nope, it means you are simply an idiot. Dont compare selling your soul to supporting a basketball coach you dunce. If i ever find you in person i am gonna kick you in the junk twice. Once for being a moron.....and once more for being a moron.
Futurecoach16 writes:
Did you ever cheat on a homework assignment, by copying a friend's? Isn't that lying to your "employer" or "boss"? Isn't that asking someone else to lie for you? Exactly.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Everything you said!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Nice post, lazyarse
Bruce wouldn't leave when he had job offers from other schools. His loyalty to the school is unquestionable. he was well loved by the fans and players alike, and that just eats you up inside, doesn't it?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Yes; considering the three last-place teams have only 2 more losses than your first-place 'terds (don't worry, 'terds will lose more), and they're all at .500, yes, it's a logjam.
OrangePride writes:
I wonder if anyone at KNS is taking note of the rather noticeable dropoff in the number of posts on their articles........signaling perhaps a reduction in the number of visitors and readers to the site itself?
NashvillePreds writes:
317
PeeEllthree writes:
To paraphrase another poster: when the KY crowd starts chanting 'cheater, cheater', which coach will they be talking to? The one who had a bbq? Or the one who had to forfeit 2 seasons and final 4 banners.
GreeneVol writes:
BRUCE!! BRUCE!! BRUCE!! Yes I love Bruce, even with his tattered rep.
No one has to tell Bruce to SIC'EM CATS and GATORS this week! We're behind ya Coach!!!!!
PeeEllthree writes:
And btw, that Larry Brown/Cal visit to practice with the players was a violation. Blatant violation. Gives a definite competitive advantage by allowing LB to instruct. And Cal says he didn't know it was a violation, so it's a slap on the wrist. This shows 2 things: 1)It shows Cal was smarter than Pearl and just acted like he didn't know and fessed up 2)It shows that Cal lied when he said he didn't know it was a violation. He knew what was going on and knew having LB there was worth a slap. He lied.
TNVol71 writes:
Regardless of what anybody says or thinks on this site, to paraphrase a common saying, "We are where we are". The Vols are our team--at least for most of the people responding on this site. Coach Pearl is our men's basketball coach. We need to support this team and help UT win its games and get back to the Big Dance. Go Vols.
Highlands_Whisky writes:
It takes a little longer, but simply clicking on "Suggest Removal", then clicking "Yes", then clicking on "Return Me To Article" is the best course of action against the trolls on this site.
I know some of you kvetch about the 247 pay site, but I am a proud member and one of the main reasons is it is troll-free and filled with civil discourse and great access to the writers who will answer any question you post for them.
These few trolls highjack so many of the threads here and replying to them just feeds their immature egos. If enough of us just "Suggest Removal" with no reply, the trolls will eventually give up and go somewhere else to fling their p00p.
Just my $0.02. I am a Bruce Pearl fan and he will weather this storm and continue to lead the Vols to the tourney year after year.
IBAVolFan writes:
I will second that "Amen"
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.