It's certainly been an interesting season for the University of Tennessee Volunteer basketball program. First with the news that head coach Bruce Pearl had improper contact with recruits and lied about it to the NCAA, then to the 8 game suspension imposed by the SEC, and finally to the news that an additional violation was committed after a press conference where he apologized for his behavior and appeared contrite to the entire world.
Bruce Pearl survived but coached the 2010-2011 season without a written contract. For all intents and purposes he appeared to have the support of Tennessee's athletic director Mike Hamilton. Many called for one or both of them to be fired. It did not happen.
Not surprisingly, the volunteer basketball team had an up and down season and at times appeared destined for the NIT and not the NCAA basketball tourney. Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, the Vols made the big dance where they faced the Michigan Wolverines in their first matchup. For reasons that defy any logical explanation, AD Mike Hamilton gave a radio interview two days before the game where he said Pearl's job would be evaluated after the tournament. Such a change in position immediately prior to the big dance unsurprisingly threw the fanbase, and the sports world for that matter, into rampant speculation over the current state of volunteer basketball.
Following two rollercoaster days, the game arrived. Calling the game a train wreck is being kind to train wrecks. It was brutal. Sloppy undisciplined play combined with inexplicable coaching decisions resulted in the Vols losing to Michigan by a thirty point margin. To Pearl's credit, he was quoted after the game as denying Hamilton's comments had anything to do with the gameplay, or lack thereof, and the result. Not so fast there Slick.
In any event these events have led the University where it is at the present time. A lame duck coach who may or may not receive additional sanctions from either the NCAA or the SEC who just had his derriere handed to him on a plate. Oh, and the plate looked and smelled exactly like what it is and that is crap.
Speaking as an alumni of the university and a fan for many years, I simply believe it is time to move on. Not only from Bruce Pearl but from an athletic director who while obviously intelligent has the PR instincts of a 3 year old. I fail to see any benefit to keeping either one under the current state of affairs. Oh, and did I mention the AD hired a football coach by the name of Lane Kiffin who also got the university in hot H20 with the SEC and the NCAA.
Let's move on from this train wreck of a season with a new basketball coach and a new Athletic Director. Both of whom who can and would make the University and the fans proud.
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