Tennessee fires Bruce Pearl

[Judtech]

Why is there no comment of LaPhonso Ellis or U of I fans in Champaign?

[DesMoines]

My wife is an Illini fan and there were more than a couple satisfied smiles in my house last night watching ESPN. I think I heard "Karma, baby" about 5 times.

Gee, no grudges there... Somebody remind me to stay on her good side.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by Judtech

Why is there no comment of LaPhonso Ellis or U of I fans in Champaign?

No comments necessary...we're just sitting back and enjoying the view.

And, somewhere, Deon Thomas is smiling a little as well.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Judtech

Why is there no comment of LaPhonso Ellis or U of I fans in Champaign?

Originally Posted by DesMoines

My wife is an Illini fan and there were more than a couple satisfied smiles in my house last night watching ESPN. I think I heard "Karma, baby" about 5 times.

Gee, no grudges there... Somebody remind me to stay on her good side.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

No comments necessary...we're just sitting back and enjoying the view.

And, somewhere, Deon Thomas is smiling a little as well.

I'm not up on my Bruce Pearl history. What am I missing?

What I know:

• Pearl coached at UW-Milwaukee
• Ellis played at Notre Dame
• Deon Thomas played at Illinois

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I'm not up on my Bruce Pearl history. What am I missing?

What I know:

• Pearl coached at UW-Milwaukee
• Ellis played at Notre Dame
• Deon Thomas played at Illinois

Bruce Pearl, when working as an assistant coach for Iowa under Tom Davis, recorded a phone call with Deonn Thomas (while recruiting him) that implicated Illinois. I believe the Illini faced some sanctions, but it's been 20 years (talk about holding on to your grudges), so the memories from my teenage years are fading.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Judtech

Why is there no comment of LaPhonso Ellis or U of I fans in Champaign?

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I believe the Illini faced some sanctions, but it's been 20 years (talk about holding on to your grudges), so the memories from my teenage years are fading.

I am on a site of HS and Illini fans and they never seem to let it go. But then again that is what Illini fans do, worry about things that have no relevance to them. They are still holding onto why Self left their program 8 years ago.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am on a site of HS and Illini fans and they never seem to let it go. But then again that is what Illini fans do, worry about things that have no relevance to them. They are still holding onto why Self left their program 8 years ago.

Peace

Maybe they can blame Pearl for that, too?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Maybe they can blame Pearl for that, too?

They damn near blame him for that. Because when Jimmy Collins was not hired or his reputation was sullied, then they believe it set the program back years and the Chicago Public Schools would not send players to that program. So they do not come out and make that direct connection most of the time, but there are people that believe they are connected and one of the reasons Self did not want to stay.

Peace

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But then again that is what Illini fans do, worry about things that have no relevance to them.

I'm not sure I follow you - how does not liking a scumbag who directly affected the program for several years afterward "have no relevence"?

Originally Posted by JRutledge

They are still holding onto why Self left their program 8 years ago.

This one I don't understand as well. Not your comment, but the feeling that Self was some sort of "traitor". Not all IL fans actually hold that opinion, btw. He had ties to KS, and for him it was move up, along with being closer geographically to his family, I believe. Also, he didn't exactly go pursuing the job; the only reason it was open was because Matt Dougherty was fired at North Carolina, which opened up the job for Roy Williams to leave KS. I personally met him once when his son played Little League on a different team from my son - he was engaging and seemed like a class individual. He didn't do anything that I'm aware to screw the program or the school, other than leave for what he considered a better job. In the meantime, there might be some fans who thought they had found a long-term, top-level coach, and he didn't stay as intended.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

I'm not sure I follow you - how does not liking a scumbag who directly affected the program for several years afterward "have no relevence"?

Did he really affect the program that seriously? What Pearl happens in programs all over the country all the time, we just do not hear about the details to know. Heck the SEC has this happen almost every time a school gets on probation. Not sure why it has that much relevance when Illini is not a much better place to attend. Lou Henson could not recruit the state very well, that is the reason Illini has not been a great program. I think the "Pearl incident" was one thing in a long list of events that have hurt the program.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

This one I don't understand as well. Not your comment, but the feeling that Self was some sort of "traitor". Not all IL fans actually hold that opinion, btw. He had ties to KS, and for him it was move up, along with being closer geographically to his family, I believe. Also, he didn't exactly go pursuing the job; the only reason it was open was because Matt Dougherty was fired at North Carolina, which opened up the job for Roy Williams to leave KS. I personally met him once when his son played Little League on a different team from my son - he was engaging and seemed like a class individual. He didn't do anything that I'm aware to screw the program or the school, other than leave for what he considered a better job. In the meantime, there might be some fans who thought they had found a long-term, top-level coach, and he didn't stay as intended.

Of course not all fans feel that way, just stating that anytime these issues come up there is a very vocal contingency that is holding on to these things that have very little to do with the health or success of the program. I think Self brought the Illini program into a better light and gets more attention based on what he did when he was there. I do feel that when Collins was not hired by Illini when Henson left, the CPS schools did kind of "boycott" the school or tried to send their kids elsewhere, but that was more about Illini and their insecurity of the issue than what Pearl did or did not do while at Iowa.

Peace

[ILRef80]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am on a site of HS and Illini fans and they never seem to let it go. But then again that is what Illini fans do, worry about things that have no relevance to them. They are still holding onto why Self left their program 8 years ago.

Peace

Talk about painting with a broad brush. I, personally, have no problems whatsoever with Bill Self.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ILRef80

Talk about painting with a broad brush. I, personally, have no problems whatsoever with Bill Self.

First of all I am not painting anything with a broad brush. Even the media focused on the issue of Self and what he did at Illinois and Self had to make it clear "That was 8 years ago." It seems to be a major focus of Illinois fans and what he meant or did not mean to the program. Also it is talked about a lot in Illini discussion boards and other things when the Illini program is a topic. When Kansas won a title a couple of years ago you would have thought that Self betrayed them. Again you do not have to believe me, but I have never seen a fan base talk about things in the past as if they have direct influence today. Even Weber cannot be judged on his own but by what Self had and why he made the Final Four.

Peace

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I'm not up on my Bruce Pearl history. What am I missing?

What I know:

• Pearl coached at UW-Milwaukee
• Ellis played at Notre Dame
• Deon Thomas played at Illinois

Before he became the coach at UW-Mil., Bruce Pearl was an asst. coach at Iowa under Dr. Tom Davis. Back in the day, both IA and IL were recruiting Deon Thomas. Supposedly he had a taped conversation of a phone call w/Deon where Deon supposedly admitted that IL had offered him cash and a Chevy Blazer to attend IL. Pearl and IA then turned in the info to the NCAA; they investigated, found no direct proof of any wrongdoing, but sanctioned IL anyway due to "lack of institutional control". Digger Phelps and ND were involved in the investigation somehow because ND and IL were also involved in the recruitment of Ellis at that time.

The main reason Pearl is hated around here is because the whole investigation was started under shady circumstances - it was a supposedly illegal wiretapped phone conversation, initiated by Pearl, that started the investigation, but that particular item was never publically addressed. Add to it the NCAA never found any direct wrongdoing, but the lead investigator at the time, and the NCAA, decided to punish IL for general violations after a year or two. Btw, the lead investigator was Mike Slive, who is now the commisioner of the SEC.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Before he became the coach at UW-Mil., Bruce Pearl was an asst. coach at Iowa under Dr. Tom Davis. Back in the day, both IA and IL were recruiting Deon Thomas. Supposedly he had a taped conversation of a phone call w/Deon where Deon supposedly admitted that IL had offered him cash and a Chevy Blazer to attend IL. Pearl and IA then turned in the info to the NCAA; they investigated, found no direct proof of any wrongdoing, but sanctioned IL anyway due to "lack of institutional control". Digger Phelps and ND were involved in the investigation somehow because ND and IL were also involved in the recruitment of Ellis at that time.

The main reason Pearl is hated around here is because the whole investigation was started under shady circumstances - it was a supposedly illegal wiretapped phone conversation, initiated by Pearl, that started the investigation, but that particular item was never publically addressed. Add to it the NCAA never found any direct wrongdoing, but the lead investigator at the time, and the NCAA, decided to punish IL for general violations after a year or two. Btw, the lead investigator was Mike Slive, who is now the commisioner of the ...wait for it... SEC.

Fixed THAT part for ya. No charge.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Fixed THAT part for ya. No charge.

You know, I actually thought about going back and changing it myself after I posted it. Thanks!