Tennessee fires Bruce Pearl

[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

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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.




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

Maybe. But Pearl is the one that initiated the investigation that caused the probation, the suspension of Collins and some of the rest of the staff, and all the associated problems, without any apparent concrete basis. So he gets to be the scapegoat.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Maybe. But Pearl is the one that initiated the investigation that caused the probation, the suspension of Collins and some of the rest of the staff, and all the associated problems, without any apparent concrete basis. So he gets to be the scapegoat.

That is really my point. Does it matter that Pearl's actions started the investigation, but he did not alone penalize the program. Blame the NCAA for their woes, not an opposing coach that is basically going for the same players.

Peace

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That is really my point. Does it matter that Pearl's actions started the investigation, but he did not alone penalize the program. Blame the NCAA for their woes, not an opposing coach that is basically going for the same players.

Peace

Trust me, there's plenty of feelings about the NCAA and the process. But again, I point out the method that Pearl used - taping a phone converstaion without the other person's knowledge, then using an apparently doctored version of it to start problems for a rival school. At best, it's borderline illegal.

As to his claims that he was simply trying "right the wrongs" of a rival school, and he is simply a "whistle-blower", maybe he doesn't lie about things like that. Oh, wait...

[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

[ILRef80]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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

The media isn't the most credible source. Of course they are looking for stories and sometimes fabricate the drama. I understand that there is still a section of the fanbase that feels spurned, but that doesn't make it the majority. That's the only point I was trying to make.

At any rate, that's not really the topic so I'll won't delve into it any further.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ILRef80

The media isn't the most credible source. Of course they are looking for stories and sometimes fabricate the drama. I understand that there is still a section of the fanbase that feels spurned, but that doesn't make it the majority. That's the only point I was trying to make.

At any rate, that's not really the topic so I'll won't delve into it any further.

I did not say they were credible, but they do tend to keep up drama that is silly. And if they are trying to make some issue out of his being at Illinois 8 years ago, do not tell me fans are not right behind them and those opinions. And I never said that the "majority" of anyone felt anyway. Actually you or I will never know how many feel one way or not feel one way on something like this. I just know that Illinois fans bring it up often. I was not even watching the games and that was what several mentioned when the topic came up. Majority or not, it is brought up too much if you ask me.

Peace