Tennessee fires Bruce Pearl

[Nevadaref]

Bruce Pearl fired as Tennessee Vols men's basketball coach - ESPN

Good, but way too late. Why stick with him all season?

Should have taken care of business when they learned that he lied.

[grunewar]

Because they thought he could win and make the university some money......

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Good, but way too late. Why stick with him all season?

To take advantage of the massive playing talent of his son obviously.....

[Rich]

Bruce Pearl was the best coach Tennessee had since Ray Mears. Now they'll hire someone like Buzz Peterson (oh, wait, they already did) and the program will slip into obscurity once again. The next hire will be closer to Lane Kiffin than Ray Mears.

Do I think that Pearl made a humongous mistake? Yes. Should they have fired him? Well, I think the answer is no. Others clearly think differently. We'll see where the program heads now.

[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

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Bruce Pearl was the best coach Tennessee had since Ray Mears. Now they'll hire someone like Buzz Peterson (oh, wait, they already did) and the program will slip into obscurity once again. The next hire will be closer to Lane Kiffin than Ray Mears.

Do I think that Pearl made a humongous mistake? Yes. Should they have fired him? Well, I think the answer is no. Others clearly think differently. We'll see where the program heads now.

Wow. Deja vu, man.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Wow. Deja vu, man.

I didn't cut and paste from Facebook, either.

[Judtech]

Deon Thomas. How could I forget about him. Imagine THAT team with Ellis!!

[ILRef80]

As an Illinois alum, I couldn't be happier. Jimmy Collins and Deon Thomas are smiling today.

Here's a good summary of the Pearl/Illinois events:
Bruce Pearl: Get ready, rat, because the Illini are comin’ - jotsheet

[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.

[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.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by ILRef80

As an Illinois alum, I couldn't be happier. Jimmy Collins and Deon Thomas are smiling today.

Here's a good summary of the Pearl/Illinois events:
Bruce Pearl: Get ready, rat, because the Illini are comin’ - jotsheet

LMAO, now that's funny.