Why Bruce Lied

[Weezer]

I agree with what you stated there. To think that they did not analyze the risk/cost of a season with Pearl ousted/suspended and an interim coach working the bench seems absurd. They did not suspend or fire him at that time because they were afraid of not being able to put butts in the seats. They wanted to capitalize on the early schedule and make sure they got to the tourney and receive the NCAA credits that come with it. That is my contention and I don't expect anyone will like it or believe it.

Um... I think a lot of us firmly believe that. At least I do. The UT admin isn't completely innocent here. Hammy hasn't exactly shown he can do adequate spin control.

 

[vol66]

Many feel that Hammy was hoping until the very end he could save Pearl, as his fate may be tied to that of Pearl's somewhat. To date, Pearl is his only hire that has shown success. They terminated Pearl's contract when they did to appease the NCAA. They wanted to show they weren't taking this lightly. But they kept him as coach because it was what was best for the program. The season was about to start, we were anticipating success, you had no time to bring in another coach. Besides, Hammy thought they could ride it out. He was wrong.

The LOT was all about protecting your backside. You hope for the best, you prepare for the worst. Again, Hammy supported Pearl until it became clear he could no longer support Pearl, which was probably sometime late February. At least, that's my take.

I was hoping to apologize to you for my last couple of posts last night, so, I'm sorry.

Appease the NCAA. What about the "He Lied" part, that everyone is so heck bent on. Black and white to everyone except the people in charge, after saying we'll terminate the contract, but not the man? Why?

 

[Vercingetorix]

Appease the NCAA. What about the "He Lied" part, that everyone is so heck bent on. Black and white to everyone except the people in charge, after saying we'll terminate the contract, but not the man? Why?

I don't think that anyone is under the illusion that UT ultimately fired Pearl because he lied. They fired him because when the end of the season rolled around and they had to decide one way or the other, they looked at everything -- the original stuff in the LOT, the additional bump violation and Pearl's failure to report it to compliance, whatever else the other things are, whatever they found out in the back and forth with the NCAA about possible sanctions -- and decided that there was just too much to go forward with Pearl. I think that in September, they hoped to be able to keep Pearl, but by the time March rolled around they decided that they just couldn't. From an NCAA standpoint, from a competitive standpoint after Pearl got two years, everything.

They had to go ahead and terminate the contract in September, even if they weren't ready to terminate the man yet, because that's the only way they gained any freedom of action. What if something else came out? What if Pearl got suspended for two or three years by the NCAA? The only way UT could ensure that they were protected was to go ahead and immediately terminate the contract for cause, as the contract specified they were entitled to. Then they could wait and see what happened, they could try to negotiate a new contract that better protected UT in case the hammer fell, whatever -- but they had to get out from underneath that contract for cause while they could. You can't come back after a whole season and say, "Hey wait, now we don't want to pay you that buyout because of that thing that you did last year that we didn't do anything about then."

 

[Weezer]

I was hoping to apologize to you for my last couple of posts last night, so, I'm sorry.

Appease the NCAA. What about the "He Lied" part, that everyone is so heck bent on. Black and white to everyone except the people in charge, after saying we'll terminate the contract, but not the man? Why?

No prob about last night.

A portion of the fanbase wanted to keep Pearl no matter what. I'm not sure of the size so I won't say majority or minority, but there was certainly some fan support for him. The admin took into account Pearl's success and support and were honestly hoping they could sway the NCAA from levying the unethical conduct charge. They couldn't. Hammy especially wanted to save Pearl, but eventually he realized it just wasn't possible.

When news first broke of the scandal, personally, I was torn. I can't speak for others, but my initial reaction was one of wanting to support Pearl, but as I learned more, it changed. For some, lying is not black and white, but for me, it is. The worst thing anyone can do to me is to lie to me. I've gotten into fists fights with friends and all was forgiven in a day or two. But when you lie to me, I hold that grudge much longer. It's a betrayal. To me, Pearl betrayed UT and the support that fans gave him. What made it so much worse was that it was a lie over something so trivial. He threw away all that he had accomplished with one, incomprehensible lie.

Once the unethical conduct charge was levied, the writing was pretty much on the wall. NCAA history is pretty clear that you get at least a one year ban and more likely two. They can make it much longer if they choose. The NCAA does not tolerate being lied to. If they can prove you are lying, they will nail you. It makes the Tressel thing interesting to watch as it unfolds. The NCAA seems to have a love for OSU, but I don't see how they can legitimately avoid dropping the hammer on him as well. If they don't, I expect a large uproar.

 

[Vercingetorix]

It makes the Tressel thing interesting to watch as it unfolds. The NCAA seems to have a love for OSU, but I don't see how they can legitimately avoid dropping the hammer on him as well. If they don't, I expect a large uproar.

By any meaningful standard, what Tressel did rises to the level of the same general "unethical conduct" charge Pearl got. He misled his institution. He withheld information about violations. He signed a false compliance statement. Etc.

My guess is that it will come down to what Tressel's role was and what he actually said when the NCAA investigated the issue in December. Did he flat-out lie directly to the NCAA like Pearl did? If so, he's toast. If not, there's some wiggle room.

The immediate bounce up to five games demonstrates that OSU is terrified.

 

[vol66]

I don't think that anyone is under the illusion that UT ultimately fired Pearl because he lied. They fired him because when the end of the season rolled around and they had to decide one way or the other, they looked at everything -- the original stuff in the LOT, the additional bump violation and Pearl's failure to report it to compliance, whatever else the other things are, whatever they found out in the back and forth with the NCAA about possible sanctions -- and decided that there was just too much to go forward with Pearl. I think that in September, they hoped to be able to keep Pearl, but by the time March rolled around they decided that they just couldn't. From an NCAA standpoint, from a competitive standpoint after Pearl got two years, everything.

They had to go ahead and terminate the contract in September, even if they weren't ready to terminate the man yet, because that's the only way they gained any freedom of action. What if something else came out? What if Pearl got suspended for two or three years by the NCAA? The only way UT could ensure that they were protected was to go ahead and immediately terminate the contract for cause, as the contract specified they were entitled to. Then they could wait and see what happened, they could try to negotiate a new contract that better protected UT in case the hammer fell, whatever -- but they had to get out from underneath that contract for cause while they could. You can't come back after a whole season and say, "Hey wait, now we don't want to pay you that buyout because of that thing that you did last year that we didn't do anything about then."

According to your other post, there isin't s'posed to be a back and forth between UT and the NCAA. We aren't even supposed to provide our coaches with counsel. The additional bump would have never occured had he been at least suspended. I agree, from a contract point of view Hamilton, Cheek and lawyers protected themselves and the University. They too(Slive) will collect bonuses for the 2011 Vols making it to the tourney.

 

[Weezer]

By any meaningful standard, what Tressel did rises to the level of the same general "unethical conduct" charge Pearl got. He misled his institution. He withheld information about violations. He signed a false compliance statement. Etc.

My guess is that it will come down to what Tressel's role was and what he actually said when the NCAA investigated the issue in December. Did he flat-out lie directly to the NCAA like Pearl did? If so, he's toast. If not, there's some wiggle room.

The immediate bounce up to five games demonstrates that OSU is terrified.

Agreed. And I think they should be terrified. My understanding is that signing that false compliance statement is tantamount to lying to the NCAA. Supposedly emails contradict what he swore to. I'm still trying to figure out the whole justice dept/drug sting though. That's where I worry he'll somehow slip out of this because I firmly believe he should be toast.

 

[vol66]

No prob about last night.

A portion of the fanbase wanted to keep Pearl no matter what. I'm not sure of the size so I won't say majority or minority, but there was certainly some fan support for him. The admin took into account Pearl's success and support and were honestly hoping they could sway the NCAA from levying the unethical conduct charge. They couldn't. Hammy especially wanted to save Pearl, but eventually he realized it just wasn't possible.

When news first broke of the scandal, personally, I was torn. I can't speak for others, but my initial reaction was one of wanting to support Pearl, but as I learned more, it changed. For some, lying is not black and white, but for me, it is. The worst thing anyone can do to me is to lie to me. I've gotten into fists fights with friends and all was forgiven in a day or two. But when you lie to me, I hold that grudge much longer. It's a betrayal. To me, Pearl betrayed UT and the support that fans gave him. What made it so much worse was that it was a lie over something so trivial. He threw away all that he had accomplished with one, incomprehensible lie.

Once the unethical conduct charge was levied, the writing was pretty much on the wall. NCAA history is pretty clear that you get at least a one year ban and more likely two. They can make it much longer if they choose. The NCAA does not tolerate being lied to. If they can prove you are lying, they will nail you. It makes the Tressel thing interesting to watch as it unfolds. The NCAA seems to have a love for OSU, but I don't see how they can legitimately avoid dropping the hammer on him as well. If they don't, I expect a large uproar.

Thanks

I don't care about OSU. We're better than that. I agree, it's a shame as his son said, he wanted to retire here. He messed up, no doubt about it, but then there is the MONEY. Which pro-longed everything.

 

[Vercingetorix]

According to your other post, there isin't s'posed to be a back and forth between UT and the NCAA. We aren't even supposed to provide our coaches with counsel. The additional bump would have never occured had he been at least suspended. I agree, from a contract point of view Hamilton, Cheek and lawyers protected themselves and the University. They too(Slive) will collect bonuses for the 2011 Vols making it to the tourney.

If it occurred, the back and forth between the NCAA and the university took place well after the testimony, well after all the fact-finding.

Why should we need to provide our coaches with lawyers? They have access to an entire compliance department that's supposed to help them figure out what the rules are, report what needs to be reported, and help them walk through the NCAA minefield generally unscathed. They shouldn't have to have a lawyer whispering in their ears not to lie to NCAA investigators. Pearl looked at a picture of his own house and told the NCAA that he had no idea where it was taken; I'm not sure what kind of help or advice or "prepping" could have helped him avoid that kind of idiocy.

Pearl apparently fought for the extra two-week window before the suspension began because he strongly felt like they needed it it for this year's class. Hamilton let him have it. In retrospect, that was a dumb decision. It was dumb because Pearl is dumb.

I'm not sure what you're bitter about. You seem to feel like somebody at the university was derelict in his duty by not saving Pearl from himself, is that the case?

 

[Vercingetorix]

Thanks

I don't care about OSU. We're better than that. I agree, it's a shame as his son said, he wanted to retire here. He messed up, no doubt about it, but then there is the MONEY. Which pro-longed everything.

"The answer to all your questions is money." Almost always.

 

[vol66]

"The answer to all your questions is money." Almost always.

lol, a nun in third grade told me to follow the money, if ya want to hurt, or find out why, follow the money. In this instance,sadly, it doesn't suffice.

If a new coach doesn't have a higher standard than those that employ him, we'll be here again.

 

[knowthevols]

I think you are totally and completely missing the point. No one wanted Pearl canned because of a minor violation.

That's not true.