This is one of those posts that begs a few questions:
1. So, with you're case all laid out there, what is your point? Don't be passive aggressive. State your point clearly with conviction or stop with this line of reasoning that is the definition of pointless. It's the same as a few others, I've seen it time and time again, and it never offers any solution or strategy. And it's also terribly timed given what he's accomplished so far this year. Just sounds like pointless *****ing.
If you look at where that back-and forth started, it started with someone saying Pearl IS Tennessee basketball and is "above" the University of Tennessee" because we had nonexistent tradition before him. That's crap. The furthest we've been is still the same place. Our tradition hasn't changed at all other than "number of Sweet Sixteens," which is a stat that pretty much no school should care about.
2. Do you think the coaches fired that you listed above were unjustly discharged? If they were not, are you implying that Pearl should be?
Some were and some weren't. Pearl shouldn't be fired now; I'd wait and see what he can do with the recruiting class of 2010. (If they get kicked off the team for robbing people and/or doing drugs, it's obviously a trend.) However, if Pearl were to leave, I wouldn't be disappointed, at least not if I had any confidence in Mike Hamilton's coaching evaluations. We could definitely hire better coaches for that much money.
3. Is it requisite for a coach to reach the Elite Eight, the Final Four or win the Sec Championship in his first five years at a school to qualify as a success?
No. Pearl has been successful compared to the Buzz Peterson years. Has he lived up to his contract yet? No. Is he suddenly bigger than our entire basketball history to the point where he IS Tennessee basketball, like Coach K at Duke? Hell no.
4. So, "the same place Jerry Green went" is 3 out of 4 Sweet Sixteens? If it's not exactly the "same" then don't use that word. Same means identical.
The Sweet Sixteen is the same round at the same time every year...it's like the Bills going to 4 straight Super Bowls. Eventually, it's more of an indictment (why the hell haven't they won one yet) than an accomplishment. And actually, what Bruce Pearl has done is more like the Bills going on 4 straight AFC Divisional Playoff trips...but whatever.
5. Do you think Bruce should not have recruited Ramar, Duke, or Tyler?
He definitely had plenty of clues with some, most notably Ramar Smith. Even coaches who take some players of questionable character wouldn't touch him. I think, but don't know for sure, that Crews's situation was somewhat similar. Don't know of any warning signs regarding Tyler Smith.
6. What is the specific barometer of success that Bruce needs to achieve to satisfy you, and stop this constant, oft-regurgitated rambling? Just spell it out, and we'll all discuss it.
Win a Sweet Sixteen game. Or at least, put a team on the floor that gives consistent effort (especially on defense) and knows what it's doing in a halfcourt set. Too many stupid mistakes, defensive lapses and disappearing players (Scotty Hopson) right now.
7. If Bruce made $500,000 less than he does would his work be financially sufficient, so far?
Not really, it would still put him in better company than he deserves...he makes something like twice as much as Coach K right now...but his salary would come closer to matching his actual achievements so far. We need to pay a little more than elite programs do when we want an elite coach, but we paid twice as much as elite programs for a good coach. We can do better than that...
