Winning at all costs

#26
#26
armchair said:
Pearl. You realize that UT has been in top five for basketball revenues/crowd size the last five years? That won't be the case when he leaves.
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That's as much because of the size of our stadium as it is because of Bruce Pearl. If Duke, NC, etc all had houses that fit 25k, we'd never sniff the top 10.
 
#27
#27
Weezer said:
How can people justify what Pearl has done? Why do some of the posters on this site feel the NCAA has been too harsh on Pearl and that he deserves to keep his job? The man created this situation himself. He lied to the NCAA. Worse he lied to the NCAA over a silly secondary violation. He didn't lie over something major, he lied over a cookout. Why? As a coach, he had to know he was turning something minor into something major. He screwed his players and tarnished the reputation of UT in an attempt to not get caught. He put himself above everyone else involved. Is this the man we really want as our coach?

Yes, he has taken UT basketball to, if not new heights, at least heights we haven't experienced in some time. But does that really justify what he did? Is winning so important that the cost shouldn't matter? Should we just allow this type of behavior to be okay? Sure he's apologized, but then he goes out and commits another violation four days later. He claims he didn't know it was a violation, but having just lied to the NCAA, do you really believe he would have qualms about lying again? Some want to take him at his word, but so far he has only shown his word to be no good.

I'm appreciative of the new life that CBP brought to UT basketball, but what he has done merits his dismissal. At this point, keeping him does nothing but cause continuous harm to UT. He shot himself in the foot.

One other side note, how effective a recruiter could Pearl be when it is known he tried to get a recruit and his father to lie for him? Do you think this is a man parents would want their kids to play for? By all indications, he wouldn't be able to recruit for at least a season, maybe two, but when he could return, do you think other coaches wouldn't be reminding parents of this? I don't see that as something parents are just going to overlook. He's done far more harm than I think some are willing to admit. It's time for him to go and UT basketball to move on.
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The BEst way I know to answer this is to quote Mike Strange from govolsxtra

poll on our website, govolsxtra.com, offers the choice: Who do you support more, Pearl or Hamilton?

As I write this, 11,907 voters have responded.

The guy who lied to the NCAA got 91 percent.

The guy who publicly revealed Pearl's job was in peril two days before the NCAA tournament got 8 percent.

How to explain those numbers, especially after the most unpleasant of Pearl's six seasons just ground to a halt?

I don't recall what Jerry Green's approval rating was after a 30-point NCAA loss in Charlotte in 1999, but 91 percent doesn't ring a bell.

It could be because Pearl produced UT's two winningest seasons ever, 31 in 2008 and 28 in 2010.

It could be because of the first outright SEC championship since 1967 and the school's first No. 1 ranking, both in 2008.

It could be the school-record six straight NCAA tournament bids, the longest active streak in the SEC. Eight of UT's 16 all-time NCAA tournament wins came on Pearl's watch.

It could be that Pearl's energy and success got Pratt Pavilion built and Thompson-Boling Arena converted from an aircraft hangar to a terrific environment for basketball.

It could be that UT's home crowds jumped 5,504 per game in Pearl's first year and the Vols have stayed in the top five nationally in attendance ever since.

It could be that the Vols lead the SEC in league wins (65-31) since Pearl arrived, or that his teams are 36-27 in true road games, 31-17 on neutral sites and 26-20 against ranked teams.

It could be the OUTLIVE money he's helped raise to boost cancer screening. Or the Dane Bradshaw Scholarship he endowed.

It could be orange body paint or the orange blazer. Or that he would promise a crowd the Vols were going to whip Memphis' or Florida's (rear end) and then do it.

No one could debate that Pearl brought the good times to town. He awoke a sleeping giant.

The good times, however, have been fewer this season. And like a character in a Shakespearean tragedy, Pearl primarily has himself to blame for his fall.

If this is indeed the end, it's too bad. Usually, schools fire a coach who couldn't win or couldn't recruit or didn't fit in, or whose time had simply run its course.

This time, though, it's an absolute freaking hero. :salute:
 
#28
#28
Different viewpoints. Some see this as a horrific lie that stains the institution. I see this as just plain stupidity on BP's part and when he's fired it should be due to "stupidity". From my background, I have seen many things over many years and very frankly, this bbq lie and telling the kids to "don't tell anybody you were here" reeks of being more on the silly side than the cheating side. Pearl isn't my idol. I'm not a Pearlophile and not a sickolefan, as I have seen used on here. It's just a different opinion.
 
#29
#29
I guess I'm idealistic, but I want to win the right way. However, I'm not stupid enough to ignore to say that this is a simple situation.

Competition tends to bring out the best AND the worst in people. From my experience, heightened stress and pressure uncovers the true character of individuals that they can keep hidden under most other circumstances. In this case, it would appear that Coach Pearl either (A) showed his true "character" or (B) gave in to the very human temptation to sneak around the rules to get ahead of the competition. How one characterizes this situation depends completely on your prespective and your preconceived notions ... "win at all costs" is a great phrase to sum up one of these schools of thought.

Another factor is whether or not you buy into the "Pearl deserves a second chance" movement, but regardless it all goes back to where you stand on the root problem that started this whole thing (see above). The Kiffin fiasco looms large here, I think. We're a loyal fanbase, so we supported Kiffin even though most of us felt uncomfortable with his approach to running the program. I found myself squirming every time Kiffin opened his mouth ... every time we were on ESPN it was to recount our program's newest embarrassment.

The bottom-line, in my opinion, is this: Whether Coach Pearl returns or departs, how he (as well as the fans and the University) conducts himself in the future will determine his legacy. If he has more "issues," whether they are real or percieved, Pearl will not last long. If he fails to win, regardless of anything else, he won't last long. I, for one, just want a decision so we, as fans, can move on and look to the future. Pearl will shape his own fate depending on what that decision turns out to be.
 
#30
#30
Cool, our fanbase has become Kentucky and Alabama. Win at all costs, **** integrity and ethics.
 
#32
#32
pl3 said:
Not at all, but many of our fanbase aren't quite as naive as you seem to be.
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The fanbase is willing to keep someone who has lied multiple times and tried to get kids to lie for him, and committed another violation four days after saying he wouldn't do it again. How is that naive? You don't think that saying "Screw ethics, he wins ballgames!!!"?
 
#33
#33
Bassmanbruno said:
it's pathetic reading all the delusional posts by largely (I would guess) bandwagon fans on that keep Pearl facebook group. I ashamed to be a part of the Tennessee fan base when I read some of the ignorant comments posted. How can some of those people be so out of touch with reality? .. I mean I know they're bandwagoners but seriously "keep Bruce!! he's brought the program back from the gutter, everyone makes mistakes.. so what?" posts are getting old. Seems like some people just don't understand the severity of lying to the NCAA... then lying again about the bump violation.. or they don't get the NCAA will hammer the program and set it back to the Houston era for a decade if we actually attempted to keep him. 2-3 years with an interim coach.. yeah that'd be great.. I'm sure we'd get top notch recruits during that time as well...[/QUOTE

it's pathetic reading all the delusional posts by largely (I would guess) bandwagon Pearl haters. It gets pathetic.
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#34
#34
golf437 said:
Bassmanbruno said:
it's pathetic reading all the delusional posts by largely (I would guess) bandwagon fans on that keep Pearl facebook group. I ashamed to be a part of the Tennessee fan base when I read some of the ignorant comments posted. How can some of those people be so out of touch with reality? .. I mean I know they're bandwagoners but seriously "keep Bruce!! he's brought the program back from the gutter, everyone makes mistakes.. so what?" posts are getting old. Seems like some people just don't understand the severity of lying to the NCAA... then lying again about the bump violation.. or they don't get the NCAA will hammer the program and set it back to the Houston era for a decade if we actually attempted to keep him. 2-3 years with an interim coach.. yeah that'd be great.. I'm sure we'd get top notch recruits during that time as well...[/QUOTE
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it's pathetic reading all the delusional posts by largely (I would guess) bandwagon Pearl haters. It gets pathetic.
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excellent job messing up a simple quote feature - go back to your 25 man rally. You are delusional - you have no clue on the details of the situation more than likely - you are probably one of the people on the page that keeps saying, "all he did was have a BBQ at his house for players/recruits, so what? we call that hospitality down here...." LOL.
 
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#35
#35
zjcvols said:
Cool, our fanbase has become Kentucky and Alabama. Win at all costs, **** integrity and ethics.
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The significant difference is that UK and Bama are winning championships. Dishonest and good is somewhat more forgivable than dishonest and mediocre.
 
#36
#36
I think some people don't understand the concept of winning at all costs. A cost for example would be getting caught cheating, at least you won though.
 
#37
#37
To all you Bruce haters and Ky fans: I guess we should also add the Supposedly UT fans that call for Bruce fireing. I believe that some of the supposed finding quoted on the blog are not yet proven. The kid said he talked for 2-5 minutes. ? As a kid to talk to you and time it and then ask how long it was. The father said it sort of seamed that Bruce wanted them to lie. Did he ask or not!!! Also you that have not lied and tried to cover it up or lie again about it, get your rock and start throwing. I believe in the bible in that you can be forgiven. I believe Bruce will, if given the chance, will abid by the rules to a T. I have been a Vol since I hit the ground 80 years ago and cannot wait another 30 for the bb program to be regenerated form what it will be if the Board Chairman, President and AD don't have the balls to standup and support Bruce against the NCAA. We can stand whatever punishment is given. It may not be as bad as you are projecting it since they will not be able to just slap Ohio States hand if Bruces punishment is too strong.
 
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