Thursday, April 2, 2009

At Memphis, A Pitch For Pearl

Let the speculating begin as to who will be the new head coach at the University of Memphis. Only those Tiger power brokers and the University administration known who's on the radar screen. Could they be looking east down I-40 toward Knoxville?

A pitch for Pearl has begun. Memphis Commercial-Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins (who has been very popular at the OSG HQ lately) believes Bruce Pearl would be a great fit for the Memphis Tigers. That Pearl would have the charisma and coaching skills to match the departed John Calipari.

Calkins writes: Pearl could drop by Gibson's Donuts in the mornings, just like John Calipari did.

The regulars would love the guy.


He could take over Cal's Championship Steaks. Call it the Pearl Oyster House.

What a way to make this community gloom disappear.

It would take a $2.5 million to buyout Pearl at Tennessee but the powers that be at Memphis have let it be known money is no object.

Calkins adds: He knows the area (Memphis). He recruits here all the time. He likes big piles of cash as much as the next guy.

And he would like much better in a royal blue blazer than that electric orange one.

UPDATE:

Foxsports.com is citing sources that the Memphis is making a move at Bruce Pearl. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson is expected to ask the University of Tennessee for permission to talk to Pearl and is expected to offer in the neighborhood of $3 million per season.

Their sources also indicate that Pearl would listen.

The Knoxville (TN) News says Pearl and Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton were to meet Thursday afternoon to discuss his contract.

Stay tuned.

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