Bruce Pearl goes to work for grocery company

Bruce Pearl

((ht: govolsextra.com))

Well, that is certainly a change in the old career arc. Former Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl, who essentially can't coach for a couple of years because of his NCAA violation issues, has taken a job working for a Knoxville area grocery wholesale company.

Pearl will, as of Sept. 1st, be the Vice President of Marketing for H.T Hackney Co. and while yeah, you can make jokes about hacking and basketball, it's a bit of a departure for the personable Pearl.

According to the govolsextra.com website, Pearl has a degree in marketing and economics from the Boston College School of Management.

Read more from the Knoxville News-Sentinel website RIGHT HERE

While we congratulate Pearl on his move to "Civilian" life, we do have a question. How is it someone with no actual experience in the field he is now entering can start as a Vice President at a reasonably large company?

Oh, it's owned by former Tennessee trustee Bill Sansom. And H.T Hackney is a pretty big company to boot.

And it was enough for Pearl to turn down the chance to coach in the NBA's "D" league. But hey, congrats to ya Brucie. You are a strong enough personality that yeah, you'll probably be reasonably successful. And like all good coaches who get in trouble or fired, a year or two away, and it is amazing how much better your future coaching prospects become.

Pearl, Assistants Get Show-Cause, Vols Get Failure To Monitor

The hammer has officially dropped on former Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl- three years of a show-cause penalty while his assistants during his tenure each get one-year penalties.

Tony Jones, Steve Forbes and Jason Shay all got ones according to the full report released by the Committee On Infractions. The failure to monitor the program charge translates into a two-year probation through 2013.

Pearl violated the bump rule and failed to disclose the bump during an investigation.

The football team also had 12 violations- all minor, but still significant- during Lane Kiffin's one year in Knoxville before he was almost burned at the stake by Vols fans who congregated outside the Athletics office during his resignation presser.

The NCAA was perturbed, but didn't do anything else to the football program or Cuonzo Martin's basketball program.

The whole report is hyah, thanks to our friends at WATE-TV...

Kiffin released a statement and sayeth quote...

"I'm very grateful to the NCAA, the committee on infractions and its chairman, Dennis Thomas, for a very fair and thorough process. I'm also very grateful that we were able to accurately and fairly present the facts in our case and that no action was taken against us. I'm pleased that the NCAA based its decision on the facts and not on perception. I'm also very grateful that the Tennessee football program was cleared of any wrongdoing. As I have said before, we always have been committed to following NCAA rules and bylaws both at Tennessee and now at USC, and we always will be. Now that this has reached its conclusion, I am looking forward to continuing to prepare our team for the upcoming season."

More when we know more...

PM UPDATE: We know more...
Steve Phillips from our friends at WBIR-TV has the lead in team coverage...

Tennesse puts themselves on Probation

Bruce Pearl

((ht: knoxville news-sentinel))

We have an idea of what this means and we are quite sure it is trying to head off far more serious penalties by the NCAA.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported last night that the University of Tennessee has imposed a two-year probation on its athletic department. That, according to the paper, is a capper to the other penalties and punishments that have already been placed on the program.

You can read the story, and be as confused as we are RIGHT HERE

Here's what we think it means: Nothing. According to this, the school is of the opinion that no longer having Lane Kiffin and Bruce Pearl along with others on the athletic staff is a good start. They also point to the suspension handed down on Pearl as part of their proactive approach

All the probation essentially means is they will be in trouble if they do something again.

This is all to give the NCAA the message that they know they messed up and are handling it. It may or may not work. It certainly can't help. We certainly don't think this is as serious as the "alleged" violations at Ohio State, but it's already all but been decided tOSU is only getting off with a slap on the wrist. We think Tennessee is probably not going to get much more than that from the NCAA either.

The fine folks at WBIR-TV explain things on the TV side:

Could Heath Shuler take over Tennessee Athletic Director job?

Heath Shuler/R-N.C

((ht: washington post))

Hmmm. This is an interesting thought/idea. The Edge Radio's Tony Basillo (Knoxville station), brings up that Heath Shuler's name is being bandied about as a possible Athletic Director at the University of Tennesse and that Shuler has some interest.

You can read Basillo's blog RIGHT HERE (Scroll down once you open link)

The Washington Post thought the idea was interesting enough to follow up with an inquiry to Congressman Heath Shuler, of North Carolina's office. And the office didn't deny it, but said that Shuler is focused on the 2012 election.

Read the Washington Post story RIGHT HERE

While we don't hold Tennessee in high regard of late, we think that Shuler would be an inspired choice, if he were so interested. The school right now has all kinds of image problems in athletics and is facing an almost certain NCAA punishment for the dealings of now former basketball coach Bruce Pearl and former football coach Lane Kiffin.

Shuler would be someone who would go a long way towards restoring his alma mater's reputation. From his days as an All-american quarterback to the successes he's had in Congress, he's highly thought of in many communities.

The school, for their part, has been somewhat close lipped about the search for Mike Hamilton's replacement, though current Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich's name has been mentioned. We don't believe that he'd seriously take the job however.

We wish both sides of this courtship well. Tennessee, we'd be very impressed if you truly can pull this off. But considering the mis-steps of the past 10-years or so, we are very skeptical that you'll be able to do it.

While well thought of as a Congressman, Shuler didn't garner much respect in the NFL. Here's a story on the reason for that:

Vols Say NCAA Hearing Was "Fair..."

Whatever that means...

Members of the Tennessee Athletic Department spent more than 10 hours in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions answering claims on the COI's allegations of 12 major violations committed by the football and basketball programs.

Bruce Pearl spent five hours answering questions from the NCAA and his output was matched by current USC head football coach Lane Kiffin for another five.

“We are glad we had the opportunity to present our case." Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said in a written statement released after the hearing. "We feel it was a fair hearing, and we look forward to the resolution of this matter.”

Here's an interview our friends at VolunteerTV/WVLT had with Bruce Pearl in the hallway...


Tennessee should have its answer from the NCAA in the next few months or so...

The HQ is looking for a few words in particular that will also apply in Columbus...

"Show cause..."

Tennessee takes Cuonzo Martin....really

Cuonzo Martin/Courtesy: midwestsportsfans.com

They sure didn't waste any time. The University of Tennessee has found their replacement for Bruce Pearl. That replacement, now former Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin.

Martin coach Missouri State for 3 seasons and had a modestly successful record, including going 26-9 this past season. He was considered someone that might be a target for some of the larger schools, it was suprising, a bit, that he ends up in Knoxville.

More from GoVolsExtra.com RIGHT HERE

If the name sounds familiar, its because Martin made a pretty good name for himself as a star forward for Purdue in the early 90's. However in this case, he may have some work to do. The Vols are expected to take it on the chin from the NCAA sometime this summer for Pearl's indiscretions. Those indiscretions may cause Martin to be dealing with some form of probation or ban. That part remains to be seen.

He'll be introduced to the masses on Monday at a 2:30pm Press Conference.

Here's early coverage from Steve Phillips and our friends at WBIR-TV in Knoxville

BREAKING: Pearl To Be Fired At Tennessee

Bruce Pearl--

((HT: Jimmy Hyams, WNML-AM Knoxville))

This really surprises no one in particular, but Hyams is reporting that Pearl is gone. The non-committal response by AD Mike Hamilton about his jury, and the subsequent 30-point boat race by Michigan in Round Two of the March did him in- among other things...

According to Hyams, Pearl didn't want to sign his contract back in the fall, because the buyout- if he left- was between $5-7 million and Pearl had to pay the attorney fees as well. Hyams had that number at just under $200,000 in late February.

The buyout of the memorandum of understanding was the hangup over the weekend, and Chancellor Cheek made the call himself to send Pearl packing...

CBS' Gary Parrish is adding that the official announcement could come as early as this afternoon if the University is so inclined...

Here's coverage from our friends at WBIR-TV in Knoxville


And from WVLT-TV, the Sports Overtime friends caught up with Melvin Goins...


One of Pearl's top recruits, Kevin Ware, a shooting guard from Conyers, Georgia, ((just outside Atlanta)) has formally asked to be released from his letter of intent to play at UT.

The HQ thinks there will be more of that as we go...

DEVELOPING: Are Bruce Pearl's Days Number At Tennessee

Wednesday night Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton is not sure Bruce Pearl will be his coach next year.
In an interview with Knoxville radio station WNML Tuesday that aired Wednesday Hamilton was asked if Pearl would be back next season.

“We don’t know the answer today,’’ Hamilton responded.

“I think that we’ve done a lot of soul-searching about the direction of our program and we’ll continue to do that, and we’ll decide after we’re out of the NCAA tournament what the direction is we’ll go next,’’

The Tennessee men’s basketball program is alleged to have committed 10 violations, including a charge of unethical conduct levied against Pearl that involved a June 14, 2010 interview with NCAA investigators about a picture of him taken with a recruit on Sept. 20, 2008. One in which Pearl wasn't exactly forthcoming.

One can conclude that Tennessee better win the NCAA Championship to save Pearl's job. When it looks as if you have lost you boss, in this case your athletic director, your days seemed to be numbered.

This might be a move as well for Mike Hamilton to save his own backside. The last few years have been hell for the Tennessee A.D. What with the whole Lane Kiffin disaster and now this.

You might want to get rid of that ugly orange blazer coach Pearl.

DEVELOPING: Allegations Hit Knoxville...

There's only one allegation against the University itself...

The "failure to monitor" was found for basketball...
Nothing really new was found against the basketball program...
Bruce Pearl got the unethical charge we anticipated and also added a "bumping" secondary violation with contact with a junior.

A lot of stuff in the report was blacked out...
Shocking...

Here's coverage from our friends at WBIR-TV
Steve Phillips is front and center...


Young Kiffin had a prepared statement released...
"We have received the notice of allegations. On the advice of my legal counsel, we cannot comment other than to say we look forward to working through the process with the NCAA," Kiffin said.

Bob Ley, Pat Forde, and Andy Katz discuss on ESPN's "Outside The Lines..."

University of Tennessee: Notice of Allegations expected soon

Bruce Pearl/Courtesy: midwestsportsfans.com

It looks like the University of Tennessee will be "Officially" notified sometime this week that the NCAA enforcement staff will be spelling out their investigation to the school. They'll have 90 days to respond.

The Vols have had a run of trouble over the past couple of years, from the brief tenure of Lane Kiffin to the recent troubles of basketball coach Bruce Pearl. The one new allegation we weren't aware of; the baseball program is being investigated too.

More from the conveniently named "GoVolsExtra" RIGHT HERE

The school is definitely going to get in trouble. However the severity of the punishment, probably won't be known until sometime this summer. On their side, the school has been somewhat proactive with basketball coach Bruce Pearl, terminating his contract and making him work under a Letter of Appointment.

However, they have no control over the actions of Kiffin or the baseball team. It does however, seem like the basketball program is facing the brunt of the charges and probably should. The violations, as they are outlined, will get the team...and the school in trouble, we just don't know how much.....yet.

Does The Hammer Fall On Vols...???

((HT: ESPN/Katz))

We all know that head hoops coach Bruce Pearl has been in deep doo-doo since he apparently misled NCAA investigators during their quest for knowledge and information last year.

He's been working with out a contract and was given a substantial and involuntary pay decrease in Knoxville. Now, he's only part of the story where the folks in Indianapolis are notifying the school of allegations in the basketball, football, and baseball programs very soon.

Basketball... the HQ understands...
Football... the HQ understands...
But baseball...??? Really...???

It looks like Pearl may be given an "unethical conduct" charge by the NCAA- and that's a big no-no. And since more than one program is under investigation, you could hear that phrase that pays: "lack of institutional control."

The hearing is set for mid-June...

More when we know more...

DEVELOPING: Pearl Suspended For 8 SEC Games

((HT: WBIR-TV Knoxville/GoVolsXtra, Griffith))

University of Tennessee Mens' Basketball Head Coach Bruce Pearl is suspended for the first eight games of the 2011 Southeastern Conference season.

In a press release from the SEC, the violations that led to the suspension were discovered during the recent investigation by the NCAA into his basketball program. The results were reported to the SEC by the institution.

"The suspension from coaching duties has been imposed after a careful review of the facts established during the NCAA's investigation and reported to the SEC office," said Slive. "I am extremely disappointed in the nature of the violations involving Coach Pearl and the Tennessee men's basketball program. The penalty applied to this circumstance is significant, which is consistent with the directive approved by the SEC membership in 2010 granting the Commissioner authority to act in such cases."

Pearl is suspended from all team activities on the dates of the following games:

Jan. 8, 2011 Tennessee at Arkansas
Jan. 11, 2011 Florida at Tennessee
Jan. 15, 2011 Vanderbilt at Tennessee
Jan. 18, 2011 Tennessee at Georgia
Jan. 26, 2011 LSU at Tennessee
Jan. 29, 2011 Tennessee at Ole Miss
Feb. 3, 2011 Tennessee at Auburn
Feb. 5, 2011 Alabama at Tennessee

"Team activities" means practices, meetings, pre- and post-game activities and the games.

Associate head coach Tony Jones will take over while Pearl is sitting on the sidelines, and his first game back is February 8th against Kentucky.

Pearl is still working without a contract...

Here's your reminder from Steve Phillips when that went down...

DEVELOPING: Pearl Working Without A Contract

((HT: WBIR-TV Knoxville))

A few interesting developments out of Knoxville...

Head Hoops Coach Bruce Pearl is working without a contract, now just a "letter of arrangement." His original contract was dee-solved at the time it was disclosed he lied to the NCAA during their investigation of the Vols program.

That would be back in September...

Now, he can be bumped out at any time for cause... given proper notice...

The HQ thinks Pearl is done... just not right yet...
It'll be on the NCAA's timetable... and we know if they want to work quickly, they will. If they don't, they won't...

Here's coverage straight from the heart at WBIR-TV...
Steve Phillips sits at the adult table for this one along with Legal Analyst Don Bosch... discussing the "employee at will" characterization...

DEVELOPING: Busy Day In Knoxville- Pearl Picture May Be Key Evidence, Rogers Charges Dropped

((HT: Govolsxtra.com/Griffith))

So, the NCAA investigation into Vols head men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl has come down to this...

Ohio State freshman Aaron Craft, who was considering Tennessee at the time of the alleged picture, may be in a picture taken at Pearl's house during an unofficial visit two years ago.

During a weekend visit, now-Kansas freshman Josh Selby and now-Vols freshman Jordan McRae are seen in a photo with Craft. When first asked if Pearl and his assistants recognized the location, they said they did not. When asked again almost two months later, they did come clean and say it was at Pearl's house.

Another issue is the idea of providing refreshments to juniors during unofficial visits. It's verboten on every level known to man...

When Griffith contacted Craft by text, the response was that every question was to go through the TOSU compliance department.

In other Vols news, the bar brawl charges against WR Da'Rick Rogers have been dropped. The story from our friends at WATE-TV in Knoxville is here... and the VolunteerTV version is here...

Anthony Welsch was indoors for the WBIR-TV10 version...

DEVELOPING: Bruce Pearl Is In Deep Doo-Doo...

((HT: GoVolsXtra/Griffith))

The letter of inquiry came in from the NCAA today, and everyone in Knoxville gets to stare at men's hoops coach Bruce Pearl for a change...

Head coach Bruce Pearl loses $1.5 million in salary over the next five years and the $500,000 retention bonus he was supposed to get next November will be deferred until June 2015 as part of UT's self-imposed penalties that were announced today.

"I provided incorrect and misleading information to the NCAA," Pearl said. "I have no tolerable answer for why I didn't tell the truth. ... I let my family down, I let the university down, I let our fans down and I let my players down.

"I have a responsibility to lead by example, and I should expect more from myself and so should you."

Here's the presser in its entirety, thanks to our friends at WBIR-TV...
Vol fans... watch at your own peril...


The HQ was particularly fond of the fire alarm being pulled during Pearl's response... but we still think the program still has a lot of 'splaining to do...

NCAA has issues with Tennessee Basketball to go along with Football

Hoops Coach Bruce Pearl/Courtesy: mkrob.com

The folks in Knoxville we would say are shaking their collective heads right now, but knowing them, we suspect they are thinking there is a conspiracy theory afoot.

According to the Knoxville News-Sentinel and other outlets, the NCAA has been investigating coach Bruce Pearl and the Basketball team.

That is on top of the specter of a potential letter of inquiry about the football team, most of those issues dating back to our pal Kiffikins. No doubt, you've also read here and in other places about the legal issues that several players have had. But we digress.

More on the Basketball issues from the GoVolsExtra.com RIGHT HERE

If these investigations bear fruit, which they often do, it doesn't speak too well about a lot of things. One, the Athletic Director, Mike Hamilton should be looking over his shoulder. Two, the coaches, for both squads, while not necessarily in job trouble, may have some serious hurdles to overcome.

Perhaps the biggest issue will be perception. Knoxville, perhaps more than any other city in the country pretty much lives and dies with the schools athletic teams. We are quite sure it will be considered an attack by the people of Knoxville, in fact we might say, they'd consider it war. To have one...or two of their more popular sports on probation or in trouble would, well, it would do some serious PR damage in a town where anything UT is considered god-like.

Here is some kinda crappy video of coach Bruce Pearl attempting to rap...they should be punished just for allowing this to happen. Thanks YouTube:

Ex-Vols Players Cases Resolved In Knoxville Court

((HT: WVLT-TV))

The criminal court cases for three UT basketball players and former player Tyler Smith stemming from a January 1st arrest, have been resolved. Smith, Melvin Goins, Brian Williams, and Cameron Tatum all appeared in court today.

Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and altering a firearm
identification. He received judicial diversion and two sentences of 11 months and 29 days of probation that will run concurrently.

All charges against Melvin Goins were dismissed. he will pay court costs. Williams pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and received eleven months and 29 days of probation. Tatum pleaded guilty to speeding. A possession of a firearm charge was dropped.

Smith was removed from the team back in January, Goins and Tatum were reinstated in late January and Williams was reinstated last week.

More when we know more...

Tyler Smith no longer a Vol

Tyler Smith, one of four Tennessee basketball players stopped by police last week, was dismissed from the Volunteer Basketball team earlier today. While Coach Bruce Pearl felt he had enough information to dismiss Smith, he has yet to decide the fate of the other four.

Smith, along with the others were found last weekend possessing 2 semi-automatic 9mm handguns with extra clips, marijuana and an open container of alcohol. They were speeding at 11:30am on a Sunday morning.

The story from govolsextra.com RIGHT HERE

((Tyler Smith made a BIG Mistake//Courtesy: Adam Brimer/Knoxville News-Sentinel))

The other players are still on an indefinite suspension pending the outcome of an Athletic Department investigation. In Smith's case, he came back this season after deciding to not enter the NBA draft and had hoped to improve his draft stock. Obviously, that may now be a big issue for him.

To his credit, he did apologize and seems to realize that he did something incredibly stupid. He mentioned that he is 12 classes short of getting his degree. We hope that somehow, someway, he finds the time to do that.

Tennessee Basketball is as bad as Football....More Criminal Acts...2 different teams

***BREAKING NEWS***

Let me be one of many who are going to ask this question. What kind of "Athletes" is the University of Tennessee recruiting. We've read on and on about the criminal problems that the football team has had. Now comes word of 4 Basketball players being arrested.

To be specific. 4 Players were arrested on Drug and Weapons charges earlier today in Knoxville. Among those arrested, star player Tyler Smith and three others: Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins and Brian Williams.

((Tyler Smith Photo//Courtesy: Amy Smotherman Burgess/GoVolsExtra.com))

Here is more from govolsextra.com RIGHT HERE

The charges range from Felony and misdemeanors to just straight misdemeanors. The felony comes into play because when Knoxville police pulled over the car carrying the 4 athletes...which by the way apparently smelled of...you guessed it...Marijuana, they found 2 handguns, along with a bag of the Juana and an open alcohol container.

Of course Coach Bruce Pearl is vowing to investigate and take action based on what he finds. This incident comes on the heels of 3 Football players being arrested and expelled from not only the team, but the school after attempting to rob another student at a convenience store.

Should there be some questions by the UT Athletic Department? Of course there should. What kind of "Athletes" are being recruited there. Will there be any questions of the "Coaches" and people who "Screen" the recruits? Doubtful. Is the school getting a "Rep" for being "An Outlaw" school? An interesting question and one that you could argue is true. It's long been known that UT will accept just about anyone so long as they are a good athlete and help the Vols win. They have a reputation as a "Win at any cost" school". Maybe somebody should take a look and reassess that notion. Winning, sure, it's fun and helps you be successful, but if you are playing by your own rules...no, something needs to be done, if not by the school then maybe the NCAA needs to take a look at things.

Bruce Pearl Said What?

By now everyone in the SEC has become use to Bruce Pearl. He's a loose, off the cuff, spontaneous kind of guy who to this point hasn't flat out said anything just plain stupid...until now. Apparently while speaking at a fundraiser Thursday morning he made a joke about the "Different Cultures" of his players. Here's the quote((Courtesy VolsExtra)): "I've got a tough job. I've got to put these guys from different worlds together, right? I've got guys from Chicago, Detroit ... I'm talking about the 'hood! And I've got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood.''

((Bruce Pearl Says he's sorry//Courtesy: WVLT-TV))

Here is the rest of the story from VolsExtra.com HERE.

More from the folks at WVLT-TV HERE.

If you read about and listen to what he said; Pearl at least realized immediately that he should not have said it and has been now apologizing for it since. One of the things that he always needs to remember is that in Knoxville anyone associated with UT athletics is going to have a camera wherever they are, no matter what. For those who have never been to Knoxville, it is pretty much the one and only thing that they...well at least the Media there...live for. They are treated like Hollywood celebrities and they live and die with what ever happens to their beloved Vols. This isn't that big a to do. It was dumb, sure, but not intentional...and Coach Pearl realizes it.

Here is the original speech...Courtesy: WVLT-TV..

And the apology after his speech from WVLT-TV HERE