At a Sept. 10, 2010, press conference in which he admitted to lying to NCAA investigators about possible rules violations by the Tennessee basketball program, a teary-eyed Bruce Pearl said:
“I hold the University of Tennessee, its students, faculty, staff and our fans in the highest regard and the highest esteem.
“I’ve made some serious mistakes and for that I’m truly sorry. I’ve learned some invaluable lessons
“I’ve put my heart and soul into this program, and I will not let you down again.”
Today the NCAA released its official notice of allegations to the University of Tennessee and the public.
Buried in the laundry list of alleged violations perpetrated by Pearl and his staff, the NCAA noted the following:
It is alleged that on or about September 14, 2010, head men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl and associate men’s head basketball coach Tony Jones made an in-person, off-campus contact with prospective student-athlete Jordan Adams (Lawrenceville, Georgia) during Adams’ junior year in high school.
NCAA Bylaw 13.1.1.1 states: “Off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or his or her relatives or legal guardians) before July 1 following the completion of his or her junior year in high school.”
Four days after Pearl apologized for lying to NCAA investigators while tearfully telling Tennessee fans,”I will not let you down again,” he committed what is a clear NCAA violation.
There seems to be a pattern developing here.
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5:33 pm on February 23rd, 2011
Every school in a major conference has problems. It’s time someone blew up the NCAA and started all over.
5:41 pm on February 23rd, 2011
The self-righteous Bruce Pearl who made every effort to bring down the University of Illinois should be held to the very high standards he expects everyone else to be held to. Time for Pearl and the University of Tennessee to get a very long NCAA-induced vacation.
It’s obvious this is an institution out of control.
5:48 pm on February 23rd, 2011
Dean I couldn’t agree more. So many people don’t know about Pearl’s history with the Illinois situations. Pearl is a solid coach and has turned around two programs but the guy has some serious issues.
6:02 pm on February 23rd, 2011
It’s always easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.
But the guy is still a POS
7:50 pm on February 23rd, 2011
as a UT fan, I think Pearl has to be fired. If Hamilton won’t fire him, the president needs to fire them both.
7:59 pm on February 23rd, 2011
It’s officially time for Tennessee to drop Pearl and move on. It’s a shame because Pearl is a good coach, and a likeable guy (at least from the outside looking in).
8:29 pm on February 23rd, 2011
@Dro, that’s the problem. People see the ESPN coverage (because of his religion, he gets plenty of free run on the 4 letter) and think he’s a swell guy - goes to the womens’ games and makes fun of himself. But actions speak louder than words - he obviously is ‘win at all costs’ and has no regard for the rules - even after getting caught
9:22 pm on February 23rd, 2011
“Off-campus recruiting contacts shall not be made with an individual (or his or her relatives or legal guardians) before July 1 following the completion of his or her junior year in high school.”
Wow. Really? That’s the big gotcha? Why care?
It’s really stretching to call that “cheats” also. But, whatever it takes to put someone on the rack, eh media? You didn’t finish the job yet in destroying the guy.
“as a UT fan, I think Pearl has to be fired. If Hamilton won’t fire him, the president needs to fire them both.”
Hamilton should have been fired after the Kiffin mess. How he still has a job at UT is the story that should be investigated.
10:07 pm on February 23rd, 2011
The reason Hamilton still has a job is because the athletic department is one of the few in the country to have made money.
Pearl is the other reason Hamilton still has a job but that reason has now been erased.
Hamilton will probably go down with Pearl.
4:12 am on February 24th, 2011
How Bruce Pearlman still has a job is beyond me. The guy has numerous pictures of him on the internet hanging off sorority girls like he’s a frat boy.
9:52 am on February 24th, 2011
Bruce Pearl is just a symptom. Mike Hamilton is the disease.
Mike Hamilton should have been fired a long time ago (probably starting with firing Fulmer). He singlehandedly destroyed whatever shred of credibility the entire UT sports programme had.
11:25 am on February 24th, 2011
Pearl is the poster child for “coaches run wild”. He not only has past issues but the case against him is extremely strong. If the NCAA doesn’t bring the hammer down on him then the NCAA is a total sham.
12:49 pm on February 24th, 2011
Good thing for Tennessee that the women’s program is completely seperated from the men’s program.
1:27 pm on February 24th, 2011
Pearl is a serial cheater. He was accused of offering illegal inducements to Chicago players while an assistant at Iowa and was called a “serial liar” by other Big Ten coaches.
Pearl is finally getting his for what many have known for a long long time, he is a terrible filthy person who was tried to ruin the lives of anyone in his way.
8:09 pm on February 24th, 2011
Pearl is a serial liar/cheater for sure. Hamilton doesn’t have the nads to fire him. It’s time for the chancellor to step in and fix the matter in order to restore the integrity of the UT Men’s Basketball Program. If he doesn’t, Pearl will have a bunch of renegades wearing the orange and white.
12:26 pm on February 25th, 2011
This guy is a douche bag. But as long as he wins, he can get away with anything, and I doubt very much whether he will ever be fired.
11:19 pm on February 25th, 2011
There are probably a few good people in that organization that are going to lose their jobs because Bruce Pearl is pond scum. Too bad.
8:41 pm on February 26th, 2011
This is hilarious!! OK, so Bruce Pearl violated an NCAA rule…. yet Nick Saban has been doing this for years and there’s basically no outrage. Nick Saban has been “bumping into” players during no-contact periods basically since his first few weeks as the bama coach. A couple of years ago he “bumped into” a player (a Jr.) in Memphis. Last year he “bumped into” Spencer Region (a Jr) at Cullman High. Now this year Saban “bumps into” Barry Sanders Jr (another JUNIOR). Oh, and let’s not forget, bama is STILL on probation until 2012 as a result of the textbook scandal. So hilarious that people want to say Bruce Pearl should be fired… yet Nick Freaking Saban commits the SAME violation year after year after year (while his school is on probation!) and there is nothing said???? What I wouldn’t give for equitable reporting of the violations ALL SEC coaches!!!
1:56 pm on March 6th, 2011
Frosty… why such a hater?
11:50 pm on March 18th, 2011
Personally I think many of the NCAA rules do not make sense. While I am for strict rules on admissions standards, grades, etc. and genuine academic regulations, the NCAA has some ridiculous rules especially as many high school students and their families begin visiting colleges during the student’s sophomore year, why is the Junior year completion requirement set anyway? It treats the student athlete differently than other students, something the NCAA maintains that is inappropriate. Seems a bit hypocritical!
I like Pearl A LOT. He has brought back the Pride in men’s basketball that UT has not had in many, many years. I firmly believe he “gets” and understands his mistakes, AND feel the unfortunate AD comments demoralized the team today and caused them to falter big time. How tragic for all Volunteer fans and especially the students!