The Friday Chris Sanders' Edition

Apologies readers and blog followers for my absence. The last week and a half as been extremely hectic with our annual auction and gala, small group lunches with the senior class, and getting ready to move. With all that going on I haven't really been able to find time to blog. That being said with I couldn't let two Fridays go by with out a post so here we are.

I guess the 1st thing that I want to discuss is Tennessee basketball and the firing of Bruce Pearl. Unfortunately it was something that had to be done. The University was willing to stick by CBP (Coach Bruce Pearl) after the BBQ incident and excessive calls to recruits. Pearl had a tearful apology and it seemed that while the program may get hit with NCAA violations the University was willing to weather the storm and keep Pearl around. A few months after the press conference it was reported that Pearl committed another minor NCAA infraction when he conversed with a recruit during a silent period, strike two. The third and final strike against Pearl happened this month when he, or someone under him, gave too many tickets to current player's families. The last two violations are considered minor but those along with his previous transgressions didn't give the athletic department much choice. Despite all he did positive for the program you can't lie to the NCAA, apologize for it, and a few months later commit two more violations.

That being said, I still love CBP and wish him nothing but the best of luck going forward. He turned a program that was nothing into a top 25 contender year in and year out. Six years at Tennessee and he made the NCAA tourney 6 times. Brought to the Vols to two Sweet 16's and their 1st and only Elite Eight. Knocked off #1 Florida, #1 Memphis, and #1 Kansas. His success allowed the university to build the Pratt Pavilion, Tennessee's basketball practice facility, as well as totally renovating the interior of Thompson-Boiling Arena. The arena never used to sell out and now their is a waiting list for basketball season tickets. Coach Pearl really embraced Tennessee and it's traditions and in turn became part of the University. His trademark orange suspenders were known around the SEC. He wore the orange blazer to honor legendary coach Ray Mears. He brought back the Ernie and Bernie show back to Knoxville after numerous years of absence. Everyone remembers Pearl and a few players painting their chests and standing on the baseline of a nationally televised Lady Vols game. He was the type of coach that you loved if he was yours and hated if he wasn't.

With the turmoil that the Tennessee Athletic program has undergone the past few years with the firing of Fulmer and the Lane Kiffin saga Pearl became the face of the program. When football was in the dumps the success of the basketball team gave Tennessee fans something to be proud of. He did all these good things for the program, for the university, for the Knoxville, and for the state of Tennessee. Unfortunately a few wrong decisions and errors of judgement brought his reign as coach on Rocky Top to a close. While it was a tough and painful decision I think it was the right one. No one knows what the future of the Tennessee basketball program holds but certainly it's a brighter one than when Pearl got here.

One quick story personally. I remember my freshman year of college going to a basketball game against Mississippi State who was ranked in the top #25 at the time. Buzz Peterson, Michael Jordan's college rommate, was the head coach at the time. I got to the time maybe 5mins before tip off and was able to sit on the baseline 2nd row. At the end of that season Peterson got fired and the University hired Pearl. The very next season against Florida students camped out for hours just to get in the arena. In less than a year Tennessee goes from a doormat to a contender in the SEC mainly due to one man.

Thanks Coach.