Rumor alert: IU wants to talk to Bruce Pearl

by Alex Bozich in Coaching search | March 23rd, 2008

I’m usually not big on rumors, after all, anyone can make something up and hope it comes true, but during the impending coaching search, we’re sure to hear a little bit of this and a little bit of that. So to preface this, it’s a rumor. But we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t pass it along.

The word out of the East Region in Birmingham, Alabama is that Indiana has asked Tennessee for permission to speak to coach Bruce Pearl. Reportedly, a Tennessee coach said Pearl hasn’t said a word to his staff.

With that said, Pearl was on Real Sports on HBO with Bryant Gumbel recently and off camera, he said that he knew Indiana would come calling and that he had no interest in the job.

So I’m not really sure to make of this. One would think if IU did make the call, Pearl would surely listen to their pitch after the season. Worst case scenario, he’ll get a raise from good ol’ Rocky Top. I’m sure this will make PostmanE happy, but am I the only one who thinks photos like these are a cause for concern when discussing Pearl’s candidacy? It’s one thing to get a photo with your favorite coach, but these just strike me as a bit over the top. Also, the headbands would have to go.

Tags: Bruce Pearl

husnain

"They have great topics like this one on www.energytalkradio.com and donate 30% to charity! Check them out."

Raymond219

I think the bottomline here is that Indiana's status as one of the premier programs in college basketball is sitting on a fine line.

The Davis years and the whole bungled Sampson era have left us hanging in a delicate balance. As far as the choice, I am not the most qualified person to make the call. However, I can say without a doubt that we need a coach who can come in and win games NOW and win CLEAN. Sampson had us back on the upswing but his phone did a lot of damage.

We are in real danger of becoming just another team if we don't start making runs in the tournament real soon.

Ryan_Btown

I agree with the whole "status as a premier program" comment. I feel that if we go much longer with this madness of the last 10 years and still consider ourselves a premier program, we're going to be reaffirming outsiders assertions that we're living in the past. We need someone who can elevate us NOW.

Ryan_Btown

No pressure, though, to whomever that may be :).

BayAreaHoosier

anybody remember Larry Eustachy?

hoosier07

i would love to see the crimson jacket roaming our sideline...

jamesESQ

As for the photo, yes, how dare our new coach give any indication of being a heterosexual male...If we're lucky enough to have a coach like Pearl even consider our job, let's not get all self-righteously hypocritical and nit-pick over meaningless photos. His propensity to hug women who hug him back clearly didn't affect his ability to make Tennessee a powerhouse. Sorry if I sound contentious, I'm still fuming over Friday night's disgrace.

tberry

As long as he runs a clean program and wins I am for pearl.

My assumption is that Pearl is not married. If my assumption is correct then I don't see anything wrong with the picture. It is sure better than if he were embracing a cute guy.

Like it or not, one thing IU needs at this point is PR. In many ways Pearls hype is really no different than Hep's football hype. Hype, if it can be substantiated, sells the program to the fans and to the players and recruits.

Kelin Blab

Pearl gets hired and Illinois becomes our 2nd biggest rival......

Our Bruce is Bet ter...clap clap clap clap clap

Kelin Blab

I have not been an advocate of pearl but I would not be upset.....Pat Summitt is the big dogette at UT, followed by UT football, then...oh the mens team. Bruce Pearl comes to IU....Devin Ebanks comes to IU, EJ stays at IU and gets to play in a more open system, and EVERYONE else stays.....deandre start running bro...there is no walking it up the court with Brucey.....

OK rumor #1 I like it.....Blue Ribbon Committee gets the first point of the day....Now dont' have Bruce Pearl rumor then have a Dan Dakich refuses to leave rumor and threatens to take EJ and Jamarcus with him....

PS...I am ok with headbands, tats, and WINS!

tacojohn

EJ is not staying. If EJ stays, I'm going to be very disappointed in him. It would be horrifically stupid for him to stay. Go ask Roy Hibbert what it's like to stay in school that extra year, when he slips out of the lottery.

TomCoverdaleIUHero

I'm not sure when this was said or when the interview was or anything but I was doing some research on Bruce Pearl, in an ESPN Radio interview he said that Indiana was his dream job, and watchin the interview on real sports i dont think he ever said he wasnt interested i think he said he was happy where he was at and he of course would listen if they called they being Indiana.......i have a hard time believeing this flamboyant of a person would not want to go into the situation at IU and the make the best of it and cement his legacy and it would keep the same intensity in the Illinois rivalry

Alex

The IU comments were made off camera, but they were reported afterwards.

JamesHardy

NOW...if those pic were of Erin Andrews and BP...HELL YEAH!!! Hire the guy!!! BUT ONLY if she (Erin A.) comes with!

BTOWN40

that's my boy, your finally seeing it my way. Erin Andrews baby!!!!

JamesHardy

After watching Tennessee struggle with a less talented, smaller, and less athletic team in Butler today, I don't want Pearl. His offense is just a fast paced game of "lets see who can jack up the quickest shot"

southsidehitmen

I've gone back and forth on Pearl.

Even looking at those pictures...my first instict was "Wow, what a cool guy" then immediately followed by the thought of, "Oh crap, more easily offended people like Myles Brand may have some questions about them."

But good lord, if all women that go to Tennessee look that good money might not be the issue in landing Pearl.

Casey

What makes you think that the boosters wont dish the bank out to finally land a good coach?

BrianK

Yeah and Tennessee needs to dish out more money to get their pride and joy football team back together.

Ryan_Btown

Seems like all you hear about is how we're having trouble raising money in athletics. We already generate the 4th most money from private donors in the Big 10. I know a lot of people want to see us do well, but I also know they want to finish the football project, baseball and softball facilities, the basketball practice facility and the new arena.

On the flip side, with a coach like Bruce Pearl, if you can find someone to pay him, you can rest assured that he will take care of getting additional financing for the rest of those projects.

tacojohn

We have excellent athletic giving. I think the private buyout was crossing a line in the sand. Alumni with the means to make noise have decided they aren't going to sit on the sidelines anymore. If someone will pay $500K for Sampson to go away, what's to think they or someone else won't pay at least that much to have a coach they like.

Ryan_Btown

Can we afford 3.5 mil? I don't think so personally. He already makes 2.75 mil.

Alex

http://www.rockytoptalk.com/story/2008/2/29/957...

This is recent from a pretty reliable UT blog. Says Pearl's base is 1.1 mil with a max income of 1.373 mil.

Ryan_Btown

That's my bad. I'm not sure where I got that. I think I was thinking that because I read on one of their blogs recently that he is expected to get a huge pay raise at the end of this season...most likely due to someone like Indiana coming and throwing money at him. Once again, we'll succeed in getting someone a pay raise, but not by coming to coach our team!

Eamonn

Also, the headbands would have to go.

Ah, man, come on now. That's like saying "Oh, and no tattoos. Oh, and we're all wearing Converse Chuck Taylors." Silly.

Make whatever argument you want about Pearl's ability or whatnot, but if his biggest negatives are three photos on the internet and the fact that he lets his players express themselves, my support is only going to get stronger.

BrianK

If you want our players wearing headbands I want you to picture Hill From Arkansas lmao. I hate headbands. I don't think their should be a rule against it or anything just my personal thought.

PostmanR

Respek.

tacojohn

I was positive the pictures links would be sweat, orange jackets, and him with his body painted. Not like something that might (shouldn't be, but might) be a real issue.

Rumor alert: IU wants to talk to Bruce Pearl

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