As a blogger at heart, I cannot help but write about things that I love -- especially when it relates to sports.  My sports blog -- Gate 21.net -- primarily focuses on the exploits of the Tennessee Volunteers and the SEC, but as a resident of the Triangle for over a decade now, I do love the Canes as well.  Thus, I have a little something I posted over on my humble little site about the Canes and why Hockey is something that all Southerners should give a look.

Just thought I'd cross-post it over here to join in the conversation, stop on by my joint if you feel like it and feel free to leave any comments or complaints that strike your fancy:

• What the Puck?!  Carolina Beats the Bruins!  |  Gate 21

I'm a new face here at Canes Country, and hopefully, I am not breaking any rules by cross-posting this here.  If so, just let me know.  Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa...

Otherwise, all I can say is Go Canes!

Everyone, this is lawvol from Gate21.net, and I have a question for you.  I just did an article on Tennessee's big rivalries, in which I concluded that the Tide is by far the most significant rivalry, and said some really nice things about you all.  Anyway, my question is this:

How significant is Tennessee to Alabama as a rival?

I'd really like to know what you all think.

You can also leave any nasty-grams over on my site and the article: The State of Hate: Football Rivalries at Tennessee.

Ya'll be good now, and feel free to drop by and let me know your thoughts (or you can leave them here)...

We all like to talk sports, and to have a good time, but this weekend is a special one.  To that end, I just want to salute all of our fallen heroes for all that they have given to make this country great.  I've posted a little tribute over at Gate 21, which I'd like to invite everyone to view.

Remembrance...

To any of you here on RTT who are veterans, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt thanks...

Apparently a report will be released tomorrow regarding the Sunsphere's structural integrity.

Sunsphere to be Demolished...

Bad news...(snicker)

It's time for a battle ... it's time for a reckoning ... and it's time for Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals to pay for their actions, and Bruce Pearl is the ready hold them accountable!



Go get 'em!

My take on Bruce Pearl's redefining the way we as fans assess and judge the BasketVols: Gate 21: Pearl's Absolute

Complaints are welcome...

By the way, I noticed some of the Indiana faithful cited to RTT in their discussion of why they agree that Bruce Pearl is the best coach in country. Inside the Hall: Rumors. Scroll down to the comments and you'll see what I mean.

Just a little something to get folks fired up at Bruce and the Barbarians 30th Win...

Well, as Aerobab pointed out, with the end of the week comes the end of the reign of we band or brothers, we happy few, who have done everything in our power to ruin the reputation of Joel’s blog. Thanks to Joel for inviting us, and to all the other guest posters for not deleting my profile from the site. Thanks to Tracey Trumbull of the Knoxville News Sentinel for being so very understanding when yours truly posted an unlicensed image. Most of all, however, thanks to all of you who read all of the stuff we posted, hopefully it wasn’t too bad.

In the end, I hope that a few of you will stop on by and say hello back in my neck of the woods, in the meantime, I’m sure I’ll be around here as well.

If you feel like it, fill out the poll below this message to let the big man, (a/k/a Joel) know what you thought of our ramblings.

Thanks for putting up with us...

-- Go Figure ...

So how much is winning worth?

During fiscal year 2006, the University of Tennessee pays the coaching staffs a lot of money -- presumably lumped into the $ 20,878,904 it spent on "operations." Of that amount, head football coach Phil Fulmer, Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt and BasketVols head coach Bruce Pearl take home the following:

• PDF Files: Coach Fulmer’s Contract and Coach Pearl’s Contract

Depending on your criteria (i.e. whether you include optional bonuses, one-time bonuses, etc.) Fulmer’s salary ranks 4th among SEC football coaches (behind 1. Saban, 2. Meyer and 3. Tubberville), and 10th nationally. Pat Summitt, on the other hand is the highest paid women’s basketball coach in the country, and in fact the 13th highest paid basketball coach in college basketball men or women’s. Bruce Pearl currently ranks around 14th in terms of salary among basketball coaches across the country who appeared in the NCAA tournament.

In fairness, many would say -- without any disrespect to Pearl’s successes as skipper of the BasketVols -- that (unless you are Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino) Pearl is a relative newcomer to the ranks of major Division I college coaches. Until three years ago, Pearl was coach at "directional" Wisconsin-Milwaukee (I wonder if Laverne or Shirley went to school there?).

Here’s a little comparison of how other schools around the country value their head basketball coaches:

* Kelvin Sampson was recently fired by Indiana for cheating with reckless abandon. Now, in return for his agreeing not to coach the team (and not sue the university) he will be paid $750,000. (Nice deal...)

Thus, at present, Tennessee does a pretty good job of valuing Bruce Pearl relative to other schools around the country. Still, in the modern era, coaches are judged by the "what have you done for me lately?" standard. You need only look at any season since 1999 for Phillip Fulmer to see that this is true. Since about 3 days after Tennessee won the 1998-99 football national championship, there have always been a faction of fans that have been screaming for Fulmer to go because he doesn’t win enough. Thus, in the interest of equality, it only seems fair that coaches -- at least to some extent -- should be allowed to judge their employers by the same benchmark. To Pearl’s credit, I’m not aware of any efforts on his part to garner an increase in pay. Be that as it may, it is hard to say that he hasn’t done pretty much everything possible to earn a raise.

So, in purely monetary terms, how much is Bruce Almighty worth?

I hate to go down this road, but the question must be asked -- should Pearl be paid more than Pat Summitt? The reason this is such a ... delicate ... subject is that it necessarily pits the Lady Vols against the BasketVols. For years, the Lady Vols have held an absolute monopoly on basketball success in the Volunteer City, but that has changed. By no means do I mean to suggest that the recent successes of Bruce and the Barbarians somehow render obsolete the legendary record of the Lady Vols. UT, however, finds itself in an unusual predicament. I have understood that the official policy at Tennessee is that Summitt should always make more than the men’s basketball coach (and if it isn’t a "policy" it is a functional reality). Perhaps with the exception of Rutgers, where C. Vivian Stringer is paid the same amount as the head football coach, I am not aware of any other school where that is the case.

I understand that this "rule" is intended to make up for all of the years that Tennessee undervalued Summitt by paying her next to nothing as she built a dynasty which will never be matched. When she started as coach of the Lady Vols she made a whopping $8,900 a year, hardly a sign of value. I also, as a practical matter, could care less whether Summitt makes more, so long as that doesn't prevent Tennessee from doing whatever it takes to keep Pearl in orange. I have no problem with Summitt getting a raise to stay ahead of Pearl, I just hope the "dual" nature of such raises doesn't create an issue.

All of that said, Tennessee currently pays Bruce Pearl about $91,666 a month. That is more than most people make in a year. I’m not here to debate whether coaches should be paid such huge amounts of money -- that is a different topic for a different day. Still, given all of the successes that Pearl has had with the BasketVols, it is only reasonable that he should deserve some sort of recognition for his good work. Thus the question is: what will it take to keep Pearl on the sidelines at Tennessee? I -- quite obviously -- have no answers for this. Hopefully, however, Mike Hamilton has a good grip on what it will take.

I my opinion, Tennessee needs to do what ever it takes to keep Pearl, and after this season, I imagine the cost of doing that will go up. Hopefully, Tennessee will show up at the table with whatever it takes, and will make sure Pearl realizes just how valuable he is -- to his team, to the BasketVols, to the university, and to the fans.

-- Go Figure ...

* Lawvol appears as guest on Rocky Top Talk due to Joel’s complete lack of judgment in choosing people to stand in for him while he is out of town. In addition to spending his time collecting photoshopped (a/k/a "farked") photos, embarrassing his family, and contemplating his navel, Lawvol also runs Gate 21.net

Well, that was fun...

So much for being No. 1 in the country, but it is what it is. That is why they play the games.

The refs didn’t exactly help Tennessee very much, but then again, the Vols only shot in the 30% range from the floor.

Still, I am convinced that there was a conspiracy and that Vandy used an illegal weapon to throw off the BasketVols shooting -- especially in the first-half when Tennessee was shooting in front of Vandy’s bench in that screwy gym that Vandy plays in. I am convinced that Vandy used the lights to put a glare in the eyes of the BasketVols. I am pretty sure I know how they reflected it too...

(Click to enlarge)

Hmmm... coincidence? I think not!

Either way, it was a great game. In the end, it also helps get the Vols ready for tournament time. I am not worried, I know that Bruce Almighty will get the men in orange ready to go again versus Kentucky this weekend. I know he will use this loss to build on and to help motivate the Vols as they head into the post-season.

Hate to lose the No. 1 ranking, but at least we proved we can get there.

In Bruce we Trust!

-- Go Figure ...

When word came out in 2005 that Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton was getting ready to name a new coach for the BasketVols, I had four major reasons to be skeptical:

Houston, O’Neill, Green, and Peterson...

Since Don DeVoe’s departure in 1989, Tennessee had resigned itself to hiring a new coach every three years or so. None of the coaches they had hired had managed to improve the program substantially for more than the briefest of periods. With the exception of Kevin O’Neill -- who was really a great coach, but never truly got the chance to build a program due to the meddling of "The Big Dickey" -- none of the coaches walking the sidelines at Tennessee since DeVoe seemed to understand what it took to win basketball games in the SEC, and Wade Houston, at times, didn’t even seem to understand the rules of basketball.

The announcement was made in March of 2005 at UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena which -- at the time -- should have simply been called "The Big Brown Box." The press conference was attended by a grand total of somewhere on the order of 12 people: Bob Kesling (who was required to attend), the Knoxville Snooze-Slantinel’s John Adams and his ego (counts as 2 people), 2 reporters from the student-run Daily Beacon (one of which wrote a story about the other writing a story), Gus Manning and Haywood Harris (who were unable to get an afternoon tee time that day), and five students who mistook the event for their afternoon Anthropology lecture. Needless to say, there wasn’t a great deal of excitement.

Living nearly 6 hours away in ACC country, I read about the announcement online, and can still recall my initial reaction...

..."Who the hell is Bruce Pearl?"

Given the blessings of the internet, I quickly learned that Pearl had coached at Wisconsin-Milwaukee for four years. The only things I knew that came from Wisconsin were the Green Bay Packers, cheese, and snow. After all, wasn’t Wisconsin part of President Bush’s "Axis of Evil?"

For the briefest of moments, I wondered if maybe -- just maybe -- Mike Hamilton had found the proverbial "undiscovered great" who might bring competitive teams to Knoxville. Forget success, after all the failures of the preceding 15 years, I just wanted respectability. I pondered this briefly...

Nah, probably not...

This proves two very important things: 1) I am an overly cynical moron, and 2) I had no concept of Bruce Pearl’s mettle.

You simply have to see Bruce Pearl in action to appreciate his genius.

The 2005-06 season started like many before -- quietly. By its end, however, it was obvious that something was very different. Gone was the "Fight, Foul and Fret" scheme of Jerry Green, and there was no trace of Buzz Peterson’s "Flash and Fade" offense. The Volunteers, the red-headed stepchild of the SEC for almost a generation, played competitively, made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001, and -- lo and behold -- showed that "hustle" was not an outdated concept on the hardwood. Final record: 22 - 8 (12-4 SEC, 1st in the SEC East).

Still, after all of the disappointments of the previous decade, I was reluctant to believe that any lasting success was in the cards for the Vols. Nonetheless, I was pretty impressed with what "that Pearl guy" had accomplished in only one season, as I came to the horrifying realization that the Florida Gators had won the National Championship, and began counting the days until football season.

Then, in September of 2006, it was announced that Coach Pearl had dismissed Major Wingate from the squad. My heart sank...

...Oh well, winning was a neat idea.

On one hand, I was glad that Pearl was trying to run an honest and clean program, and hold his players accountable for violations of the rules (...ahem ... wink, wink, Britton Colquitt), but I knew (or thought I knew) Wingate’s dismissal was a sign that the BasketVols were destined to return to return to their past level of painful mediocrity.

Boy was I wrong...

After shaking off the cobwebs and making adjustments as a result of Wingate’s absence, the Vols proceeded to start playing with an intensity and drive I had never seen before. They improved with each successive game. Next thing I knew, I heard people mumbling about a "winning streak" -- I had thought that, like prostitution and dancing, those were illegal in Tennessee.

Then, came something I never thought I’d see -- a Tennessee coach getting excited about the university. When I first heard that Bruce Pearl had shown up at a Lady Vols game painted orange, I thought it was a joke. Then, when I saw the video, I was amazed. I simply could not believe that we had a coach who: 1) cared enough about the university to get out and support a team other than his own; 2) was willing to have a little fun and laugh at himself; and 3) was so willing to reach out to the fans and let them know he was one of them. It was then I realized that we had something special on our hands in the form of Bruce Pearl.

Then, when tournament time rolled around, I realized that the BasketVols had a seeding that only had a single digit. I had always been told that all NCAA seedings were required to be divisible by 10.

Soon it became apparent that the Vols were not only competitive, they were pretty darn good. Before I realized it, they were in the Sweet 16 getting ready to play number 1 seeded Ohio State. Although they could have beaten the Buckeyes of Ohio State, the BasketVols ultimately lost, however for the first time since ... well ... ever, I found myself beginning to believe that anytime the Vols played, they could win. What’s more, it was obvious that they believed this too. Final record: 24 - 11 (10-6 SEC, 2nd in the SEC East)

Thus, I began looking forward to basketball season as soon as I got done, once again, retching at the thought that the Gators had won the National Championship.

Who knew that it was only going to get better...

This season opened with the Vols pounding the snot out of several so-called "directional" schools before facing -- what’s this -- real basketball programs in the non-conference schedule. Even more encouraging -- with the exception of the game against Texas -- the Vols won these games. What’s more, the Vols just kept winning as they worked their way into the SEC regular season. As the game against Memphis approached, I finally came to believe -- really believe -- that Bruce and the Barbarians not only could beat any team on any given night, but that they would win. Suddenly, "The Big Brown Box" was gone (having apparently fallen into the Tennessee River) and in its place was a rockin’ joint known as the Tommy Bowl.

It was then that I came to understand that, though less than perfect, though unconventional, though a continuing work-in-progress, the BasketVols were rapidly approaching the point of greatness. I also knew they would be tested like never before when they hit the road to meet John Calipari and the Gold Teeth Brigade.

As fate would have it, despite stubbing their toe painfully versus the Kentucky Wildcats, the Vols met the -- then -- undefeated Tigers in a No 2 vs. No 1 matchup that simply could not have been planned out under any circumstance. The whole nation would be watching (with the exception of the Snooze-Slantinel, which was doing a series on Kentucky Fescue 31 and John Adams’ favorite showtunes). After all of those "almosts," after decades of "in other scores" treatment on ESPN, and after a generation of having nothing to point to other than "Ernie and Bernie," it was the Vols chance to shine, and boy did they shine!

Now the Vols sit atop the world of college basketball and the view is awfully nice. It is truly amazing how far we’ve come under Bruce Almighty, and what’s even more amazing, is the fact that this is just the beginning. Under Bruce Pearl, Tennessee has been transformed from a completely lackluster goat to a top-level program which has people taking notice and the "regal" programs of the college basketball world taking notes. True, Bruce Pearl’s approach is not traditional, and it is not conventional. True, Tennessee does not have the tournament experience of any of the traditional powerhouses. True, Tennessee does not have a tradition of winning.

Of course, traditions have to start somewhere...

The fundamental thing I love about Bruce Pearl, however, is the way he coaches his teams. He is as active on the sidelines as anyone I’ve ever seen. He coaches for the entire game -- sometimes dragging his team, kicking and screaming, toward a victory. It is also obvious that his players love playing for him -- and not just because he has made them winners. The bond between Pearl and his players seems amazingly strong -- one built on trust. Even more remarkable, is the way that Pearl-coached teams seem to love playing with one another. I am convinced that Pearl’s greatest asset is his ability to create a team -- whether it be with his players, with his staff, or the fickle and unwieldy fans who wear orange. His enthusiasm is intoxicating and his ability to create a sense of togetherness and belonging is unprecedented at Tennessee.

Now, we all know that Tennessee will not have seasons as magical at this one every year. There is no question that the BasketVols will have losses, and most likely will have bad season-long runs in the future under Coach Pearl. The fact remains, however, now people are excited, now the program is energized, now the Vols have proven they can win. Furthermore, Bruce Pearl has left his calling card with all of the recruits across the nation -- via showing that Tennessee belongs with the big boys.

All of this is due to the man in charge. He has woken a part of the spirit of the Orange Nation, that most didn’t even know existed. He has reached out to the fans, and they have responded with their unqualified support. He is a fighter, a motivator, a strategist, a maverick, a joker, and a little bit of a con man. The most important thing is, however, he’s ours.

Mike Hamilton, let’s make sure we keep it that way for a very long time to come...

For the first time since the Ray Mears era, Tennessee fans can be proud of their basketball team. That is truly a special gift that Bruce Pearl has bestowed upon us over the last three years. I, for one, am beside myself at the thought that Tennessee is number 1 in the country. With Bruce Pearl at the helm, I have a feeling we may get to see it again soon.

In closing, the question remains what have we learned? Well, as mentioned above, we have unquestionably proven that I am an overly cynical moron. Now I know who Bruce Pearl is, and so does the rest of the college basketball universe. We have also learned one truth which is as sweet as it is surprising...

Never count out the man in orange...

-- Go Figure ...

Hello to everyone over here in DawgSports Nation.  I -- A Vol though I may be -- wanted to give you a quick link to a story I did on Larry Munson, which was inspired by Senator Blutarsky over at Get the Picture!  I think we'll all agree that whenever Munson decides to retire, he will truly be missed.  Anyway, just wanted to invite you over to read it and maybe give your thoughts on Larry Munson and his amazing career.
Link: The Voice of College Sports...

Tennessee Head Football Coach Phillip Fulmer surprised the media early this morning with a press conference announcing the addition of a new "Techniques Coordinator" to the Vols coaching staff. "Aggressive play is a key component of success in college football these days -- in fact, it has always been important." Fulmer said at the press conference... ( More)