Vols and Bruce

There's much more here than meets the eye. Where to begin.....

1. UT AD Mike Hamilton has recently become very sensitive to the media scrutiny, especially over the bungling his office made of the release of the letter of allegations and the redactions, then the subsequent re-release.

2. UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek recently became fed up with Hamilton and has decided to take the reins. By reversing course, it spells bad news for Hamilton. Hamilton is NOT heading up the search for the new coach. What does that tell you?

3. No question Bruce committed violations. But he was publicly stated to be the guy for the overwhelming majority of this time. Now, these so called additional possible violations (alleged at best) means someone suddenly grew a conscience? Please. It was a bungling of Old Testament proportions.

There is much more going on. I would not bet anything that Mike Hamilton would be the AD by the end of next year, and it could come much quicker than than if a couple of big donors like Haslam and Thornton have their way. Everyone with a microphone is saying the only thing wrong with firing Pearl is that Hamilton didn't go with him. A recent poll in Knoxville showed that, even among people favoring the firing of Bruce, a whopping 9 out of 10 favored firing of Hamilton. His record?

- Fired successful Baseball coach Rod Delmonico. Hired Todd Raleigh, believed to be on life support since UT has not made the SEC tournament under his leadership;
- Fired Buzz Peterson, and before hiring Pearl (which a trained monkey could do) word leaked he would've brought back Peterson had Peterson reimbursed UT for unsold concessions. Seriously.
- Fired legendary Phil Fulmer and hired never do well Lane Kiffin who brought the NCAA police to town under his renegade leadership and overpriced coaching staff. ROI? 7-6 and one season
- Bungled the hiring of Kiffin's replacement, angering trustees in the process. (Two big name coaches were signed and sealed, but Hamilton's bean counting scared them away)
- Bungled the Bowl negotiations for UT's last bowl
- PR fiasco over UT's schedule with North Carolina.
- Publicly threw the beleagured basketball coach under the bus hours before tip off of the post-season

I could list more. But I'd have to vomit first.

 

I never heard of Spurrier blasting the move. However, Nutt, Bowden, Rich Brooks, former OSU and Knoxville native John Cooper were vehemently unsettled by the move. There is a mountain of statistical evidence why the move might have been needed. But even that was botched by Hammy in terms of timing, etc.

Hammy's days are numbered.

 

No one knows for sure. That's one of the arguments for keeping Pearl. You're likely gonna get slapped anyway, according to the COI Chair. Hamilton believed firing Pearl would let the Vols off the hook. No one knows what Kiffin is going to say to try to cover his bacon. And while Pearl and the staff could get a Show Cause, the school may not be exonerated. Martin had 1.3 million reasons to come to Tennessee, and aside from UK, you have the most tradition rich bball program in the SEC and some of the most ardent basketball fans. I know UT isn't Duke, but UT is no Southern Miss or Saint Louis either.

As of today, for the first time in a few years, the football coach now makes more than the basketball coach. How's that for a so-called football school?

 

Well he really ruined the reputation of the basketball team. As he has only himself to blame. But we have heard and seen of worse before. As Mike Hamilton does need to be let go. And find a AD that can really be a great character guy!

 

Saw that Cuonzo Martin got the job at Tennessee. Nice contract for him. Have to imagine us older Illini fans will have a more favorable view now that Tennessee has let go Peal and hired a popular former Big Ten player to replace him. Hope it works out.

http://www.herald-review.com/app/blogs/blogs/?p=4016

From the article:

 

While not a Vols basketball fan, how does Mike Hamilton keep his job? Clearly one of the worst AD's I have ever seen.