Auburn AD and President

3-toed-sloth said:

So, for some bizarre reason, they must have agreed to this situation to allow a kid with zero head coaching experience take over their well-funded, high-major program. Why on Earth would they do that? I mean, its not like Bruce Pearl was some long-time, highly successful Auburn institution. He was there for only 11 seasons. And Its not like he ever won the championship. Sure, he went to a couple Final Fours, which is nice, but all other seasons he was bounced early. I suppose he did well by Auburn bball standards. Did Pearl have something on the Administration? Are they just grossly incompetent? Or maybe just don't really care that much?

I disagree. He literally resurrected UT and AU and turned both into national powers and this perk is asking a lot, but for that level of awful to great I'd allow it myself. I would not have signed Steven to a 5 year contract and it would have been for way less.

I detect sarcasm

RDBIPB said:

I disagree. He literally resurrected UT and AU and turned both into national powers and this perk is asking a lot, but for that level of awful to great I'd allow it myself. I would not have signed Steven to a 5 year contract and it would have been for way less.

This. It made sense to give Steven the shot to be the replacement but no reason to give him 5 years.

DoubleNickelsOnTheDime said:

This. It made sense to give Steven the shot to be the replacement but no reason to give him 5 years.

I was shocked when I saw the 5 years myself, took a big risk.

3-toed-sloth said:

So, for some bizarre reason, they must have agreed to this situation to allow a kid with zero head coaching experience take over their well-funded, high-major program. Why on Earth would they do that? I mean, its not like Bruce Pearl was some long-time, highly successful Auburn institution. He was there for only 11 seasons. And Its not like he ever won the championship. Sure, he went to a couple Final Fours, which is nice, but all other seasons he was bounced early. I suppose he did well by Auburn bball standards. Did Pearl have something on the Administration? Are they just grossly incompetent? Or maybe just don't really care that much?

He went to two Final Fours in his last 6 years there….and that’s nothing special?

RDBIPB said:

I disagree. He literally resurrected UT and AU and turned both into national powers and this perk is asking a lot, but for that level of awful to great I'd allow it myself. I would not have signed Steven to a 5 year contract and it would have been for way less.

There is nothing to disagree with. What, you think Bruce Pearl's 11 year tenure constitutes being an Auburn institution? I already stated that he did well by Auburn bball standards. So what are you disagreeing with?

DoubleNickelsOnTheDime said:

This. It made sense to give Steven the shot to be the replacement but no reason to give him 5 years.

I'm sorry, WHY did it make sense to give the high major job to a kid who has never been a had coach?

Bigun said:

He went to two Final Fours in his last 6 years there….and that’s nothing special?

Two Final Fours is nice, as was stated. Also stated that was good by Auburn standards. What, you think that is some championship caliber dominance? You think that is sufficient reason to give the program to his kid? Is that what YOU would have done if you were the AD? Seriously?

I'm certain that was probably stipulated in Pops final contract and I doubt they thought he would "retire" as early as he did.

3-toed-sloth said:

There is nothing to disagree with. What, you think Bruce Pearl's 11 year tenure constitutes being an Auburn institution? I already stated that he did well by Auburn bball standards. So what are you disagreeing with?

That I would have agreed to sign Steven, but under less pay and years span terms

RDBIPB said:

That I would have agreed to sign Steven, but under less pay and years span terms

Why? Why would you sign Steven Pearl, at all? What is the justification? Because his dad did pretty well? I mean, let's not act like Bruce was a Tom Izzo level institution, or a Mark Few institution.

3-toed-sloth said:

Two Final Fours is nice, as was stated. Also stated that was good by Auburn standards. What, you think that is some championship caliber dominance? You think that is sufficient reason to give the program to his kid? Is that what YOU would have done if you were the AD? Seriously?

Where did I say that about Steven? I was just questioning the two Final Fours in 6 years being nice…when we’ve been close to a FF one time. Personally I think it was stupid as hell to offer Pearl Jr the job…but I wonder if he a big buyout because of not then length of contract doesn’t matter that much.

Bruce Pearl would have got money and no other guarantees. That’s what the big salary was for.

Why would a Tennessee fan complain about Auburn making a bad hire?

3-toed-sloth said:

Why? Why would you sign Steven Pearl, at all? What is the justification? Because his dad did pretty well? I mean, let's not act like Bruce was a Tom Izzo level institution, or a Mark Few institution.

Because at UT and AllBarn he resurrected totally dead programs and made them prominent. I am generous when someone does that well. Honestly, if I were UT's AD, I'd have let Fulmer have 2 more seasons and he took over a great program. I'd have explained the ride is over then, but I'd have left him 2 more seasons. Why? Because I read the auto biography of Red Auerbach and he made a point of giving his greats an extra year or 2. He said he knew they were done, but they earned it and he said he believed Boston benefitted from it long term. He said he felt players wanted to play for Boston because of it at least partially. Now what happens after they fire Steven? Good coaches interested or no? What happened when UT fired Phillip, good coaches interested or no? That's why.

RDBIPB said:

I disagree. He literally resurrected UT and AU and turned both into national powers and this perk is asking a lot, but for that level of awful to great I'd allow it myself. I would not have signed Steven to a 5 year contract and it would have been for way less.

Agree, he did a really good job at both programs, unfortunately no one to blame but himself for his UT departure. I think it's pretty obvious he timed his retirement so that Auburn would have limited options. Agree with you 100% on your contract comments.

KP_VOL4LIFE said:

Agree, he did a really good job at both programs, unfortunately no one to blame but himself for his UT departure. I think it's pretty obvious he timed his retirement so that Auburn would have limited options. Agree with you 100% on your contract comments.

I agree with the "timing". Bruce ain't a fool. He took advantage of Allbarn and it was not wise to go with a 5 year contract for Steven.

3-toed-sloth said:

Why? Why would you sign Steven Pearl, at all? What is the justification? Because his dad did pretty well? I mean, let's not act like Bruce was a Tom Izzo level institution, or a Mark Few institution.

You are simply ignorant of how things are done and work there. For Auburn, he was far more meaningful than a Tom Izzo. Even with just getting to the Final Fours. It's simply how these people are and how the overall athletic situation has gone for them the last 15 years. Football essentially went away, basketball saved them, as far as they see the world. BP is an absolute saint there. Yes, Steven Pearl is a goon. Yes, he is overpaid. Yes, they need to do the smart thing and fire him/eat the money in April. Move on. But had you gone to the AU admin in 2015 and said "look, you are gonna have to light 25mm on fire in a decade, but this is what you get in the interim. " Every one of them (with a brain) would have immediately said, I'll take two, please. This is how it is playing out and winding down. The Pearl's will be gone, and AU will pay a fee on the exit. Was always coming. BP was never one to just walk away without expecting a bit of "tip"....

Bigun said:

I was just questioning the two Final Fours in 6 years being nice…when we’ve been close to a FF one time.

lol I know you’re a bit of a misanthrope, but making the Elite Eight automatically makes you close to a Final Four.

It is laughable to downplay Auburn’s two Final Fours under Pearl when we have never reached that level.

3-toed-sloth said:

I'm sorry, WHY did it make sense to give the high major job to a kid who has never been a had coach?

Same reason Josh Elander is head coach of the baseball team.

Bigun said:

He went to two Final Fours in his last 6 years there….and that’s nothing special?

Isn't the Final Four a participation trophy? No one remembers the NFC Championship game loser.

DoubleNickelsOnTheDime said:

This. It made sense to give Steven the shot to be the replacement but no reason to give him 5 years.

The buyout is minimal. It's 50% of whatever is remaining on his contract. He signed a 5/15m deal. You get what you pay for.

o_1981Vol said:

It is laughable to downplay Auburn’s two Final Fours under Pearl when we have never reached that level.

Well, they have one, not two.