We already knew that Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl likes to take his shirt off, and that he’ll do whatever it takes to get the fans psyched up (e.g., “We are your basketball team, I am your basketball coach, and we are going to kick Florida’s ass!“), but he took it to a whole new level Monday when he showed up in the student section — topless — for the Lady Vols’ game against #1 Duke.
(Hat tip: Jay, who explains, “As some backstory that no one outside of the state probably knows, he basically promised to do this during the regular Vol Network broadcast of ‘Vol Calls’ which airs weekly on Monday nights, and is a recap/pregame show with coaches, players, etc. for the week. He’s certainly a dynamic guy, and it seems like he’s been here forever. [It’s actually only his second year. -ed.] This guy can coach, motivate, and generally get it done like no one I’ve ever seen before.”)
I’ll put the photos after the jump, because as Ryan says, “it’s kind of cool, weird, scary, and disturbing all in the same breath.” Seriously… if you want to see someone attractive and topless, click here (NSFW). If you want to see someone unattractive and topless, and also possibly NSFW, click the link below…
Heh.
Reaction to Pearl’s stunt varied widely:
Sportable: “I love that Pearl did this. It proves that he isn’t just another coach using this job as a stepping stone, he really does care about the university. He wants not only his team, but the women’s team to do well. He wants to instill an atmosphere of fun and absolute madness.”
CriticalFanatic: “That’s certainly one method for recruiting young men … to other schools.” (The post’s title is “Hey, at least Majerus never lost a bet like this.”)
Ipso Facto: “Bruce Pearl is a legend. … How awesome is this guy?”
Pat Forde: “What college basketball coach could possibly take himself un-seriously enough to pull a stunt like that? You think Coach K will join the Cameron Crazies for a Blue Devils women’s game? How about Roy Williams putting on a powder-blue toga in Chapel Hill? Here’s the ultimate visual: Bob Knight getting half-naked in the student section at Texas Tech — and refraining from punching anyone. It could happen only in Knoxville. Never graduate, Bruce.”
Sportsfrog: “Somewhere in Southern Mississippi, Larry Eustachy is shaking his head at the amateur antics of Pearl. If you want to bag the campus coeds, all it takes is a six-pack of Natty Light cans and a mock turtleneck. Pearl went overboard. Painting your chest, throwing on the headband and sitting through a women’s game? It just screams needy. He might have a chance with a band girl.”
Deadspin: “Well, that’s one way to scare off Pat Summitt’s recruits.”
Perhaps, but it’s not nearly as scary as Dirkmonster’s suggestion: “What if Pat returned the favor?”
Spare us, O Lord. ;)
Tennessee lost the game, by the way, 74-70.
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Categories: Tennessee & environs, NCAA Basketball & Pools
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January 24th, 2007 at 12:50:49 am
Yeah, saw this on ESPN, thought it was odd. UW Milwaukee misses Bruce, but he’d freeze his nips off if he pulled that stuff in Wisconsin.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:30:16 am
it seems like he’s been here forever. [It’s actually only his second year. -ed.]
That’s why I said it SEEMS like he’s been here forever. My point was that he has become so attached to the program and so vocal in promoting his team and the University, that he acts like someone who’s been a part of the system since he was born.
Anyway, I think it’s a great show of support between the basketball coaches that they encourage and motivate each other to excel. I’d say you’d be hard pressed to find a coaching tandem with the same kind of relationship anywhere else.
January 24th, 2007 at 10:36:09 am
Bruce Pearl is hotter than that PETA chick.
He has nicer nipples at least. haha.
January 24th, 2007 at 1:41:09 pm
Jay, my intention wasn’t to correct you, it was to amplify your remarks by adding context — i.e., “it seems like he’s been here forever, even though he’s only been here for two years.”
January 24th, 2007 at 2:18:50 pm
[…] be Bruce knows one? Bruce Pearl is a great person (Sportable) Bruce Pearl, Topless (Irish Trojan’s Blog) Bruce Pearl is Surpris […]
January 24th, 2007 at 3:51:51 pm
It’s so hard to convey tone properly in text. Didn’t take offense at the editorial commentary at all. Just wanted to add some more color to the statement I had made.
In any case, I’m still a Bruce Pearl fan.
January 30th, 2007 at 11:53:22 pm
Bruce didn’t do this as a bet. He did it to show his support for Pat Summitt’s Lady Vols(#4) when they were playing the No. 1 team in the country (Duke). Pat Summitt was a guest on “Volcalls” which is a local call-in show here in Knoxville. She was conveying that she wanted everyone to come out and support the Lady Vols and Bruce said he would do his part by painting his chest orange. He did this merely to make a statement to the nation that he supports our women’s basketball program at UT. A lot of programs can only wish they had the energy and excitement Bruce has brought to Tennessee basketball. “Painting your chest, throwing on the headband and sitting through a women’s game? It just screams needy. He might have a chance with a band girl.” He didn’t sit through the whole game. Directly after tipoff he left the court because he didn’t want to bring attention away from the game. Some people need to get the facts straight……
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:59:32 am
HAS A BETTER BOD THANK LOTS OF FLABBY FRAT DUDES. THEIR POOR GIRLFRIENDS!