By Walt Barron: A close, personal friend to Rocky Top Insider, Barron is a lifelong Vol fan who will travel when he can but mostly cheers for the Big Orange from his home in Durham, NC.
This past Saturday night, not four minutes after arguably the most thrilling finish in the history of Thompson-Boling Arena, came the tweet heard ‘round Vol Nation.
No, not the one from the hero of that game, Jahmai Mashack. Or any of the ones from Tennessee’s social media accounts.
The one from Auburn coach Bruce Pearl.
VFL and War Damn Eagle!
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) March 1, 2025
To the casual observer, this is simply an act of respect and gratitude, as Tennessee’s thrilling and gutsy win over sixth-ranked Alabama secured the SEC regular championship for Pearl’s Tigers. But for those who have been following Tennessee basketball for the last two decades or more, it is a bit more complicated.
Even newer Vol Hoops fans are aware that Pearl used to coach at Tennessee. He took a program that was in the dumpster and immediately catapulted it to national relevance through a combination of winning (a lot) and savvy marketing. Fans don’t just remember the big wins over rivals Florida and Kentucky, or the program’s first Elite Eight appearance in 2010. They also remember the orange blazer he wore against Vandy and Kentucky to honor former UT coach Ray Mears. And when he brought Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld back to retire their jerseys. And when he would buy pizzas for students waiting to get basketball tickets out in the cold. And, of course, when he painted his chest at a Lady Vols game to support Pat Summitt.
Each of those, as well as dozens of others, were thoughtful and calculated acts to energize the fans and endear him to them. This tweet does the same and adds a bit of needling as well.
Pearl could’ve communicated respect and gratitude in a million different ways. But instead of congratulating Coach Rick Barnes and his team, he used a three-letter acronym that many believe is sacred: Vol For Life. Pearl wasn’t just thanking Tennessee for helping Auburn; he also was reminding Vol fans what could have been had he remained coach. Predictably, many fans took the bait, repeating the old refrain that the university never should’ve fired him, and wishing that he return to coach the Vols after Barnes retires.
Nevermind that Pearl’s departure from Tennessee was entirely of his own doing. Despite all he accomplished and gave to this program in his six seasons, he committed the ultimate sin of lying to the NCAA about something that otherwise would’ve been a minor violation. Although the University had no choice but to fire him, the fans still haven’t gotten over it.
This reminds me of an old video that asks the viewer to count how many times the people in white pass the basketball to each other. It barely takes a minute.
More from RTI: Where Tennessee Basketball Ranks In AP Poll Following Win Over Alabama
So many of us have been so obsessed with the “What ifs?” with Pearl (the passes) that we’ve missed how good we’ve had it with Barnes. In fact, his accomplishments in Knoxville are eerily similar to Pearl’s. Pearl’s winning percentage here is a mere two percentage points higher. Pearl was 8-6 in the NCAA Tournament at Tennessee; Barnes is 9-6 so far. Both coaches took the Vols to the Elite 8.
But Pearl won just one SEC championship; Barnes has won three. And the Vols were ranked No. 1 in the country once under Pearl, for one week. They’ve been ranked No. 1 twice under Barnes, for a total of 10 weeks. The Vols also have the second-longest streak in the country being ranked in the AP Top-25. And don’t forget that Barnes, like Pearl, did all of this after inheriting a program that also was in the dumpster.
Those who still pine for Pearl are likely driven by emotion. They just love the guy. Who doesn’t? He comes across as a passionate fan, just like them. And he’s the life of the party wherever he goes. He’s late Saturday night at the bar.
They love Barnes, too. But he’s more like a parent or mentor you don’t want to let down. He’s Sunday morning at church.
Like a rock star who leaves this world too young, Pearl’s legacy amongst UT fans is cemented in what he did during his 6 seasons here.
But Barnes’ legacy at Tennessee is still being written. And we get the privilege of watching it unfold as long as he’s here.
So, even if you still want to hang out with the fun guy at the bar, the one we might need to reach the promised land is the Deacon.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee basketball coverage with the postseason around the corner.
