After last night's loss to Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide men's basketball team has a record of 11-17.  The team continues to reach historic lows, and the pressure on head coach Anthony Grant is at an all-time high.  Many Bama fans believe it is time to find a new coach to lead the program, and they are not shy about voicing such opinions.

Probably the name on top of most these fans' lists is Bruce Pearl.  Pearl was the head coach at the University of Tennessee from 2005 to 2011.  He led the Volunteers to NCAA Tournament appearances in all six seasons, including three Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight.  However, Pearl's time in Knoxville ended suddenly when the NCAA began investigating him for hosting a player for a BBQ at his house.  While that infraction in and of itself was minor, Pearl tried to cover up the incident and lied to investigators.  The NCAA levied harsh penalties against him, including a show cause that has kept schools from hiring him.

However, the show cause against Pearl expires in August, and the coach has expressed interest in returning to the profession.  He is currently an analyst on ESPN, but there is precedent in several sports of coaches returning after a brief stint in broadcasting (Urban Meyer, Mark Jackson etc.).  In a recent interview with USA Today's Laken Litman, Pearl states that while he is happy at ESPN, he would not rule out a return to coaching.

If Pearl did decide to return, he would have a nice selection of schools wanting his services.  Several SEC teams have expressed interest, including Tennessee, who only fired Pearl because the NCAA had them in a bind.  Alabama would certainly have to make a competitive offer to lure him away from other schools.

Of course, Alabama would have to make a decision about its current coach first.  Athletic Director Bill Battle has not shown any indication that he intends to fire Anthony Grant this season.  If Bama choose to stay the course and Pearl ends up with another SEC school, there is no doubt fan outrage could multiply, especially if Grant fails to turn the program around.

Pearl is also still a gamble to hire.  His show cause may be up soon, but there is no doubt the NCAA will keep a keen eye on his activities wherever he ends up.  It will be up to whichever school hires him to monitor him and trust he stays clean.  This is not to say that Pearl is a questionable character, just that his past will be a concern for the NCAA, show cause or not.

Speculation about Pearl's future has been going on for quite some time, and his comments to Litman will no doubt fuel such speculation further.  The next few weeks will be interesting to watch for several SEC teams as they must consider the possibility of changing coaches.

Litman joined Houston and Huber this morning to discuss her article on Pearl and offer some insight into his mindset going forward.  You can listen to that interview here.

 

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