Could you EVER see Coach MAC doing this??

[gurlybull]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/ncaa/01/22/ap.tn.pearl.studentsect.ap/index.html

   

Bruce Pearl as never seen before in Thompson-Boling Arena.

AP

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl sat in the student section Monday night for the tipoff of the game between the fourth-ranked Lady Vols and No. 1 Duke.

He was shirtless and his chest was painted in orange with a "V" for Volunteers on it.

Coach Pat Summitt appeared to acknowledge him and gestured enthusiastically at Pearl.

Some of the men's players were with Pearl, spelling out "Go Vols" on their painted chests.

Duke won the game 74-70 behind 24 points from Amy Waner.

The Blue Devils started the year 20-0 for the second straight season and got victory No. 20 by handing Tennessee only its 17th loss in Thompson-Boling Arena, which opened in 1987.

Early on it looked like it could be the worst loss ever for the Lady Vols in their home arena, but Tennessee (17-2) rallied from as many as 21 points down in the first half to tie it at 48 with 10:48 remaining.

Duke then ran its lead back to nine, but Tennessee kept chipping away and made the final minutes tense for both sides especially the large and raucous orange-clad crowd.

Lindsey Harding scored on a drive with 1:37 left to put Duke ahead 70-63, but Tennessee went 2-of-4 at the foul line and Candace Parker scored to cut it to 70-67.

The Lady Vols' last chance came after Alberta Auguste hit a 3 with 6.1 seconds left to cut it to 72-70, and they immediately fouled Harding. She made both free throws to ice it.

Duke is one of only nine teams to win in Thompson-Boling and only the fifth of those to win more than once.

Harding added 21 for Duke while Wanisha Smith had 15. The Blue Devils were 14-of-15 from the foul line. Tennessee was only 8-of-17.

Parker led the Lady Vols with 22 points, but was 1-for-7 from the foul line. Alexis Hornbuckle added 19 and Sidney Spencer had 13.

[Bull Martin]

That is freaking AWESOME!!!!!

To bad they lost though.

[Mama_Bull]

Hey, I think that is awesome.  I think it boils down to where your comfort level lies.  This coach is not inhibited to say the least.   LOL

[mattegunz]

Thats cool, but I could care less. Its awesome that Pearl is into stuff like that, but all I want is a winning BBall team.  

Question is, if Mac was winning would you even care about this?

[ucfknights04]

That's crazy that their team not only has their own name (Lady Vols) but their own colors and separate athletics site.

[sdgukhsdgl]

men and women have seperate athletic departments

[BullDoug]

Coach Summit gave Coach Pearl a smooch on the lips before the game started.  I saw the video while on a tread mill at the Y w/o audio.  I thought Pearl was her hubby.  Love the enthusiasm but he may have been a big distraction since TN started the game 0-18 or 0-20.

[Guest JulmisteForPrez]

Going against the grain here, I think its just another in a long line of childish stunts pulled by Bruce Pearl.  He lacks class.  That's been proven more than once.

If Coach Mac did something like that, I would say that would be yet another strike against him.

[Reliabull]

I think it's great. I'm trying to imagine another coach doing that and can't come up with any.

[Guest Ari_Hinkelberger]

How is that classless..?

The guy is a great coach too...