Before you rip Bruce Pearl, put yourself in his shoes

Yesterday, news broke that Tennessee was being investigated by the NCAA for recruiting violations. More specifically, they were being investigated -- apparently since April of last year -- for excessive phone calls and contacts with recruits.

Today, not only did we learn that Tennessee had received a letter of inquiry from the NCAA, we learned that Tennessee would be self-imposing sanctions on the program.

And, boy, were they tough.

Bruce Pearl will be docked a total of $1.5 million over the course of his contract, a number that could reach $2 million if he doesn't receive his retention bonus, which has been pushed back to June 30, 2015, from November 30, 2012. Three assistants -- Tony Jones, Steve Forbes, and Jason Shay -- will all receive 25% cuts in their salaries. Perhaps the biggest penalty, however, will be in recruiting. Pearl will not be allowed to recruit off the Knoxville campus for a year, from September 24, 2010, until September 23, 2011. The three assistants all received similar punishments, ranging in length from three months to a year. In addition, Tennessee will also receive reductions in their number of official recruiting visits during the 2010-2011 calendar year from 12 to 9, their overall total of recruiting opportunities by 20%, and will not be allowed to hold official visits for the next two weekends, when Florida and UAB come to Knoxville for football games.

I love Bruce Pearl, but this scandal will forever tarnish his image.
(photo credit: AP)

There is not tip-toeing around it. The Vols dropped the hammer. What is interesting is that Tennessee did this to themselves. The NCAA was not involved in this decision in anyway, which likely means that they have Pearl and the Tennessee program dead to rights.

Perhaps the biggest reason that Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton was so harsh on the program was that Bruce Pearl initially lied to NCAA investigators about what happened within his program. Its one thing to commit an NCAA violation. What peeves the association the most, however, is when that violation is covered up.

The NCAA is no different than any parent. Break a rule, and you'll get punished, but you will also be forgiven. Lie about what happened, try to cover your tracks, and that is when the belt comes off and the butt-whoopin' commences.

The biggest irony in all of this?

Bruce Pearl was blackballed from collegiate coaching for being a snitch. He was an assistant with Illinois Iowa back in 1989 when he recorded a conversation with recruit Deon Thomas. In that conversation, Thomas admitted to receiving a from an Illini assistant. He turned the tapes over to the NCAA, and that spawned an investigation that resulted in a one-year postseason ban.

Pearl couldn't find work for three years. He built D-II Southern Indiana into a powerhouse, and it still took nine years for him to get a job at the D-I level. Finally, after three memorable seasons at the helm of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, did Pearl finally breakthrough and land the gig at Tennessee.

And now he is the one whose legacy will be tarnished.

In the grand scheme of things, Pearl didn't do much wrong. He made too many phone calls to recruits, and then he lied about it. While that is a big deal in the eyes on the NCAA, he didn't do anything that would interest a court of law.

The only place that Pearl is going to take a hit is in the court of public opinion.

"Bruce Pearl's a cheater!"

"If he lied about phone calls, what else is he lying about?"

"Everything he has done as a coach is tarnished!"

If you are saying those things right now -- I'm looking at you, Kentucky and Memphis fans -- I don't blame you. I can't even legitimately justify an argument against it, other than he really did seem sincerely guilty during his press conference this afternoon.

But can you blame him?

He didn't break any laws. He's not selling drugs to kids. He isn't making a fortune swindling people out of money. He's not Pablo Escobar or Bernie Madoff. Hell, he's not even the hustler on the corner playing three card monte or the bartender that doesn't ring in drinks that are paid for in cash.

He's a basketball coach that made too many phone calls to recruits. The reason that he made too many phone calls to recruits is because it gave him an edge in getting those recruits. Getting those recruits is the key to winning at the college level. And winning basketball games is the reason that, despite getting docked $1.5 million is salary over the next five years, he and his family will be able to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

I'm not saying what he did was right. In fact, as a college basketball diehard first and foremost, I detest hearing things like this about coaches. When scandals like this come to light, it is bad for the sport. Every scandal detracts from the limited credibility amateur basketball in this country has left.

But if you were in his position, would you do any different?

If all it took was a few extra phone calls to a recruit to give your children and their children financial security, would you pick up the phone?