Not the "right coach" for UT?

[CreamCity]

It's weird that UT said it would pay as much as $1.5 million per year for the "right coach" -- but reportedly its offer for Bruce Pearl is $800,000 per year.

So $800,000 isn't exactly an insult, but . . .

[n8]

I hope this isn't true.

[bball30]

Here is the story on ESPN.com Not sure if this link has been posted yet, but is says contract in excess of 1 million

sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2023497

[PantherAlumBB]

I don't think the 1.5 was a real number. Why would they think they needed to offer a base that is so far out of line?

The 800k makes me think the Pearl is, in significant part, motivated by the thought that he's got a better chance to win at UT because I still think UWM could get close enough to that that you wouldn't just go for the money.

[CreamCity]

I hope ESPN is right. It's more understandable that he would jump.

A Tennessee TV station reported the $800,000, picking it up from WTMJ:

www.wbir.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=24409