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Former Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl facing heat again

By Caleb Calhoun

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts against the Boston College Eagles in the first half of the Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts against the Boston College Eagles in the first half of the Under Armour Reunion at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Volunteers fired Bruce Pearl because of what seemed like a meaningless scandal. But he’s now facing heat again with the Auburn Tigers.

When Bruce Pearl accepted the job as Auburn basketball’s head coach three years after the Tennessee Vols fired him, Rocky Top groaned in unison. Fans everywhere in Knoxville desperately wanted him back after the level of success they had during his six years there.

The worst part is it seemed like a meaningless scandal, one he never needed to lie about. But the lie got him fired and forced a three-year show-cause penalty on him.

Now, though, Pearl is back in the news for another scandal.

An FBI document released Tuesday has a section detailing corruption charges against Auburn basketball assistant Chuck Person.

Person was among four assistant basketball coaches and 10 people overall facing such charges that dealt with coaches being paid money to steer players who could make it to the NBA towards agents, financial advisers, and clothing companies for endorsements.

The charges put Bruce Pearl back in the spotlight since he’s the head coach at Auburn.

Although Auburn suspended Person without pay, and although he has not been convicted of anything, this is still not a good look for Pearl.

You can check this story here on SEC Country about how the internet went after him when the story broke. And quite honestly, it could be disastrous for him.

If, and this is a big if, there is merit to the charges, and if it’s clear Pearl was involved in some way with it, then nobody can blame the Tennessee basketball administration for firing Pearl when they did.

The biggest thing the Vols need in basketball is somebody that can keep the program stable, and Rick Barnes is much easier to trust doing that than Pearl was already.

It’s crazy to think that Pearl is back in the news again for more NCAA troubles. Remember, there is no conviction yet. And even if there is, believing that Pearl had something to do with it requires another leap.

Next: Week 4 football SEC Power Rankings: Vols fall

So we should all be fair to him for right now. But it’s crazy to think he could potentially find himself in a scandalous NCAA situation again.

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