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Tennessee basketball: 5 things a national title would mean for the Vols

By Billy Williford

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 09: Jordan Bowden #23 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 9, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 76-73. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 02: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 02, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 02: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena on March 02, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

No.2 – Respect from the national media

I’m talking about you, Pat Forde.

The guy was wrong about the Cuonzo Martin situation. And, he takes pride anytime Rick Barnes loses a game. What’s baffling to me is how narrow-minded Forde is when it comes to what really happened at Tennessee compared the racial narrative the national media tried to run with.

I don’t have to justify myself at all, but when the chants of Cuonzo’s Curtain were flowing across Thompson-Boling Arena, smoother than the wave could ever imagine doing, I had his back. I took up for Martin’s outstanding professionalism and leadership. As well as his unique ability to recruit great talent to Tennessee. Not to mention he was the reason Jordan McRae turned his career around.

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As Martin struggled throughout the regular season, petitions developed to bring Bruce Pearl back to Knoxville. It wasn’t because Volnation was a racist bunch. No, in fact, that wasn’t the reason at all — just the narrative the national media gave everyone.

I believe any coach short of winning a national title would have received the same treatment because Pearl was beloved on Rocky Top. He had a dynamic personality, and Martin didn’t. That didn’t make him a bad guy or bad coach; it merely made him not Bruce Pearl.

That’s a brief version of the lack of respect, and it doesn’t just come from Forde. However, winning a national championship should shut the dogmatic buffoons up, right?

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