Mike Hamilton's Best Decision? A Pearl Of Great Price

What a turnaround. In only three short years as the Tennessee Vols Head Basketball Coach, Bruce Pearl has taken Tennessee from the Outhouse to the Penthouse of the SEC. Considering this is just the beginning of his fourth season as UT head coach, it's quite amazing to see how far the program has come.

Some Tennessee fans (VAST MINORITY) point to the fact that Pearl has not made it past the Sweet 16 in his three short years at the helm. To you I say, where was this program in the mid-80's? Where was this program from '02-'05? Dead. Stone cold awful.

All Pearl has done is take the program to a No. 1 ranking, and two straight Sweet 16's in three seasons. He has injected energy and overall rabidness into a lethargic, apathetic fan base. He has recruited his brains out and now has one of the deepest teams in the country!

Tennessee Basketball was not always bad. It was just more bad than good. From 1976-1983 the Vols only missed the NCAA Tournament one time. The Vols then had a slight resurgence in the late 90's early 00's under Jerry Green.

With Green, however, things went sour and he got out of town quickly. Shortly afterward, the Buzz Peterson-era started. That time was filled with high hopes that were quickly dashed. But then came the '04-'05 NCAA Tournament. 

Remember Wisconsin-Milwaukee on that magical ride to the Sweet 16? Remember that fiery, rabid coach stalking the court? Talk about finding a Pearl of great price. Much of the country fell in love with the Cinderella team. More importantly Mike Hamilton noticed the tremendous coaching talent that roamed the coaches box for the Panthers.

Is Hamilton clairvoyant? Did he look into his magical crystal ball and see this Pearl guy cutting down the nets as the outright SEC Champion three seasons later? Did he see the Pearl-led Vols defeat No. 1 Memphis to become the No. 1 team in the land that same season? Did he see two straight Sweet 16's for the first time in the history of the program?

The short answer is no. But obviously he could see potential. Hamilton did see a determined, disciplined, salesman of a coach. Hamilton did see a man that had taken a Mid-Major program to the Sweet 16, defeating the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds along the way. He did see a coach that turned Southern Indiana into a Division II powerhouse in the 90's. He did see a national champion coach.

For all his faults, Mike Hamilton, should definitely not be confused as an idiot. The man apparently knows what he is doing. He spearheaded the renovation of Neyland Stadium, hired a great new Baseball coach, Todd Raleigh, and of course he hired Pearl. So when it comes to the next big decision of his professional career at least we have past great decisions to help us see into the future.

My hope is that he looks beyond the "sexy" choices that are out there; that he looks beyond the inflated offensive numbers of Mike Leach; the over-hyped, overrated Lane Kiffin; and the fiery, yet inexperienced Will Muschamp. My hope is that he finds another Pearl. A football version of Pearl.

That man has to be Cincinnati Bearcats Head Coach, Brian Kelly. His record as a coach, twice national champion in Division II, and coaching style are all reminiscent of Pearl. This guy even comes from the same part of the country that Pearl comes from!

Yes, as great as Pearl has been for the University everything Big Orange still comes back to football. Football is still King of the Hill. Pearl is easily the best professional decision that Hamilton has ever made, but a much bigger one lies ahead.

Get this one right and Hamilton might achieve sainthood. Get it wrong and the boosters and fans will ride him out of town quickly. I believe Hamilton will get it right. His resume tells me he will. Let's just hope Brian Kelly, or someone else not-named Leach, Kiffin, or Muschamp turns out to be another Pearl of Great Price.