Bruce Pearl Wants to Explore Idea of Having Double Header in Birmingham with Alabama

RTR91 · Mar 27, 2014

Q: How significant will Atlanta be for you in recruiting?

"Very significant. There's great players and coaches, and we play Georgia and it's close. I'd like to play neutral-site games in Atlanta and Birmingham every year, or maybe it's one year Birmingham, next year it's Atlanta and rotate. We played in Nashville when I was at Tennessee. I may not be able to get a (quality opponent) to come to Auburn, but I could get them to go to to Atlanta or Birmingham on a neutral site."

Q: What about a doubleheader with Alabama?

"I think a doubleheader would be great. I would think you'd try to do one of two things. When I was at Tennessee, we played Western Kentucky and Kentucky played Murray State. It was a phenomenal event. So if we went to Birmingham, maybe team up with Alabama, and maybe go to Atlanta and team up with Georgia and play teams there. When you play neutral sites, it helps your RPI. It's worth more than a home game. I'd be very open and interested in looking at all those things."

pchil86 · Mar 27, 2014

I saw this earlier....pretty interesting interview.....I wonder if we will take any interest in this as well

RTR91 · Mar 27, 2014

pchil86 said:
I saw this earlier....pretty interesting interview.....I wonder if we will take any interest in this as well

We better take interest. Would be horrible PR to turn it down. Also, it would be a big boost for the sport in the state.

BigA · Mar 27, 2014

Coach Battle and Coach Grant better get in "aggressive mode" relative to promoting our program. I get the feeling Pearl identifies an opportunity and will be relentless in promoting his team to whoever will listen. Time to get off our "tush" and go to work!

alabama mike1 · Mar 27, 2014

IMO, it's a great idea!

RTR91 · Mar 28, 2014

Really, there could be a triple header of UAB, Auburn, and Alabama games at the BJCC. Depending on times, Samford could participate.

This would really help the state's basketball product. Might hurt some in recruiting while helping Auburn, but I believe it would be beneficial to all schools in the state.

gman4tide · Mar 28, 2014

Pearl has been seen just about every day since he was hired. Last night he was at the barn/mizzou baseball game...promoting. This morning, on the OD (i know he had a contract with them). I'm just saying...he's been EVERYWHERE. I have never seen, nor heard Coach Grant promoting Alabama basketball...ever.

RTR91 · Mar 28, 2014

gman4tide said:
Pearl has been seen just about every day since he was hired. Last night he was at the barn/mizzou baseball game...promoting. This morning, on the OD (i know he had a contract with them). I'm just saying...he's been EVERYWHERE. I have never seen, nor heard Coach Grant promoting Alabama basketball...ever.

I'm not going to say he does it all the time, but CAG spoke the Birmingham Tip-Off club at least once this year. He's made a few appearances.

And he made these when he was hired in 2009...

You can't say you've never seen or heard Grant promoting Alabama "ever" unless you've lived under a rock since 2009.

TheAccountant · Mar 28, 2014

RTR91 said:
I'm not going to say he does it all the time, but CAG spoke the Birmingham Tip-Off club at least once this year. He's made a few appearances.

And he made these when he was hired in 2009...

You can't say you've never seen or heard Grant promoting Alabama "ever" unless you've lived under a rock since 2009.

Hell of a promotion job when all your defenders have to go on is a speech every now and then to a member-only organization and some commercials made 5 years ago.

IGetBuckets · Mar 28, 2014

Grant turns down radio interviews, for some reason, and our AD allows it

Matt0424 · Mar 28, 2014

I've never seen those commercials...and the only promotion I get about the basketball program ever are emails from tidepride...

Time to step things up, because little brother has become way more outgoing...

RTR91 · Mar 28, 2014

I'm not saying Anthony Grant stands on the corner with a "Roll Tide #BamaHoops" sign over his shoulders. I'm just saying he has done some events, so no one can say he doesn't do anything to promote the team. Let's not act like he sits in his office playing Solitaire or Free Cell all day.

I've said numerous times he needs to do more promoting. He needs to do things to involve the student body. He needs to radio interviews. He needs to do more events.

Just pointing out he has done somethings. Clearly, he hasn't done enough, though.

bamanut_aj · Mar 30, 2014

It pains me to say this; and I hate to get all hyperbolic and negative, but it appears we've just taken a back seat to auburn. And even though it's 'just basketball', it shouldn't happen.

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BamaHoosier · Mar 30, 2014

The one thing I'll give pearl is that he is a master at marketing. He could go to Prairie View A&M and have both of their fans hyped that they are going to become a national power house. Auburns atmosphere may be completely different year, but that will fade if they don't win ball games. Pearl is a heckuva coach, but I just don't see auburn as having the talent level to compete for at least 2-3 more years

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TIDE-HSV · Mar 30, 2014

bamanut_aj said:
It pains me to say this; and I hate to get all hyperbolic and negative, but it appears we've just taken a back seat to auburn. And even though it's 'just basketball', it shouldn't happen.

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I'm going to give it a while to develop before feeling that way. BTW, I don't doubt for a moment Pearl's agent contacted UA for an indication of interest. I had said quite a while back that there was not a snowball's chance in hell we would ever hire him, and that came from a quite elevated source. After Beamon, basketball will never ever again be placed in a position to effect the football program. I'm restating this, because of some remarks by our recently-departed short-termer...

alabama mike1 · Mar 30, 2014

RTR91 said:
Really, there could be a triple header of UAB, Auburn, and Alabama games at the BJCC. Depending on times, Samford could participate.

This would really help the state's basketball product. Might hurt some in recruiting while helping Auburn, but I believe it would be beneficial to all schools in the state.

One thing that Ohio St. does and I personally like is they play at least one instate school every year. I'd love to see a Saturday series where Bama, Auburn and UAB play Troy, S. Alabama and Jacksonville St. Alabama A&M and Alabama St. could be worked into the party as well. I think the attendance and atmosphere would be great.

JBama_in_PCOLA · Mar 30, 2014

Nice idea!

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Ldlane · Mar 30, 2014

I was thinking more of a "steel cage" match between the Coaching staffs!

BamaBriar · Mar 30, 2014

Y'all act like this is some brand new idea. Back when there was an SEC Big East Challenge, Alabama played Georgetown and Auburn played somebody in a doubleheader at the BJCC. I think the tickets cost significantly more than a game at Coleman Coliseum. While enough of our football fans are willing to pay the extra cost, I am not certain our basketball fans are.

BamaMike05 · Mar 30, 2014

BamaBriar said:
Y'all act like this is some brand new idea. Back when there was an SEC Big East Challenge, Alabama played Georgetown and Auburn played somebody in a doubleheader at the BJCC. I think the tickets cost significantly more than a game at Coleman Coliseum. While enough of our football fans are willing to pay the extra cost, I am not certain our basketball fans are.

Yeah I think in '07 the barn played WVa followed by us playing Georgetown at the BJCC.

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Bruce Pearl Wants to Explore Idea of Having Double Header in Birmingham with Alabama

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