When Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl reportedly played host to a pair of high school recruits in 2008 - a no-no according to NCAA rules - he took a photo with one of them. Why would he chance such a brazen move?
Because he’s done it before.
A report from ESPN’s Dan O’Neil and Pat Forde indicates Pearl did the same thing while at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The school self-reported a violation on Aug. 19, 2004 after “Pearl invited a prospect [and his parents] to his daughter’s graduation party hosted at his house, a violation of 13.05.5.3.”
The player, Mike Schachtner, later ended up committing to UW-Green Bay. “My parents and I have come to an agreement that we wouldn’t like to get involved in this,” Schachtner told ESPN. “I know the worst public thing to do is to say no comment, but we don’t want to get involved at this time.”
Pearl, Green Bay athletic director Ken Bothof, former Green Bay coach Tod Kowalczyk and the Tennessee athletic department all declined comment on the report.
Mike Miller’s also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller, usually talkin’ hoops. Click here for more.