Former Tennessee Volunteer coach Buzz Peterson on Bruce Pearl
GoVolsXtra.com’s Mark Burgess has an excellent article on former Tennessee Volunteer basketball coach Buzz Peterson. Particularly interesting are Peterson’s thoughts on the success of his former players under current coach Bruce Pearl:
I do watch them and I have a lot of interest in those young men. I want to see them do well. I really do.
It doesn’t bother me that (people say) hey, this guy is doing a much better job than Peterson did. It doesn’t bother me.
I want to see those kids do well, and I feel like they deserve a chance to get in the tournament and make something of themselves. I want to see them win.
Nicole, my 14-year-old, asked me, ‘How can you watch that? How can you do that?’ I can’t sit here and get mad at them. It’s not Bruce Pearl’s fault.
It was a great opportunity for Bruce Pearl. He had success in Milwaukee and he took advantage of the situation.
I told her, you know what, Nicole, if these guys were losing, it would pretty much be my fault I couldn’t recruit. Now they’re winning, and this guy’s a better coach than daddy. It’s pretty much a no-win situation.
Why be mad? Pull for them. Be happy for the guys and cheer them on.
Buzz Peterson is a wise, humble man living out his faith under difficult circumstances. Tennessee was fortunate to be associated with him.
