Topless at Tennessee, Part Three: Bruce Pearl shows some skin but Lane Kiffin keeps covered
Bruce Pearl (left) took it off but Lane Kiffin (right) kept it on. (AP photos)
Although new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has gotten the most press from his coaches’ shirt-ripping stunt during an early March Junior Day visit from recruits, in truth it was men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl who really started the whole Tennessee Topless phenomenon when he showed up shirtless and painted in orange to show support for the Lady Vols in a 2007 game against rival Duke.
Pearl went shirtless again Monday night when he and three Vols athletes performed a rap song during Tennessee’s athletics awards ceremony. The hoops coach sported one of his trademark orange-and-white checkered sport coat, orange tie and… a lot of skin.
For his part, Lane Kiffin remained clothed, performing in a skit with father / defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
VIDEO: Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s topless rap
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
29 comments Add your comment
Professor
April 16th, 2009
8:54 am
Is this a university or a circus?
G
April 16th, 2009
8:55 am
Its good to see he doesnt take himself too seriously. Neither do I
AllVOL
April 16th, 2009
9:07 am
Yes, it is great to be a Tennessee VOL!!! Woot woot!! GO VOLS!!
SecIsFootball
April 16th, 2009
9:09 am
I would be embarrassed to be a Tennessee Vol. Your coaches are making UT a punchline!!!
Dizzle
April 16th, 2009
9:17 am
What is your obssession with this, Carvell? Why not focus more on in-state recruits instead of out-of-state recruiters? Let’s focus on the kids, not the circus. Maybe you’ve heard that one of the top players in the state is announcing today. How about an article about TJones? Or should we look for an article tomorrow on how TJones wasn’t persuaded by UT’s shirtless antics? “Wild Boys”…that’s so gay.
KBVol
April 16th, 2009
9:18 am
I think it is funny how Tennessee makes the Atlanta newspaper at least once or twice a month now. I guess there is nothing worth reading about going on at Georgia. At least the VOLS can have a little fun every once in a while!
UGA man
April 16th, 2009
9:20 am
Darn, thought we could get through a week without an article on the UT strippers. How bout an article on the Scout Combine in Atlanta last week? Pretty much all the top Georgia prospects participated. Seems that would be of much more interest than some UT coach taking his shirt off?
joe
April 16th, 2009
9:22 am
SECIF…Tennessee would be embarassed if you were a Vol, so there.
Pearls rap just made Sportscenter - Page 3 - VolNation
April 16th, 2009
9:22 am
[...] Here’s a write-up from the AJC….Feel free to leave your comments on the blog, it really gets the UGA fans’ knickers in a twist. Topless at Tennessee, Part Three: Bruce Pearl shows some skin but Lane Kiffin keeps covered | Inside… [...]
jimmyb
April 16th, 2009
9:38 am
I would be embarrassed to say i was a vol. The coaches are making the university a joke !
UGA man
April 16th, 2009
9:42 am
200 or so participants in the Scout Combine last week in Atlanta and not one article about it in the AJC. Guess they are working on their Knoxville subscription rate. Maybe the Combine was closed to the media. If so, at least some mention of that would be better than readers thinking the AJC felt a bare chested basketball coach from UT was more news worthy.
Bamafan
April 16th, 2009
9:43 am
I like Bruce Pearl as a coach and respect how gets his team ready to play basketball. Kiffin you just
want to hit in the mouth!!
MonVol
April 16th, 2009
9:57 am
First of all, that jacket is sweeeettt. Second, the story is mildly newsworthy having even been included on Sportscenter. I wouldn’t do it…probably…if I were coach, but it’s good to see the guys having fun at UT.
Steve
April 16th, 2009
10:01 am
Bruce Pearl has shown to be a big supporter of UT athletics. He likes to cut loose and have some fun going it. Some people may be embarrased by it. I think he does his antics in a respectful manner always showing support in a positive manner. When was the last time any other men’s NCAA coach showed that type support for a women’s program at their university.
Lane Kiffin is either trying to start trouble or just needs to learn how to watch what he says. He’s in the SEC now, where every word he mutters will be used against him by the other coaches preparing their teams to meet him. We’ll see how Urban thanks Kiffen this coming fall.
UGA Hardcore
April 16th, 2009
10:18 am
UGA man (or should I say Dean Dawgpost), who cares about the stupid Scout combine? Go read your own website about that stupid stuff. Scout is a joke. Your daddy CS got beat on both Georgia commits Saturday. He’s slipping. The REAL combines are coming up with Nike and UA.
Rivals Supporter
April 16th, 2009
10:35 am
UGA man is Simmons. “Pretty much ALL of the top Georgia prospects participated?” LOLOLOLOL. Where was JJames? Garrison Smith? Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. Etc. You’ll see all the top prospects at the real one.
beeeeeeeee
April 16th, 2009
10:53 am
We love Bruce Pearl and the Tennessee Vols!
He is a great person and fun guy! Who says u cant have alittle fun now and again. Cant wait to see how the football team does and am driving up for the orange and white game!
Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!
Boo Yeah
April 16th, 2009
10:58 am
Simmons, I can’t wait for more of your reports on the freshmen and sophomores at North Paulding High School WTH????? Did they buy advertising while you were there?
Dawg Man
April 16th, 2009
11:01 am
First Kiffin with all his gaffes, insults and embarrassments, now Bruce Pearl gets in the act. Class has totally left the UT program—it’s now filled with a bunch of hucksters, acting like 10th grade idiots, but getting paid millions. UGA will destroy UT this year. Kiffin will be lucky to win 4 SEC games. But, he’s a showman, so they’ll put up with it for a few years.
Whatever
April 16th, 2009
11:17 am
It was meant to be entertainment at an awards show, get over it people!
ChattaVol
April 16th, 2009
11:18 am
Ahhh, the bizarre AJC obsession with all things UT continues… I will say it again, nobody in TN talks about anything UGA at any time. Nobody cares. The only thing I can chalk it up to is the fact that Atlanta is second only to Knoxville in terms of its UT fan base.
sickofugafans
April 16th, 2009
11:22 am
Now if CLK’s wife goes topless…i have a feeling nobody here complains.
Brandon
April 16th, 2009
11:33 am
I take it Bruce never hits the gym!
ClemsonDude
April 16th, 2009
11:51 am
Bruce Pearl remind me of a scummie used car salesman…A little on the white trash side in Hillbillie country.
Vols_1
April 16th, 2009
3:49 pm
Dawg fans are just jealous that UT has coaches who are more interesting than watching paint dry.
What?
April 16th, 2009
8:54 pm
Next time any UGA fan talks about how classless Tennessee is, think of this- 15 arrests last year for UGA’s football team including one for Mr. Sturdivant feeling up a pregnant lady in a bar, but Mark Richt still tries to preach values in public while he turns a blind eye to his own players. At least Tennessee doesn’t pretend to be something their not. Its the SEC (League of rednecks for those who don’t know), many adults to crazy things in recruiting.
scott
April 16th, 2009
11:36 pm
will at least UT Basketball team can be talked about uga basketball…., and tech even though they got favors he is gonna be one and done, and by the way who did florida beat worse last year UT or was it UGA that got fifty put on them, hmmmm?
bh
April 17th, 2009
12:04 pm
It is just so sad to see the level that some will go to just to “fit in” and hopefully get a few more recruits to take notice. The “gangsta” image that is being promoted in sports only gains momemtum when you have this type stuff. What about the middle schoolers watching? Sad.
David
April 22nd, 2009
1:09 pm
If you expect TN fans to be embarrased, forget it. They know they can act like a jackass and get away with it. There only punishment is having to look at that ugly orange on their fellow fans. Wait to you see that checkerboard white or black, these guys think they invented tachy. I’ll bet wearing sun glasses doesn’t even stop it.