Reader in transfer portal, another wants Bruce Pearl as Lady Vols coach | Adams

Reader in transfer portal, another wants Bruce Pearl as Lady Vols coach | Adams

The transfer portal hit close to home recently. A hall of fame literary contributor entered the portal.

Another literary contributor has recommended Bruce Pearl for the Lady Vols coaching job. He apparently doesn’t realize the Lady Vols still have a coach, Kim Caldwell.

With that in mind, I checked the SEC by-laws. It’s OK for a school to have a coach even if the coach has no players.

James writes: First I would like to thank God, my family and friends for helping with this journey.

I would especially like to thank Coach Adams for his unwavering support. I also want to thank my fellow Hall of Fame contributors for their inspiration over the past several years. I will always cherish my time and the great memories I've made here.

But, after much thought, prayer, and soul-searching, I have decided it’s time to take my talents elsewhere. I am entering the contributor portal and joining Blake Toppmeyer's team.

Tough luck and zero loyalty. Take that, John.

My response: No hard feelings, James. I appreciate your literary contributions for all these years.

But frankly, I thought your writing had become stale. By moving on, you spared me what would have been an awkward conversation.

I don’t enjoy telling long-term contributors that I plan to recruit over them. It’s not personal. It’s just business.

If you bomb out with Toppmeyer, you could return here – provided, of course, you sharpen your skills,

Jimmy writes: Well then − for all the attention given the Lady Vols abandoning ship, it looks like the men’s team is taking the same approach. Must be the pollen driving them away.

My response: The three P's: Pollen, potholes and portal plague this area.

I’ve successfully battled the pollen, thanks to Dr. Ty Prince, who recommended a nasal spray called Ryaltris. It has worked wonders for my allergies.

I can’t help with the portal or the potholes, though. Driving the interstate through Knoxville is dangerous enough without potholes. A friend recently lost a tire in one of them.

David writes: I was wondering what your thoughts would be if Danny White owned up to his mistake and moved forward with a new hire. My thought would be to hire former Tennessee Vols coach Bruce Pearl, if White would be willing paying whatever his salary needed to be.

I am sure most − if not all Tennessee fans - would support this effort. It’s no secret that Bruce and Pat Summitt were close friends. History has shown that.

My response: That’s what I call "thinking outside the box."

Pearl became wildly popular in Knoxville after leading the Vols to six consecutive NCAA tournaments. And yes, he and Summitt were good friends.

But, as much as he liked Summitt and Knoxville, I don’t think he would be interested in coaching women’s basketball, especially at a program that seems intent on going out of business.

Since resigning as Auburn men’s basketball coach, Pearl has worked as a special assistant to the athletic director and as a television analyst.

Coincidentally, I recently sent an email to the president of our company, saying I would be willing to forgo column writing and serve as a special assistant to him.

All I got in return was a vomiting emoji from some administrative assistant. I assumed that was either a mistake or sent in jest.

I await a serious response.

Tom writes: So, what’s the over-under on Kim Caldwell’s future with UT?

My response: Tennessee insiders tell me the Lady Vols coaching job is hers as long as she wants it or until the program doesn’t have enough players to field a team — whichever comes first.

ADAMS: Danny White should know the value in correcting a bad hire quickly

Darryl writes: Kim Caldwell must be planning to use AI players, since they don’t quit. And UT could save money using an AI coach, after Caldwell drains the athletic department.

My response: You are ahead of your time, Darryl. UT supposedly has looked into the possibility of filling out its women's basketball roster with robots.

Unfortunately for the Lady Vols, current robots haven't been programmed for full-court defense or mass substitutions. But future models might fit Caldwell's system.

Be patient. Help could be on the way.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Reader in transfer portal, another wants Bruce Pearl as Lady Vols coach