Auburn’s Pearl deflflects investigation questions
As practice begins, coach says he won’t comment on case.
Auburn coachBruce Pearl wanted to talk about his team, the season and anything but the federal investigation that has ensnared his top assistant and engulfed the sport.
Pearl would only say Friday that the allegedbehavior leading to the arrest of suspendedassociateheadcoach Chuck Person on federal fraud and bribery charges “is unacceptable.”
He steered clear of the topic after that, making it a fairly short newsconference.
A few hours after Pearl made his fifirst public comments, Louisville named David Padgett interim coach. He replacesRick Pitino, who was placedonunpaidadministrative leave in thewake of the investigation.
When hewas introduced, Padgett said his taskwas not going to be easy, “It’s a very tumultuous time.”
Pearl would probably agree.
At his news conference, Pearl said he stood by the university’s initial statement, adding that, “I can’t and I won’t have any further comment.”
But the questions kept coming, and Pearl dodged them all.
Hewas asked 16 questions during a 10-minute news conference before Auburn’s fifirst practice, and only the last onewas unrelated to the investigation. He repeatedly tried to turn the focus back to his team and the opening ofpractice. All the playerson the rosterwere on the court.
Asked if hewould still feel optimistic if two playerswho allegedly received benefifits were declared ineligible, he responded: “I feel like this team has got a chance to compete for the (NCAA) Tournament.”
Pearl added, “So because I’m not going to be answeringanymorequestionsabout matters that are relating to (the investigation), if you have any more basketball questions, I’ll answer them. If you don’t, I can’t.”
Personis among 10people thathavebeenarrestedinthe corruption case, including four college assistant coaches and an Adidas executive. According to documents, Person received $91,500 in bribes to steer Auburn players to fifinancial advisor Martin Blazer and tailor Rashan Michel once they turn pro.
Person said $18,500 of the bribe money went to the families of two unnamed recruits, according to federal documents.
The documents quote Person as touting a highly ratedrecruitwhowould only “play a year and a half” at Auburn before turning pro. He arranged ameetingwith theplayer, BlazerandMichel.
The p l aye r wa sn’ t named, but center Austin Wiley joined the team last December and was a fivestar recruit. He was on the court withteammatesFriday.
Before the news of the federal investigation, the program was rolling along.
Pearl seemed to be on the brink of turning things around and feels he has Auburn poised to make a run at its fifirstNCAA Tournamentappearancesince2003. He brought in top recruits likeWiley, MustaphaHeron and Danjel Purifoy.
After winning 18 games last season, he said the program was “in really, really good shape.” Pearl wasn’t changing his tune Friday despite any potential fallout from the investigation.
“I do feel as confident going into the season as any season I’ve had,” he said.
Some fans aren’t so sure anymore. Auburn has been granting full refunds to season ticket holders after selling them out for the fourth consecutive year under Pearl, giving out about 30 by Wednesday afternoon. The ticket office referred questions about howmany refunds had been issued to a spokeswoman, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for an update.
When the university announced ithadsuspended Person, it said in a statement that the news was “shocking,” that the school is committedtoplayingby the rules and that’s what is expected of its coaches.
Other schools have also taken personnel actions. Louisville’s Pitino and Athletic Director Tom Jurich have already been placed on administrative leave.
Padgett, 32, is coming offff his fifirst season as an assistant following two seasons as Louisville’s director of basketball operations. He was a three-year starterwith the Cardinals under Pitino.
Oklahoma State has fifired assistantLamont Evans, who was also arrested.