Buzz is always willing to lend a hand
by Tony Basilio
A wise man once said that a great test of character occurs in the face of adversity. In the heat of a firestorm around his floundering program, Buzz Peterson’s makeup is under the gun. He must decide between his job security and honoring his integrity. That he is in this position reveals more about his chosen profession than his own potential shortcomings.
When Buzz Peterson first arrived at UT, he was left a bare talent cupboard. Therefore, early success was predicated on locking down everyone from the previous regime by discouraging any players from transferring, while also keeping Jerry Green’s final class of recruits from bolting. One signee, Elgrace Wilborn of Ohio, wanted out. He wanted to attend Michigan State. He had only one problem. He had signed a National Letter of Intent. Therefore, Wilborn was bound to UT, to a coach he had never met. Choosing to attend another school would’ve meant forfeiting a year of his eligibility plus sitting out one year while transferring. Peterson meanwhile, fresh off signing a couple of recruits at Tulsa, paid no such penalty when he bolted Tulsa for the Big Orange only months earlier. Needing bodies, Peterson refused to let Wilborn out of his scholarship. Three years later, the shoe is on the other foot for Buzz.
Tennessee has bodies, but few players. Having only three scholarships in an off-season which sees the Volunteer State replete with national caliber players, Peterson seems to be singing from a different song book.
Following Tennessee’s humiliating season-ending loss to George Mason, Buzz gave us a glimpse inside the pressure faced by Division I head coaches when he uttered the following regarding the uncertain future of a couple of current and perhaps soon ex-Vols: “I’ll make some decisions. There are a couple of guys, two or three maybe, that I will sit down with. If they don’t go with my agenda, then there’s going to be a different opportunity for them.” Here’s the kicker as Peterson continued: “A scholarship runs year to year, and I want guys on this team who are going to win.” A few Buzz-killing days later, he backed off these strong comments claiming that he heard rumors of up to three current Vols considering transferring. Peterson’s new explanation is that he was sending a signal to those guys. Whatever. How many coaches do you think tell the parents of recruits that they will be evaluated at the end of each season at which time it will be decided as to whether or not they will continue to receive a full ride?
Peterson’s frustration-laden post-game candor reveals a seamy underbelly of Division I sports. It’s stuff that usually takes place behind closed doors when a coach privately tells a substandard player in good academic standing a couple of years into a college career that his services will no longer be needed. Remember, we need players who want to win. We have to win! Oh, did I mention that this player who gets the bad news that he won’t be back is “helped” by the coach as he finds him another opportunity at another school. And while receiving this “help” upon transferring, the student athlete will have to sit out a year and lose a year of eligibility. Not to mention the stark reality of leaving behind social support and the loss of credit hours in a possible transfer. Now that’s what I call help! When pressed by the media as to whom he was considering “helping,” Peterson mentioned a pair of Tennessee sophomores: John Winchester and Boomer Herndon.
While embattled John Winchester has needed “help” since arriving at Tennessee, “helping” Boomer Herndon would be a major mistake and borderline unethical. While not the greatest player in the world, Herndon is a solid team player. Herndon is a young man who works hard both in the classroom and on the hardwood. It’s not his fault that he has been recruited perhaps at a level that exceeds his God-given talent. Carrying Boomer Herndon for two more years will not kill Tennessee’s basketball program. Wade Houston and Jerry Green couldn’t even kill it...
Buzz seems to have backed down from his initially stated intentions of cleaning house. Let’s hope so. “Helping” Boomer Herndon would confirm that Buzz Peterson is just like the system in which he operates, wrought with hypocrisy and short on substance. Don’t do it, Buzz!
Tune in and talk sports with "The Tony Basilio Show" each weekday from 3-6 p.m. on the network (670 WMTY-AM, 850 WKVL-AM, 1140 WLOD-AM, 1290 WATO-AM, or 1400 WGAP-AM).
March 25, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 13
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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