Summitt believes she should be fired if she violates NCAA rules

HOOVER, Ala. - It's a good thing for University of Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl that Lady Vols counterpart Pat Summitt isn't also the school's athletic director.

Currently embroiled in an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations, Pearl has already had his salary cut and been removed from off-campus recruiting.

But as she took her turn at the Southeastern Conference's basketball media day on Thursday, Summitt had no doubt which direction UT should go if she was ever guilty of recruiting wrongs.

"I've never compromised at all, and I wouldn't," said Summitt, who has won eight national championships and graduated almost every one of her players. "(But) if I ever did (break rules), they should fire me."

Of course, Summitt was also quick to suggest that she was not suggesting a similar fate for Pearl.

"This is a difficult time for all of us," she said. "But I'm going to support Bruce. We all make mistakes."

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