OK, not sure how to handle today. We have the weekend winners and losers, and we’ll use that for several angles to the biggest story of the sports weekend.
But we also have our Masters contest and more golf. So we’ll use the opening stanza to say this: As difficult as the end of the Auburn basketball season was Saturday night, the way the players and coaches handled it, well, it made me proud of my alma mater and even more impressed with this team, which will be right there with the most beloved – regardless of sport – in school.
Bruce Pearl, in every postgame news conference I’ve seen, was gracious and respectful. Then there was this social media exchange between Pearl and UT star Grant Williams. William wrote: “Gut wrenching loss. @AuburnMBB had an incredible year and there’s nothing you can hang your head for. Some things you just can’t control. Try to remember the good things SEC Tourney Champions, First final four since 1984, and doing it all for Chuma. RESPECT. #SECBROTHERS”
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl directs his team during the second half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)To which Pearl responded: “When we talk about “it just means more”… this is what we are talking about! When you earn the respect of a Warrior you’ve accomplished something! VFL! War Eagle Grant!! @SEC”
I thought was especially pertinent considering the back-and-forth about rooting for other in-conference teams and rivals last week. Granted, there is the connection that is Pearl. Here’s more on Pearl’s handling of the matter from TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer.