Penitent Pearl makes return in Rupp

On Monday, University of Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl made light of his return from an eight-game suspension in Rupp Arena against Kentucky.

"I think he originally wanted to do 10," Pearl said of Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive's unprecedented punishment. "But when he looked at the schedule, he saw that I have to go to Rupp and the O-Dome. He decided to settle for just eight and make me go to those two places."

Gallows humor, it's called.

No one knows better than the affable Pearl that his return to the sideline at Kentucky on Tuesday and at Florida on Saturday is no joking matter.

Amid reports that Pearl lied to NCAA investigators and asked others to also provide misleading information, Slive ordered him to not associate with his players nor assistant coaches on game days until one hour after the final buzzer through the first half of the conference schedule.

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