Rick Byrd with Cal at practice

bballcat4

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2008
4,177
4,470
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They tried but he didn’t want the UT job. He’s an older coach, established in Nashville, Nashville is arguably a better community, etc. He’s the king of Belmont basketball.

The UT offer was after Pearl or Tyndale. He interviewed for the job when they hired Buzz Peterson. That was big miss on UT’s side. Byrd would still be coaching UT twenty years later if they would’ve hired him then.

Don’t blame him for staying at Belmont after the last few hires.
 

awsharb

Sophomore
Nov 28, 2012
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Good article in the Tennessean a couple of days ago. Mike Hamilton former AD almost hired him but hired Cuonzo instead. Bryd was 57 at the time and was coming off 4 th NCAA appearance and had almost beat Duke in tourney.
I think lost by 1 point. Byrd would have taken it as it would have set his family up for life with the salary. He grew up in Knoxville. Belmont cannot pay much, He is a great coach.
 

RACdad

Heisman
Mar 8, 2005
10,038
10,104
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Some...... P5 rejects. I live here, see and love Byrd and Belmont, 100% for them unless they were to play UK. Belmont doesn't take academic rejects.
like some state schools do.
I'm guessing you didn't see my original reply to another poster. And I also live in the area.