By Dave Ford

Maybe there is life after basketball for Dane Bradshaw after all.

Upon taking the podium on Jan. 24 at McClung Museum, the former Tennessee fan-favorite made a crack at the Memphis Tigers which stirred the attending fans into laughter.

“Sorry I was late you guys, I was eating at Calhoun’s and got cornered in the bathroom by a few Memphis fans,” said Bradshaw. “They were still upset I called them gang bangers a couple of years ago.”

A struggling reserve for Buzz Petersen before the arrival of Bruce Pearl, Bradshaw said he’s still amazed at how much the salesman posing as a college basketball coach impacted his career.

“Who would’ve thought I’d be doing any guest star appearance talking to anybody the way the first two years (of his UT career) were going,” he said.

Bradshaw admitted the relationship he and Pearl shared both on the court and now off it is out of the ordinary.

“Obviously we had a rare great relationship that you just don’t see in college basketball,” he said. “It’s well documented that Coach Pearl endowed the scholarship in my name, which really meant a lot.”

While some of his former teammates found themselves unprepared when Pearl arrived on campus and took not only the program but the rest of the college basketball nation by storm, Bradshaw was ready for him.

That sort of discipline to prepare for whatever may come was something Bradshaw remembers Pearl telling  him often.

“Coach Pearl said, ‘You’re opportunity’s going to come once, I can guarantee you that. But I can’t guarantee it’s going to come a second time, so you better be ready for it,’” reflected Bradshaw.

Pearl’s influence combined with his own desire to work hard and succeed led Bradshaw to consecutive successful seasons as a junior and senior and later led to a self-authored book entitled, Vertical Leap.

But contrary to what most people would believe, Bradshaw doesn’t miss playing basketball on a regular basis in general, he misses wearing the orange and white.

“I miss playing for UT more than I miss playing basketball, if that makes sense,” he said. “When I see those guys run through the “T” coming down through the stands, that’s the type of stuff I miss.”

Bradshaw praised the Tennessee fans for taking him in and accepting him for the blue collar player he was, and the well-spoken, good natured local personality he is.

“I’m really fortunate to be around such a phenomenal fan base like yourself who allowed me to really live out a dream,” said Bradshaw.

The same guy who inspired what is now referred to as a “glue player” attributed his success to great timing.

“Timing is everything and I run across guys all the time that say, ‘I would give anything if I could have played for Coach Pearl back when I was at Tennessee, I wish he would have come into my career,’” said Bradshaw.

When asked if coaching is in his future, Bradshaw didn’t shy away from the question.

“He (Pearl) has always said I can come back to coach when the time is right. Not right now, but I still feel like it’s in me,” he said.

But before taking a seat next to Pearl on the bench as one of his assistant’s, Bradshaw said he’d have to explore another option first.

“The way things are evolving around here at UT I can make more money as a UT football water boy,” he said, again stirring up laughter in the room.

“I’d rather learn the Xs and Os of college football before I get on Pearl’s staff. Pearl’s top assistant’s going to be making less than the water boy over there.”

It’s not a bad deal being a former UT student-athlete. Just ask Dane Bradshaw.