Things just got very interesting

Per the Knoxville News-Sentinel...

The University of Iowa has officially contacted the University of Tennessee and requested permission to talk to Bruce Pearl about its vacant head coaching position.

UT Athletics Director Mike Hamilton said today he has granted Iowa permission to speak with Pearl.

Huge news. HUGE. Assuming there's no clandestine negotiating going on, Pearl is clearly Iowa's first choice. He and his staff both have big ties to the state of Iowa, so a move back makes sense for him too.

There are two ways this scenario will end: Bruce Pearl will either be coaching in Iowa City next season, or Tennessee is going to make him incredibly wealthy. He makes $1.3 million a year in Tennessee right now and is returning a much better team; Iowa had better be prepared to shell out TONS of money.