Bruce Pearl reveals why he remains outspoken on Israeli conflict, calls for change

Auburn advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after defeating Creighton 82-70 in the second round on Saturday. It’s the Tigers’ third appearance in the tournament’s second weekend in the last four seasons.

However, head coach Bruce Pearl did not open up his postgame press conference with a typical opening statement. Instead of talking basketball, or the game that was played, Pearl took the opportunity to made a plea for the return of Edan Alexander, the last living American being held hostage by Hamas.

“I get asked a lot how this basketball program has become so competitive over the last eight years,” Pearl said. “But for me, I believe it was God’s plan to give us this success, success beyond what we deserve. To give us this platform. To give us an opportunity to start this conference briefly and remind the world that Edan Alexander is still held hostage in Gaza right now. An American held hostage and not enough people in this country know his name.”

A reporter followed up on Pearl’s comments, asking what made the Auburn head coach begin his press conference in this way. Pearl answered with a story. Pearl said that his opening statement starts with his faith. That God blessed the Auburn basketball team to put his program on a platform for him to discuss the matter.

Pearl touched on why he remains outspoken on the issue, stating that he’s a Jewish American who loves his country more than anything in the world. His grandfather was an immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1929. 21 years later, he became an American citizen and called it the greatest day of his life. Pearl feels that same pride all these decades later.

“At the same time Israel that is our ancestral homeland and it’s under attack,” Pearl continued. “It’s under siege. All it wants to do is live in peace with its neighbors, and there are Arab countries that are wanting peace with Israel right now, but there is a segment of the population that is there in the Middle East doing nothing but attacking Israel for 85 years.

“Oct. 7 was the worst day since the Holocaust for the Jewish people, and they say they want to do it again and again and again. We have American hostages in Gaza right now, and it’s unacceptable. And President Trump called it out, and said if they just free the hostages, the killing would stop. Free the hostages, and the killing will stop, and that’s up to Hamas.”