'It's a special place': Bruce Pearl, Charles Barkley praise Auburn's atmosphere in building success, attracting recruits
AUBURN — The Auburn football program welcomed over 200 football prospects to campus on Saturday, including many four and five-star prospects that are among the nation’s elite. They weren’t alone. The basketball program welcomed some studs, too.
Much has changed since Bruce Pearl arrived at Auburn selling hopes and dreams what the Tigers’ basketball program could one day be. After three SEC championships (two regular season and one tournament), a Final Four appearance, and multiple players drafted and playing in the NBA, the pitch from Pearl has changed.
The results speak for themselves, but it’s the atmosphere and culture around the town of Auburn that Pearl is most proud of.
“The atmosphere was great,” Pearl said of the energy inside and around Jordan-Hare Stadium last Saturday. “These kids are going on lots of visits to lots of different places whose atmospheres are great, but this atmosphere is better. It’s just different.
“I think part of it is when they leave the stadium and recognize how truly welcoming people are, how people are getting along, even the out-of-town guests, with the exception of when the dogs are barking, Georgia fans can come to Auburn and they’ll walk away saying they were treated with respect and saying, ‘I had a great time at Auburn.’ That doesn’t exists everywhere and it exists here. That’s the kind of kids we want and have here at Auburn.”
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The media spoke to Pearl at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National golf course on Monday prior to the Pearl and Charles Barkley’s annual fundraising golf tournament. Barkley echoed what Pearl said about what Auburn means to him, calling it a “family reunion” every time he returns.
“You just have to come to Auburn,” Barkley said. “Everybody likes their college, but Auburn is a very special place. I was with Takeo Spikes and Frank Thomas, every time we come back down here it’s like coming to a family reunion. Auburn is such an awesome, special place. There’s a lot of good schools, but Auburn is a special place. I got here in 1981 which was 100 years ago, and every time I come down here it’s always special.”
