Bruce Pearl has been there from the start, supporting the Mike Slive Foundation’s fight to end prostate cancer.
“Every year, they come down to Neville Arena and we do prostate cancer screenings,” said Pearl, the legendary Auburn men’s basketball coach. “We’re talking about saving lives. Because if you detect prostate cancer early, your chances of living a longer life are terrific.”
For his work with the charity, Pearl will be honored at the 2025 Blue Shoe Ball, an event that helps raise funds for research. But Pearl’s connections with Slive – and the fight against cancer – go back decades.
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At the University of Tennessee, he and his coaching staff founded the OUTLIVE program in recognition of former Vols’ star guard Chris Lofton, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer as a collegian. And each season at Auburn, the Tigers hold an AUTLIVE Game, offering both a PSA blood test screening and an early glimpse of a perennial Final Four contender.
Pearl’s relationship with Slive, a powerhouse college sports administrator before he passed away in 2018, precedes their arrivals in the Southeastern Conference.
“Everyone knows him as the SEC commissioner, and he had a lot to do with where the league is now,” Pearl said. “But he’s probably the most instrumental person, from just a personal standpoint, over the years.”
Pearl and Slive had some notable clashes over the years, but the friendship never wavered.
“He had a lot to do with my leaving Tennessee unceremoniously a few years ago, but he also had a lot do with my returning to the SEC at Auburn,” Pearl added. “So, I’m forever grateful to Mike, to Anna (Slive Harwood) and the Slive family.”
Slive Harwood serves as the executive director of the Mike Slive Foundation, ensuring her father’s legacy continues to make the difference in lives across the nation.
“I know how much this would mean to my late father, Mike Slive, that we are honoring Coach Pearl at this year’s Blue Shoe Ball,” Slive Harwood said. “Coach is one of the most generous and engaging persons I know. Coach and my father understand the importance of relationships and helping others. I can’t think of a better time to honor Coach Pearl for all he has done for so many others.”
A Boston native, Pearl is fresh off his second Final Four appearance at Auburn. Despite massive roster changes, which are the norm in college hoops today, his 2025-26 Tigers are expected to be a powerhouse again. Before his arrival, Auburn struggled annually, yet Pearl saw a golden opportunity on The Plains that transcended the game.
“I’d like to call Auburn an ‘everything school,’ and we are,” he said, pointing out that the success isn’t limited to athletics. Enrollment is at an all-time high, and so is interest in the university, he noted.
“Auburn’s never been hotter. That’s because it’s a place that’s providing unbelievable public education at a very, very high level.”
During the same span, the SEC has emerged as perhaps college basketball’s most dominant league. A record 14 SEC teams made it to the NCAA Tournament last spring. The league maintained the record pace with seven teams making the Sweet 16. Half the field of the eight-team regional finals and national semifinals were SEC teams, with Florida emerging as national champion.
“It’s always been a good league, but a lot of times it was disrespected. Now, it is the premium league.”
What’s changed?
Pearl pointed to the quality of coaching across the board and a commitment to facilities, marketing and – most important – to players.
“A couple of years ago, the SEC really responded well to the opportunities that NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) presented, and we were investing in our athletes – particularly in men’s basketball this past year.
“I think the league is poised to have another really good year, but not as dominant as we were a year ago,” he added. “Part of that reason, I think, is that other leagues recognized that they were not competitive in the NIL arena.
“I hope the trend that we created last year will continue, but it’s a lot harder to keep it going than get it going.”
Auburn opens the season Oct. 15. Thus, the 2025 Blue Shoe Ball is one of Pearl’s final free nights before the grind of a new season begins.
“We appreciate the Mike Slive Foundation for prostate cancer research and, together, we’re going to do our best to end prostate cancer,” Pearl said. “Do your part. Get screened and find out what your PSA number is. By getting a baseline, you will have a better chance of detecting prostate cancer in time to ensure that you survive.”
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