In my life, there are certain immutable truths: Only eat one hot dog per game or you will be sorry the next day, and the University of Tennessee will lose in basketball when it plays Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

Granted, there are occasional variations which call into question these truths. For example, my grandparents once took me to a tripleheader to watch the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts play, which necessitated two legitimate meals consisting of hot dogs.

Also once in my life -- during my sophomore year in college -- UT traveled to Rupp Arena and beat Kentucky 47-46. But I choose to view these occasions as so outlandishly abnormal that they do not conflict with the immutable truths mentioned above. Until Tuesday night that is, when UT and first-year coach Bruce Pearl traveled into Lexington and emerged from amid the Big Blue Nation with a 75-67 victory.

For anyone who hasn't regularly watched the University of Tennessee play Kentucky at Rupp Arena, the Vols' victory likely escaped your attention due to the Duke-North Carolina grudge match. in conjunction with the continuing post-Super Bowl malaise that afflicts so much of our country. So I'd be extremely remiss if I didn't share these facts with you.

Bruce Pearl has arrived in Knoxville and taken a Tennessee team that went 14-17 last year (6-10 in the SEC) and currently has it at 17-3 (8-1 in the SEC). And he has accomplished this with the same players from last season. In the process, he has made himself into an absolute rock star and delivered the best and most succinct pregame speech I've ever heard, to Tennessee students before the Florida game.

Pearl delivered this speech in his trademark orange suspenders while standing on what appeared to be the caboose of a train. He looked like nothing less than a barnstorming Harry Truman in 1948 on the eve of Election Day. Pearl began by thanking Tennessee fans for their support and then uttered this transition line, "We haven't done anything yet to merit your support."

From somewhere amid the students below, a voice rang back, "Yes, you have," and this was met by a cheer. Pearl raised his hand and let loose a snapping refrain punctuated by three distinct pauses that had me ready to play:

"We are your basketball team ... I am your basketball coach ... and we are going to kick Florida's ass!"

In only 27 words, Pearl fashioned the Tennessee college basketball equivalent of the Gettysburg Address. And the basketball world has been taking note of Knoxville ever since.

In the process, Pearl gave hope to a fan base that has watched countless Volunteer teams dash out their hopes in futile charge after futile charge upon Rupp's ramparts.

In my 26 years upon this earth, the Vols had managed just one one-point victory. (In 1979 the Vols also traveled to Rupp Arena and won. But as I was still in my mother's womb, I choose not to count this victory as ClayNation was not intended to analyze in Roe v. Wade fashion when life begins). But now the Vols have Bruce Pearl, and suddenly everything on the college basketball horizon seems possible: an SEC title, an SEC tourney championship, a Final Four berth. Sure, why not?

Incidentally, I'll take this opportunity to respond to the Kentucky fans who e-mailed me after UK ran off five wins in a row over SEC teams with losing records. I will also note that after the Vanderbilt loss, UK hired a sports psychologist to work with the team. But now after two losses, by 15 at Florida and by eight at home to Tennessee, are Kentucky fans at last willing to accept that ClayNation Canon 12 is dripping with legitimacy?

Finally, reader Tim also points out that Kentucky took a team trip to go watch the movie Glory Road. This raises the truly interesting question of who the Kentucky team rooted for. Regardless, there's no doubt who Tennessee fans are rooting for.

Back to Bruce Pearl: In my life as a sports fan, I have never seen a basketball coach have such an impact in his first year on the job. That's not to say there aren't lots of other great coaching jobs this season. Karl Hobbs, at my alma mater of George Washington, Ben Howland at UCLA, Thad Matta at Ohio State and Billy Donovan at Florida are just a few who merit commendation, but none has brought their team as far as Pearl at Tennessee.

That's why, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Pearl absolutely has to be national Coach of the Year. As a final anecdote, in the moments immediately preceding the Vols' second victory at Rupp in my lifetime, Pearl walked along the team bench, gently remonstrating his players to "Act like you've been here."

This was despite the fact that no Tennessee player had, in fact, ever been here before. The celebration was saved until after the game, when Pearl drove his players crazy with laughter by ripping off his dress shirt as if he were a professional wrestler.

Sometimes a coach's most impressive job is to simply not be afraid to be himself in front of the team -- and the nation. Fortunately for Volunteer fans, Pearl's colorful personality really just boils down to one color ... The Big Orange.