Tennessee college basketball coach Bruce Pearl apologized for a joke referencing the Ku Klux Klan that he made at a fundraiser on September 24, 2009.

At the fundraiser, Pearl said, "I've got a tough job. I've got to put these guys from different worlds together, right? I've got guys from Chicago, Detroit ... I'm talking about the 'hood! And I've got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood." Later that same day, Pearl apologized and said he was "trying to excite the crowd" and "did not intend to offend anyone."http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4502768

"Unfortunately while I was trying to excite the crowd and encourage employees to give, I made an inappropriate joke. I certainly did not intend to offend anyone and I apologize to everyone, especially the people of Grainger County."http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4502768

"In no way am I trying to justify what I said, but I'm disappointed that the focus has been placed on me rather than the charities I was there to help. My only hope is that the visibility of this mistake will encourage those who can to give to those in need during these difficult times."http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4502768