Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl secured a comeback win against the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday, advancing to the Sweet 16 of this year’s NCAA Tournament. However, the four-time SEC Coach of the Year had a pressing issue on his mind following the victory: “Bring the hostages home.” This poignant plea referred to the hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the October 7 terrorist attack.
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl opens post-game presser by calling to “bring the hostages home.” #israel #hamas #ncaa #marchmadness #auburn pic.twitter.com/Jb93kYXYEd
— WVTM 13 (@WVTM13) March 23, 2025
During the press conference, Pearl stated, “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 me an opportunity to start this press conference, really briefly, and remind the world that Edan Alexander is still held hostage in Gaza right now. An American held hostage. And there aren’t enough people in this country that know his name. So I asked the players if it was okay if I started off this press conference and just called out the name of an American. Bring the hostages home.” Since the 2023 terrorist attack, Pearl has been vocal about the need to release hostages held in Gaza, previously sharing a chaotic video of hostages being released by Hamas to the Red Cross on social media.
This is what giving Palestinians Autonomy looks like. Does it look like they want peace? They made war, murdered and raped, built tunnels and hid under their people, launched rockets from living rooms, then screamed genocide. RELEASE HOSTAGES NOW, then live in peace or leave town https://t.co/BB6ENLUBtd
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) January 19, 2025
Pearl expressed, “This is what giving Palestinians Autonomy looks like. Does it look like they want peace? They made war, murdered and raped, built tunnels and hid under their people, launched rockets from living rooms, then screamed genocide. RELEASE HOSTAGES NOW, then live in peace or leave town.” It is unusual for a coach of Pearl’s prominence to engage in such geopolitical discussions, though he has been open about his support for Israel even before the October 7 attack.
One year prior, Pearl took his Auburn squad on a summer exhibition trip to Israel, where they played against national teams and explored historic sites. Pearl’s choice to utilize a March Madness press conference to voice his beliefs may draw criticism from those who advocate for keeping sports and politics separate. Yet, it is increasingly evident that this division is fading, as athletes and coaches frequently employ their platforms to promote their political views. Pearl’s Saturday press conference aligns with this trend, though the sensitive nature of the conflict in Gaza will likely attract detractors.
While the sports world has been relatively quiet on this issue, Pearl’s history of commentary regarding Israel—and his calls for hostage release since the tragic events of 2023—explain his motivation to leverage March Madness, the most significant platform in his sport, to convey his message to a broader audience.
