Auburn's Bruce Pearl Says Divine Inspiration Motivated His Plea for Hostage Edan Alexander

Auburn men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl made headlines not just for leading his team to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, but for using his postgame press conference to draw attention to Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage held by Hamas in Gaza.

In a Monday interview on "Fox & Friends," Pearl revealed that he felt divinely inspired to speak out. "I was walking down the hall with my players, thanking God for our blessings, and in some ways, He spoke to me," Pearl said. "He reminded me to take advantage of this platform." Pearl then asked his players if it would be okay to mention Alexander during the press conference. Their response? A resounding yes.

Pearl's impassioned plea during the press conference quickly went viral, as he reminded the world that Alexander, a 21-year-old soldier, is one of the few remaining American hostages in Gaza. "We believe he is still alive," Pearl said. "Not enough people in this country know his name."

Beyond advocating for Alexander, Pearl also addressed the broader tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He lamented the protests in the U.S. supporting Hamas, calling them heartbreaking for Jewish communities. "We are so close to peace in the Middle East with some Arab nations supporting the Abraham Accords," he said. "But there’s a segment of the population that has called for violence and the death of Jews since Israel’s existence."

Pearl, who is Jewish, credits his faith for much of his success. "So much of what we’ve achieved at Auburn is because we pray first and thank God for the blessings," he said. "We must call out the difference between good and evil."

Alexander’s plight underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attack, over half of the 59 hostages initially held are believed to have died. Hamas has reportedly offered to release Alexander and the bodies of four others in exchange for Israel recommitting to a ceasefire agreement.

When asked about his decision to speak out, Pearl didn’t mince words. "October 7 was the worst day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust," he said. "We have American hostages in Gaza right now, and it’s unacceptable. Free the hostages, and the killing will stop. That’s up to Hamas."

Pearl’s comments add a poignant layer to the March Madness tournament, reminding sports fans that even the biggest games pale in comparison to matters of life and death.