An opinion question about TN, NOT related to the recruiting thread!

[cabbie191]

My wife does not follow WCBB very much but allows me to occasionally bring her up to speed on hot topics on the BY.

Yesterday we were discussing the origins of the dislike that has developed between the two schools' fan bases. I mentioned some of the facts that have been highlighted here recently - the allegations made by TN officials and staff to the NCAA against the Huskies and the lack of any apology by anyone connected with TN when those allegations were found to be without merit. I also told her about the attacks that were made against some of our BY posters and how this brought in the FBI, etc.

After listening to this, and her previously being aware of the turmoil within the TN athletic department, she asked me this question: "Do you think any of the firings of staff affiliated with the Lady Vols program might be some sort of consequence for the false allegations made against UConn? Some kind of cleaning house"?

I personally don't think this is likely the case but it's an interesting question so I throw it out for your learned opinions!

 

[Icebear]

I highly doubt it. It seems to be a heavy dose of internal politics.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Absolutely internal politics. And nasty ones, from what has been published.

I suspect that Pat's health decline made it easier to occur. although I suspect that changes were coming in any case.

 

[UcMiami]

The TN athletic department had been split into two fairly autonomous units between the Men's programs and the Women's programs. The current AD/Admin is in the process of combining those two into a single homogenous department. This has led to consolidation of areas like training staff with some positions being combined and personnel being let go. The results have been mixed with lawsuits and accusations of discrimination, not that uncommon in these kinds of reorganizations. In addition, the fact that Pat had become an 'institution' and her program sacrosanct within the department may be adding to the acrimony now that she is no longer actively protecting her turf. So as others say, nothing to do with us - all internal to TN.
On the history question - I would say Uconn/TN was a very intense/heated rivalry between the two best programs but fairly healthy until maybe 2004 or 2005 where the contrast in personalities of the coaches became more important than the actual basketball, and then spun out of control with the accusations and cancellation of the series.

 

[CL82]

On the history question - I would say Uconn/TN was a very intense/heated rivalry between the two best programs but fairly healthy until maybe 2004 or 2005 where the contrast in personalities of the coaches became more important than the actual basketball, and then spun out of control with the accusations and cancellation of the series.

Spot on. It was a competitive mutually respectful rivalry until Tennessee tried using trickery, deceit and 'the politics of personal destruction' to do off the court what it could no longer do on the court.

 

[semper]

Nah, they probably gave them awards! But I do think it would not probably have happened without Pat being sick. And at the time we were so outraged, we didn't know she was sick. It still is outrageous though.

 

[msf22b]

I find it revealing that while senior (and much respected) members of this discussion group remain firmly opposed to resumption of play between ourselves and UTenn and many disparage that team's current ability as well as their future prospects.

There nevertheless remains a fascination with that program as evidenced by no less than three current threads on our board (their free board has only one; disgusting as it may be).

My conclusion: get over it (completely, meaning an end to the proliferation of UTenn threads).

Or play ball.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I find it revealing that while senior (and much respected) members of this discussion group remain firmly opposed to resumption of play between ourselves and UTenn and many disparage that team's current ability as well as their future prospects.

There nevertheless remains a fascination with that program as evidenced by no less than three current threads on our board (their free board has only one; disgusting as it may be).

My conclusion: get over it (completely, meaning an end to the proliferation of UTenn threads).

Or play ball.

Why don't you just read and post in threads you approve of?

 

[RadyLady]

Absolutely internal politics. And nasty ones, from what has been published.

I suspect that Pat's health decline made it easier to occur. although I suspect that changes were coming in any case.

The TN athletic department had been split into two fairly autonomous units between the Men's programs and the Women's programs. The current AD/Admin is in the process of combining those two into a single homogenous department. This has led to consolidation of areas like training staff with some positions being combined and personnel being let go. The results have been mixed with lawsuits and accusations of discrimination, not that uncommon in these kinds of reorganizations. In addition, the fact that Pat had become an 'institution' and her program sacrosanct within the department may be adding to the acrimony now that she is no longer actively protecting her turf. So as others say, nothing to do with us - all internal to TN.
On the history question - I would say Uconn/TN was a very intense/heated rivalry between the two best programs but fairly healthy until maybe 2004 or 2005 where the contrast in personalities of the coaches became more important than the actual basketball, and then spun out of control with the accusations and cancellation of the series.

I agree that the combination of the men's and women's Athletic Departments were a foregone conclusion, and I suspect that the reason it hadn't been done earlier was the strength of the WCBB program headed by PHS. I suspect that she had a lot of clout - these are my own opinions based on observation, something you UC, appear to agree.

Once PHS was...."out of the way"....that's when all of the changes to combine the two commenced, which appears to support my opinion.

 

[Icebear]

I find it revealing that while senior (and much respected) members of this discussion group remain firmly opposed to resumption of play between ourselves and UTenn and many disparage that team's current ability as well as their future prospects.

There nevertheless remains a fascination with that program as evidenced by no less than three current threads on our board (their free board has only one; disgusting as it may be).

My conclusion: get over it (completely, meaning an end to the proliferation of UTenn threads).

Or play ball.

That is largely the result of the Boneyard welcoming the participation of a variety of TN fans and the specific history. Without that remaining interaction between fans and newbies among UCONN fans who don't know the history those threads would eventually dry up and disappear.

 

[doggydaddy]

I find it revealing that while senior (and much respected) members of this discussion group remain firmly opposed to resumption of play between ourselves and UTenn and many disparage that team's current ability as well as their future prospects.

There nevertheless remains a fascination with that program as evidenced by no less than three current threads on our board (their free board has only one; disgusting as it may be).

My conclusion: get over it (completely, meaning an end to the proliferation of UTenn threads).

Or play ball.

My conclusion? Don't tell others what to post about. Don't like it? Don't read it. Or join the discussion.

 

[FairView]

They were fired for not working hard enough to make the false allegations stick.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

One thing has nothing to do with the other. U Tenn just recently reiterated their not wishing to renew the rivalry - a statement from the Athletic Department to a reporter. That is an ongoing endorsement of the Pat Summit position.

 

[Boxerpups4me]

I find it revealing that while senior (and much respected) members of this discussion group remain firmly opposed to resumption of play between ourselves and UTenn and many disparage that team's current ability as well as their future prospects.

There nevertheless remains a fascination with that program as evidenced by no less than three current threads on our board (their free board has only one; disgusting as it may be).

My conclusion: get over it (completely, meaning an end to the proliferation of UTenn threads).

Or play ball.

Tennessee and UCONN are the two most successful WCBB programs by far and have a storied and infamous rivalry, so why are you surprised by Tenn threads that pop up? The only board I'm familiar with that deals strictly with Tennessee Lady Vol basketball is the Summitt and it is a premium site, not free. And as a member, I can assure you there are several recent threads relating to UCONN basketball.

 

[msf22b]

so why are you surprised by Tenn .

I'm certainly not surprised; seen them myself quite regularly for the last four years that I've participated on this forum.

I was just musing that despite the virtually unanimous views of the senior leadership here, who went through that reportedly horrible period and who have ruled out (virtually unanimously) any reestablishment of regular season play,
there still remains a fascination with matters UTenn both large and small.

I suppose I find that inconsistent.

To Doggy: I certainly did not intend for my missive to be an instruction of what to post or not. And if it was so understood, I apologize for that.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Tennessee and UCONN are the two most successful WCBB programs by far and have a storied and infamous rivalry, so why are you surprised by Tenn threads that pop up? The only board I'm familiar with that deals strictly with Tennessee Lady Vol basketball is the Summitt and it is a premium site, not free. And as a member, I can assure you there are several recent threads relating to UCONN basketball.

This site is free - LINK

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm certainly not surprised; seen them myself quite regularly for the last four years that I've participated on this forum.

I was just musing that despite the virtually unanimous views of the senior leadership here, who went through that reportedly horrible period and who have ruled out (virtually unanimously) any reestablishment of regular season play,
there still remains a fascination with matters UTenn both large and small.

I suppose I find that inconsistent.

To Doggy: I certainly did not intend for my missive to be an instruction of what to post or not. And if it was so understood, I apologize for that.

All I can figure mfs22b is that it is hot stove season. We rock back in our chairs, chew on times gone by, send a stream of tobacco juice to the stove and watch the smoke rise. To mix metaphors, we also turn over rocks to see what might come crawling out.

Fall will come and those threads we find puzzling will get lost in the haze.

 

[itsasport]

Perhaps the Tenn. fans could weigh in on this, but the "consolidation," seems to be primarily at the expense of the women's side. Combined with the low head coach salary, by getting rid of a number of highly qualified, and presumably, well-paid Lady Vol staff, the AD is saving a lot of money, and also, reasserting control.

I've always wondered if the Tenn. athletic department was happy about the ending of the UConn series, if for no other reason than the loss of gate and TV revenue. And if the recent coach-to-coach feeler from the Tenn. side was really on orders from the Tenn. AD.

 

[stwainfan]

I don't think ending the series is having a big impact on recruiting. The top recruit Russell and others are showing that. I have no objection to starting the series again.

 

[Bestiarius]

Perhaps the Tenn. fans could weigh in on this, but the "consolidation," seems to be primarily at the expense of the women's side. Combined with the low head coach salary, by getting rid of a number of highly qualified, and presumably, well-paid Lady Vol staff, the AD is saving a lot of money, and also, reasserting control.

I've always wondered if the Tenn. athletic department was happy about the ending of the UConn series, if for no other reason than the loss of gate and TV revenue. And if the recent coach-to-coach feeler from the Tenn. side was really on orders from the Tenn. AD.

I agree. It seems to me that the athletic dept. thought Pat was a power hungry empire builder. They would have acted sooner, but her fan support prevented the administration from doing anything about it. Once the illness weakened her abilities, they took the opportunity to begin dismantling her empire. Pat and her staff were quite militant and fought back with lawsuits and covert resistance.
It was a dirty game being played by both sides.

Regarding the feeler from Tenn, whether it was Holly's idea or the ADs, Tenn's reaction to Geno's rejection was strange. Instead of saying Geno rejected the idea, the response was Tenn doesn't want to play UConn. I recall reading a quote from Holly that the series would not resume out of respect for Pat. (I can't find the quote, am I hallucinating?) But whatever, Tenn threw Holly under the bus on that one.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I don't think ending the series is having a big impact on recruiting. The top recruit Russell and others are showing that. I have no objection to starting the series again.

That's funny.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Summitt had surrounded herself with a clique of good ole' girls. Now that she is gone the AD is simply cleaning house.