Battle for 9

[ctfjr]

If things were the way they were in the beginning between UConn and Tenn I would say yes what a classic. But they're not and it will never be same, thanks to what Pat and Tenn tried to do to UConn and what UConn had to go through to prove their innocence. What Tenn did to UConn and tried to accomplish was horrific. Many of us that lived through it couldn't believe it. I don't ever want to play Tenn again. I don't know why fans keep trying to bring back the past. Most of the past between Tenn and UConn was memorable but not good. When UConn beat Tenn for the first time in 1995 Tenn fans flooded the boards with anger, and it got worse as time went on. UConns 1995 Undeafeated NC was scarred by Tenn fans who just wouldn't give up. The icing on the cake was when DT came and the way she manhandled Tenn in every game. But the last straw came when Pat and Geno were after Maya Caroline and EDD and many Tenn fans thought they had the upper hand only to have all 3 come to UConn. That's when the anger turned in to destruction. Tenn their fans and almost many associated with Tenn were out to destroy UConn Geno CD and everything they built . That was the beginning of the end for Tenn. No I don't ever want to play Tenn again. It will never be the same. Never Ever. What Tenn made UConn go through and when I say UConn Im talking the school, players, recruits, parents, coaches, administration, and some of our fans, was humiliating, embarrassing and gut renching. There is no room for a Tenn UConn rematch no matter what for me and there will never be. Tenn cant not loose enough games for me. What they did was despicable.

If by some miracle Tenn made it to the Finals against UConn it would be humiliating and embarrassing for Tenn. The hatred that some of the Tenn fans carry would be worst then a boiling pail of oil. If you think not go pay to join the Summitt Tenns board and read what they write about Geno and UConn. Theres a reason for their pay board and their Tenn only chat rooms. IMO its a chance to hide what they've got to say, hid from the public. Im finished, now.

Wow, now tell us how you really feel Tony
Life is too short to get worked up into a tizzy over bupkis like Tenn.

 

[Tonyc]

Wow, now tell us how you really feel Tony
Life is too short to get worked up into a tizzy over bupkis like Tenn.

ctfjr you have no idea what I/we had to go through because of what Tenn did.

 

[pinotbear]

Indeed, ctfjr: the Tennessee complaint - which ended up going, not only to the NCAA, but eventually involved the FBI, as I understand it - named specific BY posters, and excerpted specific posts they had made (mostly in jest or hyperbole) on this board. To put it bluntly, Tennessee went after UConn players, coaches, and specific fans on this board: so, yes, it is personal, and, no, to my knowledge, the Tennessee program, administrators, fans, nor those who filed the spurious complaint, have never apologized or explained their actions. So, it isn't bupkis, nor fandom run amok on Tony's part.

 

[reno tony]

You are of course entitled to your opinion.

And it's not irrational, it's just plain wrong. Dead wrong.

It's up to you whether you want to stick with it or not.

It is certainly nice to know I have someone who is capable and willing to correct my opinions for me.

 

[Kibitzer]

This thread seems to have "gone south" in more ways than one, so I am withdrawing from further participation.

 

[CCinCT]

Don't know about the Summitt these days, but there is a free Tenn site where the vitriol can still be witnessed, albeit in diluted form. Perhaps Reno Tony should register and participate in a civil discussion with our orange hued WCBB fans to the south.

 

[reno tony]

Don't know about the Summitt these days, but there is a free Tenn site where the vitriol can still be witnessed, albeit in diluted form. Perhaps Reno Tony should register and participate in a civil discussion with our orange hued WCBB fans to the south.

Don't know about the Summitt these days, but there is a free Tenn site where the vitriol can still be witnessed, albeit in diluted form. Perhaps Reno Tony should register and participate in a civil discussion with our orange hued WCBB fans to the south.

If you have a link I would certainly be interested.

 

[CCinCT]

If you have a link I would certainly be interested.

Knock yourself out Tony.

http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennessee-lady-vols/

 

[UConnCat]

Good to know. The weird part of that "Holly...approached Geno about it" was that it appeared that it was done for PR purposes only and Tennessee within days reiterated that the series would not be renewed and refuses to make Holly available to a reporter on the subject. Public hints, closely followed by public disclaimers do nothing to advance the day when these 2 will play again on a scheduled basis. The whole thing was amateur hour or in keeping with the sports theme, bush league. These are not mere details in a big picture. What they mean is that Holly "made [no] big step" other than to put her foot in her own mouth.

I have a slightly different take on what happened at the WBHOF although I agree it was amateur hour and weird. Holly put on the fullcourt press with the kind words, the Volunteer bottle of wine, the wine glasses, etc. The Summit moderator even got into the act that weekend (snapping photos of Geno on twitter, etc) after she had all but put UConn and Geno on ignore since her FOIA request was denied. It was southern charm the likes of which Geno has never seen coming from Knoxville. All this was part of the plan to get Geno to say yes to Tennessee's idea that the teams renew their series. Geno, of course, is no fool and saw right through this transparent charm offensive and essentially called Holly on it (i.e., how 'bout you first explain all the negative talk and cheating accusations). Holly clearly wasn't prepared for Geno's reaction and rather than speak publicly (and honestly) about why Geno isn't ready to play again she chose to say "I don't think it's going to work out. I've put it out there." Her response was a variation on a familiar theme: "Geno knows."

 

[Bayareahusky]

Good post UCC. Yeah what has changed ostensibly since the series was cancelled..... nothing really.... why would UT want to resume the series with the dark cloud over the opponent "go ask geno, he knows"..... well now of course UT is trying to showcase their program which they hope is on the rebound..... I am glad Geno is mindful of the "no remorse" prevailing attitude.... we can let the LVs nourish such intense rivalries as Kentucky and South Carolina..... I am sure the national audience clamors for those sorts of matchups. We are 2 programs in different spots now...... I AM curious as to who on the UT team will take the leadership role this year, and show the heart that UT teams of old showed when PHS was in her better years.

 

[JRRRJ]

First of all, thank you for taking the time to so eloquently express your feelings about this subject. And it is true, I haven't been on this board very long and had only heard of some of the rumors you mentioned. It seems like there were many Bone Yarders that became personally involved in the situation and it may boil their blood to read about someone wanting to start the series again. My simplistic approach of trying to move forward without harping on the past doesn't sit well on the BY concerning this subject. And while my comments are not intended to insult another blogger, I feel entitled to my opinion. However irrational it may seem. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Because it didn't happen to you doesn't mean the ugliness didn't happen, over and over again.

Less than a decade isn't long enough for all the vile morons to be dead and gone. Talk to us again in another 30 years.

 

[stwainfan]

I think Graves will benefit from having Russell.

 

[Biff]

I have a slightly different take on what happened at the WBHOF although I agree it was amateur hour and weird. Holly put on the fullcourt press with the kind words, the Volunteer bottle of wine, the wine glasses, etc. The Summit moderator even got into the act that weekend (snapping photos of Geno on twitter, etc) after she had all but put UConn and Geno on ignore since her FOIA request was denied. It was southern charm the likes of which Geno has never seen coming from Knoxville. All this was part of the plan to get Geno to say yes to Tennessee's idea that the teams renew their series. Geno, of course, is no fool and saw right through this transparent charm offensive and essentially called Holly on it (i.e., how 'bout you first explain all the negative talk and cheating accusations). Holly clearly wasn't prepared for Geno's reaction and rather than speak publicly (and honestly) about why Geno isn't ready to play again she chose to say "I don't think it's going to work out. I've put it out there." Her response was a variation on a familiar theme: "Geno knows."

And I had another possibility floating in my mind on what transpired....I think Holly got her legs cut out from under her.

My theory was that Holly was reasonably honest about wanting the series to renew. She sees it as good for the Vols. I have no opinion if she thinks it's good for WCBB or for UConn but I don't think those were her motivations. I think that her motives were to better her program and that playing the most visible program in WCBB would be beneficial overall to hers. So she sees Geno, has an amiable chat with him and floats the idea. Then, when she gets back to the lair, the real powers-that-be let her know that it's not her program and that there will be no resumption of the series in the foreseeable future. She then proceeds to do the public back-pedal, saying nothing that upsets the existing Vol program stance on the matter. ..

Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I interpreted it as it unraveled real-time.

 

[UConnCat]

And I had another possibility floating in my mind on what transpired....I think Holly got her legs cut out from under her.

My theory was that Holly was reasonably honest about wanting the series to renew. She sees it as good for the Vols. I have no opinion if she thinks it's good for WCBB or for UConn but I don't think those were her motivations. I think that her motives were to better her program and that playing the most visible program in WCBB would be beneficial overall to hers. So she sees Geno, has an amiable chat with him and floats the idea. Then, when she gets back to the lair, the real powers-that-be let her know that it's not her program and that there will be no resumption of the series in the foreseeable future. She then proceeds to do the public back-pedal, saying nothing that upsets the existing Vol program stance on the matter. ..

Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I interpreted it as it unraveled real-time.

I agree 100% on Holly's motivations. She knows that playing UConn will be good for her program. I do have a different take on what prompted her back-pedal though, largely based on Carl Adamec's reporting on Geno's response to her. Her comment -- "I don't think it's going to work out. I've put it out there." -- is consistent with Carl's reporting that Geno was/is not quite ready to say yes.

Pat is very close with Summitt and I don't think she would have taken the step she did without Summitt's okay. The power-that-is in Tenn athletics is Dave Hart and I'm sure he has no problem with playing UConn.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I have a slightly different take on what happened at the WBHOF although I agree it was amateur hour and weird. Holly put on the fullcourt press with the kind words, the Volunteer bottle of wine, the wine glasses, etc. The Summit moderator even got into the act that weekend (snapping photos of Geno on twitter, etc) after she had all but put UConn and Geno on ignore since her FOIA request was denied. It was southern charm the likes of which Geno has never seen coming from Knoxville. All this was part of the plan to get Geno to say yes to Tennessee's idea that the teams renew their series. Geno, of course, is no fool and saw right through this transparent charm offensive and essentially called Holly on it (i.e., how 'bout you first explain all the negative talk and cheating accusations). Holly clearly wasn't prepared for Geno's reaction and rather than speak publicly (and honestly) about why Geno isn't ready to play again she chose to say "I don't think it's going to work out. I've put it out there." Her response was a variation on a familiar theme: "Geno knows."

You may be quite right. The sequences of events remains cloudy. I do recall that one of our Connecticut reporters stated that Geno and the U Conn Admin. had put out to Tennessee that a precondition was an acknowledgment of error/apology. I can't find the report now ... Bing is not pinging. Warlick, over a month later, continued to say I put it out there but it has not gone beyond that. Strange position for her, because within a week of the HOF gala the Tennessee Athletic Department had said words to the effect that they have plenty of rivals and do not see U Conn in their plans.

I, like many on this Board, am quite happy to see scheduled games between U Conn and Tenn a thing of the past.

 

[Biff]

"Holly" is very close with Summitt and I don't think she would have taken the step she did without Summitt's okay. The power-that-is in Tenn athletics is Dave Hart and I'm sure he has no problem with playing UConn.

I agree on the closeness but am not ready to agree that she did not feel that it was her program to make this kind of decision, then was forced (by that closeness to Pat) to backpedal after she found out the feelings of the powers-that-be. And I was not referring to Dave Hart as the PTB.

 

[UConnCat]

I agree on the closeness but am not ready to agree that she did not feel that it was her program to make this kind of decision, then was forced (by that closeness to Pat) to backpedal after she found out the feelings of the powers-that-be. And I was not referring to Dave Hart as the PTB.

One final thought on this. The whole evening at the WBHOF seemed so orchestrated, the Holly speech praising Geno and his program, the gifts, etc. It's just difficult for me to believe that Holly got out over her skis on this one. BTW, I do think the teams will agree to play again while Holly and Geno are still coaching.

 

[Biff]

One final thought on this. The whole evening at the WBHOF seemed so orchestrated, the Holly speech praising Geno and his program, the gifts, etc. It's just difficult for me to believe that Holly got out over her skis on this one. BTW, I do think the teams will agree to play again while Holly and Geno are still coaching.

And I'll agree to that belief...when the PTB influence is gone.

 

[Bayareahusky]

This thing with Holly - I just think back to 06-07 when all this stuff was happening vis a vis NCAA..... Pat was the driver, but Holly was all buy-in I am sure..... I e complicit. There is no way she did not put her 2 cents in if she is the upstanding leader and all around good person everyone says she is..... I don't see the whole NCAA accusations as a Pat thing but as a UT thing..... If she wants now to resume something, then something in the form of explanation/apology has to come from her as well as UT.....

And as for having plenty of rivals..... I don't see the riveting rivalries like UT-Kentucky, and UT-LSU stirring a national fan base that once coveted the UT UC matchup....

Maybe Holly can bring UT back to glory..... there is a ways to travel yet though

 

[Tonyc]

People please don't read into anything. Tenn the Summitt mod(s ) the Tenn fans and Pat tried to dismantle UConn to save their butts. At the time there were only 2 teams in WCBB that fought for the top recruits. Tenn and UConn. Geno was challenging Pat. He eventually won by getting commitments from Maya Caroline and EDD. Pat was left grasping for straws and offered everybody left a scholly and she got most of them. The empire in Tenn was crumbling and when Geno got commitments from Maya Caroline and EDD Pat knew her empire was vanishing. Tenn was going to bring UConn down with their the petty, immature, idiotic 37 page report where they tried to bring down everyone associated with UConn and it backfired. Tenn tried to use their pull with Pat, to destroy what we know as UConn WCBB. They were relentless and they failed. Look where they are today. A bunch of fans living in the past with no hope. Read the other threads if you think Im kidding. Yes they hurt me and other friends who are UConn fans by having the compliance officer calling those fans at home. Come on this is WCBB. If UConns record against Tenn was 0-15 this wouldn't have happened. But UConn is undefeated against Tenn in NC games and holds a winning record against Tenn in the regular season. Uconn and Geno have replaced Tenn and Pat a top of WCBB When UConn got verbal's from the 3 elite players in that class reality hit Tenn and Pat. Thus the 37 page report was the last straw to take down UConn. It didn't work.

Don't kid yourselves Geno CD and the UConn administration hates Tenn for what they tried to do to the dynasty Geno built. This is JUST MY OPINION. I have no facts. After what Tenn Pat the rest of the Tenn loyalty tried to do to UConn Geno Chris Diana Sue Maya Caroline EDD, etc etc UConn will never ever commit to play Tenn in the regular season again even with an apology and explanation.

 

[ucdt3]

The major X-Factor for UConn IMO....

Whether or NOT Moriah Jefferson can become a scoring threat. If she can hit open shots and get into the lane at a higher and more effective rate then this team (if completely healthy) is UNTOUCHABLE. She is the team's only true PG and if she can become a reliable threat then Geno can keep in the games longer and make us that much more deadly.

 

[Icebear]

X factor? Yeah, because MoJeff was so terrible during the tournaments run last year. Not. MoJeff simply needs to give Geno whatever he asks her just like in the tournaments. Doing that she and the team will be fine. If she scores 6-8 per game the team's golden. Anything more is simply gravy or piling on.

For me the x-factor this season is who or how will we replace Kelly's defensive shut down intensity.

 

[meyers7]

And I had another possibility floating in my mind on what transpired....I think Holly got her legs cut out from under her.

My theory was that Holly was reasonably honest about wanting the series to renew. She sees it as good for the Vols. I have no opinion if she thinks it's good for WCBB or for UConn but I don't think those were her motivations. I think that her motives were to better her program and that playing the most visible program in WCBB would be beneficial overall to hers. So she sees Geno, has an amiable chat with him and floats the idea. Then, when she gets back to the lair, the real powers-that-be let her know that it's not her program and that there will be no resumption of the series in the foreseeable future. She then proceeds to do the public back-pedal, saying nothing that upsets the existing Vol program stance on the matter. ..

Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I interpreted it as it unraveled real-time.

Sound pretty reasonable to me.

 

[meyers7]

It is certainly nice to know I have someone who is capable and willing to correct my opinions for me.

Well somebody has to do it. Just be thankful there are those willing to step up to the challenge. You can pretty much always count on it here on the BY.

 

[Bestiarius]

And I had another possibility floating in my mind on what transpired....I think Holly got her legs cut out from under her.

My theory was that Holly was reasonably honest about wanting the series to renew. She sees it as good for the Vols. I have no opinion if she thinks it's good for WCBB or for UConn but I don't think those were her motivations. I think that her motives were to better her program and that playing the most visible program in WCBB would be beneficial overall to hers. So she sees Geno, has an amiable chat with him and floats the idea. Then, when she gets back to the lair, the real powers-that-be let her know that it's not her program and that there will be no resumption of the series in the foreseeable future. She then proceeds to do the public back-pedal, saying nothing that upsets the existing Vol program stance on the matter. ..

Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I interpreted it as it unraveled real-time.

I have to agree with Biff. As John Altavilla reported: ",,,Sources have since told the Courant that Warlick will not reschedule UConn out of respect to Summitt’s wishes and that while Summitt’s relationship with Auriemma has apparently mended, Warlick apparently is not ready to forgive and forget."

It appears Pat is still in charge and Holly is still her lackey. Summitt is playing both ends against the middle. She'll publicize a renewed friendship with Geno, but continue the vendetta against UConn at the same time.

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women...itt-with-uconn-but-no-game-planned/#more-4416

 

[Tonyc]

I read the article and I don't believe that Maya was the problem. I was told by a very close to the cuff, loyal Tenn fan that Tenn knew Maya was not going to Tenn but to UConn. Yes it was a big deal at the time because Maya was right in Tenns backyard, the SEC and Pat and Tenn were used to getting all the top players from the SEC area. To have Pats arch rival Geno take one of the most convetted players in WCBB right out of her back yard must have hurt.

This is the same Tenn fan who called me on a Sunday night at 8:25 pm to tell me EDD would verbal the next day to UConn. I knew EDD was not going to Tenn through a very reliable source and I don't give the names of my sources so please don't ask. When I got off the phone with that Tenn fan I called a couple of Yarders and my phone rang off the hook that night and next morning til the Tenn Newpapers made it official with an article. Makes you wonder how Tenn fans knew in advance doesn't it??????

IMO based on that reason the series between UConn and Tenn ended because Geno and UConn got the 2 most sort after game changing players at the time. Also Caroline who was considered by many the top point guard and she had played with EDD on the same AAU team at one point. It was also posted that Caroline attended one of Pats BB camps. That had to hurt too.

So what followed? Tenn fans were posting UConn and Geno are going to be sorry they did something wrong. No one would reveal what it was. Then at the final game in Hartford in January on a very warm 70 degree day a group of us were having lunch at City Steam when a group of Tenn fans came up to our table and introduced themselves. One said UConn and Geno were in big trouble and there would be an announcement coming shortly. Well there were 2 announcements. One the cancellation of the UConn Tenn Series and the 37 page NCAA alleged violation which for the most part the NCAA threw out making Tenn look like crybabys .

So why the cancellation of the UConn Tenn games? What is the real reason for the false accusations? We still don't know. There are many thoughts and many people with opinions about why but we really don't have the truth. So with that said, it was fun while it lasted, it was great for WCBB, but to go back to the snake that bit you, just can not happen. To much damage was done to to many people and a lot of work was created for the UConn administration. Even with an apology its not worth it. UConn has nothing to gain.

So to pass blame on to recruits, former players, coaches, UConn, and UConn fans without any evidence was petty and it hurt. Someday down the road we may know why it was done but I doubt it. I really doubt it. Those of you who have been on this board before this travesty started know you cant get anything out of Knocksville when it involves Pat. So for the betterment of UConn and everybody associated with UConn I say GO Lady Vols and keep on going.

 

[CL82]

I remember the reading the 'checker board' at the time. It was all about this supposed horrible thing that Geno did and the repercussions that it would have when it came out. Once the 37 age report came out, I wondered where was this damning revelation? French fries and phantom rides hardly seemed to foot the bill. When UConn got only a secondary, for calling ESPN for a tour that was available to the public... (To this day, I still think that this wasn't even worth a secondary. I just think that was mollification to Pat and the SEC.)... All we heard on that board was just wait, there's more and it's horrible, blah, blah, blah. In retrospect, coupled with Pat's non-specific "Geno knows refrain, it certainly seems like a concerted smear campaign with a short term goal of putting a stigma on our program in the desperate hope of gaining a recruiting advantage. Karma being what it is, it just led to the death spiral UTenn is in now. Slowly but surely they are dropping out of the top tier of woman's basketball. Ironically a principal beneficiary of that demise was their intended target. Kind of life lesson, don't you think?

 

[DobbsRover2]

I remember the reading the 'checker board' at the time. It was all about this supposed horrible thing that Geno did and the repercussions that it would have when it came out. One the 37 age report came out, I wondered where was this damning revelation? French fries and phantom rides hardly seemed to foot the bill. When UConn got only a secondary, for calling ESPN for a tour that was available to the public... (To this day, I still think that this wasn't even worth a secondary. I just think that was mollification to Pat and the SEC.)... All we heard on that board was just wait, there's more and it's horrible, blah, blah, blah. In retrospect, coupled with Pat's non-specific "Geno knows refrain, it certainly seems like a concerted smear campaign with a short term goal of putting a stigma on our program in the desperate hope of gaining a recruiting advantage. Karma being what it is, it just led to the death spiral UTenn is in now. Slowly but surely they are dropping out of the top tier of woman's basketball. Ironically a principal beneficiary of that demise was their intended target. Kind of life lesson, don't you think?

Yeah, the ESPN thing certainly did seem like Vol mollification, especially when you consider how many associations there must have been over the years with UTenn recruits getting nice little tours of the WBHOF. Just crazy.

And although obviously things are very muddled and disorganized in a quasi-Paterno type Knoxville (the old fading powerbroker part, not the sex scandal part, unless the raccoon rumors are true), it is clear that a too-insulated and paranoid Vol village has no self-awareness. I mean, how do you heat up the news lines with stories of inviting a UConn-UTenn series renewal and then immediately flat-out say that such a thing is not something that the school would consider? It just shows a total lack of bowel control and that Warlick is in the position of being a pathetic gagged puppet.

Fortunately for the Vols, very few recruits are aware of any of this stuff. Unfortunately for the Vols, they still need a coach.

 

[ctfjr]

ctfjr you have no idea what I/we had to go through because of what Tenn did.

Indeed, ctfjr: the Tennessee complaint - which ended up going, not only to the NCAA, but eventually involved the FBI, as I understand it - named specific BY posters, and excerpted specific posts they had made (mostly in jest or hyperbole) on this board. To put it bluntly, Tennessee went after UConn players, coaches, and specific fans on this board: so, yes, it is personal, and, no, to my knowledge, the Tennessee program, administrators, fans, nor those who filed the spurious complaint, have never apologized or explained their actions. So, it isn't bupkis, nor fandom run amok on Tony's part.

Sorry to intrude on your martyrdom

I may be a casual poster here, more of a lurker, but I do claim to be a fan - after all I've been a season's tix holder for wbb since 1985. There is no one more vocal at games than I - sometimes maybe a little over the top

But let's face it - it is just a game after all.

 

[calpedaler]

That's easy to say if you weren't personally affected in the process.