From my perspective that's the crux of this issue, in that the AD's treatment of the "Lady Vols" name betrays their negative view of the Lady Vols name and what have you. Recall Bruce Pearl, who backed Pat and her program 100% and pointedly turned down the opportunity to complain when they named the court "The Summitt." Bruce appeared genuinely proud of the Lady Vols. He talked about how much it meant to him and how he'd even consider it a plus for recruiting. Comparatively, the current AD doesn't appear proud of the Lady Vols at all -- in fact, all they seem to point out are the negatives they can find to help bolster their case for eliminating it. Cheek's letter even cites football ticket sales, as if there haven't been hard times in the past or present of a program. But somehow, in spite of fat TV deals with the SEC and the Nike apparel deal, somehow we suddenly just can't afford to let that Lady Vols thing go anymore. Somehow I'm supposed to believe that a temporary "ONE TENNESSEE" marketing campaign is more meaningful than 40 years of tradition.
I'd rather they just say "we don't like it, it's not up for discussion, we feel it's not correct for the current political climate, and we want to eliminate the cost and hassle of keeping it alive." You know? Just be honest. Say "we think it's degrading" or say "it costs X amount and we don't want to pay X amount anymore." I feel like honesty would have been a more respectable path. Instead we hear about football tickets and Nike's consulting advice and how we need unity as if we've never had unity in the past. I dislike trying to shuffle the blame around as they've done -- it feels disingenuous and I don't believe them.
That said, this change is what it is. They're done with the first step, and I have to imagine that once Summitt's legacy and coaching staff is far enough removed from the program they'll fold it back in as well. I don't begrudge them wanting more control over things they have to pay for. But I find it disappointing that, since the AD can't see value in the name for themselves, they dismiss the value that others have placed in it. I admit I don't necessarily see all the value in it myself sometimes. But other people, particularly former Lady Vols players that I know, they all tell me how much it means to them. And them, them I believe.
