Media Attention (split thread)

[LadyVol1908]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

 

[creekdipper]

Whom you calling "older?"

 

[Rooster1]

It's a relative thing, relative to what was available then I would say yes. But the term media attention has taken on new meaning since then. For one, the sport has grown tremendously in that time frame, and secondly available media outlets has expanded by leaps and bounds since then also. Uconn was the standard during all of this growth and has received the top billing from most outlets, but I would say that their success was also part of the growth of the sport. It was great timing for them. But I certainly remember the time UT WBB was the top storyline.

 

[LUVMESUMVOL]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

The media coverage is different now of course compared to then but you are correct for that time Coach Summitt and The Lady Vols was rivaling Duke and Coach K

 

[Lucy]

Whom you calling "older?"

At least it wasn’t “What was Abe Lincoln like as a boy?”

 

[Voltopia]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

They did, but ESPN's reach and control of college sports is leaps and bounds beyond anything it was 30 years ago. Before, they were reporting sports (often with a humorous savvy), and working as a scrappy media startup to grow their network. Now, they more or less own college sports as an entertainment brand, so they're much more invested in hyping it, pushing it, and getting people to pay for access to it.

Even if Tennessee got attention (which it did), the pervasive marketing of new media, social media, and influencers didn't exist back then. It was ESPN, ESPN2, and eventually ESPNU. That was it. Now, ESPN is like marketing on steroids. They've closed their grip on college football, which makes them the king. I wish I could share what it was like to not have ESPN calling the shots, I really do. I know it's all about the money, but back then at least it was much more about the games and much less about ESPN itself. I miss those days.

 

[LadyVols_WBK]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

Thinks is amplified 10x more with UConn in social media

 

[stllvf]

I remember being at one of the final 4s back in the day and their was an article from the prime women's sportcaster (from Pennsylvania) and he wrote about the future impact that ESPN would have on women's basketball by televising some of their games. HE was correct. Also note that initially only the major university programs were included on TV so recruitment for several years benefitted those who would be on television.
ESPN recognized the value of having a successful team close to their studio. And UConn had yet another advantage by allowing their players to have internships with ESPN. NOTE: not condemning either just both recognizing the mutual benefits.

 

[Amb3096]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

Which heyday? For what WCBB press was at the time, they did get their share when they were in the midst of their 3-peat. ESPN's increased coverage coincided with UConn's run of dominance, so I think that's one reason why they get so much coverage. That will go away if Paige doesn't lead them to the promised land.

 

[mlindsay]

Which heyday? For what WCBB press was at the time, they did get their share when they were in the midst of their 3-peat. ESPN's increased coverage coincided with UConn's run of dominance, so I think that's one reason why they get so much coverage. That will go away if Paige doesn't lead them to the promised land.

And she wont! The day Geno decided to recruit in the state of Tennessee (Dangerfield), keep Parker off the Olympic Team, and Accept Evina while calling our program toxic was over for him. I am a firm believer in Karma (3 strikes and you're out) and he hasn't won a title since Dangerfield stepped on campus.

 

[sisaq]

And she wont! The day Geno decided to recruit in the state of Tennessee (Dangerfield), keep Parker off the Olympic Team, and Accept Evina while calling our program toxic was over for him. I am a firm believer in Karma (3 strikes and you're out) and he hasn't won a title since Dangerfield stepped on campus.

 

[GameTime]

UConn was one of the first women's team to actually run an offense that was not built around the give the ball to "the big girl attack".....They did not just rely on getting the ball inside, and rebounds for their victories....Their outside shooters, mainly Taurasi, brought their game into the realm of 3 ball entertainment, which the public likes......

Under Coach Kellie, the Lady Vols have finally joined the 21st century and they utilize the value of the 3 ball.....The inside game is nice, but the pop of the big 3 ball sells a lot of tickets, and most importantly, makes the highlights on ESPN, which the recruits see.

 

[Rickster]

And she wont! The day Geno decided to recruit in the state of Tennessee (Dangerfield), keep Parker off the Olympic Team, and Accept Evina while calling our program toxic was over for him. I am a firm believer in Karma (3 strikes and you're out) and he hasn't won a title since Dangerfield stepped on campus.

Jinxed

 

[LadyOrange]

UConn was one of the first women's team to actually run an offense that was not built around the give the ball to "the big girl attack".....They did not just rely on getting the ball inside, and rebounds for their victories....Their outside shooters, mainly Taurasi, brought their game into the realm of 3 ball entertainment, which the public likes......

Under Coach Kellie, the Lady Vols have finally joined the 21st century and they utilize the value of the 3 ball.....The inside game is nice, but the pop of the big 3 ball sells a lot of tickets, and most importantly, makes the highlights on ESPN, which the recruits see.

Not quite true. Lieberman: Learning Curve

 

[LadyOrange]

Which heyday? For what WCBB press was at the time, they did get their share when they were in the midst of their 3-peat. ESPN's increased coverage coincided with UConn's run of dominance, so I think that's one reason why they get so much coverage. That will go away if Paige doesn't lead them to the promised land.

Not really. There was very little coverage of women’s ball at all. When ESPN came along, it’s bias was crystal clear. Although, Pat was featured on the cover of SI, and male college coaches, the good ones at least, bragged on her coaching ability. But no, the women’s game really didn’t exist for media. Pat and other women coaches worked their butts off to change that.

 

[Amb3096]

Not really. There was very little coverage of women’s ball at all. When ESPN came along, it’s bias was crystal clear. Although, Pat was featured on the cover of SI, and male college coaches, the good ones at least, bragged on her coaching ability. But no, the women’s game really didn’t exist for media. Pat and other women coaches worked their butts off to change that.

There was little coverage, but was there was focus on whoever was the winning team...including the Tennessee 3-peat and the Meeks unbeaten season. During the years after DT graduated, no one talked about UConn until Maya came along. It's not like they were promoting UConn even if they weren't relevant. If not for their 4-peat and that winning streak, I don't think they would have warranted a mention in the post-Stewart era. They moved on to Ionescu, and only started talking about UConn again when Paige started having a breakout year.

 

[Rickster]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

As a percentage of available media, probably yes but social media was basically non existent and the big networks didn't really cover WBB. If you followed the LV's in the 80's, you relied on the USA TODAY Sports section to get scores and news. When Geno arrived and rallied ESPN to his cause, the coverage became lop-sided and has been that way ever since.

 

[LadyOrange]

There was little coverage, but was there was focus on whoever was the winning team...including the Tennessee 3-peat and the Meeks unbeaten season. During the years after DT graduated, no one talked about UConn until Maya came along. It's not like they were promoting UConn even if they weren't relevant. If not for their 4-peat and that winning streak, I don't think they would have warranted a mention in the post-Stewart era. They moved on to Ionescu, and only started talking about UConn again when Paige started having a breakout year.

I’m talking about 1974-1995.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Not quite true. Lieberman: Learning Curve

If I remember Nancy, am I old?

 

[LadyOrange]

If I remember Nancy, am I old?

Yes…..

 

[Darth_Vol]

I do have a question for the older people. When Tennessee was in its heyday, did they not receive the media attention that UCONN currently gets?

They did, but that was before social media blew up so it's at a completely different level now.

There was that time marketing in all its brilliance tried to brand the Lady Vols as "America's Team" during their peak, but thankfully that was short-lived...

 

[LUVMESUMVOL]

Not a lot of visual excitement for the general public watching a team defend the paint, of this we should agree...But, watching a deep 3 ball rip the net apart, now that appeals to most everyone...

Pat did try and expand her offensive abilities, this has been well publicized through many articles and books....

Holly, our head coach for too many long years, wanted to play 1980 basketball and have the ball always go through the post first...The 3 ball in rhythm, was not a desired shot by her, unless the big girl touched the ball first....

Her 3 ball phobia alone set the program back, and led the way to our decline.....We were the most predictable team I ever saw. Other teams message boards made jokes about how predictable we were.

If Shade were to come here, and I hope to Heaven she does, put her with Justine, and Buckets, on the court together, the LVs would become legendary again.

Maybe but I would worry about how good would they be defensively

 

[jkleno]

I remember being at one of the final 4s back in the day and their was an article from the prime women's sportcaster (from Pennsylvania) and he wrote about the future impact that ESPN would have on women's basketball by televising some of their games. HE was correct. Also note that initially only the major university programs were included on TV so recruitment for several years benefitted those who would be on television.
ESPN recognized the value of having a successful team close to their studio. And UConn had yet another advantage by allowing their players to have internships with ESPN. NOTE: not condemning either just both recognizing the mutual benefits.

I am not sure about this at all????

 

[JK Vol]

At least it wasn’t “What was Abe Lincoln like as a boy?”

Or “ What was Jesus really like? “

 

[savannahfan]

I think so.
But at that time we nor anyone else had our own national TV outlet (namely ESPN) as U Conn has had. Now that everyone seems to have conference and national coverage the dominate coverage for U Conn is slipping.
But as I said "back in the day" as you ask, yes, I think the Lady Vols, along with the best female PR person/coach had the best national coverage of any program.