Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2024-25

[youcancallmeAl]

Outstanding piece on the blue hairs railroading Fulmer with the Harper hire, and how utterly ridiculous that "search" looks two years later in light of LSU hiring Mulkey...

Outline - Read & annotate without distractions

So, if Tennessee's sports administration doesn't care about the women's team competing for championships because it didn't chase an elite coach, then it follows that Baylor didn't either when it hired Mulkey, and SC didn't care about championships when it hired Staley, and Uconn didn't care when they hired Auriemma. And yet they establlshed championship programs. Imagine that. I wonder if the football writer who wrote this obviously agenda-driven opinion piece ever thought of that.

 

[Terrells Bay88]

So, if Tennessee's sports administration doesn't care about the women's team competing for championships because it didn't chase an elite coach, then it follows that Baylor didn't either when it hired Mulkey, and SC didn't care about championships when it hired Staley, and Uconn didn't care when they hired Auriemma. And yet they establlshed championship programs. Imagine that. I wonder if the football writer who wrote this obviously agenda-driven opinion piece ever thought of that.

Did any of those teams won any national championships previously before they hired those coaches? Wasn't Mulkey an assistant from a blue blood from an earlier era in LA Tech?

 

[Amb3096]

Interestingly, when I read that column earlier today, I wondered how long it would take you to post it here.

One of the MSST fans on the BY said that Tennessee reached out to Vic Schaefer about the position, but he turned them down (don't know if he interviewed or just outright refused). So it seems like they were at least testing the waters.

 

[Darth_Vol]

So, if Tennessee's sports administration doesn't care about the women's team competing for championships because it didn't chase an elite coach, then it follows that Baylor didn't either when it hired Mulkey, and SC didn't care about championships when it hired Staley, and Uconn didn't care when they hired Auriemma. And yet they establlshed championship programs. Imagine that. I wonder if the football writer who wrote this obviously agenda-driven opinion piece ever thought of that.

 

[Darth_Vol]

One of the MSST fans on the BY said that Tennessee reached out to Vic Schaefer about the position, but he turned them down (don't know if he interviewed or just outright refused). So it seems like they were at least testing the waters.

I take Fulmer at his word that he initially set out to hire the best possible coach, regardless of Lady Vol ties...

 

[Lucy]

Outstanding piece on the blue hairs railroading Fulmer with the Harper hire, and how utterly ridiculous that "search" looks two years later in light of LSU hiring Mulkey...

Outline - Read & annotate without distractions

Darth conveniently leaves out the part where the “author” says it is too early to tell whether Kellie was a good hire, and discusses the ties to Louisiana that got Mulkey to sign on at LSU. But he operates on his own “alternate” facts.

 

[Lucy]

So you're trying to get members banned that have different opinions about the state of the Lady Vol's program.

Way more to this than a different opinion on state of LVs. Try narcissist who didn’t want Kellie and is determined to be right regardless of reality. Just on and on with digs at Kellie.

 

[Terrells Bay88]

Way more to this than a different opinion on state of LVs. Try narcissist who didn’t want Kellie and is determined to be right regardless of reality. Just on and on with digs at Kellie.

I already know it has to do with Kellie. What's wrong with the ignore function? You respond to most of Darth's posts and he rarely responds to yours.

 

[Lucy]

I already know it has to do with Kellie. What's wrong with the ignore function? You respond to most of Darth's posts and he rarely responds to yours.

That’s because he is a coward and I’m pretty sure he blocks me.
I do respond because if I’ve learned anything over the last few years it’s that you’ve got to call out the liars real time. Winston Churchill said. “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth can get it’s pants on.”

 

[glv98]

What's the big deal? Fulmer has said all this before, like at the press conference introducing KJH. Talked about how staying in the family was "essential". Didn't call out the blue hairs by name, but everyone knew about the Pat ultra loyalists, right? We also knew he at least put out feelers to some notable coaches but probably didn't want to pay big bucks and also the big names weren't exactly enthusiastic about the job.

Then KJH conveniently had a Cinderella season and it all fell into place. Got the "girls" off his back, came in under budget and she is a much better coach, even with her lackluster career record, than the last one.

Of course Fulmer, like us, hopes KJH can rebuild the brand and make him look good, and she may. She's made decent progress, but realistically she'll have an uphill climb. With the portal causing pooling of talent at the top and without her own elite recruits (yet), she'll definitely have to do more with less. At least her product has been fun to watch so far, especially compared to the last depressing mess.

I predict "the blue hairs" will never have that kind of sway again. Heck most of em won't even be around any more.

 

[Lucy]

What's the big deal? Fulmer has said all this before, like at the press conference introducing KJH. Talked about how staying in the family was "essential". Didn't call out the blue hairs by name, but everyone knew about the Pat ultra loyalists, right? We also knew he at least put out feelers to some notable coaches but probably didn't want to pay big bucks and also the big names weren't exactly enthusiastic about the job.

Then KJH conveniently had a Cinderella season and it all fell into place. Got the "girls" off his back, came in under budget and she is a much better coach, even with her lackluster career record, than the last one.

Of course Fulmer, like us, hopes KJH can rebuild the brand and make him look good, and she may. She's made decent progress, but realistically she'll have an uphill climb. With the portal causing pooling of talent at the top and without her own elite recruits (yet), she'll definitely have to do more with less. At least her product has been fun to watch so far, especially compared to the last depressing mess.

I predict "the blue hairs" will never have that kind of sway again. Heck most of em won't even be around any more.

Yet again the anonymous, deep state blue hairs. Let’s name names.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Did any of those teams won any national championships previously before they hired those coaches? Wasn't Mulkey an assistant from a blue blood from an earlier era in LA Tech?

1) No, but so what if they hadn't? The issue is whether a hire indicates whether the administration cares or doesn't care about winning championships, isn't it?
2) Yes, but wasn't Holly an assistant from a blue blood program when she was hired by Tennessee? Didn't work out so well there, but it did for Baylor. Goes to show, hiring coaches is a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I take Fulmer at his word that he initially set out to hire the best possible coach, regardless of Lady Vol ties...

Why would you take him at his word about that? By saying the blue hairs talked him into it, he shifts blame to them if Harper fails. But if she succeeds, he takes credit. See how politicians work both sides of the road? In any case, it was his decision as he was AD, and the blue hairs weren't. He decided on Harper for whatever reason(s).

 

[glv98]

Yet again the anonymous, deep state blue hairs. Let’s name names.

Do you really mean to say you're not aware of the hard core, older, mostly female superfans who struggle to let go of any scrap of the glory days? The Maria C, Donna Thomas, Debbie Jennings wing of the party. More whose names I don't actually know, but having gone to games and watched the program closely for a long time, I know exist and have some influence. Though as I said previously, their significance is diminishing rapidly simply for demographic reasons.

The older donor class has always been the foundation of the LV fan base. And been resistant to change. That's the blue hair brigade.

 

[Lucy]

Do you really mean to say you're not aware of the hard core, older, mostly female superfans who struggle to let go of any scrap of the glory days? The Maria C, Donna Thomas, Debbie Jennings wing of the party. More whose names I don't actually know, but having gone to games and watched the program closely for a long time, I know exist and have some influence. Though as I said previously, their significance is diminishing rapidly simply for demographic reasons.

The older donor class has always been the foundation of the LV fan base. And been resistant to change. That's the blue hair brigade.

Right, folks who support the program through good times and bad. Folks who make consistent financial contributions and don’t just whine on fan boards. Shame on them for having an opinion. Thank God they are dying off. Who needs fans like that.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

And the point is? That UT powers that be (Fulmer and blue hairs) made a decision for Harper in lieu of an assumed possible hire of an elite coach? But, even if that's true (and maybe it is and maybe it isn't) , so what? It's done!! Harper is the coach and you and the "journalist" are crying over spilled milk. There's nothing that can be done about now that as long as Harper isn't failing. And she isn't. So, whining about Harper's hire and how it happened is irrelevant now and is pointless. So, what REALLY is the point of your complaints? And Toppmeyer's?

My point is simple: Harper is the coach, and we owe it to her, the program, and our alma mater to support her as much as we can, at least until she might give us reason to withdraw support, which she has not done yet, or even come close to.

What say you?

 

[glv98]

Right, folks who support the program through good times and bad. Folks who make consistent financial contributions and don’t just whine on fan boards. Shame on them for having an opinion. Thank God they are dying off. Who needs fans like that.

Whoa Nelly. No one said they're not needed or wanted. Nor entitled to an opinion. I'm just saying they maintain strict adherence to what they think is Pat orthodoxy of only female coaches and only from the family tree and they let that be known forcefully to Fulmer, as is their perfect right.

Other fans, who've also been around awhile, feel clinging so tightly to past glory is part of the reason the program is having such a hard time moving forward. Another legit opinion.

"Whining on a fan board" Really? Hello pot . . .

 

[Darth_Vol]

1) No, but so what if they hadn't? The issue is whether a hire indicates whether the administration cares or doesn't care about winning championships, isn't it?
2) Yes, but wasn't Holly an assistant from a blue blood program when she was hired by Tennessee? Didn't work out so well there, but it did for Baylor. Goes to show, hiring coaches is a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

I mean, Tennessee didn't really care that much about women's hoops when their coach quit and they promoted some grad assistant named Pat Head. What's your point? Yes, there are countless examples of relative no-names building programs into national powers. I can also give you plenty of examples of relative no-names taking over national powers and driving them back into obscurity.

The point, is that one would think that a blue blood would have the cachet and motivation to hire an established, proven coach rather than take a chance on an "up and comer." Especially in Tennessee's case when the misguided need for family loyalty was already tried, and failed. Baylor is getting hammered for their uninspired choice to succeed Mulkey, and deservedly so...

 

[Terrells Bay88]

1) No, but so what if they hadn't? The issue is whether a hire indicates whether the administration cares or doesn't care about winning championships, isn't it?
2) Yes, but wasn't Holly an assistant from a blue blood program when she was hired by Tennessee? Didn't work out so well there, but it did for Baylor. Goes to show, hiring coaches is a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

You have a point. Holly was Pat's chosen successor just Niele Ivey was Muffet McGraw's at Notre Dame. I'm not sure you can call those typical hires when they were hand picked by the HOF coach.

 

[Darth_Vol]

Why would you take him at his word about that?

Because there is enough smoke that he contacted Vic Schaefer, among others, that I can't believe there is nothing to it...

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I mean, Tennessee didn't really care that much about women's hoops when their coach quit and they promoted some grad assistant named Pat Head. What's your point? Yes, there are countless examples of relative no-names building programs into national powers. I can also give you plenty of examples of relative no-names taking over national powers and driving them back into obscurity.

The point, is that one would think that a blue blood would have the cachet and motivation to hire an established, proven coach rather than take a chance on an "up and comer." Especially in Tennessee's case when the misguided need for family loyalty was already tried, and failed. Baylor is getting hammered for their uninspired choice to succeed Mulkey, and deservedly so...

Your point is - as they say - moot. How long are you going to keep flogging this dead horse? Harper is the coach, like it or not. Whining incessantly about how she became coach, or how much it disappoints you, is pointless now.

 

[youcancallmeAl]

Because there is enough smoke that he contacted Vic Schaefer, among others, that I can't believe there is nothing to it...

What is your confirmation that he contacted Schaefer? And if it is true that he did, then what did Schaefer say? If he said no thanks, doesn't that lend justification for Fulmer giving consideration to an up and comer rather than an elite coach?

 

[youcancallmeAl]

I can also give you plenty of examples of relative no-names taking over national powers and driving them back into obscurity.

And what about elite coaches taking over programs that wanted championships but failed? What is the guarantee that Mulkey will win championships at LSU?

 

[Darth_Vol]

Your point is - as they say - moot. How long are you going to keep flogging this dead horse? Harper is the coach, like it or not. Whining incessantly about how she became coach, or how much it disappoints you, is pointless now.

You seem confused. I didn't write the article, I just shared it. My response was to your whining about it...

 

[glv98]

And the point is? That UT powers that be (Fulmer and blue hairs) made a decision for Harper in lieu of an assumed possible hire of an elite coach? But, even if that's true (and maybe it is and maybe it isn't) , so what? It's done!! Harper is the coach and you and the "journalist" are crying over spilled milk. There's nothing that can be done about now that as long as Harper isn't failing. And she isn't. So, whining about Harper's hire and how it happened is irrelevant now and is pointless. So, what REALLY is the point of your complaints? And Toppmeyer's?

My point is simple: Harper is the coach, and we owe it to her, the program, and our alma mater to support her as much as we can, at least until she might give us reason to withdraw support, which she has not done yet, or even come close to.

What say you?

IMO it mischaracterizes the column to call it whining or crying over spilled milk. I find it an interesting comparison of how two major programs approached hiring their next WBB coach. Did one go cheap? Was one constrained by clinging to its past glories? Why was one willing to make an unprecedented investment and will it pay off?

I think you can do both things: accept and support Harper as the coach who got hired and be interested in the process that made that happen. Maybe we could even learn something that would help the next time around.